cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mechanism by which ethane dimethanesulfonate kills adult rat Leydig cells: involvement of intracellular glutathione.

Abstract We have previously demonstrated that ethane-1,2-dimethane-sulfonate (EDS) kills adult, but not immature, rat Leydig cells in vivo and in vitro. The mechanism responsible for this selective toxicity is not known. Here we report that the cytotoxic effects of EDS on adult rat Leydig cells were not dependent upon new protein synthesis or cytochrome P450 enzyme activity. To determine whether inhibition of glutathione synthesis protects Leydig cells from the cytotoxic effects of EDS, adult rat Leydig cells were cultured in the presence or absence of 4 mM buthionine sulfoximine (BSO; 2 hr), a specific inhibitor of glutathione synthesis, and subsequently with increasing doses of EDS (3 hr). Following EDS addition, the ability of the cells to produce testosterone in response to LH stimulation, and to synthesize protein ([35S]methionine incorporation) were evaluated. In both cases, Leydig cells cultured in the presence of BSO were far less sensitive than Leydig cells cultured in medium alone (control) to EDS effects on testosterone production (control: EC50 60 μg EDS/ml; BSO: EC50 > 1500 μg EDS/ml) and [35S]methionine incorporation (control: EC50 = 95 μg EDS/ml; BSO: EC50 = 1560 μg EDS/ml). This protective effect of BSO was abolished by restoring intracellular glutathione levels with glutathione ethyl ester (8 mM; GSHEE). Interestingly, none of these treatments altered the viability (i.e., [35S]methionine incorporation) of immature rat Leydig cells (EC50 = 420 μg EDS/ml for control, GSHEE, and BSO groups). Taken together, these data suggest that the mechanism by which EDS kills adult rat Leydig cells may involve Leydig cell glutathione.
Recovery in Multicomputers with Finite Error Detection Latency

In most research on checkpointing and recovery, it has been assumed that the processor halts immediately in response to any internal failure (fail-stop model). This paper presents a recovery scheme (independent checkpointing and message logging) for a multicomputer system consisting of processors having a non-zero error detection latency. Our scheme tolerates bounded error detection latencies, thus, achieving a higher fault coverage. The simulation results show that for typical detection latency values, the recovery overhead is almost independent of the detection latency.
Interaction of human tRNA-dihydrouridine synthase-2 with interferon-induced protein kinase PKR

PKR is an interferon (IFN)-induced protein kinase, which is involved in regulation of antiviral innate immunity, stress signaling, cell proliferation and programmed cell death. Although a low amount of PKR is expressed ubiquitously in all cell types in the absence of IFNs, PKR expression is induced at transcriptional level by IFN. PKR's enzymatic activity is activated by its binding to one of its activators. Double-stranded (ds) RNA, protein activator PACT and heparin are the three known activators of PKR. Activation of PKR in cells leads to a general block in protein synthesis due to phosphorylation of eIF2α on serine 51 by PKR. PKR activation is regulated very tightly in mammalian cells and a prolonged activation of PKR leads to apoptosis. Thus, positive and negative regulation of PKR activation is important for cell viability and function. The studies presented here describe human dihydrouridine synthase-2 (hDUS2) as a novel regulator of PKR. We originally identified hDUS2 as a protein interacting with PACT in a yeast two-hybrid screen. Further characterization revealed that hDUS2 also interacts with PKR through its dsRNA binding/dimerization domain and inhibits its kinase activity. Our results suggest that hDUS2 may act as a novel inhibitor of PKR in cells.
Comparative effects of caffeine, its analogues and calcium deficiency on cytokinesis.

Abstract The effects of caffeine, aminophylline, caffeic acid, and calcium deficiency on cytokinesis were studied by light and electron microscopy. All these treatments blocked cell plate formation, resulting in the formation of binucleate cells. The aggregation and organization of membranous vesicles at the ‘presumptive cell plate’ during these treatments appears similar to that of normal cells, but fusion of the vesicles is insufficient to form a complete cell plate. It is suggested that some aspect of membrane recognition and fusion is the process actually interfered with by these treatments. Greater numbers of binucleate cells and fewer partial cell plates were observed in cells treated with caffeine and aminophylline as compared with those exposed to caffeic acid or calcium deficiency, indicating that the latter treatments do not block cell plate formation as efficiently as the former.
A possible approach to the investigation of reacting sites of ozone in rat lung

Abstract As edematogenic agents, thiocarbamides and ozone share several pharmacological and toxicological features in common. In view of these striking similarities, an attempt was made to find out whether or not thiocarbamides and ozone interact with the same cellular constituents of the lungs. This was accomplished by incubating first, a constant amount of 14 C-thiourea with lung slices of O 3 -tolerant and control rats followed by subcellular fractionation and radio-activity determination. The results of this study reveal a substantial and significant reduction in binding of 14 C-thiourea to all sub-cellular fractions of lungs of O 3 -tolerant rats as compared to the rats exposed to ambient air. The data suggest that repeated exposure to a progressively increasing concentration of ozone inhibits 14 C-thiourea binding in the lung by reducing binding sites by directly destroying binding sites or via an effect on cell population.
Astrocytes potentiate GABAergic transmission in the thalamic reticular nucleus via endozepine signaling

Emerging evidence indicates that diazepam-binding inhibitor (DBI) mediates an endogenous benzodiazepine-mimicking (endozepine) effect on synaptic inhibition in the thalamic reticular nucleus (nRT). Here we demonstrate that DBI peptide colocalizes with both astrocytic and neuronal markers in mouse nRT, and investigate the role of astrocytic function in endozepine modulation in this nucleus by testing the effects of the gliotoxin fluorocitrate (FC) on synaptic inhibition and endozepine signaling in the nRT using patch-clamp recordings. FC treatment reduced the effective inhibitory charge of GABAA receptor (GABAAR)-mediated spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents in WT mice, indicating that astrocytes enhance GABAAR responses in the nRT. This effect was abolished by both a point mutation that inhibits classical benzodiazepine binding to GABAARs containing the α3 subunit (predominant in the nRT) and a chromosomal deletion that removes the Dbi gene. Thus, astrocytes are required for positive allosteric modulation via the α3 subunit benzodiazepine-binding site by DBI peptide family endozepines. Outside-out sniffer patches pulled from neurons in the adjacent ventrobasal nucleus, which does not contain endozepines, show a potentiated response to laser photostimulation of caged GABA when placed in the nRT. FC treatment blocked the nRT-dependent potentiation of this response, as did the benzodiazepine site antagonist flumazenil. When sniffer patches were placed in the ventrobasal nucleus, however, subsequent treatment with FC led to potentiation of the uncaged GABA response, suggesting nucleus-specific roles for thalamic astrocytes in regulating inhibition. Taken together, these results suggest that astrocytes are required for endozepine actions in the nRT, and as such can be positive modulators of synaptic inhibition.
Detection of the point of impact on a stiffened plate by the acoustic emission technique

The applicability of guided waves to predict the point of impact in a stiffened plate is investigated. The conventional triangulation technique cannot predict the point of impact in a stiffened plate because the triangulation technique assumes that the wave speed is independent of the direction of propagation, which is not true for stiffened plates. An alternative method based on the optimization scheme was proposed by Kundu et al (2007?J. Acoust. Soc. Am.?122?2057?66) to locate the point of impact in plates by analyzing the time of arrival of the ultrasonic signals received by passive sensors attached to the plate. After successful extension of this technique to predict the point of impact in anisotropic but homogeneous composite plates (Kundu et al 2008?Ultrasonics?48?193?201) it is investigated in this paper whether this technique works well for predicting the point of impact in an inhomogeneous plate where the stiffeners make the structure inhomogeneous. Experiments are carried out by dropping ping pong and metal balls on the plate to simulate the impact phenomenon and recording acoustic signals by passive transducers adhesively bonded to the plate at three different locations. The impact points are predicted and compared with the actual locations of impact.
Some phenyl-substituted silicon-nitrogen compounds

Abstract Procedures for the synthesis of a series of phenyl-substituted silylamines, disilazanes, cyclotrisilazanes, and cyclodisilazanes are reported, and relevant new observations on the synthesis of silicon-nitrogen compounds are pointed out. NMR and IR spectral characteristics useful in the identification and characterization of these and related compounds are summarized.
Note---A Note on Decision Making and Replacing Sure Prospects with Uncertain Prospects

In the making of decisions where the valuation problem poses the major difficulty an individual may choose to replace a hard-to-evaluate certain prospect with a much easier to evaluate set of uncertain prospects.
Culture Agglutination as Affected by Homogenization of Skim Milk

Abstract Skim milk was homogenized at 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 71, 106, and 176 kg/cm 2 and inoculated with a lactic culture to determine effect of homogenization on culture agglutination. Top to bottom pH differentials were determined hourly; sediment depth and top to bottom total solids differentials were determined after 4h of incubation. Top to bottom pH differentials decreased as homogenization pressure increased. Culture agglutination increased with time in skim milk homogenized at pressures less than 176 kg/cm 2 . Acid production in the upper portion of skim milk increased as homogenization pressure increased. Top to bottom total solids differentials in skim milk homogenized at pressures of 0, 7, and 14kg/cm 2 were greater than the differential from that homogenized at 176kg/cm 2 . When skim milk was homogenized at pressures greater than 7kg/cm 2 , visible sediment depth decreased linearly. Sediment depth was 2.9% of the total volume for skim milk homogenized at 0kg/cm 2 , peaked at 3% when homogenized at 7kg/cm 2 , and decreased to .34% when homogenized at 176kg/cm 2 . Time from inoculation to the first sign of agglutination (lag time) as measured by pH differential increased as homogenization pressure increased.
Activation of different vestibular subnuclei evokes differential respiratory and pressor responses in the rat

Activation of the vestibular system can either increase or decrease ventilation. The objectives of the present study were to clarify whether these different responses are the result of activating different vestibular subnuclei, by addressing three questions. Do neurones within the medial, lateral and spinal vestibular nuclei (VNM, VNL and VNS, respectively) function differently in respiratory modulation? Is the ventral medullary nucleus gigantocellularis (NGC) required to fully express the VN-mediated respiratory responses? Is glutamate, by acting on N-methyl-d-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptors in the vestibular subnuclei, capable of modulating respiration? In anaesthetized, tracheotomized and spontaneously breathing rats, electrical stimuli (< 10 s) applied in the VNL and VNS significantly elevated ventilation by 35 % and 30 % (P < 0.05), respectively. However, VNM stimulation produced statistically significant (P < 0.05) changes that differed depending upon the stimulation site: either ventilatory inhibition (by 40 % in 57 % of the trials) or excitation (by 55 % in 43 % of trials), and which were often accompanied by a pressor response. These electrical-stimulation-evoked cardiorespiratory responses were almost eliminated following microinjection of ibotenic acid into the stimulation sites (P < 0.05) or bilaterally into the NGC (P < 0.05). As compared to vehicle, microinjection of NMDA into the unilateral VNM, VNL and VNS significantly increased ventilation to 74 %, 58 % and 60 % (P < 0.05), respectively, with no effect on arterial blood pressure. These data suggest that neurones within the vestibular subnuclei play different roles in cardiorespiratory modulation, and that the integrity of the NGC is essential for the full expression of these VN-mediated responses. The evoked respiratory excitatory responses are probably mediated by glutamate acting on NMDA receptors, whereas the neurotransmitters involved in VNM-mediated respiratory inhibition and hypertension remain unknown.
The metabolic disposition of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine in the induced mouse.

The toxicokinetics of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP), a member of the aminoimidazoazaarene family of mutagens, was studied in C57BL/6 male mice after ip and gavage exposure to a single dose of 100 mg/kg body weight. Twenty-four hr after administration of the dose, 39% of the [14C]PhIP had been found in the urine of the animals exposed ip and 12% had been found in the faeces. By comparison, at 24 hr, gavage-exposed animals had excreted 31% of the administered radioactivity in the urine and 30% in the faeces. Significantly higher levels of labelled compounds could be detected in the blood of animals dosed ip than in that of those dosed by gavage at 6 and 12 hr after dosing. Tissue concentrations of labelled compound were highest in the liver and gastro-intestinal tract of the ip group and the large intestine of the gavage group. Considerable radioactivity was also detected in the contents of the large and small intestine of the ip group suggesting biliary excretion of PhIP. Peak tissue concentrations were found 6–12 hr after administration of the dose by both routes. High-performance liquid chromatography of urine demonstrated the presence of 11 metabolites while only two major metabolites were found in the faeces, one of which was not present in the urine. None of the metabolites appeared to be formed by simple N-acetylations or N-demethylations of PhIP. No differences were seen in the metabolite profiles between the ip and the gavage groups, but significant differences were seen in the kinetics of PhIP excretion between animals dosed by these two routes. These data indicate that the toxicokinetics of PhIP metabolism differ depending on the route of administration and should be considered when performing animal studies to assess the significance of human dietary PhIP consumption.
The development of gender identity: Making sense of the world

A Review of Gender Identities and Education: The Impact of Starting School, by Barbara Lloyd and Gerald Duveen.
Law without justice: The dilemmas of formalization and fairness in the legalistic organization

There is growing evidence of a “litigation mentality” rampant in organizations, which has created a legalistic mindset in many managers. Increasingly, managerial decisions are becoming dominated by a concern for what is legally defensible at the expense of broader social considerations such as justice and fairness. The papers in this special issue explore how this legalistic mindset has created new organizational and social dilemmas, and situations of “law whithout justice.”
Surgical Technique Influences HeartMate II Left Ventricular Assist Device Thrombosis

Background Thrombosis of the HeartMate II (HM2 [Thoratec Corporation, Pleasanton, CA]) is a potentially devastating complication. While attention has been focused on anticoagulation strategies to prevent this complication, the impact of surgical technique has not been assessed. Methods Patients undergoing HM2 implantation at two institutions were reviewed. Pump thrombosis (PT) was defined as a clinical syndrome that included more than 30% elevation in pump power, more than 30% elevation in lactate dehydrogenase, and greater than 20% decrease in hemoglobin with the presence of thrombus in the HM2 stator or rotor, or both, at explant or autopsy. A blinded clinician reviewed dimensions and angles of the HM2 obtained from chest x-ray films. Patients demonstrating PT were compared with patients having normal function. Results Of the 49 patients reviewed, 11 (22.4%) displayed evidence of PT at a median of 42 days after HM2 implantation. Patient with PT had greater acute angulation of the HM2 inflow cannula immediately postoperatively (48.2 ± 6.8 versus 65.4 ± 9.2 degrees, p Conclusions Meticulous surgical technique, which necessitates creating an adequately sized pump pocket and appropriately directing the inflow cannula at the time of operation, may reduce the risk of PT.
Evaluation of hypercalcemia in relation to hyperparathyroidism

Hypercalcemia, which results from the rate of calcium influx into the extracellular fluid exceeding the rate of calcium efflux from the extracellular fluid, has been reported as occurring in approximately 1% to 4% of the adult population in general, and anywhere from 0.5% to 3% of hospitalized adult populations. Hypercalcemia associated with primary hyperparathyroidism has frequently resulted in the development of pancreatitis and peptic ulcer disease; however, the pathophysiologic mechanism of this association remains uncertain. This article examines the etiology and differential diagnosis of hypercalcemia, in particular regarding its association with primary hyperparathyroidism.
Living Stones The House as Actor in Early Modern Europe

This article investigates the metaphor of the “living house” and its concrete ramifications on everyday life in late medieval and early modern Europe. For premodern Europeans, the house was an acto...
PEER INSTRUCTION: An Interactive Approach for Large Lecture Classes

Peer Instruction, a method of actively involving students in lectures, avoids problems traditionally associated with conventional teaching, and increases students' understanding of concepts and test performance.
Oil Stresses in Impregnated-Paper Insulation

RECENT EXPERIMENT on fully impregnated cable-type paper insulation, has shown that under certain conditions use of a paper of low density results in a higher dielectric strength than does the use of a paper of higher density.1 It has also been shown that failure of such insulation usually begins in the oil channels between successive turns of paper tape.
Research applications for An Object and Action Naming Battery to assess naming skills in adult Spanish–English bilingual speakers

Virtually no valid materials are available to evaluate confrontation naming in Spanish-English bilingual adults in the U.S. In a recent study, a large group of young Spanish-English bilingual adults were evaluated on An Object and Action Naming Battery (Edmonds & Donovan in Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research 55:359-381, 2012). Rasch analyses of the responses resulted in evidence for the content and construct validity of the retained items. However, the scope of that study did not allow for extensive examination of individual item characteristics, group analyses of participants, or the provision of testing and scoring materials or raw data, thereby limiting the ability of researchers to administer the test to Spanish-English bilinguals and to score the items with confidence. In this study, we present the in-depth information described above on the basis of further analyses, including (1) online searchable spreadsheets with extensive empirical (e.g., accuracy and name agreeability) and psycholinguistic item statistics; (2) answer sheets and instructions for scoring and interpreting the responses to the Rasch items; (3) tables of alternative correct responses for English and Spanish; (4) ability strata determined for all naming conditions (English and Spanish nouns and verbs); and (5) comparisons of accuracy across proficiency groups (i.e., Spanish dominant, English dominant, and balanced). These data indicate that the Rasch items from An Object and Action Naming Battery are valid and sensitive for the evaluation of naming in young Spanish-English bilingual adults. Additional information based on participant responses for all of the items on the battery can provide researchers with valuable information to aid in stimulus development and response interpretation for experimental studies in this population.
Antibody forming cell precursors among glass-adherent peritoneal exudate cells.

Among glass-adherent peritoneal exudate cells (gaPEC), induced by an inoculation of 1% glycugen solution, about 4.5% were classified as antibody-forming cell precursors (AFCP) on the first day of culture by means of anti-muse B-cell antibody (anti-B-Ab). They proliferated and differentiated into IgG-foming plasma cells when cultured with antigen and thymic RNA in vitro. Pretreatment of PEC with anti-B-Ab and complement suppressed the formation of plasma cells. AFCP had receptors for IgM-antigen complexes and for complement, both of which were independent of Ca++ and mg++ and resistant to treatment by pronase or phos-pholipase C. Cells bearing detectable receptors for EA(IgM) ad EAC diminished by the 6th day when gaPEC were cultured with thymic RNA, but persisted longer in cultures without thymic RNA. The same percentages of cells demonstrated tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activities but were devoid of esterase. Twenty to thirty percent of anti-B-Ab sensitive cells ingested latex particles. The proli...
The Life Trajectory of Social Marketing: Some implications

The history of social marketing has similarities to the growth and maturity of human beings from its birth in the 1960s through its present status as a respected discipline. After an extended childhood grappling with varying definitions andapplications, the 1990s saw a breakthrough in concept and practice by focusing on behavior change. Despite the growth in the number of textbooks, practical guides and infrastructure, the field has many unanswered challenges that ought to be addressed if it is to continue its maturation and achieve wider respect.
An Argument for Axion Dark Matter

An argument is presented that the dark matter is axions, at least in part. It has three steps. First, axions behave differently from the other forms of cold dark matter because they form a rethermalizing Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC). Second, there is a tool to distinguish axion BEC from the other dark matter candidates on the basis of observation, namely the study of the inner caustics of galactic halos. Third, the observational evidence for caustic rings of dark matter is consistent in every aspect with axion BEC, but not with the other proposed forms of dark matter.
Conference Tutorials as Educational Tool in Polymer Science: The POLYCHAR Conference and Short Course

Summary Tutorials in combination with a scientific conference are very useful tools in the education of advanced students, young scientists and newcomers in polymer science. The annual POLYCHAR Conference (World Forum for Advanced Materials) and its Short Course in Polymer Characterization are presented and discussed as an example of a successful combination.
Advancements in the Management of HPV-Associated Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Head and neck carcinomas have long been linked to alcohol and tobacco abuse; however, within the last two decades, the human papillomavirus (HPV) has emerged as a third etiology and is specifically associated with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). In this anatomical region, the oncogenic HPV-16 mediates transformation and immortalization of epithelium, most commonly in the oropharynx. Nevertheless, the recent identification of novel HPV mechanisms thought to be specific to oropharyngeal carcinogenesis has coincided with observations that HPV-associated HNSCC has differing clinical behavior—in terms of natural history, therapeutic response, and prognosis—than HPV-negative head and neck tumors. Taken together with the growing incidence of HPV transmission in younger populations, these discoveries have sparked a rapid expansion in both laboratory and clinical studies on the infection and disease. Herein, we review the clinical characteristics of HPV-associated HNSCC, with particular emphasis on recent advancements in our understanding of the management of this infectious malignancy.
Mating stimulation required for mating-induced estrous abbreviation in female rats: effects of repeated testing.

Mating stimulation, particularly vaginal-cervical stimulation, causes estrous abbreviation in female rats. In most previous studies, female rats were repeatedly tested for sexual behavior until estrous termination occurred. Thus, it was not clear whether sensory stimulation (e.g., flank stimulation, olfactory cues) received during the repeated testing procedure contributed to estrous abbreviation. In Experiment 1, we determined the effect of premating to two or four ejaculations on the rate of estrous termination when a repeated testing procedure was used. We compared ovariectomized, hormone-primed, female rats receiving (1) four ejaculations, (2) two ejaculations, or (3) no premating. Females premated to either two or four ejaculations showed significantly lower levels of sexual receptivity 12 h later than did nonpremated females. These results confirm that premating induces estrous abbreviation when a repeated testing procedure is used. In Experiment 2, we determined whether the repeated testing procedure was necessary for estrous abbreviation. Ovariectomized, hormone-primed female rats were premated to two ejaculations or not premated. The rats were then tested for sexual behavior repeatedly or only once. Females that were premated and repeatedly tested for sexual behavior showed a statistically significant decrease in sexual receptivity compared to females that were not premated; however, the level of sexual receptivity in premated females did not differ from that in non-premated females when they were tested only once. The results suggest that heat duration is the result of a complex interplay between those factors that promote the expression of sexual receptivity and those that inhibit it.
The Fine Structure of Young Tracheary Xylem Elements Arising by Redifferentiation of Parenchyma in Wounded Coleus Stem

SUMMARY The dense granulation characteristic of parenchyma cells redifferentiating into tracheary xylem elements was found to be due to a concentration of organelles and associated vesicles in the cytoplasmic bands within which the secondary-wall thickenings form. Among these organelles are mitochondria, plastid-like bodies, elements of the endoplasmic reticulum, and Golgi-structures. Numerous small vesicles occur in the cytoplasm adjacent to developing wall bands and occasionally within the bands themselves. As the secondary-wall reticulations develop, they stain more intensely with permanganate, becoming increasingly more electron dense. The evidence suggests that this is due to their progressive lignification. The electron density appears also in the primary wall at the bases of the bands, and extends through it between opposite bands of adjacent cells.
Perspective---Historical Roots of the A Behavioral Theory of the Firm Model at GSIA

Richard Cyert and James March's (1963) A Behavioral Theory of the Firm (ABTOF) is one of the most influential works in organization science. An important element of that work was a computational model of a duopoly, which was arguably the first computational model that instantiated organizational constructs within a substantial theoretical framework. We suggest that the academic environment within which this theory and model grew was instrumental in its emergence. Furthermore, an examination of the model itself (by triangulating on the verbal descriptions, the flow charts, and the code) reveals innovative embodiments of organizational attention, organizational learning, organizational memory, routines, metaroutines, aspiration level adjustments and computational experiments. In this paper we examine the historical roots of the model---the concepts, culture, and characters at Carnegie Tech and the Graduate School of Industrial Administration (GSIA). Although causality is difficult to assess historically, we suggest the significance of a strong research-based, interdisciplinary culture at a time when innovative (and often computational) concepts and theories were emerging within the contexts of computer science, economics, and psychology.
A caustic corrected UTD solution for a short monopole near a curved edge on a flat plate

Corrections to the uniform geometrical theory of diffraction (UTD) that account for the caustics caused by the coalescence of the diffraction points are derived. This creates a new curvature dependent diffraction coefficient that has not been previously accounted for in the UTD. The far-zone radiation by a short monopole mounted on an elliptic disk is analyzed using this caustic corrected UTD solution. Theoretical results are verified in the principal plane by comparison with a method of moments solution. The resulting solution for the radiated field is accurate and fast to compute. >
Promoting Healthy Lifestyles and Decreasing Childhood Obesity: Increasing Physician Effectiveness Through Advocacy

Childhood obesity is a well-documented public health crisis. Even many children who are not overweight have inadequate physical activity, poor nutrition, excessive television and other screen time, or some combination thereof. The solution lies in the community. Environmental interventions are among the most effective for improving public health. In addition to addressing lifestyle issues in the office, physicians should advocate for environmental approaches. We can advocate at institutional, local, state, and federal levels through speaking, writing, and collaborating with others. In the United States, the timing is right to synergize with efforts such as the White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity and the Surgeon General’s emphasis on changing the national conversation “from a negative one about obesity and illness” to a positive one about health and fitness.
Asymmetric forceps increase fighting success among males of similar size in the maritime earwig.

Extreme asymmetric morphologies are hypothesized to serve an adaptive function that counteracts sexual selection for symmetry. However, direct tests of function for asymmetries are lacking, particularly in the context of animal weapons. The weapon of the maritime earwig, Anisolabis maritima, exhibits sizeable variation in the extent of directional asymmetry within and across body sizes, making it an ideal candidate for investigating the function of asymmetry. In this study, we characterized the extent of weapon asymmetry, characterized the manner in which asymmetric weapons are used in contests, staged dyadic contests between males of different size classes, and analyzed the correlates of fighting success. In contests between large males, larger individuals won more fights and emerged as the dominant male. In contests between small males, however, weapon asymmetry was more influential in predicting overall fighting success than body size. This result reveals an advantage of asymmetric weaponry among males that are below the mean size in the population. A forceps manipulation experiment suggests that asymmetry may be an indirect correlate of a morphologically independent factor that affects fighting ability.
A Java framework for experimentation with steganography

This article describes a Java framework for experimentation with fundamental steganographic techniques. The framework is built on top of Java's image processing libraries and provides extensible handles for customization and experimentation. The framework is designed and presented with a view towards incorporation into an undergraduate computer science curriculum.
Fuzzy controller design without domain experts

The control of nonlinear systems through a self-learning mechanism that can derive the membership functions of the rules used by a fuzzy controller is considered. Without resorting to domain experts, a fuzzy controller has to be constructed that can perform the control task of a regulator problem. The approach is based on the adaptive network, a flexible building block that can be used to implement fuzzy controllers as well as the plants under consideration. The learning rule of adaptive networks can force the plant state to approach a desired state on a time step by time step basis. The proposed approach was used to build a fuzzy controller for balancing an inverted pendulum system. It is shown that only four fuzzy if-then rules are necessary to perform the control task. The controller was quite tolerant to dealing with initial conditions that deviated significantly from the origin. The inverted pendulum system was used to test the proposed control scheme. The simulation results demonstrated its feasibility and robustness. >
The cost of vocal fold paralysis after thyroidectomy

Objectives/Hypothesis To determine the added cost of care and analyze risk factors in patients who suffered vocal fold paralysis (VFP) after thyroid surgery. Study design Retrospective cohort study. Methods Seventy-six patients who developed unilateral or bilateral VFP after thyroidectomy from 2005 through 2009, and a control group of 238 patients who underwent the same surgery without developing VFP, were compared on hospital charges, hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS), unplanned intubation, tracheotomies, respiratory failure, readmission, death, pathology, body mass index (BMI), gland weight, swallowing studies, and need for indwelling feeding tube. Differences between outcomes for unilateral VFP patients versus bilateral VFP patients were analyzed. Rate of recovery of VFP and need for further surgery after thyroidectomy were described. Results Patients who developed VFP after thyroidectomy had significantly greater rates of all the parameters listed above. BMI, gland weight, and pathology (malignant vs. benign) were not significantly different between the two groups. VFP group underwent additional surgeries after thyroidectomy related to the VFP. Thirty-three% of unilateral VFP patients with long-term follow-up recovered fully. Patients with bilateral VFP with long-term follow-up, had recovery of one vocal fold in 50% and both in 23% of cases. Conclusions Patients with unilateral or bilateral VFP after thyroidectomy experience significantly more morbidity and incurred significantly more health care charges after surgery than similar patients who do not have VFP after thyroidectomy. The likelihood of VFP was not related to malignancy, BMI, or thyroid gland weight in this series.
Gradient mechanism of detonation initiation underaction of high-voltage nanosecond discharge

Studies of different mechanisms of detonation initiation in combustible gaseous mixtures are related to the necessity of development an ignition device for application in pulsed detonation engines (PDE). The application requires a robust energy-efficient methodof initiation Chapman-Jouguet (CJ) detonations in tubes within distances of several calibers and times of ∼1 ms. The most common approach is deflagration to detonation transition (DDT) facilitation by the application of various types of obstacles that turbulize the flow and increase the flame velocity, which was initially suggested by Shchelkin [1]. Alternatively, the concept of detonation initiation through a gradient mechanism was theoretically introduced by Zeldovich [2]. This case was numerically studied in a series of papers reviewed in [3]. Various scenarios of hot spots formation due to shock-flame interaction and the role of their structure were also discussed in that paper. A similar concept of the shock-wave amplification by coherent energy release (SWACER) was introduced in [4], where this process was investigated in more detail. Pulsed nanosecond discharge in the form of a fast ionization wave (FIW) was proposed as a tool for detonation formation length and time reduction in [5]. An experimental study of detonation initiation by high-voltage nanosecond gas discharge has been performed in a smooth detonation tube with a four-cell discharge chamber designed to realize a gradient initiation mechanism. Stoichiometric propane-oxygen mixtures were used at initial pressures from 0.2 to 1 bar. Detonation was formed within 4 transverse tube sizes at initial pressures higher than 0.2 bar for the propane-oxygen mixture and higher than 0.8 bar for the diluted mixture with 40% of nitrogen. The discharge energy inputs were 0.2—0.3 J. The time of detonation formation was below 0.5 ms for all conditions. Combined with the focussing effect of the converging reducer, the gradient mechanism of detonation formation similar to the one suggested by Zeldovich has been shown to be the governing process. The value of the ignition delay time gradient, formed by non-uniform radical production during streamer discharge and following rapid plasma thermalization, has been estimated to be consistent with the condition on gradient mechanism realization.
Application of a New Multi-Scale Approach to Transport in a GaAs/AlAs Heterojunction Structure

Electron transmission and reflection at an interface has long been recognized as a quantum-mechanical problem. With the continually decreasing scale of semiconductor devices, the presence of interfaces has an increasingly significant impact on device performance. Consequently there is a need for an accurate description of devices that includes transport over heterojunctions. The question then becomes how to simulate a small region of quantum transport which exists in an otherwise semiclassical environment. What is needed is a multi-scale approach, with the goal of describing transport far away from the band edges and in a wide range of energies.
The case for intention revision in stories and its incorporation into IRIS — a story-based planning system

Character intention revision is an essential component of stories, but it has yet to be incorporated into story generation systems. However, intentionality, one component of intention revision, has been explored in both narrative generation and logical formalisms. The IRIS system adopts the belief/desire/intention framework of intentionality from logical formalisms and combines it with preexisting concepts of intentionality in narrative. IRIS also introduces the crucial concept of intention revision for characters in the story. The intent of this synthesis is to create stories with dynamic and believable characters that update their beliefs, replan, and revise their intentions over the course of the story.
Visual response properties of neurons in four extrastriate visual areas of the owl monkey (Aotus trivirgatus): a quantitative comparison of medial, dorsomedial, dorsolateral, and middle temporal areas.

1. The response properties of 354 single neurons in the medial (M), dorsomedial (DM), dorsolateral (DL), and middle temporal (MT) visual areas were studied quantitatively with bar, spot, and random...
Cardiac Arrhythmias: Premature Beats and Paroxysmal Tachycardias

Normal cardiac rhythm is called sinus rhythm. Sinus rhythm is controlled by the sinoatrial (SA) node, located in the right atrial wall near its junction with the superior vena cava. With sinus rhythm, the P wave due to atrial depolarization is upright in ECG leads I and II, AVF, and leads V3-V6. It is negative in lead AVR, and may be upright or negative in leads III and AVL. In the healthy resting adult, sinus rhythm is usually stated to range between 60 and 100 beats/minute. Cardiac rates above 100/minute are referred to as sinus tachycardia when they originate in the SA node. Cardiac rates below 60/minute are considered to be sinus bradycardia when they originate within the sinoatrial node. However, healthy resting adults often have heart rates in the 50s and even in the 40s. Occasional healthy young adults have heart rates in the 30s during sleep (Brodsky et al, 1977). On the other hand, healthy resting adults seldom have heart rates above 80/minute or so.
Abstract 295: The Stem Cell Therapy to Prevent Expansion of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (STOP-AAA) Trial: Rationale and Design

Background: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is the 13th leading cause of death in the United States. The only options for treatment at present for AAA are open surgical and endovascular repair, both of which are associated with significant morbidity, mortality, and expense.Thus AAA represents an unmet medical need. AAA pathogenesis is a multifactorial inflammatory process characterized by activation of T-cells,macrophages and neutrophils resulting in degradation of the aortic wall. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) suppress T-cell and macrophage activation, inhibit matrix metalloproteinases and have been shown to decrease aneurysm expansion in murine models. Methods: The STOP-AAA trial, from the NHLBI funded Cardiovascular Cell Therapy Research Network, is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of autologous bone marrow derived MSCs in suppressing expansion of small AAA (35-50mm).Forty patients will be randomized in a 1:1 fashion to receive systemic administ...
TASTE SPACE VERSUS THE WORLD: AN EMBEDDING ANALYSIS OF LISTENING HABITS AND GEOGRAPHY

Probabilistic embedding methods provide a principled way of deriving new spatial representations of discrete objects from human interaction data. The resulting assignment of objects to positions in a continuous, low-dimensional space not only provides a compact and accurate predictive model, but also a compact and flexible representation for understanding the data. In this paper, we demonstrate how probabilistic embedding methods reveal the “taste space” in the recently released Million Musical Tweets Dataset (MMTD), and how it transcends geographic space. In particular, by embedding cities around the world along with preferred artists, we are able to distill information about cultural and geographical differences in listening patterns into spatial representations. These representations yield a similarity metric among city pairs, artist pairs, and cityartist pairs, which can then be used to draw conclusions about the similarities and contrasts between taste space and geographic location.
Chapter 12 Phosphorylation of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor

Publisher Summary The acetylcholine receptor (AChR) of Torpedo californica is phosphorylated and dephosphorylated in situ by a membrane-bound protein kinase and phosphatase. There is increasing evidence that other neurotransmitters, light, polypeptide hormones, and growth factors may act by regulating the level of phosphorylation of their receptors. The chapter presents a study wherein AChR-enriched membranes purified from the electric organ of T. californica were studied to understand the role of receptor phosphorylation. This organ is an ideal model system for such studies because it is a rich source of AChR. Membranes can be purified from the electric organ that are enriched in AChR and that show cholinergic agonist-dependent changes in cation flux. Moreover, the AChR from T. californica has been purified, biochemically characterized, and used to generate specific antibodies. When the electric organ of T. californica was homogenized and the resulting membranes were purified by ultracentrifugation through a discontinuous sucrose gradient, one membrane fraction were found to be enriched in the AChR. Sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) gel electrophoresis of these membranes shows six major polypeptides.
Correlation of HO-1 expression with onset and reversal of hypoxia-induced vasoconstrictor hyporeactivity.

Rats exposed to chronic hypoxia (CH; 4 wk at 0.5 atm) exhibit attenuated renal vasoconstrictor reactivity to phenylephrine (PE). Preliminary studies from our laboratory suggest that this response i...
Comparative study on characteristics of children with community acquired pneumonia and nosocomial pneumonia

Objective To investigate the etiology,pathogenesis and infection factors of children with community acquired pneumonia and nosocomial pneumonia. Methods From February 2011 to December 2012 there were 107 children admitted to hospital,which included 49 cases of hospital acquired pneumonia( HAP group) and 58 cases of community acquired pneumonia( CAP group). Their age at onset,etiology,immune function and prognosis were analyzed. Results There were 39 children younger than 1-year-old in the HAP group and 13 children younger than 1-year-old in the CAP group. 37 children had underlying diseases in the HAP group and 7 children in the CAP group. The detection rate of pathogens was 83. 7% in the HAP group,such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa,Klebsiella pneumoniae and Gram-negative bacteria( 49 strains),followed by 28 strains of resistant bacteria,5 strains of HP antibody,and 1 strain of fungi. Conclusion CAP in children is caused by common virus and bacteria,and the susceptible factors of HAP include age,underlying diseases,immune level,and etiological factors,which mainly are Gram-negative bacteria infection. The children with HAP should be given regular treatment,early pathogen monitoring and drug sensitivity test.
Obstetrics in the Emergency Room

Patients may present to the emergency room with antepartum or postpartum complications, occasionally requiring management without the immediate support of an obstetrics team. This chapter reviews basic principles of obstetric care and discusses the management of normal labor, rupture of membranes, obstetrical hemorrhage, hypertensive emergencies in pregnancy and the postpartum period, and traumatic injury in a pregnant woman.
Proteomic Clustering Analysis of SH2 Domain Datasets

Proteomic clustering analysis provides a means of identifying relationships and visualizing those relationships in an extremely complex field of study with many interacting parts. With recent high-throughput studies of Src Homology 2 (SH2) domains, many and varied datasets are being amassed. A strategy for analyzing patterns between these large datasets is required to transform the information into knowledge. The methods for creating neighbor-joining phylogenetic trees, pairs scatter plots, and two-dimensional hierarchical clustering heatmaps are just a few of the diverse methods available to a proteomic researcher. This chapter examines selecting objects to be analyzed, selecting comparison functions to apply to those objects, and pseudo-code for processing data and preparing it for various types of analyses. Here I apply clustering analysis to previous collections of SH2 domains datasets to bring insight into new binding or specificity patterns between the different SH2 domains.
Implementation of Community-Wide Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiatives: Focus on Partnerships

Seeking to reduce teen pregnancy and births in communities with rates above the national average, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Adolescent Health Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program, developed a joint funding opportunity through which grantees worked to implement and test an approach involving community-wide teen pregnancy prevention initiatives. Once these projects had been in the field for 2.5 years, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention staff developed plans for a supplemental issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health to present findings from and lessons learned during implementation of the community-wide initiatives. When the articles included in the supplemental issue are considered together, common themes emerge, particularly those related to initiating, building, and maintaining strong partnerships. Themes seen across articles include the importance of (1) sharing local data with partners to advance initiative implementation, (2) defining partner roles from the beginning of the initiatives, (3) developing teams that include community partners to provide direction to the initiatives, and (4) addressing challenges to maintaining strong partnerships including partner staff turnover and delays in implementation.