cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Islet β cell expression of constitutively active Akt1/PKBα induces striking hypertrophy, hyperplasia, and hyperinsulinemia

The phosphoinositide 3-kinase-Akt/PKB pathway mediates the mitogenic effects various nutrients and growth factors in cultured cells. To study its effects in vivo in pancreatic islet beta cells, we created transgenic mice that expressed a constitutively active Akt1/PKB alpha linked to an Insulin gene promoter. Transgenic mice exhibited a grossly visible increase in islet mass, largely due to proliferation of insulin-containing beta cells. Morphometric analysis verified a six-fold increase in beta cell mass/pancreas, a two-fold increase in 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine incorporation, a four-fold increase in the number of beta cells per pancreas area, and a two-fold increase in cell size in transgenic compared with wild-type mice at 5 weeks. At least part of the increase in beta cell number may be accounted for by neogenesis, defined by criteria that include beta cells proliferating from ductular epithelium, and by a six-fold increase in the number of single and doublet beta cells scattered throughout the exocrine pancreas of the transgenic mice. Glucose tolerance was improved, and fasting as well as fed insulin was greater compared with wild-type mice. Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion was maintained in transgenic mice, which were resistant to streptozotocin-induced diabetes. We conclude that activation of the Akt1/PKB alpha pathway affects islet beta cell mass by alteration of size and number.
Left thoracoscopic sympathectomy for cardiac denervation in patients with life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias

Background We reported the outcomes of a single-institution experience using video-assisted thoracoscopic left cardiac sympathetic denervation as an adjunctive therapeutic technique in pediatric and young adult patients with life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. Methods We conducted a retrospective clinical review of all patients who underwent left cardiac sympathetic denervation by means of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery at our institution. From August 2000 to December 2011, 24 patients (13 with long QT syndrome, 9 with catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, and 2 with idiopathic ventricular tachycardia) were identified from the cardiology database and surgical records. Results There were no intraoperative complications. The median postoperative length of stay was 2 days (range, 1-32 days). There were no major perioperative complications. Longer-term follow-up was available in 22 of 24 patients at a median follow-up of 28 months (range, 4-131 months). Sixteen (73%) of the 22 patients experienced a marked reduction in their arrhythmia burden, with 12 (55%) becoming completely arrhythmia free after sympathectomy. Six (27%) of the patients were nonresponsive to treatment; each had persistent symptoms at follow-up. Conclusions Video-assisted thoracoscopic left cardiac sympathetic denervation can be safely and effectively performed in most patients with life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. This minimally invasive procedure is a promising adjunctive therapeutic option that achieves a beneficial response in most symptomatic patients. These results support the inclusion of thoracoscopic cardiac sympathetic denervation among the treatment armamentarium in all patients with ventricular arrhythmias refractive to conventional medical therapy.
Relation of orientation, verbal aggression, and physical aggression to compliance in speech-language therapy for adults with traumatic brain injury.

20 subjects with traumatic brain injury were tested over a 4-wk. period for aggressive behaviors; orientation to place, person, and time; and compliance in speech-language therapy sessions. Analysis showed significant correlations from .63 to .75 over the four sessions between orientation and compliance in speech-language therapy and suggest that orientation training could be a prerequisite to the formal treatment of other behavioral or communication disorders.
γδ T Cells Attenuate Bleomycin-Induced Fibrosis through the Production of CXCL10

γδ T cells are a subset of T cells associated with epithelial mucosal tissues and play a prominent role in both promoting and dampening inflammatory responses to pathogens; in addition, they strongly mediate epithelial repair. By using a bleomycin model of pulmonary fibrosis, we found that γδ T-cell populations dramatically increased after bleomycin administration. To determine the importance of these cells, we exposed mice lacking the δ chain of the γδ T-cell receptor (γδ knockout [KO]) to bleomycin. Pulmonary fibrosis was more severe in γδ KO mice, as measured by collagen deposition (hydroxyproline) and histopathological features. Furthermore, there was no evidence of resolution of the fibrotic response up to 45 days after bleomycin therapy. In contrast to control mice, γδ KO mice had decreased concentrations of IL-6, granulocyte colony stimulating factor, chemokine CXC ligand (CXCL) 1, and interferon inducible protein 10/CXCL10. In vitro culture of γδ T cells purified from lungs 17 days after bleomycin exposure (a time of peak influx of these cells) demonstrated that γδ T cells produced substantial quantities of all four of these cytokines, suggesting that γδ T cells are a predominant source of these proteins. To demonstrate that γδ T cells are effector cells in the fibrotic response, we performed adoptive transfer experiments with γδ T cells sorted from bleomycin-treated lungs; these cells were sufficient to resolve fibrosis in γδ KO mice and restore CXCL10 levels comparable to wild-type mice. Furthermore, overexpression of CXCL10 in the lung decreased the severity of fibrosis seen in the γδ KO mice. Finally, adoptive transfer of γδ T cells from CXCL10 −/− mice failed to reverse the severe fibrosis in γδ KO mice. These results indicate that γδ T cells promote the resolution of fibrosis through the production of CXCL10.
Differential biclustering for gene expression analysis

Biclustering algorithms have been successfully used to find subsets of co-expressed genes under subsets of conditions. In some cases, microarray experiments are performed to compare the biological activities of the genes between two classes of cells, such as normal and cancer cells. In this paper, we propose DiBiCLUS, a novel Differential Biclustering algorithm, to identify differential biclusters from the gene expression data where the samples belong to one of the two classes. The genes in these differential biclusters can be positively or negatively co-expressed. We introduce two criteria for any pair of genes to be considered as a differential pair across the two classes. To illustrate the performance of the proposed algorithm, we present the experimental results of applying DiBiCLUS algorithm on synthetic and reallife datasets. These experiments show that the identified differential biclusters are both statistically and biologically significant.
Inhibition of sulfamethoxazole hydroxylamine formation by fluconazole in human liver microsomes and healthy volunteers

Sulfamethoxazole toxicity is putatively initiated by the formation of a hydroxylamine metabolite by cytochromes P450. If this reaction could be inhibited, toxicity may decrease. We have studied--in vitro and in vivo--fluconazole, ketoconazole, and cimetidine as potentially suitable clinical inhibitors of sulfamethoxazole hydroxylamine formation. Both fluconazole and ketoconazole in human liver microsomal incubations competitively inhibited sulfamethoxazole N-hydroxylation, with the inhibitory constant (Ki) values of 3.5 and 6 micromol/L, respectively. Cimetidine exhibited a mixed type of inhibition of sulfamethoxazole hydroxylamine formation in human liver microsomes, with IC 50 values (the concentration required to decrease hydroxylamine formation by 50%) of 80 and 800 micromol/L, the lower value being observed when cimetidine was preincubated with microsomes and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate. In an in vivo study in six healthy volunteers the inhibition of the cytochrome P450-mediated generation of the toxic metabolite in the presence of fluconazole was shown by a 94% decrease in the area under the plasma concentration-time curve of sulfamethoxazole hydroxylamine. In contrast, the recovery of hydroxylamine in urine decreased by only 60%. Total clearance of sulfamethoxazole was decreased by 26% by fluconazole, most likely because of the inhibition of unidentified P450 elimination pathways. There was close agreement between the predicted (87%) and observed inhibition (94%) of sulfamethoxazole hydroxylamine formation in vivo. Similarly, there was close agreement between in vivo and in vitro Ki values--1.6 and 3.5 micron/L, respectively.
The p-version of finite element method for shell analysis

A new quadrature scheme and a family of hierarchical assumed strain elements have been developed to enhance the performance of the displacement-based hierarchical shell elements. Various linear iterative procedures have been examined for their suitability to solve system of equations resulting from hierarchic shell formulations.
Optimal dietary ration for juvenile pigfish, Orthopristis chrysoptera, grow-out

Abstract Pigfish ( Orthopristis chrysoptera ) have been identified as a good candidate for marine baitfish aquaculture. Initial research on the species has focused on captive spawning and larval rearing, but optimizing juvenile grow-out is also essential for economical production. We conducted an experiment to determine the optimal ration (R opt ) for maximizing growth rate while minimizing size variability and overfeeding. We measured total length (TL), wet weight (WW), specific growth rate (SGR), gross feed conversion efficiency (GFCE), and survival of juvenile pigfish (initial size: 2.6 ± 0.4 cm TL) using six ration levels (4, 8, 12, 16, 20, or 24% WW d − 1 ) for four weeks at 24.7 ± 0.2 °C. Final size (TL and WW) increased with increasing ration at lower rations, reaching a plateau at intermediate levels (8–16% WW d − 1 ). Survival increased with ration from 74% at the lowest ration to a plateau of 96.0% at rations > 10.7% WW d − 1 . GFCE decreased with increasing ration from 149% to 47%. To identify R opt and its change with fish size, we modeled SGR as a function of WW, ration, and their interaction and found that R opt = 11.19 · WW − 0.26 (R 2 = 0.70, P
Fifteen-minute acid hydrolysis of peptides.

Abstract During the last several years we have been using anaerobic and aerobic propionic acid/hydrochloric (HCl) hydrolysis as an analytical tool. Our previous communication (1) showed that not only free peptides but also peptides made by the Merrifield procedure (2–4) and still attached to the resin could be hydrolyzed quantitatively in 2 hr at 130°C. This procedure compared favorably (1) with constant boiling HCl hydrolysis which requires initial removal of the peptides from the resin and takes 24 hr. This publication compares the results of 55 peptides, 1 11 free and 44 attached to resin, hydrolyzed aerobically with propionic acid/hydrochloric acid for 15 min at 150°C, 15 min at 160°C, and 2 hr at 130°C.
Factor structure of the wechsler memory scale-revised

Abstract The factor structure of the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised (WMS-R) was examined in a large (N = 434) sample of patients referred to the neuropsychology laboratories of two large medical centers. The subtests of the WMS-R were subjected to principal-components factor analysis. Some analyses included only the immediate-recall subtests, while other analyses included both immediate-and delayed-recall subtests. Additional analyses included VIQ and PIQ from the WAIS-R. Initial analyses of immediate-recall subtests indicated a two-factor solution similar to that reported in the standardization sample. Inclusion of IQ scores also revealed a two-factor solution with IQ scores and most memory subtests loading on separate factors. Inclusion in the analysis of delayed-recall subtests revealed three-factor solution with factors interpreted as representing verbal memory, nonverbal memory, and attention/IQ. These results are discussed in terms of factor-analytic studies of the earlier Wechsler Memory Scale, and ...
Toward a More Data-Driven Supervision of Collegiate Counseling Centers

Hearing the national call for higher education accountability, the author of this tripartite article urges university administrators to move towards a more data-driven approach to counseling center supervision. Toward that end, the author first examines a key factor--perceived increase in student pathology--that appears to shape budget and staffing decisions in many university centers. Second, she reviews the emerging but conflicting research of clinician-scholars who are trying to empirically verify or refute that perception; their conflicting results suggest that no study alone should be used as the "final word" in evidence-based decision-making. Third, the author delineates the campus-specific data that should be gathered to guide staffing and budgeting decisions on each campus. She concludes by reminding readers that data-driven decisions can and should foster high-quality care that is concurrently efficient, effective, and in sync with the needs of a particular university and student body.
The use of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration in the diagnosis of thyroid lesions

Non-palpable thyroid nodules can be difficult to access by conventional ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration, particularly when they are intrathoracic. Many of these patients are subject to multiple follow up scans or invasive diagnostic procedures such as mediastinoscopy or surgical resection. We aim to describe the feasibility of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) for diagnosis of thyroid lesions. All EBUS-TBNA performed at our institutions from February 2010 to February 2013 were screened, and those in which a thyroid biopsy was performed were reviewed. We identified 12 cases of EBUS-TBNA thyroid biopsy. Nine patients had an indication for EBUS in addition to their thyroid lesions. The median age was 64 years (range 44 to 84 years), and 10 patients were male. Median lesion size was 22.5 mm (range, 10 to 43 mm). Five lesions were strictly intrathoracic. All cases were sampled with a 22G needle and rapid on-site cytologic examination. Adequate samples were obtained in all 12 cases. Malignancy was identified in 3 of the 12 patients (metastatic breast adenocarcinoma, large B-cell lymphoma, and metastatic lung adenocarcinoma). The remaining 9 samples were deemed to be benign nodules. Seven of these were confirmed by clinical follow-up (n = 3), biopsies (n = 3), or surgery (n = 1). There were no EBUS-related complications. EBUS-TBNA might be a safe and effective alternative for sampling thyroid lesions, particularly useful for those located below the thoracic inlet. Further prospective studies are required to compare its diagnostic yield and safety profile with standard techniques.
Rates of grain boundary diffusion through enstatite and forsterite reaction rims

The growth rates of enstatite rims produced by reaction of Fo92 and SiO2 were determined at 250–1500 MPa and 900–1100°C for a wide range of water contents. Growth rates were also determined for forsterite rims between MgO and Mg2Si2O6 and between MgO and SiO2. Rim growth rates are parabolic indicating diffusion-controlled growth of the polycrystalline rims which are composed of ˜ 2 μm diameter grains. Rim growth rates were used to calculate the product of the grain boundary diffusion coefficient (D'A) times the effective grain boundary thickness (δ) assuming in turn that MgO, SiO2, and Mg2Si−1 are the diffusing components (coupled diffusion of a cation and oxygen or interdiffusion of Mg and Si). The values for D'MgOδ, D' , and D' for enstatite at 1000°C and 700 MPa confining pressure with about 0.1 wt % water are about five times larger than the corresponding D'Aδ values for samples initially vacuum dried at 250°C. Most of the increase in D'Aδ occurs with the first 0.1 wt % water. The activation energy for diffusion through the enstatite rims (1100–950°C) is 162 ± 30 kJ/mole. The diffusion rate through enstatite rims is essentially unchanged for confining pressures from 210–1400 MPa, but the nucleation rate is greatly reduced at low confining pressure (for ≤ 1.0 wt % water present) and limits the conditions at which rim growth can be measured. The corresponding values for D'Aδ through forsterite rims are essentially identical for the two forsterite-producing reactions when 0.1 wt % water is added and similar to the D'Aδ values for enstatite at the same conditions. The D'Aδ values for forsterite are ˜ 28 times larger for samples starting with 0.1 wt % water compared to samples that were first vacuum dried. Thus water enhances these grain boundary diffusion rates by a factor of 5–30 depending on the mineralogy, but the total range in D'Aδ is only slightly more than an order of magnitude for as wide a range of water contents as expected for most crustal conditions.
An Examination of the Psychometrical Comparability of Survey Evidence in Sport Trademark Litigation

Parties in trademark infringement litigation frequently introduce survey evidence to demonstrate consumer confusion. Especially, Indianapolis Colts, Inc. v. Metropolitan Baltimore Football Club Ltd. Partnership (1994) highlights the significant roles of such survey evidence in sport trademark litigation. While Colts is arguably one of the most influential federal cases in sport trademark jurisprudence, the decision has been criticized for various grounds. This article focuses on the questionable validity of the survey evidence used in Colts. After discussing the crucial values of survey information in trademark infringement cases, it points out the problematic psychometrical validity of the key evidence used by the plaintiffs in Colts. Lastly, the paper introduces an SEM protocol widely used in social science research (i.e., Congenerity Test; Ohanian, 1990), as a gatekeeping technique that would likely screen out unreliable survey information. It demonstrates how the technique could have been used by the ...
Repair of traumatic orbital wall defects with nasal septal cartilage: Report of five cases

Abstract Purpose This article reports the use of nasal septal cartilage for the repair of traumatic orbital wall defects. Patients and Methods Five patients with disruption of the orbital wall after facial trauma were included in this retrospective review. All of the patients underwent open reduction with internal fixation of the fractures as well as repair of the orbital wall defect with autogenous septal cartilage. Results Nasal septal cartilage was used in four cases of orbital floor defect and one case of orbital roof defect. All of the cases were successfully treated by restoration of the orbital wall continuity. Conclusion Nasal septal cartilage is a readily accessible autogenous material that can be easily harvested with minimal donor site morbidity, and it should be considered when an autogenous orbital implant is needed for the repair of a traumatic orbital wall defect.
Roles of the androgen receptor cofactor p44 in the growth of prostate epithelial cells

Various cofactors have been shown to regulate androgen receptor (AR) transactivation, but their physiological functions in the AR pathway and prostate tumorigenesis are undefined. Here, we found that AR cofactor (p44) translocation from the nucleus to the cytoplasm in prostate epithelial cells (ECs) is associated with prostate tumorigenesis. The forced nuclear localization of p44 inhibited prostate cancer cell growth by G1 cell-cycle arrest. Consistently, mice lacking one allele of the p44 gene developed prostatic hyperplasia. Therefore, p44 is required for proper expression of AR-target genes to maintain the differentiation of prostate ECs, and p44 translocation from the nucleus into the cytoplasm in prostate cancer cells or loss of one allele in mouse results in excessive prostate EC proliferation.
120 Exploration of Morphological Variation Within the Genus Pediastrum Meyen 1829 (Chlorophyceae, Chlorophyta)

Monographic works on the green algal genus, Pediastrum Meyen 1829 (Chlorophyceae, Chlorophyta), have described species, varieties and forms based on such characteristics as the size and shape of the marginal cells, pattern of cell wall sculpturing and extent of cell wall sculpturing. Depending on the author, the number of taxa assigned to the genus Pediastrum varies. Due to the lack of quantitative value to these characteristics, it has been difficult for other researchers to assign appropriate taxonomy to wild isolates. A molecular phylogeny including multiple strains from both culture collections and wild samples confirms relationships found by previous molecular studies on fewer taxa, in which the family Hydrodictyaceae forms a monophyletic group within the Sphaeropleales, and that the genera Hydrodictyon and Sorastrum are derived from Pediastrum. Hydrodicyton forms a monophyletic clade and consists of three species, H. reticulatum, H. africanum, and H. patenaeforme. Multiple isolates of H. reticulatum reveal little genetic variation between different geographic localities. Inclusion of wild isolates permits a more thorough exploration of morphological variation within the genus Pediastrum, and what characters may be taxonomically informative, particularly in the species P. boryanum and P. duplex. Wild isolates sampled from different areas also offers information regarding geographic variation and potential morphological convergence.
A Field‐Based Fieldwork Course

Doing fieldwork can help us obtain useful information through a variety of means for a variety of purposes. Although fieldwork in education is most commonly performed by researchers in the context of a formal research endeavor, the skills involved can also be used by practicing teachers to gain a better understanding of the educational processes that occur at home, in the community, and in the school in which they are working. Fieldwork skills can be especially valuable to teachers in cross-cultural settings, such as those faced by teachers in rural Alaska. It is with the latter considerations in mind that we included the course "Field Study Methods in Educational Research" as a requirement in our graduate program in cross-cultural education. Some students who take the course have subsequently done, or aspire to do, field research, but most take the course because they are interested in improving their ability to work in a cross-cultural setting by learning ways to better understand the people with whom they are working. In designing the degree program, we felt that a course in field study methods would be more appropriate as a degree requirement than the usual quantitatively-oriented educational research course, because teachers dealing with cross-cultural issues need to learn how to ask the right questions before they can systematically go after the answers. Fieldwork lends itself to this kind of hypothesis-generating activity and can yield "data" richer and of more immediate use to the practicing teacher. Most importantly, fieldwork acquaints teachers with issues in a real-time frame and in a real-life environment, thus minimizing the decontextualization and consequent interpretation problems that often accompany quantitative methodologies. The course is intended, therefore, to address the ways of thinking that go along with the ways of doing fieldwork.
Metaloging of Digital Geospatial Data

AbstractThe metaloging – cataloguing – of digital geospatial data is discussed. The following metadata schemas are briefly reviewed: Dublin Core; the US Federal Geographic Data Committee's 'Content Description for Digital Geospatial Data'; the ISO standard 19115 (2003), 'Geographic Information Metadata'; XML; METS; and MODS. This is followed by a brief description of The Alexandria Digital Library.
How closely do acute lethal concentration estimates predict effects of toxicants on populations

Acute lethal dose/concentration estimates are the most widely used measure of toxicity and these data often are used in ecological risk assessment. However, the value of the lethal concentration (LC50) as a toxicological endpoint for use in ecological risk assessment recently has been criticized. A question that has been asked frequently is how accurate is the LC50 for prediction of longer-term effects of toxicants on populations of organisms? To answer this question, Daphnia pulex populations were exposed to nominal concentrations equal to the 48-h acute LC50 of 6 insecticides, Actara, Aphistar diazinon, pymetrozine, Neemix, and Spinosad; and 8 agricultural adjuvants, Bond, Kinetic, Plyac, R-11, Silwet, Sylgard 309, Water Maxx, and X-77; for 10 d. None of the D. pulex populations exposed to the acute LC50 of these insecticides were 50% lower than the control populations at the end of the study; exposure to diazinon resulted in populations that were higher than expected (91% of the control). Exposure to Actara and Aphistar resulted in populations that were <1 and 29% of the control, respectively. Exposure to Fulfill, Neemix, and Spinosad resulted in extinction. Extinction occurred after exposure to all of the adjuvants, except Silwet L-77 where the population was 31% of the control. These results corroborate other studies that indicate that the LC50 is not a good predictor of effects on population growth. Although lethal concentration estimates have their place in toxicology, namely to compare intrinsic toxicity of chemicals among species or susceptibility of a species to different chemicals over short time periods, population growth and growth-rate studies are necessary to predict toxicant effects on populations.
Factors Contributing to Spiral Humerus Fracture During Muscle-Up Exercise

Spiral humerus fractures associated with extreme muscular torsion loading have been well documented in literature. Throwing motions and arm wrestling are the two causes most often researched, while spiral fractures associated with gymnastics have received less attention. The purpose of this study is to explore the factors that may contribute to torsional failure of the humerus while performing a gymnastics move known as a muscle-up. Primary motivation for this study was the result of the author sustaining a spiral fracture to the distal aspect of her left humerus while attempting a muscle-up. To the author’s knowledge, no previous studies analyzing the forces imposed on the upper extremities during a muscle-up have been conducted.Utilizing the author’s estimated anthropometric measurements and the kinematic and kinetic constraints of the muscle-up activity, the torque acting about the long axis of the humerus was determined in two ways. First, an analytical approach was used to calculate the forces and moments within a simplified linkage representation of the upper extremity for several representative muscle-up postures. The second method was a computer simulation that modeled the entire body with muscles in several different kinematic positions and outputted internal body elbow joint net moments.The analytical approach resulted in torques between 12.0 N·m and 29.3 N·m. The kinetics derived with the computer simulation revealed joint reaction torques between 13 N·m and 38 N·m and net axial torques between 29.1 N·m and 69.1 N·m acting on the left humerus. The internal moments predicted using the computer simulation were above the author’s minimum predicted torque, 53 N·m, associated with humerus fracture initiation.Although there may be many factors that contribute to spiral humerus fracture, in this study, it was determined that the kinematic positions of the muscle-up movement are sufficiently extreme so as to produce torques capable of resulting in spiral humerus fracture.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Fatigue Life of Commercial High Pressure Tubing

Design guidance for high pressure components, has undergone a dramatic change with the release of ASME Section VIII division 3 pressure vessel code. For the first time, a thorough design criteria is available for design of thick wall pressure vessels. The most critical components of a design are safety and reliability. Ultra high-pressure vessels, in most cases, do not have an “infinite” life. The design must therefore be “leak before break” and a design cycle life must be specified. This paper looks at the effects of fatigue on commercial high-pressure tubing under tri-axial fatigue. The tubing investigated is 316 stainless steel 9/16″ and 3/8″ diameter 4100 bar (60,000 psi) tubing. The testing was performed using a tri-axial fatigue machine originally designed by Dr. B. Crossland, Dr. J. L. M. Morrison and Dr. J. S. C. Perry in 1960 and upgraded by the Author. This investigation compares the fatigue life prediction per KD3 in the ASME pressure vessel code Section VIII division 3 and actual test results from the fatigue machine. This verification gives important reliability data for commercial hardware used in high-pressure piping.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Risks of hypertensive disorders in the second pregnancy

Objective: To examine the incidence of and risk factors for recurrent and newly developed hypertensive disorders in the second pregnancy; and to determine if hypertension in the first pregnancy is associated with adverse perinatal outcomes in the second pregnancy. Methods: We analyzed data on 1,641 women who had both the first and second births recorded in the Collaborative Perinatal Project, a large prospective cohort study at 12 U.S. hospitals that collected extensive prenatal and perinatal information. Incidence of and risk factors for hypertension in the second pregnancy were computed according to hypertensive status in the first pregnancy. Birth weight and gestational age at delivery of the second birth were examined by hypertensive status of the first and second pregnancies. Results: Nineteen percent (95% CI 14–24%) of women who had gestational hypertension in the first pregnancy, 32% (95% CI 17–48%) of those with preeclampsia, and 46% (95% CI 32–60%) of patients with gestational hypertension or preeclampsia superimposed on chronic hypertension had recurrent hypertensive disorders in the second pregnancy. The earlier the onset of hypertension in the first pregnancy, the higher the overall recurrence rate. Seventy-six percent of recurrent cases had mild hypertension, which did not affect perinatal outcomes in the second pregnancy. However, patients with a history of hypertension in the first pregnancy and severe hypertension in the second pregnancy had a sixfold increased risk of very premature birth (<34 weeks) and ninefold increased risk of severe intrauterine growth restriction (<5th percentile) (P <0.05). Conclusions: Hypertensive disorders have a 20–50% recurrence rate in the second pregnancy. Most recurrent cases are mild and do not have adverse effects on perinatal outcomes.
Preference for Warning in an Unavoidable Shock Situation: Replication and Extension

To replicate and extend the previously reported preference for warning in an unavoidable shock situation rats were tested individually in a two-compartment grid shuttle box and whether a preference for signal prior to unavoidable shock could be established over a shock-alone condition was observed. Ss were tested at warning durations of 3, 5, 10, 20 and 30 sec. All Ss exhibited a clear preference for the signal-shock condition, regardless of duration of warning.
Fenofibrate induces a novel degradation pathway for scavenger receptor B-I independent of PDZK1

Fibrate drugs improve cardiovascular health by lowering plasma triglycerides, normalize low density lipoprotein levels, and raise high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels in patients with dyslipidemias. The HDL-raising effect of fibrates has been shown to be due in part to an increase in human apolipoprotein AI gene expression. However, it has recently been shown that fibrates can affect HDL metabolism in mouse by significantly decreasing hepatic levels of the HDL receptor scavenger receptor B-I (SR-BI) and the PDZ domain containing protein PDZK1. PDZK1 is essential for maintaining hepatic SR-BI levels. Therefore, decreased SR-BI might be secondary to decreased PDZK1, but the mechanism by which fibrates lower SR-BI has not been elucidated. Here we show that feeding PDZK1-deficient mice fenofibrate resulted in the near absence of SR-BI in liver, definitively demonstrating that the effect of fenofibrate on SR-BI is PDZK1-independent. Metabolic labeling experiments in primary hepatocytes from fenofibrate-fed mice demonstrated that fenofibrate enhanced the degradation of SR-BI in a post-endoplasmic reticulum compartment. Moreover, fenofibrate-induced degradation of SR-BI was independent of the proteasome, calpain protease, or the lysosome, and antioxidants did not inhibit fenofibrate-induced degradation of SR-BI. Using metabolic labeling coupled with cell surface biotinylation assays, fenofibrate did not inhibit SR-BI trafficking to the plasma membrane. Together, the data support a model in which fenofibrate enhances the degradation of SR-BI in a post-ER, post-plasma membrane compartment. The further elucidation of this novel degradation pathway may provide new insights into the physiological and pathophysiological regulation of hepatic SR-BI.
Growth and Calcification in the Prenatal Human Primary Molars

SYNOPSIS IN INTERLINGUA CRESCENTIA E CALCIFICATION IN LE PRENATAL MOLARES PRIMARI HUMAN.—Con le objectivo de studiar statisticamente le relation inter le crescentia e le calcification, le 4 germines de molares primari in 69 fetos human del gruppo de etate circumnatal esseva dissecate e tincturate con rubio alizarinic S. Le grado del calcification e le dimension microscopic del corona esseva determinate. Esseva constatate un statisticamente significative relation linear e curvilinear inter le crescentia e le calcification. Esseva concludite que le corona continua crescer in magnitude post le initiation del calcification. Le distantia inter le punctas del cuspides continua crescer post le initiation del calcification, sed nulle tal crescer es riotate post lor coalescentia.
Superconducting proximity effect in single-crystal Sn nanowires

Abstract An in situ template-based electrochemical method was used to fabricate single-crystal Sn nanowires, of 6 μm in length and 30–200 nm in diameter, in contact with two bulk film electrodes of Au, Sn, or Pb. Superconductivity in these Sn nanowires was found to depend strongly on the electrode materials.
Half-Embryo Cocultivation Technique for Estimating the Susceptibility of Pea (Pisum sativum L.) and Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) Cultivars to Agrobacterium tumefaciens

Longitudinally sliced embryonic axes from pea and lentil mature seeds cocultivated with A. tumefaciens carrying a gus reporter gene in its T-DNA provided a convenient means to evaluate the efficiency of gene transfer to tissues in different cultivars and cocultivation conditions. Use of this technique demonstrated wide variation in susceptibility to Agrobacterium among several pea and lentil commercial genotypes.
Genetic identification and fisher identifiability analysis of the Doyle–Fuller–Newman model from experimental cycling of a LiFePO4 cell

a b s t r a c t This article examines the problem of identifying the physical parameters of fundamental electrochemistry-based battery models from non-invasive voltage/current cycling tests. The article is particularly motivated by the problem of fitting the Doyle-Fuller-Newman (DFN) battery model to lithium-ion battery cycling data. Previous research in the literature identifies subsets of the DFN model's parameter experimentally. In contrast, this article makes the two unique contributions of: (i) identifying the full set of DFN model parameters from cycling data using a genetic algorithm (GA), and (ii) assessing the accuracy and identifiability of the resulting full parameter set using Fisher information. The specific battery used within this study has lithium iron phosphate cathode chemistry and is intended for high- power applications such as plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). We use seven experimental cycling data sets for model fitting and validation, six of them derived from PHEV drive cycles. This makes the identified parameter values appropriate for PHEV battery simulation and model-based design and control optimization.
Tuning voltage-gated channel activity and cellular excitability with a sphingomyelinase

Voltage-gated ion channels generate action potentials in excitable cells and help set the resting membrane potential in nonexcitable cells like lymphocytes. It has been difficult to investigate what kinds of phospholipids interact with these membrane proteins in their native environments and what functional impacts such interactions create. This problem might be circumvented if we could modify specific lipid types in situ. Using certain voltage-gated K+ (KV) channels heterologously expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes as a model, our group has shown previously that sphingomyelinase (SMase) D may serve this purpose. SMase D is known to remove the choline group from sphingomyelin, a phospholipid primarily present in the outer leaflet of plasma membranes. This SMase D action lowers the energy required for voltage sensors of a KV channel to enter the activated state, causing a hyperpolarizing shift of the Q-V and G-V curves and thus activating them at more hyperpolarized potentials. Here, we find that this SMase D effect vanishes after removing most of the voltage-sensor paddle sequence, a finding supporting the notion that SMase D modification of sphingomyelin molecules alters these lipids’ interactions with voltage sensors. Then, using SMase D to probe lipid–channel interactions, we find that SMase D not only similarly stimulates voltage-gated Na+ (NaV) and Ca2+ channels but also markedly slows NaV channel inactivation. However, the latter effect is not observed in tested mammalian cells, an observation highlighting the profound impact of the membrane environment on channel function. Finally, we directly demonstrate that SMase D stimulates both native KV1.3 in nonexcitable human T lymphocytes at their typical resting membrane potential and native NaV channels in excitable cells, such that it shifts the action potential threshold in the hyperpolarized direction. These proof-of-concept studies illustrate that the voltage-gated channel activity in both excitable and nonexcitable cells can be tuned by enzymatically modifying lipid head groups.
Patient Cost Sharing in Low Income Populations.

Economie theory suggests that a natural tool to control medical costs is increased consumer cost sharing for medical care. While such cost sharing reduces "full insurance" (wherein patients are indifferent between falling sick or remaining healthy), a greater reliance on coinsurance and copayments can, in theory, stem patient and provider incentives to engage
Post-bifurcation equilibria in the plane-strain test of a hyperelastic rectangular block

Abstract Of interest here is the bifurcated equilibrium solution of a homogeneous, hyperelastic, rectangular block under finite, plane-strain tension or compression. A general asymptotic analysis of the bifurcated equilibrium path about the principal solution’s lowest critical load is presented using Lagrangian kinematics. The analysis is valid for any compressible hyperelastic material with axes of orthotropy aligned with the block’s axes of symmetry in the reference (stress-free) configuration. The general theory is subsequently applied to blocks of different constitutive laws. Results are presented in the form of bifurcated equilibrium branch’s curvature at the critical load as function of the block’s aspect ratio, since the sign of this curvature determines the branch’s stability. For small aspect ratios there is agreement with existing structural models, while for relatively higher aspect ratios some rather counter-intuitive stability results appear, which strongly depend on the constitutive law.
Genetic diversity of lake whitefish in lakes Michigan and Huron; sampling, standardization, and research priorities

We combined data from two laboratories to increase the spatial extent of a genetic data set for lake whitefish Coregonus clupeaformis from lakes Huron and Michigan and saw that genetic diversity was greatest between lakes, but that there was also structuring within lakes. Low diversity among stocks may be a reflection of relatively recent colonization of the Great Lakes, but other factors such as recent population fluctuation and localized stresses such as lamprey predation or heavy exploitation may also have a homogenizing effect. Our data suggested that there is asymmetrical movement of lake whitefish between Lake Huron and Lake Michigan; more genotypes associated with Lake Michigan were observed in Lake Huron. Adding additional collections to the calibrated set will allow further examination of diversity in other Great Lakes, answer questions regarding movement among lakes, and estimate contributions of stocks to commercial yields. As the picture of genetic diversity and population structure of lake whitefish in the Great Lakes region emerges, we need to develop methods to combine data types to help identify important areas for biodiversity and thus conservation. Adding genetic data to existing models will increase the precision of predictions of the impacts of new stresses and changes in existing pressures on an ecologically and commercially important species.
Mechanix: an interactive display for exploring engineering design through a tangible interface

Mechanix is a low-cost, interactive system for children to design and explore mechanical systems using computer-vision tracked, magnetic components. It employs a semi-transparent magnetic surface that supports the placement and tracking of magnetic simple machine pieces and acts as a projection screen. A back-mounted webcam captures the position of the pieces using visual tags, while a projector depicts virtual components in user-generated challenges and solutions. Designed as a museum exhibit and grounded in constructionist learning theory, Mechanix combines a virtual library of user-generated content with a tangible interface to enable asynchronous and synchronous interactions.
Response to “Commentary: Lung Cancer Screening—Progress or Peril”

TO THE EDITORS: We read with interest the article entitled “Commentary: Lung Cancer Screening—Progress or Peril,” by James L. Mulshine in the April issue of The Oncologist [1]. Although Dr. Mulshine, for the most part, summarized the major findings of our then-unpublished manuscript [2], we strongly object to his unauthorized use of our data. Neither we nor our coauthors shared our manuscript with Dr. Mulshine, nor did he request or obtain our permission, or that of the journal Radiology, to publish a summary of our methodology or of our results in his Commentary. When asked about this, Dr. Mulshine replied in a letter that he is unable to identify the individual from whom he received our manuscript. This, too, is troubling. In this regard, we appreciate the “Expression of Editorial Concern” you have recently published on The Oncologist’s website [3]. Furthermore, though he was generally accurate in describing our study, Dr. Mulshine appears to have misunderstood our approach to calibration and, therefore, overstated the limitations of our modeling, and unfairly diminished the importance of our findings. Our model was calibrated to multiple endpoints from tumor registry data and cohort studies, not solely against chest x-ray–detected cases. We encourage the readers of The Oncologist to refer to the recently published original article in Radiology [2], where our studies are now fully reported. REFERENCES
The Economic Impact of Controlling Nonpoint Pollution in Hardwood Forestland

This research examines the economic impact of controlling sediment loss through changing forest management practices, harvest methods, and rates of harvest. A comparison is made between the income foregone to forestry firms and the regional loss of income as alternative measures of the cost of pollution control. Both measures indicate substantial losses result from controlling nonpoint pollution and suggest present projections of this cost underestimate true social losses.
The effects of severe maternal diabetes on glucose transport in the fetal rat

We mimicked the condition of severe maternal diabetes by administering high doses of streptozotocin (STZ) to the pregnant rat to determine the effects of increased glucose availability on fetal glucose transport and to assess whether a relationship might exist between glucose transport and altered fetal growth. Fetuses of STZ-treated pregnant rats were growth retarded (3.86 +/- 0.13 vs. 5.29 +/- 0.06 g), hyperglycemic (30.0 +/- 1.0 vs. 5.5 +/- 0.5 mM/liter), and hyperinsulinemic (1263.8 +/- 138.3 vs. 817.9 +/- 116.7 pM/liter). Glucose uptake, Glut 1 messenger RNA (mRNA), and Glut 1 protein were greater in STZ-treated fetal brain than in controls (50%, 83%, and 50%, respectively; P < 0.05). Glut 3 mRNA levels in STZ-treated and control fetal brain were equivalent and significantly less than levels of Glut 1. Glucose uptake in muscle of STZ fetuses was 70% greater than control values (P < 0.05). Glut 1 mRNA levels were increased by 93% in STZ fetal muscle (P < 0.05). Neither Glut 3 nor Glut 4 mRNA could be detected in STZ-treated and control fetal muscle. Glut 1 protein levels were increased by 70% in STZ-treated fetal muscle compared to control muscle (P < 0.05). These observations indicate that altered glucose transport per se does not directly contribute to fetal growth retardation with maternal STZ diabetes. Perturbations in other physiological and metabolic factors may contribute to the pathogenesis of fetal growth retardation in STZ-induced diabetes during pregnancy.
DNA Starts to Learn Poker

DNA is used to implement a simplified version of poker. Strategies are evolved that mix bluffing with telling the truth. The essential features are (1) to wait your turn, (2) to default to the most conservative course, (3) to probabilistically override the default in some cases, and (4) to learn from payoffs. Two players each use an independent population of strategies that adapt and learn from their experiences in competition.
InAs-based heterostructure barrier varactor diodes with In0.3Al0.7As0.4Sb0.6 as the barrier material

InAs-based heterostructure barrier varactor (HBV) diodes with In0.3Al0.7As0.4Sb0.6 as the barrier material are demonstrated. Current–voltage and capacitance–voltage characteristics, as well as S-parameters, of HBV diodes with varying barrier thicknesses are examined. Maximum capacitance values and maximum-to-minimum capacitance ratios greater than those predicted by traditional HBV models were measured. The HBVs’ unconventional behavior in terms of charge accumulation layers adjacent to the wide bandgap barrier is discussed.
Synthesis of Perfectly Causal Parameterized Compact Models for Planar Transmission Lines

Per-unit-length series impedance and shunt admittance are extracted from electromagnetic analysis of a transmission line at a few discrete frequencies. Compact models are synthesized from the per-unit-length extraction. The lumped models are then used to rapidly calculate characteristic impedance, effective dielectric constant, and RLGC parameters at all frequencies, including dispersion and loss. The resulting models are perfectly physically (i.e., speed of light) causal, a critical consideration for time-domain analysis. To demonstrate feasibility, the models are parameterized as a function of transmission linewidth. Total error is carefully quantified and is typically less than 1%. The process is demonstrated for several planar transmission lines. New concepts, ?modal? and ?environmental? sensitivity, are introduced and quantified.