cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of TNF receptor blockade on in vitro cell survival and response to negative energy balance in dairy cattle

Associative data and some controlled studies suggest that the inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α can induce fatty liver in dairy cattle. However, research demonstrating that TNFα is a necessary component in the etiology of bovine fatty liver is lacking. The aim of this work was to evaluate whether blocking TNFα signaling with a synthetic cyclic peptide (TNF receptor loop peptide; TRLP) would improve liver metabolic function and reduce triglyceride accumulation during feed restriction. Capability of TRLP to inhibit TNFα signaling was confirmed on primary bovine hepatocytes treated with recombinant bovine TNFα and 4 doses of TRLP (0, 1, 10, 50 μmol/L) over 24 h. Next, 4 lactating Holstein cows (parity 1.4 ± 0.5, 433 ± 131 d in milk) in an incomplete Latin rectangle design (3 × 2) were subcutaneously administered with different TRLP doses (0, 1.5, 3.0 mg/kg BW) every 4 h for 24 h, followed by an intravenous injection of TNFα (5 μg/kg BW). Before and for 2 h after TNFα injection, TRLP decreased plasma non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentration (P ≤ 0.05), suggesting an altered metabolic response to inflammation. Finally, 10 non-pregnant, non-lactating Holstein cows (3.9 ± 1.1 yr of age) were randomly assigned to treatments: control (carrier: 57% DMSO in PBS) or TRLP (1.75 mg TRLP /kg BW per day). Treatments were administrated every 4 h for 7 d by subcutaneous injection to feed-restricted cows fed 30% of maintenance energy requirements. Daily blood samples were analyzed for glucose, insulin, β-hydroxybutyrate, NEFA, and haptoglobin concentrations, with no treatment effects detected. On d 7, cows completed a glucose tolerance test (GTT) by i.v. administration of a dextrose bolus (300 mg glucose/kg BW). Glucose, insulin, and NEFA responses failed to demonstrate any significant effect of treatment during the GTT. However, plasma and liver analyses were not indicative of dramatic lipolysis or hepatic lipidosis, suggesting that the feed restriction protocol failed to induce the metabolic state of interest. Injection site inflammation, assessed by a scorer blinded to treatment, was enhanced by TRLP compared to control. Although the TRLP inhibited bovine TNFα signaling and altered responses to i.v. administration of TNFα, repeated use over 7 d caused apparent local allergic responses and it failed to alter metabolism during a feed restriction-induced negative energy balance. Although responses to feed restriction seemed atypical in this study, side effects of TRLP argue against its future use as a tool for investigating the role of inflammation in metabolic impacts of negative energy balance.
Linear Programming Techniques and Numerics in Stochastic Optimal Harvesting

A numerical technique for stochastic control problems featuring singular control is derived. In these problems, the control is given by positioning a reflecting boundary in the state space of a given stochastic process. The position of the reflecting boundary has to be adjusted to maximize a given optimality criterion. The presented numerical technique uses a novel discretization approach to a linear programming framework for the occupation measures of the process. However, a non-linear solver has to be used to find the optimal position of the boundary. Proofs of the existence and uniqueness of solutions to the underlying linear constraints are outlined. The discretization of these constraints is conducted by a finite-element type approach using finite dimensional subspaces, in order to find computable approximations. A convergence analysis for this approach is given. The technique is illustrated with an example from stochastic optimal harvesting.
Global news-making practices on Twitter: Exploring English-Chinese language boundary spanning

Although languages and cultural boundaries circumscribe the reach of news, global news regularly flows across geographical boundaries at high velocity, particularly on social media. This research e...
The Stains of Burden and Dumb Luck (Carolyn Dunn)

Carolyn Dunn's collection of poetry contains sseveral themes, including space, place, and time, through which the reader is able to take a journey to the Ancestors and map their own memories and emotions, while Dunn does the same for herself. Readers take a journey with her and alongside her, as her poetry navigates ideas essential to her Indigenous worldview.
Chapter 21 – Analysis of neurotransmitters and their metabolites by liquid chromatography

To achieve quantitative measurements of neurotransmitters, researchers employ analytical methods based on balancing the amenability and limitations of a technique for a specific application. In particular, in vivo microdialysis sampling has proven indispensable toward improving our understanding of the biological roles mediated by diverse neuroactive compounds. This chapter discusses the development and application of liquidchromatography methods for analysis of a broad range of neurotransmitters and their metabolites from tissue and dialysate samples in both experimental and clinical settings. Liquid chromatography-based methods are capable of resolving neurotransmitters from complex biological matrices and offer flexibility in coupling to various detection techniques, such as mass spectrometry, electrochemical, and fluorescence. Improved column technologies and separation conditions offer increased efficiency for chromatographic resolution, decreased separation time, improved temporal resolution, and enhanced multianalyte capability. Together, microdialysis sampling and liquid chromatography-based methods continue to be principle techniques widely employed to examine neurotransmitter function in the central nervous system.
Confounding of Race/Ethnicity and Age in the Survival among Veterans Obtaining Dialysis in VA and Non-VA Settings.

Wang et al. [1][1] recently examined the 2-year survival rates among veterans receiving dialysis in Veterans Affairs (VA) and non-VA settings. This line of research is highly important because findings can inform institutional decisions about dialysis care models for veterans with ESKD. The study
Need for cognition and discrepancy detection in the misinformation effect

Need for Cognition (NFC) was explored in the misinformation effect paradigm where participants view an event and receive post-event information that contains false information. The misinformation o...
Exploring the Deep Marine Biosphere: Challenges, Innovations, and Opportunities

The deep marine biosphere is one of the largest, and yet least explored, microbial habitats on the planet. Quantifying the extent, diversity, and activity of subsurface microbial communities is a crucial part of understanding their role in global biogeochemical cycles. Even though deep biosphere habitats can vary widely in chemistry, temperature, turnover rates, and energy sources, all subsurface microbes inherently experience high pressures. While not all subsurface microbes require elevated pressures, for many high pressures are essential to their cellular function and metabolism. Thus, when targeting this elusive portion of the biosphere, it is critical to maintain in situ pressure while sampling and cultivating subsurface microorganisms. In this perspective paper we highlight the sampling and cultivation technologies available to study these communities under in situ conditions. Maintaining elevated pressures throughout sampling, transfer, cultivation, and isolation is challenging, and more often than not samples are decompressed at some point during sample handling, potentially leading to biases in both community diversity and isolate physiology. The development of devices that maintain in situ pressures during sampling and allow for sample transfer without decompression have begun to address this challenge. Such vessels can be used for both retrieval and enrichment of deep subsurface samples, as well as high-pressure growth and physiology experiments, thus expanding possibilities for deep biosphere exploration. Finally, we discuss the significant need to develop and share high-pressure facilities across the deep biosphere community, in order to expand the opportunities to discover novel piezophiles from the deep subsurface.
Early working memory is a significant predictor of verbal and processing skills at 6-7 years in children born extremely preterm.

Abstract Objective The study was designed to investigate whether attainment of object permanence, a measure of early working memory used at 18–22 months corrected age, was associated with executive function at 6–7 years in a cohort of children born extremely preterm. Study design Children enrolled in the Neuroimaging and Neurodevelopmental Outcome (NEURO) study, a secondary study to the Surfactant Positive Airway Pressure and Pulse Oximetry Trial (SUPPORT) of the NICHD NRN, were eligible for this longitudinal study. Testing completed at 18 to 22 months corrected age was compared to testing at school age with a specific focus on measures of executive function. Results Children who had achieved object permanence mastery at a corrected age of 18–22 months had higher mean scores on the WISC-IV tests of verbal comprehension and processing speed at age 6–7 years. Regression models indicated that object permanence scores were significant predictors of both verbal comprehension and processing speeds scores, after controlling for other factors. When analyzed by subgroup for sex, these results were significant for girls but not for boys. Conclusions This study found that an early mastery of object permanence was associated with higher scores in areas of verbal comprehension and processing speed in girls. These results have implications for potentially identifying young children born preterm that are at greater risk for difficulties with cognitive and working memory skills at school age.
Assessment of social factors influencing hospitalization cost of US preterm newborns, 2016.

Background and objective: Preterm newborn (PTN) care is costly in the US, and the preterm birth (PTB) rate has not seen substantial improvement. PTB remains a significant public health issue becaus...
Cultivating Empathy by Performing Migration

Lauren Griffith integrates ethnographic performance in her classroom in an effort to combat a climate of fear in today’s society, especially for Latinx members of US society. This experiential pedagogy helps students understand the complexities of the global system and view the world through cultural relativism. In this ethnographic performance, groups of students are assigned a character, an Ixil Maya who lived through Guatemala’s Civil War. The characters are composites based on David Stoll’s (2018) El Norte or Bust! Students work together in teams to make decisions as if they were that character. Based upon that character’s position, must make decisions about whether and how they want to migrate to the United States. Griffith conducted pre-/post-surveys to understand students’ experiences and perspectives of the simulation as a teaching method. The performance of Maya “characters” assists all students in cultivating empathy for immigrants currently being dehumanized in official discourse.
Bacterial Threats to Human Health and Food Supply

Human health is constantly being threatened by bacterial pathogens. Foodborne pathogens are responsible for many health crisis and economic losses worldwide. Diarrheal diseases are the second leading cause of childhood mortality worldwide, and also constitute a severe health threat to adults. Most of the foodborne diseases can be prevented through sanitation. However, rapid pathogen evolution, antibiotic resistance and globalization, lead to the quick emergence or reemergence of enteric pathogens both in the developing and the developed world. Moreover, political and economic instability enhances the chances of a bioterrorism attack. Bacterial, virus, or toxins are all considered biological threat agents, and have been previously employed in attacks. Bacterial pathogens share several virulence strategies amongst themselves. They encode toxins that either kill or change signal transduction in mammalian cells. They also employ specialized secretion systems, “molecular syringes”, which inject bacterial proteins called “effectors” that hijack host cell function. These virulence traits tend to be carried in mobile elements that can be quickly transferred between bacteria, leading to the rapid evolution of novel pathovars. Understanding bacterial pathogenic strategies is crucial to prevent or develop new treatments to infectious diseases.
Monitoring impact damage in composites with large area sensing skins

The effect of low energy impacts can seriously impair the operational life span of composites in the field. These low-energy impacts can induce a permanent loss in the toughness of the composite without any visible indication of the material’s compromise. The detection of this damage utilizing nondestructive inspection requires dense measurements over much of the surface and has been traditionally achieved by removing the part from service for advanced imaging techniques. While these methods can accurately diagnose the damage inflicted internally by the impacts, they accrue non-trivial opportunity costs while the structure is inspected. To enable the capabilities of in-service monitoring of the composite, the novel soft elastomeric capacitor was investigated as a sensing solution. The sensor is made of three layers comprised of a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS) matrix, a commercially available elastomer. These layers consist of a titania filled center layer that forms the dielectric of the capacitor and two highly conductive outer layers doped with carbon black. This simple formation allows for a capacitor that has extremely robust mechanical properties. The soft elastomeric capacitor functions by taking up deformations on the surface of the composite that is transduced into a measurable change in capacitance. This study provides an electro-mechanical model for impact damage and experimentally investigates the efficacy of these sensors for use in damage detection given their promising characteristics; that being that the sensor geometry can be arbitrarily large allowing for much fewer sensors than traditional sensor networks employed for this task at a much lower cost than installing traditional in-situ sensing solutions. To investigate these properties a set of impact trials were undertaken on a drop tower using small samples of glass fiber reinforced plate, of random orient and short fiber, with a soft elastomeric capacitor mounted directly opposite the impact site. The impactor head was only allowed one contact with the sample before being intercepted. The testing range for the samples ranged from well below the yield strength of the glass fiber reinforced plate to the ultimate strength of the plate. Experimental results reported a square root relation between the impact energy given to the plate when inducing plastic deformations and the sensor’s measured change in capacitance.
Imagining Vietnam: Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried

The critic and activist H. Bruce Franklin relates an encounter with a woman during the campaign against napalm in the suburban town of Redwood City, California, in early 1966. ‘Asked to sign a petition against the local production of napalm, she responded: “Napalm? No thank you. I’m not interested. I always use Tide.” ’1 The story is indicative of a general level of indifference toward and ignorance of a war that continues to haunt the American imagination. The ways in which John Kerry’s Vietnam service record surfaced as an issue during the 2004 presidential election is just one example of the presence of that conflict in the American landscape.
S. Eliason 66: Double Portrait of Emily Dickinson and the Rev. Charles Wadsworth

O when we are almost only mouth, when we are almost only a head stuck on the pole of the body, and the man says "Talk to me, baby," let's refuse him, brother, both, all of us, and striking the spine like an instrument, inside, like birds, with even the body broken, our feathers fiery?there! there!?among the leaves and branches, make no sounds he will know; like birds, my brother, birds of the new world, sing.
Successful end-to-end tuboplasty following previous ligation. Report of a case.

When a woman desired to become pregnant after previous bilateral tubal ligation an end-to-end tuboplasty was performed in February 1967. The couple was first advised of the low probability of successful surgical correction the considerable risk of ectopic pregnancy and the necessity of delivery by cesarean section. When laparotomy was performed the proximal and distal portions of each fallopian tube were found to be separated by a distance of about 1 in as expected after Pomeroy ligation. Bilaterally the stump of the distal portion of one fallopian tube was excised. A 19-gauge polyethylene tube 12-in long was inserted into the lumen and threaded carefully out of the fimbriated end of the fallopian tube. After the stump of the proximal portion of the remaining fallopian tube was excised the other end of the polyethylene tube was carefully threaded. The ends of the polyethylene tubes were tied together securely with No. 1 nylon thread. Anastomosis of the fallopian tubes followed using 4 sutures of 5-0 Dacron on an atraumatic needle passing the serosal muscularis and submucosal layers only. On the eighth postoperative day tubal peristalsis and/or uterine contractions ejected the entire nylon and polyethylene complex entirely into the vaginal fornix making removal unnecessary. In December 1967 and again 1 year later the patient was delivered of a child.
Chapter 3 Fishing for Functional Motions with Elastic Network Models

Publisher Summary Simulations of large macromolecules and long time-scale motions that are inaccessible to conventional molecular dynamics (MD) simulation procedures are now routinely performed using normal mode analysis (NMA) of elastic network (EN) models. In addition to the recent impact in refining experimental data, two applications of EN models that appear to have great potential for impact in computational biology are high-throughput analysis of multiple structures and coupling EN modes to MD simulations. Specifically, the identification of similarities among motions for protein (super)families point to the underlying, evolutionarily conserved key features. The combination of EN models and MD simulations hold much promise because the former are able to explore conformational space efficiently and the latter contain atomic specificity. Simulations using amplified collective modes have characterized extremely large-scale, non-equilibrium folding motions suggesting a wide range of possible applications. Other molecular dynamics procedures that rely upon a pathway among states, such as milestoning or transition path sampling, could benefit from widely spaced pathway points generated by EN models.
Foundational Issues in Statistics: Theory and Practice

The foundational issues discussed by David Freedman are examined from the point of view of an investigator faced with the choices they imply. It turns out that in practice the boundaries between the various philosophies are less sharp than might be expected from the passion with which their differences have been argued for a long time. There is considerable common ground, and each approach gains by borrowing tools from the other.
Is there an optimal structure for decentralized provision of roads

The authors empirically investigate how decentralization affects the efficiency of road provision from the viewpoint of the local goods provider and the road user. The theoretical model: a double cost hidden level effort. They include both user and provider concerns in determining the optimal decentralization level. They find that 100 percent maintenance decentralization produces the most efficiency gains, as quality roads are provided at lower unit costs. There is little justification for central government to be involved in road maintenance. Uniform standards combined with decentralized maintenance remove the incentive to reduce costs and erode most local maintenance efficiency gains. Maintenance is a local activity and should reflect user preferences. Central governments should regulate safety and other network externalities by having a stake in road administration financing, planning, policy setting, safety regulation and other network externalities. Central governments should finance no more than 10 percent of administrative costs. Construction depends on the country. Ensure that contracting procedures are efficient before suggesting decentralization. It is easier for local governments to incorporate user preferences in spending decisions. Similarly, determining where to make investments, deciding how to procure works, and monitoring the quality of construction and maintenance is often done more efficiently locally. The results point to the benefits of decentralized provisions of roads, but many countries contract out maintenance and provision. In that case, it may not matter whether local competitive bidding is carried out by a central or local agency.
The Delta launch vehicle Model 2914 series

The newest Delta launch vehicle configuration, Model 2914 is described for potential users together with recent flight results. A functional description of the vehicle, its performance, flight profile, flight environment, injection accuracy, spacecraft integration requirements, user organizational interfaces, launch operations, costs and reimbursable users payment plan are provided. The versatile, relatively low cost Delta has a flight demonstrated reliability record of 92 percent that has been established in 96 launches over twelve years while concurrently undergoing ten major upratings to keep pace with the ever increasing performance and reliability requirements of its users. At least 40 more launches are scheduled over the next three years from the Eastern and Western Test Ranges.
Big GAAP-Little GAAP Does One-Size-Fits-All Still Work?

Initiatives for developing Generally Accepted Accounting Principles for private/smaller businesses have surfaced in the United States and internationally. This paper explores those initiatives and identifies common elements and problems in these efforts.
An analytical formulation of two-dimensional groundwater dispersion induced by surficial recharge variability

[1] A predominant cause of dispersion in groundwater is advective mixing due to variability in seepage rates. Hydraulic conductivity variations have been extensively researched as a cause of this seepage variability. In this paper the effect of variations in surface recharge to a shallow surficial aquifer is investigated as an important additional effect. An analytical formulation has been developed that relates aquifer parameters and the statistics of recharge variability to increases in the dispersivity. This is accomplished by solving Fourier transforms of the small perturbation forms of the groundwater flow equations. Two field studies are presented in this paper to determine the statistics of recharge variability for input to the analytical formulation. A time series of water levels at a continuous groundwater recorder is used to investigate the temporal statistics of hydraulic head caused by recharge, and a series of infiltrometer measurements are used to define the spatial variability in the recharge parameters. With these field statistics representing head fluctuations due to recharge, the analytical formulation can be used to compute the dispersivity without an explicit representation of the recharge boundary. Results from a series of numerical experiments are used to define the limits of this analytical formulation and to provide some comparison. A sophisticated model has been developed using a particle-tracking algorithm (modified to account for temporal variations) to estimate groundwater dispersion. Dispersivity increases of 9 percent are indicated by the analytical formulation for the aquifer at the field site. A comparison with numerical model results indicates that the analytical results are reasonable for shallow surficial aquifers in which two-dimensional flow can be assumed.
Synthesis of spiro lactones and ketones via conjugate addition to cyclopropyl malonates and β-keto esters

Hydroxymethyl-cyclohexen (I) reagiert zum Ester (II), der mit Tosylazid die Diazoverbindung (III) gibt.
Review of biosensors for foodborne pathogens and toxins

Abstract Rapid detection of foodborne pathogens is important for reducing diseases caused by food contaminated with pathogens and toxins. Current methods rely on conventional culture-based techniques which are time-wise lengthy and require trained personnel, and are not effective for on-site use. On the other hand biosensors can detect pathogens in a much shorter time with sensitivity and selectivity comparable to the conventional methods, but with a slightly lower reliability. Since they are low-cost and high-throughput devices and do not require trained personnel, they potentially can be used in future as stand-alone devices for on-site monitoring. This article reviews biosensors that use optical, electrochemical and piezoelectric transduction mechanisms for the detection of foodborne contaminants. After a brief discussion of the transduction principles, specific examples of foodborne pathogen detection using biosensors are presented and critically reviewed. We conclude by noting that, in spite of the promising approaches demonstrated thus far, much work still needs to be done before they become a viable alternative to conventional methods.
Identification of neuroendocrine-specific protein as an ethanol-regulated gene with mRNA differential display

Chronic ethanol exposure produces changes in behavior that may result from effects of ethanol on gene expression. To identify potentially ethanol-regulated genes, mRNA differential display was used to screen the expressed genes in whole brain of mice chronically exposed to ethanol vapors. Mice genetically selected for susceptibility (Withdrawal Seizure-Prone; WSP) or resistance (Withdrawal Seizure-Resistant; WSR) to ethanol withdrawal convulsions were exposed to either ethanol vapor (ETOH group) or air (CTL group) for 72 h. A putative ethanol-regulated product was isolated; nucleotide sequence analysis of this product revealed >85% nucleotide identity to human neuroendocrine-specific protein (NSP) gene. Northern analysis of the expression of this product revealed hybridization to two transcripts ( approximately 3.0 kb and 1.4 kb) on blots containing whole brain RNA, consistent with the transcript sizes of hNSP. Ethanol-induced regulation of mNSP was suggested in whole brain of WSP mice, but not in WSR mice, by Northern blot analysis. One transcript (3.0 kb) suggests a 26% increase in relative abundance in whole brain of ethanol-exposed WSP mice, while there was no effect of ethanol on abundance of the 1.4-kb transcript in WSP mice. No effects of ethanol were observed for WSR mice. These preliminary findings suggest that mNSP represents a novel ethanol-induced gene in mice selected for genetic susceptibility to severe ethanol withdrawal.
Thyroid hormone in autistic children

Thyroid hormone plays an important role in the pre- and postnatal development and function of the central nervous system. Disturbances in thyroid hormone regulation have been hypothesized in childhood autism. We evaluated blood indices of thyroid function, including serum thyroxine, triiodothyronine, and thyroid-stimulating hormone, in a large population of autistic children. No differences were found between autistic and normal children.
Temporal and spatial variability of invertebrate communities in potential reference headwater streams of the Georgia Piedmont

Standard bioassessment protocols compare macroinvertebrate communities in potentially impacted streams to communities in reference streams. However, in many landscapes ‘pristine’ reference streams may not exist and researchers may be forced to use the best available alternatives. The objective of this study was to evaluate macroinvertebrate communities in potential reference streams in the highly impacted Piedmont physiographic region of Georgia. We determined the influence of season, substrate, and reach-scale habitat type on macroinvertebrate assemblages in five forested, headwater streams that were minimally disturbed by current anthropogenic activities. The five streams represented three different reach-scale substrate compositions (gravel, sand, and bedrock). We predicted that macroinvertebrate communities in these streams would be influenced by season and by substrate composition. Streams were sampled in May, August, and November 2003, using a corer to sample riffles and a Hess sampler to sample run...
Teleradiology for remote diagnosis: a prospective multi-year evaluation.

Teleradiology has been used for nearly 3 years at our institution to provide urgent radiologic interpretations for two outpatient clinics and an affiliated hospital. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical reliability of the existing system. Teleradiology images were interpreted using 1600×1200 pixel display stations. The original films from the same cases were subsequently interpreted, usually by another radiologist. The initial and final interpretations were compared. Discrepancies were rated and adjudicated by another senior radiologist. These data were compared to peer review interobserver discrepancy rates. Among the 2688 teleradiology examinations evaluated, there were major discrepancies in 31 (1.15%). In three instances teleradiology rather than film interpretation was considered correct. Abnormalities missed on teleradiology were apparent in all but two at adjudication. Among the 628 peer-review cases, there were 6 (0.96%) major discrepancies. Major teleradiology diology discrepancy rates are statistically similar to film-based peer review discrepancy rates. Teleradiology is suitable for providing radiologic services to remote medical facilities.
The growth and nonlinear evolution of helical perturbations in a swirling jet model

Abstract The growth and nonlinear evolution of a helical perturbation is investigated in a simplified swirling jet model, consisting of a line vortex along the axis surrounded by a jet shear layer with both azimuthal and streamwise vorticity. Inviscid Lagrangian vortex dynamics simulations demonstrate the mechanisms of vorticity concentration, reorientation, and stretching, as well as the nonlinear interaction and competition between a centrifugal Rayleigh instability and a Kelvin-Helmholtz instability feeding on both components of the base flow vorticity. The nonlinear evolution resulting from the interaction of these two instabilities allows for very different flow behaviors to emerge, depending on whether the helical perturbation wave and the vortex lines of the jet shear layer wind around the jet axis in the same or in opposite directions. Large-scale vortex helices evolve that can contain azimuthal vorticity either of the same or of opposite sign to that initially present in the jet shear layer. These different evolutions are triggered by the differences in the direction of the strain field set up by the evolving large-scale helix. In both cases, the generation of both signs of azimuthal vorticity due to the centrifugal Rayleigh instability allows for the possibility of unlimited growth of the helix circulation, in the absence of viscous diffusion.
Measurements of total current density above active snowstorms

Abstract Measurements have been made from an aircraft of the total vertical current density above precipitating snowstorms. Enhanced ‘fair weather’ currents were observed in all but one case where apparently there was a circulating current. These results are discussed in relation to charging processes.
Cassini RADAR constraint on Titan's winter polar precipitation

Abstract The Cassini RADAR instrument made a dedicated cloud backscatter observation near Titan's north pole, presently in winter darkness, to constrain the precipitation of material onto the surface. The detection limit is ∼5 orders of magnitude above that expected in methane rainstorms, and rules out ‘drizzle’ of more than ∼ 10 cm / yr , placing constraints on the winter accumulation of material on Titan's surface during polar winter.
Universality limits for random matrices and de Branges spaces of entire functions

We prove that de Branges spaces of entire functions describe universality limits in the bulk for random matrices, in the unitary case. In particular, under mild conditions on a measure with compact support, we show that each possible universality limit is the reproducing kernel of a de Branges space of entire functions that equals a classical Paley-Wiener space. We also show that any such reproducing kernel, suitably dilated, may arise as a universality limit for sequences of measures on [−1,1].
Ventilatory control in a primitive fish: Signal conditioning via non-linear O2 affinity

Abstract Gas exchange in the gills of the air-breathing fish Amia calva was modelled to determine how the gills modify fluctuations in venous PO2. These fluctuations form the physiological signal for aerial ventilation in these fish. This study was performed to examine the signal conditioning role that the gills may play in the control system that regulates PO2. The model incorporated a non-linear Hb-O2 affinity relationship. Fluctuations in venous PO2 were modelled as sinusoids, covering a range of frequencies and amplitudes. Mean venous PO2 ranged from normoxic to hypoxic values. Over a broad range of parameters the gills amplify fluctuations in venous PO2 during transit to the arterial side. It was also observed that aquatic hypoxia reduces the effectiveness of the gills in maximizing arterial PO2, while increases in venous PO2 increase the effectiveness of the gills in the face of similar blood-water PO2 gradients. Each of these performance features is a consequence of the sigmoid Hb-O2 affinity relationship.
Soft tissue, joint, and bone manifestations of AL amyloidosis: clinical presentation, molecular features, and survival.

Objective To characterize symptoms and signs of AL amyloidosis that may bring patients to the attention of rheumatologists, evaluate Ig VL gene usage in this subgroup of patients, and assess the impact of soft tissue and bone involvement and VL gene usage on survival. Methods Clinical features of soft tissue and bone involvement were assessed in 191 patients with AL amyloidosis. VL gene sequencing was carried out to determine light-chain family, rate of somatic mutation, and evidence of antigen selection. The association of soft tissue and bone involvement with VL gene usage was assessed by logistic regression analysis, and survival time was analyzed using log rank tests and Cox regression models. Results Soft tissue and bone involvement occurred in 42.9% of the patients, and 9.4% had dominant soft tissue and bone involvement. The most common manifestations were submandibular gland enlargement, macroglossia, and carpal tunnel syndrome. Dominant soft tissue and bone involvement was significantly associated with VLκI gene usage. Mutation rate and evidence of antigen selection in the VL genes were not found to be confounding factors, providing evidence against a contribution of autoimmunity in this type of AL amyloidosis. Survival time was initially longer in patients with dominant soft tissue and bone involvement than in patients with other dominant organ involvement; however, this difference diminished over time. Conclusion Amyloid infiltration into soft tissue, joints, periarticular structures, and bones can bring patients with AL amyloidosis to the attention of rheumatologists. Recognition of the presenting symptoms is essential for accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment, since the long-term outlook for untreated patients with dominant soft tissue and bone involvement is not better than that for patients with other dominant features of AL amyloidosis.
Investigation of the neutropenic child

The white blood cells working in conjunction with two protein systems, the immunoglobulins and complement pathways, together form an important coordinated defence system against infection and invasion by other foreign tissues. White cells can be divided into two main groups, the phagocytic cells (monocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils), and immunocytes (lymphocytes with a number of subgroups with differing functions). While those present in the blood can be easily measured and examined, a variable proportion of all these cell types will be beyond the blood count, such as the lymphoid cells in lymph nodes, spleen and other lymphoid tissue, the macrophages in tissues and neutrophils both in storage pools and in the tissues. These other sites need to be taken into consideration when interpreting the findings of the blood count.
A new method of classifying prognostic comorbidity in longitudinal studies: Development and validation☆

The objective of this study was to develop a prospectively applicable method for classifying comorbid conditions which might alter the risk of mortality for use in longitudinal studies. A weighted index that takes into account the number and the seriousness of comorbid disease was developed in a cohort of 559 medical patients. The 1-yr mortality rates for the different scores were: "0", 12% (181); "1-2", 26% (225); "3-4", 52% (71); and "greater than or equal to 5", 85% (82). The index was tested for its ability to predict risk of death from comorbid disease in the second cohort of 685 patients during a 10-yr follow-up. The percent of patients who died of comorbid disease for the different scores were: "0", 8% (588); "1", 25% (54); "2", 48% (25); "greater than or equal to 3", 59% (18). With each increased level of the comorbidity index, there were stepwise increases in the cumulative mortality attributable to comorbid disease (log rank chi 2 = 165; p less than 0.0001). In this longer follow-up, age was also a predictor of mortality (p less than 0.001). The new index performed similarly to a previous system devised by Kaplan and Feinstein. The method of classifying comorbidity provides a simple, readily applicable and valid method of estimating risk of death from comorbid disease for use in longitudinal studies. Further work in larger populations is still required to refine the approach because the number of patients with any given condition in this study was relatively small.
CBL-MEDIATED REGULATION OF T CELL RECEPTOR-INDUCED AP1 ACTIVATION : IMPLICATIONS FOR ACTIVATION VIA THE RAS SIGNALING PATHWAY

The functional role of Cbl in regulating T cell receptor (TCR)-mediated signal transduction pathways is unknown. This study uses Cbl overexpression in conjunction with a Ras-sensitive AP1 reporter construct to examine its role in regulating TCR-mediated activation of the Ras pathway. Cbl overexpression in Jurkat T cells inhibited AP1 activity after TCR ligation. However, AP1 induction by 4β-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, which up-regulates Ras activity in a protein kinase C-dependent, TCR/tyrosine kinase-independent manner, was not affected by Cbl overexpression. Cbl overexpression also did not affect AP1 induction by an activated Ras protein or a membrane-bound form of the guanine nucleotide exchange factor Sos. In addition, activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase Erk2 was decreased by Cbl overexpression. Therefore, Cbl regulates events that are required for full TCR-mediated Ras activation, and data are presented to support a model whereby Cbl regulates events required for Ras activation via its association with Grb2.
Technology, Law, and the Working Environment

by Nicholas A. Ashford and Charles C. Caldart, Revised Edition, Island Press, Washington, DC, 1996, 650 pages; paperback; $39.95 ISBN 1-55963-446-4
Teratogenic alleles and neurodevelopmental disorders.

The genetic interaction between mother and fetus during pregnancy is discussed, focusing on teratogenic alleles that act in the mother to alter fetal development and contribute to a neurodevelopmental disorder. For these alleles, the mother is the genetic patient. Teratogenic alleles interact with modifying and specificity alleles that act in the fetus and with environmental factors. Based on examples of the model, two candidate mechanisms emerge as contributors to neurodevelopmental disorders, folate-homocysteine pathways and immune/inflammatory mechanisms. Both, acting in mothers, affect fetal development and contain many polymorphic genes. These two systems interact with each other. Common functional polymorphisms of mild effect in these two systems of interacting genes are good candidates for teratogenic alleles. The presence of teratogenic alleles complicates gene identification for neurodevelopmental disorders. However, using the special methods required to identify teratogenic alleles is important because this could lead to new approaches to prevention and improved therapy of these disorders.
Suicide and alcohol use among American Indians: toward a transactional–ecological framework

American Indian/Native Alaskan suicide rates are 72% higher than in the general US population. Current estimates indicate over 90% of people in the US who suicide have a mental illness and/or alcohol and substance issues. Among American Indians/Native Alaskans in 2002, the vast majority (69%) of suicides involved alcohol. Chronic alcohol use can cause or contribute to depressive disorders. Thus, suicide, chronic alcohol use, depression and mental health are intertwined. This article asserts the need for a transactional–ecological framework along with the strengths and comparative perspectives as a useful way to understand this problem and devise intervention strategies.
Talk and Silence Sequences in Informal Conversations III: Interspeaker Influence

Literature on the structure of two-person conversations has consistently found that partners become more similar in mean duration of pauses and switching pauses over the course of interaction. Evidence on influence in vocalization duration is primarily negative. No direct evidence of interspeaker influence on a moment-to-moment basis is available. In this study 12 dyadic conversations are analyzed for interspeaker influence, with the use of time series regression procedures. Two versions of the data are presented: a probability summary including the probability of breaking mutual silences, continuing simultaneous talk, and continuing talking alone and a turn summary including vocalization, pause, and switching pause duration. Results show that (1) moment-to-moment influences are present in both versions of the data, (2) these influences differ from dyad to dyad, (3) the influences are both positive (matching) and negative (compensating), and (4) the magnitude of interspeaker influence on a temporal basis is small but detectable. In addition, there are overall tendencies to match in switching pause, probability of continued simultaneous speech, and probability of breaking mutual silences. Dyads show both compensation and matching on vocalization duration and pause-related variables. Implications of these data for past and future explanation of social interaction are explored.
Update on Fibroepithelial Lesions of the Breast

This article focuses on current issues relating to fibroepithelial lesions, predominantly those with cellular stroma, and covers key pathologic features, differential diagnosis, and pitfalls. Phyllodes tumors are emphasized, including the histologic categorization and prognostic features of these lesions. The management of fibroepithelial lesions on needle core biopsy is reviewed.
Application of an Acoustic Cry Template to Evaluate At-Risk Newborns: Preliminary Findings

The durational characteristics of crying episodes produced among two groups of at-risk newborn infants are reported. The groups included preterm infants with diagnosed respiratory problems and preterm infants with diagnosed neurological problems. Each infant’s complete crying episode was audio-recorded and acoustically analyzed for overall occurrence of expiratory cry segments, inspiratory cry segments, and non-phonatory ‘pause’ segments. Remarkable similarity was found across risk groups with regard to the distributional occurrence of the cry features. Results obtained for the at-risk infants were highly similar to those observed for normal full-term newborns. These preliminary findings are taken to suggest that temporal features of newborn crying activity reflect a basic organizational response of the nervous system which is common to both normal and at-risk infants.
The Effects of Glycerol Removal on Cation Concentration and Morphology of Chicken Spermatozoa

Abstract Cation concentrations and ultrastructural morphology were used to determine the effects of glycerol removal on chicken spermatozoa. The addition of 15% glycerol decreased magnesium and potassium concentrations of the spermatozoa. Glycerol removal by either centrifugation and resuspension or dialysis did not restore cation levels to the values obtained with untreated spermatozoa. The glycerol-treated spermatozoa appeared normal after glycerol addition, but were bent or coiled after both glycerol removal procedures.
Cardiac Sequelae of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Disease

Abstract Presently, patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection are living longer and are frequently encountered in medical practice. HIV infection is a systemic disease, which affects a wide spectrum of organs. Cardiac involvement is frequent, and the consequent clinical manifestations are a common reason to seek medical advice. in this review, we discuss the different cardiac sequelae of HIV infection.
Atherosclerotic deformation of the basilar artery as visualized by computerized tomography

Abstract Eight patients with basilar artery ectasia were well visualized by computerized tomography. The normal appearance of the basilar artery is described. The clinical and CT findings are delineated. The differential diagnoses are listed, and the value of coronal reconstructions is emphasized.
Risk Assessment in Patient Selection for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

Risk assessment models for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) versus surgical aortic valve replacement in high-risk patients and TAVR versus palliation in inoperable patients are based on surgical data and have limited discrimination and calibration in the setting of TAVR. Several novel risk models specifically designed for TAVR have improved discrimination over existing models but require further validation. Several clinical and echocardiographic variables, such as chronic lung disease, mitral regurgitation, and stroke volume index, influence outcomes. This article reviews current and novel risk models and important predictors of TAVR outcomes and proposes a framework to integrate them into clinical decision-making for patients with severe, symptomatic aortic stenosis.