cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Acute ventriculoperitoneal shunt malfunction following opening of the spinal subarachnoid space

Tubbs et al. present a case series of five patients who experienced ventriculoperitoneal shunt malfunction with intraspinal subarachnoid surgical manipulation implicated as the pivotal factor in conversion of a stable, suboptimally functioning, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt system into an acutely obstructed one. They conjecture a “siphoning” effect in the subarachnoid cranial–spinal subarachnoid space as causative in proximal shunt obstruction; a likely mechanism. Common intradural spinal procedures in children with hydrocephalus include spinal cord detethering and dysraphism, baclofen pump placement, Chiari and syringomyelia, and dorsal rhizotomy. Each of their patients underwent preoperative computed tomography scans confirming stable ventricular size before the spinal procedure, suggesting a preexisting clinical suspicion of this potential complication. The authors concluded that the neurosurgeon be aware that acute shunt malfunction may occur after intradural spinal procedures and recommend more careful clinical postoperative followup. Other than close postoperative clinical evaluation, should there be any additional shunt evaluation performed in these patients? Are there any maneuvers to reduce the risk of acute shunt malfunction? Other than the preoperative axial imaging, additional testing of the shunt system would likely be difficult to interpret in an asymptomatic patient (i.e., shunt tap, radionuclide shunt function study). However, repeat postoperative imaging may detect an early acute shunt malfunction prior to discharge from the hospital and might be worth considering in selected patients. Another recommendation I would make, to decrease the risk of acute shunt malfunction, is to position the patient in 10 to 20 degrees of Trendelenburg during the intradural portion of the spinal procedure to minimize loss of CSF or entrainment of air. At St. Louis Children’s Hospital, we have used this position during selective dorsal rhizotomy procedures in approximately 200 patients with hydrocephalus and preexisting shunts and have not seen any acute shunt malfunctions after the intradural spinal procedure (unpublished institutional data).
A search for superconductivity in platinum and nickel films with adsorbed hydrogen

Abstract The adsorption of hydrogen onto the surfaces of thin films of platinum and nickel at low temperature decreases their electrical conductance slightly. This effect is smaller for platinum than for nickel. The films do not undergo a superconducting transition when cooled down to 1.11 K for the platinum and 1.32 K for the nickel.
8D: interacting with a relightable glasses-free 3D display

We present an 8-dimensional (8D) display that allows glasses-free viewing of 3D imagery, whist capturing and reacting to incident environmental and user controlled light sources. We demonstrate two interactive possibilities enabled by our lens-array-based hardware prototype, and realtime GPU-accelerated software pipeline. Additionally, we describe a path to deploying such displays in the future, using current Sensor-in-Pixel (SIP) LCD panels, which physically collocate sensing and display elements.
Development and application of an integral method for the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations

A new integral approach to solving linear elliptic equations was first developed and then applied to the nonlinear incompressible Navier-Stokes(NS) equations. For the NS equations the Direct, Formal Integration (DFI) method was applied to calculate the velocity and pressure, in a rectangular channel and in a driven cavity. For the calculation of pressure, three techniques were incorporated into the DFI scheme. Abdallah's method for calculating the pressure, with DFI, was computationally most efficient for the channel flow problem. For the driven cavity experiment, DFI with ''SIMPLE'' was the best. In all cases, the divergence-free constraint served as a check and convergence criteria.
Coordinated regulation of HOX gene expression in myometrium and uterine leiomyoma

Abstract Objective: To measure HOXA10 gene expression in uterine myometrium and leiomyoma throughout the menstrual cycle. Design: HOXA10 gene expression was measured in paired myometrium and leiomyoma from the same uterus. Setting: University medical center. Patient(s): Thirty-one patients with leiomyoma. Intervention(s): Collection of leiomyoma and myometrial tissue during hysterectomy. Main Outcome Measure(s): HOXA10 gene expression was analyzed by Northern analysis and quantified by laser densitometry. Result(s): Both myometrium and leiomyoma continued to express HOXA10 in the adult and menstrual cycle stage-specific regulation was evident in both tissues. During the mid-secretory phase of the menstrual cycle, HOXA10 expression decreased in both leiomyoma and myometrium. At all points in the menstrual cycle HOXA10 expression in leiomyoma was similar to expression in paired myometrium. Conclusion(s): HOXA10 is expressed in both myometrium and leiomyoma. Coordinated regulation of this transcript factor suggests similar gene activation in both leiomyoma and myometrium. Diminished expression of HOXA10, a gene that normally causes differentiation, may allow increased growth resulting in the increased mitosis seen in the secretory phase. The identification of this developmental control gene in myometrium and leiomyoma may lead to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms responsible for growth and differentiation of these tissues.
Cenozoic stratigraphy of the Sahara, Northern Africa

Abstract This paper presents an overview of the Cenozoic stratigraphic record in the Sahara, and shows that the strata display some remarkably similar characteristics across much of the region. In fact, some lithologies of certain ages are exceptionally widespread and persistent, and many of the changes from one lithology to another appear to have been relatively synchronous across the Sahara. The general stratigraphic succession is that of a transition from early Cenozoic carbonate strata to late Cenozoic siliciclastic strata. This transition in lithology coincides with a long-term eustatic fall in sea level since the middle Cretaceous and with a global climate transition from a Late Cretaceous–Early Eocene “warm mode” to a Late Eocene–Quaternary “cool mode”. Much of the shorter-term stratigraphic variability in the Sahara (and even the regional unconformities) also can be correlated with specific changes in sea level, climate, and tectonic activity during the Cenozoic. Specifically, Paleocene and Eocene carbonate strata and phosphate are suggestive of a warm and humid climate, whereas latest Eocene evaporitic strata (and an end-Eocene regional unconformity) are correlated with a eustatic fall in sea level, the build-up of ice in Antarctica, and the appearance of relatively arid climates in the Sahara. The absence of Oligocene strata throughout much of the Sahara is attributed to the effects of generally low eustatic sea level during the Oligocene and tectonic uplift in certain areas during the Late Eocene and Oligocene. Miocene sandstone and conglomerate are attributed to the effects of continued tectonic uplift around the Sahara, generally low eustatic sea level, and enough rainfall to support the development of extensive fluvial systems. Middle–Upper Miocene carbonate strata accumulated in northern Libya in response to a eustatic rise in sea level, whereas Upper Miocene mudstone accumulated along the south side of the Atlas Mountains because uplift of the mountains blocked fluvial access to the Mediterranean Sea. Uppermost Miocene evaporites (and an end-Miocene regional unconformity) in the northern Sahara are correlated with the Messinian desiccation of the Mediterranean Sea. Abundant and widespread Pliocene paleosols are attributed to the onset of relatively arid climate conditions and (or) greater variability of climate conditions, and the appearance of persistent and widespread eolian sediments in the Sahara is coincident with the major glaciation in the northern hemisphere during the Pliocene.
Molecular identification of isolated fungi from unopened containers of greek yogurt by DNA sequencing of internal transcribed spacer region

In our previous study, we described the development of an internal transcribed spacer (ITS)1 sequencing method, and used this protocol in species-identification of isolated fungi collected from the manufacturing areas of a compounding company known to have caused the multistate fungal meningitis outbreak in the United States. In this follow-up study, we have analyzed the unopened vials of Greek yogurt from the recalled batch to determine the possible cause of microbial contamination in the product. A total of 15 unopened vials of Greek yogurt belonging to the recalled batch were examined for the detection of fungi in these samples known to cause foodborne illness following conventional microbiological protocols. Fungi were isolated from all of the 15 Greek yogurt samples analyzed. The isolated fungi were genetically typed by DNA sequencing of PCR-amplified ITS1 region of rRNA gene. Analysis of data confirmed all of the isolated fungal isolates from the Greek yogurt to be Rhizomucor variabilis. The generated ITS1 sequences matched 100% with the published sequences available in GenBank. In addition, these yogurt samples were also tested for the presence of five types of bacteria (Salmonella, Listeria, Staphylococcus, Bacillus and Escherichia coli) causing foodborne disease in humans, and found negative for all of them.
Preparation of cell-size unilamellar liposomes with high captured volume and defined size distribution

Abstract Cell-size unilamellar vesicles were made by removing solvents from microscopic chloroform spherules containing smaller water droplets within. The average diameter of the vesicles in a typical preparation was 9.2 μm, comparable to that of human erythrocytes (7 μm). The standard deviation of the size distribution was 3.0 μm. The unilamellarity and bilayer unit membrane of vesicles were demonstrated by transmission electron microscopy. Materials so far succesfully incorporated into vesicles include glucose, sucrose, Arsenazo III and Ponceau S dyes, thymidine triphosphate, methotrexate, agarose, collagen, ferritin, polyadenylic acid, DNA, and whole bacteria. The captured volume per milligram of lipids (up to 144 μl/mg) was almost an order of magnitude greater than the highest value reported in the literature to date (up to 15.6 μl/mg) (Szoka, F.C. and Papahadjopoulos, D. (1978) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 75, 4194–4198).
Strategic entrepreneurship, collaborative innovation, and wealth creation

Strategic entrepreneurship refers to firms' pursuit of superior performance via simultaneous opportunity-seeking and advantage-seeking activities. Both small and large firms face impediments while pursuing strategic entrepreneurship. While small firms' opportunity-seeking skills may be strong, their limited knowledge stocks and lack of market power inhibit their ability to enact the competitive advantages necessary to appropriate value from opportunities the firms choose to pursue. In contrast, large firms are skilled at establishing competitive advantages, but their heavy emphasis on the efficiency of their existing businesses often undermines their ability to continuously explore for additional opportunities. Building on a variety of theories, including network, learning, resource-based, and real options, we suggest that collaborative innovation can enable both types of firms to overcome their respective challenges. Collaborative innovation is the pursuit of innovations across firm boundaries through the sharing of ideas, knowledge, expertise, and opportunities. For small firms, we contend that pursuing entrepreneurship collaboratively allows them to preserve their creativity and flexibility while mitigating the inherent liabilities of smallness. We argue that collaborative innovation permits large firms to exploit their advantage-creating skills while concurrently exploring for opportunities outside their current domain. Thus, small and large firms that learn how to integrate strategic entrepreneurship and collaborative innovation are well positioned to create wealth. Copyright © 2008 Strategic Management Society.
Factors in fatigue during intermittent electrical stimulation of human skeletal muscle

During an electrically elicited isometric contraction, the metabolic cost of attaining is greater than of maintaining force. Thus fatigue produced during such stimulation may not simply be a function of the force-time integral (FTI), as previously suggested. The goal of the present study was to evaluate fatigue produced in human medial gastrocnemius by intermittent, isometric electrical stimulation with trains of different frequencies (20, 40, or 80 Hz) and durations (300, 600, or 1,200 ms) that produced different peak forces and FTIs. Each subject (n = 10) participated in a total of six sessions. During each session, subjects received a pre- and postfatigue testing protocol and a different, 150-train fatiguing protocol. Each fatiguing protocol used only a single frequency and duration. The fatigue produced by the different protocols was correlated to the initial peak force of the fatiguing protocols (r2= 0.74-0.85) but not to the initial or total FTI. All of the protocols tested produced a proportionately greater impairment of force in response to low- vs. high-frequency stimulation (i.e., low-frequency fatigue). There was no effect of protocol on low-frequency fatigue, suggesting that all the protocols produced comparable levels of impairment in excitation-contraction coupling. These results suggest that, for brief stimulated contractions, peak force is a better predictor of fatigue than FTI, possibly because of the different metabolic demands of attaining and maintaining force.
High vulnerability to acute dystonic reactions: A case of antipsychotic exposure and uncontrolled seizure activity

Antipsychotic-induced extrapyramidal side effects have a negative impact on treatment for mental illness. Acute dystonic reactions are uncomfortable and frightening to the patient, and often lead to early discontinuation of drug therapy and worsened long-term outcome. The lower propensity of the atypical antipsychotic agents to cause extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) has been associated with multiple benefits, including improved adherence. The authors describe a 57-year-old male patient who was in the treatment refractory unit. This patient exhibited extreme sensitivity to antipsychotic agents, experiencing acute dystonic reactions with quetiapine and olanzapine, in addition to older typical antipsychotic agents. The patient has not experienced acute EPS since therapy with aripiprazole was initiated. Further complicating this patient's course is his unusual sensitivity to experiencing dystonic reactions. We have observed acute dystonias in the absence of antipsychotic treatment and in the context of seizure activity (or paroxysmal dyskinetic activity). The true etiology of the latter dystonic activity has not been completely determined due to the patient's unwillingness to cooperate with invasive testing. None of the gene variations tested (CYP2D6 phenotype, two dopamine D2 receptor variants and one D3 receptor variant) appeared to explain the patient's vulnerability to acute dystonic reactions.
Neonatal hypothyroidism — A biochemical disorder of α-tubulin metabolism☆

Abstract In mouse brain significant changes in tubulin-tyrosine ligase (TTL) activity were observed during the first week of neonatal life. Brain TTL-activity was found to be higher on postnatal day 5 than on fetal day 15, at birth or on postnatal day 7. In neonatal hypothyroidism both TTL activity and endogenous tyrosinable-tubulin levels were greatly reduced on day 5 relative to euthyroid animals. Gel scanning studies did not show any qualitative differences in the brain supernatant protein patterns of euthyroid and hypothyroid animals. Under conditions of the present study α-tubulin was only substrate for tyrosylation.
Numerical study of a regularization model for incompressible flow with deconvolution-based adaptive nonlinear filtering

Abstract We study a trapezoidal-in-time, finite-element-in-space discretization of a new Leray regularization model that locally chooses the filtering radius using a deconvolution based indicator function to identify regions where regularization is needed. Because this indicator function is mathematically based, it allows us to establish a rigorous analysis of the resulting numerical algorithm. We prove well-posedness, unconditional stability, and convergence of the proposed algorithm, and test the model on several benchmark problems.
Localized involutional lipoatrophy: A clinicopathologic study of 16 patients

Abstract Background: Localized loss of adipose tissue without antecedent clinical or histologic inflammation is termed idiopathic lipoatrophy . Objective: Our purpose was to study the clinical and pathologic features in 16 patients with clinically focal lipoatrophy and a distinct pathologic pattern of fat lobule involution. Methods: A retrospective study of 16 patients was performed. Results: The buttocks and proximal extremities were involved most frequently. Lesions were solitary in 10 patients and multiple in six. Nine patients had received intramuscular or intraarticular corticosteroid or antibiotic injections in the affected areas before the development of lipoatrophy. Histologic examination showed that individual fat cells were decreased in size and separated by hyaline material. Progressive reduction in the size and number of adipocytes resulted in diminutive fat lobules with prominent vessels resembling embryonic fat lobules. Some adipocyte masses were acidophilic. Scattered macrophages, confirmed by immunoperoxidase staining for CD68 (KP-1), were identified within the fat lobules and surrounding connective tissue. Yellow-gray granules were recognized within the cytoplasm of macrophages in nine cases. Macrophages becoming lipophages were observed by electron microscopy in one case. Other inflammatory cells were not prominent. Conclusion: This is a common pattern of postinjury response to fat tissue characterized by macrophage infiltration of the fat lobules in variable numbers. The term involutional lipoatrophy is justified by the resemblance of the distinctive pathologic changes to embryonic fat lobules.
29Si MAS-NMR study of the short range order in alkali borosilicate glasses

Abstract Alkali borosilicate glasses have been prepared with the general composition RM2O·B2O3·KSiO2, where M is an alkali metal (lithium, sodium or potassium), R represents the molar ratio of alkali oxide to boron oxide and K represents the molar ratio of silicon dioxide to boron oxide. 29Si magic angle spinning-nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS-NMR) was performed on these glasses to examine the short-range order about the silicon atoms. In this paper, the resultant chemical shift data of these glass families were combined and examined in the light of various models derived from both 11B and 29Si NMR for the sharing of alkali oxide between the borate and silicate glass networks. These models all define an R value, R0, below which the alkali oxide is entirely associated with the borate network, and above which the alkali oxide is shared proportionally between the two glass networks. By combining the data from the three glass families, the model with R0 optimized as a function of K was shown to provide an extremely good fit to the experimental data, while promising to reconcile both the 11B and 29Si NMR data. Of the three alkali borosilicate families studied, only the potassium borosilicates showed the effect of CO2 retention from the alkali carbonate starting materials on the 29Si NMR spectra.
Improving Accuracy of International Classification of Diseases Codes for Venous Thromboembolism in Administrative Data

Abstract Background Increasingly, clinicians and researchers are using administrative data for clinical and outcomes research. However, they continue to question the accuracy of using International Classification of Diseases 9th Revision (ICD-9) codes alone to capture diagnoses, especially venous thromboembolism (VTE), in administrative data. Objectives We tested the hypothesis that incorporation of treatment data and/or common procedural terminology (CPT) codes could improve accuracy of administrative data in detecting VTE. Research Design Using the Veterans Affairs Central Cancer Registry, we compared three competing algorithms by performing three cross-sectional studies. Algorithm 1 identified patients by ICD-9 codes alone. Algorithm 2 required VTE treatment in addition to ICD-9 codes. Algorithm 3 required a VTE diagnostic CPT code in addition to treatment and ICD-9 criteria. Results The accuracy of ICD-9 codes alone for detection of VTE was marginal, with a PPV of 72%. The PPV was improved to 91% after addition of treatment data (algorithm 2). As compared to algorithm 2, addition of CPT codes (algorithm 3) did not significantly increase the accuracy of detecting VTE (PPV 92%), but decreased sensitivity from 72% to 67%. Conclusions Accuracy of VTE detection significantly improved with addition of treatment data to ICD-9 codes. This approach should facilitate use of administrative data to assess the incidence, epidemiology, and outcomes of VTE.
Complex dielectric constant of ice at 1.8 GHz

Abstract The complex dielectric constant of bubble-free ice grown from deionized water was determined at 1.8 GHz using an interference technique. The interference pattern was produced by measuring the reflected signals from bubble-free ice slabs of varying thickness at normal incident angle. The wavelength and loss factor in the bubble-free ice samples were obtained from the resulting interference pattern. The real and imaginary components of the dielectric constant were determined to be 3.17 and 0.003, respectively.
Global estimates of evapotranspiration for climate studies using multi-sensor remote sensing data: Evaluation of three process-based approaches

Abstract Three process based models are used to estimate terrestrial heat fluxes and evapotranspiration (ET) at the global scale: a single source energy budget model, a Penman–Monteith based approach, and a Priestley–Taylor based approach. All models adjust the surface resistances or provide ecophysiological constraints to account for changing environmental factors. Evaporation (or sublimation) over snow-covered regions is calculated consistently for all models using a modified Penman equation. Instantaneous fluxes of latent heat computed at the time of satellite overpass are linearly scaled to the equivalent daily evapotranspiration using the computed evaporative fraction and the day-time net radiation. A constant fraction (10% of daytime evaporation) is used to account for the night time evaporation. Interception losses are computed using a simple water budget model. We produce daily evapotranspiration and sensible heat flux for the global land surface at 5 km spatial resolution for the period 2003–2006. With the exception of wind and surface pressure, all model inputs and forcings are obtained from satellite remote sensing. Satellite-based inputs and model outputs were first carefully evaluated at the site scale on a monthly-mean basis, then as a four-year mean against a climatological estimate of ET over 26 major basins, and finally in terms of a latitudinal profile on an annual basis. Intercomparison of the monthly model estimates of latent and sensible heat fluxes with 12 eddy-covariance towers across the U.S. yielded mean correlation of 0.57 and 0.54, respectively. Satellite-based meteorological datasets of 2 m temperature (0.83), humidity (0.70), incident shortwave radiation (0.64), incident longwave radiation (0.67) were found to agree well at the tower scale, while estimates of wind speed correlated poorly (0.17). Comparisons of the four year mean annual ET for 26 global river basins and global latitudinal profiles with a climatologically estimated ET resulted in a Kendall's τ > 0.70. The seasonal cycle over the continents is well represented in the Hovmoeller plots and the suppression of ET during major droughts in Europe, Australia and the Amazon are well picked up. This study provides the first ever moderate resolution estimates of ET on a global scale using only remote sensing based inputs and forcings, and furthermore the first ever multi-model comparison of process-based remote sensing estimates using the same inputs.
Influence of sucrose on the rheology and granule size of cross-linked waxy maize starch dispersions heated at two temperatures

Abstract Cross-linked waxy maize (CWM) starch dispersions (STDs) of concentration 50 g kg −1 were heated in sucrose solutions containing 0–600 g kg −1 (g sucrose/kg dispersion) at 85 °C at low shear and in intermittently agitated cans at 110 °C. The STDs heated in 0–300 g kg −1 sucrose exhibited antithixotropic behavior, while those heated in 400–600 g kg −1 sucrose exhibited thixotropic behavior. The mean starch granule diameter of the starch dispersions did not show strong dependence on sucrose concentration. The dispersions, especially those with high sucrose concentrations and heated at 110 °C, exhibited G ′ versus frequency ( ω ) profiles of gels. The STDs exhibited first normal stress differences that increased in magnitude with the concentration of sucrose. Values of the first normal stress coefficient of canned dispersions calculated from dynamic rheological data plotted against ω and experimental values plotted against shear rate of some of the STDs overlapped.
Human prolactin: Isolation and some properties

Summary A protein with a potency of 22 IU/mg in the pigeon crop sac assay for prolactin but only 0.4 USP U/mg in the tibial line assay for growth hormone has been isolated from pooled human pituitary glands. When tested by radioimmunoassay for human growth hormone, 12 ng of the material was equivalent to 1 ng of a reference growth hormone. The protein was less electronegative than growth hormone at pH 9.5 and had a molecular weight of about 22,000.
Public health surveillance using association rules

A multidisciplinary group is carrying out knowledge discovery research with researchers from computer science, pathology and biostatistics in collaboration with the Medical Informatics Section of the Department of Medicine. The current focus is on healthcare applications, more specifically on surveillance problems. A tool called Hawkeye (renamed Data Mining Surveillance System - DMSS) has been developed which searches temporally organized medical data, builds associations and applies interestingness heuristics for the identification of trends of interest to medical domain experts. The research also involves the study of collaborative interpretation of the identified patterns and trends.
The Sensitivity of Remedial Strategies to Design Criteria

The specific criteria for design of systems for the remediation of contaminated ground water can affect the cost, configuration, and feasibility of the remedial system. Two important design criteria are the degree of remediation required, as measured by water concentration, and the time by which compliance must be achieved. In this paper the impact of these criteria on remedial design is studied for a hypothetical pump-and-treat remedial system applied to a simplified model of a large organic solvents plume in Tucson, Arizona. The analysis is performed by combining two-dimensional numerical flow and transport modeling with nonlinear optimization. The use of optimization provides a means of systematically varying design criteria in an experimental framework. Based on the data for this site, variation of the concentration standard over one order of magnitude can affect optimal cost by as much as 220%. Change in the time to achieve compliance over less than one order of magnitude can affect optimal cost by as much as 175% and in some cases can produce problems which are infeasible due to physical or technical limitations. Under some conditions, a time to achieve compliance can be identified which has minimum cost. Changes in the design criteria are alsomore » shown to have significant impact on the distribution of steady pumping rates among the individual wells.« less
Separation of dansyl hydrazine-derivatized oligosaccharides by liquid chromatography.

Abstract A sensitive method has been developed for the rqpid separation of neutral oligosaccharides derivatized with dansyl hydrazine by liquid chromatography on silica gel modified with 1,4-diaminobutane. Malto-oligosaccharides from corn syrup in amounts ranging from 7 to 280 nmol and ovalbumin-derived oligosaccharides in amounts ranging from 0.25 to 250 nmol were easily detectable and gave linear responses over the respective ranges.
Regional Differences in Agricultural Productivity in Selected Areas of India

Production functions are used to measure the contribution to agricultural output of infrastructure and the quantity and quality of traditional inputs. Measuring the contributions of inputs over time together with an assessment of their supply provide insights into the direction that agricultural development efforts should take in two regions of India. In the wheat region, continued increases in the quantity and quality of irrigation and improved crop varieties are promising sources of output growth. For the rice region, the development of rural roads and markets, increases in irrigation quality, and improved rice varieties are important sources of output growth.
Alterations in the Aedes aegypti transcriptome during infection with West Nile, dengue and yellow fever viruses.

West Nile (WNV), dengue (DENV) and yellow fever (YFV) viruses are (re)emerging, mosquito-borne flaviviruses that cause human disease and mortality worldwide. Alterations in mosquito gene expression common and unique to individual flaviviral infections are poorly understood. Here, we present a microarray analysis of the Aedes aegypti transcriptome over time during infection with DENV, WNV or YFV. We identified 203 mosquito genes that were ≥5-fold differentially up-regulated (DUR) and 202 genes that were ≥10-fold differentially down-regulated (DDR) during infection with one of the three flaviviruses. Comparative analysis revealed that the expression profile of 20 DUR genes and 15 DDR genes was quite similar between the three flaviviruses on D1 of infection, indicating a potentially conserved transcriptomic signature of flaviviral infection. Bioinformatics analysis revealed changes in expression of genes from diverse cellular processes, including ion binding, transport, metabolic processes and peptidase activity. We also demonstrate that virally-regulated gene expression is tissue-specific. The overexpression of several virally down-regulated genes decreased WNV infection in mosquito cells and Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Among these, a pupal cuticle protein was shown to bind WNV envelope protein, leading to inhibition of infection in vitro and the prevention of lethal WNV encephalitis in mice. This work provides an extensive list of targets for controlling flaviviral infection in mosquitoes that may also be used to develop broad preventative and therapeutic measures for multiple flaviviruses.
Management of transition cows to optimize reproductive efficiency in dairy herds.

The transition period of the dairy cow influences productive and reproductive responses during lactation, and is therefore considered a pivotal time in the production cycle of the cow. During this period, cows are at higher risk of developing diseases related to the metabolic challenges of parturition and the beginning of lactation. At the herd level, the incidence of these diseases can be significantly reduced by appropriate management of the prepartum cow that addresses the metabolic and nutritional needs related to parturition and lactation. This article discusses: (1) the metabolic changes that occur around parturition and their role in disease causation that affect reproduction, and (2) management strategies to prevent calvingrelated diseases (CRDs).
Thoracic epaxial muscles in living archosaurs and ornithopod dinosaurs.

Crocodylians possess the same thoracic epaxial muscles as most other saurians, but M. transversospinalis is modified by overlying osteoderms. Compared with crocodylians, the thoracic epaxial muscles of birds are reduced in size, disrupted by the synsacrum, and often modified by intratendinous ossification and the notarium. A phylogenetic perspective is used to determine muscle homologies in living archosaurs (birds and crocodylians), evaluate how the apparent disparity evolved, and reconstruct the thoracic epaxial muscles in ornithopod dinosaurs. The avian modifications of the epaxial musculoskeletal system appear to have coevolved with the synsacrum and notarium. The lattice of ossified tendons in iguanodontoidean dinosaurs (Hadrosauridae and Iguanodontidae) is homologized to M. transversospinalis in crocodylians and M. longus colli dorsalis, pars thoracica in birds. Birds have an arrangement of tendons within M. longus colli dorsalis, pars thoracica identical to that observed in the epaxial ossified tendons of iguanodontoid dinosaurs. Moreover, many birds (such as grebes and turkeys) ossify these tendons, resulting in a two- or three-layered lattice of ossified tendons, a morphology also seen in iguanodontoid dinosaurs. Although the structure of M. transversospinalis appears indistinguishable between birds and iguanodontoid dinosaurs, intratendinous ossification within this epaxial muscle evolved convergently. Anat Rec Part A, 288A:782–793, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Chemical and on-line electrochemical reduction of metalloproteins with high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry detection.

The observation of the reduced forms of several metal-containing proteins using electrospray ionization (ESI) is reported for the first time. High-resolution mass analysis using Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry allows the oxidized and reduced forms of the proteins to be distinguished. The metalloproteins are reduced both chemically and electrochemically. Under normal sample handling conditions, the proteins that are reduced in solution appear in their oxidized form in their ESI mass spectra. Rigorous exclusion of oxygen from the solution of the reduced protein allows the observation of the reduced form in the gas phase. The metal centers investigated include heme and non-heme iron proteins, copper, and a manganese-substituted iron−sulfur cluster of the form [3FeMn-4S]. The electrochemical method is shown to provide several advantages over chemical reduction. The oxidation state of the metal center is stable with respect to electrospray ionization in both positive and negative io...
The lunar interior

The compressional velocities are estimated for materials in the lunar interior and compared with lunar seismic results. The lower crust has velocities appropriate for basalts or anorthosites. The high velocities associated with the uppermost mantle imply high densities and a change in composition to a lighter assemblage at depths of the order of 120 km. Calcium and aluminum are probably important components of the upper mantle and are deficient in the lower mantle. Much of the moon may have accreted from material similar in composition to eucrites. The important mineral of the upper mantle is garnet; possible accessory minerals are kyanite, spinel, and rutile. If the seismic results stand up, the high velocity layer in the moon is more likely to be a high pressure form of anorthosite than eclogite, pyroxenite, or dunite. The thickness of the layer is of the order of 50 km. Cosmic abundances can be maintained if the lower mantle is ferromagnesium silicate with minimal amounts of calcium and aluminum. Achondrites such as eucrites and howardites have more of the required characteristics of the lunar interior than carbonaceous chondrites. A density inversion in the moon is a strong possibility.
Poor Wound Healing After Pial Synangiosis in 2 Children With Moyamoya Vasculopathy Associated With Neurofibromatosis Type 1

Wound healing is a key component of recovery for children with neurologic conditions undergoing neurosurgical procedures. Understanding factors that can impair wound healing aids in planning long-term clinical care. Children with neurofibromatosis type 1 are at risk for vasculopathies in the brain (including moyamoya vasculopathy) and in other organs, including the heart, lung, and skin. Neurofibromatosis 1 is caused by mutations in the gene for neurofibromin, a protein that plays a role in tissue maintenance and repair as well as tumor suppression. The authors report 2 children with neurofibromatosis 1-associated moyamoya vasculopathy who developed significant wound healing complications after pial synangiosis surgery. They discuss possible contributors to these complications, including the role of neurofibromin and the possibility of vasculopathy affecting the skin, and the implications of poor wound healing in pediatric neurology patients.
Second gradient of strain and surface-tension in linear elasticity

Abstract In this paper there is formulated a linear theory of deformation of an elastic solid in which the potential energy-density is a function of the strain and its first and second gradients. This is a theory in which cohesive force and surface-tension are intrinsic. A solution is given for the strain and surface-tension, or surface-energy per unit area, resulting from separation of a solid along a plane; and a comparison is made with an analogous lattice model. Also presented are a general solution of the displacement-equation of equilibrium in terms of stress functions and the particular solution for the concentrated force. The special case of a liquid is considered and the solutions are given for the surface-tensions at plane and spherical surfaces.
Effects of Lewis acid catalysts on the cleavage of aliphatic and aryl-aryl linkages in coal-related structures

Abstract ZnCl 2 and AlCl 3 catalyse the cleavage of aliphatic linkages between aromatic nuclei but not the cleavage of direct aryl-aryl bonds between such nuclei. The rate of alkyl-aryl bond breakage depends on the Bronsted acidity of the active catalyst (e.g. H + (ZnCl 2 X ) − or H + (AlCl 3 X ) − ) and the Bronsted basicity of the aromatic portions of the reactant. AlCl 3 is significantly more active than ZnCl 2 , and reactants containing hydroxyphenyl or napthyl groups are more reactive than those containing phenyl groups. The distribution of final products is strongly affected by the reactions of the aryl-alkyl carbonium ion formed upon cleavage of an alkyl-aryl bond. If the alkyl portion of the carbonium ion contains three or more carbon atoms, the ion preferentially undergoes an intramolecular reaction to form a hydroaromatic product. With only one or two carbon atoms the carbonium ion reacts via either hydride abstraction or electrophilic substitution, the hydride abstraction producing an alkylaromatic product, which may in turn undergo dealkylation. Reactant and products produced by a Scholl condensation act as the principle sources of hydride ions. Molecular H 2 also contributes some hydride ions. The reaction of carbonium ions by electrophilic substitution leads either to the regeneration of the initial reactant or to the formation of high-molecular-weight tars.
Reverse-body bias and supply collapse for low effective standby power

Integrated circuits fabricated on a low-leakage process typically display lower performance due to the high threshold voltage (V/sub t/) transistors. Higher performance microprocessors sacrifice power efficiency by decreasing V/sub t/. We show that a processor built on a low V/sub t/ process can achieve the power-per-computation characteristics of one built using a high V/sub t/ process, by using a "drowsy" mode combining reverse body bias (RBB) and voltage collapse when idle. This approach also allows for higher peak performance, if needed. A simple power model is shown to accurately match the measured data; high-operational frequency is demonstrated when in active operation. The circuit techniques used to provide the RBB mode of operation are described and compared with other techniques such as multi-threshold CMOS. While both techniques can be effective for logic, the design effort for RBB is shown to be smaller, while reducing embedded static random access memory standby power without added size.
A reverse recovery measurement of carrier lifetime suitable for bidirectional switches

A pulse method of measuring effective carrier lifetime in bidirectional thyristors from their recovery current is presented. Results obtained by this method are correlated with measured turnoff time for a group of 10 A rms devices. Suggested circuit component values are given to extend capability for higher current devices.
Preservation and Characterization Theorems

In this chapter we shall prove several more theorems of the general type of 24.22 and 24.23. We shall consider universal sentences, quasivarieties, universal-existential sentences, and positive sentences. We have not tried to give uniform proofs for these results, but we have instead chosen the proofs that seem most natural to us.
Method to assess fatty acid ethyl ester binding to albumin.

Aims: To develop a method to assess the relative binding of fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE) and free fatty acids (FFA) to albumin, and to determine if binding affinity is related to fatty acid chain length and or degree of saturation. Methods: Radiolabelled ethyl-( 14 C) oleate -bound to albumin was challenged with various ratios of FFA to FAEE. The displacement of ethyl-( 14 C) oleate by FFA was visualized and quantitated through a combination of native-PAGE, autoradiography, and liquid scintillation counting (LSC). Results: As the ratio of FFA to FAEE increased from 0:1 to 12:1, for all fatty acids tested (myristate, palmitate, stearate, oleate, linoleate, and arachidonate), ethyl-( 14 C) oleate displacement increased, when expressed as radioactivity (in DPM) as a per- centage of control. In contrast, ethyl oleate did not displace stearate or oleate from albumin at molar ratios up to 5:1 (FAEE:FFA). Conclusions: The method developed gave reproducible visualization of noncovalent binding of radiolabelled FAEE to albumin. The combination of native-PAGE and autoradiography LSC works well in assessing the binding properties of albumin and radiolabelled FAEE. The data indicate preferential binding of FFA over FAEE to albumin with six different FFA displacing FAEE to an approxim- ately equal extent.
The Role of the School Environment in Relational Aggression and Victimization

Research conducted over the last decade has documented both the high rates of and serious consequences associated with both victimization and perpetration of relational aggression. This study examines risk for involvement in relational aggression and victimization among middle school youth, evaluating both individual beliefs about violence, as well as aspects of the school environment, including interpersonal school climate and school responsiveness to violence. A sample of 5,625 primarily urban minority middle school youth (49.2 % female) participating in a violence prevention project completed measures of relational aggression and victimization as well as indicators of individual beliefs about aggression, school norms for aggression, student–teacher and student–student interpersonal climate, and school responsiveness to violence. Unlike results previously found for physical aggression, no school-level indicator of climate was related to relational aggression or victimization. However, individual beliefs about aggression and individual perceptions of the school environment were related strongly to both the perpetration of and victimization by relational aggression. These results suggest not only that individual beliefs and perceptions of the school environment are important in understanding perpetration and victimization of relational aggression, but also that risk for involvement in relational aggression is distinct from that of physical aggression. Implications for school interventions are discussed, as well as suggestions for future research.
The Dose-Response Relationship Between Tobacco Education Advertising and Calls to Quitlines in the United States, March-June, 2012

INTRODUCTION We estimated changes in call volume in the United States in response to increases in advertising doses of the Tips From Former Smokers (Tips) campaign, the first federal national tobacco education campaign, which aired for 12 weeks from March 19 to June 10, 2012. We also measured the effectiveness of ad taglines that promoted calls directly with a quitline number (1-800-QUIT-NOW) and indirectly with a cessation help website (Smokefree.gov). METHODS Multivariate regressions estimated the weekly number of calls to 1-800-QUIT-NOW by area code as a function of weekly market-level gross rating points (GRPs) from CDC's Tips campaign in 2012. The number of quitline calls attributable solely to Tips was predicted. RESULTS For quitline-tagged ads, an additional 100 television GRPs per week was associated with an increase of 89 calls per week in a typical area code in the United States (P < .001). The same unit increase in advertising GRPs for ads tagged with Smokefree.gov was associated with an increase of 29 calls per week in any given area code (P < .001). We estimated that the Tips campaign was responsible for more than 170,000 additional calls to 1-800-QUIT-NOW during the campaign and that it would have generated approximately 140,000 additional calls if all ads were tagged with 1-800-QUIT-NOW. CONCLUSION For campaign planners, these results make it possible to estimate 1) the likely impact of tobacco prevention media buys and 2) the additional quitline capacity needed at the national level should future campaigns of similar scale use 1-800-QUIT-NOW taglines exclusively.
The Consequences And Public Policy Implications Of Welfare Reform: A Cost-Benefit Analysis Of The Welfare Reform Policy

Welfare reform has been the recurrent subject of heated debate in the United States, culminating in far-reaching legislation in 1996. Taking the measure of that legislation requires attention both to the broader context of which welfare policy is a part and to the merits of the 1996 law itself. Ultimately, the success or failure of welfare reform, which evoked a great deal of partisan rhetoric, will be assessed on empirical rather than partisan grounds. It cannot be determined merely by changes in the size of welfare caseloads. It is crucial to any piece of legislation to analyze the cost in relations to its benefits. Most importantly, we must ask: What has happened to the families and children who have left the welfare system? Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 is a successful legislation that needs a little troubleshooting, so it will not be the failed anti-poverty prescription
African American Women Voters: Review Article

This article reviews a book written by Lisa Nikol Nealy entitled: African American Women Voters: Racializing Religiosity, Political Consciousness and Progressive Political Action in U.S. Presidential Elections from 1964 Through 2008 (2009). I extracted the following themes from the book: (1) the importance and influence of the Black church or religious organizations and their leaders on the level of political participation of African Americans, especially Black women in the United States; (2) that Black and White gentile European Americans are experiencing two racial religiosities, which is reflected in the voting booth during national elections; (3) that relative to their Black male counterparts and members of other racial groups, Black women have made enormous contributions to U.S. politics especially in voting trends from the 1960s to present; and (4) there continues to be a serious division between Black and White American females, a division which is rooted in religious and racial histories of the two groups.