cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A strategy for selective, CD4+ T cell-independent activation of virus-specific memory B cells for limiting dilution analysis.

Complete characterization of the B cell response to infection or vaccination is dependent on accurate quantitation of the memory B cell (MBC) pool. An established method for measuring MBC frequencies is limiting dilution analysis based on in vitro stimulation of MBCs to divide and differentiate into antibody-secreting cells (ASCs). The presence of specific antibody then serves to identify cultures positive for precursor MBCs. The sensitivity of this approach is critically dependent on optimal in vitro MBC activation. To develop a limiting dilution assay (LDA) for measuring influenza-specific MBC frequencies, we evaluated strategies for the in vitro stimulation of influenza-specific MBCs. An ELISPOT assay to enumerate influenza-specific IgG ASCs was used as the readout for MBC activation. Culture of influenza-specific MBCs with influenza-infected splenocytes was effective for MBC activation, but T cell-associated factors were required for optimal LDA sensitivity and clonal expansion of activated MBCs. However, optimal influenza-specific MBC activation was T cell-independent when MBCs were simply cultured with beta-propiolactone (BPL)-inactivated influenza virus particles (BPL-flu). BPL-flu did not stimulate naive B cells to produce influenza-specific IgG, demonstrating that only MBCs were activated. In addition, BPL-flu acted selectively and only activated influenza-specific MBCs, not MBCs of other specificities. Analysis of influenza-specific MBC frequencies in different anatomical locations in influenza-immune mice established that in vitro stimulation with BPL-flu provided the basis for a sensitive and reproducible LDA. Extending our studies to the herpes simplex virus (HSV) system, we demonstrated that HSV-specific MBCs cultured with BPL-inactivated HSV were selectively activated to IgG secretion in the absence of T cells. Our studies identify BPL-inactivated viral particles as a valuable tool for selective, T cell-independent activation of virus-specific MBCs in vitro. This strategy eliminates the influence of poorly defined T cell-associated factors on MBC frequency determinations.
Significance of source and size in the mechanical response of human cerebral blood vessels

Cerebral blood vessels are frequently damaged in traumatic brain injury. Mechanical properties of fresh human cerebral vessels obtained through surgeries have been reported. Because surgical sources of human specimens are rare and produce a limited amount of material, we sought to compare the properties of more readily available cerebral arteries and veins obtained from cadavers to fresh vessel data. Additionally, because the previous study was limited to small vessels available in surgery, it was unknown how generally applicable the results were to larger cerebral arteries and veins. In the current study, large and small cerebral vessels from autopsy were stretched axially. Data from these and similar tests on fresh vessels were combined to determine the significance of source and size on mechanical properties. Structural comparisons of histological samples were additionally utilized to characterize differences. Results indicate that specimens from autopsy and surgery behave similarly except that vessels from autopsy tend to be less extensible. While tests on large vessels were limited, small arteries obtained from autopsy tended to be slightly stiffer than large arteries. In contrast, bridging veins from cadavers were typically stiffer and stretched less before structural failure than cortical veins from the same source. These effects are, however, secondary to differences identified between arteries and veins in the previous study.
Urgency of evaluation and outcome of acute ovarian torsion in pediatric patients.

Objective To describe the symptoms, diagnostic studies, and rate of ovarian salvage among children and adolescents with ovarian torsion. Methods We reviewed the medical records of all children with acute ovarian torsion treated at a university-affiliated pediatric hospital from 1987 to 2002; prenatal cases were excluded. For each child we recorded the time from onset of symptoms to initial examination and the time from initial examination to operation. We reviewed diagnostic tests used, operative reports, and pathology reports. Results We identified 22 cases; the mean age was 10.2 years (range, 3-15 years). In 6 cases (27%), the ovary was salvaged. Prolonged duration of symptoms prior to initial examination was not significantly associated with ovarian necrosis. Mean time of symptoms prior to care was 76 hours for both salvaged and nonsalvaged ovaries (range, 7-159 hours). The mean time from initial examination to operation, 11 hours for salvaged ovaries (range, 1-23 hours) and 21 hours for nonsalvaged ovaries (range, 2-71 hours), was not significantly different between groups. Twenty-one patients underwent imaging; 19 of 20 ultrasounds and 4 of 5 computed tomographic scans suggested the diagnosis. Less than half (10 of 22) of the torsed ovaries contained cysts, teratomas, or other masses. Conclusions These data suggest pediatric ovarian torsion is a more salvageable condition than previously reported. Prolonged time of symptoms prior to initial examination does not preclude ovarian salvage. Ovarian tumor accounts for less than half of cases. Urgent imaging and surgical management may lead to improved outcomes.
Eye-Tracking Patterns in Schizophrenia

A significant number of schizophrenic patients show patterns of smooth pursuit eye-tracking patterns that differ strikingly from the generally smooth eye-tracking seen in normals and in nonschizophrenic patients. These deviations are probably referable not only to motivational or attentional factors, but also to oculomotor involvement that may have a critical relevance for perceptual dysfunction in schizophrenia.
Physiological coxa varus–genu valgus influences internal knee and ankle joint moments in females during crossover cutting

This study evaluated the ankle and knee electromyographic, kinematic, and kinetic differences of 20 nonimpaired females with either neutral (group 1) or coxa varus–genu valgus (group 2) alignment during crossover cutting stance phase. Two-way mixed model ANOVA (group, session) assessed mean differences (p<0.05) and correlation analysis further delineated relationships. During impact absorption, group 2 displayed earlier peak horizontal braking (anterior-posterior) ground reaction force timing, decreased and earlier peak internal knee extension moments (eccentric function), and earlier peak internal ankle dorsiflexion moment timing (eccentric function). During the pivot phase, group 2 displayed later and eccentrically-biased peak ankle plantar flexion moments, increased peak internal knee flexion moments (eccentric function), and later peak knee internal rotation timing. Correlation analysis revealed that during impact absorption, subjects with coxa varus–genu valgus alignment (group 2) displayed a stronger relationship between knee internal rotation velocity and peak internal ankle dorsiflexion moment onset timing (r=−0.64 vs r =−0.26) and between peak horizontal braking ground reaction forces and peak internal ankle dorsiflexion moment onset timing (r=0.61 vs r=0.24). During the pivot phase these subjects displayed a stronger relationship between peak horizontal braking ground reaction forces and peak internal ankle plantar flexion moment onset timing (r=−0.63 vs r=−0.09) and between peak horizontal braking forces and peak internal ankle plantar flexion moments (r=−0.72 vs r=−0.26). Group differences suggest that subjects with coxa varus–genu valgus frontal-plane alignment have an increased dependence on both ankle dorsiflexor and plantar flexor muscle group function during crossover cutting. Greater dependence on ankle muscle group function during the performance of a task that requires considerable 3D dynamic knee joint control suggests a greater need for frontal and transverse plane weight bearing tasks that facilitate eccentric ankle muscle group function to optimize injury prevention conditioning and post-surgical rehabilitation programs.
Third nerve palsy due to a carotid cavernous fistula without external eye signs

Abstract An elderly, hypertensive white female presented with acute left-sided facial pain and a left pupil-involved third nerve palsy. She had no history of head trauma. The remainder of the ocular exam was normal, and there was no evidence of proptosis, conjunctival injection or chemosis, or increased intraocular pressure. A computed tomographic scan of the head suggested an enlarged cavernous sinus on the left side. Cerebral angiography revealed a posterior draining carotid-cavernous fistula. A spontaneous carotid-cavernous fistula should be considered in the differential diagnosis of any ocular motor palsy, and may present without external eye signs if the predominant venous drainage is posterior rather than anterior through the superior ophthalmic vein.
Hyponatraemia in heart failure: a call for redefinition.

Hyponatraemia, defined as a serum sodium concentration of <136 mol/L (1 mmol/L = 1 meq/L), is the most common electrolyte abnormality in hospitalized patients with a prevalence of 1–45% depending on the clinical setting, patient population, and the serum value used to define it.1 In heart failure, this has been associated with increased risk of haemodynamic deterioration, longer hospital stay, and higher rehospitalization and higher mortality.2–5 Hyponatraemia in patients with heart failure is also a marker of activation of the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system with higher levels of renin, angiotensin II, aldosterone, catecholamines, and vasopressin as well as more severe impairment in hepatic and renal blood flow and glomerula filtration rate when compared with patients with heart failure and normal serum [Na+] level.6,7 Despite our increasing knowledge of the link between heart failure and hyponatraemia, there are major gaps in our understanding of this relationship including whether it is a cause-and-effect and if so would correction of hyponatraemia improve outcome, and the specific cut-off level of serum [Na+] that should define hyponatraemia. Gheorghiade et al .8 report on … Corresponding author. Tel: +1 313 745 6252; fax: +1 313 993 0645. E-mail address : jghali{at}med.wayne.edu
The substructure of Cu3Au after tensile deformation and shock loading

Abstract A recent investigation by Beardmore et al. (Trans. Met. Soc. AIME230, 725 (1964)) showed a sharp rise in resistivity and stored energy in the range 290–370 kb on shock-loading initially ordered Cu3,Au, but not with the initially disordered alloy. Using samples from that investigation, optical and transmission microscopy and X-ray diffraction were employed to study the substructure. Specimens were also deformed in ordinary tension at 77°K and 298°K for comparison. There was no sudden increase in the dislocation densities or marked change in dislocation arrangement in the shock-loaded specimens corresponding to the rise in energy and resistivity. The dislocation densities for both initial states were similar and of the order of 1011 per cm2 after a shock of 370 kb, only about 30 per cent greater than the densities found in ordinary tensile testing of Cu3Au to the same strain. Antiphase domain boundaries were created in the ordered alloy on both {001} and {111} planes, with about equal probability during shock loading, and the probabilities of these boundaries were an order of magnitude greater than after ordinary tension to the same strain. After tensile testing at 77°K the antiphase boundaries were primarily on {111}, but at 298°K these were primarily on {001}. The degree of long-range order was 0.6 after 25 per cent strain by shock loading, but 0.95 after tensile deformation to this strain. Disordering was due to the creation of these boundaries. Work hardening was not affected by them. Local order was reduced by shock loading the initially disordered specimens. There was local order among the atoms misplaced by deformation in the initially ordered specimens. Twins were identified in the specimens shocked at 290 kb and higher. These were finer and more randomly dispersed for the initially ordered state. No twins or appreciable concentrations of stacking faults were found in the tensile specimens. The interplanar spacing decreased at {001} antiphase boundaries, but increased at {111} boundaries. This indicates that the second-neighbor energy has the same sign as the first in this system.
A Spinor Technique in Symbolic Feynman Diagram Calculation

We present a recursive diagrammatic method for evaluating tree-level Feynman diagrams involving multi-fermions which interact through gauge bosons (gluons or photons). Based on this method, a package called COMPUTE, which can generate and calculate all the possible Feynman diagrams for exclusive processes in perturbative QCD, has been developed (available in both Mathematica and Maple ). As an example, a calculation of the nucleon Compton scattering amplitude is given.
Ca2+ displacement by Polymyxin B from sarcolemma isolated by 'gas dissection' from cultured neonatal rat myocardial cells.

Abstract Amphiphilic, cationic Polymyxin B is shown to displace Ca2+ from ‘gas dissected’ cardiac sarcolemma in a dose-dependent, saturable fashion. The Ca2+ displacement is only partially reversible, 57% and 63%, in the presence of 1 mM or 10 mM Ca2+, respectively. Total Ca2+ displaced by a non-specific cationic probe, lanthanum (La3+), at maximal displacing concentration (1 mM) was 0.172 ± 0.02 nmol/μg membrane protein. At 0.1 mM, Polymyxin B displaced 42% of the total La3+-displaceable Ca2+ or 0.072 ± 0.01 nmol/μg protein. 5 mM Polymyxin displaced Ca2+ in amounts equal to those displaced by 1 mM La3+. Pretreatment of the membranes with neuraminidase (removal of sialic acid) and protease leads to a decrease in La3+-displaceable Ca2+ but to an increase in the fraction displaced by 0.1 mM Polymyxin from 42% to 54%. Phospholipase D (cabbage) treatment significantly increased the La3+-displaceable Ca2+ to 0.227 ± 0.02 nmol/μg protein ( P ), a gain of 0.055 nmol. All of this phospholipid specific increment in bound Ca2+ was displaced by 0.1 mM Polymyxin B. The results suggest that Polymyxin B will be useful as a probe for phospholipid Ca2+-binding sites in natural membranes.
Differentiation of constrictive percarditis and restrictive cardiomyopathy by radionuclide ventriculography

Patterns of left ventricular diastolic filling in five patients with unoperated constrictive pericarditis, the same five patients following pericardiectomy, five patients with restrictive cardiomyopathy, and 14 healthy control subjects were studied by radionuclide ventriculography. Patients with constrictive pericarditis had more rapid peak left ventricular filling rates (mean 5.62, range 4.23 to 7.32 end-diastolic volumes [EDV] per second) compared to control subjects 3.44, range 2.62 to 4.45 EDV/sec, p less than 0.05). Heart rate-corrected first one-third and first one-half diastolic filling fractions were greater in patients with preoperative constrictive pericarditis compared to members of the restrictive cardiomyopathy and control groups p less than 0.05). Following pericardiectomy, patients with constrictive pericarditis had significant decreases in peak filling rate and corrected filling fractions, and all diastolic filling measurements were indistinguishable from those of control subjects. These noninvasively obtained data indicate that patients with preoperative constrictive pericarditis have an increased rate of left ventricular early diastolic filling compared to patients with restrictive cardiomyopathy and control subjects, and that these findings return to normal following surgical removal of the pericardium.
New perspectives on economic development in Africa

Abstract The author contends that Geographic Information System (GIS) technology can help lending institutions better understand the long-term consequences of economic development projects on African land and climate resources. Issues that are specifically addressed include: the application of GIS to investment plans for the agriculture sector, what can go wrong in agriculture planning when environmental data are not included, how scientific data bases and ADP system software can be used by economists and other social scientists to anticipate the impact of bank projects on natural resource systems, and what can be done to minimize environmental damages in agriculture development. Inputs to the ‘ideal’ investment process include: geocoded satellite, climate, environment and demographic data.
Outcomes of prosthetic hemodialysis grafts after deployment of bare metal versus covered stents at the venous anastomosis.

Purpose To compare postintervention patency rates after deployment of bare metal versus covered stents across the venous anastomosis of prosthetic arteriovenous (AV) grafts.
Bone Morphology in 46 BXD Recombinant Inbred Strains and Femur-Tibia Correlation

We examined the bone properties of BXD recombinant inbred (RI) mice by analyzing femur and tibia and compared their phenotypes of different compartments. 46 BXD RI mouse strains were analyzed including progenitor C57BL/6J (n = 16) and DBA/2J (n = 15) and two first filial generations (D2B6F1 and B6D2F1). Strain differences were observed in bone quality and structural properties (P < 0.05) in each bone profile (whole bone, cortical bone, or trabecular bone). It is well known that skeletal phenotypes are largely affected by genetic determinants and genders, such as bone mineral density (BMD). While genetics and gender appear expectedly as the major determinants of bone mass and structure, significant correlations were also observed between femur and tibia. More importantly, positive and negative femur-tibia associations indicated that genetic makeup had an influence on skeletal integrity. We conclude that (a) femur-tibia association in bone morphological properties significantly varies from strain to strain, which may be caused by genetic differences among strains, and (b) strainwise variations were seen in bone mass, bone morphology, and bone microarchitecture along with bone structural property.
NATURE OF THE PITUITARY FACTOR STIMULATING MAMMARY DUCT GROWTH1

THAT the pituitary contains some factor or factors involved in mammary growth is generally accepted. However, as to the exact nature, number and mode of action of such entities there has been debate (Greep and Stavely, 1941; White 1943). The present paper deals with the question of the chemical nature {i.e. protein or lipid) of the pituitary factor responsible for the stimulation of mammary duct growth in the male mouse. Using the male mouse in an assay technique, Lewis and Turner (1938) reported that the drying and defatting of fresh pregnant cattle pituitary with acetone and ether resulted in a60 per cent loss of mammary duct-growth stimulating activity (mammogen I) present in the fresh gland. However, the extraction of fresh tissue with 60 per cent alcohol, followed by precipitation of lactogenic and other protein hormones by adjusting the-pH to 5.7 and increasing the alcohol content to 86 per cent, yielded, upon vacuum distillation, an oily residue containing 90 per cent of the activity of the fresh t...
Structure and sequence determination of the gene encoding human salivary statherin

Abstract Human statherin (STT) is a low- M r (43 amino acids) acidic phosphoprotein secreted mainly by salivary glands. It acts as an inhibitor of precipitation of Ca·phosphate salts in the oral cavity. DNA (12.2 kb) was isolated from human genomic phage λ libraries as a series of overlapping clones, and the nucleotide sequence of the STT-encoding gene ( STT ) was determined. The transcribed region spans 6.5 kb and contains six exons and five introns. Upstream DNA (1.6 kb) was also sequenced and a number of possible regulatory elements were identified. The exon-intron boundaries of the STT gene roughly coincide with the protein-coding regions of the mRNA and with the functional domains of STT. This pattern of organization has been seen in a variety of eukaryotic genes and is consistent with the domain theory of gene evolution.
Recovery of very low intensity CCD images from noise

A scheme for detecting low-intensity images with a CCD (charge coupled device) camera is described in which successive images are digitized at fast frame rates and averaged to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio. The results demonstrate that a dynamic range in excess of 10000:1 can be obtained using an uncooled device and averaging times of 100 s, a sensitivity comparable to that obtained with cooled devices. The technique is illustrated by imaging the weak fluorescence produced by an ethidium bromide stained DNA electrophoresis gel. >
Role of EUS in the preoperative staging of pancreatic cancer: a large single-center experience.

Background: Current methods for staging pancreatic cancer can be inaccurate, invasive, and expensive. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is reported to be highly accurate for local staging of gastrointestinal tumors including pancreatic cancer. The aim of this study was to assess the utility of EUS and CT for staging pancreatic cancer by comparing staging accuracies in surgical patients and evaluating the potential impact of EUS staging and training. Methods: This was a preoperative comparison of the diagnostic operating characteristics of these procedures in a referral-based academic medical center. Data were collected on 151 consecutive patients referred with confirmed pancreatic cancer between April 1990 and November 1996. All patients had preoperative CT and EUS performed for staging. In patients undergoing surgery, the surgical staging and/or findings were used to confirm EUS and CT staging. Results: Eighty-one (60%) of 151 patients underwent surgery and made up the study subset. In these 81 patients, surgical exploration provided a final T staging in 93% (75 of 81), N staging in 88% (71 of 81) and data on vascular invasion in 93% (75 of 81). In the surgical patient group, with surgical correlation, EUS accuracy for T staging was as follows: T1 92%, T2 85%, T3 93%, and for N staging was: N0 72%, and N1 72%. CT accuracy for T staging was as follows: T1 65%, T2 67%, T3 38%, and for N staging was as follows: N0 52% and N1 100%. CT failed to detect a mass in 26% of patients with a confirmed tumor at surgery. Overall accuracy for T and N staging was 85% and 72% for EUS and 30% and 55% for CT, respectively. The ability to accurately predict vascular invasion was 93% for EUS and 62% for CT (p < 0.001). EUS was 93% accurate for predicting local resectability versus 60% for CT (p < 0.001). Last, the data were divided into two groups for the senior endosonographer’s experience: procedures performed between 1990 and 1992 (98 cases) and 1993 and 1994 (53 cases). This analysis revealed that 7 of 9 instances of misstaging (78%) occurred in the earlier group, during the learning phase for EUS. Conclusions: EUS is more accurate than CT for staging pancreatic malignancies, including predicting vascular invasion and local resectability. EUS staging was significantly better than CT for T1, T2, and T3 tumors. EUS staging accuracy improved after 100 cases, thus suggesting a correlation between the accuracy of EUS staging and the number of procedures performed. (Gastrointest Endosc 1999;50:786-91.)
Different Roads to the Assessment of Myocardial Viability Lessons From PET for SPECT

The assessment of myocardial viability remains clinically important, yet diagnostically challenging. Tamaki et al1 probe various approaches with positron emission tomography (PET). Since myocardial viability refers to a state of reversible impairment of contractile function, the authors correctly measure the accuracy of each approach against the postrevascularization outcome in systolic segmental wall motion as a yardstick of myocardial viability. The investigators conclude that (1) severe flow reductions accurately define myocardium as nonviable. In contrast, mild to modest reductions discriminate only poorly between viable and nonviable tissue. (2) The addition of stress-induced defects incrementally improves the identification of viable myocardium, even though the reasons for such improvement remain uncertain. (3) The combined evaluation of rest blood flow and 18F-deoxyglucose uptake as a tracer of exogenous glucose utilization distinguishes most reliably between viable and nonviable myocardium. As the authors acknowledge, the latter observation on the high predictive accuracy of blood flow metabolism patterns represents an extension of their earlier work.2 3 Together with other previous investigations,4 5 6 7 the present data further strengthen the case of flow metabolism patterns as accurate indexes of the myocardial state. Yet, the study does not answer clinically or therapeutically critical questions. It would have been important to know the effects of revascularization on global left ventricular function, clinical symptoms, or both and how such changes might relate to mismatches …
A new class of stable time-varying systems and the coefficient assignment problem

Techniques are derived for the internal stabilization of SISO time-varying systems and the simultaneous coefficient assignment of a r-tuple of MISO time-varying systems. It is shown that the systems considered need not be slowly varying. In order that the compensators derived be robust, a class of bounded-input-bounded-output stable systems is introduced. It is noted that all the techniques are constructive. >
Relationship of vitamin D levels to blood pressure in a biethnic population.

Abstract Background and aims Accumulating epidemiological and clinical studies have suggested that vitamin D insufficiency may be associated with hypertension. Blacks tend to have lower vitamin D levels than Whites, but it is unclear whether this difference explains the higher blood pressure (BP) observed in Blacks in a population with healthy lifestyle practices. Methods and results We examined cross-sectional data in the Adventist Health Study-2 (AHS-2), a cohort of non-smoking, mostly non-drinking men and women following a range of diets from vegan to non-vegetarian. Each participant provided dietary, demographic, lifestyle and medical history data. Measurements of weight, height, waist circumference, percent body fat and blood pressure and fasting blood samples were obtained from a randomly selected non-diabetic sample of 284 Blacks and 284 Whites aged 30–95 years. Multiple regression analyses were used to assess independent relationships between blood pressure and 25(OH)D levels. Levels of 25(OH)D were inversely associated with systolic BP in Whites after control for age, gender, BMI, and use of BP-lowering medications ( β -coefficient −0.23 [95% CI, –0.43, –0.03; p = 0.02]). This relationship was not seen in Blacks ( β -coefficient 0.08 [95% CI, –0.14, 0.30; p = 0.4]). Results were similar when controlling for waist circumference or percentage body fat instead of BMI. No relationship between serum 25(OH)D and diastolic BP was seen. Conclusion Systolic BP is inversely associated with 25(OH)D levels in Whites but not in Blacks. Vitamin D may not be a major contributor to the White-Black differential in BP.
The language of play: The role of play in language development: A review of literature

The relationship between play and language usage is explored to determine if play contributes to children's language development and if play is a useful intervention technique for increasing the language competence of young children. This review of literature examines (a) the use of language to facilitate play, (b) play with language as an object, and (c) egocentric speech in play situations, and determines that there is a definite link between language and play. In addition, it is suggested that play is an effective intervention method for stimulating language development.
Isotonic Conditional Random Fields and Local Sentiment Flow

We examine the problem of predicting local sentiment flow in documents, and its application to several areas of text analysis. Formally, the problem is stated as predicting an ordinal sequence based on a sequence of word sets. In the spirit of isotonic regression, we develop a variant of conditional random fields that is well-suited to handle this problem. Using the Mobius transform, we express the model as a simple convex optimization problem. Experiments demonstrate the model and its applications to sentiment prediction, style analysis, and text summarization.
Progesterone impairs social recognition in male rats

The influence of progesterone in the brain and on the behavior of females is fairly well understood. However, less is known about the effect of progesterone in the male system. In male rats, receptors for progesterone are present in virtually all vasopressin (AVP) immunoreactive cells in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BST) and the medial amygdala (MeA). This colocalization functions to regulate AVP expression, as progesterone and/or progestin receptors (PR)s suppress AVP expression in these same extrahypothalamic regions in the brain. These data suggest that progesterone may influence AVP-dependent behavior. While AVP is implicated in numerous behavioral and physiological functions in rodents, AVP appears essential for social recognition of conspecifics. Therefore, we examined the effects of progesterone on social recognition. We report that progesterone plays an important role in modulating social recognition in the male brain, as progesterone treatment leads to a significant impairment of social recognition in male rats. Moreover, progesterone appears to act on PRs to impair social recognition, as progesterone impairment of social recognition is blocked by a PR antagonist, RU-486. Social recognition is also impaired by a specific progestin agonist, R5020. Interestingly, we show that progesterone does not interfere with either general memory or olfactory processes, suggesting that progesterone seems critically important to social recognition memory. These data provide strong evidence that physiological levels of progesterone can have an important impact on social behavior in male rats.
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia cases identified by newborn screening in one- and two-screen states

There is no clear consensus among state newborn screening programs on whether routine second screening of newborns identifies clinically relevant cases of congenital adrenal hyperplasia. This retrospective study evaluated laboratory practices, along with biochemical and medical characteristics of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) cases (1) detected on the first newborn screen in one-screen compared to two-screen states, and (2) detected on the first versus the second screen in the two-screen states, to determine the effectiveness of a second screen. A total of 374 confirmed cases of CAH from 2 one-screen states and 5 two-screen states were included in this study. Demographic data and diagnostic information on each reported case were collected and analyzed. Additionally, laboratory data, including screening methodologies and algorithms, were evaluated. The one-screen states reported 99 cases of CAH out of 1,740,586 (1 in 17,500) newborns screened: 88 (89%) identified on the first screen and 5 (5%) identified on the targeted second screen. The two-screen states reported 275 cases of CAH out of 2,629,627 (1 in 9500) newborns screened: 165 (60%) identified on the first screen and 99 (36%) identified on the second screen. Using a multivariate model, the only significant predictor of whether a case was identified on the first or the second screen in the two-screen states was the type of CAH. Compared with classical salt-wasting CAH, classical simple virilizing and non-classical CAH cases were less likely to be detected on the first versus the second screen. The routine second newborn screen is important for identifying children with CAH, particularly simple virilizing and non-classical forms, which might otherwise not be captured through a single screen.
Local area network selection criteria for undergraduate laboratory implementation

A list is presented of fourteen important parameters to consider when selecting a local area network (LAN) for a LAN laboratory course. The parameters described are: LAN technology, LAN features, operation and use, network expandability, compatibility, obsolescence, administration, technical support, security, reliability, cost, installation, physical layout, and support equipment. The relative importance of each parameter is explained, and practical examples are provided through experience gained during the development of an electrical engineering technology LAN course in the School of Technology at Purdue University. >
Rapid In Situ Collection and Analysis of Semivolatile Organics by Thermal Extraction Cone Penetrometry Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry

A thermal extraction cone penetrometer (TECP) has been developed to detect subsurface contaminants in situ without bringing soil to the surface or into a col- lection chamber. Coupled with thermal desorption gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (TD-GC/MS) sample collection and analysis can be accomplished in 20 min for the full range of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Target Compounds (EPA). TECP extraction effi- ciencies of 50 to 100% can be obtained for most EPA Method 8270 compounds. Results of 99 volatile and semivolatile organics analyzed from the same TECP ex- tracted soil in 16 and 40 min are presented. Measurement precision and accuracy were well within the Method 8270 benchmarks required for solvent-extracted soils ana- lyzed by GC/MS. The total ion and reconstructed ion cur- rent chromatograms are shown for chlorinated solvents and gasoline constituents extracted from a hazardous waste site located at Hanscom Air Force Base (Bedford, MA). Data compared favorably against traditional purge and trap GC/MS. 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Field Analyt Chem Technol 4: 85-92, 2000
An Evaluation of Gender Differences in the Implementation and Impact of a Comprehensive Approach to Domestic Violence

The primary goal of society's response to domestic violence is the protection of the victim from further abuse. Recently, the coordinated community response (CCR) has been developed as one example of an approach aimed at reaching this goal. Prior research has generally found support for the model, with male offenders recidivating at lower rates. The current study examines whether a comprehensive, community-based approach is capable of reducing recidivism rates among male and female offenders. Comparisons are made between 70 female and 131 male offenders. Specific attention is given to the intervention process, including differences in service or treatment component completion and recidivism by gender.
Queue Length Stability in Trees Under Slowly Convergent Traffic Using Sequential Maximal Scheduling

In this paper, we consider queue-length stability in wireless networks under a general class of arrival processes that only requires that the empirical average converges to the actual average polynomially fast. We present a scheduling policy, sequential maximal scheduling, and use novel proof techniques to show that it attains 2/3 of the maximum stability region in tree-graphs under primary interference constraints, for all such arrival processes. For degree bounded networks, the computation time of the policy varies as the the logarithm of the network size. Our results are a significant improvement over previous results that attain only 1/2 of the maximum throughput region even for graphs that have a simple path topology, in similar computation time under stronger (i.e., Markovian) assumptions on the arrival process.
Stationary scatterer filtering in spectral domain optical Doppler tomography

We report a method for improving the accuracy in determining blood flow rate and small vessel size by implementing a delay line filter when processing real-time spectral domain optical coherence tomography images of flow.
Lifestyle Intervention Strategies for the Prevention and Treatment of Hypertension: A Review

Hypertension (HTN) is an extraordinarily common progressive cardiovascular syndrome in the United States, afflicting approximately one third of the adult population. HTN is a powerful and unequivocal independent risk factor for cardiovascular and renal diseases, including coronary heart disease, stroke, and renal failure. Despite major advances in the understanding and treatment of HTN over the past several decades, the disease remains the most common primary diagnosis in the United States and is a major public health concern. Adoption of healthy lifestyle modifications has proven to be highly effective in both the prevention of new-onset HTN and in the treatment of those diagnosed with HTN. In view of the continuing epidemic of HTN and blood pressure (BP)—related diseases and the invaluable role of applying nonpharmacological therapy in the prevention and management of HTN, a review of current therapeutic lifestyle strategies appears warranted. This review will define 6 well-established nonpharmacologica...
RAS-Mediated Radiation Resistance is not Linked to MAP Kinase Activation in Two Bladder Carcinoma Cell Lines

Abstract Gupta, A. K., Bernhard, E. J., Bakanauskas, V. J., Wu, J., Muschel, R. J. and McKenna, W. G. RAS-Mediated Radiation Resistance is not Linked to MAP Kinase Activation. The expression of activated RAS oncogenes has been shown to increase radioresistance in a number of cell lines. The pathways by which RAS leads to radioresistance, however, are unknown. RAS activates several signal transduction pathways, with the RAF-MAP2K-MAP kinase pathway perhaps the best studied. MAP kinase has also been shown to be activated by radiation through this pathway. Given the important role of MAP kinase in multiple signaling events, we asked if radioresistance induced by RAS was mediated through the activation of MAPK. Cells of two human bladder carcinoma cell lines were used, one with a mutated oncogenic HRAS (T24) and other with a wild-type HRAS (RT4). The surviving fraction after exposure to 2 Gy of radiation (SF2) for the T24 cell lines was found to be 0.62, whereas that for RT4 cells was 0.40. Treatment with the...
A Safe and Effective Propylene Glycol Based Capture Liquid for Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) Traps Baited with Synthetic Lures

Abstract Antifreeze is often used as the capture liquid in insect traps for its preservative and evaporative attributes. In tests reported herein, fruit fly traps using non-toxic recreational vehicle (RV) propylene glycol based antifreeze captured significantly more Anastrepha ludens (Loew) than did traps with the automotive antifreeze. Automotive antifreeze has a characteristic odor due to the additive tolytriazole. The odor may have been mildly repellent. Whether better or equal in efficacy, fruit fly trapping programs should consider using the non-toxic formulation as an environmentally friendly alternative over the automotive antifreeze, which contains a number of hazardous compounds.
Evaluation of Clinical Outcomes of Osseointegrated Dental Implantation of Fibula Free Flaps for Mandibular Reconstruction

ImportanceDental implantation has been used for oral rehabilitation to improve cosmesis and function. ObjectiveWe aim to evaluate the clinical outcomes and success rates of primary and secondary de...
Media containing liquefied nutrients for mass-rearing larvae of the screw-worm.

Several formulations of liquefied gross foodstuffs were tested as media for larvae of Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel). Larvae grew best when the starting medium (fed for first 18 hours) contained 2–3% dried whole chicken egg, 5–6% dried whole bovine blood, and 1.6–4% calf suckle dissolved or suspended in water with 0.2% formalin; the intermediate diet (fed the next 24 hr) contained the same ingredients except that 0.5% sucrose replaced the whole egg; and the finishing diet (fed the remainder of the development time) contained the same ingredients as the intermediate diet except that the sucrose was increased to 1%, and 3% dried cottage cheese was added. Larvae on this diet achieved final weights equal to or greater than those of larvae on fresh meat-blood diets.
Minimally Invasive Surgery in Neonatal Patients: A Review

Laparoscopic and thoracoscopic surgery have gradually become accepted diagnostic and therapeutic modalities in the management of neonatal surgical conditions. In the hands of experienced surgeons, minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has reduced the need for open procedures. In children younger than 1 year, the advantages of MIS are evident in avoiding the sequelae of open surgery. MIS has shown outcomes comparable to those with open surgery. The recent literature in the PubMed database was reviewed, using the keywords “minimally invasive surgery,” “neonatology,” “pediatric surgery,” “laparoscopy,” and “thoracoscopy.” The review included retrospective and institutional reports of MIS published since January 2000.The results were used to develop a review of the current state of MIS in the neonatal population. The use of minimally invasive techniques in neonatal surgical conditions was successful in the hands of experienced surgeons. Some procedures currently performed include gastrostomy, pyloromyotomy for hypertrophic pyloric stenosis, gastroesophageal reflux surgery, the Ladd procedure for intestinal malrotation, colonic pull-through procedures for Hirschsprung disease and other anorectal malformations, repair of diaphragmatic eventration and congenital diaphragmatic hernia, duodenal atresia, esophageal atresia/tracheoesophageal fistula, pulmonary lobectomy, surgery for necrotizing enterocolitis, and ligation of patent ductus arteriosus. Further formal training of surgeons in these techniques and the development of new and improved instrumentation can reduce the rates of open surgery and its sequelae in the neonatal population.
Method for generating emergency alternative with considering implementation effects of emergency alternatives

To solve the kind of emergency response problems lacking of emergency plan, a method of generating emergency alternative based on similarity case analysis with considering the implementation effects of emergency alternatives belonging to similar cases is developed. Firstly, the similarities between target case and historical case are calculated. Then, the valid similar case set is built by setting similarity threshold beforehand and case screening. Furthermore, the comprehensive evaluation values of each alternative implementation effect which belongs to valid similar historical case are calculated, respectively. On the basis of the above, the emergency alternative can be generated according to extracting the emergency alternative of valid similar historical case which is corresponding to the maximum comprehensive evaluation value. Finally, a numerical example is used to illustrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method.
High speed navigation for quadrotors with limited onboard sensing

We address the problem of high speed autonomous navigation of quadrotor micro aerial vehicles with limited onboard sensing and computation. In particular, we propose a dual range planning horizon method to safely and quickly navigate quadrotors to specified goal locations in previously unknown and unstructured environments. In each planning epoch, a short-range planner uses a local map to generate a new trajectory. At the same time, a safe stopping policy is found. This allows the robot to come to an emergency halt when necessary. Our algorithm guarantees collision avoidance and demonstrates important advances in real-time planning. First, our novel short range planning method allows us to generate and re-plan trajectories that are dynamically feasible, comply with state and input constraints, and avoid obstacles in real-time. Further, previous planning algorithms abstract away the obstacle detection problem by assuming the instantaneous availability of geometric information about the environment. In contrast, our method addresses the challenge of using the raw sensor data to form a map and navigate in real-time. Finally, in addition to simulation examples, we provide physical experiments that demonstrate the entire algorithmic pipeline from obstacle detection to trajectory execution.
Physical Mechanisms of Cancer in the Transition to Metastasis.

Whether a tumor is metastatic is one of the most significant factors that influence the prognosis for a cancer patient. The transition from a nonmetastatic tumor to a metastatic one is accompanied by a number of genetic and proteomic changes within the tumor cells. These protein-level changes conspire to produce behavioral changes in the cells: cells that had been relatively stationary begin to move, often as a group. In this study we ask the question of what cell-level biophysical changes are sufficient to initiate evasion away from an otherwise static tumor. We use a mathematical model developed to describe the biophysics of epithelial tissue to explore this problem. The model is first validated against in vitro wound healing experiments with cancer cell lines. Then we simulate the behavior of a group of mutated cells within a sea of healthy tissue. We find that moderate increases in adhesion between the cell and extracellular matrix (ECM) accompanied by a decrease in cell-cell adhesion and/or Rho family of small GTPase activation can cause a group of cells to break free from a tumor and spontaneously migrate. This result may explain why some metastatic cells have been observed to upregulate integrin, downregulate cadherin, and activate Rho family signaling.
Peptide conjugated magnetic nanoparticles for magnetically mediated energy delivery to lung cancer cells.

Aim: In the present study, we examine the effects of internalized peptide-conjugated iron oxide nanoparticles and their ability to locally convert alternating magnetic field (AMF) energy into other forms of energy (e.g., heat and rotational work). Materials & methods: Dextran-coated iron oxide nanoparticles were functionalized with a cell penetrating peptide and after internalization by A549 and H358 cells were activated by an AMF. Results: TAT-functionalized nanoparticles and AMF exposure increased reactive oxygen species generation compared with the nanoparticle system alone. The TAT-functionalized nanoparticles induced lysosomal membrane permeability and mitochondrial membrane depolarization, but these effects were not further enhanced by AMF treatment. Although not statistically significant, there are trends suggesting an increase in apoptosis via the Caspase 3/7 pathways when cells are exposed to TAT-functionalized nanoparticles combined with AMF. Conclusion: Our results indicate that internalized TA...