cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chiari I malformations with syringomyelia: long-term results of neurosurgical decompression.

Retrospective case series. The objective was to assess the long-term outcomes on scoliosis following Chiari-I (CM-I) decompression in patients with CM-I and syringomyelia (SM). A secondary objective was to identify risk factors of scoliosis progression. The association between CM-I with SM and scoliosis is recognized, but it remains unclear if CM-I decompression alters the long-term evolution of scoliosis in patients with associated syringomyelia. A retrospective review of children with scoliosis, CM-I, and SM during 1997–2015 was performed. Congenital, syndromic, and neuromuscular scoliosis were excluded. Clinical and radiographic characteristics were recorded at presentation, pre-decompression, after 1-year, and latest follow-up. A scale to measure syringomyelia area on MRI was used to evaluate SM changes post-decompression. 65 children with CM-I, SM, and scoliosis and a mean age of 8.9 years (range 0.7–15.8) were identified. Mean follow-up was 6.9 years (range 2.0–20.4). Atypical curves were present in 28 (43%) children. Thirty-eight patients (58%) underwent decompression before 10 years. Syringomyelia size reduced a mean of 70% after decompression (p < 0.001). Scoliosis improved in 26 (40%), stabilized in 17 (26%), and progressed in 22 (34%) cases. Early spinal fusion was required in 7 (11%) patients after a mean of 0.5 ± 0.37 years and delayed fusion in 16 (25%) patients after 6.0 ± 3.24 years. The remaining 42 (65%) patients were followed for a median of 6.1 years (range 2.0–12.3) without spine instrumentation or fusion. Fusion patients experienced less improvement in curve magnitude 1-year post-decompression (p < 0.001) and had larger curves at presentation (43° vs. 34°; p = 0.004). Syringomyelia size decreased by 70% after CM-I decompression and scoliosis stabilized or improved in two-thirds of patients. Greater curve improvement within the first year post-decompression and smaller curves at presentation decreased the risk of spinal fusion. Neurosurgical decompression is recommended in children with CM-I, SM, and scoliosis with the potential to treat all three conditions. Level IV.
Push-pull competition between bottom-up and top-down auditory attention to natural soundscapes

In everyday social environments, demands on attentional resources dynamically shift to balance our attention to targets of interest while alerting us to important objects in our surrounds. The current study uses electroencephalography to explore how the push-pull interaction between top-down and bottom-up attention manifests itself in dynamic auditory scenes. Using natural soundscapes as distractors while subjects attend to a controlled rhythmic sound sequence, we find that salient events in background scenes significantly suppress phase-locking and gamma responses to the attended sequence, countering enhancement effects observed for attended targets. In line with a hypothesis of limited attentional resources, the modulation of neural activity by bottom-up attention is graded by degree of salience of ambient events. The study also provides insights into the interplay between endogenous and exogenous attention during natural soundscapes, with both forms of attention engaging a common fronto-parietal network at different time lags.
Crime Analysis Mapping, Intrusion Detection - Using Data Mining

Data Mining plays a key role in Crime Analysis. There are many different algorithms mentioned in previous research papers, among them are the virtual identifier, pruning strategy, support vector machines, and apriori algorithms. VID is to find relation between record and vid. The apriori algorithm helps the fuzzy association rules algorithm and it takes around six hundred seconds to detect a mail bomb attack. In this research paper, we identified Crime mapping analysis based on KNN (K – Nearest Neighbor) and ANN (Artificial Neural Network) algorithms to simplify this process. Crime Mapping is conducted and Funded by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). Evidence based research helps in analyzing the crimes. We calculate the crime rate based on the previous data using data mining techniques. Crime Analysis uses quantitative and qualitative data in combination with analytic techniques in resolving the cases. For public safety purposes, the crime mapping is an essential research area to concentrate on. We can identity the most frequently crime occurring zones with the help of data mining techniques. In Crime Analysis Mapping, we follow the following steps in order to reduce the crime rate: 1) Collect crime data 2) Group data 3) Clustering 4) Forecasting the data. Crime Analysis with crime mapping helps in understanding the concepts and practice of Crime Analysis in assisting police and helps in reduction and prevention of crimes and crime disorders.
Acute Decompensated Heart Failure

Acute decompensated heart failure is the leading cause of hospitalization of individuals over the age of 65 and portends an estimated 60-day mortality as high as 20%. The ability to obtain an accurate clinical history and physical examination to classify the type of heart failure exacerbation is crucial for the appropriate treatment and management. In this chapter, we review topics that allow for the prompt diagnosis and management of acute decompensated heart failure.
The speaking wound: Gower’s Confessio Amantis and the ethics of listening in the #metoo era

John Gower’s version of the rape of Lucretia in the Confessio Amantis begins with an episode in which the rapist, Arrons, injures himself as a deceptive ploy. Gower’s depiction of this episode, often omitted from other medieval accounts of Lucretia, complements his description of Lucrece’s inarticulate explanations and highly visible suffering to emphasize the rhetorical impact of pain. In the present moment, this tale evokes the political power of the rape narrative, but it also suggests the potential for manipulation or the further victimization of survivors if these narratives are misread. In this article, then, I propose a reconsideration of Gower’s use of the confessional mode as a means of recontextualizing rape narratives within the Confessio and developing a politics of listening. Through careful reading of confession’s successes and failures in the text, audiences might cultivate new ways of understanding and productively responding to these stories.
Abstract LB-362: Vaginal microbiome associated with patient-reported sexual dysfunction and physician-reported vaginal adverse events in gynecologic cancer women across radiotherapy

Background: Women with gynecological cancer (GynCa) undergoing radiation therapy (RT) are at increased risk for acute and long-term sexual dysfunction after treatment. The vaginal microbiome (VM) is the first line of defense against vaginal infection and sexually transmitted diseases. Compositions of VM between women with GynCa receiving RT and healthy women and associations between the VM and sexual dysfunction and vaginal adverse events are unknown. Methods: Using a longitudinal study design, VM, patient-reported sexual dysfunction and physician-reported vaginal adverse events data were collected from postmenopausal GynCa women receiving RT and healthy postmenopausal women. VM swabs from mid-vagina were used for DNA extraction and sequencing of the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene. Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) was used to measure women9s sexual dysfunction; the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Event (CTCAE) Reporting System was used to assess the severity of vaginal adverse events by physicians. All data were collected pre-RT, right after RT completion, 6- and 12-months post-RT. Group-based trajectory modeling was used to identify the sexual dysfunction trajectories. VM compositions were obtained using Qiime and associations with sexual dysfunction trajectories and vaginal adverse events were identified with univariate and multivariate analysis of variance in the R package vegan. Bacterial taxa characteristic for each trajectory group were identified using the LefSe pipeline. Results: Sixty-five patients with GynCa receiving RT and 69 healthy women participated. GynCa and healthy groups had no differences in age and race. VM communities were dominated by Lactobacillus, Prevotella, Dialister and Anaerococcus bacterial genera. We observed higher α-diversity in cancer than healthy patients, and in post-RT VMs than pre-RT. Three groups of sexual dysfunction trajectories were identified: low risk (17.4%), moderate risk (12.3%), and high risk (70.4%). Cancer and healthy women had no difference in sexual dysfunction trajectories. The VM compositions (Bray-Curtis Index) showed significant or marginal associations with vaginal pH (p=0.001), FSFI total score (p=0.001), all domains of FSFI (desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, pain, and satisfaction, all p Citation Format: Jinbing Bai, Despina Tsementzi, Pretesh Patel, Joseph Shelton, Mary Dolan, Jessica Arluck, Namita Khanna, Tony Y. Eng, Konstantinos T. Konstantinidis, Deborah Watkins Bruner. Vaginal microbiome associated with patient-reported sexual dysfunction and physician-reported vaginal adverse events in gynecologic cancer women across radiotherapy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-362.
Jesse Rae Archibald-Barber, Kathleen Irwin, and Moira J. Day, eds., Performing Turtle Island: Indigenous Theatre on the World Stage

Performing Turtle Island curates experiences with and philosophies of Indigenous theatre. Critical Companion to Native American Theatre and Performance provides brief overviews of important events,...
Fat Necrosis Mimicking Renal Cell Carcinoma Recurrence Following Cryotherapy, Partial Nephrectomy, and Nephrectomy.

Abstract Objective To present our experience with three patients surgically treated for suspected recurrent renal cell carcinoma whose final pathology was consistent with tumefactive fat necrosis. Methods Three patients underwent definitive therapy for biopsy proven renal cell carcinoma (cryoablation, partial nephrectomy, and nephrectomy) and later demonstrated evidence of recurrent renal cell carcinoma on follow up imaging. All three patients underwent surgical resection of the suspected recurrences with final pathology consistent with tumefactive fat necrosis. Results The three patients were 60, 74, and 39-years old, respectively. The previous definitive therapies for renal cell carcinoma were percutaneous ablation, RAPN, and nephrectomy. Each patient had previous surgical pathology that confirmed prior renal cell carcinoma. Signs of recurrence on diagnostic imaging occurred 2 years, 23 months, and 8 months post-definitive therapy. Conclusion In patients with a history of renal cell carcinoma, consideration of fat necrosis should be taken into account upon seeing imaging concerning for tumor recurrence. Continued analysis of cases with such a diagnosis will be beneficial in recognizing this possibility to avoid unnecessary surgery or therapy when possible.
Transrenal Ureteral Occlusion for Palliation of Refractory Urine Leaks Using Vascular Plugs and Liquid Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol

Abstract Purpose To describe outcomes of transrenal embolization with vascular plugs and ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) in a case series of patients with refractory urinary leak or fistula. Materials and Methods Fifteen ureteral occlusions performed over 53 months in 9 consecutive patients (56% female; mean age 61 y; range, 45–80 y) were reviewed retrospectively. The main indication was palliation for refractory fistula or leak in the setting of malignancy not responding to urine diversion by percutaneous nephrostomy tube or nephroureteral stent. Transrenal ureteral occlusion was performed using EVOH injected between vascular plugs placed distal and proximal to the leak or fistula. Results Technical success was 100%. Considerable reduction of urine leak or symptoms (clinical success) was achieved in 64% of ureters after mean follow-up of 105 days (range, 0–632 d). Complete ureteral occlusion on follow-up anterograde nephrostogram (imaging success) was achieved in 60% of ureters after mean follow-up of 139 days (range, 0–643 d). One patient with distal ureterovesical junction–perineal fistula had continued leak despite complete proximal occlusion of ureter owing to retrograde urine reflux from the bladder and was treated with endoscopic injection of intramural calcium hydroxyapatite to the ureteral segment distal to the fistula. Three ureters (33%) in 2 patients with vesicovaginal fistula had recanalization, requiring additional proximal embolization, yielding secondary success rates of 91% (clinical) and 90% (imaging) per ureter. One minor urinary tract infection and no major complications occurred. Conclusions Transrenal anterograde ureteral occlusion using EVOH between vascular plugs could be considered a relatively safe and potentially valuable treatment option for refractory ureteral fistulae.
Adenosine deaminase conversion proteins: a potential role.

Adenosine deaminase (ADase) catalyzes the deamination of adenosine. Its importance is underscored by clinical and in vitro evidence that supports a causal relationship between absence of ADase and one form of severe combined immunodeficiency disease (1). In addition, the metabolism of several anti-tumor and anti-viral nucleosides is regulated by this enzyme (2).
Vibrotactile Frequency Characteristics as Determined by Adaptation and Masking Procedures

It is a well established fact that when all the smallest contactors are used to stimulate glabrous or hairy skin the vibrotactile threshold is a U-shaped function of frequency with the lowest values at approximately 250–300 Hz (Bekesy, 1939; Gescheider, 1976; Gilmer, 1935; Hugony, 1935; Sherrick, 1953; Verrillo, 1962, 1963, 1966a), In some of these studies there was a tendency for the psychophysical threshold curve to become flat at low frequencies. The sharpest discontinuities in the threshold function were first reported by Verrillo (1963). When vibration was applied to the thenar eminence of the hand for 1.0 sec through contactors that were 2.9 cm2 or larger, the function was flat out to 40 Hz whereupon threshold began to decrease at a rate of 12 dB/octave until maximum sensitivity was reached at approximately 250 Hz.
New Techniques in Microwave Spectroscopy

We discuss the design principles and performance of a true broadband chirped-pulse Fourier transform microwave spectrometer capable of operation from 800 MHz to 18.5 GHz. This spectrometer utilizes recent advances in high-speed digital electronics to both directly generate linear frequency sweeps spanning more than 10 GHz and to directly digitize the molecular free induction decay (FID). Signal averaging is performed in the time domain to improve the signal-to-noise ratio. This spectrometer has a number of capabilities that are well suited for studies on large-molecule systems, including the ability to perform multiplexed Stark effect measurements and selective-excitation microwave double-resonance measurements. These characteristics are demonstrated using the molecule 1,2,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl difluoromethyl ether (C3H2F6O, molecular weight 168 g mol−1, also known by its trade names of suprane or desflurane) as an example. The simultaneous use of multiple-pulsed nozzles as well as the acquisition of multiple FIDs per valve pulse is also demonstrated in the context of strategies for increasing spectrometer sensitivity by 2 orders of magnitude. Keywords: chirped pulse; large-molecule spectroscopy; FTMW; broadband; selective excitation; Stark effect; suprane; Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy
Design and implementation of a distributed computing system

The evolution of the distributed computing environment now in use at the Vanderbilt University School of Engineering is described. Established as a small Unix network of Sun Microsystems workstations in the fall of 1986, it now supports a highly heterogeneous configuration of workstations for use by undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and staff. The principal issues described include the desired functionality of the system, the constraints imposed on the design of the network, the initial design and implementation, and the current status. >
Required Resolution: Enforcing Contracts Without Courts

Contract litigation is cost- and time-prohibitive for all but the most valuable or cheapest contracts. This short essay, accepting this reality, proposes a bypass of formal justice by use of mandatory expedited “resolution.” This is accomplished by passing a simple law that requires all contracts not eligible for small claims, but whose disputed value is below the usual costs of court litigation, to have pre-specified a “resolver” in the contract. Importantly, the resolver need not be a legal professional. In the event of alleged breach, the resolver resolves claims according to the processes detailed in this essay.
The Juvenile Offender Act: Effectiveness and Impact on the New York Juvenile Justice System

This report analyzes and evaluates the Juvenile Offender Act and its implementation. The first two sections summarize the historical development of juvenile delinquency legislation and compare present New York provisions to those in other states. Sections III and IV will evaluate the Act's implementation throughout the criminal and juvenile systems. Recommendations to amend the Act in the last section are largely predicated on the experience to date in applying the statute to youths accused of committing juvenile offenses.
Theory of host sensitized luminescence of rare earth doped materials: III. Numerical illustration

Abstract The third order approach in which the perturbing influence of crystal field potential and electron correlation effects is taken into account is illustrated numerically. The contributions to the dipole and quadrupole mechanisms are analyzed in the case of the Gd 3+ ion, and the relative importance of various second and third order contributions is established. Special attention is directed to the properties of the perturbed functions that are generated for Pr 3+ , Eu 3+ , Gd 3+ and Tm 3+ . In particular, the behavior of a new function that is characteristic for the model of energy transfer, and that describes all single excitations to the n ′ f one electron states via the even part of crystal field potential, is demonstrated.
Algorithmic path planning for robots based on the forbidden rotation range

The authors present an efficient method for determining the forbidden rotation range (FRR) of a polygon moving in the presence of stationary polygonal obstacles, where each of the polygons may be convex or concave. The FRR of the edges of the moving polygon versus edges of the obstacles is derived. It is shown that the FRR of the moving polygon versus the obstacles is the union of the FRR of each edge of the moving polygon and the obstacles. This result is utilized to develop two algorithms for computing the FRR that can be used for robot path planning. >
Intermediate uveitis, posterior uveitis, and panuveitis in the Mid-Atlantic USA

Background The purpose of this study was to identify the causes, clinical features, and outcomes of intermediate uveitis, posterior uveitis, and panuveitis in patients managed in a mid-Atlantic tertiary care center. Methods This was a retrospective observational study of intermediate uveitis, posterior uveitis, and panuveitis patients seen at the University of Virginia from 1984 to 2014. Results One hundred and fifty-nine intermediate uveitis, posterior uveitis, and panuveitis patients (237 eyes) were identified. The patient population was 54.72% female; 67.30% of patients were Caucasian, and 22.01% were African-American. Mean age at diagnosis was 45.5 years. Mean duration of follow-up was 3.95 years. Mean number of visits to the clinic was 10.35. Of 491 uveitis patients, 26 (5.30%) had intermediate uveitis, 62 (12.60%) had posterior uveitis, and 71 (14.50%) had panuveitis. The leading diagnoses in the intermediate uveitis group were pars planitis (73.08%) and sarcoidosis (11.54%); toxoplasma uveitis (17.74%), multifocal choroiditis (14.52%), undifferentiated posterior uveitis (14.52%), and birdshot chorioretinitis (11.29%) in the posterior uveitis group; and undifferentiated panuveitis (29.58%), post-surgical panuveitis (18.31%), sarcoidosis (12.68%), acute retinal necrosis (12.68%), and toxoplasma uveitis (4.23%) in the panuveitis group. The most common treatment modalities included local steroids (57.23%) and systemic steroids (42.14%). Ocular hypertension was found in 38 patients (23.90%). Glaucoma surgery was performed in 18.24% of patients and cataract surgery in 21.38%. Mean best-corrected visual acuity was 0.66 logMAR at baseline across all anatomical locations and 0.57 logMAR at final follow-up. Best-corrected visual acuity improved or remained stable during follow-up in all groups. Conclusion The most common diagnoses in our series by anatomical location were pars planitis (intermediate uveitis), toxoplasmosis (posterior uveitis), and undifferentiated uveitis (panuveitis). Panuveitis had significantly worse visual outcomes and higher rates of complications than did intermediate or posterior uveitis, a finding that confirms earlier reports. In this series, unilateral disease, regardless of anatomical location, was associated with poorer visual outcome, in contrast with the findings of other reports.
Interesting sequence differences between the pilin gene inversion regions of Moraxella lacunata ATCC 17956 and Moraxella bovis Epp63.

The bacterium Moraxella lacunata is a causative agent of human conjunctivitis and keratitis. We have previously reported construction of plasmid pMxL1, which includes a 5.9-kb fragment on which the pilin gene inversion region of M. lacunata resides. The inversion region of pMxL1 was shown to invert when pMxL1 was in an Escherichia coli host cell. In this report, we present Western immunoblot analysis using Moraxella bovis Epp63 anti-I and anti-Q pilin sera which demonstrate that pMxL1 makes pilin only when in orientation 1. The sequence of the pMxL1 plasmid containing the invertible region contains a perfect tandem repeat of 19 bp in the orientation 1 nonexpressed pilin gene at the middle of the recombination junction site. This 19-bp insert causes a frameshift and disrupts the pilin gene. The predicted amino acid sequence of this nonfunctional pilin gene (with the 19-bp repeat subtracted) bears closest resemblance to M. bovis Epp63 Q pilin sequence, although the other (functional) M. lacunata pilin encoded by pMxL1 shows slightly higher homology to Q pilin. Comparison of the pMxL1 sequence with that of the M. bovis Epp63 sequence shows two other particularly interesting differences. One is a 15-bp sequence addition found in pMxL1 at the 60-bp region previously reported as a possible M. bovis recombinational enhancer. The second is an AT deletion in pMxL1 compared with Epp63 within an open reading frame (tfpB) which results in the pMxL1 tfpB open reading frame being one-third shorter than in Epp63. The DNA sequences in these three altered regions from the M. lacunata strain from which pMxL1 was derived were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and sequenced. The parent strain was found to contain the differences seen in pMxL1. Comparison of the M.bovis and M. lacunata pilin gene amino acid sequences is also presented.
Pulmonary gas exchange differentiates pulmonary arterial from venous hypertension

Impaired gas exchange (PGX) is common in both pulmonary arterial (PAH) and venous (PVH) hypertension. We aimed to determine whether PGX measures during rest and moderate exercise (RPE ∼15) differentiate these patient groups. Pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP), wedge pressure (PWP), transpulmonary gradient (TPG) and PGX indices (end-tidal CO2, PETCO2; ventilatory efficiency, VE/VCO2; dead space/tidal volume; VD/VT) were assessed simultaneously at rest and during exercise in 10 PAH and 7 PVH patients (i.e. left heart disease). Arterial blood was drawn for measurement of PaO2, PaCO2 and SaO2. Mean PAP increased during exercise in PAH and PVH patients and was not different at end exercise (65±24 vs. 54±5 mmHg, P =0.26). Conversely, mean PWP increased during exercise in PVH but not PAH. Thus, TPG (mPAP-mPWP) was greater at end exercise in PAH vs. PVH (48±29 vs. 17±8 mmHg, P =0.02). At rest, all key PGX indices were similar between groups (Fig. 1). At end exercise, however, VD/VT, PaCO2-PETCO2 difference and VE/VCO2 ratio were higher whereas PETCO2 and SaO2 were lower in PAH vs. PAH (Fig. 1). Thus, gas exchange indices during exercise, but not rest, differentiate PAH from PVH patients, despite similar levels of exercise induced PH. These differences are consistent with greater ventilation/perfusion inhomogeneities and/or right to left shunt in PAH patients. Supported by Gilead Sciences. ![Figure][1] Fig. 1. * P <0.05, value significantly different vs. PAH. [1]: pending:yes
Feedback restricted access queues for controlling cell loss in ATM networks

A system is proposed whereby at the switching nodes in an ATM network, the probability of cell loss due to buffer queue overflow is not constant for each virtual channel but can be controlled in accordance with the rate of cell generation. There is evidence to show that for video services, such a system would improve the quality of service for the majority of users. The system has the advantage that the control would be applied at intermediate nodes in the network without the necessity for additional signalling between nodes.
Revision total hip arthroplasty using the Zweymuller femoral stem

Background A variety of femoral stem designs have been reported to be successful in revision total hip arthroplasty without consensus as to optimal design. We evaluated the clinical and radiographic outcomes in a consecutive series of femoral revisions using a wedge-shape, tapered-stem design at medium and long-term follow-up.
Stochastic Population Dynamic Effects for Lung Cancer Progression

The multistage paradigm is widely used in quantitative analyses of radiation-influenced carcinogenesis. Steps such as initiation, promotion and transformation have been investigated in detail. However, progression, a later step during which malignant cells produced in the earlier steps can develop into clinical cancer, has received less attention in computational radiobiology; it has often been approximated deterministically as a fixed, comparatively short, lag time. This approach overlooks important mechanisms in progression, including stochastic extinction, possible radiation effects on tumor growth, immune suppression and angiogenic bottlenecks. Here we analyze tumor progression in background and in radiation-induced lung cancers, emphasizing tumor latent times and the stochastic extinction of malignant lesions. A Monte Carlo cell population dynamics formalism is developed by supplementing the standard two-stage clonal expansion (TSCE) model with a stochastic birth-death model for proliferation of malignant cells. Simulation results for small cell lung cancers and lung adenocarcinomas show that the effects of stochastic malignant cell extinction broaden progression time distributions drastically. We suggest that fully stochastic cancer progression models incorporating malignant cell kinetics, dormancy (a phase in which tumors remain asymptomatic), escape from dormancy, and invasiveness, with radiation able to act directly on each phase, need to be considered for a better assessment of radiation-induced lung cancer risks.
Cystatin C, a protease inhibitor, in degenerating rat hippocampal neurons following transient forebrain ischemia

Cystatin C, a cysteine protease inhibitor produced by the choroid plexus and found in CSF at high concentrations, may have an important role in brain injury. We used the two-vessel occlusion model with hypotension to induce transient forebrain ischemia (TFI) in rats for 10 min and then examined cystatin C immuno-like reactivity (CC-IR) after 1, 3, 7 and 14 days of recovery. Our results reveal that CC-IR was minimal or absent in the hippocampus of normal and 1 day post-ischemic animals. However, CC-IR was present in CA1 pyramidal cells and a small number of reactive glia of the stratum radiatum (SR) and stratum oriens (SO) at 3, 7 and 14 days post-ischemia. Histological assessment of the hippocampus indicates that CC-IR was localized in morphologically degenerative neurons. This distinct temporal expression of cystatin C in the rat hippocampus is concurrent with delayed neuronal death following TFI. Thus, these results indicate that cystatin C and/or its substrates may be important components of the post-ischemic neurodegenerative and repair process.
Increased Homelessness and Low Rent Housing Vacancy Rates

Abstract This article addresses the timely issue of the relationship between rates of homelessness and housing market conditions. Several studies using cross-sectional data have found evidence that tighter housing market conditions contribute to higher rates of homelessness. This study employs both time series and cross-sectional American Housing Survey data to demonstrate that higher rates of homelessness are positively related to tighter lower-end housing market conditions. This finding is consistent with O'Flaherty's economic model of homelessness and contrary to Jencks' American Housing Survey-based conclusion that no such relationship exists.
Alpha Rhythm and Eye Movements in Eidetic Imagery

SOME children and rare adults possess a remarkable ability to recall visual images in great detail1. These eidetic images, unlike visual after-images, remain still while the eyes move and can be recalled long after after-images fade2. Recently, attempts have been made to confirm their authenticity in studies wherein a subject is asked to recall an eidetic image of a specified picture, superimpose it onto a new second picture, and report detail produced by the superposition of the two images2. Stromeyer and Psotka3 have utilized a similar superimposition principle using Julesz4 random dot stereograms.
Electrical parameters for over-the-skin muscle stimulation

Abstract Over the skin electrical stimulation has long been clinically used for inducing muscle contraction. Most of the applications, however, are for subjects with limited neurocontrol of the considered muscles. Functional stimulation for paraplegic and quadraplegic patients are common examples. Recently, there has been considerable interest in the use of electrical stimulation for physical therapy and exercise. For such applications the skin discomfort can be a primary factor in limiting the stimulation intensity. The results of the study reported in this paper suggest that modulated high frequency alternating current signals can induce strong muscle contraction with minimum discomfort. Regimes for long duration stimulation are also discussed.
Superdiffusion in random velocity fields

Abstract Stochastic transport in a medium containing random, but spatially correlated velocity fields is discussed. This type of disorder generally leads to superdiffusive behavior in which the mean-square displacement of a random walk, 〈x2(t)〉, grows faster than linearly with time. For a two-dimentional layered medium with y-dependent random velocities in the x-direction ux(y), 〈x2(x)〉∼t2ν with v= 3 4 , and with strong sample-to-sample fluctuations. The probability distribution of displacements, averaged over environments, takes a non-Gaussian scaling form at large time, 〈P(x, t)〉∼ - 3 4 ƒ(x/t 3 4 ) , where ƒ(u)∼exp(-uδ) for u⪢1, with δ= 4 3 . For an isotropic two-dimensional medium with ux(y) having the same statistical properties, we find v= 2 3 and δ=(1−ν)-1=3. For the layered medium, the moments of the time for a random walker to first reach a distance x in the longitudinal direction increases as 〈t n 〉 1 n ∼x 4 3 , possibly modified by logarithmic corrections, however. The probability that the walk has not reached a distance x in a time t decreases asymptotically as e -t τ , with τ∼x2, indicating that more than a single time scale is needed to account for first passage properties.
Methane and nitrous oxide fluxes in native, fertilized and cultivated grasslands

Measurements of CH4 uptake and N2O emissions in native, nitrogen-fertilized, and wheat-growing prairie soils from spring to late autumn, 1990 are reported. It is found that nitrogen fertilization and cultivation can both decrease CH4 uptake and increase N2O production, thereby contributing to the increasing atmospheric concentrations of these gases.
22q11.2 Deletion syndrome is associated with increased perioperative events and more complicated postoperative course in infants undergoing infant operative correction of truncus arteriosus communis or interrupted aortic arch

Objective The effect of genotype on the outcomes of infant cardiac operations has not been well established. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of 22q11.2 deletion (22q11del) on infants with truncus arteriosus communis (TA) and interrupted aortic arch (IAA) undergoing operative correction during infancy. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all infants who had undergone operative correction of TA or IAA at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia from 1995 to 2007, comparing the perioperative outcomes (hospital length of stay, intensive care, mechanical ventilation, risk of cardiac and noncardiac events, number of consultations, and number of discharge medications) by 22q11del status. Results A total of 104 patients were studied (55 with TA and 49 with IAA), of whom 40 (38%) were 22q11del positive. The 22q11del status was unknown in 9 (7 with TA and 2 with IAA). In patients with known deletion status, those with 22q11del had a longer hospital and intensive care length of stay. Subjects with 22q11del also required more frequent operative reintervention and more consultations and were prescribed more medications at discharge. No significant difference was found in method of feeding between those with and without 22q11del at discharge. Conclusions In this study, 22q11del is associated with perioperative outcomes in infants undergoing operative correction of TA and IAA, with longer hospital stays and greater resource utilization in the perioperative period. These findings should inform counseling and risk stratification and warrant additional study to identify genotype-specific management strategies to improve outcomes.
Probation supervision: building capacity in community corrections

For over a decade, there has been attention to the issues of reentry or improving the outcomes of those returning from prison to the community. The increased focus on reentry, stemming from funding...
Delayed administration of filgrastim (G-CSF) following autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (APBSCT) in pediatric patients does not change time to neutrophil engraftment and reduces use of G-CSF.

Background Delayed initiation of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) after high-dose chemotherapy and autologous bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cell (APBSCT) in adult patients does not affect time to neutrophil or platelet engraftment, duration of fever, incidence of bacteremia, duration of non-prophylactic antibiotic therapy, and length of hospitalization when compared to early initiation. This study compares the effect of delayed (day +6) versus early (day +1) administration of G-CSF in pediatric patients on time to neutrophil engraftment (TNE), duration and cost of G-CSF therapy, incidence of blood stream infections, duration of febrile–neutropenia, duration of non-prophylactic antibiotic therapy, and duration of hospitalization due to febrile–neutropenia. Methods This is a retrospective review of 65 patients who engrafted after receiving APBSCT and G-CSF between 1993 and 2006. They were divided into the delayed group (day +6) (n = 46) and the early group (day +1) (n = 19). Results The median ages were 4.7 and 5.3 years in the early and delayed groups, respectively. There was no significant difference in TNE (P = 0.06) between the two groups. The duration of G-CSF administration was significantly less in the delayed group (P = 0.003). No significant differences were observed in the duration of neutropenia, time to platelet engraftment, the incidence of blood stream infections, and duration of fevers. Duration of hospitalization due to febrile–neutropenia was significantly lower in the delayed group (P = 0.01). Significant cost savings were observed by delaying G-CSF administration. Conclusion Delayed administration of G-CSF after APBSCT in children has no adverse effect on TNE or other clinical outcomes when compared to early administration and may incur substantial cost savings. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2010;54:728–733. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Insulin-like growth factor-I augments gonadotropin-stimulated androgen biosynthesis by cultured rat testicular cells☆

Abstract In addition to the well-known growth stimulating effects of insulin-like growth factors (IGFs), recent studies suggest that these peptides may also modulate the differentiated functions of endocrine cells. Thus, in the present studies, we have investigated the actions of IGFs on androgen biosynthesis by cultured testicular cells. Treatment of cells obtained from adult hypophysectomized rats with LH (1 ng/ml) stimulated testosterone production 60-fold over basal levels. In contrast, treatment with either synthetic human IGF-I or IGF-II failed to stimulate androgen production. However, concomitant treatment of the LH-containing cultures with increasing doses of IGF-I (10–500 ng/ml) augmented testosterone production up to 70% over that seen with LH alone (ED50 = 67 ng/ml). Similar effects were obtained with IGF-II but this peptide was about 10-fold less potent than IGF-I. In addition, these peptides also stimulated the accumulation of pregnenolone and progesterone in the culture medium. Additional studies demonstrated specific binding of [125I]iodo-IGF-I to testicular cells. This binding was competed by IGF-related peptides with the potency order IGF-II = IGF-I > insulin whereas unrelated peptides did not compete. The cellular localization of these receptors was examined in testicular cells separated on a metrizamide density gradient. IGF-I receptors were evenly distributed between two cell peaks containing subpopulations of Leydig cells whereas much less binding was found in other testicular cell types. Coupled with recent findings indicating testicular production of IGF-I, the present results suggest that this peptide may act as a positive intratesticular modulator of Leydig cell differentiation.
Evidence that Somatomedins Mediate the Effect of Hypophosphatemia to Increase Serum 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 Levels in Rats*

The present studies were undertaken in an effort to determine whether somatomedins (SMs) play a role in the elevation of serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25-(OH)2D3] levels during dietary phosphate deprivation. Serum 1,25- (OH)2D3, SM-C, and phosphate levels were measured in rats fed diets containing adequate or very low levels of dietary phosphorus under circumstances known to affect SM levels, including hypophysectomy with and without GH replacement, normal protein vs. low protein diets, and streptozotocin-induced diabetes with and without insulin replacement. In all circumstances, serum 1,25-(OH)2D3 concentrations were directly related to serum SM-C levels. However, the slope for the relationship was increased 2- to 10-fold in animals fed the low phosphorus diets. As observed previously, serum 1,25-(OH)2D3 levels were inversely related to serum phosphate levels, but the slope for this relationship was decreased in the presence of low SM levels and absent in animals with very low SM levels. These resul...
Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis: a radiological and clinical investigation of five cases.

Objective. To make a detailed evaluation of the clinical and radiological course of five children with chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO). Emphasis was laid on the correlation between clinical data and radiological findings. Design and patients. Clinical data, histology (n=11), bone scintigraphy (n=17), and the plain radiographs (n=198) of these patients were reviewed. The mean time of observation was 6.6 years (range 1–14.5 years). Thirty-two lesions seen at the time of primary diagnosis (n=22) or during the course of the disease (n=10) were evaluated. Twenty-seven foci were located in bone; in five cases the sacroiliac joints were involved. Results. Bone scintigrams showed nearly all foci (31/32) and were especially helpful in clinically asymptomatic lesions (14/32) or foci which were radiographically difficult to detect or not seen at all (8/32). Only 14 of 32 foci were locally symptomatic clinically. In all cases with a short interval (≤3 weeks) between the onset of local symptoms and evaluation by plain radiographs (n=5) osteolysis was shown without a sclerotic margin. All bone lesions with a longer duration of local symptoms (n=7) revealed a variable radiographic pattern: osteolysis with sclerotic rim in three, a mixed lytic-sclerotic lesion in three and pure sclerosis in one. In two cases low back pain could be ascribed to sacroiliitis. Conclusion. Only careful correlation between clinical, scintigraphy and radiographic features permits an accurate assessment of disease activity in CRMO. The bone lesions detected radiographically soon after the onset of symptoms resemble those of acute osteomyelitis.
Multilayer recurrent neural networks for on-line synthesis of asymptotic state estimators for linear dynamic systems

Two multilayer recurrent neural networks are presented for on-line synthesis of asymptotic state estimators for linear dynamical systems. The first recurrent neural network is composed of two layers to compute output gain matrices with desired poles. The second recurrent neural network is composed of four layers to compute output gain matrices with desired poles and minimal norm. The proposed multilayer recurrent neural networks are shown to be capable of synthesizing asymptotic slate estimators for linear dynamic systems in real time. The operating characteristics of the recurrent neural networks for state estimation are demonstrated by three illustrative examples
The Role of Programmed Cell Death (Apoptosis) in Thymic Involution Following Sepsis

Objective: To test the hypothesis that thymic involution following peritoneal sepsis is secondary to thymocyte programmed cell death. Design: We investigated the temporal response of thymic weight and thymic DNA fragmentation following peritoneal sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture in a rat model. We investigated the possible role of decreased interleukin (IL)-2 synthesis in the induction of apoptosis using rat thymocytes in primary culture. Finally, we studied IL-2 gene expression and IL-2 protein synthesis in phytohemagglutinin and IL-1β–treated thymocytes derived from the cecal ligation and puncture model of sepsis. Results: We demonstrated that (1) there is a significant decrease in thymic weight and an increase in thymic DNA fragmentation with the characteristic apoptotic DNA "ladder" fragmentation pattern on agarose gel electrophoresis following peritoneal sepsis; (2) thymocytes in primary culture sustain a significant increase in thymocyte apoptosis following IL-2 withdrawal; and (3) peritoneal sepsis results in inhibition of phytohemagglutinin and IL-1β–induced thymocyte IL-2 messenger RNA accumulation and protein synthesis. Conclusions: Thymic involution following peritoneal sepsis is associated with increased thymocyte programmed cell death. Thymocyte apoptosis induced by sepsis may be the result, in part, of inhibition of IL-2 gene expression. (Arch Surg. 1994;129:1256-1262)
Hypersurfaces with too many rational curves

We study smooth hypersurfaces of degree $$d\ge n+1$$ in $$\mathbf{P}^n$$ whose spaces of smooth rational curves of low degrees are larger than expected, and show that under certain conditions, the primitive part of the middle cohomology of such hypersurfaces have non-trivial Hodge substructures. As an application, we prove that the space of lines on any smooth Fano hypersurface of degree $$d \le 8$$ in $$\mathbf{P}^n$$ has the expected dimension $$2n-d-3$$ .
Clonal chromosome aberrations with monosomy of chromosome 8 in a case of grade III chondrosarcoma

We report cytogenetic findings in a case of grade III chondrosarcoma. Complex clonal chromosome aberrations including monosomy of chromosomes 4, 8, 13, and a consistent t(5;14)(q23;p12) were observed in all cells. There were no structural or numerical anomalies involving chromosome 12. The complexity of the chromosome aberrations reflect the advanced stage of this chondrosarcoma; we suggest a possible involvement of the EXT1 gene located on chromosome 8.
Locus of Control Within Subgroups in a Correctional Population

The present study was designed to investigate locus of control (I-E) among various subgroups in a correctional population. Using a procedure designed to minimize demands for socially desirable responses, 45 adult male prisoners were tested individually. Consistent with earlier research, white inmates and those active in social organizations scored more internally than others. However, in contrast with the available literature, drug users were found to be significantly more external (F = 9.13, df = 1, 41, p <.01). The drug use results were interpreted in terms of the presence or absence of demands for socially appropriate test responses.
On the Galois cohomology of dedekind rings

Abstract Let R be a Dedekind domain, G a finite group of automorphisms of R, and A an ambiguous ideal of R i.e., σA = A for all σ ∈ G. The Tate groups Hn(G, A) are considered as RG-modules. A localization theorem is proved and the precise RG-module structure determined in a particular case. In addition some remarks are made concerning cohomological triviality.
Modeling Smooth Muscle Myosin's Two Heads: Long-Lived Enzymatic Roles and Phosphorylation-Dependent Equilibria

Smooth muscle myosin has two heads, each capable of interacting with actin to generate force and/or motion as it hydrolyzes ATP. These heads are inhibited when their associated regulatory light chain is unphosphorylated (0P), becoming active and hydrolyzing ATP maximally when phosphorylated (2P). Interestingly, with only one of the two regulatory light chains phosphorylated (1P), smooth muscle myosin is active but its ATPase rate is <2P. To explain published 1P single ATP turnover and steady-state ATPase activities, we propose a kinetic model in which 1P myosin exists in an equilibrium between being fully active (2P) and inhibited (0P). Based on the single ATP turnover data, we also propose that each 2P head adopts a hydrolytic role distinct from its partner at any point in time, i.e., one head strongly binds actin and hydrolyzes ATP at its actin-activated rate while the other weakly binds actin. Surprisingly, the heads switch roles slowly (<0.1 s−1), suggesting that their activities are not independent. The phosphorylation-dependent equilibrium between active and inhibited states and the hydrolytic role that each head adopts during its interaction with actin may have implications for understanding regulation and mechanical performance of other members of the myosin family of molecular motors.