cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inferior Petrosal Sampling for the Differential Diagnosis of ACTH-Dependent Cushing’s Syndrome

Despite the high pretest probability of a pituitary adenoma in patients with adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-dependent Cushing’s syndrome, a definitive diagnosis is elusive for many patients. Pituitary imaging and biochemical testing have limited diagnostic accuracy. Bilateral simultaneous inferior petrosal sinus ACTH sampling (IPSS) has become the test of choice in the differential evaluation of ACTH-dependent Cushing’s syndrome. Administration of corticotropin-releasing hormone further enhances the sensitivity of this test. The use of IPSS for lateralization of corticotroph microadenomas is controversial and has not yet replaced the thorough examination of the pituitary gland by an experienced neurosurgeon after the diagnosis of Cushing’s disease has been made. IPSS is feasible and safe in most individuals. It is not, however, without significant risks, costs, and limitations. IPSS should be incorporated into clinical practice in a logical manner to minimize risks and maximize diagnostic utility.
Long-term angiographic results of endovascularly "cured" intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas.

Dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) are complex lesions consisting of abnormal connections between meningeal arteries and dural venous sinuses and/or cerebral veins. The goal of treatment is surgical or endovascular occlusion of the fistula or fistulous nidus or at least the disconnection of the feeding vessels and the draining veins. Delayed angiographic data on previously embolized dural fistulas is lacking. The authors report their experience and the long-term angiographic results with embolization of intracranial DAVF using Onyx.All cases of DAVF treated primarily with Onyx at the authors' institution from 2006 to 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Patient demographics, fistula characteristics, embolization details, and angiographic follow-up were analyzed.Fifty-eight patients with DAVFs were treated during the study period. Twenty-two patients were treated with open surgery with or without prior embolization. Thirty-six patients were treated with embolization alone, of whom 26 underwent an attempt at curative embolization and are the subject of this review. All but 2 of these patients were treated in a single session. Angiographic "cure" was achieved in all cases following treatment. Follow-up angiography was performed in 21 patients at a mean of 14 months after treatment (range 2-39 months). Asymptomatic angiographic recurrence of the fistula was evident in 3 of the 21 patients (14.3%). On reviewing the procedural angiograms of the cases in which the DAVFs recurred, it was observed that the Onyx cast did not reach the venous portion in 1 case, whereas it did reach the vein in the other 2 cases.Recurrence following initial angiographic cure of DAVF is not uncommon. Incomplete penetration of the embolic material into the proximal portion of the venous outlet may lead to delayed recurrence. Long-term angiographic follow-up is highly recommended.
Economics, Environmental, and Safety Issues

The economics of fusion power is addressed by looking at various financing models which have emerged for existing nuclear power plants (NPPs) now on the grid, with emphasis on the progression from early, strongly government-supported finance models to corporate balance-sheet funding. The concepts of debt and equity funding are studied from the payback schedule and the net present value (NPV) concept, i.e., “the cost of money,” tied in with the internal rate of return (IRR). Some novel approaches such as the Finnish Mankala model and the French Exeltium model are studied from the perspective of future fusion reactor financing. Modified government support in the form of Export credit agencies (ECAs) and loan guarantees is also discussed. The licensing process for NPPs is discussed, and what the key points for licensing a fusion NPP will be. Environmental impacts of fusion NPPs are seen from tritium dose calculations for routine release, with a discussion of prevailing winds. Accident scenarios are discussed from the standpoint of a design basis accident, and the strengths and weaknesses of fault tree analysis are examined. Plume models for release of activated wall materials are shown. Finally, some simple design recommendations for the safe operation of fusion NPPs are given.
Do Vaccines Cause Deltoid Bursitis

Vaccines can cause deltoid bursitis when administered incorrectly. Resources pertaining to correct administration of vaccines, including a printable infographic, are provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at the following link: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/infographics/call-the-shots.html.
Policies and Practices in Support of Mathematics Learning in Global Contexts

This issue of Global Education Review focuses on policies and practices in support of mathematics learning in global contexts. The issue highlights relevant research findings, illuminates areas that are in need of additional research, and examines the implications of these findings on educational outcomes. The ten manuscripts in this issue focus on three primary topics: efforts to improve student achievement and factors that impact achievement; implications of assessment frameworks, scoring, and analyses; and methods to improve teacher preparation and teacher knowledge. The manuscripts are organized in this issue by these topics.
Estimated GFR at Dialysis Initiation and Mortality in Children and Adolescents.

Rationale & Objective The association of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at dialysis therapy initiation with mortality among adult dialysis patients has been greatly debated, with some studies showing no benefit from early dialysis therapy initiation. However, this association has not been well investigated in pediatric dialysis patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the mortality risk associated with eGFR at dialysis therapy initiation in children and adolescents with kidney failure. Study Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting & Participants 9,963 incident dialysis patients aged 1 to 17 years in the US Renal Data System registry (1995-2016). Predictor eGFRs at dialysis therapy initiation calculated using the pediatric-specific bedside Schwartz equation ( Outcome Time to all-cause death. Analytical Approach Cox proportional hazards regression adjusted for case-mix variables, height, body mass index, hemoglobin level, and serum albumin level. Results Median eGFR was 7.8 (IQR, 5.6-10.5) mL/min/1.73m2 and median age was 13 (IQR, 9-16) years. 696 deaths were observed during the median follow-up of 1.4 (IQR, 0.7-2.7) years, and overall crude mortality rate was 31 per 1,000 patient-years. There appeared to be a trend toward higher mortality risk across higher eGFRs at dialysis therapy initiation. Compared with eGFRs of 7 to Limitations Possible errors in eGFRs due to methods for serum creatinine measurement. Unmeasured confounders related to eGFR at dialysis therapy initiation. Conclusions Higher eGFR at dialysis therapy initiation was associated with higher mortality risk. Further studies of eGFR at initiation are needed in pediatric dialysis patients, especially among those younger than 6 years.
Design Methodology of DC Power Cycling Test Setup for SiC MOSFETs

The long-term reliability concerns regarding the latest power devices, e.g., silicon carbide (SiC) MOSFETs, need to be well understood for their rapid and widespread deployment in industrial applications. As an effective reliability assessment, the dc power cycling test is one of the most realistic procedures providing accelerated lifetime tests. In this paper, a dc power cycling setup for SiC power MOSFETs is proposed, and the design methodology is generalized for practicing engineers. At first, the aging-independent junction temperature measurement method is identified to eliminate the laborious recalibration process. Specifically, the electrical parameter changes of commercial SiC MOSFETs are evaluated in a power cycling test. It is observed experimentally that the body diode’s voltage drop at low current and negative gate bias is unaffected by the device/package degradation. Therefore, it is selected for $T_{j}$ measurement in the proposed setup. Following that, the design considerations regarding precise parameter measurement of the device’s parameter are presented. The transient behavior of the proposed test setup is analyzed, and a simulation model is built in LTspice. Based on the model, the effects of gate timing control and paralleled capacitors are investigated for realizing accurate measurements, and the simulation results are verified experimentally in a prototype. In addition, considering the measurement delay in the conditioning circuits and the common-mode noise, the practical issues affecting the measurement accuracy in a multiple-phase setup are investigated in the experiment. Experimental results show that an accurate measurement can be achieved with the design considerations.
Lineage switch from T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma to acute myeloid leukemia and back to T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma in a patient diagnosed during pregnancy

Although relapse of acute leukemia is common, a change of immunophenotype at relapse only occurs rarely. Some of these cases have been labeled “lineage switch”. In most cases, B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (B-ALL) relapses as acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We report a rare case of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (T-ALL) relapsing as AML and then returning as T-ALL again in a patient who began her therapy during the third trimester of pregnancy. The patient retained the same cytogenetic and next generation molecular findings in both leukemias. This case provides further evidence of the plasticity of the leukemic stem cell.
The photoperiodic flowering time regulator fkf1 negatively regulates cellulose biosynthesis

Cellulose synthesis is precisely regulated by internal and external cues, and emerging evidence suggests that light regulates cellulose biosynthesis through specific light receptors. Recently, the blue light receptor CRYPTOCHROME 1 (CRY1) was shown to positively regulate secondary cell wall biosynthesis in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Here, we characterize the role of FLAVIN-BINDING KELCH REPEAT, F-BOX 1 (FKF1), another blue light receptor and well-known photoperiodic flowering time regulator, in cellulose biosynthesis. A phenotype suppression screen using a cellulose deficient mutant cesa1aegeus,cesa3ixr1-2 (c1,c3), which carries nonlethal point mutations in CELLULOSE SYNTHASE A 1 (CESA1) and CESA3, resulted in identification of the phenotype-restoring large leaf (llf) mutant. Next-generation mapping using the whole genome resequencing method identified the llf locus as FKF1. FKF1 was confirmed as the causal gene through observation of the llf phenotype in an independent triple mutant c1,c3,fkf1-t carrying a FKF1 T-DNA insertion mutant. Moreover, overexpression of FKF1 in llf plants restored the c1,c3 phenotype. The fkf1 mutants showed significant increases in cellulose content and CESA gene expression compared with that in wild-type Columbia-0 plants, suggesting a negative role of FKF1 in cellulose biosynthesis. Using genetic, molecular, and phenocopy and biochemical evidence, we have firmly established the role of FKF1 in regulation of cellulose biosynthesis. In addition, CESA expression analysis showed that diurnal expression patterns of CESAs are FKF1 independent, whereas their circadian expression patterns are FKF1 dependent. Overall, our work establishes a role of FKF1 in the regulation of cell wall biosynthesis in Arabidopsis.
Cardiac Orienting to Auditory Stimulation in the Fetus.

The objective of this study was to longitudinally evaluate the cardiac response to auditory stimulation in fetuses born during their 28th gestational week. A longitudinal, within-subjects design al...
Characterization of water use and productivity dynamics across four C3 and C4 row crops under optimal growth conditions

Abstract Crop selection in irrigated conditions entails characterization of crop water use and productivity dynamics under limited freshwater availability in a changing climate and environment. There is ample scope to optimally irrigate row crops, given the associated economic returns under full irrigation, and relatively non-alarming groundwater declines to require limited irrigation, at least in many parts of the United States, including Nebraska. However, a fair and careful comparative assessment of cereal row crops for their efficiency of water use and associated metrics under optimal growth conditions is lacking. We conducted field research in semi-arid south central Nebraska during 2016–2018 to comprehensively characterize water use and productivity dynamics in four major C3 (soybean and winter wheat) and C4 [maize (long season or L.S. and shorter season or S.S.) and sorghum] crops under consistent and well-managed conditions. Crop-specific signatures were found in seasonal profiles of total soil-water and soil-water depletion. The highest seasonal total evapotranspiration (ETa) was demonstrated by winter wheat (604 mm), followed by L.S. maize (594 mm), soybean (591 mm), S.S. maize (547 mm), and sorghum (518 mm). Normalization and scaling of ETa was accomplished so as to better reflect comparative ETa per unit of heat accumulation (thermal units or TU). ETa was also studied relative to evaporative demand using single and basal crop coefficients (Kc and Kcb, respectively). Consequently, empirical functions were developed for Kc and Kcb using base-scales of days after emergence, cumulative TU (CTU), and normalized CTU. Crop-specific sensitivity of Kcb to morphological area was studied. Crop water productivity based on grain yield (WPGY) and aboveground biomass (WPAGB) was quantified and it was found that the two C4 crops were 89% more water-efficient than their C3 counterparts. Finally, the importance of VPD to explain the variability and improve prediction of WPAGB in various crops was established.
Queernormativity: Norms, values, and practices in social justice fandom:

What, if anything, is the queer project? Queer theorists have detailed the ways that gays and lesbians, and transgender people, de-radicalize a potentially queer upsetting of heteronormative system...
Chapter 33 – Animal Models of Human Viral Diseases

As the threat of exposure to emerging and reemerging viruses within a naive population increases, it is vital that the basic mechanisms of pathogenesis and immune response be thoroughly investigated. Recent outbreaks of Middle East respiratory syndrome corona virus, Ebola virus, Chikungunya virus, and Zika virus illustrate the emerging threats that are encountered. By utilizing animal models in this endeavor, the host response to viruses can be studied in a more complex and integrated context to identify novel drug targets, and assess the efficacy and safety of new products rapidly. This is especially true in the advent and implementation of the FDA animal rule. Although no one animal model is able to recapitulate all aspects of human disease, understanding the current limitations allows for a more targeted experimental design. Important facets to consider prior to an animal study are route of viral exposure, species of animal, biomarkers of disease, and a humane endpoint. This chapter covers the current animal models for medically important human viruses, and demonstrates where the gaps in knowledge exist.
Chapter 7 – Riemannian Geometry

Publisher Summary A geometric surface—that is, a 2-dimensional Riemannian manifold—consists of an abstract surface furnished with an inner product on each tangent space. The simplest case is a surface in Euclidean space R3, using the dot product of R3. The covariant derivative ∇ of R3 is an essential part of Euclidean geometry. It is used to define the shape operator of a surface in R3 and, in modified form, to define the acceleration of a curve in R3. This chapter illustrates that each geometric surface has its own notion of covariant derivative. The chapter also highlights a special situation where extensive information about geodesics can be obtained with a minimum of computation, and defines Gaussian curvature. The Gaussian curvature of a surface is its dominant geometric property and it enters into almost every geometrical investigation. But its deepest consequence is the link between geometry and topology established by the Gauss-Bonnet theorem: The curvature of a compact surface completely determines its topological structure.
Documents for the Nonhuman

As the Anthropocene advances, questions about what life on earth will look like in the geological short term are varied and difficult to answer with much specificity. What the Anthropocene has made clear though is that the ongoing existence of life, or life as it is currently understood, is not at all a given. Memory institutions face a challenge on an unprecedented scale - how does one continue the ongoing work of documenting the human record, while at the same time considering how those documents, metadata, and ephemera can be used by the readers of the Anthropocene? How does one document for the nonhuman? While an understandably bleak situation, the Anthropocene allows for realistic questions about the nature of work in libraries, archives, and museums to be asked, and what it means to continue creating records and documentation when they are for entities humans may never encounter. Further, what does documenting for the long term and unknown mean about how we document for humans now? This paper explores the idea of the nonanthropocentric document to illuminate assumptions about the frameworks in which meaning can be communicated and codified and how, or if, this can used to assess what would otherwise be a problem of endless context. Pre-print first published online 08/25/2019
Implications of nonlinearity, confounding, and interactions for estimating exposure concentration-response functions in quantitative risk analysis.

Abstract Recent advances in understanding of biological mechanisms and adverse outcome pathways for many exposure-related diseases show that certain common mechanisms involve thresholds and nonlinearities in biological exposure concentration-response (C-R) functions. These range from ultrasensitive molecular switches in signaling pathways, to assembly and activation of inflammasomes, to rupture of lysosomes and pyroptosis of cells. Realistic dose-response modeling and risk analysis must confront the reality of nonlinear C-R functions. This paper reviews several challenges for traditional statistical regression modeling of C-R functions with thresholds and nonlinearities, together with methods for overcoming them. Statistically significantly positive exposure-response regression coefficients can arise from many non-causal sources such as model specification errors, incompletely controlled confounding, exposure estimation errors, attribution of interactions to factors, associations among explanatory variables, or coincident historical trends. If so, the unadjusted regression coefficients do not necessarily predict how or whether reducing exposure would reduce risk. We discuss statistical options for controlling for such threats, and advocate causal Bayesian networks and dynamic simulation models as potentially valuable complements to nonparametric regression modeling for assessing causally interpretable nonlinear C-R functions and understanding how time patterns of exposures affect risk. We conclude that these approaches are promising for extending the great advances made in statistical C-R modeling methods in recent decades to clarify how to design regulations that are more causally effective in protecting human health.
“Students speaking to you”: teachers listen to student surveys to improve classroom environment

While positive teacher–student relationships are at the heart of teaching and learning, it is no easy task to improve these relationships and cultivate caring classroom communities. This study drew on key elements of improvement science. Three 9th grade language arts teachers and one researcher collaborated to plan, implement, study and revise an instructional routine for improving relationships with and among students. As part of this collaboration, the group created a survey to learn about students’ experiences in teachers’ classrooms. Through qualitative data collection and analysis, I examined teachers’ talk when collectively examining and discussing student survey data. Teachers’ talk turned towards and away from deeper investigations of pedagogical practice and the student survey. I describe patterns of teacher talk and analyse two episodes for which teachers collectively investigated their pedagogical practice and the routine as it related to their classroom environment. These episodes revealed that talking about survey results encouraged teachers to assess their classroom communities formatively, led to the creation of a teacher learning environment, influenced teachers’ practices, and evoked emotional and personal responses from teachers when looking at data connected to their classroom environments.
Bicycle safety at roundabouts: a systematic literature review

As roundabouts become increasingly popular, and as many communities promote bicycle use, the safety of roundabouts for people bicycling is of major concern. Although converting an intersection to a...
A Possible Role for Prostaglandins in Regulation of Disease in Murine Cutaneous Leishmaniasis

Following intradermal inoculation of Leishmania major promastigotes, various strains of inbred mice develop either of two distinct disease patterns. A majority of inbred strains develop small, ulcerating lesions at the cutaneous injection site. These lesions spontaneously resolve over a period of several weeks or months. In contrast, BALB/c mice develop severe local lesions, as well as multiple metastic lesions, with death the invariable outcome of infection.1,2 Genetic susceptibility is controlled by cells of the hematopoietic system since lethally irradiated BALB/c mice, when reconstituted with bone marrow from genetically resistant B10.D2 mice, develop an infection pattern characteristic of the cell donor3, BALB/c mice can be altered to heal a infection by prior sublethal (550 rad) irradiation. Reconstitution of these mice with normal Lyl+ T cells reverses the prophylactic effect of irradiation. BALB/c mice treated in vivo with antibodies directed against the L3TA+ subset of T cells also heal infection. These, as well as other studies, suggest that Lyl+, L3TV cells play a central role in either the nonhealing or exacerbation of L. major infections in BALB/c mice.
Efficient protein tertiary structure retrievals and classifications using content based comparison algorithms

Functionally important sites of proteins are potentially conserved to specific three-dimensional structural folds. To understand the structure-to-function relationship, life sciences researchers and biologists have a great need to retrieve similar structures from protein databases and classify these structures into the same protein fold. Traditional protein structure retrieval and classification methods are known to be either computationally expensive or labor intensive. In the past decade, more than 35000 protein structures have been identified. To meet the needs of fast retrieval and classifying high-throughput protein data, our research covers three main subjects: (1) Real-time global protein structure retrieval: We introduce an image-based approach that extracts signatures of three-dimensional protein structures. Our high-level protein signatures are then indexed by multi-dimensional indexing trees for fast retrieval. (2) Real-time global protein structure classification: An advanced knowledge discovery and data mining (KDD) model is proposed to convert high-level protein signature into itemsets for mining association rules. The advantage of this KDD approach is to effectively reveal the hidden knowledge from similar protein tertiary structures and quickly suggest possible SCOP domains for a newly-discovered protein. In addition, we develop a non-parametric classifier, E-Predict, that can rapidly assign known SCOP folds and recognize novel folds for newly-discovered proteins. (3) Efficient local protein structure retrieval and classification: We propose a novel algorithm, namely, the Index-based Protein Substructure Alignment (IPSA), that constructs a two-layer indexing tree to capture the obscured similarity of protein substructures in a timely fashion. Our research works exhibit significantly high efficiency with reasonably high accuracy and will benefit the study of high-throughput protein structure-function evolutionary relationships.
The Feasibility and Usability of the Read it Again Dual Language and Literacy Curriculum

The purpose of this paper is to describe the components, usability, and feasibility of a new Read it Again-Dual Language curriculum (RIA-DL; Duran et al. n.d.). The RIA-DL is based on the Read it Again-PreK! (Justice and McGinty 2009) and adapted to meet the unique needs of Spanish–English bilingual preschoolers. The curriculum targets meaning-based and code-based skills including oral vocabulary, print awareness, phonological awareness, and narrative development, which support strong foundations for reading achievement (August and Shanahan 2006). Fidelity and usability data are presented, followed by discussions addressing implications for teacher implementation, dual language instruction, and continued curriculum enhancements.
PHOSPHOLIPIDS IN VEGETATIVE CELLS AND SPORES OF BACILLUS POLYMYXA.

Matches, Jack R. (Iowa State University of Science and Technology, Ames), Homer W. Walker, and John C. Ayres. Phospholipids in vegetative cells and spores of Bacillus polymyxa. J. Bacteriol. 87:16–23. 1964.—The same types of phospholipids were recovered from both vegetative cells and spores of Bacillus polymyxa 1A39. Nitrogen-containing phospholipids were identified as phosphatidyl ethanolamine, lysophosphatidyl ethanolamine, lysophosphatidyl serine, and lysolecithin. Acidic phosphatides containing no nitrogen were identified as phosphatidic acid, phosphatidyl glycerol, and a fraction appearing to be bis (phosphatidic) acid. The major phosphatide fraction in both cells and spores was phosphatidyl ethanolamine. Smaller amounts of phosphatidyl glycerol and bis (phosphatidic) acid were present; the other acidic phospholipid components were present only in trace amounts. Heat resistance of the spore as compared to the vegetative cell could not be attributed to a specific phospholipid, since no difference in the type of phospholipids present was observed.
Graphical analysis of B-737 airplane pathloss data for GPS and evaluation of coupling mitigation techniques

The use of portable electronic devices (PEDs) onboard commercial airliners is considered to be desirable for many passengers. However, the possibility of electromagnetic interference (EMI) caused by these devices may affect flight safety. PEDs may act as transmitters, both intentional and unintentional, and their signals may be detected by the various navigation and communication radios onboard the aircraft. Interference pathloss (IPL) is defined as the measurement of the radiated field coupling between passenger cabin locations and aircraft communication and navigation receivers, via their antennas. The paper first focuses on IPL measurements for GPS, taken on an out-of-service United Airlines B-737-200. IPL pattern symmetry is verified by analyzing data obtained on the windows of both the port and starboard sides of the aircraft. Further graphical analysis is performed with the door and exit seams sealed with conductive tape in order to understand better the effects of shielding on IPL patterns. Shielding effects are analyzed from window data for VHF and LOC systems. In addition, the shielding benefit of applying electrically conductive film to aircraft windows is evaluated for GPS and TCAS systems.
The design and implementation of a JCA-compliant capture protection infrastructure

A capture protection server protects a cryptographic key on a device that may be captured by authenticating the user of the device (e.g., by password) before permitting the key to be used. Delegation from one capture protection server to another enables the new server to perform this capture protection function for the device. Delegation, however, opens the system to new vulnerabilities, including difficulties in limiting online password-guessing attacks and in disabling a device that has been stolen by an attacker who knows the password. Here we propose a lightweight protocol for coordinating capture protection servers that eliminates these vulnerabilities. We also report on the implementation of our protocol in a JCA-compliant cryptographic service provider, and ramifications of the JCA interfaces for our approach.
iNKT Cells Require CCR4 to Localize to the Airways and to Induce Airway Hyperreactivity

iNKT cells are required for the induction of airway hyperreactivity (AHR), a cardinal feature of asthma, but how iNKT cells traffic to the lungs to induce AHR has not been previously studied. Using several models of asthma, we demonstrated that iNKT cells required the chemokine receptor CCR4 for pulmonary localization and for the induction of AHR. In both allergen-induced and glycolipid-induced models of AHR, wild-type but not CCR4−/− mice developed AHR. Furthermore, adoptive transfer of wild-type but not CCR4−/− iNKT cells reconstituted AHR in iNKT cell-deficient mice. Moreover, we specifically tracked CCR4−/− vs wild-type iNKT cells in CCR4−/−:wild-type mixed BM chimeric mice in the resting state, and when AHR was induced by protein allergen or glycolipid. Using this unique model, we showed that both iNKT cells and conventional T cells required CCR4 for competitive localization into the bronchoalveolar lavage/airways compartment. These results establish for the first time that the pulmonary localization of iNKT cells critical for the induction of AHR requires CCR4 expression by iNKT cells.
'Best sellers' : India, Indians and the British reading public

What does it take to write a best- selling book about India? In 1933 the Indian author and barrister Cornelia Sorabji provided a formula which would guarantee commercial success. In an essay entitled ‘Best-Sellers’, she cautioned the aspiring writer: ‘if you write fiction, you must study carefully what the English public demands about India, before you draw towards you that unblemished first page of the writing block which most inspires you’. Her article refers repeatedly to ‘the Islander’, a ‘ stay- at-home’ individual with clear expectations of fiction about India despite, in all likelihood, having never been there. Despite her long residence in England, and her consistent identification as British, Sorabji distinctly separates herself here from the English reading public. The Islander, in this formulation, is the imagined individual iteration of an imagined British public, and an individual with whom Sorabji, both Indian and British, cannot coincide.
The association between childhood sexual and physical abuse with incident adult severe obesity across 13 years of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health.

SummaryWhat is already known about this subject Severe obesity prevalence in adults has close to doubled from the 1990s to 2010 and is expected to double again by 2030. Over 3 million reports of child maltreatment were received by child protective services in 2008. While clinic and population-based studies have found high rates of adult psychological distress among severely obese individuals, little is known about how the experience of abuse during childhood relates to the risk of severe obesity later in life. What this study adds Using data from a nationally representative, longitudinal study, we found that incidence rates and 13-year risk of developing severe obesity in adulthood varied by abuse type. We found significantly higher risk of incident severe obesity in non-minority females and males who experienced the combined occurrence of sexual and physical abuse during childhood, relative to individuals with no history of abuse. In addition to other social and emotional risks, exposure to sexual and physical abuse during childhood may increase risk of severe obesity later in life. Background Severe obesity has increased, yet childhood antecedents of adult severe obesity are not well understood. Objective Estimate adult-onset severe obesity risk in individuals with history of childhood physical and/or sexual abuse compared with those who did not report abuse. Methods Longitudinal analysis of participants from the US National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (n = 10 774) wave II (1996; aged 12–22 years) followed through wave IV (2008–2009; aged 24–34 years). New cases of adult-onset severe obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 40 kg/m2 using measured height and weight) in individuals followed over 13 years who were not severely obese during adolescence (BMI <120% of 95th percentile Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics growth curves). Results The combined occurrence of self-reported sexual and physical abuse during childhood was associated with an increased risk of incident severe obesity in adulthood in non-minority females (hazard ratio [HR; 95% Confidence Interval] = 2.5; 1.3, 4.8) and males (HR = 3.6; 1.5, 8.5) compared with individuals with no history of abuse. Conclusion In addition to other social and emotional risks, exposure to sexual and physical abuse during childhood may increase risk of severe obesity later in life. Consideration of the confluence of childhood abuse might be considered as part of preventive and therapeutic approaches to address severe obesity.
3-D FDTD image analysis in transmission illumination mode of scanning near-field optical microscopy

Tunnel scanning near-field optical microscopy (tunnel SNOM or TNOM) detects not only the regularly transmitted waves but also radiation coupled via evanescent waves to the classically forbidden directions (angles larger than the angle of total internal reflection). Forbidden light can, in general, provide images with higher contrast and resolution than those of allowed-light images. However, the full use of the forbidden-light information requires better understanding of the SNOM imaging process. While the multiple multipole method (MMP) has been proven to be useful for 2-D modeling of SNOM, it seems to be unsuitable for more realistic 3-D simulations due to difficulties in dealing with complicated inhomogeneous material geometries.
Issues in the design and interpretation of studies of fatty acids and cancer in humans

The methods used in nutritional epidemiology to study the relations between fatty acids and cancer risk include ecologic studies, case-control studies, cohort studies, and intervention trials examining either intermediate markers of cancer risk or cancer incidence. Each type of study design has its particular strengths and weaknesses. The inaccuracy of estimates of fatty acid intake from the use of dietary questionnaires linked to nutrient databases is a major limitation in nutritional epidemiology. Information on the concentrations of fatty acids in the circulation or in adipose tissue can complement estimations of dietary intake. Cancer prevention studies now underway are designed to test wholediet effects on neoplasia and will not be able to separate the effects of specific fatty acids from those of other nutrients in the diet. The development of better intermediate markers of cancer risk could enable the use of experimental methods to assess the relation between specific fatty acids and cancer. Research findings as described in the literature are complicated both by the multiple hypotheses that can be tested when assessing fatty acid effects and by the uncertainties of multivariate adjustment. Although there are substantial obstacles to understanding the relations between fatty acid intakes and cancer risk, there is no better species than humans for inference about diet and cancer risk in people.
Effect of mammalian thyrotropin releasing hormone on prolactin secretion by bullfrog adenohypophyses in vitro

The effects of the mammalian thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) on the secretion of prolactin by bullfrog adenohypophysis in vitro were investigated in short-term incubation and 24-hr organ culture experiments. Prolactin in the medium or in the incubated tissue was measured by either polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis and densitometry or by a homologous radioimmunoassay. The TRH was consistently effective in promoting prolactin release in vitro in concentrations of 10 ng/ml to 10 μg/ml. The tripeptide also caused an increase in the tissue prolactin content over a wide range of concentrations. These results indicate that TRH may function as a prolactin-releasing factor in the bullfrog.
Characterization of infertility and bovine leukemia virus infection in beef bulls on southwestern Louisiana coastal range.

Abstract One hundred and twenty-six beef bulls on southwestern Louisiana coastal range were evaluated for breeding soundness. Samples were taken to determine the incidence of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) infection, and the prepuce was cultured for potential pathogens. A high incidence (47.6%) of questionable and unsatisfactory potential breeders resulted mainly from 37.0% of the bulls exhibiting high numbers of abnormal sperm cells in the semen. Only bulls in the 4-to 5-yr age group exhibited the expected incidence of normal spermiograms. Genital campylobacteriosis was not diagnosed but there was genital trichomoniasis in three of the seven herds. Hemophilus somnus , mycoplasma and ureaplasma were isolated from the prepuce of 13.3, 48.8 and 36.7% of the bulls, respectively. Isolation of these organisms from the prepuce did not appear to be associated with abnormal spermiograms. Of the bulls studied, 34.4% had positive AGID reactions for BLV. Bulls seropositive to BLV had an increased incidence of leukocyte counts that were above the normal range. There was no apparent relationship between BLV infection and abnormal spermiograms.
Simultaneously generating multiple keys in many to one networks

The problem of simultaneously establishing multiple keys, one for each user in a set of users, is considered with possible assist from a group of dedicated helpers. For the case in which all users are required to generate keys, we develop a scheme that is sum rate optimal. For the case with dedicated helpers, we develop an achievable scheme and derive an outer bound. We identify conditions under which the developed scheme achieves the full capacity region and conditions under which it is sum rate optimal. We then specialize the study to a pairwise independent network model, for which we convert the key generation problem to a single-source multi-commodity flow over a network problem. Coupling results from graph theory, we fully characterize the capacity region for the general case of generating multiple keys with multiple helpers under the PIN model.
Key issues involved with the use of miniature specimens in the characterization of the mechanical behavior of polymeric biomaterials: A review

This article is arranged in three parts. In the first, a brief history of the use of miniature specimens for characterizing the mechanical behavior of materials in general is given. In the second part, several trends in literature reports of small punch and small shear punch tests of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene and acrylic bone cement specimens are examined critically. In this exercise, special attention is paid to one test metric; namely, the work to failure [which is the area under the punch load (P) versus punch displacement (Δ) plot up to the failure point]. In the third part of the article, seven key issues in this field are discussed. In each case, the gaps in the current knowledge base are pointed out. Among those issues are determination of sensitivity of test results to test variables, development of methods for converting P−Δ results to bulk material properties, and constitutive modeling of the mechanical behavior of a polymeric biomaterial, under both small punch and small shear punch loading. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res (Appl Biomater) 63: 455–466, 2002
The association of physical activity and progression of knee cartilage T2 relaxation time with 3 Tesla MRI over a period of 4 years using data from the osteoarthritis initiative

s / Osteoarthritis and Cartilage 20 (2012) S54–S296 S205 Table 1. Eighty-five cases (97.7%) were subjected to TKA while only 2 cases (2.3%) with G6 cartilage defect only in medial FTJ were undergone UKA. When M+L+PF or M+L defects are set as an indication for TKA, number of TKA performed based on criteria B (n1⁄440, 47.1%) is significantly larger than criteria A (n1⁄425, 29.4%). From our study cohort, 60 cases (70.6%) from criteria A or 45 (52.9%) cases from criteria B with only medial FTJ (M), lateral FTJ (L), medial FTJ with PFJ (M+F), or lateral FTJ with PFJ (L+F) defects underwent TKA. Conclusions: Surgical indication of TKA could significantly change by the criteria based on severity of cartilage defect onMRI. Manymedial or lateral compartment OA cases with or without patellar compartment defect have undergone TKA and they might have been chosen another solution such as partial arthroplasty after further evaluation on the ligaments and subchondral bone status. The results in this study suggest UKA or BKA indication might increase when cartilage is comprehensively evaluated in each compartment.
Externalities of Nuclear Power Plants: Further Evidence

Several prior studies found no detrimental external effects of nuclear power plants when estimating the distance gradient for housing prices within a hedonic model. Other papers found significant negative effects of nuclear power when studying real asset prices in cross sections of broad market areas.We suggest a resolution and verify that an installation effect occurs after controlling for the tendency of facility builders to seek out cheap land. The study assembles a panel of all commercial market areas, including indicators for nuclear facilities, in the contiguous United States observed 11 times over roughly equal intervals covering the span from 1945 to 1992.
Induction of hepatic metallothionein following administration of urethane.

Abstract Induction of hepatic metallothionein (MT) by urethane (ethyl carbamate) was characterized. Male CF-1 mice were treated with urethane (0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2 g/kg; ip) and 18 hr later hepatic MT concentrations were determined with the Cd-hemoglobin radioassay. Urethane (1 g/kg and higher) significantly increased hepatic MT levels, resulting in a 14-fold increase after 2 g/kg. Time-course experiments indicated that MT levels were increased significantly at 6 hr after administration of urethane (1.5 g/kg) and reached a maximum between 12 and 24 hr. Gel filtration, anion-exchange chromatography, and ultraviolet spectral analysis were used to characterize the protein induced by urethane. Pretreatment with actinomycin- d prevented induction of MT by urethane. Administration of equimolar dosages (20 mmol/kg) of urethane, N -hydroxyurethane, and methyl carbamate indicated that urethane and N -hydroxyurethane induce MT but that methyl carbamate does not. MT induction was also not observed with other commonly used anesthetics (pentobarbital and phenobarbital). In conclusion, urethane induces hepatic MT but this effect is not related to its anesthetic action, nor is it a common property of all carbamates.
Absence of change in some measures of cortical morphology in dark-reared adult rats

The frontal and visual cortices of 200-day-old rats were microscopically examined after staining with Golgi-Cox. Measures included cellular density, total thickness of cortex, thickness of Layers 1 and 3, and nuclear volumes in three layers. No differences between dark- and light- reared Ss were found within brain regions. The data are interpreted in terms of current literature on cortical effects of sensory deprivation.
Re-examining class-I presentation and the DRiP hypothesis

MHC class I molecules present peptides derived from intracellular proteins, enabling immune surveillance by CD8+ T cells and the elimination of virus-infected and cancerous cells. It has been argued that the dominant source of MHC class I-presented peptides is through proteasomal degradation of newly synthesized defective proteins, termed defective ribosomal products (DRiPs). Here, we critically examine the DRiP hypothesis and discuss recent studies indicating that antigenic peptides are generated from the entire proteome and not just from failures in protein synthesis or folding.
Mothers' and fathers' behavior, adolescents' self-representations and adolescents' adjustment: A mediational model.

The goals in this study were to examine the differential association of mothers’ and of fathers’warm/supportive and hostile behavior with adolescents’school functioning and problem behavior and to consider both the direct and indirect processes whereby parents’behavior is related to those domains of adolescents’adjustment. Specifically, one aim was to examine the degree to which adolescents’ self-representations of adaptive sociability and behavioral reactivity mediate the relations of parents’warm/supportive and hostile behavior with adolescents’school functioning and problem behavior. Participants were 76 two-parent families with a seventh-grade adolescent. Adolescents’reports and parents’reports of the study variables were used in the statistical analyses. Models predicting problem behavior explained more variance than did those predicting school functioning. The results indicated that adolescents’ self-representations, in part, mediated the associations between parents’ behavior and adolescents’ adjus...
Hemihypertrophies of the face and mandible

Abstract It must be emphasized that hemihypertrophy of the face and jaws may or may not involve all of the individual tissues of a single side of the face. Unilateral enlargement of all the tissues of the face and jaws is extremely rare and is known as the true hemifacial hypertrophy. Hemihypertrophy may, however, affect only the mandible, as the foregoing case reports have shown. It should be pointed out at this time that enlargement of the bony mandible makes the evaluation of the possible soft-tissue involvement extremely difficult. It can be seen that the presence, as well as the relative degree, of enlargement is difficult to determine, since most authors agree that the involvement of an individual tissue may be so slight as to be clinically insignificant. Treatment of a condition with such a wide variation of involvement must, of necessity, vary radically.
Interactions of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-P-dioxin (TCDD) and 3,3'4,4'5-pentachlorobihenyl (PCB 126) for producing lethal and sublethal effects in the japanese medaka embryos and larvae.

Abstract Newly fertilized eggs and one-month-old larvae of Japanese medaka ( Oryzias latipes ) were exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), 3,3′,4,4′,5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB 126), or their mixtures to evaluate their interaction using several toxic end points. The uptake of TCDD and PCB 126 in a binary mixture increased with dose and was not significantly different from that of each congener alone. The elimination of TCDD and PCB 126 in the binary mixture in the Japanese medaka larvae was also not significantly different from that of the individual congener. PCB 126 (94 – 300 pg/ml) and TCDD (1.8 - 6.2 pg/ml) acted additively to produce mortality and the other toxic effects measured in the Japanese medaka embryos and larvae at the average ratios of 47:1 and 55:1, respectively.