cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An exploratory analysis linking neuropsychological testing to quantification of tractography using High Definition Fiber Tracking (HDFT) in military TBI

To realize the potential value of tractography in traumatic brain injury (TBI), we must identify metrics that provide meaningful information about functional outcomes. The current study explores quantitative metrics describing the spatial properties of tractography from advanced diffusion imaging (High Definition Fiber Tracking, HDFT). In a small number of right-handed males from military TBI (N = 7) and civilian control (N = 6) samples, both tract homologue symmetry and tract spread (proportion of brain mask voxels contacted) differed for several tracts among civilian controls and extreme groups in the TBI sample (high scorers and low scorers) for verbal recall, serial reaction time, processing speed index, and trail-making. Notably, proportion of voxels contacted in the arcuate fasciculus distinguished high and low performers on the CVLT-II and PSI, potentially reflecting linguistic task demands, and GFA in the left corticospinal tract distinguished high and low performers in PSI and Trail Making Test Part A, potentially reflecting right hand motor response demands. The results suggest that, for advanced diffusion imaging, spatial properties of tractography may add analytic value to measures of tract anisotropy.
Implementation of a Print DDA Program at Old Dominion University Libraries

After feedback from faculty, students, and staff on the viability of starting a print demand driven acquisitions service, Old Dominion University Libraries (ODU) in collaboration with ProQuest Cout...
Understanding variability in optimum plant density and recommendation domains for crowding stress tolerant processing sweet corn

Recent research shows significant economic benefit if the processing sweet corn [Zea mays L. var. rugosa (or saccharata)] industry grew crowding stress tolerant (CST) hybrids at their optimum plant densities, which may exceed current plant densities by up to 14,500 plants ha-1. However, optimum plant density of individual fields varies over years and across the Upper Midwest (Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin), where processing sweet corn is concentrated. The objectives of this study were to: (1) determine the extent to which environmental and management practices affect optimum plant density and, (2) identify the most appropriate recommendation domain for making decisions on plant density. To capture spatial and temporal variability in optimum plant density, on-farm experiments were conducted at thirty fields across the states of Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin, from 2013 to 2017. Exploratory factor analysis of twelve environmental and management variables revealed two factors, one related to growing period and the other defining soil type, which explained the maximum variability observed across all the fields. These factors were then used to quantify the strength of associations with optimum plant density. Pearson's partial correlation coefficients of 'growing period' and 'soil type' with optimum plant density were low (ρ1 = -0.14 and ρ2 = -0.09, respectively) and non-significant (P = 0.47 and 0.65, respectively). To address the second objective, six candidate recommendation domain models (RDM) were developed and tested. Linear mixed effects models describing crop response to plant density were fit to each level of each candidate RDM. The difference in profitability observed at the current plant density for a field and the optimum plant density under RDM level represented the additional processor profit ($ ha-1) from a field. The RDM built around 'Production Area' (RDMPA) appears most suitable, because plant density recommendations based on RDMPA maximized processor profits as well grower returns better than other RDMs. Compared to current plant density, processor profits and grower returns increased by $448 ha-1 and $82 ha-1, respectively at plant densities under RDMPA.
Confocal Raman Microscopy Investigation of Phospholipid Monolayers Deposited on Nitrile-Modified Surfaces in Porous Silica Particles.

Phospholipid bilayers deposited on a variety of surfaces provide models for investigation of the lipid membrane structure and supports for biocompatible sensors. Hybrid-supported phospholipid bilayers (HSLBs) are stable membrane models for these investigations, typically prepared by self-assembly of a lipid monolayer over an n-alkane-modified surface. HSLBs have been prepared on n-alkyl chain-modified silica and used for lipophilicity-based chromatographic separations. The structure of these hybrid bilayers differs from vesicle membranes where the lipid head group spacing is greater due to interdigitation of the lipid acyl chains with the underlying n-alkyl chains bound to the silica surface. This interdigitated structure exhibits a broader melting transition at a higher temperature due to strong interactions between the lipid acyl chains and the immobile n-alkyl chains bound to silica. In the present work, we seek to reduce the interactions between a lipid monolayer and its supporting substrate by self-assembly of 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) on porous silica functionalized with nitrile-terminated surface ligands. The frequency of Raman scattering of the surface -C≡N stretching mode at the lipid-nitrile interface is consistent with an n-alkane-like environment and insensitive to lipid head group charge, indicating that the lipid acyl chains are in contact with the surface nitrile groups. The head group area of this lipid monolayer was determined from the within-particle phospholipid concentration and silica specific surface area and found to be 54 ± 2 A2, equivalent to the head group area of a DMPC vesicle bilayer. The structure of these nitrile-supported phospholipid monolayers was characterized below and above their melting transition by confocal Raman microscopy and found to be nearly identical to DMPC vesicle bilayers. Their narrow gel-to-fluid-phase melting transition is equivalent to dispersed DMPC vesicles, suggesting that the acyl chain structure on the nitrile support mimics the outer leaflet structure of a vesicle membrane.
Pituitary tumor resection in a patient with SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection. A case report and suggested airway management guidelines

The 2020 pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, had its headquarters in China. It causes Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and presents a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations, ranging from entirely asymptomatic through severe acute respiratory failure and death. Presuming a significant quantity of ventilator-dependent patients, several institutions strategically delayed elective surgeries. Particularly procedures performed involving the nasal mucosa, such as a transsphenoidal approach of the pituitary gland, considering the tremendous level of viral shedding. Nevertheless, critical cases demand expeditious resolution. Those situations are severe pituitary apoplexy, declining consciousness level, or risk of acute visual loss. This case presents a successful urgent perioperative management of a 47 year-old male COVID-19 positive patient who presented to the Emergency Department with a left frontal headache that culminated with diplopia, left eye ptosis, and left visual acuity loss after 5 days. Transsphenoidal hypophysectomy was uneventfully performed, and the patient was discharged from the hospital on postoperative day four. It additionally describes in detail the University of Mississippi Medical Center airway management algorithm for patients infected with the novel coronavirus who need emergent surgical attention.
Peroxide-Cured Isobutylene-Isoprene Rubber Composite: Methacrylate Coagent and Enhanced Mechanical Properties by In Situ Formed Methacrylate Domains

Peroxide cure of ethyl propiolate-grafted isobutylene-isoprene rubber (EIIR) was studied with the goal of replacing the toxic m-phenylene-N,N′-bismaleimide (BMI) with the less toxic trimethylolprop...
Joint space–time Bayesian disease mapping via quantification of disease risk association:

Alzheimer’s disease is an increasingly prevalent neurological disorder with no effective therapies. Thus, there is a need to characterize the progression of Alzheimer’s disease risk in order to pre...
Ranking Reprogramming Factors for Directed Differentiation

Transcription factor over-expression is a proven method for reprogramming cells to a desired cell type for regenerative medicine and therapeutic discovery. However, a general method for the identification of reprogramming factors to create an arbitrary cell type is an open problem. We examine the success rate of methods and data for directed differentiation by testing the ability of nine computational methods (CellNet, GarNet, EBSeq, AME, DREME, HOMER, KMAC, diffTF, and DeepAccess) to correctly discover and rank candidate factors for eight target cell types with known reprogramming solutions. We compare methods that utilize gene expression, biological networks, and chromatin accessibility data to identify eight sets of known reprogramming factors and comprehensively test parameter and pre-processing of input data to optimize performance of these methods. We find the best factor identification methods can identify an average of 50-60% of reprogramming factors within the top 10 candidates, and methods that use chromatin accessibility perform the best. Among the chromatin accessibility methods, complex methods DeepAccess and diffTF are more likely to consistently correctly rank the significance of transcription factor candidates within reprogramming protocols for differentiation. We provide evidence that AME and DeepAccess are optimal methods for transcription factor recovery and ranking which will allow for systematic prioritization of transcription factor candidates to aid in the design of novel reprogramming protocols.
Quantum Data Hub: A Collaborative Data and Analysis Platform for Quantum Material Science.

Quantum materials research is a rapidly growing domain of materials research, seeking novel compounds whose electronic properties are born from the uniquely quantum aspects of their constituent electrons. The data from this rapidly evolving area of quantum materials requires a new community-driven approach for collaboration and sharing the data from the end-to-end quantum material process. This paper describes the quantum material science process in the NSF Quantum Foundry with an overarching example, and introduces the Quantum Data Hub, a platform to amplify the value of the Foundry data through data science and facilitation of: (i) storing and parsing the metadata that exposes programmatic access to the quantum material research lifecycle; (ii) FAIR data search and access interfaces; (iii) collaborative analysis using Jupyter Hub on top of scalable cyberinfrastructure resources; and (iv) web-based workflow management to log the metadata for the material synthesis and experimentation process.
Remote Collaborative Care With Off-Site Behavioral Health Care Managers: A Systematic Review of Clinical Trials.

Background In the United States, most patients who require behavioral health care do not receive it owing to an overall shortage of behavioral health specialists. The Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) is a team-based, highly-coordinated approach to treating common mental health conditions in primary care that has a robust evidence base. Several recent randomized controlled trials have demonstrated the effectiveness of remote CoCM teams. As telehealth technology advances and uptake expands, understanding the evidence for remote CoCM becomes increasingly crucial to inform CoCM practice and implementation. Objective The objective of this study was to systematically review randomized controlled trials regarding the effectiveness of remote CoCM teams in treating common psychiatric conditions in primary care and medical settings. Methods Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines were used to structure our review. Our search strategy and development of search terms was informed by knowledge and review of the CoCM literature. Articles were reviewed by 3 authors, and once selected, they were sent to 2 authors for further data extraction to describe various study characteristics and process measures relating to remote CoCM. Results The literature search identified 13,211 articles, 9 of which met inclusion criteria. The 9 studies collectively demonstrate effectiveness of remote CoCM in treating a range of behavioral health conditions (depression [n = 7], anxiety [n = 2], and PTSD [n = 1]), across various populations and settings. Sample sizes ranged from 191 patients to 704 patients, publication dates from 2004 to 2018, and studies were conducted from 2000 to 2014. Various process measures were also reported. Conclusions As the 9 studies included in our systematic review demonstrate, remote CoCM can be effective in treating a range of behavioral health conditions in various primary care and specialty medical settings. These findings suggest organizations may have more flexibility in building their CoCM team and drawing upon wider workforces than previously recognized. As recent shifts in telehealth policy and practice continue to motivate telehealth approaches, further research that can inform best practices for remote CoCM will be useful and valuable to those making organizational decisions when implementing integrated care models.
The antibacterial efficacy of aluminum oxide nanostructures by hot water treatment for HVAC systems

A review of the current literature suggests that heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems increase the risk of nosocomial infections if not properly maintained and frequently scrutinized via quality checks. Herein, we present a novel hot water treatment (HWT) to produce aluminum oxide (Al2O2) nanostructures on the surface of aluminum (Al) sheets which are used as ductwork for HVAC systems. These aluminum oxide nanostructures, because of morphological changes undergone during hot water treatment, have the unique ability to inhibit bacteria growth using both physical and chemical mechanisms of action, i.e., contact cell membrane damage and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Air and surface analysis was done with an untreated ventilation system and the HWT ventilation system with Al2O2 nanostructures. We observed ~ 460 Escherichia coli colonies on agar plates in untreated control samples, while almost no bacteria growth was observed on the agar plates placed in the nanostructured aluminum sheets. This research clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of this novel, inexpensive, and chemical-free method of producing aluminum oxide nanostructures to decrease bacteria growth in HVAC systems and in turn significantly improving the air quality.
A Requirements Analysis for Parallel KDD Systems

The current generation of data mining tools have limited capacity and performance, since these tools tend to be sequential. This paper explores a migration path out of this bottleneck by considering an in tegrated hardware and softw are approach to parallelize data mining. Our analysis shows that parallel data mining solutions require the following components: parallel data mining algorithms, parallel and distributed data bases, parallel file systems, parallel I/O, tertiary storage, management of online data, support for heterogeneous data representations, security, quality of service and pricing metrics. State of the art technology in these areas is surveyed with an eye towards an integration strategy leading to a complete solution.
Effects of cumulative stress and impulsivity on smoking status.

Objective The stress-vulnerability model of addiction predicts that environmental factors, such as cumulative stress, will result in individual adaptations that decrease self-control, increase impulsivity, and increase risk for addiction. Impulsivity and cumulative stress are risk factors for tobacco smoking that are rarely examined simultaneously in research. Methods We examined the indirect and direct effects of cumulative adversity in a community sample consisting of 291 men and women who participated in an assessment of cumulative stress, self-reported impulsivity, and smoking history. Data were analyzed using bootstrapping techniques to estimate indirect effects of stress on smoking via impulsivity. Results Cumulative adversity is associated with smoking status via direct effects and indirect effects through impulsivity scores. Additional models examining specific types of stress indicate contributions of traumatic stress and recent life events as well as chronic relationship stressors. Conclusions Overall, cumulative stress is associated with increased risk of smoking via increased impulsivity and via pathways independent of impulsivity. These findings support the stress-vulnerability model and highlight the utility of mediation models in assessing how, and for whom, cumulative stress increases risk of current cigarette smoking. Increasing self-control is a target for interventions with individuals who have experienced cumulative adversity. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Calculation of Stop Squark Production in Proton-Proton Collisions

Though the Standard Model of particle physics is an elegant theory which has been studied extensively for decades, it leaves many fundamental questions unanswered and is thus widely believed to be incomplete. Possible extensions to the Standard Model (SM) have been postulated and are in the process of being investigated experimentally. The most promising extension is the Minimal Supersymmetric Model (MSSM) which relates every SM particle to a superpartner that differs by 1/2 unit of spin. The lightest supersymmetric quark, or squark, is expected to be the stop, and the search for this particle is an important experimental task. In this analysis, we use parton-model methods to predict the stop production cross section in proton-proton collisions at LHC energies.
Comprehensive comparison and accuracy of graph metrics in predicting network resilience

Graph robustness metrics have been used largely to study the behavior of communication networks in the presence of targeted attacks and random failures. Several researchers have proposed new graph metrics to better predict network resilience and survivability against such attacks. Most of these metrics have been compared to a few established graph metrics for evaluating the effectiveness of measuring network resilience. In this paper, we perform a comprehensive comparison of the most commonly used graph robustness metrics. First, we show how each metric is determined and calculate its values for baseline graphs. Using several types of random graphs, we study the accuracy of each robustness metric in predicting network resilience against centrality-based attacks. The results show three conclusions. First, our path diversity metric has the highest accuracy in predicting network resilience for structured baseline graphs. Second, the variance of node-betweenness centrality has mostly the best accuracy in predicting network resilience for Waxman random graphs. Third, path diversity, network criticality, and effective graph resistance have high accuracy in measuring network resilience for Gabriel graphs.
The relative importance of contrast and motion in visual detection.

Abstract : Results of a previous study (see AD-720 800) suggested that the effect of motion on detecability might be caused entirely by contrast changes as the target moves over a complex background. The test documented in the present study, employing a television display and an artificial background, showed independent effects of both contrast and motion on target detectability. The effects can be accounted for by modifying the exponent in the detection probability function with a linear contrast term and a second-power velocity term. Single-fixation experiments confirmed a larger aperture for moving targets than for static targets, and also demonstrated a gradual increase in the fixation time required to detect a target as a function of its distance from the fixation point. (Author)
Wood Structure and Properties

For structural applications, wood is most commonly found as either sawn timbers, lumber, or glued laminated members (glulams). In the interest of economy and to permit using wood more efficiently, increasing amounts of wood today find their way into manufactured structural materials or members such as (1) plywood, hardboard, chipboard, flakeboard, waferboard, and plastic/wood laminates (these are known collectively as wood composites); and (2) manufactured members such as plywood-lumber beams or wood trusses. Many of these will be discussed later in this book.
Evaluation of multiple inverter volt-VAR control interactions with realistic grid impedances

Integration of large numbers of distributed photovoltaic (PV) systems in electric distribution circuits often requires advanced functions (e.g. volt-VAR, frequency-Watt etc.). However, significant concerns have been raised about potential for PV inverters with such controls to interact with one another in a way that could cause grid instability. The lack of standardized inverter models makes it hard to simulate such transient interactions in software. Similarly it is very hard to test these dynamic inverter interactions in the laboratory. In this paper, unique Power Hardware-in-the-Loop (PHIL) techniques are presented to experimentally test for interactions of multiple PV inverters connected to multiple points-of-common-coupling (PCCs) with grid impedances between them. Sample test results are provided from simulation-only scenarios and PHIL testing. Though simulation results indicated possible harmful interactions between inverters' volt-VAR controllers; no such interactions were found in the limited hardware testing.
A Model for the Ultrasonic Scattering from Multi-Branched Cracks

The ultrasonic detection (discrimination from geometrical reflectors) and sizing of intergranular stress corrosion cracks (IGSCC’s) is an essential element in the continued safe operation of nuclear power plants. Unfortunately, these ultrasonic tests are rendered difficult by the complex topography of the cracks, which may include multiple facets and branches which scatter ultrasound in a nearly independent fashion. Thus, the waveforms reflected from such flaws exhibit complex shapes which may not be related to the overall extent of the flaw in a simple fashion.
Deep RNA-Seq analysis reveals unexpected features of human prostate basal epithelial cells

Abstract Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among American men [ 1 ]. The prostate gland mainly contains basal and luminal cells, which are constructed as a pseudostratified epithelium. Annotation of prostate epithelial transcriptomes provides a foundation for discoveries that can impact disease understanding and treatment. Here, for the first time, we describe a whole-genome transcriptome analysis of human benign prostatic basal and luminal populations by using deep RNA sequencing (GSE67070) [2]. Combined with comprehensive molecular and biological characterizations, we show that the differential gene expression profiles account for their distinct functional phenotypes. Strikingly, in contrast to luminal cells, basal cells preferentially express gene categories associated with stem cells, neural and neuronal development, and RNA processing. Of clinical relevance, the treatment failed castration-resistant and anaplastic prostate cancers molecularly resemble a basal-like phenotype. We also identified genes associated with patient clinical outcome. Therefore, we provide a gene expression resource for understanding human prostate epithelial lineages, and link the cell-type specific gene signatures to subtypes of prostate cancer development.
Preparing for Veterans: Higher Education and the Efforts to Accredit the Learning of World War II servicemen and women:

In the years following World War II, American colleges and universities experienced unprecedented growth due to the numbers of returning veterans who, aided by the G.I. Bills, flocked to higher education. Administrators at all levels prepared for the new students with great apprehension. They experimented with new formats and approaches which would ease their way. This paper examines the development of testing and evaluation procedures during this period. In particular, it examines some of the assumptions associated with evaluation techniques and the assumptions connected to their widespread acceptance. In addition, it raises questions about the nature of the precedent set by these reforms and their importance to present-day adult education.
Isolation and Characterization of Melanin-Producing (mel) Mutants of Vibrio cholerae

Vibrio cholerae strain Htx-3, a hypertoxinogenic mutant of V. cholerae 569B Inaba, produces a dark brown pigment under certain growth conditions, whereas strain 569B does not. We investigated the biochemical basis for this pigment production and the possible relationships between pigmentation and other phenotypic properties in V. cholerae. After mutagenesis of V. cholerae 569B with N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine, 28 independently derived pigment-forming (mel) mutants were isolated and characterized. The mel mutants frequently differed from wild type in toxinogenicity or motility and occasionally differed in other phenotypic traits. Individual mel mutants differed from wild type both in the amount of toxin produced and in the growth conditions optimal for toxin production. It has not yet been established whether multiple phenotypic changes in individual mel mutants represent pleiotropic effects of single mutations or induction of multiple mutations by N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine or both. Production of pigment by mel mutants occurred at temperatures from 22 to 40°C, was inhibited by anaerobiosis, and was stimulated by supplementation of growth media with the amino acid precursors of melanin (l-phenylalanine, l-tyrosine, or l-tyrosine plus l-cysteine). The pigment possessed several other properties reported for microbial melanins. We conclude that a biochemical pathway for melanin production is present in V. cholerae, that this pathway cannot be fully expressed in wild-type strain 569B, and that mutations in the gene(s) which we have designated mel can permit hyperproduction of melanin under appropriate conditions. Images
The Pacific Meridional Mode as a trigger for ENSO in a high‐resolution coupled model

[1] This study investigates El Nino precursors in a high-resolution version of CCSM3.5. First, using an Empirical Orthogonal Function analysis of all non-ENSO tropical Pacific variability, we find that the Pacific Meridional Mode (PMM) acts as an ENSO trigger 7–9 months prior to large El Nino events in the model, which is consistent with previous model and observational studies. However, because not every PMM event triggers an ENSO event, we also find that PMM appears to be an effective trigger when the western-to-central Pacific is preconditioned (i.e., anomalously high sea surface heights or heat content). Second, this study looks at the contribution of western Pacific variability, namely westerly wind bursts (WWBs), as well as all other non-ENSO variability in the tropical Pacific. We find that the relative importance of low-frequency climate variability associated with PMM dominates over other non-ENSO variability between 15°N and 15°S, including high-frequency atmospheric variability and WWBs, in acting as a precursor to El Nino events.
Duloxetine in the Treatment of Osteoarthritis Knee Pain

Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is the most common form of this degenerative arthritic condition, with pain being its most common expression. Current treatment options include NSAIDs, corticosteroid injections, and opioid analgesics. Such agents have significant side effects. Duloxetine, a selective serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, has been demonstrated to have analgesic properties. This study investigated its efficacy in patients with painful OA of the knee.
Sum and difference frequency generation in acoustoelectric domains in GaAs

Abstract Very distinct sum and difference frequency generation has been observed by Brillouin scattering in acoustoelectric domains in GaAs. Comparison of the two processes show that sum frequency generation is the much stronger process in the earliest stages of flux growth.
Twins' IQs: a reply to Schwartz and Schwartz.

It is argued that the criticisms by Schwartz and Schwartz of Jensen's analysis of IQ data on monozygotic twins reared apart fall down on two central points, methodological and theoretical: (a) Valid inferences concerning the broad heritability of intelligence can be drawn from analyses of the combined data from several independent studies of MZ twins reared apart, even though the groups differ significantly in mean IQ; (b) Mean population differences within a given racial category can involve genetic as well as environmental factors.
Gel Formation in Protein Amyloid Aggregation: A Physical Mechanism for Cytotoxicity

Amyloid fibers are associated with disease but have little chemical reactivity. We investigated the formation and structure of amyloids to identify potential mechanisms for their pathogenic effects. We incubated lysozyme 20 mg/ml at 55C and pH 2.5 in a glycine-HCl buffer and prepared slides on mica substrates for examination by atomic force microscopy. Structures observed early in the aggregation process included monomers, small colloidal aggregates, and amyloid fibers. Amyloid fibers were observed to further self-assemble by two mechanisms. Two or more fibers may merge together laterally to form a single fiber bundle, usually in the form of a helix. Alternatively, fibers may become bound at points where they cross, ultimately forming an apparently irreversible macromolecular network. As the fibers assemble into a continuous network, the colloidal suspension undergoes a transition from a Newtonian fluid into a viscoelastic gel. Addition of salt did not affect fiber formation but inhibits transition of fibers from linear to helical conformation, and accelerates gel formation. Based on our observations, we considered the effects of gel formation on biological transport. Analysis of network geometry indicates that amyloid gels will have negligible effects on diffusion of small molecules, but they prevent movement of colloidal-sized structures. Consequently gel formation within neurons could completely block movement of transport vesicles in neuronal processes. Forced convection of extracellular fluid is essential for the transport of nutrients and metabolic wastes in the brain. Amyloid gel in the extracellular space can essentially halt this convection because of its low permeability. These effects may provide a physical mechanism for the cytotoxicity of chemically inactive amyloid fibers in neurodegenerative disease.
MR findings of intestinal graft-versus-host disease

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) occurs as a complication of allogenic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). The disease is characterized by skin rash, jaundice, mucosal inflammation, and diarrhea. In this report, we describe magnetic resonance (MR) findings of intestinal GVHD, which is correlated with endoscopic biopsy. MR findings demonstrated generalized increased bowel wall thickness associated with substantial bowel wall enhancement with gadolinium chelate.
Transverse Vaginal Septum Associated With Tubal Atresia

Transverse vaginal septum is a defect of vertical fusion during embryogenesis of the vagina. The estimated incidence is 1 per 30,000 to 84,000 women. It is infrequently associated with genitourinary tract, gastrointestinal tract, musculoskeletal, and cardiac malformations. Previous reports of transverse vaginal septum have included unilateral absence of the fallopian tube and ovary and absence of the proximal portion of the fallopian tube. This report describes bilateral tubal atresia associated with a transverse vaginal septum. A 17-year-old nulligravida sought medical assessment because of primary amenorrhea and cyclic pelvic pain. Physical examination revealed a blind vaginal pouch and a tender pelvic mass. Radiologic studies showed a transverse vaginal septum 1.5 cm distal to the cervix. The septum was resected with laparoscopic guidance, and bilateral fallopian tubal atresia was noted. The pelvis was otherwise normal. Patients commonly have a pelvic or abdominal mass, pain, and amenorrhea at time of expected menarche. Surgical resection is the treatment of choice. Postoperative dilation may be necessary to prevent restenosis. Outlook for pregnancy is encouraging despite a higher than normal incidence of spontaneous abortion and endometriosis in such patients.
Commentary: The education of a faculty developer.

L'auteur s'interesse aux applications et aux consequences des resultats des recherches publiees dans le cadre du numero special sur l'enseignement dans l'Education Superieure
Behavioral Validation of a Hazardous Thought Pattern Instrument

One approach to examining errors or potential errors in aviation has focused on measuring the hazardous thought patterns of pilots. Previous research identified five thought patterns and assumed that all pilots fall into one of these categories. The current research was designed to develop and behaviorally validate a new instrument to measure hazardous thought patterns. The research confirmed previous work in finding five hazardous thought patterns. However, the research also suggested the presence of a sixth factor related to confidence/competence. The validation suggested that the individual hazardous thought patterns differentially predicted accidents and incidents. The behavioral validation also identified relationships between particular hazardous thought patterns and specific driving behaviors that supported the validity and utility of the newly designed instrument.
Uncertainty Analysis of Interdependencies in Dynamic Infrastructure Recovery: Applications in Risk-Based Decision Making

The development of preparedness strategies for natural and malevolent man-made hazards and approaches with which to compare such investments is fraught with uncertainty. The dynamic inoperability input-output model (DIIM) quantifies the inoperability that propagates through interdependent sectors following a disruptive event and then diminishes with time. This approach has been shown to quantify the efficacy of preparedness strategies for interconnected sectors of the economy. Work presented in this paper strengthens the DIIM with a multiobjective approach—the uncertainty DIIM—that evaluates the inherent uncertainty in the parameters of interdependency and its impact on projected economic loss calculated using the DIIM. Preparedness strategies can then be compared based on projected economic loss and on their sensitivity to changes in the interdependent nature of infrastructure sectors. Additionally, key sector analyses are discussed, where sectors are ranked according to their sensitivity to changes in interdependent relationships. Such enumeration of key sectors allows decision makers to focus on certain sensitive infrastructure sectors for the development of preparedness strategies. The models developed in this paper are illustrated with numerical examples.
Mitral valvular interstitial cell responses to substrate stiffness depend on age and anatomic region

Abstract The material properties of heart valves depend on the subject’s age, the state of the disease and the complex valvular microarchitecture. Furthermore, valvular interstitial cells (VICs) are mechanosensitive, and their synthesis of extracellular matrix not only determines the valve’s material properties but also provides an adhesive substrate for VICs. However, the interrelationship between substrate stiffness and VIC phenotype and synthetic properties is poorly understood. Given that the local mechanical environment (substrate stiffness) surrounding VICs differs among different age groups and different anatomic regions of the valve, it was hypothesized that there may be an age- and valve-region-specific response of VICs to substrate stiffness. Therefore, 6-week-, 6-month- and 6-year-old porcine VICs from the center of the mitral valve anterior leaflet (MVAC) and posterior leaflet (PML) were seeded onto poly(ethylene) glycol hydrogels of different stiffnesses and stained for markers of VIC activation (smooth muscle alpha-actin (SMaA)) and collagen synthesis (heat shock protein-47 (HSP47), prolyl 4-hydroxylase (P4H)). Six-week-old MVAC demonstrated decreased SMaA, P4H and HSP47 on stiffer gels, while 6-week-old PML only demonstrated decreased HSP47. Six-month-old MVAC demonstrated no difference between substrates, while 6-month-old PML demonstrated decreased SMaA, P4H and HSP47. Six-year-old MVAC demonstrated decreased P4H and HSP47, while 6-year-old PML demonstrated decreased P4H and increased HSP47. In conclusion, the age-specific and valve-region-specific responses of VICs to substrate stiffness link VIC phenotype to the leaflet regional matrix in which the VICs reside. These data provide further rationale for investigating the role of substrate stiffness in VIC remodeling within diseased and tissue engineered valves.
DESIGN AND METHODS FOR A SURVEY OF LEAD USAGE AND EXPOSURE MONITORING IN CALIFORNIA INDUSTRY

A probability sample of California workplaces in 1986 estimated the numbers of workers using lead and their coverage by biological and environmental monitoring. Study steps included (1) identifying 505 standard industrial classifications (SICs) with possible lead use; (2) creating an employer list; (3) identifying for oversampling seven single SICs and a group of 165 SICs with documented high ambient air lead; (4) further stratification by workforce size; (5) predicting from National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health surveys the number of lead-using workers for each employer; (6) drawing facilities into the sample with selection probability proportional to the number of workers predicted to use lead; (7) adjusting the sample selection if an employer listing covered multiple facilities; (8) sending a first-stage telephone/mail questionnaire to identify lead users, who were sent a second questionnaire; (10) follow-up which, aided by statutory authority, resulted in completion rates over 90%; (11)...
Influence of Global DNA Topology on Cruciform Formation in Supercoiled DNA

DNA supercoiling plays an important role in many genetic processes such as replication, transcription, and recombination. Supercoiling provides energy for helix unpairing and drives the formation of alternative DNA structural transitions, like cruciforms. Supercoiling also allows distant DNA regions to be brought into close proximity through the formation of interwound supercoils. Recently, we showed that the inverted repeat-to-cruciform transition acts as a molecular switch, influencing the global topology of a topological plasmid domain. As alternative DNA structures can affect global topology, a corollary hypothesis might be that the localization of a specific DNA sequence within a topological domain may affect the energetics required for formation of an alternative DNA structure. Here, we test this hypothesis and show that the localization of an inverted repeat to an apical position increases the rate of cruciform formation and reduces the superhelical energy required to drive the transition. For this, we created a series of plasmids containing an inverted repeat and an A-tract bent DNA sequence. The A-tract forms a permanent 180° bend irrespective of DNA topology. The inverted repeat and the bent sequence were placed either at six o'clock or nine o'clock positions with respect to each other. Using 2D agarose gel electrophoresis, we show that the six o'clock construct extrudes the cruciform at a lower superhelical density than a control plasmid without the bend. Atomic force microscopy shows that the nine o'clock construct has the propensity to form branched molecules with the cruciform at the end of one branch. These results demonstrate that the localization of sequences within specific regions of a topological domain can affect the energetics of structural transitions as well as the branching structure of the domain. As structural transitions can be involved in biological processes, localization of alternative conformation-forming sequences to specific locations within a domain provides an additional means for gene regulation.
Theories and simulations of elves, sprites and blue jets

Abstract This review considers the different models that have been developed to explain a class of phenomena that occur above lightning storms. These phenomena have been named elves, red sprites and blue jets. The elves appear between 90 and 70 km altitude and extend over several 100 km horizontally. They are visible for less than 0.1 ms. Red sprites cover a range of altitudes from 80 to 55 km with narrow tendrils extending below 55 km. Horizontally they are 20–30 km wide. Their visible lifetime is from a few to some tens of ms. Blue jets propagate from cloud tops (15 km) to an altitude of 40 km with a velocity of 100 km/s which gives a lifetime of 300 ms. In all of the models, the energy source is the electric fields associated with the lightning—the quasistatic fields due to the original charge distribution, the electromagnetic pulse due to the propagation of the return stroke or the quasistatic fields due to the charge redistribution by the currents. There are two different models to explain the heating of the neutral atmosphere by these electric fields. These models accelerate either the ambient thermal electrons (
Separation and Molecular-Level Segregation of Complex Alkane Mixtures in Metal−Organic Frameworks

In this computational work we explore metal−organic frameworks (MOFs) for separating alkanes according to the degree of branching. We show that the structure MOF-1 shows an adsorption hierarchy for a 13-component light naphtha mixture precisely as desired for increasing the research octane number of gasoline. In addition we report an unusual molecular-level segregation of molecules based on their degree of branching.
The effect of chlorpyrifos on flower and fruit development in grapefruit, Citrus paradisi Macfayden

Abstract Deformations consisting of longitudinal ridges in the rind of Citrus fruits have recently been found in Southern California Citrus groves. Here, we report the correlation between ridge formation and applications of chlorpyrifos (Lorsban, Dow Chemical Company, Midland, MI) during the ‘feather-growth’ stage of bud break when flower buds become visible. All chlorpyrifos formulations resulted in significant ridging. The addition of agricultural oil and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) to chlorpyrifos resulted in the greatest ridging damage, and widened the window of susceptibility by 2 weeks in 1988. In 1989, no significant difference was seen between treatments of chlorpyrifos, although all were significantly greater than the control. The susceptible stages of bud growth are described, as are the non-susceptible stages which precede and follow it. Floral buds in which organs are just initiating are susceptible to fruit ridging upon application of chlorpyrifos. These ridges are the result of an increase in cell size of the flavedo tissue. A degree-day model which can be used to predict the timing of the susceptible stages is described.
INDUCTION OF TUMOR NECROSIS FACTOR ALPHA IN CULTURED GLIAL CELLS BY TRIMETHYLTIN

Abstract Within the central nervous system, cytokines are thought to play an active role in pathophysiological changes seen in various neurodegenerative diseases and trauma. Previous studies in our laboratory demonstrated that systemic administration of the neurotoxicant trimethyltin (TMT) produced a rapid and sustained elevation of CNS TNFα mRNA levels. In order to examine the effects of TMT on glial cultures in the absence of a neuronal component, primary glial cultures were exposed to TMT. Cultured glial cells undergo distinct morphological changes within 6 h of exposure to 10 μM TMT. This is characterized by an initial retraction of astrocytic processes revealing long, thin GFAP-dense processes and enlarged cell bodies, progressing to distinct retraction of plasmalemmna processes by 24 h. Prior to morphological changes, mRNA levels for the astrocyte-specific protein, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), increased within 3 h, as determined by Northern blot hybridization. Approximately a four-fold increase in TNFα mRNA levels was observed after 6 h as determined by competitive RT-PCR. This stimulation resulted in a 10-fold increase in the biologically active form of TNFα protein. These results suggest that a direct stimulation of glial cells may produce an early and critical response of the nervous system in chemical-induced neurotoxicity. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.
Retinal detachment rate after vitrectomy for retained lens material after phacoemulsification.

Abstract Purpose To report the rate of retinal detachment after vitrectomy for retained intravitreal lens material after phacoemulsification using specific vitrectomy techniques designed to minimize retinal detachment. Design Consecutive, interventional case series. Methods Retrospective chart review of 100 consecutive eyes (one surgeon) of 100 patients undergoing vitrectomy for retained lens material after phacoemulsification and followed up for 3 months or longer unless an outcome event had occurred. Vitrectomy techniques employed to minimize the frequency of retinal detachment included inducing posterior vitreous detachment with maximal vitreous removal before phacofragmentation to avoid vitreous trauma, lens fragment debulking before fragmentation, use of low energy with high aspiration during removal of retained lens material, and intraoperative indirect ophthalmoscopic evaluation of the retinal periphery with scleral indentation to diagnose and treat intraoperative retinal breaks. The main outcome measures included prevalence of coexisting retinal detachment in eyes with retained lens material, incidence of retinal detachment or retinal breaks after vitrectomy for removal of retained lens material, and final visual acuity. Results The prevalence of previtrectomy retinal detachment was 4%; the incidence of postvitrectomy retinal detachment was 4%; the final visual acuity was 20/40 or better in 53%. One patient had a retinal break recognized during vitrectomy and was treated with retinocryopexy, but postoperative retinal detachment developed from a separate break. Three others were treated during vitrectomy for retinal breaks (including two with known preexisting breaks) and did not have any retinal detachment. Poor previtrectomy visual acuity (hand motions) was a risk factor for postvitrectomy retinal detachment. Conclusions The rate of retinal detachment reported after vitrectomy for retained lens material after phacoemulsification can be minimized to approximately the rate expected with cataract extraction complicated by vitreous loss by employing standard surgical techniques. Higher risk eyes may benefit from more frequent postvitrectomy examinations.
Electron energy-loss spectroscopy of high-angle thermal-diffuse-scattered electrons in TEM

Abstract New techniques are introduced to acquire the electron energy-loss spectra (EELS) of high-angle thermal-diffuse-scattered (TDS) electrons in a conventional transmission electron microscope (TEM). TDS-EELS is shown to be temperature sensitive and may contain information about atomic Debye-Waller factors. Significant differences have been observed in TDS-EELS in comparison to the EELS acquired in the bright-field mode. Experimental conditions have been investigated to optimize signal intensities. TDS-EELS spectra of a Si crystal have been used to deduce the atomic mean vibration amplitude of Si atoms. It has been shown that multiple plasmon scattering has little effect on data acquisition and that the signals are generated primarily by phonon-single electron, double-inelastic scattering processes. However, it has not been confirmed which of the coherent and incoherent double scattering processes is the dominant mechanism, because the experimental data appear not to support the incoherent model.
Aplicaciones de wavelets en la detección de fallas de máquinas de inducción

Resumen en: This paper presents a new wavelet-based algorithm for three-phase induction machine fault detection. This new method uses the standard deviation of wavel...