cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Syrinx Secondary to Chiari-like Tonsillar Herniation in Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension.

Objective Syrinx development in patients with spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) has rarely been described. To better understand this entity, we compared the clinical and radiographic findings in a series of patients with SIH and acquired Chiari-like tonsillar herniation with and without syrinx formation. Methods Six patients with syrinx in the setting of SIH and Chiari-like tonsillar herniation were retrospectively identified. The clinical and radiographic findings and outcomes were compared with those from a control group of patients with SIH and Chiari-like tonsillar herniation without syrinx. Results The patients with SIH and syrinx had had a higher opening pressure than had the control group (mean, 14.0 cm H2O vs. 7.4 cm H2O; P = 0.02) and a higher body mass index (mean, 33 kg/m2 vs. 26 kg/m2; P = 0.01). The patients with syrinx had had an average obex displacement of 3.7 ± 2.2 mm below the plane of the foramen magnum compared with a position of 1.9 ± 3.1 mm above the plane of the foramen magnum in the control group (P = 0.004). The mean tonsillar descent was 12.7 ± 4.7 mm below the foramen magnum in those with syrinx compared with 5.9 ± 2.5 in the control group (P = 0.009). The clinical symptoms had improved in 83.3% of the patients with syrinx and 75% of the control patients after spinal cerebrospinal fluid leak closure. Three patients (50%) also had radiographic syrinx reduction. Conclusion Our results have shown that SIH can be an underrecognized cause of syrinx with key differences in body habitus and obex displacement compared with SIH without syrinx. In patients with tonsillar herniation into the foramen magnum associated with syrinx, the presence of SIH should be considered to avoid unnecessary foramen magnum decompression, even in those with a normal opening pressure.
A Narrowband Imaging Search for [O III] Emission from Galaxies at z > 3

We present the results of a narrowband survey of quasi-stellar-object (QSO) fields at redshifts that place the [O III] (5007 A) emission line in the Δλ/λ~1% 2.16 μm filter. We have observed 3 arcmin2 and detected one emission-line candidate object in the field around PC 1109+4642. We discuss the possibilities that this object is a star-forming galaxy at the QSO redshift, zem=3.313, or a Seyfert galaxy. In the former case, we infer a star formation rate of 170 M☉ yr-1 for this K'=21.3 object. The galaxy has a compact but resolved morphology, with an FWHM=06 or 4.2 kpc at z=3.313 (H0=50 km s−1 Mpc−1 and q0=0.5). The comoving density of such objects in QSO environments appears to be 0.0033 Mpc−3, marginally lower (≤3 σ) than the density observed for Hα-emitters in absorption-line fields at z~2.5 but similar to the density of Lyman-break galaxies at z~3. If, on the other hand, most of the line emission is [O III] from a Seyfert 2 nucleus at z=3.31, then the high inferred volume density could imply a large evolution in the Seyfert 2 luminosity function from the current epoch. We find the field containing the object to also contain many faint extended objects in the K' image but little significant excess over the expected number-magnitude relation. We discuss the implication of the emission line being a longer wavelength line at a lower redshift.
Diagnosing Achilles Tendon Rupture with Ultrasound in Patients Treated Surgically: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Abstract Background Achilles tendon rupture is a common injury with increasing incidence due to the rising popularity of high-velocity sports, continued physical activity of the aging American population, and use of fluoroquinolones and steroid injections. The diagnosis can often be missed or delayed, with up to 20% misdiagnosed, most commonly as an ankle sprain. Objective The aim of our study was to systematically evaluate the reported sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratios of ultrasound for detecting Achilles tendon rupture in patients who were treated surgically. Methods In January 2020, we performed a literature search of MEDLINE and EMBASE databases to identify eligible articles according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Inclusion criteria were original studies with at least five patients, which reported data on the sonographic diagnosis of Achilles tendon rupture (complete or partial) compared to surgery as the reference standard. Results A total of 15 studies with 808 patients were included in the primary analysis. The sensitivity of ultrasound for detecting complete Achilles tendon ruptures was 94.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] 91.3–97.2%), specificity was 98.7% (95% CI 97.0–99.6%), positive likelihood ratio was 74.0 (95% CI 31.0–176.8), and negative likelihood ratio was 0.05 (95% CI 0.03–0.09), in patients who underwent surgical treatment. Conclusions The results from our study suggested that a negative ultrasound result may have the potential to rule out a complete, as well as a partial, Achilles tendon rupture.
Combining a Historical Geology Project with a Campus Student Organization's Fundraising Efforts

Combining a classroom activity with the goals of a campus student organization can promote active learning for the enrolled students, the campus and local community. A service-learning project in a general education geoscience course encourages stronger student enthusiasm and a vested interest towards the success of the project. Undergraduate students enrolled in historical geology are required to present summaries of geologic time periods and fossil samples during the Change Thru Geologic Time project, a service-learning activity at Penn State University Delaware County. Attendees at the event are asked to donate change to a student organization's fundraising efforts for pediatric cancer patients, their families, and innovative pediatric cancer research. The success of this event demonstrates that a common historical geology class assignment requiring students to scale geologic time over a certain distance can be modified to serve as an educational showcase and a fundraiser for a campus student organization.
Studies on Human Platelet Proteins II. Effect of Thrombin

The properties of proteins from blood platelets soluble in 0.2 M tris-HCl, pH 8.2 have been studied and more than one thrombin-sensitive protein detected by gel electrophoresis. The most prominent effect of thrombin is on a protein migrating in the beta-globulin region which shows a diminution in amount and a change in the electrophoretic mobility. This protein has been partially purified. The protein fails to produce a precipitin line against anti-whole serum on immunoelectrophoresis or against anti-fibrinogen in starch gel immunoelectrophoresis. It does not contain fibrin-stabilizing factor, factor V or platelet factor III.
Reoperative Crohn׳s surgery: Lessons learned the hard way

Abstract Crohn׳s disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestinal tract characterized by transmural inflammation, which can progress to intestinal perforation, intra-abdominal abscesses, intestinal strictures, and fistula development. Surgery is frequently required to correct these disease-related complications. Unfortunately, there is no medical or surgical cure for the disease, and the etiology remains undefined. Thus, many patients will undergo multiple operations over their lifetime when the disease process becomes medically refractory and complications ensue. The index operation in CD can be challenging due to the active disease and any associated inflammation in non-diseased bowel. However, reoperative CD surgery even more complex due to the underlying disease process, adhesive disease, altered anatomy from the prior surgery or surgeries and the imperative to preserve small bowel. Several steps can be taken in the preoperative phase to optimize outcomes, and there are many technical aspects should be considered during the reoperation to assist in the performance of a safe operation and attempt to minimize intestinal resection. Herein, we review some of the important principles of operative and reoperative Crohn׳s surgery that can assist the operating surgeon when approaching this challenging patient population.
A study of one hundred and fifteen cases of ruptured ectopic pregnancy

Abstract 1. 1. Presentation of 115 cases of ruptured ectopic pregnancy, giving the incidence and comparison with private hospitals, and the ratio of ectopic pregnancies to births in the city and private hospitals. 2. 2. Division of cases into three groups (I. acute emergencies, II. deliberate surgery, III. obscure cases) with comparison of the clinical findings, as to age, race, clinical symptoms, physical and laboratory findings, showing that there is a difference in the three groups, and a necessity for differentiation in the type of treatment. 3. 3. Emphasizing that careful history and summary of clinical findings, varied types of pain, subnormal temperature, abdominal distention without rigidity, soft cervix, enlarged uterus, and leucocytosis in a woman of the childbearing age should keep one “ectopic-minded.”
The insulin receptor functions normally in chinese hamster ovary cells after truncation of the C terminus

We studied the structure and function of the human insulin receptor (IR) and a mutant which lacked the last 43 amino acids of the beta-subunit (IR delta ct). This deletion removed tyrosine (Tyr1322, Tyr1316) and threonine (Thr1336) phosphorylation sites. In Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, insulin binding to the mutant receptor was normal, and [35S]methionine labeling indicated that both the IR and IR delta ct were processed normally; however, the beta-subunit of IR delta ct was 5 kDa smaller than that of the IR. The time course of insulin-stimulated autophosphorylation of the partially purified IR delta ct was normal, but the maximum autophosphorylation was reduced 20-30%. Tryptic phosphopeptide mapping confirmed the absence of the C-terminal phosphorylation sites and indicated that phosphorylation of the regulatory region (Tyr1146, Tyr1150, Tyr1151) occurred normally; kinase activity of the IR and IR delta ct was activated normally by insulin-stimulated autophosphorylation. In the intact CHO cells, insulin-stimulated serine and threonine phosphorylation of the IR delta ct was reduced 20%, suggesting that most Ser/Thr phosphorylation sites are located outside of the C terminus. During insulin stimulation, the wild-type and mutant insulin receptor activated the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. Moreover, insulin itself or human-specific anti-insulin receptor antibodies stimulated glycogen and DNA synthesis equally in both CHO/IR and CHO/IR delta ct cells. These data suggest that the C terminus plays a minimal role in IR function and signal transmission in CHO cells.
Oncolysis of Diffuse Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Intravascular Administration of a Replication-competent, Genetically Engineered Herpesvirus

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) replication within tumors can mediate tumor regression (oncolysis). The genetically engineered, HSV-1 mutant rRp450 does not express viral ribonucleotide reductase and is therefore replication conditional. During the course of infection, rRp450 expresses the cytochrome P450 transgene and HSV-1 thymidine kinase gene, thereby enabling it to bioactivate the prodrugs cyclophosphamide and ganciclovir, respectively. rRp450 replication in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells is cytotoxic and liberates progeny virion that infect adjacent tumor cells. rRp450-mediated oncolysis is enhanced in the presence of cyclophosphamide, whereas it is inhibited in the presence of ganciclovir. As a consequence of defective viral ribonucleotide reductase expression, the yield of rRp450 progeny virions from infection of HCC cells is 3 to 4 log orders greater than that from infection of normal hepatocytes. This is associated with dramatic tumor reduction of diffuse HCC after a single intravascular administration of rRp450. rRp450 holds the promise of the dual therapeutic benefit of selective oncolysis and P450 transgene delivery.
Immunoglobulin a Secretion

The sections in this article are: 1 Molecules Involved in Immunoglobulin a Transport 2 Anatomic and Cellular Basis of Immunoglobulin a Response 3 Immunoglobulin a Transport into Secretions
Turbo multiuser detection for turbo-coded CDMA

An iterative receiver structure is proposed for decoding multiuser information data in a turbo-coded DS-CDMA system. The receiver performs two successive soft-output decisions, achieved by a soft-input soft-output (SISO) multiuser detector and a bank of single-user SISO channel decoders, through an iterative process. At each iteration, extrinsic information is extracted from detection and decoding stages and is then used as a priori information in the next iteration, just as in turbo decoding. A low-complexity SISO multiuser detector is developed based on a novel nonlinear interference suppression technique, which makes use of both soft-interference cancellation and instantaneous linear MMSE filtering. Turbo multiuser detectors for both the simple synchronous CDMA channels and the more complex asynchronous multipath CDMA channels are developed.
Murine polymorphonuclear neutrophils produce interferon-γ in response to pulmonary infection with Nocardia asteroides

Nocardia asteroides causes an acute, necrotizing pneumonia characterized by extensive infiltration of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) into the lungs. Although PMNs have histor- ically been classified as end-point cells, recent in- vestigations have indicated that PMNs have the ability to secrete cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-12. This study investigated the ability of PMNs to produce cytokines in a murine model of N. asteroides pulmonary infection. Flow cytomet- ric analysis demonstrated the production of inter- feron- (IFN-), but not IL-4, by PMNs in response to this infection. IFN- production correlated with peak infiltration of PMNs into the lungs. Cell sort- ing and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to confirm cytokine production by cells with nuclear morphology characteristic of PMNs. This is the first report of IFN- production by neutro- phils in response to an infection in vivo. These results suggest that PMNs play an important role in directing the host toward a T helper cell type 1 phenotypic response in the lungs. J. Leukoc. Biol. 72: 373-381; 2002.
Familiarity differentially affects right hemisphere contributions to processing metaphors and literals.

The role of the two hemispheres in processing metaphoric language is controversial. While some studies have reported a special role of the right hemisphere (RH) in processing metaphors, others indicate no difference in laterality relative to literal language. Some studies have found a role of the RH for novel/unfamiliar metaphors, but not conventional/familiar metaphors. It is not clear, however, whether the role of the RH is specific to metaphor novelty, or whether it reflects processing, reinterpretation or reanalysis of novel/unfamiliar language in general. Here we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine the effects of familiarity in both metaphoric and non-metaphoric sentences. A left lateralized network containing the middle and inferior frontal gyri, posterior temporal regions in the left hemisphere (LH), and inferior frontal regions in the RH, was engaged across both metaphoric and non-metaphoric sentences; engagement of this network decreased as familiarity decreased. No region was engaged selectively for greater metaphoric unfamiliarity. An analysis of laterality, however, showed that the contribution of the RH relative to that of LH does increase in a metaphorspecific manner as familiarity decreases. These results show that RH regions, taken by themselves, including commonly reported regions such as the right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), are responsive to increased cognitive demands of processing unfamiliar stimuli, rather than being metaphor-selective. The division of labor between the two hemispheres, however, does shift towards the right for metaphoric processing. The shift results not because the RH contributes more to metaphoric processing. Rather, relative to its contribution for processing literals, the LH contributes less.
Content of sodium and potassium in supraspinatus muscle from hypovitaminotic A Holstein calves.

Abstract Twenty-three six-week-old Holstein male calves were fed a vitamin A depletion ration, at levels anticipated to produce a weekly increase in live weight of 5%, supplemented with one of four vitamin A intakes : 4, 12, 36, or 108 μ g per kilogram of live weight per day for a 16-week period. Live weight gain was slightly less in those calves fed the 4 and 12 μ g intakes. Plasma vitamin A concentrations essentially reflected intakes of the vitamin, and cerebrospinal fluid pressure was elevated in the calves fed the 4 and 12 μ g intakes, with the degree of elevation related inversely to the vitamin intake. Dry matter and sodium contents of the supraspinatus muscle were unaffected by vitamin A intake. Slightly lower ash and potassium concentrations were found in the muscle of those calves fed the 4 and 12 μ g intakes of the vitamin, but when these constituents were expressed on a dry matter basis, there were no apparent effects due to level of vitamin A intake.
Two-Dimensional Microfabricated Colloid Thruster Arrays

This paper reports the preliminary development and experimental characterization of a planar array of micro–fabricated electrospray emitters, intended for space propulsion applications in micro–satellites. Electrospray engines take advantage of the electrohydrodynamic effect known as Taylor cone to produce thrust. The array is designed with an open architecture and is composed of a set of spikes, i.e., emitters, coming out from a propellant pool. The emitters were fabricated in two configurations: fully sharpened emitters, i.e., pencils, and truncated emitters, i.e., volcanoes. The engine has anywhere from 4 up to 1025 emitters in a 0.64 cm active area. The engine hydraulics is covered with black silicon that acts as wicking material. This paper briefly discusses the micro-fabrication of the engine and provides experimental characterization of the hydraulics system including wettability tests, current-versus-extraction voltage data, and the imprints of the exit stream on collectors. A preliminary demonstration of the possibility of using temperature control to obtain substantially larger emission currents for the same extraction voltage is also provided. The paper preliminarily compares the results the theory of field emission for electrons, to finally point out the tentative future work.
The Effect of Chip Adsorption on Selective Depletion From a Multi-Component Synthetic Metalworking Fluid

Certain components found in metalworking fluid formulations are known to be prone to selective depletion via adsorption onto the surfaces of particulate generated during metal cutting operations. The characteristics of adsorption for a multi-component synthetic metalworking fluid are investigated in order to determine the affect that machining particulate contamination has on component depletion from this fluid. Experimental measurements indicate that the corrosion inhibiting component of the formulation is especially prone to depletion via the adsorption mechanism. A Langmuir isotherm/mass balance based predictive model is developed to determine the effect of chip adsorption on depletion from industrial metalworking fluid systems and is experimentally verified. An industrial case study is applied to further investigate selective component depletion via the adsorption mechanism.
Plasma aminothiol oxidation in chronic hemodialysis patients.

Plasma aminothiol oxidation in chronic hemodialysis patients. Background Plasma aminothiols, including homocysteine, cysteine, and glutathione, function as an important extracellular redox system. We examined the plasma aminothiol concentration and redox status in ten chronic hemodialysis patients compared to ten age-matched healthy subjects. Methods Plasma levels of reduced, free oxidized, and protein-bound homocysteine, cysteine, cysteinylglycine, and glutathione were determined using high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results Total plasma homocysteine, cysteine, and cysteinylglycine levels were significantly elevated in hemodialysis patients before dialysis compared to healthy subjects. Total plasma concentration of cysteine and homocysteine significantly decreased after hemodialysis. The ratio of free oxidized to free reduced homocysteine, cysteine, cysteinylglycine, and glutathione were each significantly elevated before dialysis compared to healthy subjects, and decreased significantly by the end of dialysis. The free oxidized to reduced ratio of cysteine and homocysteine were also significantly correlated with total plasma concentrations. Conclusions Plasma aminothiols are excessively oxidized in uremia, while the hemodialysis procedure is restorative of redox status. Oxidized aminothiols are candidate uremic toxins.
Pressure-Driven Bipolar Electrochemistry

Here we report that pressure-driven flow alone (no external electrical energy) can be used to drive faradaic electrochemical reactions in microchannels with charged walls. Specifically, we show that solution flow can generate streaming potentials on the order of volts and that this is sufficient to carry out reactions on the anodic and cathodic poles of a bipolar electrode (BPE). The existence of faradaic reactions is proven by electrodissolution of Ag from the anodic end of the BPE.
Gay hospitality as desiring labor: Contextualizing transnational sexual labor

This critical ethnographic research explores gay hospitality as a ‘testimony of desire’ by working-class and ‘gay’-identified Filipino sexual laborers who ‘work’ as companions for foreign tourists in a gentrifying tourism district, Malate, the Philippines. I analyze gay hospitality as informal sexual labor by applying the concept of identity work, which involves hosts’ construction and maintenance of their ‘gay’ identity and connection to urban place. I argue that their testimonies of desire are subaltern development discourses, which speak to significant lived experiences of work and place and, which offer alternative configurations of identity, relationships, and economic exchange.
A curriculum in pediatric radiology for diagnostic radiology residents. Education and Training Committee, Society for Pediatric Radiology.

In 1991-1992, a number of ad hoc SPR committees were formed to address many issues before the society. Each committee has functioned effectively for three or more years establishing practice guidelines, fostering new programs, encouraging membership participation and supporting leadership initiatives. The work of one of these committees, Education and Training, is reported in this issue. This committee was charged to work to improve education at the medical student, resident, fellow and postgraduate levels. Initially, the committee was chaired by Don Kirks and more recently by Alan Schlesinger. The committee consists of ten members (Sam Auringer, Paula Brill, Ed Burton, Susan John, Don Kirks, Sarah Klein, Richard Markowitz, Donald Newman, Alan Schlesinger and Beverly Wood). The committee has conducted surveys of medical student teaching and has worked to develop pediatric radiology core curricula for different levels of training. We anticipate that on this page or in accompanying journal articles we will communicate other SPR committee activities, review board work and announce meeting plans. Please suggest topics for upcoming issues.
Boredom Proneness and Psychosocial Development

The effect of boredom proneness as measured by the Boredom Proneness Scale (R. F. Farmer & N. D. Sundberg, 1986) on college students' psychosocial development was investigated via the Student Developmental Task and Lifestyle Assessment (SDTLA; R. B. Winston, T. K. Miller, & J. S. Prince, 1995). Low boredom-prone students had significantly higher scores on the following SDTLA measures: career planning, lifestyle planning, peer relationships, educational involvement, instrumental autonomy, emotional autonomy, interdependence, academic autonomy, and salubrious lifestyle. Gender differences on boredom proneness and psychosocial development measures are discussed.
Simultaneous Reaction of Hydroxyl Radicals and Aquated Electrons with Ferrimyoglobin in lrradialfed Solutions

The simultaneous reactions of .OH and eaq with ferrimyoglobin (bovine muscle and horse heart) that occur in γ-irradiated, deaerated solutions at pH 7.2 have been examined. Spectral characterization of deoxymyoglobin as the major product is confirmed by the subsequent quantitative conversion of this product to oxymyoglobin upon aeration of the irradiated solution. The relevance of this product identification is discussed with respect to earlier reports on the reactions of these free radicals with ferrimyoglobin in the absence of oxygen.
Hybrid modeling and analysis of different through-silicon-Via (TSV)-based 3D power distribution networks

This paper reports on a novel partition and assembly approach that combines both the electromagnetic (EM) and analytical simulations to accurately model and analyze several through-silicon-via (TSV) based 3D power delivery networks, which are composed of various stacked-chips, interposer, and package substrate. With this method, we also analyzed RLC couplings between multiple voltage supply rails in 3D systems. The quantitatively examined power performance unveils 3D power delivery design implications, which is useful for 3D system design and fabrication.
Anesthesia and Analgesia in Reptiles

Abstract Reptiles are a diverse, complex group of animals that present unique challenges to the practitioner delivering anesthetic and analgesic care. A review of the current literature addressing the physiology and anatomy pertinent to the administration of anesthesia and analgesia to a wide variety of reptiles is presented in this article. Current clinical techniques in sedation and analgesia, the induction and maintenance of anesthesia, perianesthetic support, and monitoring are discussed.
Overexpression of the transmembrane tyrosine phosphatase LAR activates the caspase pathway and induces apoptosis

Abstract Background: The protein tyrosine phosphatase family comprises transmembrane receptor-like and cytosolic forms. Although the exact biological functions of these enzymes are largely unknown, they are believed to counter-balance the effects of protein tyrosine kinases. We have previously identified and characterized a mammalian transmembrane protein tyrosine phosphatase, called LAR (leukocyte common antigen related gene), whose expression is often associated with proliferating epithelial cells or epithelial progenitor cells. This study investigates the potential role of LAR in the regulation of cell growth and death in mammals. Results: We overexpressed in mammalian cells in culture either the full-length wild-type LAR or a truncation mutant containing only the extracellular domain of the molecule, and found that whereas the truncated LAR could be readily overexpressed in various cell lines, cells overexpressing the wild-type LAR were negatively selected. Using an inducible expression system, we demonstrated that overexpression of the wild-type LAR, but not the truncated LAR, activated the caspase pathway directly and induced p53-independent apoptosis. Conclusions: Our data suggest that LAR might regulate cellular signals essential for cell survival. Overproduction of LAR may tilt the balance between the tyrosine phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of proteins whose activities are critical for cell survival, and therefore lead to cell death. In addition, our observations that overexpression of LAR induces cell death without affecting cell adhesion suggest that LAR may activate the caspase pathway and induce cell death directly. This work is the first example of the involvement of a receptor-like protein tyrosine phosphatase in cell-death control and provides the basis for searching for molecules and mechanisms linking signal transduction by protein tyrosine phosphorylation to the caspase-mediated cell-death pathway.
DIFFERENTIAL DISPLAY OF GENES IN NORMAL AND HYPOPLASTIC FETAL LUNGS. † 309

To evaluate lung development at the level of gene expression, a comparison was made between normal and hypoplastic murine fetal lungs by using the mRNA differential display technique. We focused on altered gene expressions at gestational day (Gd) 19 in normal and hypoplastic murine lungs. Hypoplastic fetal lungs were created by gavaging pregnant mice at Gd8 with 25 mg of Nitrofen (2,4-dichlorophenyl-p-nitrophenylether, Cilley et al., 1997). Normal as well as gavaged mice were euthanized by an overdose of halothane at Gd19, and fetuses were removed by laparotomy. Lungs were excised and total RNA was extracted from normal and hypoplastic fetal lungs. Differential display technique was carried out using the RNAimage' kit (GenHunter Corp). Each reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed using one specific anchor primer H-T11-M(5′HindIII-T11-A/C/G3′)and one arbitrary primer. We have used a total of 3 different anchor primers and 24 arbitrary primers for each sample. There were 20 differentially expressed cDNA clones, either induced, inhibited, enhanced or reduced in hypoplastic fetal lungs as compared to normal. Of these, one clone (NL2), with reduced expression in Gd19 hypoplastic lungs had 100% homology with nucleosome assembly protein I gene. Another clone (NT5) with induced expression in hypoplastic lungs, is an unknown gene. Further, analyses of Northern blots of lungs from various gestational ages showed that expression of NT5 was induced in hypoplastic lungs at Gd18, whereas in normal lungs it was first expressed at neonatal stage and was increasingly expressed into adulthood. There is a single, approximately 600 bp long message for NT5. Dexamethasone induced expression of NT5 in normal Gd14 pseudoglandular lungs cultured for seven days, however different growth factors did not. Northern blot hybridization of multiple adult mice tissues showed NT5 expression in lung, intestine and spleen. Thyromimetic action of Nitrofen and interactive functional pathways of dexamethasone with T3 are known. Therefore, we suggest that isolation and characterization of NT5 may provide valuable information on regulation of lung development.
Abstract A24: Epigenetic silencing of ID4 (inhibitor of DNA binding 4) is associated with prostate cancer

Introduction: Inhibitor of DNA binding/differentiation protein 4 (Id4) is dominant negative regulator of basic helix loop helix (bHLH) family of transcription factors. Id4 shares the homology of HLH domain with other Ids and lack the basic DNA binding region. Previous studies from our lab had shown that unlike Id1, Id2 and Id3, Id4 acts as a tumor suppressor in prostate cancer by attenuating cell proliferation and promote apoptosis. Consistent with these observations Id4 is epigenetically silenced in Du145 prostate cancer cell line. In this study we investigated whether Id4 is also epigenetically silenced in prostate cancer. We also examined association between Id4 promoter hypermethylation and its expression in prostate cancer cell lines. Experimental procedures: Id4 protein expression was analyzed on human prostate adenocarcinoma samples by Immunhistochemistry. Id4 promoter methylation pattern on prostate cancer cell lines (C33, C81, DU145, LNCaP, DU145+ID4, and PC3) was examined. In addition, we performed Laser capture microdisection (LCMD) on the human prostate tissues and methylation specific PCR to correlate our cell line studies with clinical studies. Results: IHC demonstrated decreased Id4 protein expression in human prostate tissue samples whereas higher nuclear Id4 expression was found in normal prostate tissues.Id4 methylation specific PCR (MSP) on prostate cancer cell lines, showed Id4 methylation in DU145 cell and but not in LNCaP and C33 cells. In C81 and PC3 cells it showed partial methylation. C81 are derivatives of LNCaP cell lines and are Androgen independent and are more metastatic. Increased Id4 methylation in C81 as compared to LNCaP suggests its epigenetic silencing as cells acquire androgen independence. Tumors with Id4 promoter hypermethylation showed distinct loss of Id4 expression. Conclusions: Id4 appears as a potential tumor suppressor gene that is epigenetically silenced during cancer development.Id4 promoter hypermethylation had been reported in breast, colorectal cancer and chronic lymphocytic leukemia Thus, loss of Id4 expression due to promoter hypermethylation. Id4 methylation status could serve as a prognostic biomarker in human prostate cancer. Acknowledgement: The research was supported by NIH/NCI-RO1CA128914 and in part by NIH/NCRR/RCMI G12RR03062. Citation Format: Pankaj Sharma, Swathi Chinaranagari, Divya Patel, Jaideep Chaudhary. Epigenetic silencing of ID4 (inhibitor of DNA binding 4) is associated with prostate cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Advances in Prostate Cancer Research; 2012 Feb 6-9; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(4 Suppl):Abstract nr A24.
Egg rejection in a passerine bird: size does matter

Abstract Avian brood parasites reduce the reproductive success of their hosts, selecting for the evolution of egg discrimination by the host, and potentially creating a coevolutionary arms race between host and parasite. Host egg discrimination ability is crucial in determining whether the arms race results in extinction (of the parasite on a particular host) or stable coevolutionary equilibrium of the host–parasite pair. I examined egg discrimination behaviour in the yellow-browed leaf warbler, Phylloscopus humei , a presumed former host of parasitic cuckoos, to show how discrimination ability has become very strong. Field experiments using model eggs demonstrate that rejection decisions are based on the relative size of eggs in the clutch. Individuals do not learn the particular size of their own eggs, but will accept both large and small eggs as long as all eggs in the clutch are of similar size. Host rejection decisions are continuously modified based on assessment of variation in egg sizes currently in the clutch, making it a difficult strategy for a cuckoo to defeat.
A Modeling of Fe-Ga Magnetostrictive Shunt Damper

This study presents mechanical energy dissipation with a proof-of-concept prototype magnetostrictive (Fe-Ga alloy, galfenol) based shunt circuit using passive electrical components. Magneto strictive material can harvest electricity out of the structural vibrations based on the Villari effect using permanent magnet and pickup coil configuration. The device in this study consists of a polycrystalline galfenol strip bonded to a brass cantilever beam. Two brass pieces, each containing a permanent magnet, are used to mass load at the end of the beam and to provide a magnetic bias field through the galfenol strip. The voltage induced in an induction coil closely wound around the cantilever beam captures the time rate of change of magnetic flux within the galfenol strip as the beam vibrates. To dissipate the electrical voltage output from the pickup coil and/or to change the phase of eddy current from the magnetic flux density fluctuation, a shunt circuit is attached. The effective mechanical impedance for the magnetostrictive shunt circuit is derived in a model. The effectiveness of a series L-R and L-C shunt circuit is demonstrated theoretically and experimentally. The non-linear model parameters, which include the mechanical-magnetic coupling factors, α and αT, and the permeability of galfenol, β, are extracted from experimental measurement. The shunted magnetostrictive damping model of both resistive and capacitance shunt cases compare well with the experimental results.© 2014 ASME
The Simplified Exchange Approximation: A New Method for Radiative Transfer Calculations

Abstract A new scheme for the efficient calculation of longwave radiative heating rates is proposed. Its speed and accuracy make it attractive for use in large atmospheric circulation models. The approximation suggested iswhere q is the heating rate, qe an “emissivity” heating rate calculated using the strong-line approximation and neglecting variation of line intensity with temperature, qeCTS the heating rate calculated using the cool-to-space approximation and the emissivity assumption, and qCTS the heating rate calculated by the cool-to-space approximation. Tests using a variety of soundings indicate that for both clear sky and cloudy cases the new approximation is substantially more accurate than either the emissivity or the cool-to-space approximations alone. Deviations from exact calculations are generally under 0.05 K day−1. Errors in the calculated flux at the surface are also shown to be small especially with the inclusion of a “heat from ground” term in the approximation. Some alternate schemes ...
New generalization of supersymmetric quantum mechanics to arbitrary dimensionality or number of distinguishable particles.

We present here a new approach to generalize supersymmetric quantum mechanics to treat multiparticle and multidimensional systems. We do this by introducing a vector superpotential in an orthogonal hyperspace. In the case of N distinguishable particles in three dimensions this results in a vector superpotential with 3N orthogonal components. The original scalar Schrodinger operator can be factored using a 3N-component gradient operator and introducing vector “charge” operators: Q1 and Q1†. Using these operators, we can write the original (scalar) Hamiltonian as H1 = Q1†·Q1 + E0(1), where E0(1) is the ground-state energy. The second sector Hamiltonian is a tensor given by H2 = Q1Q1† + E0(1) and is isospectral with H1. The vector ground state of sector 2, ψ0(2), can be used with the charge operator Q1† to obtain the excited-state wave function of the first sector. In addition, we show that H2 can also be factored in terms of a sector 2 vector superpotential with components W2j = −(∂ ln ψ0j(2))/∂xj...
Assessing Health Status in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Using a Novel Single-Item Numeric Rating Scale

Current instruments used to measure disease activity and health-related quality of life in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are often cumbersome, time-consuming, and expensive; although used in clinical trials, they are not convenient for clinical practice. A numeric rating scale (NRS) is a quick, inexpensive, and convenient patient-reported outcome that can capture the patient’s overall perception of health. The aim of this study was to assess the validity, reliability, and responsiveness of an NRS and evaluate its use in clinical practice in patients with CD and UC. We prospectively evaluated patient-reported NRS scores and measured correlations between NRS and a range of severity measures, including physician-reported NRS, Crohn’s disease activity index (CDAI), Harvey-Bradshaw index (HBI), inflammatory bowel disease questionnaire (IBDQ), and C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with CD. Subsequently, we evaluated the correlation between the NRS and standard measures of health status (HBI or simple colitis clinical activity index [SCCAI]) and laboratory tests (sedimentation rate [ESR], CRP, and fecal calprotectin) in patients with CD and UC. The patient-reported NRS showed excellent correlation with CDAI (R 2 = 0.59, p < 0.0001), IBDQ (R 2 = 0.66, p < 0.0001), and HBI (R 2 = 0.32, p < 0.0001) in patients with CD. The NRS showed poor, but statistically significant correlation with SCCAI (R 2 = 0.25, p < 0.0001) in patients with UC. The NRS did not correlate with CRP, ESR, or calprotectin. The NRS was reliable and responsive to change. The NRS is a valid, reliable, and responsive measure that may be useful to evaluate patients with CD and possibly UC.
Phosphorus retention and release of anions and organic carbon by two Andisols

Andisols can absorb large amounts of phosphorus rapidly, and then release it slowly, yet the mechanisms by which they retain P and release it for plant growth are poorly understood. Ligand exchange of organic compounds from Al-humic complexes by P and/or Si release - due to breakdown of allophanic microstructure to provide sorption sites - might account for the retention of P, but its extent is not known. We applied a soil column flow-through technique to quantify the release of anions and organic carbon (C) associated with P sorption by two andic soils, and we related the anion release to possible mechanisms for the retention of P. Phosphate (H 2 PO 4 - , HPO 4 2- ) sorption and concurrent anion desorption were obtained by passing a 1-g P l -1 (32 mmol KH 2 PO 4 in 1 mM CaCl 2 ) solution through the soil columns (25 cm 3 ). Total dissolved P, Fe, Al, S, Ca, Mg, K, Mn, organic C and pH were determined in the eluent. Changes in eluent pH and the patterns of the retention of P and corresponding concentrations of Al, Si and organic C in the eluent were similar for the two Andisols. The general pattern and changes in pH of the eluent coincided with changes in the patterns of release of organic C and Si and the rate of P retention. Release of silica accounted for <6% of the P sorbed and had only a minor role in P retention in these two Andisols. Release of organic C, however, accounted on a molar basis for 40% and 83%, respectively, of the P sorbed. Direct measurements of the pH of the eluent and release of anions and organic C concurrent to P retention contribute to rapid assessment of the controlling mechanisms of P retention. The results indirectly confirm the hypothesis of ligand exchange of solution P with organic complexes held on allophanic surfaces. The organic C release, however, is not specifically related to either the fast or the slow P retention phase. The shift in the controlling P retention reaction associated with a change from the fast to the slow P retention phase is clearly indicated by an abrupt change of the pH of the eluent. This shift, in previous studies identified graphically by a change in slope of the P sorption isotherm, can be identified directly by measuring the pH of the matrix.
XLibris: an automated library research assistant

While recent work has focused on providing tools and infrastructure for users to access electronic information over the Internet, the relationship between the physical world and information available online has been relatively unexplored. Information about a user's location, and the objects she interacts with, can be sufficient to recognize enough of the user's task to drive retrieval of online information relevant to the task at hand. The XLibris system automatically retrieves, aggregates, and delivers information about books to users as they are checked out of the library, using information about the books themselves and the user's task. XLibris locates books in the Dewey Decimal subject hierarchy to automatically search for the most relevant information about the book for the user, tailoring both the sources queried and the information returned based on the book's position in the hierarchy.
Optimizing the non-destructive test program for a missile inventory

The quantity and frequency of non-destructive testing (NDT) across the life cycle of a missile inventory must be carefully considered. This paper provides a process for optimizing the quantity of missiles subject to NDT across the life of the missile inventory. This process ensures that the program does not exceed the minimum test quantity necessary to ensure that the inventory continues to meet the user's reliability requirement based on the predicted failure probability and annual test quantity. The methodology takes into account the age distribution of the inventory, tested/untested populations, removal of failing hardware, and items with multiple tests through the system life. The analysis also provides an estimate of the minimum and maximum test time that missiles will be exposed to across the projected life of the inventory. The paper provides an example of the process as applied to a representative Army missile system. This example demonstrates the practicality and simplicity of the process. The affect of varying levels of NDT on the inventory reliability is readily apparent in graphical form that facilitates the Reliability Engineer in presenting options to the Program Manager for making sustainment decisions. Overall, the U.S. Army Stockpile Reliability Program (SRP) has repeatedly demonstrated successes in identifying trends, ensuring readiness, and justifying missile shelf life extensions. However, under the current era of decreasing defense budgets, and expectations to push the life of existing missile systems out without replacement, NDT costs should be minimized while simultaneously minimizing the wear of those tests on the inventory. The approach outlined in this paper can be used to accomplish this on either the existing NDT program for a fielded system, or by the Program Manager developing a SRP program plan for a new missile system.
The Ethics of Participatory Librarianship

This article presents an initial discussion of the ethics of librarianship from the vantage of participatory librarianship. Participatory librarianship is an emergent approach to the profession grounded in conversation theory which states knowledge is created through conversation and libraries, being in the knowledge business, are centrally concerned with conversation. This foundation challenges the notion that any person can be without bias, and that ultimately, all ethics of the profession must be viewed relative to the ultimate goal of service. In this context librarians must be acutely aware of their ethical stances and be active in how those ethical stances impact the community they are situated within.