cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Targeted knock-in mice with a human mutation in GRTH/DDX25 reveals the essential role of phosphorylated GRTH in spermatid development during spermatogenesis

Gonadotropin-regulated testicular RNA helicase (GRTH/DDX25) is a testis specific member of the DEAD-box family of RNA helicases expressed in meiotic and haploid germ cells which plays an essential role in spermatogenesis. There are two species of GRTH the 56 kDa non-phospho and 61 kDa phospho forms. Our early studies revealed a missense mutation (R242H) of GRTH in azoospermic men that when expressed in COS1-cells lack the phospho-form of GRTH. To investigate the role of the phospho-GRTH species in spermatogenesis, we generated a GRTH knock-in (KI) transgenic mice with the R242H mutation. GRTH-KI mice are sterile with reduced testis size, lack sperm with spermatogenic arrest at round spermatid stage and loss of the cytoplasmic phospho-GRTH species. Electron microscopy studies revealed reduction in the size of chromatoid bodies (CB) of round spermatids (RS) and germ cell apoptosis. We observed absence of phospho-GRTH in the CB of RS. Complete loss of chromatin remodeling and related proteins such as TP2, PRM2, TSSK6 and marked reduction of their respective mRNAs and half-lives were observed in GRTH-KI mice. We showed that phospho-GRTH has a role in TP2 translation and revealed its occurrence in a 3' UTR dependent manner. These findings demonstrate the relevance of phospho-GRTH in the structure of the chromatoid body, spermatid development and completion of spermatogenesis and provide an avenue for the development of a male contraceptive.
Bug-in-Ear Coaching for Teacher Candidates: What, Why, and How to Get Started:

Practice-based opportunities are provided throughout a teacher preparation program. During these opportunities, teachers demonstrate learned skills and strategies and receive performance feedback. ...
Rheumatoid Meningitis: Clinical Characteristics, Diagnostic Evaluation, and Treatment:

Background and Purpose:Due to the potential for high mortality and neurologic complications of rheumatoid meningitis (RM), awaiting biopsy confirmation may delay vital treatment intervention. Our a...
Spatial distribution of damage affects the healing, growth, and morphology of coral

Many predators and herbivores do not kill their prey, but rather remove or damage tissue. Prey are often able to heal or regenerate this lost tissue. If the prey are modular organisms (e.g., some plants and cnidarians), regeneration is frequently influenced by other modules interconnected to damaged ones. For example, many coral predators remove tissue from colonies consisting of many polyps, and these polyps often share resources with their neighbors. Thus, the distribution of tissue loss on a coral colony could affect the coral’s response. I hypothesized that spatially aggregated damage might be slow to heal due to competing demands on nearby polyps. To explore the spatial patterns of corallivory and their implications, I conducted: (1) field surveys documenting the spatial distribution of lesions on corals; (2) field experiments testing the effect of the distance between lesions on coral tissue healing, skeletal growth, and morphology; and (3) field surveys relating corallivore presence to coral growth and morphology. In the field surveys, lesions were aggregated at multiple spatial scales, and most lesions had other lesions within 2 cm. When lesions were near one another, coral tissue regeneration was depressed, although there was no effect on whole colony growth. After a year, however, linear extension was lower in the neighborhood of the lesions. Additionally, gastropod corallivores (Coralliophila violacea) with low movement decreased coral growth and increased coral topographical complexity. These results suggest that corallivores that create clusters of coral damage have a greater effect on coral growth and recovery from damage than corallivores that spread damage throughout the colony.
Objective measures of moderate to vigorous physical activity are associated with higher distal limb bone strength among elderly men.

Our aim was to determine the association between objectively measured physical activity (PA) and bone strength of the distal limbs among older men. We studied 994 men from the MrOS cohort study (mean age 83.9) who had repeat (Year 7 and 14) 5-day activity assessment with at least 90% wear time (SenseWearPro3 Armband) and Year 14 measures using high resolution peripheral quantitative tomography (HR-pQCT) (Scanco). Total energy expenditure (TEE), total steps per day, peak cadence (mean of top 30 steps/min over 24 h) and time spent in a given level of activity: sedentary (reference, <1.5 metabolic equivalents of task [METs]), light (1.5 to <3 METs), or moderate to vigorous physical activity(MVPA: ≥3 METs) were calculated as mean over the two time points. Estimated failure load was determined from HR-pQCT data using finite element analysis. We used standardized variables and adjusted for potential confounders using linear regression. The means ±SDs for daily activity were: 2338 ± 356 kcal/d [TEE]; 5739 ± 2696 steps/day [step count], 60 ± 20 cpm [peak cadence], 67 ± 28 min/d [light activity], and 85 ± 52 min/d [MVPA]. Higher TEE, step count, and peak cadence were each associated with higher failure load of the distal radius (effect sizes respectively: 0.13 [95% CI: 0.05, 0.20], 0.11 [95% CI: 0.04, 0.18], and 0.08 [95% CI: 0.01, 0.15]) and higher failure load of the distal tibia (effect sizes respectively 0.21 [95% CI: 0.13, 0.28], 0.19 [95% CI: 0.13, 0.26], 0.19 [95% CI, 0.13, 0.25]). Time spent in MVPA vs. time sedentary was related to bone strength at both sites after adjustment, whereas time spent in light activity vs. time sedentary was not. TEE was associated with compartmental area and BMD parameters at distal tibia, but only area parameters at the distal radius. In summary, MVPA over a 7-year period of time may have a modest association with bone strength and geometry among older men.
Training Medical Student Facilitators of Peer-Assisted Study Sessions Using an Objective Standardized Teaching Exercise.

Introduction Peer-assisted study sessions (P.A.S.S.) are medical student–facilitated small-group sessions that aim to improve students’ knowledge and performance in preclinical courses. Peer teachi...
Nonusefulness of Antithrombotic Therapy After Surgical Bioprosthetic Aortic Valve Replacement.

Controversy persists regarding the advisability of anticoagulation for the early period after biological surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR). We aim to examine the impact of various antithrombotic regimens on outcomes in a large cohort of biological AVR patients. Records of 1,111 consecutive adult patients who underwent surgical biological AVR at our institution between 2013 and 2017 were reviewed. Outcomes included stroke, bleeding, and death at 3 and 12 months. Treatment regimens included (1) no therapy, (2) anticoagulants (warfarin or Factor Xa inhibitors), (2) antiplateles (various), and (4) anticoagulants + antiplatelets. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to track outcomes, and Cox-proportional hazards regression models were conducted to analyze effects of different therapies on adverse events. At 3 months, thromboembolic events were low and not significantly different between the no therapy group (2.2%) and anticoagulation (2.8%) or anticoagulation + antiplatelet (3.6%) or all groups (3.7%). The antiplatelet group was just significantly lower, at 2.2%. However, this was driven by non-stroke cardiovascular events in patients with coronary artery disease. The incidence of death at 3 months was low and not significantly different between all groups. At 12 months, there were no thromboembolic benefits between groups, but bleeding events were significantly higher in the anticoagulation group (no therapy (1.4%), anticoagulation (8.4%), antiplatelet (4.5%), anticoagulation + antiplatelet (7.9%)). In conclusion, none of the antithrombotic regimens showed benefits in stroke or survival at 3 or 12 months after biological AVR. Anticoagulation increased bleeding events. Routine anticoagulation after biological AVR appears to be unnecessary and potentially harmful.
Controlled IL-12 in combination with a PD-1 inhibitor subjects with recurrent glioblastoma.

2510Background: Monotherapy with intratumoral Ad-RTS-hIL-12 (Ad), a gene therapeutic conditionally expressing IL-12 under the transcriptional control of oral veledimex (“Controlled IL-12”), was sho...
Radiographic Parameters of Distal Radius Fractures

Abstract Radiographs are essential for evaluation and treatment of distal radius fractures. Complete radiographic assessment requires proper technique and all projections necessary to fully evaluate the injury. Interpretation of distal radius fracture radiographs requires more than simple identification of radial inclination, volar tilt, and radial length; routine assessment of several other essential landmarks and parameters is needed to avoid missed pathology and unrecognized malreduction. Radiographs of distal radius fractures provides important information that helps identify the injury mechanism, type and direction of principle instability, and pattern and components of peri-articular fragmentation.
Critical Care Considerations for Damage Control in a Trauma Patient

Traumatic injury remains the leading cause of death among individuals younger than age 45 years. Hemorrhage is the primary preventable cause of death in trauma patients. Management of hemorrhage focuses on rapidly controlling bleeding and addressing the lethal triad of hypothermia, acidosis, and coagulopathy. The principles of damage control surgery are rapid control of hemorrhage, temporary control of contamination, resuscitation in the intensive care unit to restore normal physiology, and a planned, delayed definitive operative procedure. Damage control resuscitation focuses on 3 key components: fluid restriction, permissive hypotension, and fixed-ratio transfusion. Rapid recognition and control of hemorrhage and implementation of resuscitation strategies to control damage have significantly improved mortality and morbidity rates. In addition to describing the basic principles of damage control surgery and damage control resuscitation, this article explains specific management considerations for and potential complications in patients undergoing damage control interventions in an intensive care unit.
The Effect of Temperature on the Strain-Induced Austenite to Martensite Transformation in SS 316L During Uniaxial Tension

Controlling the microstructure of components is of interest to achieve optimal final part properties, i.e., materials by design. The manufacturing process itself can affect a material’s characteristics by changing the microstructure. For example, past research has shown that austenite to martensite phase transformation in stainless steel occurs during deformation. Temperature is known to have a significant influence on this phenomenon. In this paper, the effect of temperature on the austenitic to martensite phase transformation in SS 316L under uniaxial tension is investigated. Both a cooling system and a heat exchanger were employed in a uniaxial tension experimental setup to control the temperature. Tensile specimens were strained to fracture at four temperatures of −15, 0, 10, and 20 °C. Digital imaging correlation (DIC) and a thermal imaging camera were used for tests at 0 °C and above to capture strain and temperature data, respectively. Strain and temperature data could not be obtained at −15 °C due to the DIC paint flaking during testing. X-ray diffraction was used to measure the volume fraction of martensite in both the as-received and the tensile-tested materials.
Molecular Methods for Detection of Tumor Markers in Glioblastomas

Glioblastoma (grade IV/IV astrocytoma), the most malignant type of brain tumor, occurs in all age groups with the highest incidence in older patients. Novel therapeutic strategies and molecular assays to follow treatments of suppressible targets are urgently needed. Surveys of large numbers of genes in the initial phase of tumor marker identification are currently being performed in multi-center studies. Queries of the results in national databases, such as the Respository of Molecular Brain Neoplasia Database (REMBRANDT) can yield candidate tumor markers, such as those involved with upregulated glycolysis. We found that ENO1, encoding enolase 1, emerged as a tumor marker in glioblastomas. Although treatments directed at glycolytic enzymes, such as enolase, are not technically feasible, ENO1 can be used to identify associated genes that are feasible targets. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR) provides the sensitivity required to detect ENO1-associated tumor markers that can serve as suppressible treatment targets. The sensitivity of RQ-PCR is also ideal for monitoring treatment response to successful cancer drugs that are developed for molecular targets. This approach to tumor marker discovery in glioblastomas is described.
Understanding Menu Psychology: An Empirical Investigation of Menu Design and Consumer Response

For years, menu designers have operated on the premise that menu layout affects sales directly. The supporting research in this area has, however, been sparse. To evaluate this relationship empirically, an experiment was conducted in an independent, casual-dining restaurant located at a large, northeastern university. The first treatment integrated manipulations of price location on menus but did not result in significantly different average-check totals. The second tested the effects of displaying specific items more prominently on the menu. Again contrary to the hypothesis, this failed to affect the probability that guests would purchase either of the selected items. The concluding discussion addresses implications for restaurateurs and the future of menu design.
Metals, nitrides, and carbides via solar carbothermal reduction of metal oxides

Abstract We have examined the thermodynamics of the carbothermic reduction of metal oxides in either nitrogen or argon atmospheres. The reaction, which is given generally by (where the M denotes metal) M x O y + C (+ N 2 ;) → {M x′ N y′ , M x″ C y″ , M} + CO, is highly endothermic and proceeds at temperatures from 1300 to 2350 K for the systems considered. Exploratory experimental studies were conducted in a solar furnace using concentrated solar radiation. The nature of the solid-phase products was determined by X-ray powder diffraction. Nitrides (AlN, TiN, Si 3 N 4 , ZrN) were formed for systems run in N 2 ; carbides (Al 4 C 3 , TiC, SiC, CaC 2 ) were formed for runs in Ar; and metals (Mg, Zn) were obtained from their oxides in an Ar atmosphere. The use of solar energy as the source of high-temperature process heat offers the possibility of reducing emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants to the environment when it replaces the burning of a fuel for process heat. Furthermore, the availability of process heat at very high temperatures may make alternative processes economically feasible.
Structural Studies of the Immunoglobulins III. AMINOETHYLATED TYPE K BENCE-JONES PROTEINS

Abstract Modified techniques suitable for preparation and enzymatic digestion of aminoethylated Bence-Jones proteins are described. Most of the peptides on a tryptic peptide map of aminoethylated Bence-Jones protein Ag have been assigned a number descriptive of their sequence and position in the molecule. Of 24 predicted peptides in a tryptic digest of this Type K protein, 22 have been identified, some tentatively, on a peptide map. Of 13 peptides in the "constant" portion of the molecule, 12 have been identified on the peptide maps of five other aminoethylated Bence-Jones proteins of Type K. The aminoethylcysteinyl peptides of these six proteins have been characterized and, by analogy to known sequences, have been numbered tentatively according to their order in the molecule. Although not all the predicted peptides were identifiable, aminoethylation permits a rapid comparative survey of structural differences among Bence-Jones proteins. One disulfide bridge is in the carboxyl half of the κ chain, which has an invariant sequence except for a single valine-leucine interchange apparently associated with the Inv genetic factor. The second disulfide bridge in the amino terminal half may vary in position in different Type K proteins and is associated with multiple differences in amino acid sequence.
Work in Progress - Developing the Community of Software Engineering Educators

SWENET, the network community for software engineering education, is an NSF funded project to produce and organize high-quality materials supporting software engineering education. The project supports faculty members delivering software engineering degrees and also individual software engineering courses in other computing degrees. SWENET also seeks to foster the development of the community of software engineering educators. This paper discusses plans to continue this development beyond the period of the initial NSF grant. The paper begins with a summary of the SWENET efforts to create course materials and other SWENET activities. The paper also addresses future directions in developing shared course materials, and creation of permanent resources and mechanisms for interaction among software engineering educators
Deviations from self-similarity in barchan form and flux: The case of the Salton Sea dunes, California

[1] Barchans are the type of aeolian dune associated with a relatively uniform wind direction, incomplete sand coverage of the substrate, and low vegetation cover. Here I present an analysis of the morphology and migration rates of 40 dunes in the Salton Sea dune field using historical aerial orthophotographs, airborne laser swath mapping, terrestrial laser scanning, and measurements of the aerodynamic roughness length derived from wind velocity profiles. The data demonstrate that the Salton Sea dunes deviate from self-similarity such that smaller dunes have a lower ratio of slip face height to crest height and a lower slope, on average, compared with larger dunes and that smaller dunes migrate more slowly than would be predicted based on an inverse relationship between migration rate and dune height. The lack of self-similarity in barchans has been attributed to the dependence of speed-up ratios on dune size and the presence of a finite saturation length in the physics of aeolian transport. Here I argue that deviations from self-similarity at this study site are more likely due to the systematic decrease in aerodynamic roughness length with increasing elevation on stoss slopes. The data set I developed should prove useful to the aeolian geomorphic community for the further testing of models for barchan evolution.
Chapter 17 Autoimmune Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism in Systemic Autoimmune Disease

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the autoimmune hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism in systemic autoimmune disease. Autoimmune disease can be divided into systemic diseases in which there are autoantibodies binding ubiquitously expressed antigens such as double stranded DNA in systemic lupus, tRNA synthetases in dermato- and polymyositis, or the spliceo-some complex in mixed connective tissue disease and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The presence of two or more organ-specific autoimmune diseases is generally considered a polyglandular autoimmune syndrome. In organ-specific autoimmune disease, there are circulating antibodies binding antigens generally expressed in only the affected organ. Among the most common of organ-specific autoimmune diseases is autoimmune thyroid disease. Autoimmunity and autoimmune disease are usually defined as such by the presence of antibody binding self-structures or the presence of lymphocytic infiltrates without infection. When considered together, autoimmune diseases are extremely common in the human population. SLE is a prototype systemic autoimmune disease with protean clinical manifestations ranging from life-threatening renal, neurologic, hematologic, pulmonary, or heart disease to skin or mucous membrane involvement.
Present Status of Experiments with Sb 121

During the past year, a variety of materials containing antimony have been studied. Experimental methods are described, along with information on various methods of source preparation. Results are presented on the previously unknown excited-state quadrupole and magnetic moments. An interpretation of the isomer shifts is given which places great emphasis on pairs of materials for which their tin and antimony atoms are thought to be isoelectronic. Hartree-Fock computations are described that enable a first estimate for the change in nuclear radius: δr/r = (−8.1 ± 3.0) 10−4.
Imaging Assessment of Infertile Couples: Why and When

Infertility is defined as failure to achieve pregnancy during 1 year of unprotected intercourse. The clinical evaluation of infertility has become increasingly sophisticated over the past several decades. Significant advancements in reproductive medicine yield much higher fertility rates among couples with infertility issues. The evaluation of an infertile couple demands a systematic approach in order to pinpoint a specific infertility disorder. Imaging plays a fundamental role in the evaluation of the infertile couple. Clinicians and radiologists involved in reproductive medicine must have a fundamental understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of various imaging modalities in order to be effective members of the reproductive healthcare community. In particular, knowing why a particular imaging modality is employed for a suspected infertility disorder and knowing when a particular imaging study should be performed is essential in the assessment of the infertile couple.
Spontaneous Diabetes in Animals

Although a large body of information has been gathered by physicians and scientists during the first half century of the insulin era, human diabetes mellitus is still a poorly understood disease. Most informed individuals agree that although the tendency to develop diabetes may be inherited, environmental factors are also involved in the etiology and the progression of the syndrome’s symptom complex, of which hyperglycemia is the unifying phenomenon. The importance of heredity stems from the well-known familial incidence of diabetes. The importance of environmental factors rests upon evidence suggesting a viral etiology of juvenile-onset diabetes, and upon evidence linking the frequency of maturity-onset diabetes with the degree of nutritional (i.e., caloric) prosperity.
Social oocyte freezing: a survey among Singaporean female medical students.

Aim Social oocyte freezing has gained increasing interest worldwide. We conducted a cross-sectional survey on 129 female medical students in Singapore to assess their mindset and attitudes toward fertility and social oocyte freezing. Methods An anonymous online survey was conducted among female medical students in Singapore. The desired sample size was 100 participants. Their awareness of the existence of social oocyte freezing was first assessed. An information leaflet was provided subsequently, followed by a more detailed questionnaire. The questions focused on their awareness of age-related fertility decline and their intentions for social oocyte freezing if made available. Results One hundred and twenty-nine female students participated in the electronic survey, of whom 36.4% had heard of social oocyte freezing. Of these, 70% had personally considered taking up this option. However, after reading the information leaflet, only 48.9% would still consider this option. Of the total, 89.9% considered themselves too old for pregnancy after the age of 35 years, 37.2% would delay family planning for their career, 45.7% would consider social oocyte freezing to postpone family planning for their career, 46.5% would consider oocyte freezing if they had no suitable partners yet, 50.4% may consider freezing their eggs after the age of 30 years and 71.3% may be more amenable to oocyte freezing if government subsidy is available. Conclusion We hypothesize that social oocyte freezing may be a viable option for single young women who wish to delay child-bearing for ‘reproductive insurance’, so long as this is done with appropriate informed consent with non-directive counseling.
Clinical Evaluation of an Acellular Allograft Dermal Matrix in Full-Thickness Burns

A multicenter clinical study assessed the ability of an acellular allograft dermal matrix to function as a permanent dermal transplant in full-thickness and deep partial-thickness burns. The study consisted of a pilot phase (24 patients) to identify the optimum protocol and a study phase (43 patients) to evaluate graft performance. Each patient had both a test and a mirror-image or contiguous control site. At the test site, the dermal matrix was grafted to the excised wound base and a split-thickness autograft was simultaneously applied over it. The control site was grafted with a split-thickness autograft alone. Fourteen-day take rates of the dermal matrix were statistically equivalent to the control autografts. Histology of the dermal matrix showed fibroblast infiltration, neovascularization, and neoepithelialization without evidence of rejection. Wound assessment over time showed that thin split-thickness autografts plus allograft dermal matrix were equivalent to thicker split-thickness autografts.
Coupling socioeconomic and lake systems for sustainability: a conceptual analysis using Lake St. Clair region as a case study.

Applying sustainability at an operational level requires understanding the linkages between socioeconomic and natural systems. We identified linkages in a case study of the Lake St. Clair (LSC) region, part of the Laurentian Great Lakes system. Our research phases included: (1) investigating and revising existing coupled human and natural systems frameworks to develop a framework for this case study; (2) testing and refining the framework by hosting a 1-day stakeholder workshop and (3) creating a causal loop diagram (CLD) to illustrate the relationships among the systems’ key components. With stakeholder assistance, we identified four interrelated pathways that include water use and discharge, land use, tourism and shipping that impact the ecological condition of LSC. The interrelationships between the pathways of water use and tourism are further illustrated by a CLD with several feedback loops. We suggest that this holistic approach can be applied to other case studies and inspire the development of dynamic models capable of informing decision making for sustainability. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s13280-013-0432-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Spectrophotometric determination of dissolved manganese in natural waters with 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol: application to analysis in situ in hydrothermal plumes

Abstract A spectrophotometric method using the complexing reagent 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (PAN) was developed for the determination of dissolved manganese in seawater. A detection limit of approximately 22 nM was obtained when the analyses were performed in situ with a submersible chemical analyzer (Scanner). Color formation was rapid (less than 1 s), which permitted the technique to be used in flow injection and continuous flow systems. An investigation of possible interferences revealed that the only significant interferent to manganese determinations in seawater (hydrothermal plumes) was iron. The iron-specific chelating agent desferrioxamine B was used to mask this interference. Temperature and pressure did not adversely affect the sensitivity of the technique, which made it amenable to applications in situ to depths of 3000 m. This method was tested by measuring dissolved manganese concentrations in situ in submarine hydrothermal plumes using a Scanner. Scanner deployments over the Juan de Fuca Ridge produced the first near real time analyses of manganese from a hydrothermal plume environment. Estuarine samples have also been successfully analyzed in the laboratory and the results confirmed by an independent method.
On Positive Solutions of Critical Schrödinger Operators in Two Dimensions

Abstract Using a probabilistic approach based on the Feynman-Kac formalism and the spectral radius of the shuttle operator, we prove that two-dimensional Schrodinger operators H =-Δ+ V with short-range potentials V satisfying V ( x )=| x |→ ∞ 0(| x | −2 (ln (| x |)) −2−ϵ ) for some ϵ > 0 are critical if and only if H ψ = 0 has a positive bounded distributional solution ψ. It is shown that (apart from logarithmetic refinements) our decay assumptions on V ( x ) as | x |→ ∞ are the best possible. This yields a complete solution of a problem posed by Simon and extends an earlier result of Murata.
Transcription Factors in Lymphocyte Development— T and B Cells Get Together

We thank all the participants in the Juan March meeting for their enthusiastic help in preparing this review and apologize to those whose work we could not cite because of space constraints.
Spatial and temporal evolution of the first-order phase transition in intrinsic optical bistability

Dynamical transient response and longitudinal spatial evolution of the first-order phase transition are presented for intrinsic optical bistability of a system of interacting spatially distributed, coherently driven two-level atoms. It is shown that a discontinuity in the nonlinear dielectric function is established internal to the medium due to transient response to a coherent, externally applied, time-dependent driving field, following the attainment of a critical value for the input intensity. If the externally applied field intensity reaches the steady state, beyond the critical value, the discontinuity of the nonlinear dielectric function in the medium reaches a stable stationary condition and forms a spatial boundary between states of high and low polarization in the medium. Thus it is shown that intrinsic optical bistability corresponds to a spatial as well as a temporal first-order phase transition in light-matter interactions, far from thermodynamic equilibrium, where the spatial boundary between different phases is established by transient dynamical response to the incident field.
Endotracheal Intubation Increases Out-of-Hospital Time in Trauma Patients

Objectives. Prior efforts have linked field endotracheal intubation (ETI) with increased out of hospital (OOH) time, but it is not clear if the additional time delay is due to the procedure, patient acuity, or transport distance. We sought to assess the difference in OOH time among trauma patients with andwithout OOH-ETI after accounting for distance andother clinical variables. Methods. Retrospective cohort analysis of trauma patients 14 years or older transported by ground or air to one of two Level 1 trauma centers from January 2000 to December 2003. Geographical data were probabilistically linked to trauma registry records for transport distance. Trauma registry OOH time (interval from 9-1-1 call to hospital arrival) was validated against a subset of linked ambulance records using Bland-Altman plots andtested by using the Spearman rank correlation coefficient. Based on the validation, the sample was restricted to patients with OOH time 100 minutes or less. The propensity for OOH-ETI was calculated by ...
Ethics in a Pandemic: A Survey of the State Pandemic Influenza Plans

A pandemic of highly pathogenic influenza would threaten the lives of hundreds of thousands in the United States and confront governments and organizations, with ethical issues having wide-ranging implications. The Department of Health and Human Services and all states have published pandemic influenza plans.We analyzed the federal and state plans, available on the Internet, for evidence of ethical guidance as judged by the presence of ethical terms. The most striking finding was an absence of ethical language. Although some states acknowledged the need for ethical decisionmaking, very few prescribed how it should happen. If faced by a pandemic in the near future, we stand the risk of making many unjust and regrettable decisions.
Fully automated sleep deprivation in rats using air puffs

Introduction Full sleep deprivation via gentle handling is time-consuming and can result in increased personnel costs. The objective of this project was to develop an automated air puff sleep deprivation system using real-time state detection based on our previously published off-line software for automated state scoring. Materials and methods Data were acquired from male Sprague–Dawley rats online in real- time in 2 s epochs which are scored using nuchal EMG and a cortical EEG signals. Core blood was collected from sleep deprived and control rats after 6 h of air puff sleep deprivation during the light cycle or subjected to the same 6 h sequence of air puffs during the dark cycle to account for circadian fluctuations in corticosterone levels. Serum from each blood sample was isolated using a centrifuge and corticosterone concentration was measured using a radio immunoassay according to established methods. Results Analysis of corticosterone levels in serum showed no difference between the rats exposed to air puffs and their respective controls, suggesting that the air puffs are not stressful to the rats. Corticosterone levels in the dark cycle were higher than in the light cycle in accordance with published studies. Manual state scoring using the EMG and cortical EEG in 10 s epochs confirmed that the system completely deprived cortical sleep. Further investigation using a male Long Evans rat implanted with multi-tetrode micro- drive in the hippocampus and cortical EEG screw electrodes also showed full sleep deprivation according cortical leads, consistent with the Sprague- Dawley rats. However, deep hippocampal EEG showed that local non-REM sleep occurred in the hippocampus approximately 10% of the sleep deprivation period. When not sleep deprived, no significant difference in the amount of non-REM sleep occurred between cortically and hippocampally scored EEG (Student’s t-test; p = 0.92). Conclusion The results show that the automated air puff sleep deprivation system completely prevents sleep when based on cortical EEG and is no more stressful to the rat than being housed in a recording chamber. This system can thus be used as an automated alternative to gentle handling in experiments that require full deprivation of sleep. Local sleep in the hippocampus, despite full sleep deprivation in the cortex, may have implications for compensatory mechanisms of memory consolidation during sleep deprivation and will be investigated in future cognitive studies. Acknowledgements Research funded by: The Dept. of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School and the National Institutes of Health (NIMH 1 R01 MH60670–11).
The carcinogenic risk of treatments for severe psoriasis

Background. Common treatments used for severe psoriasis include psoralen and ultraviolet A radiation (PUVA), methotrexate, ultraviolet B (UVB), and tar. These therapies are often used for prolonged periods and may be carcinogenic. Methods. For more than 13 years, the authors have prospectively determined the incidence of skin cancer and use of treatments for psoriasis in a 1380 patient cohort originally enrolled in a therapeutic trial of PUVA at 16 university centers. Results. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) developed in more than one fourth of patients exposed to high doses of PUVA. In this group, the standard morbidity ratio for these tumors was 83 (95% confidence interval [CI], 72–96) compared with the expected number of these tumors in the general population. High-level exposure to methotrexate is a significant independent risk factor for developing SCC (relative risk, 2.1 for high versus low or no exposure; 95% CI, 1.4–2.8). Metastatic disease developed in seven patients with SCC. No significant increase in the risk of SCC was associated with long term exposure to UVB or topical tar, and no substantial increase in the risk of basal cell carcinoma was noted in association with prolonged use of any of these treatments. Conclusions. Long term exposure to PUVA and methotrexate significantly increases the risk of SCC in patients with psoriasis. This risk should be considered in selection of treatment. The ultimate morbidity of these tumors is undetermined. Cancer 1994; 73:2759–64.
Analytical approach to calculation of response spectra from seismological models of ground motion

Avantages des modeles seismologiques; calcul des spectres de reponse par des methodes utilisant la theorie des vibrations aleatoires. Etude comparative avec les methodes habituelles, et exemples numeriques
Collapses of stellar protogalaxies from aspheric initial conditions

Numerical experimens are presented which were intended to verify the independence of bar formation in rotating galaxy models from special initial conditions. Three-dimensional n-body programs were run starting from aspherical initial conditions characterized by particle rotational and peculiar velocities and offsets from sphericity for a set of 100,000 particles. All the initial configurations examined are observed to collapse to a thin form, overshoot, collapse again and again overshoot, with diameters and central densities similar to those observed under spheric initial conditions. Every aspheric collapse is also found to result in bar formation within two rotation periods, which is even sooner than in initially spherical conditions. In the intermediate stages of collapse, transient sheet patterns are found to be destroyed at asymmetries of 2-3%, while transient rings survived asymmetries of 6-7% but not 15-18%. It is noted that the results may be applicable to galaxy formation in the early universe, and possible mechanisms for the arresting of protogalactic collapse are indicated.
Water Electrolysis: Prospect for the Future

Water electrolysis, discussing oxygen generators for spacecraft prototype cells and testing
Sovereignty, democracy and identity: Turkey's Kurdish problem and the West's Turkish problem

Turkey's perception of itself as a major power has been fed by the collapse of the Soviet Union and by the resentment caused by its failure to become a member of the European Union. Islamism is, however, a response to government ineptitude and incompetence and the major domestic problem Turkey faces relates to the Kurdish ethnic minority. The majority of Kurds do not seek an independent state but are increasingly alienated by the Turkish government's repressiveness towards them and their cultural identity. European support for the case of imprisoned Kurdish MPs, such as Leyla Zana, may have more to do with European ignorance than with an understanding of her role in supporting Kurdish rights in Turkey. While she should, perhaps, have been acquitted on the evidence presented in court, her association with the PKK undermined the effectiveness of her supporters’ claims. Western states should be more concerned over effective pressure for human rights observance in Turkey than either over Islamic fundamentalis...
Sustainable Construction Case History: Fly Ash Stabilization of Recycled Asphalt Pavement Material

A case history is described where Class C fly ash was used to stabilize recycled pavement material (RPM) during construction of a flexible pavement in Waseca, MN, USA. The project consisted of pulverizing the existing hot-mix asphalt (HMA), base, and subgrade to a depth of 300 mm to form RPM, blending the RPM with fly ash (10% by dry weight) and water, compacting the RPM, and placement of a new HMA surface. California bearing ratio (CBR), resilient modulus (Mr), and unconfined compression (qu) tests were conducted on the RPM alone and the fly ash stabilized RPM (SRPM) prepared in the field and laboratory to evaluate how addition of fly ash improved the strength and stiffness. After 7 days of curing, SRPM prepared in the laboratory had CBR ranging between 70 and 94, Mr between 78 and 119 MPa, and qu between 284 and 454 kPa, whereas the RPM alone had CBR between 3 and 17 and Mr between 46 and 50 MPa. Lower CBR, Mr, and qu were obtained for SRPM mixed in the field relative to the SRPM mixed in the laboratory (64% lower for CBR, 25% lower for Mr, and 50% lower for qu). In situ falling weight deflectometer testing conducted 1 year after construction showed no degradation in the modulus of the SRPM, even though the SRPM underwent a freeze–thaw cycle. Analysis of leachate collected in the lysimeter showed that concentrations of all trace elements were below USEPA maximum contaminant levels.
Stress-dependent opioid and adrenergic modulation of newly retrieved fear memory.

Recent studies on the effect of stress on modulation of fear memory in our laboratory have uncovered endogenous opioid and adrenergic based modulation systems, working in concert, that limit the strengthening or weakening of newly acquired fear memory during consolidation under conditions of mild or intense stress, respectively. The present study sought to determine if similar stress-dependent modulation, mediated by endogenous opioid and adrenergic systems, occurs during reconsolidation of newly retrieved fear memory. Rats underwent contextual fear conditioning followed 24h later by reactivation of fear memory; a retention test was administered the next day. Stress was manipulated by varying duration of recall of fear memory during reactivation. In the first experiment, vehicle or the opioid-receptor blocker naloxone was administered immediately after varied durations (30 or 120 s) of reactivation. The results indicate that (1) reactivation, in the absence of drug, has a marked effect on freezing behavior-as duration of reactivation increases from 30 to 120 s, freezing behavior and presumably fear-induced stress increases and (2) naloxone, administered immediately after 30 s (mild stress) or 120 s (intense stress) of reactivation, enhances or impairs retention, respectively, the next day. In the second experiment, naloxone and the s-adrenergic blocker propranolol were administered either separately or in combination immediately after 120 s (intense stress) reactivation. The results indicate that separate administration of propranolol and naloxone impairs retention, while the combined administration fails to do so. Taken together the results of the two experiments are consistent with a protective mechanism, mediated by endogenous opioid and adrenergic systems working in concert, that limits enhancement and impairment of newly retrieved fear memory during reactivation in a stress-dependent manner.
The Cauchy-Green formula and rational approximation on the sets with a finite perimeter in the complex plane

Abstract Integral representations of Lipschitz functions on the sets with a finite perimeter in C are studied. These formulas can be viewed as generalizations of the classical Cauchy-Green theorem. Also, it is shown that those results lead to a convenient approach to certain problems in the theory of rational approximation.
Dynamics of nonlinear porous media with applications to soil liquefaction

Abstract This paper provides a description of the extension of Biot's theory for dynamic behavior of saturated porous media into the nonlinear regime that was introduced by the second author in 1980. It also provides a finite element implementation of this extension and two numerical applications involving the seismic behavior of saturated soil deposits. In the first numerical application, the dynamic interaction between liquefying soil and a structure sitting on the ground surface is examined, with emphasis on the interplay between the seismic loading rate and the (evolving) characteristic frequency of the soil–structure system. The attenuation of seismic energy as the seismic waves pass through softened soil is also discussed. The second numerical application involves the seismically induced liquefaction of stochastically spatially variable soils. It is explained why more pore-water pressure is generated in a heterogeneous soil than in a corresponding uniform soil. Comparisons are also provided with experimental centrifuge data.
Lymphatic fate specification: An ERK-controlled transcriptional program

Lymphatic vessels are intimately involved in the regulation of water and solute homeostasis by returning interstitial fluid back to the venous circulation and play an equally important role in immune responses by providing avenues for immune cell transport. Defects in the lymphatic vasculature result in a number of pathological conditions, including lymphedema and lymphangiectasia. Knowledge of molecular mechanisms underlying lymphatic development and maintenance is therefore critical for understanding, prevention and treatment of lymphatic circulation-related diseases. Research in the past two decades has uncovered several key transcriptional factors (Prox1, Sox18 and Coup-TFII) controlling lymphatic fate specification. Most recently, ERK signaling has emerged as a critical regulator of this transcriptional program. This review summarizes our current understanding of lymphatic fate determination and its transcriptional controls.
Damage Development and Moduli Reductions in Nicalon—Calcium Aluminosilicate Composites under Static Fatigue and Cyclic Fatigue

Unidirectional and cross-ply Nicalon fiber-reinforced calcium aluminosilicate (CAS) glass-ceramic composite specimens were subjected to tension–tension cyclic fatigue and static fatigue loadings. Microcrack densities, longitudinal Young's modulus, and major Poisson's ratio were measured at regular intervals of load cycles and load time. The matrix crack (0° plies) density and transverse crack (90° plies) density increased gradually with fatigue cycles and load time. The crack growth is environmentally driven and depends on the maximum load and time. Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio decreased gradually with fatigue cycles and load time. The saturation crack densities under fatigue loadings were found to be comparable to those under monotonic loading. A matrix crack growth limit strain exists, below which matrix cracks do not grow significantly under fatigue loading. This limit coincides with the matrix crack initiation strain. Linear correlations between crack density and moduli reductions obtained from quasi-static data can predict the moduli reductions under cyclic loading, using experimentally measured crack densities. A logarithmic correlation can predict the Young's modulus reduction in a limited stress range. A fatigue crack growth model is proposed to explain the presence of two distinct regimes of crack growth and Young's modulus reduction.
Stationary-Tones Interference Cancellation using Adaptive Tracking

It is usual in practice that recorded sounds are contaminated by stationary tones coming from power wiring (50/60 Hz or 400 Hz and their harmonics), frame or line frequencies from a nearby TV or monitor, computer fans, hard disk drives, etc. They are mostly stationary, but their removal using a stationary noise suppressor results in notch filtering, removing the speech content at those frequencies, because the SNRs are usually low. In this paper we propose fast, real-time algorithm for removing constant tones while keeping intact the speech content. We build and adaptively update a model of the constant tones, extrapolating it for subtraction from the next frame. In our evaluations, the proposed algorithm reduces the amplitudes of such stationary tones up to 15 dB, without introducing artifacts such as nonlinear distortions or musical noises. This algorithm is applicable as pre-processor before a classic gain-based stationary noise suppressor.