cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Automatic identification of origins of left and right coronary arteries in CT angiography for coronary arterial tree tracking and plaque detection

Automatic tracking and segmentation of the coronary arterial tree is the basic step for computer-aided analysis of coronary disease. The goal of this study is to develop an automated method to identify the origins of the left coronary artery (LCA) and right coronary artery (RCA) as the seed points for the tracking of the coronary arterial trees. The heart region and the contrast-filled structures in the heart region are first extracted using morphological operations and EM estimation. To identify the ascending aorta, we developed a new multiscale aorta search method (MAS) method in which the aorta is identified based on a-priori knowledge of its circular shape. Because the shape of the ascending aorta in the cCTA axial view is roughly a circle but its size can vary over a wide range for different patients, multiscale circularshape priors are used to search for the best matching circular object in each CT slice, guided by the Hausdorff distance (HD) as the matching indicator. The location of the aorta is identified by finding the minimum HD in the heart region over the set of multiscale circular priors. An adaptive region growing method is then used to extend the above initially identified aorta down to the aortic valves. The origins at the aortic sinus are finally identified by a morphological gray level top-hat operation applied to the region-grown aorta with morphological structuring element designed for coronary arteries. For the 40 test cases, the aorta was correctly identified in 38 cases (95%). The aorta can be grown to the aortic root in 36 cases, and 36 LCA origins and 34 RCA origins can be identified within 10 mm of the locations marked by radiologists.
Citation Impact Scores of Top African American Scholars in Social Work Schools: The Story Behind the Data*

U.S. tenure-track positions have steadily declined over the past 30 years and emphasis on research productivity has escalated. To achieve higher research and scholarship goals, the literature revealed that African American scholars have additional issues to overcome beyond the usual hurdles and challenges confronting other faculty. This study explored current research productivity by examining citation impact scores (h-indices) collected from Publish or Perish of African American scholars in top 25 ranked schools of social work cited in the 2012 U.S. News and World Report. The resultant sample consisted of N = 14 scholars with h-index scores of 9 and higher. Results revealed nonsignificant statistical differences between specified subgroupings, and 80% of these scholars overexceeded their respective school mean h-index scores. Future research calls for a more comprehensive knowledge of faculty research and scholarship activities overall, including unique subgroups of Social Work scholars such as African A...
Cognitive Performance of MDMA-Treated Rhesus Monkeys: Sensitivity to Serotonergic Challenge

Recreational users of (±)3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, “Ecstasy”) exhibit poor performance on a number of neurocognitive measures, with tests of memory and attention most commonly affected. Cognitive impairments can be persistent or possibly permanent, since users who have been abstinent from MDMA for many months are also impaired. Repeated treatment of rats or nonhuman primates with MDMA has consistently been demonstrated to produce specific, lasting depletions of brain serotonin (5-HT) markers, a potential source of such cognitive symptoms. We have shown, however, that monkeys treated with a regimen of MDMA (4 days, 10 mg/kg i.m., b.i.d.), sufficient to produce a 50% reduction of the 5-HT metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in cerebrospinal fluid, do not exhibit lasting deficits in a range of cognitive domains. Acute drug challenges are often effective at unmasking consequences of amphetamine toxicity. Here, the performance of MDMA-treated and control monkeys on tests of spatial working memory (self-ordered spatial search), vigilance and reaction time (5-choice reaction time), reinforcer efficacy and sustained attention (progressive ratio responding) and fine motor control (bimanual motor skill task) was challenged with ketanserin (0.1–1.7 mg/kg, i.m.), 1-(3-Chlorophenyl)piperazine dihydrochloride (mCPP, 0.03–0.5 mg/kg, i.m.) and (±)8-hydroxy-DPAT hydrobromide (8-OH-DPAT, 0.032–0.1 mg/kg, i.m.). MDMA-exposed animals exhibited increased sensitivity to challenge with mCPP on the reaction time and progressive ratio tasks but otherwise were equivalently sensitive to drug challenge. Post-mortem analysis demonstrated that 76–93% reductions of 5-HT in neocortex persist 17–20 months post-MDMA. These observations suggest that large depletions of brain 5-HT produced by MDMA can persistently alter behavioral sensitivity to the disrupting effects of serotonergic agents.
Oxidation rate and turnover of ingested sugar in hovering Anna's (Calypte anna) and rufous (Selasphorus rufus) hummingbirds.

SUMMARY Hummingbirds obtain most of their dietary calories from floral nectar ingested during hovering flight. Despite the importance of dietary sugar to hummingbird metabolism, the turnover of newly ingested carbon in the pool of actively metabolized substrates has not been adequately characterized in hovering hummingbirds. By combining respirometry with stable carbon isotope analysis of respired breath, we show that in rufous ( Selasphorus rufus ) and Anna9s ( Calypte anna ) hummingbirds at high foraging frequencies, utilization of newly ingested sugars increased over a period of 30–45 min until it accounted for virtually 100% of the fuel oxidized. This newly ingested sugar disappears from the actively metabolized pool of substrates over a similar time course. These results demonstrate that turnover of carbon in the pool of actively metabolized substrates is rapid; carbon from ingested sucrose is available for oxidation for 30–45 min before being cleared. By monitoring expired CO 2 for the appearance and disappearance of the signature characteristic of newly ingested sugar and then calculating energy budgets using video recordings of hummingbird activity, we estimated the proportion of recently ingested sugar used to fuel ongoing metabolism as well as the proportion devoted to energy storage. Consistent differences between species in the percentage of ingested cane sugar oxidized during the 2 h experimental periods suggest that individuals of each species adopted energy intake patterns appropriate to their needs. This approach provides a means by which to examine the partitioning of dietary carbon intake between energy expenditure and storage using non-invasive, field-compatible techniques.
Work and Lifecourse in Japan

Work and Lifecourse In Japan By David W. Plath. Ed. 1983 State University of New York Press.
Thermodynamic binding studies of galectin-1, -3 and -7.

The carbohydrate binding specificities of the galectin family of animal lectins has been the source of intense recent investigations. Isothermal titration microcalorimetry (ITC) provides direct determination of the thermodynamics of binding of carbohydrates to lectins, and has provided important insights into the fine carbohydrate binding specificities of a wide number of plant and animal lectins. Recent ITC studies have been performed with galectin-1, galectin-3 and galectin-7 and their interactions with sialylated and non-sialylated carbohydrates. The results show important differences in the specificities of these three galectins toward poly-N-acetyllactosamine epitopes found on the surface of cells. Published in 2004.
Amygdala dysfunction in men with the fragile X premutation

Premutation alleles (55–200 CGG repeats) of the fragile X mental retardation 1 ( FMR1 ) gene are associated with autism spectrum disorder in childhood, premature ovarian failure, and the neurodegenerative disorder, fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS). FXTAS, and perhaps the other clinical presentations among carriers, are thought to be due to toxic gain-of-function of elevated levels of the expanded-repeat FMR1 mRNA. Previous structural MRI studies have implicated the amygdala as a potential site of dysfunction underlying social deficits and/or risk for FXTAS. As a preliminary investigation of this possible association, adult males with the premutation, and male controls matched for IQ, age and education, completed three protocols that probe amygdala and sympathetic function: (i) a functional MRI paradigm that measures brain response to fearful faces; (ii) a fear-potentiated startle paradigm that differentiates responses to fearful faces and fearful non-social images and (iii) measurement of skin conductance level during a brief social encounter. Compared with controls, men with the FMR1 premutation demonstrated diminished brain activation in the amygdala and several brain areas that mediate social cognition while viewing fearful faces. The reduced amygdala activation in the premutation group was significantly associated with self-report of psychological symptoms on the Symptom Checklist-90—Revised. These men also displayed a lack of startle potentiation while viewing fearful faces and showed reduced skin conductance response when greeting an unfamiliar experimenter in comparison with the control group. The current findings may be related to social cognition deficits reported previously in children and adults with the premutation. The aetiology for this dysfunction may be elevated FMR1 mRNA or reduced FMR1 protein that occurs in carriers with higher premutation CGG repeat alleles.
Evaluating baseball bat performance

Selected methodologies currently used to assess baseball bat performance were evaluated through a series of finite element simulations. Results of the comparison show that current test methods contradict one another and do not describe the performance advantage of modern hollow bats over solid wood bats. The discrepancy was related to the way performance was quantified and the way the bat was tested. Performance metrics that do not consider a bat’s mass moment of inertia (MOI) were observed to underestimate the hitting performance of light weight bats. A bat’s centre of percussion was observed to be an unreliable indicator of its sweet spot (i.e. impact location providing the maximum hit ball speed). Bat performance was found to be sensitive to the relative impact speed between the bat and ball. From these observations three recommendations concerning bat performance were made: (1) performance should be measured at relative speeds between the bat and ball that are representative of play conditions; (2) the ball should impact the bat at its experimentally determined sweet spot; and (3) performance should be quantified from ball and bat speeds before and after impact. Using current test methods, an aluminium bat had a 0.9% higher performance over wood (maximum), while using the proposed recommendations the difference was 3.8% (average). The variation in the relative performance over three test conditions reduced from a 4% using current test methods to a 0.3% when the above recommendations were followed.
Changes in inflammatory biomarkers across weight classes in a representative US population: a link between obesity and inflammation.

Obesity has been linked with a chronic state of inflammation which may be involved in the development of metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, and even cancer. The objective of this study was to examine the association between obesity class and levels of inflammatory biomarkers from men and women who participated in the 1999–2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Serum concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen were measured among US participants of the 1999–2004 NHANES. We examined biomarker levels across different weight classes with normal weight, overweight, and obesity classes 1, 2, and 3 were defined as BMI of <25.0, 25.0–29.9, 30.0–34.9, 35.0–39.9, and ≥40.0, respectively. With CRP levels for normal weight individuals as a reference, CRP levels nearly doubled with each increase in weight class: +0.11 mg/dl (95% CI, 0.06–0.16) for overweight, +0.21 mg/dl (95% CI, 0.16–0.27) for obesity class 1, +0.43 mg/dl (95% CI, 0.26–0.61) for obesity class 2, and +0.73 mg/dl (95% CI, 0.55–0.90) for obesity class 3. With normal weight individuals as a reference, fibrinogen levels increase with increasing weight class and were highest for obesity class 3 individuals, +93.5 mg/dl (95% CI, 72.9–114.1). Individuals with hypertension or diabetes have higher levels of CRP and fibrinogen levels compared to individuals without hypertension or diabetes, even when stratified according to BMI. There is a direct association between increasing obesity class and the presence of obesity-related comorbidities such as diabetes and hypertension with high levels of inflammatory biomarkers.
Recognition and Management of Hypertension in Older Persons: Focus on African Americans

Hypertension is the most commonly diagnosed condition in persons aged 60 and older and is the single most important risk factor for cardiovascular disease (ischemic heart disease, heart failure, and stroke), kidney disease, and dementia. More than half of individuals with hypertension in the United States are aged 60 and older. Hypertension disproportionately affects African Americans, with all age groups, including elderly adults, having a higher burden of hypertension-related complications than other U.S. populations. Multiple clinical trials have demonstrated the beneficial effects of blood pressure (BP) reduction on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, with most of the evidence in individuals aged 60 and older. Several guidelines have recently been published on the specific management of hypertension in individuals aged 60 and older, including in high-risk groups such as African Americans. Most recommend careful evaluation, thiazide diuretics and calcium-channel blockers for initial drug therapy in most African Americans, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers in those with chronic kidney disease or heart failure. Among the areas of controversy is the recommended target BP in African Americans aged 60 and older. A recent U.S. guideline recommended raising the systolic BP target from less than 140 mmHg to less than 150 mmHg in this population. This article will review the evidence and current guideline recommendations for hypertension treatment in older African Americans, including the rationale for continuing to recommend a SBP target of less than 140 mmHg in this population.
Di‐tert‐Butyl Dicarbonate

Di-tert-butyl dicarbonate solvent: 550 ml. of anhydrous tetrahydrofuran intermediate: di-tert-butyl tricarbonate product: di-tert-butyl dicarbonate Keywords: carboxylation; decarboxylation; carbon dioxide, drying of; nitrogen, drying of; tetrahydrofuran; phosgene
Nonlinear recovery of noise-hidden signals via modulation instability

We demonstrate a spatial, all-optical version of steganography in a nonlinear medium. After hiding a coherent image in spatially-incoherent noise, we recover the signal by seeding modulation instability in a self-focusing photorefractive crystal.
Perfusion effects and hydrodynamics.

Biological processes within living systems are significantly influenced by the flow of liquids and gases. Biomedical engineers must therefore understand hydrodynamic phenomena [1] and their vital role in the biological processes that occur within the body [2]. In particular, tissue engineers are concerned with perfusion effects in the cellular microenvironment, and the ability of the circulatory and respiratory systems to provide a whole-body communication network with dynamic response capabilities. Understanding the fundamental principles of the fluid flow involved in these processes is essential to accomplishing the primary objective of mimicking tissue behavior, whether in extracorporeal devices or for in vivo cellular therapy (i.e., to know how tissue function can be built, reconstructed and/or modified to be clinically applicable).
Reappearance of myocytes in ovine infarcts produced by six hours of complete ischemia followed by reperfusion.

Background. In this study we tested the hypothesis that delayed reperfusion of ischemic myocardium—too late to save myocytes—attenuates infarct expansion and improves collagen synthesis. Methods. The hypothesis was tested in a sheep model of anteroapical infarction that has no collateral blood flow to the area at risk. After coronary ligation or arterial occlusion for 1 or 6 hours, sheep had serial hemodynamic and quantitative echocardiographic studies before and after infarction and 2, 5, 8, and 12 weeks later. Hearts were examined by light and electron microscopy at 2 and 12 weeks; hydroxyproline and ratios of type I/III collagen were measured at 12 weeks. Results. After coronary occlusion, left ventricular (LV) function progressively decreased and size increased to form an anteroapical aneurysm. After 1 hour of ischemia, neither resting LV size nor function changed; the infarct contained a midmyocardial scar between epicardial and endocardial muscle. After 6 hours of ischemia, LV function was significantly better than that in nonperfused sheep. Two weeks after 6 hours of ischemia, no viable myocytes were visible by light microscopy, but electron micrographs showed rare intact nucleated myocytes with scarce cytoplasmic myofibrils. At the 12th week epicardial and endocardial myocytes reappeared in the infarct. Infarct collagen type I/III ratios were 1.2 in reperfused groups and 0.7 in nonperfused sheep. Conclusions. Delayed reperfusion causes loss and subsequent reappearance of ovine epicardial myocytes, improves collagen type I/III ratios, and attenuates LV dilatation and loss of function. One hypothesis to explain the reappearance of myocytes is that reperfusion partially reverses an incomplete apoptotic process.
SOM dynamics and erosion in an agricultural test field of the Clear Creek, IA watershed

Abstract. To date, few studies have examined in detail the role of spatial variabilities of erosion on Soil Organic Matter (SOM). More specifically, the role of deposition is still poorly understood. The nature of the research is novel because it combines dynamic model simulations using the Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) and CENTURY SOM dynamics model to evaluate soil and SOM loss in an agricultural test field of the Clear Creek, IA watershed. In addition, numerical simulations were coupled with limited field investigations calibrating and verifying WEPP and CENTURY. The main task of this study was to evaluate changes in SOM dynamics in a field using CENTURY and accounting for the interdependence of historical and current management practices, erosion (i.e., soil loss and deposition), and decomposition. Simulations were conducted under three different erosion scenarios determined using WEPP to demonstrate the importance of including deposition in studies of SOM dynamics: (1) assuming no erosion, (2) using an average erosion rate for the whole field, and (3) dividing the field into an erosional upland and depositional floodplain. The total SOM concentrations produced by the segmented field simulation agreed best with the measured field values. Simulated SOM concentrations values for the upland were 13% lower and values for the floodplain were 16% higher than measured field values. The results of this investigation compare well with the simulation results of other studies in terms of the effects of deposition on SOM distributions and that more detailed erosion values lead to better performance of the model. Deposition decreased SOM loss from the field by accounting for sequestration of carbon.
Comments on Carnahan, Anderson, and Wolterstorff

In this paper, I reflect on a number of issues raised in Kevin Carnahan’s “Religion, and not just Religious Reasons, in the Public Square: A Consideration of Robert Audi’s and Nicholas Wolterstorff’s Religion in the Public Square” and Eric A. Anderson’s “Religiously Conservative Citizens and the Ideal of Conscientious Engagement: A Comment on Wolterstorff and Eberle.” In response to Carnahan, I argue that recent discussions of the proper public role of religious reason do not depend on an objectionable conception of religion. I also respond to Anderson's concern that my “ideal of conscientious engagement” is an insufficiently robust alternative to public reason liberalism.
Medicalizing Mental Health: A Phenomenological Alternative

With the increasingly close relationship between the pharmaceutical industry and the American Psychiatric Association (APA) there has been a growing tendency in the mental health professions to interpret everyday emotional suffering and behavior as a medical condition that can be treated with a particular drug. In this paper, I suggest that hermeneutic phenomenology is uniquely suited to challenge the core assumptions of medicalization by expanding psychiatry’s narrow conception of the self as an enclosed, biological individual and recognizing the ways in which our experience of things—including mental illness—is shaped by the socio-historical situation in which we grow. Informed by hermeneutic phenomenology, psychiatry’s first priority is to suspend the prejudices that come with being a medical doctor in order to hear what the patient is saying. To this end, psychiatry can begin to understand the patient not as a static, material body with a clearly defined brain dysfunction but as an unfolding, situated existence already involved in an irreducibly complex social world, an involvement that allows the patient to experience, feel, and make sense of their emotional suffering.
Analysis of the comminution of mixtures

This investigation has shown that the unit operation of size reduction can be considered to be the result of many individual comminution events and that the distribution modulus of a comminuted solid is a property of the material, independent of whether the material has been ground separately or as part of a mixture. Investigation of the comminution of quartz and limestone in a rod mill has shown that the energy-size reduction relationships which have been developed for the comminution of homogeneous materials can be used to analyze the comminution of mixtures. Size reduction of mixtures in rod mills has been found to be complex because energy is consumed preferentially by the harder material. Methods are presented to predict the distribution modulus, size modulus, and energy consumption for the size reduction of mixtures. Ce travail montre que l'on peut considerer l'operation fondamentale du broyage comme le resultat de plusieurs etapes individuelles de comminution et que le module de distribution d'un solide broye est une propriete de cette substance, que cette derniere ait ete broyee separement ou faisant partie d'un melange. Les resultats de travaux sur la comminution de quartz et de pierre a chaux dans un broyeur a barres montrent que l'on peut etudier la comminution de melanges a partir des relations etablies pour la comminution de materiaux homogenes, ou l'energie est exprimee en fonction du degre de reduction. On trouve que l'etude du broyage de melanges dans les broyeurs a barres est plutǒt complexe parce que l'absorption d'energie se fait de preference par les corps plus durs. On presente des methodes qui permettent de predire le module de distribution, le module de grosseur et l'energie consommee pour le broyage de melanges.
A Roadmap of Tandemly Arrayed Genes in the Genomes of Human, Mouse, and Rat

Tandemly arrayed genes (TAGs) play an important functional and physiological role in the genome. Most previous studies have focused on individual TAG families in a few species, yet a broad characterization of TAGs is not available. Here we identified all TAGs in the genomes of humans, mouse, and rat and performed a comprehensive analysis of TAG distribution, TAG sizes, TAG orientations and intergenic distances, and TAG functions. TAGs account for about 14-17% of all genes in the genome and nearly one-third of all duplicated genes, highlighting the predominant role that tandem duplication plays in gene duplication. For all species, TAG distribution is highly heterogeneous along chromosomes and some chromosomes are enriched with TAG forests, whereas others are enriched with TAG deserts. The majority of TAGs are of size 2 for all genomes, similar to the previous findings in Caenorhabditis elegans, Arabidopsis thaliana, and Oryza sativa, suggesting that it is a rather general phenomenon in eukaryotes. The comparison with the genome patterns shows that TAG members have a significantly higher proportion of parallel gene orientation in all species, corroborating Graham's claim that parallel orientation is the preferred form of orientation in TAGs. Moreover, TAG members with parallel orientation tend to be closer to each other than all neighboring genes in the genome with parallel orientation. The analyses of Gene Ontology function indicate that genes with receptor or binding activities are significantly overrepresented by TAGs. Computer simulation reveals that random gene rearrangements have little effect on the statistics of TAGs for all genomes. Finally, the average proportion of TAGs shows a trend of increase with the increase of family sizes, although the correlation between TAG proportions in individual families and family sizes is not significant.
Biological Effects of Nonalkaloid-Containing Fractions of Erythroxylon coca

Water soluble nonalkaloid fractions of Erythroxylon coca were screened in mice for their effects on oxygen utilization and central nervous system (CNS) activity. The fractions were screened in dogs for cardiovascular, blood glucose, and respiratory changes. No CNS effects were demonstrated in mice; however, there was a reduction in the oxygen utilization rate. Intravenous administration of the extract to dogs produced hyperglycemia, a reduction in heart rate, and a decrease in blood pressure. No substantial change in the respiratory rate and tidal or minute volumes were observed.
Comparative Response of Chicks and Rats to Dietary Thyroactive and Antithyrotoxic Supplements

Abstract Chicks and rats were compared in their response to dietary thyroprotein and liver supplements. The addition of high levels of thyroprotein to casein-glucose diets reduced weight gain and decreased survival time of growing chicks and albino rats. Concomitant supplementation with liver partially prevented growth depression and increased survival time. Heart and kidney weights of chicks were increased by thyroprotein and decreased by liver supplements. Liver weights appeared to be similarly, but less dramatically, affected. Spleen weights were generally reduced by thyroprotein and increased by liver while effects of thyroprotein on thymus weights were variable and inconclusive. In chicks fed thyroprotein supplements, oxygen consumption rates decreased rapidly after the initiation of fasting and were equal or slightly below euthyroid controls after 24 hours. In non-fasted chicks and rats, oxygen consumption was increased by thyroprotein and the addition of liver to thyroprotein supplemented diets partially prevented the increase in oxygen consumption. However, liver supplementation did not affect the endogenous metabolic rate of chicks. It appears that similar mechanisms are involved in the antithyrotoxic response of the two species.
Coincident choroid plexus carcinoma and adrenocortical carcinoma with elevated p53 expression: a case report of an 18-month-old boy with no family history of cancer.

Abstract We describe a young patient with no known family history of cancer who presented at 18 months with 2 advanced primary tumors, choroid plexus carcinoma and adrenal cortical carcinoma. Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated high levels of nuclear p53 protein expression in both tumors, as well as in the adjacent normal-appearing adrenal cortical cell nuclei of the adrenal gland. The immunohistologic distribution of elevated p53 expression suggests that this individual has a de novo germline mutation affecting p53 gene expression.
Senator Edward Kennedy: A Lion for Voting Rights

Senator Edward Kennedy was considered the Lion of the United States Senate. He was also a Lion for civil rights, fighting for justice and equality. Passion, patience and perseverance all describe Senator Kennedy’s approach to legislation. He worked across the political ideological aisle for the furtherance of civil and human rights. His political perspective was never shaded with shadows of personal benefit. Throughout his career, Senator Kennedy continued to champion civil rights issues, such as, voting, education, housing, and disability rights. During his almost five decades in the United States Senate, he seized many opportunities to highlight and forward the cause of civil rights. This article will discuss Senator Kennedy’s devotion to the democratic process and will particularly emphasize his role in the initial passage and subsequent reauthorizations of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA). Part I discusses the importance of the Voting Rights Act and Senator Kennedy’s monumental contributions to the passage and reauthorizations of the Act. Part II describes contemporary challenges to the Voting Rights Act and new mechanisms that disenfranchise minority voters. Part III provides direction on ways to conquer present day challenges and to continue the legacy of Senator Edward Kennedy.
Probable doxycycline-induced acute pancreatitis

Purpose A probable case of doxycycline-induced pancreatitis is reported. Summary A 51-year-old man was admitted to the emergency department with a one-week history of extreme fatigue, malaise, and confusion. Three days earlier he had been started on empirical doxycycline therapy for presumed Lyme disease; he was taking no other medications at the time of admission. A physical examination was remarkable for abdominal tenderness. Relevant laboratory data included a lipase concentration of 5410 units/L (normal range, 13–60 units/L), an amylase concentration of 1304 (normal range, 28–100 units/L), and a glycosylated hemoglobin concentration of 15.2% (normal, <5.7%). Tests for immunoglobulin G4, Lyme disease antibodies, influenza strains, human immunodeficiency virus, and hepatitis A, B, and C were all negative. Blood, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, and respiratory cultures showed no growth. Abdominal computed tomography findings were consistent with acute pancreatitis (AP). The patient was admitted to the intensive care unit and intubated, and doxycycline was discontinued. With vasopressor support, aggressive fluid resuscitation, hemodialysis, and an insulin infusion, the patient’s clinical course rapidly improved over five days. Scoring of the case via the method of Naranjo et al. yielded a score of 6, indicating a probable adverse reaction to doxycycline. Conclusion A man developed AP three days after starting therapy with oral doxycycline, and the association between drug and reaction was determined to be probable. His case appears to be the third of doxycycline-associated AP, although tigecycline, tetracycline, and minocycline have also been implicated as causes of AP.
Helen Crouse (1914-2006): imprinting and chromosome behavior.

HELEN Virginia Crouse died May 25, 2006, at age 91 in her home in Hayesville, North Carolina. She was a cytogeneticist par excellence who in the course of her studies coined the term “imprinting.” She also used the expression “controlling element,” which was employed in a different context by Barbara McClintock, her Ph.D. advisor. Helen Crouse was born September 12, 1914, to Charles C. and Margaret Ross Crouse. Her father was a train and trolley conductor; her mother was educated through the third grade. Helen grew up in Owings Mills, Maryland, together with her older sister, Marie Garrish. In 1935 she obtained her B.A. degree from Goucher College where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and her M.A. degree from Smith College a year later. While working on her Master's degree, Helen had obtained a fellowship for a brief stay at Cornell where she met Marcus Rhoades, who was raising corn there. After receiving her M.A., for the next 3 years she worked in the Department of Embryology at the Carnegie Institution of Washington in the laboratory of Charles W. Metz whom she had first met while a senior at Goucher College. In the Metz lab, Helen earned the grand sum of $1200/year! Metz was on the faculty at Johns Hopkins University, engaged in research on the lower dipteran fly, Sciara coprophila. In Metz's lab, Helen was introduced to this model organism and began her studies (Crouse and Smith-Stocking 1938; Crouse 1939; Metz and Crouse 1939), continuing to unravel the secrets of Sciara for the rest of her research career.
Integrating local multi-criteria evaluation with spatially explicit uncertainty-sensitivity analysis

The conventional methods of Multi-Criteria Evaluation (MCE) fail to account for local variability in criteria values and criteria preferences, disregarding local influence in spatial decision making. Moreover, understanding the interaction between MCE model input and output has paramount importance in terms of the level of confidence in the model results and their subsequent use in decision making. This research contributes to spatial MCE methodology by articulating the presence of uncertainty included in criteria weights and extending a local MCE technique with a spatially explicit uncertainty and sensitivity analysis. The article presents a methodology for multi-criteria evaluation extended by an integrated uncertainty-sensitivity analysis and illustrates it on the example of a land prioritization model for conservation practices.
Conformational Flexibility of a Human Immunoglobulin Light Chain Variable Domain by Relaxation Dispersion Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy: Implications for Protein Misfolding and Amyloid Assembly

The conformational flexibility of a human immunoglobulin κIV light-chain variable domain, LEN, which can undergo conversion to amyloid under destabilizing conditions, was investigated at physiological and acidic pH on a residue-specific basis by multidimensional solution-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) methods. Measurements of backbone chemical shifts and amide (15)N longitudinal and transverse spin relaxation rates and steady-state nuclear Overhauser enhancements indicate that, on the whole, LEN retains its native three-dimensional fold and dimeric state at pH 2 and that the protein backbone exhibits limited fast motions on the picosecond to nanosecond time scale. On the other hand, (15)N Carr--Purcell--Meiboom--Gill (CPMG) relaxation dispersion NMR data show that LEN experiences considerable slower, millisecond time scale dynamics, confined primarily to three contiguous segments of about 5-20 residues and encompassing the N-terminal β-strand and complementarity determining loop regions 2 and 3 in the vicinity of the dimer interface. Quantitative analysis of the CPMG relaxation dispersion data reveals that at physiological pH these slow backbone motions are associated with relatively low excited-state protein conformer populations, in the ~2-4% range. Upon acidification, the minor conformer populations increase significantly, to ~10-15%, with most residues involved in stabilizing interactions across the dimer interface displaying increased flexibility. These findings provide molecular-level insights about partial protein unfolding at low pH and point to the LEN dimer dissociation, initiated by increased conformational flexibility in several well-defined regions, as being one of the important early events leading to amyloid assembly.
Seasonal Biology of the Walnut Scale, Quadraspidiotus juglansregiae (Homo petra: Diaspididae), and Associated Parasites on Red Maple in Kentucky

Seasonal phenology of the walnut scale, Quadraspidiotus juglansregia (Com stock), was studied for 5 yr on Acre rubrum L., and emergence of adult males and crawlers was related to physiological time (i.e., degree-days [DD]). The scale is Nicoline in Kentucky, and both sexes overwinter as second-instar nymphs. This pattern differs sharply from previously published life history data for Q. juglansregiae on other hosts and suggests that the walnut scale, as it is currently understood, may actually represent a species complex. Date of first hatch of crawlers ranged from 30 May to 17 June and corresponded to a mean accumulation of 785 DD (base 4.44°C) from 1 January. Four primary parasites and two hyper parasites were found associated with Q. juglansregiae on red maple. The encyrtid Coccidencyrtus ensifer Howard, the most abundant primary parasite, emerged from first and second generation adult female scale insects. Application of insecticidal sprays in June or August for control of walnut scale crawlers will unfortunately alsocoincide with the period of peak activity of the scale’s primary parasites.
Silk Macromolecules with Amino Acid–Poly(Ethylene Glycol) Grafts for Controlling Layer-by-Layer Encapsulation and Aggregation of Recombinant Bacterial Cells

This study introduces double-brush designs of functionalized silk polyelectrolytes based upon regenerated silk fibroin (SF), which is modified with poly-l-lysine (SF-PLL), poly-l-glutamic acid (SF-PGA), and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) side chains with different grafting architecture and variable amino acid-PEG graft composition for cell encapsulation. The molecular weight of poly amino acids (length of side chains), molecular weight and degree of PEG grafting (D) were varied in order to assess the formation of cytocompatible and robust layer-by-layer (LbL) shells on two types of bacterial cells (Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria). We observed that shells assembled with charged polycationic amino acids adversely effected the properties of microbial cells while promoting the formation of large cell aggregates. In contrast, hydrogen-bonded shells with high PEG grafting density were the most cytocompatible, while promoting formation of stable colloidal suspensions of individual cell encapsulates. The s...
Shock Motion and Flow Instabilities in Supersonic Nozzle Flow Separation

This study evaluates the role of shock wave motion on the instability of the plume exiting an over-expanded, convergent-divergent nozzle. An array of wall pressure transducers was used to track the position of the shock in time, and a Pitot probe was used to obtain simultaneous measurement of the total pressure fluctuations at various points in the jet that emerges from the separation shock. Analysis of the shock motion revealed that the shock wave becomes more unstable as it becomes stronger, as evidenced by an increase in the range of motion and in the frequency of large-scale oscillations. For strong shocks, there is a substantial correlation between shock motion and total pressure fluctuation in the plume. Such correlation is absent for relatively weak shocks. The study indicates that shock motion affects the plume instability if the separation shock is very strong, and that other mechanisms govern the plume instability when the shock is relatively weak.
Maturation in vitro of pig oocytes in protein-free culture media: fertilization and subsequent embryo development in vitro.

In the present study, attempts were made to develop a protein-free (PF) in vitro maturation (IVM) system for pig oocytes and to examine subsequent embryo development after in vitro fertilization. In experiment 1, four IVM media were tested: 1) control: North Carolina State University (NCSU) 23+10% porcine follicular fluid; 2) PF-NCSU: NCSU 23+0.1% polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)+1% amino acids; 3) PF-TCM: Tissue culture medium (TCM) 199+PVA; and 4) PF-WM: PF-Waymouth MB 752/1 medium (WM)+PVA. Oocytes were cultured in the respective media containing eCG and hCG (10 lU/ml each) for 20-22 h and then without hormonal supplements for an additional 20-22 h. After culture, the degree of cumulus expansion and frequency of nuclear maturation were determined. Some oocytes were coincubated with frozen-thawed spermatozoa for 5-6 h in modified Tris-buffered medium containing caffeine and BSA. In experiment 2, oocytes were matured in control, PF-TCM, and PF-WM, fertilized in vitro, and cultured for 144 h in NSCU 23+BSA. Fewer (p < 0.01) oocytes reached metaphase II stage in PF-NCSU (45% vs. 80-85%) than in the other media. Oocytes matured in control medium showed the most cumulus expansion, followed by those in PF-TCM and PF-WM; those in PF-NCSU showed very slight expansion. A lower (p < 0.05) penetration rate was obtained for oocytes matured in PF-NCSU than in the control medium (59% vs. 81%). In contrast to those in control (96%) and PF-TCM (93%), oocytes in PF-WM (65%) showed a lower male pronuclear formation. Compared to that in the control, a significantly lower (p < 0.05) cleavage rate was also observed for oocytes matured in PF-WM. Similar proportions of embryos developed to the blastocyst stage when oocytes were matured in control (22%) and PF-TCM (13%). These results indicate that pig oocytes can be successfully matured in a protein-free medium with subsequent development to the blastocyst stage.
Identification of a Novel Thrombin Receptor Sequence Required for Activation-Dependent Responses

Thrombin receptor (TR) activation by alpha-thrombin requires proteolytic cleavage, although synthetic peptides modeled after the new N-terminus directly effect receptor activation without cleavage, presumably by interacting with an unidentified region of the receptor. To further define critical residues responsible for receptor activation, we performed epitope mapping of anti-TR1-160, a previously described polyclonal antibody that inhibits peptide ligand-induced receptor activation in various cell types expressing a functional TR. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using overlapping decapeptides derived from the TR extracellular domains identified four immunodominant peaks within the long N-terminal extension centered between amino acids 34-44, 48-67, 65-79, and 87-94. Soluble peptides derived from regions 83-94, but not those from other regions of the receptor, neutralized the ability of anti-TR1-160 to inhibit peptide ligand-induced platelet aggregation, suggesting that antibodies directed against this region of the TR are important in ligand-mediated activation. Thrombin receptor mutants lacking discrete regions of the TR were subsequently evaluated using microinjected Xenopus oocytes. Whereas a TR mutant lacking amino acid residues Thr67-Lys82 (TR delta 67-82) showed normal to exaggerated responses to either alpha-thrombin or synthetic peptide ligands, only TR mutants with limited deletions spanning the residues Gln83-Ser93 exhibited dysfunctional responses to either agonist (200 nmol/L alpha-thrombin or 200 mumol/L TR42-47). These data provide a model for receptor activation that implicates a discrete and previously uncharacterized sequence within the TR N-terminal extension that is necessary for initiation of signal transduction events independent of the initiating agonist.
Towards a New Paradigm in Monetary Economics: Restricted banking (or, the banking system of today)

The model of the banking system that we have described in chapter 3 has some similarities with common views of our current banking system, but there are also some important differences. Most importantly, in our model, the interest rate paid on deposits is identical to the interest rate on T–bills. The reason for this assumption is that with modern transactions technologies, money market funds and investing in T–bills can provide essentially the same transaction services provided by banks. With government provided insurance, banks have the same safety, the same liquidity, and provide the same transactions services as money market funds, and thus must pay the same interest rate. In fact, banks usually pay a lower interest rate. We need to ask why. That question has two components: demand and supply. Why do banks pay lower interest rates? And why do individuals deposit their funds in accounts paying less than they could receive elsewhere? The answer, historically, to the first question is that banks were regulated in the interest rate that they could pay. One answer to the second question – the one to which we are most attracted – is that there are lags in the market adjusting to the new economic environment. People have always used banks for writing checks. They think that there is something that they are getting in return for the lower interest rates paid. Eventually, it will dawn upon them that there is not.
Fertility Preservation in the Female Cancer Patient

Advances in chemotherapy options have led to significantly increased survival rates in reproductive-aged women with cancer. Among the many concerns of young female cancer patients is whether they will be able to conceive and deliver a healthy baby once their cancer treatments are complete. Fortunately, there are a number of fertility preservation options available for women facing chemotherapy, surgery, bone marrow transplantation, and pelvic radiation. All of these cancer treatments have been associated with irreversible loss of oocytes and ovarian function. Fertility preservation options range from medical and surgical treatments to oocyte or embryo cryopreservation using established in vitro fertilization techniques. Experimental modalities such as ovarian tissue freezing and in vitro maturation of immature oocytes are also discussed in this chapter. Standard techniques for in vitro fertilization will be discussed in more detail in a subsequent chapter.
Modeling Cancer with Pluripotent Stem Cells

The elucidation of cancer pathogenesis has been hindered by limited access to patient samples, tumor heterogeneity, and the lack of reliable model organisms. Characterized by their ability to self-renew indefinitely and differentiate into all adult cell lineages of an organism, pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), including ESCs and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), provide a powerful and unlimited source to generate differentiated cells that can be used to study disease biology, facilitate drug discovery and development, and provide key insights for developing personalized therapies. This article reviews the recent developments and technologies converting PSCs into clinically relevant model systems for cancer research.
Biofuels and Chemicals from Lignin Based on Pyrolysis

Pyrolysis is a robust, thermal liquefaction technique that has been widely used to convert biomass for biofuels and chemicals. Upon pyrolysis, the phenylpropane-based lignin polymer is depolymerized into liquid intermediates rich in phenols, which can be upgraded into renewable aromatics. This chapter describes the fundamentals of lignin pyrolysis and catalytic upgrading and reviews the recent advance in the areas. Pyrolysis behavior and pyrolysis products of lignin have been investigated; along with various factors affecting lignin pyrolysis including lignin sources, pyrolysis conditions, inorganic impurities and the presence of carbohydrates. The technical problem in scaling up pyrolysis of technical lignin and recent approaches to overcome this challenge are described. Next, catalytic upgrading of lignin pyrolysis vapor and condensed liquid products using various catalysts and reactive agents are discussed. Finally, the potential applications of lignin pyrolysis products, as well as future prospect for lignin pyrolysis, are presented.