cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dynamic Nerve Compression of Guyon Canal Secondary to Variation of the Deep Branch of the Ulnar Artery: Etiology, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Outcome

A patient presented with an ulnar-sided left wrist injury that was sustained while batting. Advanced imaging was obtained to rule out common causes of nerve compression and evaluate the patient’s anatomy. Dynamic nerve conduction studies were necessary to confirm a diagnosis of nerve compression. Failing conservative treatments, the patient underwent exploration of Guyon canal and decompression of the ulnar nerve with complete symptom resolution. The patient presented a unique diagnostic challenge because he did not display the typical findings of chronic nerve entrapment syndromes. To the best of our knowledge, dynamic nerve compression at Guyon's canal has not previously been described. It is important to use a systematic approach to diagnosis, eliminating all other sources of compression. With appropriate diagnostic tools, nerve decompression can result in symptom relief.
Accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles and activated microglia is associated with lower neuron densities in the aphasic variant of Alzheimer's disease.

The neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) and amyloid-s plaques (AP) that comprise Alzheimer's disease (AD) neuropathology are associated with neurodegeneration and microglial activation. Activated microglia exist on a dynamic spectrum of morphologic subtypes that include resting, surveillant microglia capable of converting to activated, hypertrophic microglia closely linked to neuroinflammatory processes and AD neuropathology in amnestic AD. However, quantitative analyses of microglial subtypes and neurons are lacking in non-amnestic clinical AD variants, including primary progressive aphasia (PPA-AD). PPA-AD is a language disorder characterized by cortical atrophy and NFT densities concentrated to the language-dominant hemisphere. Here, a stereologic investigation of five PPA-AD participants determined the densities and distributions of neurons and microglial subtypes to examine how cellular changes relate to AD neuropathology and may contribute to cortical atrophy. Adjacent series of sections were immunostained for neurons (NeuN) and microglia (HLA-DR) from bilateral language and non-language regions where in vivo cortical atrophy and Thioflavin-S-positive APs and NFTs were previously quantified. NeuN-positive neurons and morphologic subtypes of HLA-DR-positive microglia (i.e., resting [ramified] microglia and activated [hypertrophic] microglia) were quantified using unbiased stereology. Relationships between neurons, microglia, AD neuropathology, and cortical atrophy were determined using linear mixed models. NFT densities were positively associated with hypertrophic microglia densities (P < 0.01) and inversely related to neuron densities (P = 0.01). Hypertrophic microglia densities were inversely related to densities of neurons (P < 0.01) and ramified microglia (P < 0.01). Ramified microglia densities were positively associated with neuron densities (P = 0.02) and inversely related to cortical atrophy (P = 0.03). Our findings provide converging evidence of divergent roles for microglial subtypes in patterns of neurodegeneration, which includes hypertrophic microglia likely driving a neuroinflammatory response more sensitive to NFTs than APs in PPA-AD. Moreover, the accumulation of both NFTs and activated hypertrophic microglia in association with low neuron densities suggest they may collectively contribute to focal neurodegeneration characteristic of PPA-AD.
Shuffle-Rational Series: Recognizability and Realizations

The notion of a shuffle-rational formal power series is introduced. Then two equivalent characterizations are presented, one in terms of an analogue of Schutzenberger’s recognizability of a series, and the other in the context of state space realizations of nonlinear input-output systems represented by Chen-Fliess series. An underlying computational framework is also described which employs the Hopf algebra associated with the shuffle group. As an application, it is shown how to model a bilinear system with output saturation in this context.
Silencing HBV transcription with SMC5/6: has a path been found?

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is maintained by the viral nuclear covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) that is the transcriptional template for HBV’s mRNAs. The cccDNA is durable during current therapies, but a functional cure for HBV infections will require stable, off-treatment silencing of any cccDNA remaining in the body after treatment cessation.1 The cccDNA is silenced naturally during infection by binding of the structural maintenance of chromosome 5/6 (SMC5/6) complex to the cccDNA, and HBV antagonises this silencing with the HBx protein that binds to SMC5/6 and triggers its proteasomal degradation.2 In Gut , Allweiss and Giersch et al 3 explored what happens to HBV mRNA transcription during and after suppression of viral mRNA and antigen levels in HBV-infected chimeric mice carrying humanised livers. Suppressing all HBV mRNAs with a small interfering RNA (siRNA) or with pegylated interferon α (Peg-IFNα) increased SMC5/6 binding to the cccDNA, suppressed HBV transcription and reduced HBV protein production. Withdrawal of siRNA and Peg-IFNα led to degradation of SMC5/6 and rebound of viral transcription and protein levels. Finally, treating the mice with the potent HBV entry inhibitor myrcludex B (bulevirtide, Hepcludex) after cessation of siRNA or Peg-IFNα treatment greatly increased durability of SMC5/6-mediated transcriptional repression. This is a …
Directional and selective patterning of EUV absorbers

The talk presents pertinent surface chemistries required to achieve a highly anisotropic etch of metal absorbers for EUV masks, with the goal of realizing a nearly vertical sidewall angle of 90o. The selection of gas phase chemistries is crucial to the success of the patterning process, therefore the selection criteria, based on thermodynamic and kinetic assessment, will be explained. The general approach combines either reactive ion etching or ion beam etching with atomic layer etching processes where the sequential surface reactions starts with controlled surface modification, followed by selective removal of the modified layer. This general approach can be applied to a variety of EUV mask materials, making it possible to tackle more complex material systems as needed.
Opioid use disorder and overdose among youth following an initial opioid prescription

Background and aims Some adolescents and young adults (termed "youth") prescribed an opioid will develop opioid use disorder or experience overdose. This study aimed to identify patient and prescription characteristics associated with subsequent risk of opioid use disorder or overdose during the year after an opioid is first dispensed. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Commercial health insurance claims in a large United States (US) database from 2006 to 2016. Participants Youth age 11 to 25 years filling an initial opioid prescription (n = 3 278 990). Measurements The primary outcome was development of an 'opioid-related complication' (a diagnosis of opioid use disorder or opioid-related overdose) during the subsequent 12 months. Exposures of interest were patient (sociodemographic information, and physical and mental health diagnoses) and prescription characteristics (opioid formulation, dose, and duration). Findings Among youth filling an initial opioid prescription, median age was 18 years (interquartile range [IQR] = 16-21) and 56.1% were female. During the subsequent 12 months, 10 405 (0.3%) youth experienced an opioid-related complication. Conditions associated with increased risk included mood/anxiety disorders (adjusted relative risk [aRR] = 4.45; 95% CI = 4.25-4.66) and substance use (aRR = 20.77; 95% CI = 19.74-21.84). Comorbid substance use disorders were present among 72.8% of youth experiencing an opioid-related complication and included alcohol (33.4%), cannabis (33.0%), nicotine (43.2%), and other substance use disorders (75.5%). Long-acting opioids (aRR = 2.59; 95% CI = 2.18-3.09) and longer durations were associated with increased risk (7-14 days: aRR = 1.15; 95% CI = 1.08-1.22; ≥15 days: aRR = 1.96; 95% CI = 1.80-2.12) compared with short-acting formulations and durations ≤3 days, respectively. Conclusions Among United States youth, complications after an initial opioid prescription appear to be relatively rare and appear to be associated with mood/anxiety disorders, substance use, comorbid substance use disorders, and prescriptions involving long-acting opioids or long durations.
Socially Aware Robot Obstacle Avoidance Considering Human Intention and Preferences

In order to navigate safely and effectively with humans in close proximity, robots must be capable of predicting the future motions of humans. This study first consolidates human studies in motion, intention, and preference into a discretized human model that can readily be used in robotics decision making algorithms. Cooperative Markov Decision Process (Co-MDP), a novel framework that improves upon Multiagent MDPs, is then proposed for enabling socially aware robot obstacle avoidance. Utilizing the consolidated and discretized human model, Co-MDP allows the system to (1) approximate rational human behavior and intention, (2) generate socially-aware robotic obstacle avoidance behavior, and (3) remain robust to the uncertainty of human intention and motion variance. Simulations of a human-robot co-populated environment verify Co-MDP as a feasible obstacle avoidance algorithm. In addition, the anthropomorphic behavior of Co-MDP was assessed and confirmed with a human-in-the-loop experiment. Results reveal that participants can not directly differentiate agents that were controlled by human operators from Co-MDP, and the reported confidences of their choices indicates that the predictions from participants were backed by behavioral evidence rather than random guesses. Thus the main contributions for this paper are: consolidating past human studies of rational human behavior and intention into a simple, discretized model; the development of Co-MDP: a robotic decision framework that can utilize this human model and maximize the joint utility between the human and robot; and an experimental design for evaluation of the human acceptance of obstacle avoidance algorithms.
Improving palliative care integration for patients with stage IV lung cancer at UConn Health by initiating a best practice advisory (BPA) in the electronic medical record (EMR).

331Background: The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) practice updates on the integration of palliative care into standard oncology practice provides a key recommendation that patients wi...
BEAM ON TENSIONLESS FOUNDATION

The problem of determining the response of a loaded beam on a bilinear Winkler foundation is solved. The problem of a tensionless foundation is then treated as a limiting case. The nonlinear integral equation formulation is solved numerically. Results for the beam deflections, moments, and shears are presented graphically.
Nutritional and Environmental Factors Affecting Metallothionein Levels

The first evidence for the presence of that most unusual protein called metallothionein (MT) was presented in 1957 from Dr. Vallee’s laboratory (1). A more detailed study in this laboratory on the physical and chemical properties of MT include low molecular weight, high sulfhydryl and metal content, and the absence of aromatic amino acids. Although once thought to be present only in the kidney, it is now known to be a ubiquitous protein. This protein from animals not intentionally exposed to metals contains predominantly zinc when isolated from the liver but contains more cadmium when isolated from the kidney (4). Because of the chemical properties of MT, many researchers have speculated that it is involved in heavy metal detoxification (5,6,7,8,9), but evidence is beginning to accumulate for its involvement in zinc metabolism (10,11,12). The present report covers some of the dietary factors, including metals, sulfur levels and stress influencing the MT levels in tissues.
Snuffing it Out: A Smokeless Tobacco Intervention with Athletes at a Small Private College

Abstract This study assessed attitude, knowledge, and use of smokeless tobacco (moist snuff, dry snuff, or chewing tobacco) among male varsity athletes at a small private college. Forty-three athletes were surveyed and 17 (40%) were found to be current users. Of these users, 27% reported dipping more than once a day, everyday; 25% of all users had noticed physical changes, such as white spots, inside their mouths. The wide acceptance of using smokeless tobacco was clear from the finding that 49% of those surveyed believed that athletes should be allowed to use “chew” during practice. These athletes also showed limited knowledge of the nicotine content and physiological effects of smokeless tobacco. As a result of the study, the authors developed a two-part intervention that included an educational presentation and oral screening by a local dentist and an administrative directive enforcing the National Collegiate Athletic Association's policy on smokeless tobacco use. A follow-up survey indicated the inter...
A probabilistic approach to calculate capacity of signalized intersections with a red light camera

In recent years, red light cameras (RLCs) have been installed at many signalized intersections. The main reason behind installing RLCs is to reduce intersection-related accidents caused because of a driver's behavior to cross the intersection when the signal turns red. By nature, if the driver is aware of the presence of RLC his or her driving behavior is bound to change. This behavioral change, however, may be intentional or unintentional. This may influence the utilization of yellow intervals resulting in a possible increase in dilemma zone, which in turn, may reduce the service capacity of the intersection. To accurately capture this capacity reduction, we present a probabilistic approach to modify the saturation flow rate formula in the Highway Capacity Manual that is currently used to calculate the capacity of signalized intersections. We introduce a new factor in the saturation flow rate calculation called red light reduction factor, to account for the capacity reduction owing to RLCs. Using field data from Baltimore, Maryland, we establish a relationship for the red light reduction factor. We then show that capacity of RLC-equipped intersections is generally lower than that without RLCs. Although the percentage reduction in capacity of a single intersection may not seem significant, the cumulative impact of such reduction in a heavily traveled road network may be quite significant, resulting in significant loss in travel time. In future works, the systemwide capacity reduction owing to the presence of RLCs can be studied in congested transportation networks. 2012 John Wiley Sons, Ltd. Language: en
Design of multi-gigabit DSP receivers

Summary form only given, as follows. DSP equalizers and Viterbi decoders offer several advantages over analog techniques in backplane, serdes (serializer-deserializer), and optical transmission systems. However, the long critical paths in these DSP algorithms impose constraints on the achievable speed and limit the utility of these algorithms for high-speed applications, operating in the range of 3.125-10 Gbps. There are several techniques which exploit pipelining, parallel processing and retiming to design high-speed DFE receivers and Viterbi decoders. Some serdes systems also impose latency constraints. High-speed Viterbi decoders (such as 10 Gbps) with significantly less latency have been designed. The implementation of 10-gigabit fiber and copper systems may be approached in different ways.
T-antigen kinase inhibits simian virus 40 DNA replication by phosphorylation of intact T antigen on serines 120 and 123.

Abstract Simian virus 40 (SV40) DNA replication begins after two large T-antigen hexamers assemble on the viral minimal origin of replication and locally unwind the template DNA. The activity of T antigen in this reaction is regulated by its phosphorylation state. A form of casein kinase I purified from HeLa nuclear extracts (T-antigen kinase) phosphorylates T antigen on physiologic sites and inhibits its activity in the unwinding reaction (A. Cegielska and D. M. Virshup, Mol. Cell. Biol. 13:1202-1211, 1993). Using a series of mutant T antigens expressed by recombinant baculoviruses in Sf9 cells, we find that the origin unwinding activities of both TS677-->A and TS677,679-->A are inhibited by the T-antigen kinase, as is wild-type T antigen. In contrast, mutants TS120-->A and TS123,679-->A are resistant to inhibition by the kinase. Thus, phosphorylation of serines 120 and 123 is necessary for inhibition of T-antigen activity. Previous studies of casein kinase I substrate specificity have suggested that acidic residues or a phosphorylated amino acid amino terminal to the target residue are required to create a casein kinase I recognition site. However, we find that the T-antigen kinase can add more than 3 mol of Pi per mol to full-length bacterially produced T antigen and that it inhibits the unwinding activity of p34cdc2-activated bacterially produced T antigen. Since no prior phosphorylation is present in this bacterially produced T antigen, and no acidic residues are present immediately amino terminal to serines 120 and 123, other structural elements of T antigen must contribute to the recognition signals for T-antigen kinase. In support of this conclusion, we find that while T-antigen kinase phosphorylates amino-terminal residues in bacterially produced full-length T antigen, it cannot phosphorylate bacterially produced truncated T antigen containing amino acids 1 to 259, a 17-kDa amino-terminal tryptic fragment of T antigen, nor can it phosphorylate denatured T antigen. These findings strongly suggest that the carboxy-terminal domain of T antigen is an important modifier of the recognition signals for phosphorylation of the critical amino-terminal sites by the T-antigen kinase. This conclusion is consistent with previous studies suggesting close apposition of amino- and carboxy-terminal domains of T antigen in the native protein. The three-dimensional conformation of the substrate appears to make a significant contribution to T-antigen kinase substrate specificity.
Laser action in organic semiconductor waveguide and double-heterostructure devices

Stimulated emission by optical pumping of solid-state organic materials has been well known since the late 1960s following thefirst demonstrations of laser action in dye-doped gels and molecular crystals1,2,3,4. Interest in this field has been revived by the demonstration of efficient, long-lived and intense electroluminescence in both polymeric5 and small-molecular-weight6 organic thin films, which indicates the possibility of laser action in these materials. Several recent studies of optically pumped polymers have reported emission phenomena suggestive of laser action7,8,9. Here we present clear evidence for laser action from optically pumped, vacuum-deposited thin films of organic molecules, in both slab-waveguide and double-heterostructure configurations. This realization of laser action in conducting organic thin films should open the way to the development of a new class of electrically pumped laser diodes.
Antenatal investigation of human fetal systolic time intervals

A noninvasive method for measuring the antenatal human fetal systolic time intervals with the use of the transabdominal fetal electrocardiogram and Doppler cardiogram is described. Unique interactive computer routines were developed for rapid and accurate determination of the pre-ejection period (PEP), ventricular ejection time (VET), PEP/VET ratio, and fetal heart rate (FHR). Thirty normal patients were monitored between 20 and 40 weeks of gestation. A regression analysis of the fetal systolic time intervals and FHR against gestational age was done. PEP and PEP/VET ratio were significantly correlated to the gestational age, while VET and FHR were not.
Anti-biofilm action of nitric oxide-releasing alkyl-modified poly(amidoamine) dendrimers against Streptococcus mutans.

Abstract The effect of nitric oxide (NO)-releasing dendrimer hydrophobicity on Streptococcus mutans killing and biofilm disruption was examined at pH 7.4 and 6.4, the latter relevant to dental caries. Generation 1 (G1) poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers were modified with alkyl epoxides to generate propyl-, butyl-, hexyl-, octyl-, and dodecyl-functionalized dendrimers. The resulting secondary amines were reacted with NO to form N- diazeniumdiolate NO donor-modified dendrimer scaffolds (total NO ∼1 μmol/mg). The bactericidal action of the NO-releasing dendrimers against both planktonic and biofilm-based S. mutans proved greatest with increasing alkyl chain length and at lower pH. Improved bactericidal efficacy at pH 6.4 was attributed to increased scaffold surface charge that enhanced dendrimer–bacteria association and ensuing membrane damage. For shorter alkyl chain (i.e., propyl and butyl) dendrimer modifications, increased antibacterial action at pH 6.4 was due to faster NO-release kinetics from proton-labile N -diazeniumdiolate NO donors. Octyl- and dodecyl-modified PAMAM dendrimers proved most effective for eradicating S . mutans biofilms with NO release mitigating dendrimer scaffold cytotoxicity. Statement of significance We report the antibacterial and anti-biofilm efficacy of dual-action nitric oxide (NO)-releasing dendrimers against S. mutans , an etiological agent in dental caries. This work was undertaken to enhance the anti-biofilm action of these scaffolds by employing various alkyl chain modifications. Furthermore, we evaluated the ability of NO to eradicate cariogenic biofilms. We found that at the lower pH associated with dental caries (pH ∼6.4), NO has a more pronounced antibacterial effect for alkyl modifications less capable of biofilm penetration and membrane disruption. Of greatest significance, we introduce dendrimers as a new macromolecular antibacterial agent against the cariogenic bacteria S. mutans .
Metabolomic analysis reveals altered skeletal muscle amino acid and fatty acid handling in obese humans.

Objective Investigate the effects of obesity and high-fat diet (HFD) exposure on fatty acid oxidation and TCA cycle intermediates and amino acids in skeletal muscle to better characterize energy metabolism. Methods Plasma and skeletal muscle metabolomic profiles were measured from lean and obese males before and after a 5-day HFD in the 4 h postprandial condition. Results At both time points, plasma short-chain acylcarnitine species (SCAC) were higher in the obese subjects, while the amino acids glycine, histidine, methionine, and citrulline were lower in skeletal muscle of obese subjects. Skeletal muscle medium-chain acylcarnitines (MCAC) C6, C8, C10:2, C10:1, C10, and C12:1 increased in obese subjects, but decreased in lean subjects, from pre- to post-HFD. Plasma content of C10:1 was also decreased in the lean but increased in the obese subjects from pre- to post-HFD. CD36 increased from pre- to post-HFD in obese but not lean subjects. Conclusions Lower skeletal muscle amino acid content and accumulation of plasma SCAC in obese subjects could reflect increased anaplerosis for TCA cycle intermediates, while accumulation of MCAC suggests limitations in β-oxidation. These measures may be important markers of or contributors to dysregulated metabolism observed in skeletal muscle of obese humans.
Specific DNA recognition and intersite spacing are critical for action of the bicoid morphogen

We examined DNA site recognition by Bicoid and its importance for pattern formation in developing Drosophila embryos. Using altered DNA specificity Bicoid mutants and appropriate reporter genes, we show that Bicoid distinguishes among related DNA-binding sites in vivo by a specific contact between amino acid 9 of its recognition alpha-helix (lysine 50 of the homeodomain) and bp 7 of the site. This result is consistent with our earlier results using Saccharomyces cerevisiae but differs from that predicted by crystallographic analysis of another homeodomain-DNA interaction. Our results also demonstrate that Bicoid binds directly to those genes whose transcription it regulates and that the amino acid 9 contact is necessary for Bicoid to direct anterior pattern formation. In both Drosophila embryos and yeast cells, Bicoid requires multiple binding sites to activate transcription of target genes. We find that the distance between binding sites is critical for Bicoid activation but that, unexpectedly, this critical distance differs between Drosophila and S. cerevisiae. This result suggests that Bicoid activation in Drosophila might require an ancillary protein(s) not present in S. cerevisiae.
IL-1 receptor signaling in the basolateral amygdala modulates binge-like ethanol consumption in male C57BL/6J mice

Proinflammatory cytokines have been implicated in alcohol-induced neurodegeneration, but the role of the neuroimmune system in alcohol related behaviors has only recently come to the forefront. Herein, the effects of binge-like drinking on IL-1β mRNA and immunoreactivity within the amygdala were measured following the "drinking in the dark" (DID) paradigm, a model of binge-like ethanol drinking in C57BL/6J mice. Moreover, the role of IL-1 receptor signaling in the amygdala on ethanol consumption was assessed. Results indicated that a history of binge-like ethanol drinking promoted a significant increase of IL-1β mRNA expression within the amygdala, and immunohistochemistry analyses revealed that the basolateral amygdala (BLA), but not central amygdala (CeA), exhibited significantly increased IL-1β immunoreactivity. However, Fluoro-Jade® C labeling indicated that multiple cycles of the DID paradigm were not sufficient to elicit neuronal death. Bilateral infusions of IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) reduced ethanol consumption when infused into the BLA but not the CeA. These observations were specific to ethanol drinking as the IL-1Ra did not alter either sucrose drinking or open-field locomotor activity. The current findings highlight a specific role for IL-1 receptor signaling in modulating binge-like ethanol consumption and indicate that proinflammatory cytokines can be induced prior to dependence or any evidence of neuronal cell death. These findings provide a framework in which to understand how neuroimmune adaptations may alter ethanol consumption and therein contribute to alcohol abuse.
Analysis of implicit HHT‐α integration algorithm for real‐time hybrid simulation

SUMMARY Real-time hybrid simulation is a viable experiment technique to evaluate the performance of structures equipped with rate-dependent seismic devices when subject to dynamic loading. The integration algorithm used to solve the equations of motion has to be stable and accurate to achieve a successful real-time hybrid simulation. The implicit HHT α-algorithm is a popular integration algorithm for conducting structural dynamic time history analysis because of its desirable properties of unconditional stability for linear elastic structures and controllable numerical damping for high frequencies. The implicit form of the algorithm, however, requires iterations for nonlinear structures, which is undesirable for real-time hybrid simulation. Consequently, the HHT α-algorithm has been implemented for real-time hybrid simulation using a fixed number of substep iterations. The resulting HHT α-algorithm with a fixed number of substep iterations is believed to be unconditionally stable for linear elastic structures, but research on its stability and accuracy for nonlinear structures is quite limited. In this paper, a discrete transfer function approach is utilized to analyze the HHT α-algorithm with a fixed number of substep iterations. The algorithm is shown to be unconditionally stable for linear elastic structures, but only conditionally stable for nonlinear softening or hardening structures. The equivalent damping of the algorithm is shown to be almost the same as that of the original HHT α-algorithm, while the period elongation varies depending on the structural nonlinearity and the size of the integration time-step. A modified form of the algorithm is proposed to improve its stability for use in nonlinear structures. The stability of the modified algorithm is demonstrated to be enhanced and have an accuracy that is comparable to that of the existing HHT α-algorithm with a fixed number of substep iterations. Both numerical and real-time hybrid simulations are conducted to verify the modified algorithm. The experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the modified algorithm for real-time testing. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Broadening the genetic base of sugar beet: introgression from wild relatives

The development of sugar beet as an economically important field crop coincided with our increased understanding of modern genetic principles. It was developed in the late 1700s from white fodder beet; therefore, the genetic base of sugar beet is thought to be narrower than many open-pollinated crops. The wild sea beet is the progenitor of all domesticated beet and cross compatible with cultivated beet (domestic and cultivated are given subspecies level in the same species). The breeding system of sugar beet is complex and the crop is biennial, which lengthens the generation time to almost 1 year. A genetic-cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) system is utilized for commercial hybrid production. Early breeding objectives were to improve the concentration and extractability of sucrose and little emphasis was placed on host–plant resistance to insect, nematode, and disease pests. As production areas expanded, these pests limited production, sometimes severely. The first systematic attempts to screen exotic and wild beet germplasm for disease resistance were initiated early in the 20th century. Many undesirable traits from wild beet were reportedly introgressed with the selected disease resistance and it was only in the late 1900s that the use of wild beet genetic resources became common place in public breeding programs. In North America, a pivotal development in utilizing the genetic resources available for sugar beet breeding was the formation in 1983 of the Sugarbeet Crop Germplasm Committee (CGC). Since the Sugarbeet CGC identified enhancing the commercial sugar beet germplasm pool as a high priority, there has been an aggressive evaluation of the National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) Beta collection. This collection now has more than 2500 accessions from within the genus Beta. In 2002, it was estimated that close to 25,000 evaluation data points (descriptors × accessions evaluated) describing the collection were available in the Genetic Resources Information Network (GRIN) database. Over 3000 evaluations described levels of resistance of sugar beet and wild beet accessions to 10 major disease and insect pests of sugar beet. As soon as the evaluation data are collected, they are used to select the sources for the pre-breeding programs. There is a lag time in sugar beet of␣8–15 years between starting a germplasm development program and releasing the first germplasm, but successes of this program are available in the germplasm released to the commercial breeders. Resistance genes from wild beet for rhizomania and beet cyst nematode resistance have been commercialized.
Tunable gamma ray generation

Abstract In this note, we wish to point out that utilizing presently available technology it is possible to construct an intense, modulated and polarized γ-ray source which can be used for spectroscopy purposes to good advantage.
Mechanisms for Explosively-Formed Fuse Performance Degradation

The Explosively-Formed Fuse (EFF) is a high-power opening switch that uses an explosive charge to interrupt current flow in an aluminum conductor [1]. As such we expected the foil's resistance to increase with increasing current density by Joule heating. Yet an analysis of a large number of experiments clearly showed the opposite was true; there was a strong negative correlation between the peak resistance and current density. In the paper we analyze various possible causes including thermal softening of the metal, magnetic loading of the explosive and electric breakdown or conduction in the product gases at the higher applied fields. Our analysis suggests that magnetic loading is responsible for the degradation.
Improving the quality of fiber-optic-based surface-roughness sensing instrument using robust design methodology

The primary limitation of the conventional techniques of surface roughness measurement is that the stylus has to traverse perpendicular to the machine lay always. The present research looks at the non contact, fiber optics based methodology using solid state lasers, which evaluates surface finish independent of the machine lay and surface orientation. The basic principle involves using diffracted laser light and digitizing the information to measure surface irregularities. The research has wide applications in manufacturing industries. One typical application described is the measurement of surface irregularities of a contoured turbine blade root attachment area as used in Aerospace industry. The paper outlines the optimization of the instrument using Design of Experiments or Robust Design procedure. The paper explains the steps involved in achieving reliable and quality design by taguchi experimentation.
Female-specific dominant lethal effects in mice.

Abstract For some chemicals, induction of presumed dominant lethal mutations has been observed only in female mice and not in males. In those cases, questions arise as to (1) whether the increased embryonic mortality is due to genetic effects of the chemicals in the oocyte or, (2) is caused indirectly through maternal toxicity, and, if genetic, (3) the basis for the sex difference. These questions were studied using the compounds adriamycin and platinol. Neither compound induces dominant lethals in male germ cells, but both increased early embryonic mortality when females were treated prior to mating (treatment of maturing oocytes). Reciprocal zygote transfer experiments rules out, either entirely or for the large part, maternal toxicit as the cause, and cytogenetic analysis of first-cleavage metaphases revealed high incidences of chromosomal aberrations. The results of both of these experiments thus provide evidence that the early embryonic mortality resulted from genetic effects induced in oocytes. Most interestingly, each compound produced unexpected types of chromosomal aberrations. Adriamycin produced deletions, rings, and presumed chromosome-type rearrangements. Platinol, on the other hand, produced a few chromatid-type aberrations, but the bulk of aberrations were characterized by disorganization of the chromatin, minute fragments, and thread-lik chromatin bridges between fragments and chromosomes or between two or more chromosomes. The latter type of cytogenetic damage was observed primarily in the compounds are associated with the diffused state of the maturing oocyte chromosomes.
Metastatic Cancer Identified in Osteonecrosis Specimens of the Jaws in Patients Receiving Intravenous Bisphosphonate Medications

Purpose The aim of the present study was to investigate the microscopic presence of metastatic cancer in jaw specimens clinically and histologically diagnosed as having osteonecrosis in patients receiving intravenous bisphosphonate medications. Patients and Methods A retrospective cohort multicenter study was designed. Patients from the University of Tennessee Medical Center, New York University Medical Center, and New York Center for Orthognathic and Maxillofacial Surgery were enrolled who had been treated with intravenous bisphosphonate medications for an underlying diagnosis of cancer and who had been clinically diagnosed with bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (BRONJ). The institutional review boards approved the present study. The primary predictor variable was the clinical presence of BRONJ. The primary outcome variable was the microscopic presence of metastatic cancer in the osteonecrotic jaw specimens. Results A total of 744 sites of BRONJ were clinically diagnosed. Of these sites, 552 (74%) were diagnosed in patients who had received intravenous bisphosphonate medications. Of these 552 sites, 357 (65%) underwent microscopic evaluation through biopsy, sequestrectomy, or resection with curative intent. Of the 357 sites of BRONJ subjected to microscopic analysis, 19 (5.3%) sites were diagnosed with 20 cancers in 16 patients. Conclusions Albeit rare, the presence of cancer in a BRONJ specimen represents 1 explanation for the development of osteonecrosis in patients exposed to intravenous bisphosphonate medications in whom a clinical diagnosis of BRONJ has been applied. Additional molecular information is needed to provide an explanation for this observation.
OVP1, a Vacuolar H+-translocating inorganic pyrophosphatase (V-PPase), overexpression improved rice cold tolerance

Vacuolar H(+)-translocating inorganic pyrophosphatase (V-PPase, EC 3.6.1.1) is an electrogenic proton pump and has been studied in many plants. Here we report characterization of the OVP1 gene from rice (Oryza sativa L.). Quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis (RT-qPCR) showed that OVP1 was induced by cold stress. OVP1 overexpression resulted in enhanced cold tolerance in transgenic rice, which was related to an increased integrity of cell membrane, decreased MDA content and accumulation of proline to higher level as compared with wild type rice seedlings. These results indicated that V-PPase was an important element in the survival strategies of plants under cold stress.
Strangers no more: Uterine NK cell recognition of the placenta in mice

Successful pregnancy requires a series of coordinated interactions between the developing placenta, the uterus, and the maternal immune system (1). At the maternal/fetal interface, where the placenta contacts the uterus, a specialized type of lymphocyte known as a uterine natural killer (uNK) cell is thought to play a critical role in mediating the uterine vascular adaptations to pregnancy. Epidemiological data have suggested that this function is modified by the response of uNK cells to the paternally inherited classical class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC I) molecules (i.e., the HLA-A, -B, and -C antigens in humans) expressed by placental trophoblasts invading into the uterus, as inopportune genetic combinations of the mother and father expected to alter uNK cell activity increase the risk of certain obstetrical complications (i.e., preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, and recurrent miscarriage). In mice, however, direct evidence for such uNK cell-mediated “allorecognition” of the placenta has so far been lacking, and as a result the biomedical researcher's favorite model organism has yet to be used to study how levels of uNK cell activity influence reproductive success. In PNAS, Hemberger and colleagues now present strong evidence that murine uNK cells do indeed recognize paternal MHC I molecules expressed by invasive trophoblasts and that this recognition has significant implications for uterine vascular remodeling and ultimate pregnancy outcome (2). This work thus opens up use of the mouse as a means to study the key interactions that underlie some of the more serious complications of pregnancy.
Transparent silica aerogels for window insulation

Abstract Supercritically drying a colloidal gel of silica produces a porous material called an aerogel. These aerogels not only are excellent thermal insulators, but also can be highly transparent. We investigate the microstructure and optical properties of transparent silica aerogels and calculate the energy transfer through hypothetical aerogel windows.
Lack of evidence for programmed root senescence in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) grown at different levels of phosphorus supply

Summary • The influence of phosphorus (P) availability on root lifespan in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris cv. Carioca) is reported here, as well as patterns of root survivorship in relation to vegetative and reproductive development. • Plants were grown in a glasshouse in a sand-culture system with varying P availability, and in a high-P field soil with greater biotic activity. Root dynamics were assessed using a minirhizotron system. • Phosphorus limitation, which reduced plant growth by 90%, did not diminish root survivorship. At nonlimiting and limiting P, root survivorship was not synchronized closely with shoot development and senescence; a substantial portion of the roots were present and seemingly alive even beyond reproductive maturity. In field-grown beans and in beans under severe P limitation in sand culture, survivorship fell approx. 50%, but only after pod fill was nearly complete. • Common bean does not exhibit programmed root senescence during and immediately following pod fill. Roots died after the shoot had undergone other senescence processes, such as leaf drop and pod dry-down. Under field conditions, soil organisms are likely to modulate the effects of phosphorus deficiency and pod fill on root death.
Veterinary education as leader: which alternatives?

ABSTRACT This article suggests that veterinary medicine has a leadership role to play in our society on ethical matters involving non-human animals. The article contrasts two trends within veterinary medicine; the first trend is a continuation of the avowedly utilitarian attitude toward non-humans that has its roots in Western veterinary medicine's eighteenth-century origins, and the second is the implicit view in veterinary practice that animals matter in and of themselves. Using the idea of alternatives in research and teaching, the article suggests that, in the years to come, veterinary medicine's answers to the relationships of these two trends will shape not only the soul of veterinary medicine, veterinary education, and the veterinary profession but, just as importantly, the larger society and culture themselves. This text is based on the keynote address delivered at the AAVMC Education Symposium in Washington, DC, on March 9, 2006, under the title “Ethical Issues Impacting Animal Use in Veterinary ...
Separation of proteins and viruses using two-phase aqueous micellar systems

Abstract We discuss the utilization of a novel two-phase aqueous nonionic micellar system for the purification and concentration of biomolecules, such as proteins and viruses, by liquid–liquid extraction. The nonionic surfactant n -decyl tetra(ethylene oxide), C 10 E 4 , phase separates in water into two coexisting aqueous micellar phases by increasing temperature. The mild interactions of the C 10 E 4 nonionic surfactant with biomolecules, combined with the high water content of the two coexisting micellar phases, suggest the potential utility of two-phase aqueous C 10 E 4 micellar systems for the purification and concentration of biomolecules. In this paper, we review our recent experimental and theoretical studies involving the partitioning of several water-soluble proteins, including cytochrome c , soybean trypsin inhibitor, ovalbumin, bovine serum albumin, and catalase, in the two-phase aqueous C 10 E 4 micellar system. In addition, we present results of our preliminary experimental investigation on the partitioning of bacteriophages, including φX174, P22, and T4.
Purification of DNA by cetyltrimethylammonium bromide as a potential source of error for the determination of 5-methylcytosine residues in DNA.

Abstract DNA purified by cetyltrimethylammonium bromide exhibits a significant loss of 5-methylcytosine as compared to DNA isolates purified by other well-known methods.
Modeling and experimental observations of gold nanoshell reflectance

Current optical technologies utilize changes in optical properties of tissue to distinguish diseased from normal tissue. This poses an important challenge to enhance this subtle intrinsic contrast with the use of novel nanoparticle based contrast agents. Gold nanoshells are a novel type of spherical concentric nanoparticle that possesses high optical efficiencies well into the near infrared. Gold nanoshells are typically made of a dielectric silica core and a thin metallic gold outer layer and a wide range of sizes are easily fabricated using current chemistries. Gold nanoshells can scatter and/or absorb light with optical cross-sections often several times larger than the geometric cross-section. To elucidate the effectiveness of gold nanoshells as a contrast agent for reflectance, it is important to understand how different optical properties of nanoshells affect reflectance, and ultimately provide insight into how reflectance is affected by gold nanoshells embedded in biological tissue. A fiber-probe based spectrometer was used to measure diffuse reflectance of gold nanoshells suspensions from 500nm to 900nm. We further characterize diffuse reflectance of gold nanoshell suspensions using Monte Carlo based computational tools. Our results show that gold nanoshells are capable of producing large changes in diffuse reflectance, and computer modeling results agreed well with the experimental observations. From the study, we also show that it may be feasible to use Monte Carlo based modeling to simulate biological medium embedded with gold nanoshells.
Budget Rules and State Business Cycles

My 1998 article (Levinson 1998) provides evidence suggesting that states with strict balanced budget rules have more volatile business cycles. In that article, I subjected the findings to numerous robustness checks. I used two measures of business cycle volatility, two measures of balanced budget rule stringency, and two measures of state size. I tried dropping unusual states, using only the fifteen largest and fifteen smallest states, and examined different periods of time separately. In most (but not all) specifications, I found that large states with strict balanced budget rules had more volatile business cycles. In their clear and careful replication of that article, Krol and Svorny (2007) present even more robustness checks. They add two new measures of cyclical volatility, an alternative measure of state size, and an alternative classification of balanced budget rule stringency. In some specifications, they also find that large states with strict balanced budget rules had more volatile business cycles; however, in some other specifications, they find results that differ from mine. First, Krol and Svorny (2007) use as the measure of volatility the standard deviation of quarterly first differences in incomes, instead of the standard deviation of the deviations (residuals) from predicted long-run income growth that I used. Unlike my results, they find the key coefficient statistically insignificant (column 2 of their table 2). This is not unexpected. Variation in quarterly fluctuations (e.g., first differences, as used by Krol and Svorny) will be smaller than variation in deviations from long-run growth (e.g., residuals from a deterministic trend, which I used). If strict budget Public Finance Review Volume 35 Number 4 July 2007 545–549 2007 Sage Publications 10.1177/1091142107301758 http://pfr.sagepub.com hosted at http://online.sagepub.com
Silhouette photography of small active subjects

SUMMARY The silhouette system, although requiring a darkroom, gives the experimenter a powerful method of recording the biological populations in large samples of water with great depth-of-field. The short exposure also effectively stops the motions of the subjects. No optics are required for the initial exposure but are required for enlargements.
Active calcium extrusion by Amoeba proteus

Cytoplasmic calcium levels in the amoeba are maintained at very low levels. Previous studies have suggested that this is accomplished by a system of cytoplasmic storage sites. Evidence is presented here that Amoeba proteus capable of actively extruding calcium across the plasmalemma. Active calcium extrusion is then responsible in part for the maintenance of low cytoplasmic calcium activities and may be involved at least indirectly in such basic cellular process as locomotion and pinocytosis in the amoeba.