cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Use of Radioisotopes in Steroid Methodology

Quantitative analyses of organic compounds in a mixture of biologic origin are extremely difficult or inconvenient if the compounds to be analyzed are present in trace amounts and are similar to other components of the mixture. Thus, it frequently is necessary to use labeled (radioactive) indications in the analytical assay so that quantitative isolation of the compound of interest is not required. C14- and tritium-labeled steroids can be used to measure quantitatively, by the isotope dilution procedure, the amount of a particular steroid present in a mixture when the steroid to be analyzed cannot be quantitatively separated from the mixture, or when the analytical problem cannot be readily solved by other means. With isotope dilution procedures, quantitative isolation of a compound is not necessary for accurate analyses. The only requirement is a sufficiently pure sample for assay of specific activity. Previous publications have described the methods for isotope dilution analyses of various steroids using C14-labeled steroids [1, 2]. These methods depend on the measured dilution of the isotopically labeled steroid by a nonlabeled variant of the same steroid, and consist of three general types: (a) direct isotope dilution; (b) reverse isotope dilution; and (c) double isotope dilution.
Random Digit Dialing in Chicago CARDIA: Comparison of Individuals with Unlisted and Listed Telephone Numbers

Young adult blacks and whites aged 18-30 years of both low and high educational levels were recruited through random digit dialing to participate in the Chicago, Illinois, portion of a longitudinal study, Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA). Overall, 31% of randomly selected persons eligible to participate had unlisted telephone numbers--about 50% of black men and women and 11% and 17% of white men and women, respectively. There was no difference in proportions of numbers unlisted by educational level, except for white men, who were more likely to have unlisted numbers at a low educational level than at a high educational level. There was no consistent pattern of differences in rates of participation across race, sex, or education subgroups for unlisted and listed numbers, and there were no significant differences for selected health measures, except smoking. The findings suggest that in Chicago, there is a potential bias in estimates of sociodemographic characteristics from the exclusion of unlisted numbers, but it is likely to be insignificant if recruitment is stratified according to race, sex, and education. Within strata, there was little bias with respect to the attributes measured. Ideally, to guard against possible bias, random digit dialing is recommended as the preferred way to select a representative population-based sample.
Multiple small angle neutron scattering characterization of the densification of alumina

Multiple small angle neutron scattering (MSANS) was used to follow the evolution of the pore size distribution in α-Al2O3 through the intermediate and final stages of sintering. This technique makes it possible to determine microstructure morphology in the 0.08 to 10 μm size regime under conditions where the total scattering cross-section is dominated by elastic incoherent multiple scattering, as is often the case for ceramics. The MSANS results indicate an initial decrease in the effective pore radius from 0.19 μm at 57% of theoretical density (TD) to 0.17 μm at 79% TD. As the sample density further increased, there was a transition region after which the effective pore radius grew rapidly to ≤0.5 μm at 98% TD. Standard Porod analysis on scattering by the same samples also indicates a transition between the intermediate and final stages of processing. Both sets of results support a topological model of sintering in which the interconnected pore network in the intermediate stage of sintering decays in a stable manner. The pores become fewer, while retaining the same diameter, as densification proceeds. In the final stage, isolated pores remain.
Complete genome sequence of a tomato mottle mosaic virus isolate from the United States.

ABSTRACT Tomato mottle mosaic virus was recently reported from the United States following its original description from Mexico as a novel Tobamovirus species. We present the first complete genome sequence of a tomato mottle mosaic virus isolate from the United States.
The Structure of Management Decision Theory

One acting in the capacity of a manager or an executive must make choices among various plans, policies, and strategies. Among other conditions, decisions must be made under varying degrees of info...
The Mayflies of Europe Bauernfeind, E. and Soldán, T.

The Mayflies of Europe E. Bauernfeind, T. Soldan Apollo Books, Ollerup, Denmark 2012; 781 pp. ISBN 978-87-88757-45-3 US$192, CAN$204, £118, €140 (hardcover) ![Graphic][1] At nearly 4.5 pounds (2 kg), The Mayflies of Europe is a hefty tome comprised of 781 pages. This long-anticipated volume is a necessary resource for anyone with a serious interest in the insect order Ephemeroptera. It is the first monographic work of its kind to cover all of Europe since the Rev. A. E. Eaton (1883–1888) did so about 130 years ago. The scope of the work extends to include extra-limital species from Asia and Africa and includes a wealth of information about taxonomy, morphology, distributions, life cycles, and general mayfly ecology applicable to many groups also found elsewhere in the world. The current comprehensive compilation for 369 different species is staggeringly impressive and very nearly perfectly exhaustive. I found only one omission regarding an obscure and perhaps questionable report of the European species Baetis vernus Curtis, 1834 (Baetidae) from Greenland (Mosely 1929). The various discussions about historical and current problems in the study of mayflies are informative and seriously thought-provoking. Distribution and life cycle data are organized conveniently in tables towards the back of the book. More than 2,500 works are cited in the References section, covering pre-Linnean times through to the year of publication. … lukemjacobus{at}alumni.purdue.edu [1]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif
Probabilistic map fusion for fast, incremental occupancy mapping with 3D Hilbert maps

We present a novel formulation of Hilbert mapping in which we construct a global occupancy map by incrementally fusing local overlapping Hilbert maps. Rather than maintain a single supervised learning model for the entire map, a new model is trained with each of a robot's range scans, and queried at all points within the robot's perceptual field. We treat the probabilistic output of the classifier as a sensor, employing sensor fusion to merge local maps. This formulation allows Hilbert mapping to be used incrementally in real-world mapping scenarios with overlap between sensor observations. The methodology is applied to three-dimensional map-building, and evaluated using real and simulated 3D range data.
Virtual street-crossing performance in persons with multiple sclerosis: Feasibility and task performance characteristics

ABSTRACTObjectives: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological disease that commonly results in physical and cognitive dysfunction. Accordingly, MS might impact the ability to safely cross the street. The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility of a simulated street-crossing task in persons with MS and to determine differences in street-crossing performance between persons with MS and non-MS controls.Methods: 26 participants with MS (median Expanded Disability Status Scale [EDSS] score = 3.5) and 19 controls completed 40 trials of a virtual street-crossing task. There were 2 crossing conditions (i.e., no distraction and phone conversation), and participants performed 20 trials per condition. Participants were instructed that the goal of the task was to cross the street successfully (i.e., without being hit be a vehicle). The primary outcome was task feasibility, assessed as completion and adverse events. Secondary outcomes were measures of street-crossing performance.Results: Overall, the simu...
The New Federalism: State Policies Regarding Embryonic Stem Cell Research

Stem cell policy in the United States is an amalgam of federal and state policies. The scientific development of human pluripotent embryonic stem cells (ESCs) triggered a contentious national stem cell policy debate during the administration of President George W. Bush. The Bush "compromise" that allowed federal funding to study only a very limited number of ESC derived cell lines did not satisfy either the researchers or the patient advocates who saw great medical potential being stifled. Neither more restrictive legislation nor expansion of federal funding proved politically possible and the federal impasse opened the door for a variety of state-based experiments. In 2004, California became the largest and most influential state venture into stem cell research by passing "Prop 71," a voter initiative that created a new stem cell agency and funded it with $3 billion. Several states followed suit with similar programs to protect the right of investigators to do stem cell research and in some cases to invest state funding in such projects. Other states devised legislation to restrict stem cell research and in five states, criminal penalties were included. Thus, the US stem cell policy is a patchwork of multiple, often conflicting, state and federal policies.
Mining and Environmental Health Disparities in Native American Communities

More than a century of hard rock mining has left a legacy of >160,000 abandoned mines in the Western USA that are home to the majority of Native American lands. This article describes how abrogation of treaty rights, ineffective policies, lack of infrastructure, and a lack of research in Native communities converge to create chronic exposure, ill-defined risks, and tribal health concerns. Recent results show that Native Americans living near abandoned uranium mines have an increased likelihood for kidney disease and hypertension, and an increased likelihood of developing multiple chronic diseases linked to their proximity to the mine waste and activities bringing them in contact with the waste. Biomonitoring confirms higher than expected exposure to uranium and associated metals in the waste in adults, neonates, and children in these communities. These sites will not be cleaned up for many generations making it critical to understand and prioritize exposure-toxicity relationships in Native populations to appropriately allocate limited resources to protect health. Recent initiatives, in partnership with Native communities, recognize these needs and support development of tribal research capacity to ensure that research respectful of tribal culture and policies can address concerns in the future. In addition, recognition of the risks posed by these abandoned sites should inform policy change to protect community health in the future.
Fundamental and methodological investigations for the improvement of elemental analysis by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

This dissertation describes a variety of studies meant to improve the analytical performance of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and laser ablation (LA) ICP-MS. The emission behavior of individual droplets and LA generated particles in an ICP is studied using a high-speed, high frame rate digital camera. Phenomena are observed during the ablation of silicate glass that would cause elemental fractionation during analysis by ICP-MS. Preliminary work for ICP torch developments specifically tailored for the improvement of LA sample introduction are presented. An abnormal scarcity of metal-argon polyatomic ions (MAr{sup +}) is observed during ICP-MS analysis. Evidence shows that MAr{sup +} ions are dissociated by collisions with background gas in a shockwave near the tip of the skimmer cone. Method development towards the improvement of LA-ICP-MS for environmental monitoring is described. A method is developed to trap small particles in a collodion matrix and analyze each particle individually by LA-ICP-MS.
Li + solvation and kinetics of Li + -BF 4 - /PF 6 - ion pairs in ethylene carbonate. A molecular dynamics study with classical rate theories.

Using our polarizable force-field models and employing classical rate theories of chemical reactions, we examine the ethylene carbonate (EC) exchange process between the first and second solvation shells around Li+ and the dissociation kinetics of ion pairs Li+-[BF4] and Li+-[PF6] in this solvent. We calculate the exchange rates using transition state theory and correct them with transmission coefficients computed by the reactive flux, Impey, Madden, and McDonald approaches, and Grote-Hynes theory. We found that the residence times of EC around Li+ ions varied from 60 to 450 ps, depending on the correction method used. We found that the relaxation times changed significantly from Li+-[BF4] to Li+-[PF6] ion pairs in EC. Our results also show that, in addition to affecting the free energy of dissociation in EC, the anion type also significantly influences the dissociation kinetics of ion pairing.
Management of the postpubertal cryptorchid testis: a statistical review.

L'homme de moins de 32 ans, ayant une cryptorchidie unilaterale doit etre traite par orchidectomie. Le patient âge de plus de 32 ans doit etre surveille regulierement; l'orchidectomie est indiquee si le malade n'est pas suffisamment responsable pour participer a son traitement. L'orchidopexie n'est pas rationnelle apres la puberte
Additional Annotated References:: An Archeological Bibliography of the Central and Northern Great Plains Prior to 1930

This addendum contains 23 entrees dating between 1859 and 1927 relative to sites in Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wyoming, and the provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan. The ...
Phase Changes: The Interplay of Dynamics and Equilibrium in Finite Systems

Finite systems may exhibit solid-like and liquid-like “phases”, whose conditions for mutual equilibrium do not correspond to those of any traditional bulk phase transition, whether first-order, second-order or higher. Rather, a finite system may display either a finite range of temperature and energy throughout which the different “phases” coexist, or a range in which the system appears to be a slush, with properties intermediate between those of a solid and a liquid. Which of these occurs is determined by the relationships of several time scales, including the time characterizing the observation. The passage from solid to liquid may be characterizable by the fractal dimension of the space on which the classical phase point of the system moves.
Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis: considerations for the cardiologist.

The manuscript by Schietinger et al. ([1][1]) in this issue of iJACC (JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging) assesses patterns of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) in the myocardium of chronic hemodialysis patients. The observation that the majority of LGE was not infarct related but was tied to the degree
Finland’s Teaching and Learning Environment

The last chapter reports the findings of two structured research projects in different rounds of interviews. One of those was looking at the definition of the quality of teachers and teaching in Finland. Based on closed and open-ended interviews, a taxonomy of the quality of teachers was developed into nine categories with specific traits or characteristics. A second research project conducted in 2012 was looking at the overall social and cultural learning environment around school education from the viewpoint of teachers and principals. This is a very interesting topic very difficult to frame from the epistemological point of view but often cited as relevant in studies about Finnish success. Teachers and principals have strong views about the cultural values at homes and at schools that may promote the very high and consistent levels of performance of schools.
Association between hospital volume and overall survival of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer.

9044Background: Prior studies have shown superior surgical outcomes of stage I-III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in centers with higher patient volumes. However, there is a lack of such inform...
Sororicides in Ghana: A Study of Homicidal Aggression Against Sisters.

Sororicide has received scarce attention in the homicide literature. This is particularly the case for sororicide incidents occurring in the nonindustrialized, non-Western world. To help address th...
Factors associated with one-year mortality after debulking surgery in older women with ovarian cancer.

e17069Background: The objective of this study was to assess the factors associated with one-year mortality following cytoreductive surgery among women ≥65 years with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC)...
1382-P: Impaired Default Mode Network Suppression and Compensatory Hyperactivation in Children with Type 1 Diabetes

Background: The effect of dysglycemia on brain development and cognition is not well understood. Methods: In a multi-site study, we examined brain activation in 93 children with T1D (mean age 11.5 ± 1.8 years) and 57 nondiabetic children (mean age 11.8 ± 1.5 years) as they performed a classic executive function paradigm, the Go/No-Go task. Participants responded to letters flashed on a screen by a key press (Go) but not to the letter X (No-Go). Results: Despite similar task performance between the groups, children with T1D exhibited greater activation in executive control regions (dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, inferior frontal gyri, cerebellum and supramarginal gyri; p=0.010) and less suppression in the posterior node of the default mode network (DMN) compared to controls (p=0.006). Secondary analyses showed greater activation in executive control regions was associated in T1D with shorter response times and better parent-reported measures of executive function (ps Conclusion: These findings suggest that compensatory recruitment of executive control areas may act to offset T1D-related impairments in the DMN and, at least transiently, allow behavioral performance on Go/No-Go to be equivalent to that of nondiabetic controls. Disclosure L.C. Foland-Ross: None. B.A. Buckingham: Advisory Panel; Self; ConvaTec Inc., Novo Nordisk Inc., Profusa, Inc. Consultant; Self; Medtronic MiniMed, Inc. Research Support; Self; Beta Bionics, ConvaTec Inc., Dexcom, Inc., Insulet Corporation, Medtronic MiniMed, Inc., Tandem Diabetes Care. Other Relationship; Self; Insulet Corporation, Tandem Diabetes Care. N. Mauras: Consultant; Self; Novo Nordisk Inc., PicoLife. Research Support; Self; Medtronic MiniMed, Inc. A. Arbelaez: None. N.H. White: None. T. Aye: None. D.M. Wilson: Advisory Panel; Self; Tolerion, Inc. Research Support; Self; Beta Bionics, Dexcom, Inc., Medtronic. W.V. Tamborlane: Consultant; Self; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Eli Lilly and Company, Medtronic MiniMed, Inc., Novo Nordisk Inc., Sanofi, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited. S.A. Weinzimer: Consultant; Self; Eli Lilly and Company, Sanofi. Consultant; Spouse/Partner; Tandem Diabetes Care. Consultant; Self; Zealand Pharma A/S. Speaker9s Bureau; Self; Insulet Corporation, Medtronic MiniMed, Inc., Tandem Diabetes Care. Stock/Shareholder; Self; InsuLine Medical Ltd. E. Tsalikian: None. M. Tansey: Advisory Panel; Self; Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited. A. Cato: None. T. Hershey: Research Support; Spouse/Partner; Sage Pharmaceuticals. L.A. Fox: None. G. Tong: None. K.A. Englert: Consultant; Self; PicoLife Technologies, LLC. P. Mazaika: None. A.L. Reiss: None. Funding Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (DIRECNET: U01HD-41906, HD-41908, HD-41915, HD-41918, HD-56526, R01HD078463, U54HD087011; National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (UL1TR000448)
The Use of a Quasi-Experimental Study on the Mortality Effect of a Heat Wave Warning System in Korea

Many cities and countries have implemented heat wave warning systems to combat the health effects of extreme heat. Little is known about whether these systems actually reduce heat-related morbidity and mortality. We examined the effectiveness of heat wave alerts and health plans in reducing the mortality risk of heat waves in Korea by utilizing the discrepancy between the alerts and the monitored temperature. A difference-in-differences analysis combined with propensity score weighting was used. Mortality, weather monitoring, and heat wave alert announcement data were collected for 7 major cities during 2009-2014. Results showed evidence of risk reduction among people aged 19-64 without education (-0.144 deaths/1,000,000 people, 95% CI: -0.227, -0.061) and children aged 0-19 (-0.555 deaths/1,000,000 people, 95% CI: -0.993, -0.117). Decreased cardiovascular and respiratory mortality was found in several subgroups including single persons, widowed people, blue-collar workers, people with no education or the highest level of education (university or higher). No evidence was found for decreased all-cause mortality in the population (1.687 deaths/1,000,000 people per day; 95% CI: 1.118, 2.255). In conclusion, heat wave alerts may reduce mortality for several causes and subpopulations of age and socio-economic status. Further work needs to examine the pathways through which the alerts impact subpopulations differently.
Functional basis for dose-dependent antagonism of rat and rabbit neuromuscular transmission by the bis-pyridinium oxime MMB4

Organophosphorus (OP) compounds inhibit central and peripheral acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, overstimulating cholinergic receptors and causing autonomic dysfunction (e.g., bronchoconstriction, excess secretions), respiratory impairment, seizure and death at high doses. Current treatment for OP poisoning in the United States includes reactivation of OP-inhibited AChE by the pyridinium oxime 2-pyridine aldoxime (2-PAM). However, 2-PAM has a narrow therapeutic index and its efficacy is confined to a limited number of OP agents. The bis-pyridinium oxime MMB4, which is a more potent reactivator than 2-PAM with improved pharmaceutical properties and therapeutic range, is under consideration as a potential replacement for 2-PAM. Similar to other pyridinium oximes, high doses of MMB4 lead to off-target effects culminating in respiratory depression and death. To understand the toxic mechanisms contributing to respiratory depression, we evaluated the effects of MMB4 (0.25–16 mM) on functional and neurophysiological parameters of diaphragm and limb muscle function in rabbits and rats. In both species, MMB4 depressed nerve-elicited muscle contraction by blocking muscle endplate nicotinic receptor currents while simultaneously prolonging endplate potentials by inhibiting AChE. MMB4 increased quantal content, endplate potential rundown and tetanic fade during high frequency stimulation in rat but not rabbit muscles, suggesting species-specific effects on feedback mechanisms involved in sustaining neurotransmission. These data reveal multifactorial effects of MMB4 on cholinergic neurotransmission, with the primary toxic modality being reduced muscle nicotinic endplate currents. Evidence of species-specific effects on neuromuscular function illustrates the importance of comparative toxicology when studying pyridinium oximes and, by inference, other quaternary ammonium compounds.
Natural Medicine and COVID 19 in Ecuador

Ecuador is a pluricultural country, which is reflected in its history of medical pluralism. This has become especially apparent with the spread throughout the country of COVID-19. This paper discusses survey results on the use of natural medicines to prevent the virus. Respondents in the region of Santo Domingo de los Colorados indicate they have turned to a variety of natural remedies, such as lemon, ginger, and garlic, during the pandemic. This contributes to a growing body of studies that analyze the use of natural medicines to treat or prevent COVID-19.
Ion Effects in Optical Films

Ion bombardment during growth of thin films has been shown to be a powerful technique for alteration of a wide variety of film properties from index of refraction and stoichiometry to density and abrasion resistance. A brief review of the deposition processes and ion effects of relevance to the production of optical films is presented. Application of the technique to some particular problems in films with both optical and protective roles, and the use of ion beams to alter the chemical composition and hence index of films will be discussed. Both homogeneous and spatially non-uniform coatings will be discussed, including generation of multilayer filters and gradient index structures in waveguiding films.
What about the children? How opioid use affects child well-being

We study the relationship between opioid use and child well‐being. We combine data on legal opioid prescriptions, opioid‐related emergency department visits, and opioid‐involved mortality with foster care entrance records and child maltreatment reports. We find that increases in opioid‐related mortality and emergency department visits are associated with increased foster care entry, particularly among young children. We find no significant relationship between legal opioid distribution quantities and home removals. Finally, we examine the relationship between opioid‐related public policies and child welfare outcomes, finding mixed relationships between various policies and removal from the home.
Comparing Newborn Outcomes After Prenatal Exposure to Individual Antidepressants: a retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE To compare associations between individual antidepressants and newborn outcomes. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. SETTING Deliveries in a large, US medical system. POPULATION Women who received at least one antidepressant prescription 3 months prior to conception through delivery. METHODS Eligible women had maternal characteristics and newborn outcomes extracted from medical record data. Exposure was defined by the timing of the prescription during pregnancy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Newborn outcomes (any adaptation syndrome, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission) were analyzed for each antidepressant and compared using standard statistics and multivariable regression compared to exposure to bupropion. Odds of outcomes based on timing of exposure were also explored. RESULTS A total of 3,694 women were analyzed. Rates of any adaptation syndrome (p < 0.001), NICU admission (p < 0.001), and transient tachypnea of newborn (TTN) (p = 0.006) were significantly different between drugs. Infants exposed to duloxetine had the highest rates of NICU admissions (39.6%) and adaptation syndromes (15.1%). Venlafaxine-exposed infants had the highest rates of TTN (18.2%). Controlling for maternal age, race, insurance, and gestational age at delivery, early pregnancy antidepressant exposure was associated with adaptation syndrome and NICU admission for both duloxetine (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 2.31 [95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.11-4.80] and aOR 2.47 [95% CI 1.40-4.34], respectively) and escitalopram (aOR 1.72 [95% CI 1.09-2.70] and aOR 1.64 [95% CI 1.21-2.22], respectively). Exposure in the third trimester was associated with any adaptation syndrome for citalopram, duloxetine, escitalopram, fluoxetine, sertraline, and venlafaxine and NICU admission for bupropion, citalopram, duloxetine, escitalopram, and fluoxetine. CONCLUSION Duloxetine and escitalopram appear to have the strongest associations with any adaptation syndrome and NICU admission whereas bupropion and sertraline tended to have among the lowest risks of these outcomes. These results can help providers and patients discuss choice of individual antidepressant drugs during pregnancy.
Effect of β-Adrenoreceptor Stimulants on Exercise-Induced Asthma

Exercise-induced asthma can be prevented or minimized by β-adrenoreceptor stimulating drugs, which may elicit bronchodilation before exercise has begun or may enhance thebronchodilating effect of more prolonged exercise. Recently introduced β-adrenoreceptor stimulants have longer durations of action than isoproterenol, are effective following oral administration, and are selective for β-adrenoreceptors.
In Brief: Deep underground lab design team picked

The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) announced on 10 July 2007 the selection of a University of California-Berkeley proposal to produce a technical design for a U.S. Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL) at the former Homestake gold mine near Lead, S.D. NSF also will begin working with researchers to identify initial experiments that might be deployed in DUSEL, according to Tony Chan, assistant director for NSF's Directorate of Mathematical and Physical Sciences. NSF concurred with a panel of external experts who had determined that the proposal offered the greatest potential for developing a DUSEL. Any decision to construct and operate this laboratory needs further approvals by NSF and the U.S. National Science Board. An interdisciplinary “deep science” laboratory could shield sensitive physics experiments from background activity and could provide scientists with direct access to geological structures, tectonic processes, and life forms that are best studied deep underground. A Homestake DUSEL, if built as envisioned by its supporters, would be the largest and deepest facility of it kind in the world.
Antigenic variation by malaria parasites: noncoding RNAs, histone modifiers and RNA pol II (232.2)

P. falciparum malaria parasites invade and ultimately destroy circulating red blood cells (RBCs) causing anemia and disrupted blood flow. As they develop, they place on the RBC surface the primary antigenic determinant, a protein referred to as PfEMP1. The var gene family is a large repertoire of genes encoding different variants of PfEMP1. Parasites only expresses a single var gene at a time while maintaining the remaining members of the family in a transcriptionally silent state. Switches in gene expression result in antigenic variation and allow the parasites to avoid the antibody response. var gene regulation is known to be dependent on specific histone modifications, however how various histone modifiers are specifically recruited to var loci remains a mystery. Our most recent work has focused on the histone modifier PfSET2. This protein is recruited to var loci and deposits the histone mark H3K36me3 at both silent and active var genes. PfSET2 binds directly to the C-terminal domain of RNA pol II. RN...
A microfabricated narrow gap biofuel cell with membraneless design flexibility

This paper presents the development and characterization of a microfabricated membraneless biofuel cell on a polymer microfluidic chip. The developed microscale biofuel cell utilizes glucose as fuel to generate bioelectric power and produces water as by-product. The developed biofuel cell exhibits a power output (power density up to 4.66 /spl mu/W/cm/sup 2/) which can be modulated by the electrode separation. The absence of a proton exchange membrane separating the anode and cathode chambers imparts high design flexibility to the developed biofuel cell. The biofuel cell has been tested for operation in physiological levels of pH and temperature, with both flowing and static fuel conditions. Due to its relatively wide range of operational temperature and stability in flowing fuel conditions, coupled with its harmless by-products and absence of any toxic reagents, renders it highly appropriate for applications in microfluidic, implantable, and portable systems.
Accuracy and uncertainty in PTF predictions

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses optimization, accuracy, and uncertainty in pedotransfer functions (PTFs). Optimization criteria are the objective functions used to calibrate empirical parameters in PTFs. Accuracy criteria relate to the statistical methods used to test the performance of indirect methods, preferably using data distinct from those used for calibration. Uncertainty estimates provide information about the probability distribution of estimated hydraulic quantities. Thus, a PTF can make accurate estimates (i.e., it produces the correct values on average), but it may not be reliable sometimes; for example, real-world variability is larger than estimated with the PTF. Alternatively, a PTF can be deemed inaccurate when it produces estimates that, on average, differ systematically from observations.
A Transient Population of Neurons Pioneers the Olfactory Pathway in the Zebrafish

Mechanisms guiding the first axons from the olfactory placode of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) to the olfactory bulb in the vertebrate CNS are unknown. We analyzed the initial outgrowth of axons from the olfactory placode in zebrafish and found a precocious transient class of pioneer neurons that prefigure the primary olfactory pathway before outgrowth of olfactory sensory axons or expression of olfactory receptor genes. Not only are the pioneers antigenically, morphologically, and spatially distinct from olfactory sensory neurons, they are also developmentally distinct; via fate mapping, we show that they arise from a more anterior region of the lateral neural plate than do the first sensory neurons. After the axons of the sensory neurons grow into the CNS, the pioneer neurons undergo apoptotic cell death. When we ablated the pioneers before axonogenesis, the following sensory axons showed severe misrouting. We propose that the pioneers provide the first necessary connection from the PNS to the CNS and that they establish an axonal scaffold for the later-arriving olfactory sensory neurons.
Effects of Fasting on Muscle Protein Turnover, the Composition of Weight Loss, and Energy Balance of Obese and Nonobese Zucker Rats

The effects of prolonged fasting on the composition of weight loss and the rates of muscle protein synthesis and degradation were compared in obese and nonobese (lean) rats. Lean rats weighting 400 g could survive 60 days of fasting whereas obese rats weighing 550 g could survive 60 days. Weight loss was similar in both phenotypes over the first 10 days of fasting (15 g/day), but the composition of weight loss differed. Obese rats lost nearly twice as much lipid but only one-fifth as much body protein as lean rats. The fasting metabolic rate [kilocalories/(day . kilograms 0.75)] was similar in both phenotypes. This finding indicates a slower decline in metabolic rate during fasting in obese rats, since maintenance requirements are greater in lean rats. In fed rats, the fractional rates of muscle protein synthesis (FRS) and breakdown (FRB) were slightly higher in obese rats. Fasting reduced muscle protein synthesis in both phenotypes. In obese rats, however, the FRS declined more slowly than in lean rats. On the other hand, FRB decreased in fasted obese rats but greatly increased in fasted lean rats. It was concluded that the better protein retention and slower decline in metabolic rate in fasted obese rats were related to their different regulation of muscle protein synthesis and breakdown during fasting.
EFFECTS OF REINFORCEMENTS ON DUCTILITY OF CONCRETE

To study and compare the reinforcing action of stirrups, randomly distributed short fibers, and compression reinforcement in improving ductility of plain concrete, over-reinforced and under-reinforced beams and prisms were tested in continuously increasing as well as cyclic loading. Reinforcement appears to increase ductility primarily by retarding growth of longitudinal microcracks. As a result, although overall ductility of over-reinforced beams was improved by the addition of compression steel, its presence did not significantly influence the behavior of concrete in the compression zone. Stirrups and fibers substantially improved the ductility of concrete as evidenced by the increased ultimate compressive concrete strains and toughness. Spacing of reinforcement appears to have a small influence on cracking and on ductility for a spacing less than about 1 in. Only small size beams and prisms were tested in this investigation.
ACCELERATED ASR TESTING OF RECYCLED CONCRETE

The work involves research on investigating techniques and procedures to assess the Alkali Silica Reactivity (ASR) expansion potential for concrete made from recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) which was known to have ASR, or is capable of ASR under conditions of increased alkali. Laboratory testing was done to evaluate various testing procedures designed to accelerate the ASR reaction. This included evaluating prisms with variable surface to volume ratios, increased moisture state, and microwave energy. Standard 280 mm prisms with 76.2 mm faces cast with four 6.35 mm parallel longitudinal holes were shown to not only accelerate ASR but also to lower the coefficient of variation of the expansion data. Expansion of 76.2 mm concrete cubes was found to be significantly accelerated as compared to that of a standard prism. Sealing prisms in evacuated plastic bags with water was also found to effectively accelerate ASR expansion. Concrete prisms were subjected to ASTM C 1260 and ASTM C 1293 conditions and the results were compared to those from modified versions of the same tests including the use of microwaves.
The early commitment of fetal neurons to the limbic cortex

The limbic-system-associated membrane protein (LAMP) is expressed early in cerebral cortical development by migrating and postmigratory neurons in limbic regions such as the prefrontal and perirhinal cortices (Horton and Levitt, 1988), but not by nonlimbic neurons such as in the primary sensory and motor cortices. In the present study, we used LAMP expression to evaluate the timing and potential cell-lineage and environmental determinants of the commitment of cerebral cortical neurons to limbic and nonlimbic phenotypes. The cerebral wall, containing either presumptive perirhinal or sensorimotor cortex, was removed prior to [embryonic day (E) 12, 14] or just after (E17) the onset of LAMP expression, labeled with fast blue, and placed into cavities in either perirhinal or sensorimotor regions of postnatal day (P) 1 hosts. Host animals were allowed to survive until at least P10, and surviving transplanted cells were counted and evaluated for LAMP expression. Sensorimotor cortical neurons transplanted at E14 or E17, in either homotopic or heterotopic locations, did not express LAMP. In contrast, a high percentage of perirhinal cortical neurons transplanted at either E14 or E17, whether situated in sensorimotor or perirhinal regions of the host, expressed the limbic marker protein. Surprisingly, neurons from E12 donors exhibited patterns of LAMP expression that reflected their new location in the host rather than their embryonic origin. The data suggest that there is an early pliant period in which precursor and early differentiating cells remain uncommitted to a particular cortical regional phenotype. After this period, one aspect of the molecular phenotype (determined by LAMP expression) of neurons destined for sensorimotor and allo- and mesocortical regions has become immutable by environmental factors in the host.
Wolbachia infection dynamics in experimental laboratory populations of Metaseiulus occidentalis

Wolbachia infection in arthropods may cause incompatibility between uninfected females and infected males, but infected females can reproduce with both infected and uninfected males, theoretically increasing the proportion of infected individuals in a polymorphic population. To determine whether the proportion of Wolbachia-infected Metaseiulus occidentalis (Nesbitt) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) in a polymorphic population would increase over time, three populations were initiated with 10% infected and 90% cured eggs and monitored for 12 generations. Wolbachia infection did not spread rapidly through the populations. Imperfect transmission rates and fitness costs were detected that could prevent the rapid spread of this Wolbachia. Thus this Wolbachia may not be useful as a drive mechanism for inserting useful genes into field populations of M. occidentalis.
Failure analysis using ferroelectric liquid crystals

The complexity of present VLSI chips requires powerful tools to detect possible defects. For such a purpose, internal contactless testing methods such as electron beam or laser testing, have been developed to help the precise localization of the electrical defect. The aim of this paper is to describe the liquid crystals test method, used at the IBM COMPEC laboratory for failure analysis. The electro-optical properties of these materials allow the visualization of electric signals on the chips surface.
Racial disparities in surgical treatment and survival of epithelial ovarian cancer in United States.

Objective To compare the racial differences in treatment and survival of epithelial ovarian cancer patients. Methods Data were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program between 1988 and 2001 and analyzed using Kaplan–Meier methods and Cox proportional hazards regression. Results Of the 24,038 women, 22,407 (93.2%) were non-Hispanic White, and 1,631 (6.8%) were African-American. Median age of Whites versus African-Americans was 65 versus 63 years, respectively (P < 0.001). Of the patients with early-stage (I–II) disease, 38.8% of Whites underwent lymphadenectomy with their primary surgery compared to only 32.8% of African-Americans (P = 0.005). In the overall study group, the 5-year disease-specific survival of Whites was significantly higher compared to the African-Americans (44.1% vs. 40.7%, P = 0.001). On multivariable analysis, age, race, stage, cell type, and grade of disease were all independent prognostic factors for survival. Conclusion Our data suggest that race is an independent prognostic factor for survival in epithelial ovarian cancer. In addition, African-Americans with early-stage cancer were less likely to undergo lymphadenectomy with their staging procedure. Furthermore, patient/physician education is needed to increase the number of patients undergoing surgical staging procedures for epithelial ovarian cancer. J. Surg. Oncol. 2008;97:103–107. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Noninvasive in Vivo Measurement of Venous Blood pH during Exercise Using Near-Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy:

Blood pH is an important indicator of anaerobic metabolism in exercising muscle. This paper demonstrates multivariate calibration techniques that can be used to produce a general pH model that can be applied to spectra from any new subject without significant prediction error. Tissue spectra (725 approximately 880 nm) were acquired through the skin overlying the flexor digitorum profundus muscle on the forearms of eight healthy subjects during repetitive hand-grip exercise and referenced to the pH of venous blood drawn from a catheter placed in a vein close to the muscle. Calibration models were developed using multi-subject partial least squares (PLS) and validated using subject-out cross-validation after the subject-to-subject spectral variations were corrected by mathematical preprocessing methods. A combination of standard normal variate (SNV) scaling and principal component analysis loading correction (PCALC) successfully removed most of the subject-to-subject variations and provided the most accurate prediction results.
Excess enthalpies for (propane + propan-1-ol) at (298.15, 323.15, 363.15, and 368.15) K and at 5 MPa and 15 MPa

Abstract Excess molar enthalpies H m E are reported for (propane + propan-1-ol) at temperatures of (298.15, 323.15, 363.15, and 368.15) K and pressures of 5 MPa and 15 MPa. The results are explained in terms of chemical, physical, and structural effects and compared with the UNIFAC-2 prediction.
Simple procedure for the analysis of coherent imaging systems

A simple procedure is presented for determining the Fourier-optics-regime object-image relationship for spatially coherent wave fields in a general imaging system. The procedure links straightforward ray-optics methods for imaging system analysis with parameters of a wave-optics-based superposition kernel that represents the Fourier-optics aspects of the system. Standard formulas are presented, and several confirming examples are treated.
Computer-aided design of mechanisms: 1984 and beyond

Abstract This special issue on computer-aided design of mechanisms has the objective of representing the state-of-the-art in computer-assisted mechanism analysis and synthesis. The events of the past 25 years are reviewed in this article. The brief look at today and the potential future of this fast-growing area are meant to set the stage for this special issue of Mechanism and Machine Theory.
Postoperative Intensive Care Unit Requirements After Elective Craniotomy

Objective Commonly, patients undergoing craniotomy are admitted to an intensive care setting postoperatively to allow for close monitoring. We aim to determine the frequency with which patients who have undergone elective craniotomies require intensive care unit (ICU)–level interventions or experience significant complications during the postoperative period to identify a subset of patients for whom an alternative to ICU-level care may be appropriate. Methods Following Institutional Review Board approval, a prospective, consecutive cohort of adult patients undergoing elective craniotomy was established at the Massachusetts General Hospital between the dates of April 2010 and March 2011. Inclusion criteria were intradural operations requiring craniotomy performed on adults (18 years of age or older). Exclusion criteria were cases of an urgent or emergent nature, patients who remained intubated postoperatively, and patients who had a ventriculostomy drain in place at the conclusion of the case. Results Four hundred patients were analyzed. Univariate analysis revealed that patients with diabetes ( P = 0.00047), those who required intraoperative blood product administration ( P = 0.032), older patients ( P P = 0.041), and those who underwent longer surgical procedures ( P = 0.021) were more likely to require ICU-level interventions or experience significant postoperative complications. Multivariate analysis only found diabetes ( P = 0.0005) and age ( P = 0.0091) to be predictive of a patient's need for postoperative ICU admission. Conclusions Diabetes and older age predict the need for ICU-level intervention after elective craniotomy. Properly selected patients may not require postcraniotomy ICU monitoring. Further study of resource utilization is necessary to validate these preliminary findings, particularly in different hospital types.
Correlations of Specific Ionic Effects using Ion Channels and Surface Charge Measurements

Specific ionic effects, as captured in the Hofmeister series, have been observed in many biological phenomena including protein folding and aggregation and lipid bilayer interactions. Previously we have shown that the Hofmeister effect is present in the activity of gramicidin A channels. In particular, measurements of channel open lifetime and conductance in potassium salts clearly show the existence of two distinct ionic classes which could be identified as kosmotropic and chaotropic. To further investigate this behavior, we have measured the zeta potential of diphytanoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPhPC) liposomes in salt solutions. We observe that anions alter the surface charge of the liposomes depending on the classification of the anion as kosmotropic or chaotropic. Chaotropic anions (SCN-, ClO4-) decrease the surface charge of the liposomes while kosmotropic anions (Cl-, H2PO4-, SO42-) have the opposite effect. These results correlate with our previous studies of cation conductance through gramicidin A channels adding new insight into ionic interactions at the lipid-water interface.
Comparison of the Host Immune Response to Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV-1) and HSV-2 at Two Different Mucosal Sites

A study was undertaken to compare the host immune responses to herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) and HSV-2 infection by the ocular or genital route in mice. Titers of HSV-2 from tissue samples were elevated regardless of the route of infection. The elevation in titers of HSV-2, including cell infiltration and cytokine/chemokine levels in the central nervous system relative to those found following HSV-1 infection, was correlative with inflammation. These results underscore a dichotomy between the host immune responses to closely related alphaherpesviruses.