cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Racial and economic disparities in the access to treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms are persistent problems

Background and purpose Previous studies have documented disparate access to cerebrovascular neurosurgery for patients of different racial and socioeconomic backgrounds. We further investigated the effect of race and insurance status on access to treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) and compared it with data on patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). Methods Through the use of a national database, admissions for clipping or coiling of an UIA and for aSAH were identified. Demographic characteristics of patients were characterized according to age, sex, race/ethnicity, and insurance status, and comparisons between patients admitted for treatment of an UIA versus aSAH were performed. Results There were 10 545 admissions for clipping or coiling of an UIA and 33 166 admissions for aSAH between October 2014 and July 2018. White/non-Hispanic patients made up a greater proportion of patients presenting for treatment of an UIA than those presenting with aSAH (64.3% vs 48.2%; P Conclusion For patients with UIAs, racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds appear to continue to influence access to treatment.
Exercise Capacity in Unilateral Diaphragm Paralysis: The Effect of Obesity.

Purpose. Healthy patients with unilateral diaphragm paralysis (UDP) are often asymptomatic; those with UDP and comorbidities that increase work of breathing are often dyspneic. We report the effect of obesity on exercise capacity in UDP patients. Methods. All obese and nonobese patients with UDP undergoing cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) during a 32-month period in the exercise laboratory of an academic hospital were compared to a retrospectively identified cohort of obese and nonobese controls without UDP, matched for key features. CPET used a modified Bruce treadmill protocol with breath-to-breath expired gas analysis. O2 uptake, minute ventilation, exercise time, and work rate were recorded at peak exercise. Static pulmonary functions were measured. Kruskal-Wallis, Wilcoxon rank sum, and Fisher’s exact tests were used to compare continuous and categorical variables, respectively. Stratified linear regression was used to quantify the effect of UDP and obesity on CPET variables. Results. Twenty-two UDP patients and 46 controls were studied. The BMI of obese and nonobese patients was 33.0±4.2 and 25.8±2.4 kg/m2, respectively. UDP subjects with obesity, compared to controls with neither condition, showed significantly reduced peak O2 uptake normalized to actual body weight (1.57±0.64 versus 2.01±0.88 L/min), shorter exercise time (5.7±2.0 versus 8.5±2.9 minutes), and lower peak ventilation. This was not observed in UDP alone or obesity alone. Peak work rate trended lower in the combined UDP-obesity group. Conclusion. Neither UDP nor obesity alone significantly reduced exercise capacity. Superimposed UDP and obesity interact to create a ventilatory limitation to exercise, with reduced peak-VO2, exercise time, and work rate.
Stroke mechanisms and outcomes of isolated symptomatic basilar artery stenosis

Background While diffuse atherosclerotic disease affecting the posterior circulation has been described extensively, the prevalence, natural history and angiographic characteristics of isolated symptomatic basilar artery stenosis (ISBAS) remain unknown. Methods We reviewed our prospective institutional database to identify patients with ≥50% symptomatic basilar artery (BA) stenosis without significant atherosclerotic burden in the vertebral or posterior cerebral arteries. Stroke mechanism, collateral circulation, and degree and length of stenosis were analysed. The primary outcome was time from index event to new transient ischaemic attack (TIA), acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) or death. Other outcome variables included modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score on discharge and last follow-up. Results Of 6369 patients with AIS/TIA, 91 (1.43%) had ISBAS. Seventy-three (80.2%) patients presented with AIS and 18 (19.8%) with TIA. Twenty-nine (31.9%) were women and the median age was 66.8±13.6 years. The mean follow-up time was 2.7 years. The most common stroke mechanism was artery-to-artery thromboembolism (45.2%), followed by perforator occlusion (28.7%) and flow-dependent/hypoperfusion (15.1%). The percentage of stenosis was lower in patients who had favourable outcome compared with those with mRS 3–6 on discharge (78.3±14.3 vs 86.9±14.5, p=0.007). Kaplan-Meier curves showed higher recurrence/death rates in patients with ≥80% stenosis, mid-basilar location and poor collateral circulation. Approximately 13% of patients with ISBAS presented with complete BA occlusion. Conclusion ISBAS is an uncommon (1.43%) cause of TIA and AIS. Men in their 60s are mostly affected, and artery-to-artery embolism is the most common stroke mechanism. Mid-basilar location, ≥80% stenosis and poor collateral circulation are important factors associated with worse prognosis.
The effect of running barefoot and in barefoot-style footwear on running economy at two self-determined speeds.

Background The impact of barefoot running and footwear choice on running economy (RE; steady state oxygen consumption) is heavily debated. Therefore, this study measured RE when running barefoot versus two shod conditions. Methods Recreational male runners (N.=8) with experience running in both five-toed minimal (FTMS) and standard cushioned running shoes (SCRS), participated in RE trials while barefoot, FTMS, and SCRS for 5 minutes each trial at both 50% and 70% of speed at maximal oxygen uptake (sVO2max), while RE and step frequency (Sf) were measured. Separate one-way repeated measures ANOVAs were conducted for each footwear condition and each speed, on RE and Sf. Results No significant differences in RE were found at 50% or 70% sVO2max. Step frequency was significantly different at 70% sVO2max (F(2, 14)=6.74, P=0.009, partial ω2=0.06, as running barefoot (173.00±10.50 steps/min) exhibited a higher Sf than running in FTMS (68.81±10.94 steps/min; P=0.008) or SCRS (166.62±8.42 steps/min; P=0.044) conditions. Conclusions No statistical RE benefit was found when running barefoot over FTMS or SCRS, possibly explained by a Sf adaptation at higher speeds. However, practically speaking, when shoe mass is controlled for, footwear choice has a moderate but worthwhile effect on RE. Consequently, formal familiarization and/or training in the FTMS may improve RE when compared to running in SCRS or barefoot in certain individuals.
Creating an Organizational Climate for Global Partnerships: Challenges and Opportunities

All too often, observers of tertiary education assume that the way the academic world functions today is the way it always has been organized. And yet, colleges and universities always have been in a state of change. If “world-class rankings” had been compiled in the late nineteenth century, no institutions in the USA would have likely made the list. In the most recent Shanghai Jiao Tong Rankings of World Universities, however, American universities held most of the top 20 positions, and over 50 of the top 100 spots.
1.5 T magnetic resonance imaging generates accurate 3D proximal femoral models: Surgical planning implications for femoroacetabular impingement

The objective of this study was to validate three-dimensional (3D) proximal femoral surface models generated from a 1.5 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) by comparing these 3D models to those derived from the clinical "gold standard" of computed tomography (CT) scan and to ground-truth surface models obtained by laser scans (LSs) of the excised femurs. Four intact bilateral cadaveric pelvis specimens underwent CT and MRI scans and 3D surface models were generated. Six femurs were extracted from these specimens, and the overlying soft tissues were removed. The extracted femurs were then laser scanned to produce a ground-truth surface model. A 3D-3D registration method was used to compare the signed and absolute surface-to-surface distances between the 3D models. Absolute agreement was evaluated using a 95% confidence interval (CI) derived from the precision of the LS ground-truth. Paired samples t tests and Kolmogrov-Smirnov tests were performed to compare the differences between the signed and absolute surface-to-surface distances between the models. The average signed surface-to-surface distances for the MRI vs LS and MRI vs CT models were 0.07 and 0.16 mm, respectively. These differences fell within the 95% CI of ±0.20 mm indicating absolute agreement between the surface models generated from these modalities. The signed surface-to-surface distance was significantly smaller for MRI vs LS ground truth model as compared with the CT vs LS model. Femoral models derived from a 1.5 T MRI scan demonstrated absolute agreement with the clinical gold standard of CT-derived models and were most like LS ground truth models of the excised femurs.
Initiation of any tobacco and five tobacco products across 3 years among youth, young adults and adults in the USA: findings from the PATH Study Waves 1-3 (2013-2016).

Objective This study reports weighted cross-sectional prevalence of never use of tobacco, and longitudinal past 12-month (P12M), past 30-day (P30D) and frequent P30D any tobacco or specific tobacco product initiation across three 1-year waves. Longitudinal three-wave pathways are examined to outline pathways of exclusive and polytobacco initiation, as well as pathways of new initiators of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) or cigarettes. Design Data were drawn from the first three waves (2013–2016) of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study, a nationally representative, longitudinal cohort study of US youth and adults. Respondents with data at all three waves (youth, N = 11 046; young adults, N = 6478; adults 25+, N = 17 188) were included in longitudinal analyses. Results Across the three age groups, weighted cross-sectional analyses revealed never any tobacco use decreased each year from 2013 to 2016, reflecting overall increases in tobacco initiation in the population during this time. Compared with cigarettes, cigars, hookah and smokeless tobacco, ENDS had the highest proportion of P12M initiation from Wave 1 to Wave 3 (W3) for each age group. Among youth Wave 2 P30D initiators of exclusive ENDS or cigarettes, the most common W3 outcome was not using any tobacco (ENDS: 59.0% (95% CI 48.4 to 68.8); cigarettes: 40.3% (95% CI 28.7 to 53.1)). Conclusions Initiation rates of ENDS among youth and young adults have increased the number of ever tobacco users in the US prevention strategies across the spectrum of tobacco products which can address youth initiation of tobacco products.
Performing a Hazard Assessment and Building an Exposure Control Plan

The hazard assessment chapter offers readers strategies to identify critical elements needed to perform an occupational hazard assessment. It provides lists for considerations to include in job hazard analyses. There are many tools and resources including outlines and sample plans for requirements of an Exposure Control Plan. It also provides instruction and guidance on how to perform task assessments and audits, along with sample plans and questionnaires.
Dance Trends: Staying Grounded in Challenging Times: Movement, Meditation, and Meaningful Activity

Drexel University dance student Ali Lodise. Photo by Ali Lodise.2020. No one needs to tell you what a challenging year this has been. The National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) forum conversa...
Radiation Oncology Virtual Education Rotation (ROVER) for Medical Students.

Purpose We describe the implementation of a novel virtual educational program for medical students, Radiation Oncology Virtual Education Rotation (ROVER), and its effect on student interest and knowledge in radiation oncology. Methods and Materials ROVER comprised a series of virtual educational panels with case-based discussions across disease sites tailored to medical students. The panels were moderated by radiation oncology residents and included faculty panelists from academic radiation oncology programs across the country. Student pre- and postsession surveys were collected. Paired t tests were used to compare the pre- and postsession assessment results. Results Six ROVER sessions were held from June 4, 2020, to August 20, 2020, with a total of 427 medical students registering for at least 1 session. Of these, 231 students attended at least 1 session, with 140 completing at least 1 postsession survey (60.6% response rate). Fourth-year medical students were the largest group represented among attendees (32.0%). Most attendees had exposure to radiation oncology (78.8%) before the sessions. The majority of students signed up for these sessions for education (90.6%). Some students signed up for the sessions to help with specialty selection (30.9%) and to network (30.4%). Medical students’ understanding of the role of radiation oncology in each disease site (breast, sarcoma, central nervous system, pediatrics, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, gynecologic, lymphoma, lung, and head and neck) was improved by attending each session (pre- vs postsession; P Conclusions ROVER improved medical student perceived knowledge of radiation oncology across all disease sites covered. ROVER fulfills a need for a national medical student education platform for radiation oncology. Future work is warranted to augment virtual and open educational platforms to improve access to radiation oncology education.
Category of Δ-functors

We define the category FuncΔ with functors F:DF→ Scott (DFeCPO) as objects and pairs \((f:D_F \to D_G ,\eta :F\mathop \to \limits^ \cdot G \circ f)\) as morphisms (η is a natural transformation). We show that this category is closed under the common domain theoretical operations +,X,⊥ and →. The category FuncΔ is an O-category and all the operations we define on it are continuous functors, so we will be able to solve recursive equations in FuncΔ. We also show that if we restrict FuncΔ to functors that preserve directed colimits then the category is not closed under the → operation. The category FuncΔ is a basis for a model of second-order lambda calculus with subtyping.
Effects of resistances and leakage inductances on cross regulation in SRC

The authors analyze the effect of parasitic resistances on the cross regulation performance of multi-output series resonant converter (SRC) topologies. The steady state cross regulation characteristics are derived for the example of a two-output SRC. A comparison is given of the characteristic curves of the SRC with parasitic resistances and the SRC with leakage inductances. The results show that the cross regulation due to parasitic resistances is much less than that due to the leakage inductances. The theoretical results for the parasitic resistance case were verified by computer simulation. >
Fuzzy Kanerva-based function approximation for reinforcement learning

Radial Basis Functions and Kanerva Coding can give poor performance when applied to large-scale multi-agent systems. In this paper, we attempt to solve a collection of predator-prey pursuit instances and argue that the poor performance is caused by frequent prototype collisions. We show that dynamic prototype allocation and adaptation can give better results by reducing these collisions. We then describe our novel approach, fuzzy Kanerva-based function approximation, that uses a fine-grained fuzzy membership grade to describe a state-action pair's adjacency with respect to each prototype. This approach completely eliminates prototype collisions. We conclude that adaptive fuzzy Kanerva Coding can significantly improve a reinforcement learner's ability to solve large-scale multi-agent problems.
Exploring the ROI in leadership development: a global energy company case study

Purpose – Leadership development courses are widely used despite lack of general agreement about their payoff or return on investment (ROI). The author's purpose is to explore and document the ROI of leadership development.Design/methodology/approach – The authors used three different but complementary approaches – survey research, participant observation, and a panel study in triangulating on the ROI effects of a leadership courseFindings – The three core findings were that most all respondents (90 percent) reported that the course paid off in terms of ROI; content analysis revealed three broad sources of ROI; and five elements of course design seemed important linkages to ROI pay offs.Research limitations/implications – This research is limited because it is exploratory and breaks new ground. It suggests that the actual experience of participants in leadership development courses and course design should be further studied in research on the bottom line effects of leadership developmentPractical implica...
Effects of Memory Performance on Parallel Job Scheduling

We develop a new metric for job scheduling that includes the effects of memory contention amongst simultaneously-executing jobs that share a given level of memory. Rather than assuming each job or process has a fixed, static memory requirement, we consider a generalscenario wherein a process' performance monotonically increases as a function of allocated memory, as defined by a miss-rate versus memory size curve. Given a schedule of jobs in a shared-memory multiprocessor (SMP), and an isolated miss-rate versus memory size curve for each job, we use an analyticalmemory modelto estimate the overallmemory miss-rate for the schedule. This, in turn, can be used to estimate overall performance. We develop a heuristic algorithm to find a good schedule of jobs on a SMP that minimizes memory contention, thereby improving memory and overall performance.
Gap junction function in vascular smooth muscle: Influence of serotonin

In this study we examined the effects of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) on the function of gap junctions between smooth muscle cells isolated from human and pig coronary and rat mesentery arteries and between A7r5 cells (cell line derived from embryonic rat aorta). Mesentery and pig coronary cells expressed connexin (Cx) 43, and human coronary cells expressed Cx40. Mesentery and pig coronary cells each exhibited a single gap junction channel population with unitary conductances of 75 and 59 pS, respectively. Human coronary cells exhibited two channel populations with unitary conductances of 51 and 107 pS. The A7r5 cells express Cx40 and Cx43 and exhibit three channel populations with unitary conductances of 70, 108, and 141 pS. Under control conditions, junctional conductance between the four cell types ranged from 11 to 20 nS. During maximal stimulation with 5-HT (1-10 microM), junctional conductance increased (29-75%) in all four cell types. The unitary conductance profiles in the rat mesentery and pig coronary cells were unaffected by 5-HT, suggesting that the observed increase in macroscopic conductance reflects an increase in open probability. Unitary conductances were also unaffected in the human coronary and A7r5 cells. However, there was a reduced frequency of the 105-pS channel in the human coronary cells and of the 70- and 141-pS channels in the A7r5 cells. These changes in the relative frequency histograms suggest that the open probabilities of the various channel types are differentially affected by the 5-HT treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Laboratories of practice

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to address the following assertions: first, the Laboratories of Practice (LoP) promotes professional growth. Second, the LoP enhances understanding of program design and delivery. Finally, the LoP has a financial value both to the organization where the LoP took place and to the university. The paper examines the responses of program candidates from two cohorts and the community partners they served to a survey focussed on the LoPs. Design/methodology/approach – In summer 2012, Cohort 1 students and their mentors completed a survey, a milestone paper, and reflective papers. LoP mentors (critical friends (CF)) were invited to give feedback on the LoP and the program candidate. In summer 2013, data were gathered via online surveys, milestone paper, and reflection papers from two program cohorts who experienced a LoP. In total, 48 students participated in the research. Findings – In relation to assertion no. 1, both the community partners’ and the students’ experiences ...
Automated Concept Generation: A Co-Evolutionary Approach

Conceptual design is a key early activity in product development. However, limited understanding of the conceptual design process and lack of quantitative information at this stage of design pose difficulties for effective design concept generation and evaluation. In this paper, we propose a hierarchical co-evolutionary approach to supporting design concept generation and evaluation. The approach adopts a zigzag process in which grammar rules guide function decomposition and functions and means co-evolve at each level of decomposition hierarchy. It provides an automatic computational solution to complex conceptual design systems. In this paper, the details of the approach are described, and an example of designing a mechanical personal transporter is presented to show the effectiveness of the proposed approach.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Impaired probabilistic reversal learning in youths with mood and anxiety disorders

BackgroundFrom an affective neuroscience perspective, our understanding of psychiatric illness may be advanced by neuropsychological test paradigms probing emotional processes. Reversal learning is one such process, whereby subjects must first acquire stimulus/reward and stimulus/punishment associations through trial and error and then reverse them. We sought to determine the specificity of previously demonstrated reversal learning impairments in youths with bipolar disorder (BD) by now comparing BD youths to those with severe mood dysregulation (SMD), major depressive disorder (MDD), anxiety (ANX), and healthy controls.MethodWe administered the probabilistic response reversal (PRR) task to 165 pediatric participants aged 7–17 years with BD (n=35), SMD (n=35), ANX (n=42), MDD (n=18) and normal controls (NC; n=35). Our primary analysis compared PRR performance across all five groups matched for age, sex and IQ.ResultsCompared to typically developing controls, probabilistic reversal learning was impaired in BD youths, with a trend in those with MDD (p=0.07).ConclusionsOur results suggest that reversal learning deficits are present in youths with BD and possibly those with MDD. Further work is necessary to elucidate the specificity of neural mechanisms underlying such behavioral deficits.
Potential of an Unnatural Host, Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera: Galleriidae), in Rearing the Corn Earworm Endoparasitoid Microplitis croceipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Females of the endoparasitoid Microplitis croceipes (Cresson) oviposited in early 5th instars of an unnatural host, greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella (L.), after they had been treated with hemolymph and frass from the natural host corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie). Third-instar H. zea , similar in size to 5th-instar G. mellonella were used for comparison. Forty-one percent of the G. mellonella larvae were accepted for opposition, and 90% of 3rd instars of the natural host. Parasitoid cocoons weighed 8.30 ± 0.34 mg (mean ± SE) compared with 14.08 ± 0.16 mg from H. zea . Adult emergence was 46.9 and 92.6% on G. mellonella and H. zea , respectively. The sex ratio of parasitoids reared on G. mellonella (40% male to 60% female) was not significantly different from parasitoids reared on H. zea (35% male to 65% female). F1 adults reared on G. mellonella were smaller than those reared on H. zea . When the F1 progeny of G. mellonella -reared parents were reared back on the natural host, H. zea , the resultant adult parasitoids were of normal size.
Pharmacokinetics and clinical effects of mono-L-aspartyl chlorin e6 (NPe6) photodynamic therapy in adult patients with primary or secondary cancer of the skin and mucosal surfaces.

Background/purpose Mono-L-aspartyl chlorin e6 (NPe6) is a photosensitizer that exhibits chemical purity, absorption at 664 nm wavelength and may be useful in photodynamic therapy (PDT). Methods This open label phase I clinical trial at the University of California, Davis Medical Center examined the pharmacokinetic properties of Npe6 and clinical response to PDT with this photosensitizer. A single intravenous dose of Npe6 was administered to 14 cancer patients with superficial malignancies (basal cell carcinoma = 22 lesions, squamous cell cancer = 13 lesions, papillary carcinoma = 14 lesions). Patients received one of five ascending doses (0.5 mg/kg (n = 4), 1.0 mg/kg (n = 3), 1.65 mg/kg (n = 3), 2.5 mg/kg (n = 3), or 3.5 mg/kg (n = 1)) 4-8 h prior to light activation. The total light dose (range 25-200 J/cm2) depended on the tumor shape and size. Light was delivered using an argon-pumped tunable dye laser. Serum NPe6 concentrations were measured over a 28-day period. The toxicity and cutaneous clinical efficacy of NPe6 were observed. Results Four weeks post-PDT, 20 of 22 basal cell carcinoma tumors (91%) showed a complete response. Eighteen of 27 other malignant cutaneous tumors showed a complete (n = 15/27, 56%) or partial (n = 3/27, 11%) response. Fewer non-responders were seen at an Npe6 dose level of 1.65 mg/kg or higher. Only 2 of 14 patients experienced an adverse event that was definitely related to NPe6 administration. Photosensitivity resolved within 1 week of NPe6 dosing in 12 of 14 patients. Analysis of serum levels of 11 individual patients indicated that a two-compartment model with a residual phase best fits the data. The mean alpha, beta, and terminal half-lives were 8.63+/-2.92, 105.90+/-37.59 and 168.11+/-53.40 h (+/-1 SD), respectively. The observed mean volume of distribution was 5.94+/-2.55 l, and the mean clearance was 0.0394+/-0.0132 l/h. These values were independent of the dose administered. Conclusion The photosensitizer, NPe6, was well tolerated with minimal phototoxic side effects, and demonstrated preliminary efficacy against cutaneous malignancies.
Endothelial-Derived Oxidative Stress Drives Myofibroblastic Activation and Calcification of the Aortic Valve

Aims Oxidative stress is present in and contributes to calcification of the aortic valve, but the driving factors behind the initiation of valve oxidative stress are not well understood. We tested whether the valve endothelium acts as an initiator and propagator of oxidative stress in aortic valve disease.
Removal of calcium from bone as influenced by the parathyroids.

This report is a study of the relative removal of radiocalcium and stable calcium by continuous peritoneal lavage in the rat, as influenced by the hormone of the parathyroids. The lavage procedure involved the use of male rats weighing between 225 and 275 gm. which had been maintained 48 hours on a calcium free diet and had been nephrectomized 24 hours before experimental use. Parathyroideetomy was performed without interruption of the lavage procedure. The results indicated that if the radiocalcium was injected into the animals less than 24 hours before the lavage treatment, the radioactivity removed by this method was not affected by parathyroidectomy. This was in spite of the fact that the operation caused an immediate drop in the total calcium concentrations of the lavage washes. If, however, the radiocalcium was injected two to three weeks before the continuous lavage was performed, the radiocalcium concentrations of the wash parallel those of the stable calcium, both falling after parathyroidectomy....
Government Ideology, Democracy and the Sacrifice Ratio: Evidence from Latin American and Caribbean Disinflations

This study uses a sample of 34 disinflations undertaken by thirteen Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) nations to test if political institutions impact the cost of policy induced disinflations. We find, after controlling for several of the most important covariates in the literature, that disinflations are less costly for right vs left governments and that sacrifice ratios are lower for more democratic vs authoritarian governmental regimes. This is robust to different measures of government ideology as well as to alternative ways of computing the sacrifice ratio and lends support for political economy literature which argues that political institutions have significant macroeconomic effects.
Dilemmas in the delivery of development assistance

Abstract This paper presents a case study in which systems theory is used as a framework for analyzing the experience of international consultants in assisting the education ministry of a developing country in formulating a national education 5-year plan. The study highlights the broader dilemma faced by international consultants who are frequently commissioned by clients who support systematic planning, but whose success depends heavily on the cooperation of stakeholders who are threatened by such planning. The findings of the study directly address the current debate concerning the appropriateness of the values and strategies that international development assistance organizations employ in assisting developing countries in national education planning.
Evaluation of a loop-mediated isothermal amplification method for rapid detection of channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus important bacterial pathogen Edwardsiella ictaluri

Channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus infected with Edwardsiella ictaluri results in $40–50 million annual losses in profits to catfish producers. Early detection of this pathogen is necessary for disease control and reduction of economic loss. In this communication, the loop-mediated isothermal amplification method (LAMP) that amplifies DNA with high specificity and rapidity at an isothermal condition was evaluated for rapid detection of E. ictaluri. A set of four primers, two outer and two inner, was designed specifically to recognize the eip18 gene of this pathogen. The LAMP reaction mix was optimized. Reaction temperature and time of the LAMP assay for the eip18 gene were also optimized at 65 8C for 60 min, respectively. Our results show that the ladder-like pattern of bands sizes from 234 bp specifically to the E. ictaluri gene was amplified. The detection limit of this LAMP assay was about 20 colony forming units. In addition, this optimized LAMP assay was used to detect the E. ictaluri eip18 gene in brains of experimentally challenged channel catfish. Thus, we concluded that the LAMP assay can potentially be used for rapid diagnosis in hatcheries and ponds. D 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Immunosuppression by Hydatidiform Mole Trophoblast Is Neutralized by Monoclonal Antibodies to β‐Interferon

PROBLEM In sheep and cattle, trophoblast-derived interferons serve as signals for the maternal recognition of pregnancy and may regulate the immunologic relationship between the fetus and mother. METHOD In this study, soluble extracts prepared from human hydatidiform mole decidua (DE) and trophoblast (HME) were screened for immunosuppressive activity using an interleukin (IL)-2-dependent T-cell line (CTLL2). Antibody neutralization studies were performed with monoclonal antibodies to alpha- and beta-interferon (IFN). RESULTS HME suppressed (P < 0.05) IL-2-stimulated (2 IU/well) CTLL2 proliferation at doses ranging from 500 (52 +/- 2% of control) to 100 (74 +/- 5%) micrograms/ml concentrations. DE also suppressed (P < or = 0.05) CTLL2 proliferation in a dose-related fashion from 500 (20 +/- 6% of control) to 100 (71 +/- 8%) micrograms/ml doses. Preincubation with the alpha- and beta-IFN antibody preparations had no effect on CTLL2 suppression by the DE sample. In contrast, the beta-IFN antibody partially neutralized the suppressive activity of HME at each of the dilutions tested. The monoclonal antibody to alpha-IFN failed to neutralize HME suppression at any of the doses tested. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that hydatidiform mole trophoblast produces a beta-IFN-like macromolecule that may abrogate maternal rejection responses that are harmful to the developing fetal allograft.
Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic optimisation of intravenous tobramycin dosing among children with cystic fibrosis

This study aimed to characterize the pharmacokinetics of tobramycin administered one, two, or three times daily and to develop an optimal dosing scheme for children with cystic fibrosis. Therapeutic drug monitoring data were obtained from children hospitalized at three academic medical centres from 2006 to 2012. Population pharmacokinetic models were constructed using NONMEM 7.2. Model-based simulations were performed in Matlab R2012b to identify optimal dosing regimens using pharmacodynamic targets. The pharmacokinetic analysis involved 257 patients with a median age of 8.1 years (range 0.1–18.8). Clearance was estimated as 5.59 L/h and the volume of distribution was 18.90 L. Mean (±SD) maximum serum concentrations were highest among patients dosed once per day (24.1 ± 8.9 μg/mL) and were lower among patients dosed two and three times per day (11.2 ± 1.4 and 8.1 ± 2.4 μg/mL, respectively). Simulations revealed that once daily dosing was the only effective regimen for a Pseudomonas aeruginosa MIC of 1.5 μg/mL and none of the tested regimens reliably achieved the pharmacodynamic target for MICs ≥2 μg/mL. Once daily dosing resulted in higher maximum serum concentrations when compared to multiple-daily dosing. In simulations, once daily dosing was the only regimen to achieve the pharmacodynamic target for all subjects with MICs <2 μg/mL.
Rapid detection of an ABT-737-sensitive primed for death state in cells using microplate-based respirometry.

Cells that exhibit an absolute dependence on the anti-apoptotic BCL-2 protein for survival are termed “primed for death” and are killed by the BCL-2 antagonist ABT-737. Many cancers exhibit a primed phenotype, including some that are resistant to conventional chemotherapy due to high BCL-2 expression. We show here that 1) stable BCL-2 overexpression alone can induce a primed for death state and 2) that an ABT-737-induced loss of functional cytochrome c from the electron transport chain causes a reduction in maximal respiration that is readily detectable by microplate-based respirometry. Stable BCL-2 overexpression sensitized non-tumorigenic MCF10A mammary epithelial cells to ABT-737-induced caspase-dependent apoptosis. Mitochondria within permeabilized BCL-2 overexpressing cells were selectively vulnerable to ABT-737-induced cytochrome c release compared to those from control-transfected cells, consistent with a primed state. ABT-737 treatment caused a dose-dependent impairment of maximal O2 consumption in MCF10A BCL-2 overexpressing cells but not in control-transfected cells or in immortalized mouse embryonic fibroblasts lacking both BAX and BAK. This impairment was rescued by delivering exogenous cytochrome c to mitochondria via saponin-mediated plasma membrane permeabilization. An ABT-737-induced reduction in maximal O2 consumption was also detectable in SP53, JeKo-1, and WEHI-231 B-cell lymphoma cell lines, with sensitivity correlating with BCL-2:MCL-1 ratio and with susceptibility (SP53 and JeKo-1) or resistance (WEHI-231) to ABT-737-induced apoptosis. Multiplexing respirometry assays to ELISA-based determination of cytochrome c redistribution confirmed that respiratory inhibition was associated with cytochrome c release. In summary, cell-based respiration assays were able to rapidly identify a primed for death state in cells with either artificially overexpressed or high endogenous BCL-2. Rapid detection of a primed for death state in individual cancers by “bioenergetics-based profiling” may eventually help identify the subset of patients with chemoresistant but primed tumors who can benefit from treatment that incorporates a BCL-2 antagonist.
Characterization of the Fabric/Tool and Fabric/Fabric Friction during the Thermostamping Process

The thermostamping of quality composite parts using thermoplastic woven fabrics may require the use of in-plane forces to prevent fabric wrinkling for compound-curvature surfaces. These in-plane forces are developed during the stamping process by the friction between the fabric and tool. For multilayer stampings, the in-plane force is also a consequence of the interaction of the adjacent layers of fabric. If the in-plane forces are too low, then the stamped parts may wrinkle as the fabric deforms to assume the shape of the punch. If the in-plane forces are too high, then the fabric can become damaged by tearing and yarn separation. Thus, controlling the in-plane forces is critical to achieving a quality part. In the current research, a load-control friction testing apparatus is used to quantify the fabric/tool and fabric/fabric friction behavior of a commingled balanced plain-weave fabric.
The Birth of the Gods: Robertson Smith and Durkheim’s Turn to Religion as the Basis of Social Integration

Emile Durkheim’s ideas on religion have long served as foundational blocks for sociological theories. Yet, a mystery remains over where Durkheim’s insights into religion came from and especially the event that opened his eyes to religion’s importance in social life. Durkheim never supplied details on this conversion, but he did credit Robertson Smith for his new understanding. Did Smith really play the key role in Durkheim’s turn to religion? This essay examines Durkheim’s revelation in 1895 by starting from a novel angle—the first edition of The Division of Labor and his original stage model with the “cult of nature” as the starting point for religion. Tracing the implications of his initial choice of naturism as the elementary religion, a choice he would later soundly reject as “the product of [a] delirious interpretation,” offers new insights into why Durkheim found Smith’s ideas so inspirational. It also sheds light on why Durkheim overhauled his theory of solidarity, discarding his famous distinction...
Discrimination of Complex Patterns: Orientation Information is Integrated across Spatial Scale; Spatial-Frequency and Contrast Information are Not

Real-world objects are complex, containing information at multiple orientations and spatial scales. It is well established that at initial cortical stages of processing, local information about an image is separately represented at multiple spatial scales. However, it is not yet established how these early representations are later integrated across scale to signal useful information about complex stimulus features, such as edges and textures. In the studies reported here, we investigate the scale-integration processes involved in distinguishing among complex patterns. We use a concurrent-response paradigm in which observers simultaneously judge two components of compound gratings that differ widely in spatial frequency. In different experiments, each component takes one of two slightly different values along the dimensions of spatial frequency, contrast, or orientation. Using analyses developed within the framework of a multivariate extension of signal-detection theory, we ask how information about the f...
Mass movement in the Himalaya : new insights and research directions

Abstract Ongoing studies that relate tectonics to the processes at the surface of Earth show that many more sources of information about agents of shallow denudation, such as mass movement, are required to comprehend the long term erosion that leads to deep denudation over geologic time. Mass movement in the Himalaya is scale-dependent, from the massive extension of whole mountain ranges (gravity tectonics), through the sackung failure of single peaks, to the smallest slope failures. Generally, denudation of the Himalayan orogen begins with slope failure onto glaciers and into river valleys and continues by glacial and fluvial transport. The maximum size of stable slopes and mean angles of slope that are produced by these failures are complex and controlled by a variety of factors, including mass strength of the rocks, stress fields, angles of internal friction controlled by rock type, cohesion that includes the control of rock temperature, bulk unit weight of rock, and discontinuities. The processes of mass movement in the Himalaya have been described many times for the past two centuries. Recently, developments in a variety of fields have been introduced to assess the character of mass movement. Geomorphometry, remote sensing, digital elevation models, and geographic information system technology are revolutionizing the study of mass movement in the Himalaya.
Assessment of Attractiveness of Plants as Roosting Sites for the Melon Fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae, and Oriental Fruit Fly, Bactrocera dorsalis

The use of toxic protein bait sprays to suppress melon fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett) (Diptera: Tephritidae), populations typically involves application to vegetation bordering agricultural host areas where the adults seek shelter (“roost”). Although bait spray applications for suppression of oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel), populations have traditionally been applied to the host crop, rather than to crop borders, roosting by oriental fruit flies in borders of some crop species, such as papaya, Carica papaya L. (Brassicales: Caricaceae), suggests that bait spray applications to crop borders could also help in suppression of B. dorsalis populations. In order to develop improved recommendations for application of bait sprays to border plants for suppression of melon fly and oriental fruit fly populations, the relative attractiveness of a range of plant species, in a vegetative (non-flowering) stage, was tested to wild melon fly and oriental fruit fly populations established in a papaya orchard in Hawaii. A total of 20 plant species were evaluated, divided into four categories: 1) border plants, including corn, Zea mays L. (Poales: Poaceae), windbreaks and broad-leaved ornamentals, 7 species; 2) weed plants commonly found in agricultural fields in Hawaii, 6 species; 3) host crop plants, 1 species- zucchini, Cucurbita pepo L. (Violales: Curcurbitaceae), and 4) locally grown fruit trees, 6 species. Plants were established in pots and placed in an open field, in clusters encircling protein bait traps, 20 m away from the papaya orchard. Castor bean, Ricinus communis L. (Euphorbiales: Euphorbiaceae), panax, Polyscias guilfoylei (Bull) Bailey (Apiales: Araliaceae), tiger's claw, Erythnna variegata L. (Fabales: Fabaceae), and guava, Psidium guajava L. (Myrtales: Myrtaceae) were identified as preferred roosting hosts for the melon fly, and tiger's claw, panax, castor bean, Canada cocklebur, Xanthium strumarium L. (Asterales: Asteraceae), Brazilian pepper tree, Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi (Sapindales: Anacardiaceae), ti plant, Cordyline terminate (L.) Chev.(Liliales: Liliaceae), guava and several Citrus spp. were identified as preferred roosting hosts for oriental fruit fly. Guava had not previously been identified as a preferred roosting host for melon fly. Other than for the use of panax as a roosting host, there has previously been little attention to roosting hosts for oriental fruit fly. Establishment of preferred roosting hosts as crop borders may help to improve suppression of both fruit fly species by providing sites for bait spray applications. Further research is needed to assess the use of vegetation bordering other host crops as roosting hosts, especially for oriental fruit fly.
Bidirectional continuous associator based on Gaussian potential function network

A bidirectional continuous associator (BCA) performing many-to-one forward association and one-to-many inverse association of an arbitrary continuous mapping is constructed on the basis of the multilayer Gaussian potential function network (GPFN). The constructed BCA represents a significant extension of the authors' previous work (1988), the multilayer feedforward potential function network, in which only the forward association of semicontinuous mapping with discrete output patterns is considered. The forward association of BCA uses a potential field synthesized over the domain of input space by a number of Gaussian potential function units (GPFUs). The synthesis is accomplished by learning the location, shape and necessary number of GPFUs. The inverse association of the BCA selects the desired input pattern that corresponds to the given output pattern and optimizes a certain performance index. This inverse association is carried out by an input pattern update. Such an inverse association has great potential for the implementation of a recall process and application to robotics. >
A Method for Detection of Blood Flow in the Dental Pulp

SYNOPSIS IN INTERLINGUAUN METHODO PRO LE DETECTION DE FLUXO DE SANGUINE IN LE PULPA DENTAL.—Con le objectivo de deteger sanguine in fluxo in pulpa dental de dentes intacte, un cellula photoconductive e un fonte de lumine esseva montate in un dispositivo special characterisate per le stabilitate e le armatura necessari pro registrationes a alte ganio. Registrationes esseva obtenite ab dentes canin de juvene canes. Le fluxo de sanguine oxygenate ad in le pulpa con le pulso cardiac individual causava un transiente augmento del densitate optic que esseva synchrone con le electrocardiogramma. Occlusion del ipsilateral arteria carotidic o injection de solution salin normal ad in illo causava un declino del densitate optic.
Determination of fluoride in human nails via cyclic instrumental neutron activation analysis

The role of fluorine in human health has become somewhat controversial. It is widely accepted as protective against dental caries, may be protective against osteoporosis, and has been very conservatively implicated with osteosarcoma in male rats. In this study, we repot on the development of a neutron activation analysis method and its application to the analysis of human nails. We have found that toenails collected in population-based epidemiology studies apparently reflect fluoride intake.
Kinetics of synthesis of cytoplasmic RNA with transfer properties in cultures of adrenal tumor cells

Abstract Cytoplasmic RNA species from adrenal tumor cell cultures sedimenting in the 4-S region have been examined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The kinetics of incorporation of radioactive uridine into various RNA species which migrate faster than 5-S rRNA has been analyzed. Some of these RNA fractions (fractions II, III and IV) possess several of the properties (incorporation of radioactive cytidine into -CCA end group, high degree of methylation, high pseudouridine content) which are associated with tRNA. A minor nucleoside, presumably thymine riboside, is found in variable amounts in all fractions. The half-life of one of these fractions (Fraction II) was found to be much shorter than the half-life of the bulk of tRNA. The fate of the radioactivity incorporated into different RNA fractions during a 5-min pulse was followed after an actinomycin block. The RNA synthesized under these conditions, unlike the RNA labeled over a long period of time, was unstable.
Proton transfer in ice

Abstract Born—Oppenheimer energy surfaces for proton transfer in H2O cubic ice are calculated using gradient-corrected density-functional theory. Recombination of a pair of H3O+ and OH− ionic defects is found to occur without barrier for both first-neighbor and second-neighbor pairs. The energy barriers for proton transfer in the configurations (H2OHH2O)+ and (OHHOH)− are calculated to be only 0.069 and 0.058 eV, respectively. Relaxation of the atomic coordinates is found to be critical in determining the magnitude of the energy barriers. The relaxed geometries are not consistent with a solitonic description of the proton motion.
Does “g” exist?

Abstract Is the nature of intelligence best understood as a single thing (“g”), or as a set of orthogonal variables? It is argued that a set of orthogonal variables is most likely to explain intelligence. Higher-order constructs like metacomponents, Executive Functioning and “g” are suggested to inevitably result from complex systems having interrelated parts. While such constructs may provide indices of the efficiency of such systems, they do not explain how the systems function. Further, neither parsimony, the pervasiveness of such constructs, nor biological reductionism provide adequate justification for invoking higher-order constructs as explanations of intellectual functioning.