cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improving the Inference Accuracy of Diffractive Optical Neural Networks using Class-Specific Differential Detection

We report all-optical object classification systems that are based on class-specific design of diffractive neural networks followed by a differential detection scheme. The blind inference accuracies achieved through this framework are significantly enhanced.
The fate of character in Dryden’s theatre of passion

The judgment of Restoration drama as decadent––the poetry of a mannerist silver age, incapable of surpassing its Elizabethan and Jacobean precursors––remains deeply rooted in the British literary-c...
Representing Alpha: The Forms of Male Hegemony

This chapter explores the lexical and semantic forms that enlanguage participants in the three corpus archives, focusing on Alpha, Beta, and Women. After identifying these and other discourse participants, attention turns to the description of nominal and pronominal realizations, modifiers and predicate forms, and other surface signifiers. From these data, a complex relationship between Alpha and two counter-positioned participants emerges: for heterosexual audiences, Alpha stands in complementary relation to Women and an oppositional one to Beta; the reverse is true for homosexual discourse practices. Across the three corpora, all participants are enlanguaged through form-meaning patterns that reify a stark gender divide, further distinguishing between celebrated and androdivergent masculinities. This is argued to be foundational to the hegemonic configurations of these discursive ecologies.
Metronidazole, an Uncommon Cause of Dizziness and Ataxia in the Emergency Department: A Case Report

Author(s): Starrs, Mary E.; Yenigun, Onur M. | Abstract: Introduction: Metronidazole, a nitroimidazole antibiotic, is a well-known antibacterial and antiprotozoal agent that is generally well tolerated without many serious side effects. Most adverse reactions affect the gastrointestinal or genitourinary system, but the central nervous system may also be afflicted. In addition to headache and dizziness, cerebellar dysfunction can occur with metronidazole use.Case Report: We discuss the clinical presentation and imaging findings of metronidazole-induced encephalopathy in a 12-year-old male. The patient had a history of Crohn’s disease and chronic Clostridium difficile infection for which he had received metronidazole for approximately 75 days prior to arrival to a local emergency department (ED). He presented with five days of progressive vertigo, nausea, vomiting, and ataxia. Subsequent magnetic resonance imaging showed symmetric hyperintense dentate nuclei lesions, characteristic of metronidazole-induced encephalopathy. The patient’s symptoms improved rapidly after cessation of metronidazole, and his symptoms had completely resolved by discharge on hospital day two.Conclusion: Metronidazole-induced encephalopathy is a rare cause of vertigo and ataxia that can lead to permanent sequela if not identified and treated promptly. Thus, it is important for physicians to keep this diagnosis in mind when evaluating patients on metronidazole who present to the ED with new neurologic complaints.
Proteome signatures of reductive stress cardiomyopathy

Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2), a redox sensor, is vital for cellular redox homeostasis. We reported that transgenic mice expressing constitutively active Nrf2 (CaNrf2-TG) exhibit reductive stress (RS). In this study, we identified novel protein biomarkers for RS-induced cardiomyopathy using Tandem Mass Tag (TMT) proteomic analysis in heart tissues of TG (CaNrf2-TG) and non-transgenic (NTg) mice at 6-7 months of age (N= 4/group). A total of 1105 proteins were extracted from 22544 spectra. Of note, about 560 proteins were differentially expressed in TG vs. NTg hearts, indicating a global impact of RS on myocardial proteome. From a closer analysis of the proteome datasets, we identified over 32 proteins that were significantly altered in response to RS. Among these, 20 were upregulated and 12 were downregulated in the hearts of TG vs. NTg mice, suggesting that these proteins could be putative signatures of RS. Scaffold analysis revealed a clear distinction between TG vs NTg hearts. Of note, we observed several proteins with redox (#185; cysteine residues), NEM-adducts (#81), methionine-loss (#21) and acetylation (#1) modifications in TG vs. NTg hearts due to chronic RS. The majority of the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) that are significantly altered in RS mice were found to be involved in stress related pathways such as antioxidants, NADPH, protein quality control (PQC), etc. Interestingly, proteins that were involved in mitochondrial respiration, lipophagy and cardiac rhythm were dramatically decreased in TG hearts. Of note, we identified the glutathione family of proteins as the significantly changed subset of the proteome in TG heart. Surprisingly, our comparative analysis of NGS based transcriptome and TMT-proteome indicated [~]50% of the altered proteins in TG myocardium was found to be negatively correlated with their transcript levels. Modifications at cysteine/NEM-adducts (redox), methionine or lysine residues in multiple proteins in response to chronic RS might be associated with impaired PQC mechanisms, thus causing pathological cardiac remodeling. O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=102 SRC="FIGDIR/small/460105v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (43K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@e5974borg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@12fe043org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@2c6e17org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@efb153_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG Graphical Abstract C_FIG
Early Tracheostomy and the Incidence of Posterior Vocal Cord Ulcers

Background: Endotracheal intubation is a routinely performed procedure in the ICU that can result in laryngeal injury. Many injuries from intubations occur at the posterior vocal cords (PVC) and present as superficial ulcers that can progress to involve deeper mucosal layers. Posterior vocal cord ulcers (PVCU) can lead to the development of granulomas and vocal cord dysfunction, which can increase the risk of aspiration in ICU patients. There is currently no consensus in the literature on the incidence of PVCU. One method to determine the occurrence of PVCU is during a tracheostomy. This study investigated the length of time ICU patients can be on a ventilator before the development of PVCU by determining the presence of PVCU at the time of tracheostomy placement. Methods: This was an IRB approved retrospective analysis of 1,355 patients from 2002–2018 who received a tracheostomy. Post tracheostomy operative notes were reviewed and considered only if proper visualization of the vocal cords was documented. Demographic data was ascertained. Primary outcome measures included the presence of PVCU, length of time on a ventilator until a tracheostomy, length of hospitalization, and mortality. Ulcers were stratified by severity (mild, moderate, and severe) and were analyzed using ANOVA with an alpha of 0.05. Data was reported as n (%) and median (IQR). Results: 192 patients were included in the study and divided into two groups: patients who developed PVCU (n = 153) and patients who did not develop PVCU (n = 39). Comparisons were calculated between patients with and without PVCU. On average, PVCU subjects were significantly older [56 vs 44, P = 0.002] and had similar hospitalization stays [29 vs 34, P = 0.743]. PVCU patients were intubated for significantly longer [10 vs 6, P Conclusions: Patients with PVCU were on average older and intubated for longer. Longer intubation before tracheostomy correlated with more severe ulceration of the PVC suggesting earlier conversion to tracheostomy may decrease the incidence of severe PVCU. Further development of improved endotracheal tube designs can aim to reduce pressure on the posterior vocal cord and improve outcomes.
Long-Term Treatment Outcomes after Behavioral Speech Therapy for Chronic Refractory Cough.

Current literature reveals that up to 88% of individuals undergoing behavioral speech therapy (BST) for chronic refractory cough (CRC) demonstrate benefit at 4–8 weeks post-treatment. However, investigations of BST are confounded by overlapping use of neuromodulators, missing follow-up data, and an absence of long-term outcomes. This study investigated treatment outcomes beyond 6 months in individuals diagnosed with CRC, and whose treatment outcomes were clinically undocumented. Participants with CRC 6 months or greater beyond treatment completion were recruited. Participants completed a post-treatment Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ) and a telephone interview. Demographic data, cough characteristics, treatment adherence, BST outcomes, and pre- and post-treatment LCQ scores were evaluated. 80 individuals met inclusion criteria and 29 consented to participate. Of these, 27 were recommended BST. The majority were female (19/27) with average age of 58 years (SD = 12). Mean cough duration was 60 months (SD = 98) and mean post-BST duration was 20 months (SD = 9). A significant increase in pre- to post-treatment LCQ scores occurred [4.4 (SD = 4.2)] (p < 0.0001). This study addressed long-term BST benefit for CRC and demonstrated a significant improvement in long-term post-treatment LCQ total scores more than a year after BST for CRC. More than half of participants indicated improvement or elimination of their cough. These findings further support the benefit of BST for CRC. Future research should consider patient perspectives about treatment outcomes given that 44% of participants reported no benefit from BST.
Excavations in Compound a, Casa Grande National Monument, 1063

AbstractExcavations were conducted with the purpose of exploring the south end of Compound A, and the compound-like enclosure which lies southeast of the Casa Grande. Besides extensive evidence of earlier archaeological and stabilization excavations, a series of house floors and associated posts, walls and hearths were found in Compound A. Some information was obtained concerning wall construction of the Casa Grande and nearby plaza areas. The architectural remains combined with a uniform ceramic distribution leads to the conclusion that the massive-walled multi-storied building was a trait acquired from the south and not from the north as was previously thought.
Liminf Progress Measures

Consider a program P that satisfies a specification S. It is natural to think that every single step of a computation of P somehow contributes to making the computation closer to satisfying S. For specifications that define liveness properties, methods that directly quantify such a notion of progress or convergence are often quite limited in scope. Instead many approaches, such as those that deal with termination under fairness, rely on program transformations, since there was no known way of directly expressing progress towards fair termination.
Student Attitudes Toward Economic Issues: A Comparative Study

This paper surveys 260 students taking Principles of Macroeconomics and/or Principles of Microeconomics during the fall semester of 2005 to see whether attitudes toward economics have changed compared to a similar survey given to students in 1988. General results show that students in the more recent sample find introductory economics to be relatively easier to understand and more enjoyable than students in the earlier sample. These beliefs do depend on gender and grade point averages. In addition, students appear to become more conservative in their beliefs when enrolled in a principles course.
Of soldiers and saints: gender constructs, the Puerto Rican independence movement, and the fight against conscription, 1964–1970

This article examines the anti-draft movement in Puerto Rico through a gendered lens, exploring the ways that independence activists used gendered constructions of Puerto Rican identity in their efforts to resist the Vietnam War. It focuses on two central figures, the good soldier and the long-suffering mother, in order to explore the relationship between gender and colonialism, and how they came to bear on the antiwar movement. In contrast to mainland antiwar activists, who frequently challenged gender norms in their opposition to the draft, Puerto Rican independentistas instead embraced traditional gender constructs, challenging the state’s monopoly on dominant gender tropes and appropriating them in their struggle against US imperialism. This article argues that such an approach to gender was necessary in the colonial context, and that by adhering to well-established gender hierarchies, Puerto Rican independentistas were able to successfully challenge conscription while denying the state its ability to...
Thymineless Death and Ultraviolet Sensitivity in Micrococcus radiodurans

Abstract Thymine-requiring mutants of Micrococcus radiodurans have been isolated by selection on solid medium containing trimethoprim. Strains requiring either high concentrations of thymine (50 μg/ml) or low concentrations (2 μg/ml) for normal growth were obtained. The Thy− mutant requiring low thymine concentrations has been characterized. It was shown to retain the high ultraviolet light (UV) resistance typical of wild-type M. radiodurans, but it was not resistant to thymineless death. Preliminary exposure of the cells to thymineless conditions resulted in enhanced UV sensitivity, and this interaction occurred under conditions where “unbalanced growth” was inhibited by the addition of chloramphenicol. Upon addition of thymine to deprived cells, UV resistance was gradually restored, and this recovery took place in the absence of protein synthesis. A model is proposed to account for the similarity of thymineless death in bacteria whose deoxyribonucleic acid repair efficiencies differ widely.
Improvements of explicit crack surface representation and update within the generalized finite element method with application to three-dimensional crack coalescence

SUMMARY This paper presents improvements to three-dimensional crack propagation simulation capabilities of the generalized finite element method. In particular, it presents new update algorithms suitable for explicit crack surface representations and simulations in which the initial crack surfaces grow significantly in size (one order of magnitude or more). These simulations pose problems in regard to robust crack surface/front representation throughout the propagation analysis. The proposed techniques are appropriate for propagation of highly non-convex crack fronts and simulations involving significantly different crack front speeds. Furthermore, the algorithms are able to handle computational difficulties arising from the coalescence of non-planar crack surfaces and their interactions with domain boundaries. An approach based on moving least squares approximations is developed to handle highly non-convex crack fronts after crack surface coalescence. Several numerical examples are provided, which illustrate the robustness and capabilities of the proposed approaches and some of its potential engineering applications. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Neutrophils contribute to hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury by a CD18- independent mechanism

Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury is reported to be modulated by neutrophils (PMNs). The adhesion and emigration of PMNs that precede tissue inflammation and necrosis in other organs are mediated, in part, by the leukocyte adhesion complex CD11/CD18. In this study, the role of PMN adhesion via CD11/CD18 in isolated liver ischemia-reperfusion injury was examined in rabbits using a blocking monoclonal antibody (mAb 60.3) specific for the CD18 receptor. Vinblastine-induced neutropenia provided significant protection, confirming participation of neutrophils in the pathogenesis of hepatic injury. Inhibition of PMN adherence with mAb 60.3 did not ameliorate injury, as measured by aminotransferase concentrations or a histologic scoring system for injury severity. Histologic sections were scored for pattern and extent of injury as well as neutrophil association with injury. These results suggest a CD18-independent mechanism of neutrophil adhesion in the evolution of isolated hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury.
Immunological unresponsiveness induced by cryptococcal capsular polysaccharide assayed by the hemolytic plaque technique.

Numerous studies have suggested that cryptococcal capsular polysaccharide could induce an immunological paralysis. To investigate this possibility, mice were given various concentrations of purified cryptococcal polysaccharide and then 14 days later were challenge-immunized with the same material in Freund9s incomplete adjuvant. Anticryptococcal agglutinin titers were determined at various periods after polysaccharide treatment and after challenge immunization. At the same periods the hemolytic plaque technique was used to determine the number of spleen cells capable of producing antibody against cryptococcal polysaccharide. The data indicated that there was a transitory immune response which preceded tolerance induction. In animals given the largest doses of polysaccharide, “in vivo” neutralization was responsible for low serum agglutinin titers during the transitory response. The capsular polysaccharide was considered to have induced immunological unresponsiveness at the highest concentration, because challenge immunization did not stimulate an increase in the number of plaque-forming cells (PFC). A sixfold increase in numbers of PFC was found in animals injected initially with the lowest concentration of polysaccharide. These results support the idea that tolerance was due to terminal differentiation without proliferation of the immunocompetent cells. The central failure of the immune mechanism which was apparent in the paralyzed mice was temporary under the conditions of this experiment.
Simplifying the Negotiating Process with Physicians: Critical Elements in Negotiating from Private Practice to Employed Physician

The authors attempt to simplify the key elements to the process of negotiating successfully with private physicians. From their experience, the business elements that have resulted in the most discussion center on the compensation including the incentive plan. Secondarily, how the issue of malpractice is handled will also consume a fair amount of time. What the authors have also learned is that the intangible issues can often be the reason for an unexpectedly large amount of discussion and therefore add time to the negotiation process. To assist with this process, they have derived a negotiation checklist, which seeks to help hospital leaders and administrators set the proper framework to ensure successful negotiation conversations. More importantly, being organized and recognizing these broad issues upfront and remaining transparent throughout the process will help to ensure a successful negotiation.
Theory of the magnetic susceptibility of holes in germanium

Abstract The theory of the magnetic susceptibility of free holes is given. A general method of calculation which will work for degenerate as well as simple bands is described, and applied to the valence band of Ge. Results are given for both Maxwell-Boltzmann and Fermi-Dirac statistics, and the possibility of comparison with experiments is discussed.
The vorticity method: Extension to mesoscale vertical velocity and validation for tropical storms

The vorticity method infers vertical velocity from vorticity variations in space and in time based on the vorticity equation. The viability of the large-scale vorticity method has been demonstrated in previous studies based on the quasi-geostrophic vorticity equation. However, the extension of the vorticity method to the mesoscale vorticity equation, including the vertical stretching and tilting terms, is hindered by inseparable variables when formulated in Cartesian coordinates. In this study, the separation of variables for the mesoscale vorticity method is achieved by formulating the mesoscale vorticity equation in Lagrangian coordinates in terms of the characteristic line composed of three nonlinear ordinary differential equations. A numerical method based on backward integration is also presented to solve the vertical velocity along the characteristic of the mesoscale vorticity equation. Observing-system simulation experiments were undertaken to quantify both the numerical accuracy of the vorticity method, and the sensitivities of the kinematic and vorticity methods to errors present in horizontal wind fields. With perfect horizontal winds, the vertical velocities derived from the kinematic and vorticity methods are identical to the degree of accuracy governed by the truncational errors. When error perturbations are included, the vertical motions derived from the vorticity method are less susceptible to errors in horizontal winds than the kinematic method. This conclusion is consistent with the analytical analysis and numerical results with the large-scale vorticity method shown in previous studies. The mesoscale vorticity method with the tilting term is shown to be more accurate than the large-scale vorticity method in deriving vertical velocities in tropical storms. Numerical experiments demonstrate that the mesoscale vorticity method can benefit from high-temporal-resolution data observed by Doppler radars to infer the vertical velocity in tropical storms, where the inner circulation is dominated by the rotational winds. Copyright © 2003 Royal Meteorological Society
Differential effects of a nurse home-visiting intervention on physically aggressive behavior in children.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to examine the differential effects of nurse home visiting (NV) on physical aggression (PA) among children aged 2-12 years. METHODS: This study used secondary data analysis from a randomized trial of NV intervention. RESULTS: There were significant reductions in PA observed among NV girls at 2 years old and NV children of high-psychological-resource mothers at 6 and 12 years old. Mediation analyses suggest that reductions in PA yield increased verbal ability among girls. CONCLUSIONS: Differential effects of intervention on PA by gender and mother's psychological resources highlight the importance of subgroup analyses. Identification of groups most likely to benefit may lead to more successful interventions. Language: en
Chronic endometritis is a frequent finding in women with recurrent implantation failure after in vitro fertilization

Objective To determine the role of endometrial sampling for identification and treatment of chronic endometritis (CE) in patients undergoing IVF-ET who repeatedly failed to conceive despite the transfer of good-quality embryos. Design Retrospective chart review. Setting University-based tertiary fertility center. Patient(s) Thirty-three patients with recurrent implantation failure (RIF) who underwent endometrial sampling and subsequent ET were analyzed based on immunohistochemically confirmed CE: CE present on biopsy (group 1; n=10) and CE absent on biopsy (group 2; n=23). Patients with RIF undergoing IVF cycles during the same time period who did not have endometrial sampling were used as controls (group 3; n=485). Intervention(s) Endometrial sampling for CE and subsequent antibiotic treatment in affected patients followed by another IVF-ET cycle. Result(s) Chronic endometritis was identified in 30.3% of patients with RIF. Group 1 had lower implantation rates (11.5%) in the IVF cycle following treatment than did group 2 and group 3 (32.7% and 20.3%, respectively). Clinical pregnancy and ongoing pregnancy rates were similar across groups. Conclusion(s) Recurrent implantation failure warrants investigation of CE as a contributing factor. Women demonstrating CE on endometrial sampling have lower implantation rates in a subsequent IVF-ET cycle; however, there were no differences in subsequent clinical pregnancy or ongoing pregnancy rates after successful antibiotic treatment.
Target-distractor discriminability in visual search.

Previous research has demonstrated that discriminability of target and background elements has powerful effects on visual search performance. Typically, discriminability has been manipulated between blocks or subjects, allowing subjects to anticipate the discriminability in advance of each trial, and the results, therefore, have been consistent with a wide range of models. Two experiments are reported in which the number of distractors similar to the target was varied from trial to trial, preventing such anticipation. In Experiment 1, subjects’ response times increased as target-confusable distractors were added, for both “yes” and “no” responses. In Experiment 2, subjects searched for either of two targets. Distractors similar to one target slowed down detection of either that target or the other target, to similar degrees. The results indicate that decision noise, rather than feature-specific inhibition, is the major source of the latency effects. The results do not support models proposing that decisions in speeded search are based upon information integrated across all positions in the display. The data also would require (perhaps implausible) modification of the independent-channels model. They are broadly consistent, however, with models hypothesizing a parallel search followed by some slow serial checking, such as that developed by Hoffman (1978).
Priming a natural or human-made environment directs attention to context-congruent threatening stimuli

Research suggests that attention is attracted to evolutionary threats (e.g., snakes) due to an evolved “fear-module” that automatically detects biological threats to survival. However, recent evidence indicates that non-evolutionary threats (e.g., guns) capture and hold attention as well, suggesting a more general “threat-relevance” mechanism that directs attentional resources toward any potential danger in the environment. The current research measured how selective attentional resources were influenced both by the type of threat (e.g., snake vs. gun) and by the context in which the threat was encountered. Participants were primed with either natural or human-made environments to assess how these contexts influence attention to evolutionary and non-evolutionary threats, as measured by a spatial-cueing task. The results indicate that whether biological or non-biological threats receive greater attentional processing is determined by the context in which they are encountered.
Altered enzymes in the free-living nematode, Turbatrix aceti, aged in the absence of fluorodeoxyuridine

Abstract Aging of the free-living nematode, Turbatrix aceti , has been accomplished by a procedure based upon screening of the cultures every 3–4 days to remove newborn organisms. In this system, the enzymes, isocitrate lyase, phosphoglycerate kinase and enolase all show reduced specific activities with age in crude homogenates. More critically, pure enolase shows a reduced specific activity when isolated from old compared with young organisms (958 units/mg vs. 1340 units/mg, respectively). Immunotitration experiments confirm these results. Enolase from old T. aceti requires more antiserum per unit of enzyme activity than does enolase from young organisms. This relationship holds true for both crude homogenates and pure enzyme. The above results closely parallel previous results obtained using fluorodeoxyuridine to prevent reproduction of T. aceti during aging of the organisms. Therefore, use of fluorodeoxyuridine in the aging of nematodes is perfectly safe, at least with respect to results obtained with altered enzymes.
The effects of varying schedules of time-out on aggressive behavior of a retarded girl

Abstract Three schedules of time-out were compared for suppressing aggressive behavior in a 7-yr-old retarded girl. The schedules (FR5, FR2, CRF) were time-out after every 5th, 2nd or every aggressive act. The FR5 schedule had no effect on rate of aggressive behavior while the FR2 and CRF schedules both produced significant reductions, the CRF being more effective. This reduction was maintained at follow-up after 5 weeks. It appears that time-out may be effective proportionate to the percentage of target behaviors it follows, and that some success can be achieved with less than continuous application.
Nitrous oxide does not exacerbate pulmonary hypertension or ventricular dysfunction in patients with mitral valvular disease

Using the rapid-response thermistor pulmonary artery catheter and transoesophageal echocardiography, this study examined the effects of 100 per cent oxygen, 70 per cent nitrous oxidel30 per cent oxygen, and 70 per cent nitrogenl30 per cent oxygen on the pulmonary circulation and ventricular function in ten patients with pulmonary hypertension. In comparison with baseline measurements, nitrous oxide administration resulted in small but statistically significant (P < 0.05) changes in mean arterial pressure (76 ± 14 to 67 ± 12), mean pulmonary arterial pressure (37 ± 14 to 33 ± 13 mm Hg), and cardiac output (3.7 ± 1.4 to 3.2 ± 1.1 L· min−1). Seventy per cent nitrogen resulted in no significant changes from baseline. The repeat 100 per cent oxygen measurements were nearly identical to the nitrous oxide measurements. It is concluded that nitrous oxide does not exacerbate pulmonary hypertension or ventricular dysfunction during highdose fentanyl anaesthesia in patients with mitral valvular disease.
Bovine serum albumin and lysophosphatidic acid stimulate calcium mobilization and reversal of cAMP-induced stellation in rat spinal cord astrocytes

We report that lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) stimulates dynamic calcium (Ca2+) fluctuations and morphological rearrangements in astrocytes derived from neonatal rat spinal cord. Addition of 10 microM LPA elicited single Ca2+ transients, or biphasic oscillations and sustained increases in intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i). The biphasic Ca2+ response consisted of an initial release from intracellular stores, often followed by a sustained elevation or continued oscillations that required Ca2+ flux across the cell membrane. The type of Ca2+ response, but not the overall magnitude, was dependent on LPA concentration. Higher concentrations (> 10 microM) often elicited sustained increases in [Ca2+]i, while lower concentrations stimulated oscillations or single Ca2+ transients. It has previously been established that agents that elevate cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) induce flat astrocytes to adopt a more stellate morphology. LPA can completely reverse this morphological change at a half-maximal concentration of 215 nM. Inhibiting LPA-induced [Ca2+]i fluctuations using BAPTA-AM to buffer [Ca2+]i and EGTA in the bath to prevent transmembrane flux had little effect on the ability of LPA to reverse stellation. LPA is found bound to serum albumin, in which crude preparations have been shown to induce various physiological responses in a number of cell types. Many of the activities have been attributed to albumin-associated lipid factors including LPA. We show that lipid factors associated with BSA can mimic the effect of LPA in both Ca2+ mobilization and reversal of cAMP-induced stellation.
Automated multi-day tracking of marked mice for the analysis of social behaviour

A quantitative description of animal social behaviour is informative for behavioural biologists and clinicians developing drugs to treat social disorders. Social interaction in a group of animals has been difficult to measure because behaviour develops over long periods of time and requires tedious manual scoring, which is subjective and often non-reproducible. Computer-vision systems with the ability to measure complex social behaviour automatically would have a transformative impact on biology. Here, we present a method for tracking group-housed mice individually as they freely interact over multiple days. Each mouse is bleach-marked with a unique fur pattern. The patterns are automatically learned by the tracking software and used to infer identities. Trajectories are analysed to measure behaviour as it develops over days, beyond the range of acute experiments. We demonstrate how our system may be used to study the development of place preferences, associations and social relationships by tracking four mice continuously for five days. Our system enables accurate and reproducible characterisation of wild-type mouse social behaviour and paves the way for high-throughput long-term observation of the effects of genetic, pharmacological and environmental manipulations.
First observations of the cold-water coral Lophelia pertusa in mid-Atlantic canyons of the USA

Abstract The structure-forming, cold-water coral Lophelia pertusa is widely distributed throughout the North Atlantic Ocean and also occurs in the South Atlantic, North Pacific and Indian oceans. This species has formed extensive reefs, chiefly in deep water, along the continental margins of Europe and the United States, particularly off the southeastern U.S. coastline and in the Gulf of Mexico. There were, however, no records of L. pertusa between the continental slope off Cape Lookout, North Carolina (NC) (∼34°N, 76°W), and the rocky Lydonia and Oceanographer canyons off Cape Cod, Massachusetts (MA) (∼40°N, 68°W). During a research cruise in September 2012, L. pertusa colonies were observed on steep walls in both Baltimore and Norfolk canyons. These colonies were all approximately 2 m or less in diameter, usually hemispherical in shape and consisted entirely of live polyps. The colonies were found between 381 m and 434 m with environmental observations of: temperature 6.4–8.6 °C; salinity 35.0–35.6; and dissolved oxygen 2.06–4.41 ml L −1 , all of which fall within the range of known L. pertusa distributions. All colonies were observed on vertical walls or underneath overhangs in areas of high current, which differs from observations further south, where L. pertusa colonizes rocky ledges and outcroppings, often forming large bioherms. We discuss observations from Baltimore and Norfolk canyons in the context of the known distribution of this species in the North Atlantic.
Analysis of large digital collections with interactive visualization

To make decisions about the long-term preservation and access of large digital collections, archivists gather information such as the collections' contents, their organizational structure, and their file format composition. To date, the process of analyzing a collection — from data gathering to exploratory analysis and final conclusions — has largely been conducted using pen and paper methods. To help archivists analyze large-scale digital collections for archival purposes, we developed an interactive visual analytics application. The application narrows down different kinds of information about the collection, and presents them as meaningful data views. Multiple views and analysis features can be linked or unlinked on demand to enable researchers to compare and contrast different analyses, and to identify trends. We describe and present two user scenarios to show how the application allowed archivists to learn about a collection with accuracy, facilitated decision-making, and helped them arrive at conclusions.
Lung lysosomal enzyme release during hemorrhagic shock and endotoxemia

Abstract Lysosomal enzymes are felt to be released during hemorrhage and endotoxin from ischemic splanchnic viscera and from leukocytes sequestered in the lungs. It is hypothesized that these enzymes then produce endothelial cell damage. Lysosomal enzymes are generally found at highest concentration in lymph draining an injured organ. We determined the extent of β-glucuronidase and aryl sulfatase release into blood and lung lymph during hemorrhagic shock and endotoxemia, correlating this with changes in pulmonary microvascular integrity. We found a 100% increase in plasma β-glucuronidase during fatal hemorrhage but noted no change in the lung lymph concentration. Lung injury was also not seen. After Escherichia coli endotoxin, the plasma levels of both enzymes increased by 100%, while the lung lymph levels increased by 400–600%. A severe alteration in lung permeability was also seen. The actual transport of enzymes in lung lymph increased 20- to 40-fold. We therefore documented a strong correlation between lung injury and changes in lung lymph lysosomal enzyme content, while changes in plasma enzyme content reflected systemic injury.
Yellow Hypergiants as Dynamically Unstable Post-Red-supergiant Stars

According to recent theoretical studies, the majority of single stars more massive than 30 solar mass successfully evolve into red supergiants, but then lose most of their hydrogen envelopes and metamorphose into hot blue remnants. While they are cool, they become dynamically unstable as a result of high radiation pressure and partial ionization of the gases in their outer layers. It is shown here that these unstable red-supergiant models repeatedly shrink and re-expand on a thermal time scale when perturbed by heavy bursts of mass loss. Consequently, they fill up the domain of yellow hypergiants on the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram and display very fast rates of evolution there, as observed.
Biology and Taxonomy of Mites of the Genus Tarsonemoides (Acarina: Tarsonemidae) Parasitizing Eggs of Bark Beetles of the Genus Ips

This study was originally undertaken so as to provide information on the life history and ecology of Tarsonemoides truncatus (Ewing), to describe for the first time the developmental instars and male, and to redescribe the female of this species. Research soon indicated, however, that a group of closely related species of mites, including T. truncatus, was involved and that the problems to be investigated were more complex and extensive than anticipated.
Superfusion of Rat Anterior Pituitary Cells Attached to Cytodex Beads: Validation of a Technique

A superfusion method consisting of fully recovered, dissociated pituitary cells adhering to Cytodex beads has proved useful in monitoring the dynamics of hormone secretion over time. Male rat anterior pituitaries were dissociated with collagenase and Viokase, then cultured in the presence of Cytodex beads for 3-5 days, during which time the cells attached firmly to the surface of the beads. The bead-attached cells were stable and could be transferred to any vessel without the need for centrifugation or further trypsinization. For this application, the bead-attached cells were packed in a column and superfused with a low bicarbonate buffer requiring no CO2 gassing. Viability was more than 95% after 48 h in the column. The cells responded in a normal physiological manner to hypothalamic releasing and inhibitory peptides. The ED50 was 0.3 nM for somatostatin and 1.2 nM for gonadotropin-releasing hormone. A postinhibitory rebound of GH secretion was observed after the discontinuation of large doses of somatostatin. LH secretion reached maximal levels within 6 min after 10 nM gonadotropin-releasing hormone, but started declining after 2 h of continuous stimulation and dropped close to baseline within 18 h. GH release was significantly increased by prostaglandin E2, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, and 8-bromo-cAMP. LH secretion increased 5-fold in response to 1 mM 8-bromo-cAMP, but showed little increase during prostaglandin E2 or 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine stimulation. The cocarcinogen phorbol myristate acetate (12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate) induced secretion of all pituitary hormones and continued to do so for hours after a short pulse. The superfusion system is simple to operate and has proven effective in studying transient phenomena, desensitization, and short term kinetics of secretagogues.
When Guests Simply Will Not Leave

Chronic pathogens have evolved exquisite mechanisms of self-regulation via manipulation of host signaling pathways; however, pathologic consequences may ensue. Tsugawa et al. (2012) now report a mechanism of checks and balances used by Helicobacter pylori that is undermined by gastric stem cells, which may lower the threshold for gastric cancer.
Central pancreatectomy with pancreaticogastrostomy in children

Children requiring surgical intervention for pancreatic disease may be at risk long term for exocrine insufficiency and glucose intolerance. Pediatric surgeons must balance the need to perform adequate surgical resection while preserving as much normal pancreatic parenchyma as possible. Neoplasms of the middle pancreatic segment with low malignant potential and isolated trauma to the pancreatic body or neck represent 2 conditions where extensive pancreatic resection is unnecessary. Central pancreatectomy for such lesions is well described in adults. Reconstruction of the distal pancreatic remnant is traditionally performed via Roux-en-Y pancreaticojejunostomy. Pancreaticogastrostomy is an alternative approach that has been used to reconstruct the distal pancreas in the adults. Pancreaticogastrostomy offers several technical advantages over pancreaticojejunostomy. Because children may be uniquely susceptible to the long-term consequences of excessive pancreatic resection, 2 cases using this technique of central pancreatectomy with pancreaticogastrostomy are described.
Nationalizing `the global': media images, cultural politics and the middle class in India

The article intervenes in the debate over the effects of globalization on the nation-state by exploring the ways in which meanings of the global are produced through the nationalist imagination in ...
Use of the Oncotype DX™ 21-Gene Assay to Guide Adjuvant Decision Making in Early-Stage Breast Cancer

The decision to use adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with early stage breast cancer involves the consideration of many factors that traditionally rely heavily on tumor size and lymph node involvement and a limited set of biologic characteristics such as estrogen receptor and HER2 expression. Overtreatment with cytotoxic chemotherapy is a significant concern among patients and physicians. Using the currently accepted guidelines it has been estimated that a large percentage of patients receiving chemotherapy for low-risk breast cancers may be overtreated. Gene expression profiling is a new technology being developed to help improve risk stratification of patients and to predict outcomes. The Oncotype DXtrade mark assay is one example of a gene expression profile validated in women with lymph node-negative, estrogen receptor-expressing breast cancer. This assay and others aim to help improve risk classification and recurrence prediction and, therefore, optimize selection of patients for adjuvant chemotherapy.
Satellite-derived attributes of cloud vortex systems and their application to climate studies

Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) visible and infrared mosaics are analyzed in conjunction with synoptic meteorological observations of sea level pressure (SLP) and upper-air height to derive composite patterns of cyclonic cloud vortices for the Northern Hemisphere. The patterns reveal variations in the structure and implied dynamics of cyclonic systems at different stages of development that include: (1) increasing vertical symmetry of the lower-level and upper-air circulations and (2) decreasing lower-tropospheric thicknesses and temperature advection, associated with increasing age of the vortex. Cloud vortices are more intense in winter than in summer and typically reach maximum intensity in the short-lived prespiral signature stage. There are major structural differences among frontal wave, polar air, and 'instant occlusion' cyclogenesis types. Cyclones in the dissipation stage may reintensify (deepen), as denoted by the appearance in the imagery of an asymmetric cloud band or a tightened spiral vortex. The satellite-derived statistics on cloud vortex intensity, which are seasonal- and latitude- as well as type-dependent, are applied to a preliminary examination of the synoptic manifestations of seasonal climate variability. An apparently close relationship is found, for two winter and spring seasons, between Northern Hemisphere cyclonic activity and variations in cryosphere variables, particularly the extent of Arctic sea ice. The results may indicate that increased snow and ice extent accompany a southward displacement of cyclonic activity and/or a predominance of deeper systems. However, there is also a strong regional dependence to the ice-synoptics feedback. This study demonstrates the utility of high resolution meteorological satellite imagery for studies of climate variations (climate dynamics).
Bayesian methods for fitting mixture models that characterize branching tree processes: An application to development of resistant TB strains

For pathogens that must be treated with combinations of antibiotics and acquire resistance through genetic mutation, knowledge of the order in which drug-resistance mutations occur may be important for determining treatment policies. Diagnostic specimens collected from patients are often available; this makes it possible to determine the presence of individual drug-resistance conferring mutations and combinations of these mutations. In most cases, these specimens are only available from a patient at a single point in time; it is very rare to have access to multiple specimens from a single patient collected over time as resistance accumulates to multiple drugs. Statistical methods that use branching trees have been successfully applied to such cross-sectional data to make inference on the ordering of events that occurred prior to sampling. Here we propose a Bayesian approach to fitting branching tree models that has several advantages, including the ability to accommodate prior information regarding measurement error or cross-resistance and the natural way it permits the characterization of uncertainty. Our methods are applied to a data set for drug resistant tuberculosis in Peru; the goal of analysis is to determine the order with which patients develop resistance to the drugs commonly used for treating TB in this setting.
The binding potential between the cholera toxin B-oligomer and its receptor.

Employing atomic force microscopy as an in situ molecular force probe, we have measured the binding strength between cholera toxin B-pentamer (ctB) and its membrane receptor, ganglioside GM1. By application of the basic principle of the reaction rate theory, key parameters of the ligand−receptor binding potential can be obtained from our data. The potential has a well with a spatial span of about 2.5 A and a depth of at least six times the thermal energy at room temperature. The very short range nature of the binding potential leads to the specificity of the ctB−GM1 coupling.
Distribution of nonprescription pharmaceuticals in central Indiana streams and effects on sediment microbial activity

Since the discovery of trace concentrations of pharmaceuticals in streams and treated drinking water around the world, a call has been made by both the scientific community and the general public to increase understanding of the potential effects these compounds may have on freshwater integrity. We measured abundance and distribution of pharmaceuticals in headwater streams across the Upper White River Watershed of central Indiana. Four nonprescription pharmaceuticals (1,7-dimethylxanthine, caffeine metabolite; acetaminophen; caffeine; cotinine, nicotine metabolite) were found at one or more sites with mean concentrations of 0.038, 0.109, 0.057 and 0.041 μg/l, respectively. Caffeine was measured at trace concentrations at all sites sampled. Higher pharmaceutical concentrations were associated with streams having >90% agricultural land use in the sub watershed, suggesting that nonpoint sources, such as septic tanks, may contribute to stream pharmaceutical contamination. To assess the influence of these pharmaceuticals on stream microbial activity, we measured changes in sediment respiration and nutrient uptake in response to pharmaceuticals using both in vitro and in situ techniques. For in vitro experiments, respiration rates were not significantly different from controls with pharmaceutical exposure. However, net NO3−-N uptake increased significantly with nicotine concentrations. Net NH4+-N uptake was reduced in response to caffeine and nicotine exposure. In situ experiments indicated nicotine exposure increased microbial respiration. Our data show pharmaceuticals are ubiquitous in headwater streams of central Indiana and likely influence stream microbial activity depending on the pharmaceutical compound and history of exposure.