cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of the expression of bovine growth hormone on the testes and male accessory reproductive glands in transgenic mice.

The effects of physiological and excessive levels of growth hormone (GH) on reproductive functions are poorly understood, and impairment of fertility is frequently observed in transgenic animals overexpressing GH genes. The present study was undertaken to determine the effects of chronic exposure to heterologous bovine GH (bGH) on the testes and accessory reproductive glands in transgenic mice. Endocrine function of the testes was evaluated by measuring the activities of two steroidogenic enzymes, δ5-3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (δ5-3β-HSD) and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β-HSD). The activities of acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase and β-glucuronidase, important hydrolytic enzymes of lysosomal origin, were measured in testes, seminal vesicles and ventral prostates in normal and transgenic mice. Testicular δ5-3β-HSD activity was higher in transgenic than in normal mice, while testicular 17β-HSD activity in transgenic mice was not altered. Acid phosphatase activity was elevated in both seminal vesicles and ventral prostates of transgenic mice, while alkaline phosphatase activity was increased only in the prostate. The activity of β-glucuronidase was elevated in the testes, seminal vesicles and ventral prostate gland of transgenic mice. These results suggest that chronic exposure to bGH is associated with significant stimulation of some hydrolytic enzymes in the testes and in the accessory reproductive glands of transgenic mice.
Lead Exposure Among Target Shooters

The New York State Heavy Metals Registry receives reports on all New Yorkers tested for lead. The Registry was reviewed for information on individuals who had lead exposure from target shooting. Overall, 598 individuals have been reported with exposures from target shooting. Over one-half had nonoccupational exposures. These individuals were reported more frequently with elevated blood lead levels (over 40 μg/dL) than those with occupational exposures. Hobby target shooters are at significant risk of having elevated blood lead levels. Because of the potential for serious lead exposure as a result of target shooting, efforts should be made to inform target shooters of the health risks and methods that can reduce exposure to themselves, other range users, and their families.
Bagasse disease of the lungs.

Report of four additional cases of bagasse disease of the lung re-emphasizes the characteristics of the clinical picture. Review of the evidence concerning the etiology of this picture indicates that the cause remains obscure.
Kinetics of oxytetracycline sorption on magnetite nanoparticles

Iron oxide nanoparticles (nano-Fe) have been widely used in environmental remediation, including that of emerging contaminants, such as antibiotics. Magnetite nanoparticles (nano-Fe3O4) have been reported to form on the outer surface of nano-Fe and have the potential to be a good sorbent for certain antibiotics. This study reports, for the first time, the kinetics and thermodynamics of adsorption of a common tetracycline group antibiotic, oxytetracycline (OTC), on nano-Fe3O4. Batch sorption kinetics were evaluated by varying initial OTC concentration (0.25–2 mM), nano-Fe3O4 concentration (2.5–20 g L−1), pH (3.8–7.6), temperature (5, 15, 35 °C), and ionic strength (0.01–0.5 M KCl) to derive thermodynamic and kinetic constants. Results show that OTC sorption kinetics is rapid and increases with increasing temperature. The derived thermodynamic constants suggest a surface chemical-controlled reaction that proceeds via an associative mechanism. Results indicate the potential of developing a nano-magnetite-based remediation system for tetracycline group of antibiotics.
A high-resolution computer graphics system

Discussed are a graphics system and a high-resolution printer that provide scientists with a means of producing camera-ready text and graphics. This paper describes techniques for producing three types of graphics: halftone pictures, line drawings, and solid-filled areas. An overview of the software system is also presented.
BZN THIN FILM CAPACITORS FOR MICROWAVE LOW LOSS TUNABLE APPLICATIONS

ABSTRACT Bismuth zinc niobate (BZN), a high dielectric constant material that combines low dielectric losses with an electric-field dependent permittivity, was implemented as the dielectric in metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitors. Dielectric properties up to 20 GHz were evaluated by measuring reflection coefficients with a vector network analyzer. The dielectric constant was around 180 and the quality factor remained greater than 100 up to 5 GHz for 64 μ m2 devices. No onset of dielectric relaxation, as seen in bulk ceramic data, could be detected in the measured frequency range. The results show that BZN thin films have great potential for low loss, tunable microwave devices.
Checkerboard Neighborhood: Morris Milgram and Privately Developed Interracial Housing in Princeton, New Jersey

In 1957, local newspaper the Princeton Packet announced plans to develop integrated housing in Princeton and West Windsor Townships, New Jersey. These developments and the events surrounding them i...
Unusual role of the substrate in droplet-induced GaAs/AlGaAs quantum-dot pairs

The structural complexity of GaAs quantum-dot pairs has been revealed by cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy. As a result of high-temperature droplet epitaxy, the AlGaAs substrate beneath the quantum-dot pairs is no longer immobile and its reconstruction is observed to define the crystallization of gallium droplets under an arsenic flux. The GaAs quantum-dot pairs are immersed into the substrate and further confined by the re-distributed AlGaAs materials above the substrate plane. There are two underlying mechanisms responsible for the final nanostructure configuration, melt-back etching by the gallium droplets and preferential crystallization of gallium around reconstructed sidewalls. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Sphingosine Kinase Expression Increases Intracellular Sphingosine-1-Phosphate and Promotes Cell Growth and Survival

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (SPP) is a bioactive lipid that has recently been identified as the ligand for the EDG family of G protein–coupled cell surface receptors. However, the mitogenic and survival effects of exogenous SPP may not correlate with binding to cell-surface receptors (Van Brocklyn, J.R., M.J. Lee, R. Menzeleev, A. Olivera, L. Edsall, O. Cuvillier, D.M. Thomas, P.J.P. Coopman, S. Thangada, T. Hla, and S. Spiegel. 1998. J. Cell Biol. 142:229–240). The recent cloning of sphingosine kinase, a unique lipid kinase responsible for the formation of SPP, has provided a new tool to investigate the role of intracellular SPP. Expression of sphingosine kinase markedly increased SPP levels in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts and HEK293 cells, but no detectable secretion of SPP into the medium was observed. The increased sphingosine kinase activity in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts was sufficient to promote growth in low- serum media, expedite the G1/S transition, and increase DNA synthesis and the proportion of cells in the S phase of the cell cycle with a concomitant increase in cell numbers. Transient or stable overexpression of sphingosine kinase in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts or HEK293 cells protected against apoptosis induced by serum deprivation or ceramide elevation. N,N-Dimethylsphingosine, a competitive inhibitor of sphingosine kinase, blocked the effects of sphingosine kinase overexpression on cell proliferation and suppression of apoptosis. In contrast, pertussis toxin did not abrogate these biological responses. In Jurkat T cells, overexpression of sphingosine kinase also suppressed serum deprivation- and ceramide-induced apoptosis and, to a lesser extent, Fas-induced apoptosis, which correlated with inhibition of DEVDase activity, as well as inhibition of the executionary caspase-3. Taken together with ample evidence showing that growth and survival factors activate sphingosine kinase, our results indicate that SPP functions as a second messenger important for growth and survival of cells. Hence, SPP belongs to a novel class of lipid mediators that can function inside and outside cells.
Croton oil peels.

To The Editor: Dr. Bensimon's article about croton oil peels ( Aesthetic Surg J 2008;28:33-45) is an excellent and elegantly illustrated eye-opener about the efficacy of phenol peels. Unfortunately, it appears that this unique and superb procedure, as originally gifted to us by Baker and Gordon, has become (inappropriately and unfairly) greatly underutilized. However, …
Revisiting the cost-effectiveness of the COMBINE study for alcohol dependent patients: the patient perspective.

Objective: Most cost and cost-effectiveness studies of substance abuse treatments focus on the costs to the provider/payer. Although this perspective is important, the costs incurred by patients should also be considered when evaluating treatment. This article presents estimates of patients’ costs associated with the Combined Pharmacotherapies and Behavioral Interventions (COMBINE) alcohol treatments and evaluates the treatments’ cost-effectiveness from the patient perspective. Study Design: A prospective cost-effectiveness study of patients in COMBINE, a randomized controlled clinical trial of 9 alternative alcohol treatment regimens involving 1383 patients with diagnoses of primary alcohol dependence across 11 US clinic sites. We followed a microcosting approach that allowed estimation of patients’ costs for specific COMBINE treatment activities. The primary clinical outcomes from COMBINE are used as indicators of treatment effectiveness. Results: The average total patient time devoted to treatment ranged from about 30 hours to 46 hours. Time spent traveling to and from treatment sessions and participation in self-help meetings accounted for the largest portion of patient time costs. The cost-effectiveness results indicate that 6 of the 9 treatments were economically dominated and only 3 treatments are potentially cost-effective depending on patient’s willingness to pay for the considered outcomes: medical management (MM) placebo, MM naltrexone, and MM naltrexone acamprosate. Conclusions: Few studies consider the patient’s perspective in estimating costs and cost-effectiveness even though these costs may have a substantial impact on a patient’s treatment choice, ability to access treatment, or treatment adherence. For this study, the choice of the most cost-effective treatment depends on the value placed on the outcomes by the patient, and the conclusions drawn by the patient may differ from that of the provider/payer.
Immortalization of inbred rabbit keratinocytes from a Shope papilloma and tumorigenic transformation of the cells by EJ-ras

An immortalized cell line of keratinocytes, named SPG1-3, was established from a papilloma induced from cottontail rabbit papillomavirus (CRPV)-infected inbred rabbit skin. The cells have reached 60 passages in culture and are still growing well, but they are not tumorigenic in athymic mice. Although CRPV DNA was present as extrachromosomal episomes in the papilloma from which the cell line was derived from a single colony of keratinocytes, there was no CRPV DNA detectable in the cells. Three sub-cell lines of SPG1-3EJ, SPG1-3EJ1 and SPG1-3EJ2 were then established from the EJ-ras transfected SPG1-3 cells. All of the three sub-lines contained both EJ-ras DNA and a 1.2 kb transcript of EJ-ras, and they are malignantly tumorigenic in athymic mice. These data indicate that CRPV genome and its expression might be essential for the initiation and maintenance of neoplasia, but not for the maintenance of immortalization of the tumor-derived cells. In addition, some oncogenes such as EJ-ras may play an essential role in tumorigenic and malignant conversion of the immortalized cells. These cell lines derived from inbred rabbit skin may provide a useful in vitro system for better understanding of the oncogenic processes of papillomavirus-involved neoplastic progression by transfecting the cells with CRPV genes and serial transplantation to the inbred rabbits for studying host immune responses to the viral oncogenic potential.
Mountain State University Opportunity Scholarships: Encouraging Students of Color to Participate in Higher Education

Defining problems and moving them to the agenda are two essential elements of the policy formulation process. This case focuses on how the condition of student diversity at Mountain State University came to be defined as a problem, and the actors and processes that led to the formation of a policy addressing this issue. The case can be used to develop discussion on the policy formulation process, or for evaluating the effectiveness of policies developed to increase or enhance the participation of students of color in higher education.
Genetic differences in ethanol drinking of the rat following injection of 6-OHDA, 5,6-DHT or 5,7-DHT into the cerebral ventricles

Abstract The preference characteristics for ethanol of four different strains of rats were determined in a two-choice situation by offering water and ethanol in a concentration which was increased from 3 to 30% over a 12-day test sequence. Using stereotaxic procedures, 50 μg 5,6-dihydroxytryptamine (5,6-DHT), 200 μg 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) or 100 μg 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT) were then injected acutely into the lateral cerebral ventricle in a 20 μl volume. Rats of the Sprague-Dawley strain increased their ehthanol preference following the lesioning of the serotonergic system by 5,6-DHT, whereas similar destruction of catecholaminergic neurons by 6-OHDA markedly suppressed ethanol intake; Long-Evans rats displayed a similar trend in ethanol drinking patterns. However, animals of the Holtzman strain manifested the increased drinking after 5,6-DHT, but showed no suppression of drinking following 6-OHDA. The preference of rats of the Wistar strain was unaffected by 5,6-DHT but attenuated by 6-OHDA. 5,7-DHT had little or no effect on ethanol comsumption in any of these strains. These findings thus suggest that genetic factor are an important determinant in an animal's response to a drug that affects 5-HT or NE systems in the brain, particularly when ethanol selection is investigated.
In vitro inhibition of collagen formation by 2,4-pyridine dicarboxylate and minoxidil in rabbit corneal fibroblasts.

Two anti-fibrotic agents were evaluated in vitro for potential application in trabeculectomy. The rate of collagen formation by cultured rabbit corneal fibroblasts was determined by [3H]proline uptake and hydroxylation assay.Incubation of fibroblasts, for 96 hours, with 16 mM 2, 4-pyridine dicarbo-xylic acid (2, 4-PDCA), a competitive inhibitor of prolyl 4-hydroxylase, decreased [3H]OH-proline formation from control by 28.2 ± 3.9%; (average ± S.E.M), whereas 10 mM minoxidil, an antihypertensive pyrimidine oxide and a lysyl hydroxylase inhibitor, induced a decrease of 17.3 ± 4.5%. Incubating fibroblasts with a mixture of the two inhibitors, 16 mM 2, 4-PDCA and 10 mM minoxidil, resulted in a further decrease in [3H]proline incorporation of 40.7 ± 5.1%. After 96 hours of incubation with the inhibitors, rabbit corneal fibroblast growth was decreased from control by 17.2 ± 4.2% and 10.5 ± 4.5% for 16 mM 2, 4-PDCA and 10 mM minoxidil, respectively. These effects were dose dependent. The results suggest that bot...
Quantification of carbon in Si1−x−yGexCy with uniform profiles

Methods to quantify the carbon concentration of CVD grown Si1−x−yGexCy (0.25 < x < 0.37 and 0.01 < y < 0.12) layers on (100) Si with uniform composition profiles were investigated. Two analysis techniques were used: Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) using a 4.295 MeV He+2 incident ion and elastic recoil detection (ERD) using a 24 MeV Si+5 incident ion. For the RBS measurements the 12C(α,α)12C elastic resonance reaction near 4.265 MeV was used to enhance the scattering cross section of carbon. These carbon concentrations were calculated by either integrating the resonant scattering cross section across the energy width of the layer or by using a Lorentzian fit to estimate the area. The backscattering data were additionally analyzed with the program RUMP. These different analysis techniques resulted in a large scatter in the RBS predictions for the carbon concentrations depending on how the resonant cross sectional area was calculated. The appropriateness of each technique was judged by comparing the predicted concentrations to those obtained by ERD. The divergence between the carbon concentration predicted by using the Lorentzian approximation and the ERD values was great enough to deem this method as inappropriate. The values obtained by RUMP were systematically greater than the ERD concentrations, however the percent difference was never more than 20. The predicted carbon concentration that had the closest correlation to ERD was found by integrating an appropriate scattering cross section across the energy width of the layer.
Effectiveness of a Parent Training Program for Improving Children’s Social Behavior

We tested the efficacy of a social skills training program for the parents of school-aged children experiencing socio-emotional problems. Participating families (N = 42) were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: parent social skills training; parent plus parallel child social skills training; or no-treatment control. The two treatment groups did not differ on any of the outcome measures. Treatment was associated with improvements in parent and child social skills knowledge, parent social problem solving, and child emotional functioning. In follow-up analyses examining mechanisms of change, parental attendance and change in child social skills knowledge predicted response to treatment. Overall, our results highlight the utility of engaging parents as primary participants in the treatment of children’s socio-emotional problems and suggest methods for maximizing the impact of such an intervention.
Improving military operations using low rate wireless personal area networks

Low rate wireless personal area networks (LR-WPANs) target low data rate, low power consumption and low cost wireless networking, and offer device level wireless connectivity. They are ideal for applications such as public security, battle field monitoring, inventory tracking, as well as home and office automation. IEEE 802.15.4 is the first standard designed for LR-WPANs, We develop an NS2 simulator based on IEEE 802.15.4 and conduct several sets of experiments to study various features of LR-WPANs, including: (1) star topology and peer-to-peer topology; (2) beacon enabled mode and non-beacon enabled mode; (3) association, tree formation and network auto-configuration; (4) orphaning and coordinator relocation; and (5) direct, indirect and guaranteed time slot (GTS) data transmissions.
Peak-to-average power ratio (PAR) reduction for acoustic OFDM systems

A major drawback of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) is its large peak-to-average power ratio (PAR). Techniques for PAR reduction have been extensively studied for radio communication systems. While these techniques are applicable to acoustic systems, we take a different approach that aims to capitalize on the fundamental differences between the acoustic and radio systems, namely the fact that acoustic transmissions are inherently band-limited. We extend the tone reservation technique to the out-of-band carriers, and design efficient methods for constructing OFDM signals with lower PAR. Two approaches are investigated, one based on a gradient algorithm, and another that uses random sequences. Simulation results show that our technique can provide PAR reduction without the loss in data rate.
Cardiorespiratory and phrenic nerve responses to graded muscle stretch in anesthetized cats

Abstract This study examined the cardiovascular, ventilatory, and phrenic nerve responses to graded activation of mechanically sensitive muscle afferents. Using eight α-chloralose anesthetized cats, the left and right triceps surae muscles were stretched individually and simultaneously at progressive increments (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 1.75 cm). Muscle stretch elicited sustained increases in mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR). These changes were related to the degree of stretch, as stretching one muscle 0.5 cm increased MAP 5 ± 2 mmHg and HR 7 ± 2 beats/min, while stretching both legs (1.75 cm) increased these variables 40 ± 11 mmHg and 11 ± 3 beats/min. By contrast, muscle stretch initially decreased ventilation and phrenic nerve activity. After the initial fall, ventilation, but not tidal phrenic activity, increased above baseline. These results show that a divergence exists between the initial cardiovascular and ventilatory responses to activation of mechanically sensitive muscle afferents. Further, the hypernea elicited by muscle stretch in spontaneously breathing anesthetized cats appears to be the result of excitation of non-diaphragmatic muscles of ventilation.
Digestive system development in post-hatch poultry

The gastrointestinal tract of the newly hatched chick is in a process of development and maturation. In the chicks of domestic fowl and turkeys considerable evidence suggests that, from hatching, the rate of development of the gastrointestinal tract exceeds the rate of body weight gain both physically (relative weight) and morphologically (villus height and perimeter, and villus volume). Rapid development is especially evident in the duodenum, jejunum and pancreas. Once hatched, the time at which maximum specific activities of digestive enzymes has been observed in the pancreas and intestinal brush border vary somewhat, but most often it occurs at or shortly after hatch. Subsequently, specific activities of these enzymes frequently decrease with age. Nevertheless, total digestive enzyme activity tends to increase during the early post-hatch period because of the rapid increase in the weight of the pancreas and intestines. In some instances the increases in total enzyme activity may be too small to keep up with increases in feed intake. For example, a lag in lipase secretion in relation to feed intake may contribute to the relatively poor utilization of some dietary lipids during the first 10 days or so after hatch. Although research findings on digestion and nutrient utilization have varied, there are numerous indications that, in addition to certain lipids, the utilization of some carbohydrates and protein is less efficient during the first week or two after hatch than in older chickens and turkeys. Overall, these observations suggest that additional research is warranted to obtain more definitive information on the development of gastrointestinal function in young poultry.
Application of autoregressive extrapolation to the cross-borehole tomography

Autoregressive (AR) extrapolation of travel-time data is tested using several synthetic tomography examples using a cross-borehole geometry. Earlier studies have shown crossborehole tomography using travel-times can have reduced resolution because of the limitations on ray coverage. We apply AR extrapolation to partial travel-time data and then compare the tomographic inversions using the full data and the extrapolated data. Both the overall patterns of the extended data and the tomographic reconstructions with the extended data show that AR extrapolation can effectively extend the synthetic crossborehole tomographic data to a broader coverage and can improve the cross-hole reconstruction images.
Abnormal regulation of the cytoskeletal regulator Rho typifies macrophages of the major murine models of spontaneous autoimmunity.

Macrophages (m) from prediseased mice of all the major murine models of spontane- ous autoimmunity have an identical defect in cyto- kine expression that is triggered by serum and/or apoptotic cells. We show here that m from pre- diseased mice of the same models of spontaneous autoimmunity share a serum-dependent defect in the activity of Rho, a cytoplasmic G protein and cytoskeletal regulator. Affected strains include those developing lupus (BXSB, LG, MRL/l, MRL/ lpr, NZBWF1) and autoimmune diabetes (nono- bese diabetic). No similar defect in Rho activity occurred in seven control strains. In the presence of serum, Rho activity in m from all autoimmune- prone strains was reduced to less than 10% of that in control mice. In contrast, under serum-free con- ditions, Rho activity was completely normal in au- toimmune-prone m. The activities of Ras, an- other cytoplasmic G protein, and Rac and Cdc42, two additional G protein regulators of the cytoskel- eton, were regulated normally in autoimmune- prone strains. Serum-dependent dysregulation of Rho was associated with multiple abnormalities, including increased adhesion to various surfaces, a more spread dendritic morphology, and an altered actin cytoskeletal organization. Our results suggest that m from multiple, genetically diverse, auto- immune-prone strains share a mutation or allelic difference affecting signal transduction within a specific Rho-regulatory pathway. J. Leukoc. Biol. 79: 000-000; 2006.
A systematic approach to research curricula for emergency medicine residencies

Abstract The understanding, design, and execution of research is a necessary part of emergency medicine residency training. An outline of a residency research curriculum is presented. The four objectives of this program are for the resident to critically read and evaluate research literature, learn to design and conduct a research project, become actively involved as a participant in a research project, and write and publish a research paper. This model curriculum is designed to accomplish these objectives in an organized manner and is based on the assumption that the resident has has no research experience. The program we have developed for resident research is designed to be covered in 36 hours of instructional time over a 3-year residency curriculum. The initial sessions are covered early in the residency and are concerned with the critical evaluation of research. These sessions are the foundation of the research curriculum and journal club meetings. The remainder of the didactic material is to be taught as the resident acquires practical research experience. These later sessions, conducted in a research committee format, guide the residents through the design, implementation, analysis, and presentation of their work.
Synthetic aperture radar out of slant plane motion compensation

Compensation of out of slant plane motion for synthetic aperture radar systems is essential for fine resolution focused imagery. It is shown that a time domain approach, that corrects the phase of each range bin, is equivalent to the polar format processing approach of projecting the range spectral data onto the ground focusing plane, with the two motion compensation approaches linked by a Fourier transform. It is also shown that these methods are equivalent to the spectral shift identified in multiple pass interferometric data.
Large-Scale Medical Resequencing for X-Linked Mental Retardation

Severe intellectual disability (ID),1 commonly referred to as mental retardation (MR), comprises a large collection of clinical conditions whose associated phenotypes include substantially below-average intelligence test scores and limited abilities in socially adaptive behaviors, such as communication, self-care, social interaction, and school functioning. ID/MR affects 1%–3% of the worldwide population with variable severity, is a frequent cause of pediatric, genetic, neurologic, and developmental medicine referrals, and poses huge social and economic burdens. Genetic factors, such as trisomy 21 in Down syndrome, and environmental risk factors, such as fetal alcohol syndrome, contribute to the pathogenesis of ID/MR. Although the genetic causes are heterogeneous and complex, a 30%–40% excess of males vs females and the existence in many families of an evident X-linked inheritance pattern suggest a major role for inactivating mutations in X-chromosome genes. The notion is that these mutations cause ID/MR predominantly in males, in whom, unlike females, there is no second X chromosome present to complement the defect and thereby inhibit its phenotypic expression. Consequently, a variety of molecular genetic strategies have been applied to the X chromosome, including candidate gene analysis, linkage mapping followed by location cloning, and precise delineation of chromosomal anomalies (balanced translocation, inversion, and microdeletion/duplication). These efforts have led to the discovery of a trinucleotide expansion in the 5′ untranslated region of the FMR1 2 (fragile X mental retardation 1) gene as the cause of fragile X syndrome, the most frequent form of X-linked ID/MR, and mutations in approximately 90 other genes in rarer families (1)(2). Because known genes account for less than half of the >200 delineated X-linked ID/MR conditions (http://xlmr.interfree.it/home.htm), many novel X-linked genetic factors have yet to be identified. To address this issue, Tarpey et al. recently undertook a “drain the pond” approach in which they systematically examined the …
Exercise training alters effect of high-fat feeding on the ACTH stress response in pigs.

Eating and physical activity behaviors influence neuroendocrine output. The purpose of this study was to test, in an animal model of diet-induced cardiovascular disease, the effects of high-fat feeding and exercise training on hypothalamo–pituitary–adrenocortical (HPA) axis activity. We hypothesized that a high-fat diet would increase circulating free fatty acids (FFAs) and decrease the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol response to an acute stressor. We also hypothesized that exercise training would reverse the high-fat diet-induced changes in FFAs and thereby restore the ACTH and cortisol response. Pigs were placed in 1 of 4 groups (normal diet, sedentary; normal diet, exercise training; high-fat diet, sedentary; high-fat diet, exercise training; n = 8/group). Animals were placed on their respective dietary and activity treatments for 16–20 weeks. After completion of the treatments animals were anesthetized and underwent surgical intubation. Blood samples were collected after surgery and the ACTH and cortisol response to surgery was determined and the circulating concentrations of FFAs, glucose, cholesterol, insulin, and IGF-1 were measured. Consistent with our hypothesis, high-fat feeding increased FFAs by 200% and decreased the ACTH stress response by 40%. In exercise-trained animals, the high-fat diet also increased FFA; however, the increase in FFA in exercise-trained pigs was accompanied by a 60% increase in the ACTH response. The divergent effect of high-fat feeding on ACTH response was not expected, as exercise training alone had no effect on the ACTH response. Results demonstrate a significant interaction between diet and exercise and their effect on the ACTH response. The divergent effects of high-fat diet could not be explained by changes in weight gain, blood glucose, insulin, or IGF-1, as these were altered by high-fat feeding, but unaffected by exercise training. Thus, the increase in FFA with high-fat feeding may explain the blunted ACTH response to an acute stressor in sedentary animals, but cannot explain the exaggerated response in exercise trained animals.
Diagnosis and treatment of pediatric nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and the implications for bariatric surgery

This review focuses on the diagnosis, risk factors, prevalence, pathogenesis and treatment of pediatric nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). NASH is a progressive form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the most common cause of chronic liver disease in children. The factors that account for differences between children with NASH and children with milder forms of NAFLD are unclear. The diagnosis of NASH requires interpretation of liver histology because no noninvasive markers predict the presence or severity of NASH. There is no proven treatment for NASH. Several clinical trials for NAFLD are in progress; however, clinical trials focusing on NASH are needed. Heightened physician awareness of NAFLD, NASH, and associated risk factors is important to identify and treat affected children.
Efficient multiple-click models in web search

Many tasks that leverage web search users' implicit feedback rely on a proper and unbiased interpretation of user clicks. Previous eye-tracking experiments and studies on explaining position-bias of user clicks provide a spectrum of hypotheses and models on how an average user examines and possibly clicks web documents returned by a search engine with respect to the submitted query. In this paper, we attempt to close the gap between previous work, which studied how to model a single click, and the reality that multiple clicks on web documents in a single result page are not uncommon. Specifically, we present two multiple-click models: the independent click model (ICM) which is reformulated from previous work, and the dependent click model (DCM) which takes into consideration dependencies between multiple clicks. Both models can be efficiently learned with linear time and space complexities. More importantly, they can be incrementally updated as new click logs flow in. These are well-demanded properties in reality.We systematically evaluate the two models on click logs obtained in July 2008 from a major commercial search engine. The data set, after preprocessing, contains over 110 thousand distinct queries and 8.8 million query sessions. Extensive experimental studies demonstrate the gain of modeling multiple clicks and their dependencies. Finally, we note that since our experimental setup does not rely on tweaking search result rankings, it can be easily adopted by future studies.
Plasma Fibrinogen Levels in Healthy Postmenopausal Women: Physical Activity and Hormone Replacement Status

Background Fibrinogen is a major component of the coagulation system and a powerful independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women. Regular physical activity has been recommended as an effective clinical approach to lowering plasma fibrinogen levels; currently, however, there are little or no data to support a relationship between habitual exercise status and plasma fibrinogen levels in healthy postmenopausal women who either use or do not use hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Methods Plasma fibrinogen levels were measured in 20 physically active (56 +/- 1 yr) and 31 sedentary (58 +/- 1 yr) healthy postmenopausal women. Nine (45%) physically active and 15 (48%) sedentary women had been using HRT for > 1 year; the others were nonusers of HRT. Results Plasma fibrinogen levels were approximately 15% lower (p = .001) in the physically active women (2.48 +/- .08 g/L) than the sedentary controls (2.92 +/- .06 g/L) and approximately 7% lower (p = .04) in the users (2.65 +/- .08 g/L) versus nonusers (2.84 +/- .08 g/L) of HRT. Moreover, the lower (0.4 g/L) plasma fibrinogen levels associated with regular physical activity were evident in both the users (2.39 +/- .11 vs 2.80 +/- .08 g/L, p = .001) and nonusers (2.56 +/- .11 vs 3.03 +/- .08 g/L, p = .006) of HRT. Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that percent body fat was the primary determinant of plasma fibrinogen levels, accounting for 30% of the variability. Conclusions Regular physical activity is associated with lower plasma fibrinogen levels in postmenopausal women; the lower plasma fibrinogen levels associated with regular physical activity are evident in both users and nonusers of HRT; and plasma fibrinogen levels are positively related to percent body fat in postmenopausal women differing in physical activity and HRT status. Lower plasma fibrinogen levels in physically active postmenopausal women may contribute to their lower risk of cardiovascular disease.
Psychopharmacology in pediatric critical care.

Psychopharmacologic treatment in pediatric critical care requires a careful child or adolescent psychiatric evaluation, including a thorough review of the history of present illness or injury, any current or pre-existing psychiatric disorder, past history, and laboratory studies. Although there is limited evidence to guide psychopharmacologic practice in this setting, psychopharmacologic treatment is increasing in critical care, with known indications for treatment, benefits, and risks; initial dosing guidelines; and best practices. Treatment is guided by the knowledge bases in pediatric physiology, psycho-pharmacology, and treatment of critically ill adults. Pharmacologic considerations include pharmacokinetic and pharmcodynamic aspects of specific drugs and drug classes, in particular elimination half-life, developmental considerations, drug interactions, and adverse effects. Evaluation and management of pain is a key initial step, as pain may mimic psychiatric symptoms and its effective treatment can ameliorate them. Patient comfort and safety are primary objectives for children who are acutely ill and who will survive and for those who will not. Judicious use of psychopharmacolgic agents in pediatric critical care using the limited but growing evidence base and a clinical best practices collaborative approach can reduce anxiety,sadness, disorientation, and agitation; improve analgesia; and save lives of children who are suicidal or delirious. In addition to pain, other disorders or indications for psychopharmacologic treatment are affective disorders;PTSD; post-suicide attempt patients; disruptive behavior disorders (especially ADHD); and adjustment, developmental, and substance use disorders. Treating children who are critically ill with psychotropic drugs is an integral component of comprehensive pediatric critical care in relieving pain and delirium; reducing inattention or agitation or aggressive behavior;relieving acute stress, anxiety, or depression; and improving sleep and nutrition. In palliative care, psychopharmacology is integrated with psychologicapproaches to enhance children's comfort at the end of life. Defining how best to prevent the adverse consequences of suffering and stress in pediatric critical care is a goal for protocols and for new psychopharmacologic research [23,153]. Language: en
Secondary Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma Following Precursor B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Although relapse of lymphoma/leukemia is not uncommon, sequential development of a second lymphoma/leukemia of a different cell lineage is rare. We report the case of a 3-year-old girl who initially presented with precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), characterized by a cryptic t(12;21) with associated ETV6/RUNX1 fusion, an 11q (MLL) deletion, and a balanced inv(2)(q31q37). She was successfully treated but five years later developedthymicprecursor T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL) expressing a completely different phenotypic profile. Fluorescence in situ hybridization testing identified a MLL rearrangement but indicated no ETV6/RUNX1 fusion. Although the marrow was uninvolved, aspirates evaluated by chromosome studies revealed the same inv(2q), suggesting a constitutional abnormality distinct from the somatic alterations associated with her B-ALL and T-LBL. This raisesthe possibilityof a potential tumor suppressor gene or proto-oncogene residing in the region of the inversion breakpoints which could contribute to predisposition to the development of lymphoblastic leukemias/lymphomas. While secondary leukemia may emerge as a therapy-related process and the presence of an MLL rearrangement in the T-LBL represents an interesting abnormality in this regard,athymicpresentation would be exceedingly unusual. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of B-ALL followed by an apparently genetically unrelatedT-LBL
The statistical analysis of burn patient data : a historical review

Statistical methods used in recent years to examine burn patient data and mortality are reviewed. These include increasingly complex techniques ranging from descriptive approaches through univariate hypothesis testing and probit analysis to multivariate modelling procedures. The appropriate use of these techniques is discussed. Illustrations are drawn from a number of studies using large and small data bases. The sources of these studies are international.
CO-Sputtered Composite films Of YBa2Cu3O7-xand LaAIO3

We have grown thin film composites of and YBa2Cu3O7-x and LaAlO3 by co-sputtering. A film with composition of 10% LaAIO3 by volume had a transition temperature of 58K and critical current density of 1.2 x 106 A/cm2 at 4K. We measured the temperature dependence of the critical current and obtained a good fit with Ginzburg-Landau theory for thin films. A perpendicular magnetic field was applied, and the critical current and pinning force measured. At 70 kOe, the critical current was suppressed only a factor of 4 from its zero-field value. The measured pinning force was 2 x 109 dyn/cm3 at 70 kOe and is comparable to that of YBa2Cu3O7-x films.
Efficacy and Safety of Propofol-Mediated Sedation for Outpatient Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).

Propofol sedation for endoscopy may result in a rapid and unpredictable progression from deep sedation to general anesthesia, leading to potential complications. We investigated the incidence and predictors of sedation-related adverse events (SAEs) in nonintubated patients who underwent outpatient ERCP procedures with propofol sedation. We conducted a retrospective study of patients who underwent propofol sedation for ERCP procedures. Patients were sedated using propofol in combination with low-dose opiates. Data collected included patient demographics, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASAs) physical status, and procedure times. SAE includes hypoxia (pulse oximetry <90 %), hypotension (systolic blood pressure <90 mmHg), and conversation to endotracheal intubation. Factors associated with SAEs were examined by univariate analysis and multivariate regression analysis (MVA). A total of 3041 patients were evaluated. The median BMI was 25.2 kg/m2, and the median ASA score was 3. The mean (±SD) duration of the procedures was 59 ± 23 min. Hypoxia requiring airway manipulation occurred in 28 % (n = 843) patients and hypotension requiring vasopressors in 0.4 % (n = 12). Forty-nine (1.6 %) patients required endotracheal intubation as a result of food in the stomach. Procedures underwent early termination in 8 (0.3 %) cases due to sedation-related hypotension (n = 5) and refractory laryngospasm (n = 3). Six patients were admitted after the ERCP for aspiration pneumonia as a result of sedation. Patients who developed SAE were older, had a higher mean BMI, and had longer mean procedure durations. On MVA, older age (p = 0.003), female sex (p = 0.001), BMI (p = 0.02), and ASA class ≥3 (p = 0.01) independently predicted SAEs. Propofol can be used safely and effectively as a sedative agent for patients undergoing ERCPs when administered by trained professionals. Age, female sex, BMI, and ASA class ≥3 are independent predictors of SAEs.
Weaving Cultural Past into the Present in Multicultural Education

Section Editors: Ming Fang He, Isabel Nunez, Maria Jose Botelho, Chris Liska Carger, Cheryl E. Matias, and Helen Maniates SectionC. Sleeter. (2015). White Bread: Weaving Cultural Past into the Pres...
Remote Test of Relay Protection Based on IEC 61850

With wide application of IEC 61850 based communication network in digital substation,implementation of remote test of relay protection in digital substation has shown the technical feasibility and economic necessity. The design to realize remote test is proposed,by setting up a dedicated remote test control unit (RTCU) at substation bay level and modernization of the merging unit (MU),which has been simulated in laboratory experiments. Finally,the suggestions on the application step of remote test are proposed.
Evaluation of robotic needle steering in ex vivo tissue

Insertion velocity, tip asymmetry, and shaft diameter may influence steerable needle insertion paths in soft tissue. In this paper we examine the effects of these variables on needle paths in ex vivo goat liver, and demonstrate practical applications of robotic needle steering for ablation, biopsy, and brachytherapy. All experiments were performed using a new portable needle steering robot that steers asymmetric-tip needles under fluoroscopic imaging. For bevel-tip needles, we found that larger diameter needles resulted in less curvature, i.e. less steerability, confirming previous experiments in artificial tissue. The needles steered with radii of curvature ranging from 3.4 cm (for the most steerable pre-bent needle) to 2.97m (for the least steerable bevel needle). Pre-bend angle significantly affected needle curvature, but bevel angle did not. We hypothesize that biological tissue characteristics such as inhomogeneity and viscoelasticity significantly increase path variability. These results underscore the need for closed-loop image guidance for needle steering in biological tissues with complex internal structure.
Using complementary approaches to identify trans‐domain nuclear gene transfers in the extremophile Galdieria sulphuraria (Rhodophyta)

Identification of horizontal gene transfers (HGTs) has primarily relied on phylogenetic tree based methods, which require a rich sampling of sequenced genomes to ensure a reliable inference. Because the success of phylogenetic approaches depends on the breadth and depth of the database, researchers usually apply stringent filters to detect only the most likely gene transfers in the genomes of interest. One such study focused on a highly conservative estimate of trans-domain gene transfers in the extremophile eukaryote, Galdieria sulphuraria (Galdieri) Merola (Rhodophyta), by applying multiple filters in their phylogenetic pipeline. This led to the identification of 75 inter-domain acquisitions from Bacteria or Archaea. Because of the evolutionary, ecological, and potential biotechnological significance of foreign genes in algae, alternative approaches and pipelines complementing phylogenetics are needed for a more comprehensive assessment of HGT. We present here a novel pipeline that uncovered 17 novel foreign genes of prokaryotic origin in G. sulphuraria, results that are supported by multiple lines of evidence including composition-based, comparative data, and phylogenetics. These genes encode a variety of potentially adaptive functions, from metabolite transport to DNA repair.
The Prophet and the Woman Who Shatters and Heals

What does the story of Jesus's anointment by a woman say about pastoral care? This is a case study which addresses pastoral care in a communal and medical setting. Jesus both challenges and comforts in His response to those at table. The case study raises for reflection the question of whom I am at table with and what the answer says about me.
Global surgical electives in residency: The impact on training and future practice.

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to evaluate perceptions regarding the value of global surgical electives (GSEs) and pursuit of a career in global surgery amongst residents and surgeons. Methods We sent an anonymous questionnaire to all current and former surgical residents of our tertiary-care, university-based institution from the years 2000–2013. Questions addressed the experience and value of practicing surgery in low or middle income countries (LMIC) in residency and as a career. Results Twenty-three (40%) graduates (G) and 36 (84%) surgical residents (R) completed the survey. Thirteen residents (36%) and 13 (52%) graduates had delivered surgical care in a LMIC. Respondents stated that their experience positively impacted patient care (G = 80% vs R = 75%) and learning (G = 75% vs R = 90%). Of the 4 graduates still working in a LMIC, the majority (75%) were providing less than 2 months of care. Logistical reasons and family obligations were the most common barriers (n = 13). Conclusion Few graduates are able to incorporate global surgery into their practice despite interest. For enduring participation, logistical and family support is needed.