cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma: multiphasic CT features of the primary tumor on pre-therapy CT and pattern of distant metastases

The aim of our study is to describe the multiphasic CT features of fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinomas (FLHCCs) and pattern of distant metastases. 33 patients (mean age 28 years: 17M/16F) with pathologically confirmed FLHCC and pre-treatment multiphasic CT were included in the study. Two abdominal radiologists evaluated the multiphasic CT imaging features of these 33 FLHCC patients in consensus. Solitary hepatic mass was seen in 67% (22/33). Mean tumor size was 11.3 cm (range 4.6–22 cm). Tumor was well-defined in 64% (21/33). In the pre-contrast CT, 91% (30/33) were hypoattenuating. Central stellate scar was present in 73% (24/33). In FLHCC having central stellate scar, calcification within the central scar was seen in 88% (21/24). In the hepatic arterial phase, 82% (27/33) were hyperattenuating relative to liver. In the portal venous phase, 36% (12/33) were hyperattenuating, 46% (15/33) were isoattenuating, and 18% (6/33) were hypoattenuating. In the delayed phase images, 24% (8/23) were hyperattenuating, 67% (22/33) were isoattenuating, and 9% (3/33) were hypoattenuating. Delayed enhancement of the central stellate scar was seen in 12% (4/33). Distant metastases were seen in 54% (18/33). The most common site of metastases was lungs and was seen in 89% (16/18) of the patients with metastatic disease. FLHCC typically manifests as a large, solitary mass demonstrating heterogeneous hypervascular enhancement in the arterial phase. Most tend to be isoattenuating in delayed phase. Central stellate scar with internal calcification is a useful imaging feature that can help in the diagnosis of FLHCC. Lungs are the most common site of distant metastases in FLHCC.
1 – Aspects of Hunter–Gatherer Complexity

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the aspects of hunter–gatherer complexity. The archeology of hunter–gatherers has generally relied on rather simplistic models to describe preagricultural adaptations. A misplaced reliance upon ethnographically known groups has precluded an appreciation of the diversity of hunting–gathering adaptations. Foragers in more temperate and fertile areas of the world were replaced by farmers long before written documents recorded their way of life. Hunter–gatherers surviving to the ethnographic present do so in the most marginal areas of the planet. Cultural complexity, in the context of hunter–gatherer adaptations, is the major concern of this volume. Although a variety of terms—developed, advanced, elaborate, sophisticated—have been employed to describe this phenomenon, they are semantically weighted with a teleological notion of progress. Each of the above contributions emphasizes certain characteristics of increasing complexity. Intensification has been discussed in terms of a variety of factors: environment, resource availability, subsistence, sedentism, linear settlement, technology, storage, population, exchange, conflict, competition, social organization, territoriality, style, labor organization, craft specialization, inequality, and status differentiation.
Androgens and Behavior in Men

In most mammalian species, androgens play an important role in the development and maintenance of sex-typed behavior. Sex steroids acting during fetal life are critical for sexual differentiation of the brain and development of sex-appropriate internal and external genitalia (Wilson et al, 1981). Exposure to androgens secreted by the testes during critical periods of fetal development is necessary for the masculinization and defeminization of brain areas (Arnold and Gorski, 1984), most notably in the preoptic area and ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (Goy and McEwen, 1980; MacLusky and Naftolin, 1981). One area of hormone-behavior research is focused on this “hardwiring” of the brain substrates of sexually dimorphic behavior, termed “organizational effects”. A second area of hormone-behavior research is focused on sexually dimorphic behavior patterns in postnatal development, which usually depend to some degree on circulating levels of gonadal steroids acting on mediating brain areas and possibly also peripheral effects of sex hormones, termed “activational effects” (Young et al, 1964).
ANALYSIS AND MANIPULATION OF LINEAL MAP DATA

Algorithms are described for analyzing and manipulating 8-point chain-encoded lineal map data. The convenience of the chain representation for yielding to efficient algorithms is demonstrated.
DESIGN AND PHYSIOLOGY OF ARTERIES AND VEINS | Anatomical Pathways and Patterns

A basic pattern is common to the circulation in all fish, including hagfish, elasmobranchs, and bony fish. The fish circulation is a simple loop in which blood, pumped by the heart, passes first through a short arterial system into the gills and then onto a second, more extensive arterial system that supplies the systemic tissues. While the respiratory and systemic circulations lie in series, arterial branching within the gill and systemic circulations create in-parallel vascular arrangements of capillary beds. A well-developed venous system then collects the blood and returns it back to the heart. This article identifies the major arteries and veins of a bony fish and serves as a general anatomical reference of fish vascular nomenclature. The more notable variations in hagfish and elasmobranchs are also described.
Aspergillus sclerotiorum fungus is lethal to both Western drywood (Incisitermes minor) and Western subterranean (Reticulitermes hesperus)termites

Termite control costs $1.5 billion per year in the United States alone, and methods for termite control usually consist of chemical pesticides. However, these methods have their drawbacks, which include the development of resistance, environmental pollution, and toxicity to other organisms. Biological termite control, which employs the use of living organisms to combat pests, offers an alternative to chemical pesticides. This study highlights the discovery of a fungus, termed “APU strain,” that was hypothesized to be pathogenic to termites. Phylogenetic and morphological analysis showed that the fungus is a strain of Aspergillus sclerotiorum, andexperiments showed that both western drywood (Incisitermes minor) and western subterranean (Reticulitermes hesperus) termites die in a dose-dependent manner exposed to fungal spores of A. sclerotiorum APU strain. In addition, exposure to the A. sclerotiorum Huber strain elicited death in a similar manner as the APU strain. The mechanism by which the fungus caused termite death is still unknown and warrants further investigation. While these results support that A. sclerotiorum is a termite pathogen, further studies are needed to determine whether the fungal species has potential as a biological control agent.
Highly Porous Organic Polymers for Hydrogen Fuel Storage

Hydrogen (H2) is one of the best candidates to replace current petroleum energy resources due to its rich abundance and clean combustion. However, the storage of H2 presents a major challenge. There are two methods for storing H2 fuel, chemical and physical, both of which have some advantages and disadvantages. In physical storage, highly porous organic polymers are of particular interest, since they are low cost, easy to scale up, metal-free, and environmentally friendly. In this review, highly porous polymers for H2 fuel storage are examined from five perspectives: (a) brief comparison of H2 storage in highly porous polymers and other storage media; (b) theoretical considerations of the physical storage of H2 molecules in porous polymers; (c) H2 storage in different classes of highly porous organic polymers; (d) characterization of microporosity in these polymers; and (e) future developments for highly porous organic polymers for H2 fuel storage. These topics will provide an introductory overview of highly porous organic polymers in H2 fuel storage.
A qualitative study of oral health knowledge among African Americans.

Objectives The purpose of this qualitative oral health needs assessment was to probe and better understand the oral health knowledge, beliefs, and barriers of District residents, particularly in DC wards where oral health disparities are most prevalent. Methods Forty-eight (n = 48) participants were recruited for four focus groups. The focus group instrument consisted of a structured interview guide addressing the following topics: oral health history, perceived barriers to oral health, knowledge and perceptions about oral systemic health, and preferred message channels for receiving information on oral/dental health. Content analysis was performed using NVivo, a computerized, qualitative informatics tool. Results The majority of participants in this study practiced both brushing and flossing in their daily dental routine and did not believe that tooth loss is a normal part of ageing. There was lack of knowledge on the connection between oral and systemic health, specifically impact of smoking, alcohol use, and sweets and sexual activity. Focus groups identified two main barriers to healthcare access-communication and affordability. Participants who had a dentist were satisfied and felt that their needs were met. Conclusion Our findings indicate a need for educational intervention and improved communication from oral health providers to increase awareness of the impact of systemic health and risky behaviors can have on oral health.
Motivating the Program – An Improved Reliability Case Approach

To more efficiently acquire systems, a modified and more inclusive method for reliability evaluation is needed. The continued use of classical reliability assessment methods that solely rely on limited test data while ignoring other relevant information can lead to uninformed decisions, cost/schedule overruns or the failure to employ reliability best practices. Motivated by the Army’s current pus to modernize technology and accelerate acquisitions and to address these shortcomings, multiple approaches for improvement are presented here.
A prospective investigation of the etiology of febrile morbidity following abdominal hysterectomy.

Abstract A prospective study of 100 consecutive cases was undertaken to elucidate more clearly the causes of febrile morbidity following identical pelvic operations performed by the same surgeon in one hospital. Febrile morbidity was defined as temperature exceeding 100.4° F. on two or more occasions during any consecutive 48 hour period exclusive of the first 24 hours following operation. Thirty-four per cent of the patients fulfilled this criterion. The cut edge of the vaginal cuff was routinely swabbed immediately following removal of the uterus during operation and yielded a culture positive for E. coli in 37 instances. Twenty per cent of the patients produced a positive urine culture. Significantly, only 5 per cent of the patients developed a urinary infection as the result of 24 hour drainage through a self-retention catheter. Fifteen per cent had asymptomatic clinically unrecognized bladder infections present before operation. This study demonstrates the importance of routine culture of the vaginal cuff at abdominal hysterectomy.
Spatiotemporal simulation: local Ripley's K function parameterizes adaptive kernel density estimation

The confluence of spatial statistics and simulation has stimulated the study of geographic phenomena for decades. However, the inclusion of the temporal dimension has been insufficiently addressed within the domain of geographic information science. This research focuses on spatiotemporal point pattern analysis to gain insight into this issue and discusses new approaches to facilitate their visualization and analysis in space and time. These methods provide support for statistically robust estimation on spatiotemporally explicit characteristics of point patterns using Monte Carlo simulation. We present a case study featuring spatiotemporal point pattern analysis within the context of dengue fever in the city of Cali, Colombia. Specifically, we use local Ripley's K function to estimate the spatiotemporal signature of dengue and find the scales at which clustering is most significant. We use this information to select bandwidths for adaptive space-time kernel density estimation. The analysis results indicate that simulation is pivotal to promoting our understanding of space-time complexity in dynamic spatial phenomena, represented by the dengue fever.
Investigation of epidemic status of clonorchiasis sinensis in western regions of Jilin Province

OBJECTIVE To understand the epidemic status of clonorchiasis sinensis in western region of Jilin Province, so as to provide the evidence for formulating the planning and strategy of prevention and control of the disease. METHODS In 2017, the areas where the residents had the customs of eating Sashimi were selected as the research areas in the western region of Jilin Province, and according to the cluster sampling, 25 villages in 25 towns (each village per town) of 5 counties in the region were selected as the investigation points. The basic information of crowd was collected by a questionnaire investigation. The Kato-Katz method was used for etiological examinations. The results were analyzed statistically. RESULTS A total of 4 980 people in the 25 villages were investigated, and 1 220 people were infected with Clonorchis sinensis. The average infection rate was 24.50%. There was a significant difference among different counties (cities, districts) in the infection rate of C. sinensis (P < 0.01), and the infection rate in Daan City was the highest (53.82%). In addition, there were significant differences between/among the gender, nation, age, educational level, and occupation in the infection rate (all P values < 0.01). The infection rate of the male was higher than that of the female, the rate of Han was higher than that of other ethnic groups, the rate of the high age group was higher than that of the low age group, the rate of the college degree group was higher than that of the other educational level groups, the rate of the cadre was higher than that of the other occupation groups, and the rate of the group who had vermifuge before the investigation was lower than that of the group who did not have vermifuge. CONCLUSIONS The western region of Jilin Province is still the highincidence area of clonorchiasis sinensis. Therefore, the comprehensive control and prevention measures, such as giving vermifuge and health education, should be strengthened in key population and areas in the future.
Red blood cell distribution width and outcome in trauma patients.

Context Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) has been used to predict mortality during infection and inflammatory diseases. It also been purported to be predictive of mortality following traumatic injury. Objective To identify the role of RDW in predicting mortality in trauma patients. We also sought to identify the role of RDW in predicting the development of sepsis in trauma patients. Methods A retrospective observational study was performed of the medical records for all adult trauma patients admitted to Loyola University Medical Center from 2007 to 2014. Patients admitted for fewer than four days were excluded. Admission, peak, and change from admission to peak (Δ) RDW were recorded to determine the relationship with in-hospital mortality. Patient age, development of sepsis during the hospitalization, admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), and discharge disposition were also examined. Results A total of 9,845 patients were admitted to the trauma service between 2007 and 2014, and a total of 2,512 (25.5%) patients fit the inclusion criteria and had both admission and peak values available. One-hundred twenty (4.6%) died while in the hospital. RDW values for all patients were (mean [standard deviation, SD]): admission 14.09 (1.88), peak 15.09 (2.34), and Δ RDW 1.00 (1.44). Admission, peak, and Δ RDW were not significant predictors of mortality (all p>0.50; hazard ratio [HR], 1.01-1.03). However, trauma patients who eventually developed sepsis had significantly higher RDW values (admission RDW: 14.27 (2.02) sepsis vs. 13.98 (1.73) no sepsis, p<0.001; peak RDW: 15.95 (2.55) vs. 14.51 (1.97), p<0.001; Δ RDW: 1.68 (1.77) vs. 0.53 (0.91), p<0.001). Conclusion Admission, peak, and Δ RDW were not associated with in-hospital mortality in adult trauma patients with a length of stay (LOS) ≥four days. However, the development of sepsis in trauma patients is closely linked to increased RDW values and in-hospital mortality.
Design and Manufacturability Data on Additively Manufactured Solutions for COVID-19

Abstract Designers around the world have leveraged the rapid prototyping and manufacturing capabilities of additive manufacturing (AM), commonly known as 3D printing, to develop numerous engineering design solutions for the COVID-19 pandemic. This dataset consists of the design and manufacturability data for twenty-six such engineering design solutions spanning three categories: (1) face masks (N = 12), (2) face shields (N = 6), and (3) hands-free door openers (N = 8). The designs were collected from open-source websites such as Thingiverse, GrabCAD, and the NIH 3D Print Exchange. The manufacturability of these designs was simulated using Ultimaker Cura software and three measures were obtained: (1) build time, (2) build cost, and (3) build material. Furthermore, these simulations were performed for multiple materials and infill densities for comparison. Additionally, the manufacturing cost using injection molding was simulated using the Cost Estimation Tool in Solidworks. This dataset comprises (1) the STL files for the designs, (2) the simulated manufacturability data (for additive manufacturing and injection molding), and (3) images that depict the build orientation used in these manufacturability simulations. This dataset can facilitate the development of future innovations that leverage the capabilities of AM processes. Furthermore, this dataset can be used by designers and manufacturers to compare solutions and choose appropriate ones for manufacturing.
Diaspora as Spokesperson and Watchdog: Laxmi Berwa, VISION, and Anti-Caste Activism by Dalits in the United States

In 1978, Dalit immigrants in New York and New Jersey came together to form the first anti-caste organization in the United States: Volunteers in the Service of India’s Oppressed and Neglected (VISI...
Quantifying wind plant blockage under stable atmospheric conditions

Abstract. Wind plant blockage reduces the wind velocity upstream undermining turbine performance for the first row of the plant. We assess how atmospheric stability modifies the induction zone of a wind plant in flat terrain. We also explore different approaches to quantifying the magnitude and extent of the induction zone from field-like observations. To investigate the influence from atmospheric stability, we compare simulations of two stable boundary layers using the Weather Research and Forecasting model in large-eddy simulation mode, representing wind turbines using the generalized actuator disk approach. We find a faster cooling rate at the surface, which produces a stronger stably stratified boundary layer, amplifies the induction zone of both an isolated turbine and of a large wind plant. A statistical analysis on the hub-height wind speed field shows wind slowdowns only extend far upstream (up to 15D) of a wind plant in strong stable boundary layers. To evaluate different ways of measuring wind plant blockage from field-like observations, we consider various ways of estimating the freestream velocity upstream of the plant. Sampling a large area upstream is the most accurate approach to estimating the freestream conditions, and thus of measuring the blockage effect. Also, the choice of sampling method may induce errors of the same order as the velocity deficit in the induction zone.
The role of racial segregation in treatment and outcomes among patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract Background There is a long history of segregation in the U.S.A with enduring impacts on cancer outcomes today. We evaluated the impact of segregation on racial disparities in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) treatment and outcomes. Methods We obtained data on black and white patients with HCC from the SEER program (2005–2015) within the 100 most populous participating counties. Our exposure was the index of dissimilarity (IoD), a validated measure of segregation. Outcomes were overall survival, advanced stage at diagnosis (Stage III/IV) and surgery for localized disease (Stage I/II). Cancer-specific survival was assessed using Kaplan–Meier estimates. Results Black patients had a 1.18 times increased risk (95%CI 1.14,1.22) of presenting at advanced stage as compared to white patients and these disparities disappeared at low levels of segregation. In the highest quartile of IoD, black patients had a significantly lower survival than white (17 months vs 27 months, p Conclusions Our data illustrate that structural racism in the form racial segregation has a significant impact on racial disparities in the treatment of HCC. Urban and health policy changes can potentially reduce disparities in HCC outcomes.
Role of the renal androgen receptor in sex differences in ammonia metabolism.

Background: There are sex differences in renal ammonia metabolism and structure, many of which are mediated by testosterone. This study's goal was to determine the role of renal expression of testo...
The Pride of Family

Using Wilkerson’s Caste and Isenberg’s White Trash, along with Andrew Lawson and William Dow, the Whitmans’ economic position becomes clear. Walt Whitman’s education and training as printer, newswriter, and school teacher in Brooklyn and congruent parts of New York.
A Shift-Invariant Neural Network for the Lung Field Segmentation in Chest Radiography

We have developed a computerized method using a neural network for the segmentation of lung fields in chest radiography. The lung is the primary region of interest in routine chest radiography diagnosis. Since computer is expected to perform disease pattern search automatically, it is important to design appropriate algorithms to delineate the region of interest. A reliable segmentation method is essential to facilitate subsequent searches for image patterns associated with lung diseases. In this study, we employed a shift invariant neural network coupled with error back-propagation training method to extract the lung fields. A set of computer algorithms were also developed for smoothing the initially detected edges of lung fields. Our preliminary results indicated that 86% of the segmented lung fields globally matched the original chest radiographs. We also found that the method facilitates the development of computer algorithms in the field of computer-aided diagnosis.
A simple fluoroscopy based technique for assessing 3D knee kinematics before, during, and after surgery

Kinematics of the normal, injured, or prosthetically replaced knee joint are a complex combination of rolling, gliding and rotational motions which are significantly influenced by the activity undertaken, the integrity of the ligaments and capsular structures, muscle activity, and articular geometry. Accurate kinematic information is critical to understanding the function and pathogenesis of the knee, particularly during weight bearing dynamic activities. In addition, intraoperative kinematic assessment during knee reconstruction would permit surgeons to objectively optimize graft placement and tensioning. The present study was undertaken to characterize the accuracy of a non-invasive fluoroscopic technique for measuring dynamic three-dimensional (3D) knee motions in individuals whose knees have not been prosthetically replaced, and demonstrate the measurement on in vivo step-up data. This technique utilizes orthogonal planar radiographic views of the knee to create a 3D contour model of consistently identifiable bony features for both the tibia and femur. The measurement technique is implemented by projecting the contour model onto digitized fluoroscopic images of the moving knee, and determining the translations and rotations which give the best correspondence between the projected contour model and the radiographic projection of the bone. Controlled in vitro assessment of the technique resulted in an average rotational accuracy of 1.1 degrees and a sagittal plane translational accuracy of 1.2 nun.
Inductive Logic 1945–1977

The seventeenth century saw the beginnings of two powerful and important ways of conceiving one proposition to support another in cases where the truth of the former is formal-logically consistent with the falsehood of the latter. Early in the century Francis Bacon urged the possibility of discovering causal uniformities from tables of presence and absence — lists of circumstances present, and circumstances absent, when the phenomenon under investigation was found. Bacon thought that natural laws which were so discovered would become more and more certain as they increased in comprehensiveness and subsumed a greater and greater variety of known uniformities, provided that these laws also lead us to new knowledge. A little later Pascal and Fermat laid down principles for a mathematical calculus of chance that Leibniz and Bernoulli interpreted as binding normal judgements of probability — in the law courts, for example, as well as in games of chance.
Substrate selectivities differ for hepatic mitochondrial and peroxisomal β-oxidation in an Antarctic fish, Notothenia gibberifrons

Hepatic mitochondrial and peroxisomal beta-oxidation were examined in an Antarctic marine teleost, Notothenia gibberifrons. Enzymic profiles and rates of beta-oxidation by intact organelles were determined by using a range of fatty acyl-CoA substrates to evaluate substrate preferences. Partitioning of beta-oxidation between organelles was estimated. Substrate selectivities are broader for peroxisomal beta-oxidation than for mitochondrial beta-oxidation. Mitochondria show marked preference for the oxidation of a monounsaturated substrate, palmitoleoyl-CoA (C16:1), and two polyunsaturates, eicosapentaenoyl-CoA (C20:5) and docosahexaenoyl-CoA (C22:6). Carnitine palmitoyltransferase activities with palmitoleoyl-CoA (C16:1) are 2.4-fold higher than activities with palmitoyl-CoA (C16:0). Most polyunsaturated acyl-CoA esters measured appear to inhibit by over 40% the oxidation of palmitoyl-CoA by peroxisomes. Our findings suggest that the polyunsaturates, eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5) and docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6), found in high concentrations in Antarctic fishes [Lund and Sidell (1992) Mar. Biol. 112, 377-382], are utilized as fuels to support aerobic energy metabolism. Metabolic capacities of rate-limiting enzymes and beta-oxidation rates by intact organelles indicate that up to 30% of hepatic beta-oxidation in N. gibberifrons can be initiated by the peroxisomal pathway.
Fetal growth restriction promotes physical inactivity and obesity in female mice

Environmental exposures during critical periods of prenatal and early postnatal life affect the development of mammalian body weight regulatory mechanisms, influencing lifelong risk of obesity. The specific biological processes that mediate the persistence of such effects, however, remain poorly understood. The objectives of this study were to determine the developmental timing and physiological basis of the obesity-promoting effect previously reported in offspring of obese agouti viable yellow (Avy/a) mothers. Newborn offspring of obese Avy/a and lean (a/a) mothers were cross-fostered shortly after birth to study separately the effects of in utero or suckling period exposure to Avy/a dams. Body composition, food intake, physical activity and energy expenditure were measured in offspring shortly after weaning and in adulthood. Offspring of obese Avy/a dams paradoxically experienced fetal growth restriction, which was followed by adult-onset obesity specifically in females. Our main analyses focused on wild-type (a/a) offspring, because a subset of adult Avy/a offspring contracted a kidney disease resembling diabetic nephropathy. Detailed physiological characterization demonstrated that, both shortly after weaning and in adulthood, female wild-type mice born to Avy/a mothers are not hyperphagic but have reduced physical activity and energy expenditure. No such coordinated changes were detected in male offspring. Mediational regression analysis of our longitudinal data supported a causal pathway in which fetal growth restriction persistently reduces physical activity, leading to adult obesity. Our data are consistent with several recent human epidemiological studies showing female-specific effects of perinatal nutritional restriction on later obesity, and provide the novel mechanistic insight that this may occur via permanent and sex-specific changes in one’s inherent propensity for physical activity.
Multivariate linear mixed models for multiple outcomes

We propose a multivariate linear mixed (MLMM) for the analysis of multiple outcomes, which generalizes the latent variable model of Sammel and Ryan. The proposed model assumes a flexible correlation structure among the multiple outcomes, and allows a global test of the impact of exposure across outcomes. In contrast to the Sammel-Ryan model, the MLMM separates the mean and correlation parameters so that the mean estimation will remain reasonably robust even if the correlation is misspecified. The model is applied to birth defects data, where continuous data on the size of infants who were exposed to anticonvulsant medications in utero are compared to controls.
The Morality of ‘Military Anthropology’

Abstract This article describes the use of anthropologists ‘embedded’ with military forces in Afghanistan and Iraq to provide onsite knowledge, interpretation, and practical advice regarding local cultures and practices. The specific development of this ‘Human Terrain System’ (HTS) project is distinguished from other, related employment of anthropologists to assist in the writing or revision of military policy and doctrine (as in the U.S. Army's new Counterinsurgency Field Manual), provide pre-deployment education and orientation to military troops in language and regional cultural studies, or even to engage in anthropological field research focused on military services and organizations themselves. All of these distinct activities are customarily grouped under the broad heading of ‘military anthropology,’ a distinct subfield of the discipline that has provoked public controversy, and which poses a number of interesting ethical dilemmas for those engaged in such efforts. This article addresses specific fe...
Plasma and pituitary concentrations of LH, FSH and prolactin after injection of GnRH in aged female C57BL/6 mice

Abstract Plasma and pituitary concentrations of LH, FSH and prolactin (Prl) were compared by radioimmunoassay (RIA) in young mature (2–4 monthold) and aged (16–22 month-old) female C57BL/6 mice, following various experiments with IP injections of GnRH. Unanesthetized mice were bled by cardiac puncture either (1) at various time intervals following a single injection of 25 ng GnRH, (2) after several injections of 25 ng GnRH, or (3) after receiving excessively large doses of GnRH. From the RIA of plasma and pituitary concentrations of LH, it appeared that the pituitaries of aged mice were, in general, capable of responding to GnRH treatment, only to a lesser degree than that of the younger females. The exception was that the pituitaries of aged mice that were subjected to unusually high doses of GnRH continued to secrete higher levels of LH, whereas the response of the pituitaries in younger mice plateaued after receiving 25 ng GnRH. Plasma and pituitary concentrations of FSH and Prl remained fairly constant when aged GnRH-treated females were compared with aged controls. This was also true when FSH and Prl concentrations in the younger mice were compared with their controls, except for significantly higher plasma FSH and significantly lower pituitary FSH following several injections of GnRH. When the hormonal concentrations of the young and aged groups were compared in the various experiments, the older mice consistently exhibited higher levels of gonadotropin and lower levels of prolactin than those of the younger mice. In a separate experiment, in which a radioreceptor assay (RRA) was used to quantitate plasma LH in GnRH-treated mice, both age groups were found to have lower concentrations of LH (p
Parallel, semiparallel, and serial processing of visual hyperacuity

Humans can discriminate between certain elementary stimulus features in parallel, i.e., simultaneously over the visual field. I present evidence that, in man, vernier rnisalignments in the hyperacuity-range, i.e., below the photoreceptor diameter, can also be detected in parallel. This indicates that the visUal system performs some form of spatial interpolation beyond the photoreceptor spacing simultaneously over the visual field. Vernier offsets are detected in parallel even when orientation cues are masked: deviation from straightness is an elementary feature of visual perception. However, the identification process, that classifies each vernier in a stimulus as being offset to the right (versus to the left) is serial and has to scan the visual field sequentially if orientation cues are masked. Therefore, reaction times and thresholds in vernier acuity tasks increase with the number of verniers presented simultaneously if classification of different features is required. Furthermore, when approaching vernier threshold, simple vernier detection is no longer parallel but becomes partially serial, or semi-parallel.
Influence of brood hosts on host preferences of bark beetle parasites

The southern pine beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmerman (SPB) is attacked by several species of hymenopterous parasites1,2 the most common of which also parasitise other bark beetles3–5 including the engraver beetles Ips grandicollis (Eichhoif), I. avulsus (Eichhoff), I. calligraphus (Germar), I. pini (Say); and the eastern juniper bark beetle, Phloeosinus dentatus (Say). The increasing importance of pest management has focused attention on the role of their natural enemies. However, the dynamics of bark beetle parasite populations is not generally known beyond estimates of mortality caused by parasites. The hymenopteran parasite guild of D. frontalis may kill up to 30% of a given brood2. Since D. frontalis is cyclic in most areas with epidemics followed by very low population densities1, other beetle hosts probably act as reservoirs for certain species of these parasites3. Conversely, during D. frontalis epidemics, other beetles, such as I. grandicollis and P. dentatus may compete as alternate hosts. Information on preferences for D. frontalis and other associated bark beetles is necessary to understand the interactions of this host–parasite complex. We report here the results of a study designed to determine if several known D. frontalis parasites display any host preferences among D. frontalis, I. grandicollis or P. dentatus.
Direct method for superresolution

A noniterative method for superresolution is presented and analyzed. By exploiting the inherent structure of the discrete signal-processing environment, this algorithm reduces the problem of superresolution to that of solving a set of linear equations that relate known frequency samples to unknown time samples. It is shown that the algorithm always produces the correct solution if the known samples are error free and if the system is exactly determined or overdetermined. A technique to reduce the effect of measurement noise on the solution is presented also. It is shown that the noniterative algorithm will produce the same result as the Gerchberg–Papoulis algorithm [ Opt. Acta21, 709 ( 1974); IEEE Trans. Circuits Syst.CAS-22, 735 ( 1975)]. A simple, one-dimensional example is used to demonstrate the performance of both algorithms in the presence, and in the absence, of noise. The utility of the noniterative algorithm is demonstrated further with another one-dimensional example and then a two-dimensional example.
Fluorimetric determination of acidity constants of naphthoic and anthroic acids

Abstract A fluorimetric method of determining the acidity constants (p K a values) of some naphthoic and anthroic acids is presented, based on the changes in fluorescence of solutions of these acids in water on changing the pH. The method is useful in the absence as well as in the presence of excited-state proton transfer. In the latter case, when the excited-state protonation occurs in the same pH region as the ground-state dissociation, resolution of the two processes can be accomplished by addition of a suitable quencher such as iodide. The method permits the accurate determination of the p K a value of fluorescent compounds, even when they are poorly soluble in water, because of the high sensitivity of the spectrofluorimetry.
Using Walsh Functions to Test a New Composite Sherif-Dear (CSD) Random Number Generator:

A test using Walsh functions is performed to test the quality of the output of a new Composite Sherif-Dear (CSD) random number generator. The Walsh functions based test shows that the output of the (CSD) generator satisfies the criteria of good random number generators.
Characterization of natural killer and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity of preterm infants against human immunodeficiency virus-infected cells.

The odds risk of vertical transmission of human immunodeficiency virus(HIV) to preterm infants is almost four times that of term infants and may relate to maternal and neonatal factors. We characterized the competence of early nonspecific cellular immunity, namely natural killer cytotoxicity (NKC) and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from preterm neonates (Group II: 30-35 weeks gestation, n=13; Group III: 36 weeks gestation, n=28) and adults against a T cell line infected with the human T-cell lymphotrophic virus-IIIB using a51 Chromium release assay. PBMC from term neonates exhibited levels of NKC activity equal to adults against HIV-infected targets, yet the NKC capacity of preterm neonatal PBMC was significantly diminished (p<.035). The ADCC activity of both term and preterm neonatal PBMC against HIV-infected targets was significantly less than that of adult PBMC (p<.03). Overnight stimulation of a subset of samples with interleukin-12 (IL-12) augmented the NKC activity of both infant groups and adults (p <.001), while the ADCC activity remained unchanged. These findings demonstrate that term neonates are deficient in ADCC against HIV-infected targets while preterm infants are deficient in both NKC and ADCC which may relate, in part, to the increased risk of transmission of HIV with preterm delivery. In addition, IL-12 has the potential to augment both term and preterm neonatal antiviral defense.
Optimal common due-date with completion time tolerance

The common due-date problem involves minimizing the absolute deviation around a common due-date. An interesting variation modifies the problem so that no penalty costs are incurred for jobs completing within the tolerance interval of the common due-date. For tolerance intervals that are less than half the execution time of the shortest job, solution techniques have been developed. However, the techniques do not extend to tolerance intervals of any arbitrarily chosen size. In this paper, for a variety of penalty functions we develop a polynomial time solution algorithm for any size tolerance interval. We also demonstrate how optimizing techniques developed in this paper can be applied to a common due-date problem with a partial set of fixed jobs and a predetermined common due-date.
Low levels of allozyme differentiation between Pyxidanthera (pyxie-moss) taxa ( Diapensiaceae )

TwoPyxidanthera morphs of questionable taxonomic rank are described in the eastern United States. We analyzed leaf samples from ninePyxidanthera populations (four of each morph and one with intermediate morphology) for 13 allozyme loci. Our results do not support differentiation of the two morphs at the species level. Mean genetic identity among populations was high (Ī = 0.97), and typical of that found for conspecific populations. The proportion of total genetic diversity found among populations was low (GST = 0.079). Several low frequency alleles were confined to each of the morphs, being found in some of the populations of each morph, but not all.
Optimal input covariance for achieving secrecy capacity in Gaussian MIMO wiretap channels

We consider a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) Gaussian wiretap channel model, where there exists a transmitter, a legitimate receiver and an eavesdropper, each node equipped with multiple antennas. We study the problem of finding the optimal input covariance that achieves secrecy capacity subject to a power constraint, which in general leads to a difficult non-convex optimization problem. For the Gaussian multiple-input single-output (MISO) wiretap channel where there exists a transmitter equipped with multiple antennas, a legitimate receiver and an eavesdropper each equipped with one antenna, the optimal input covariance is obtained in closed form. For the general case, we derive the necessary conditions for the optimal input covariance in the form of a set of equations. We show that for MISO case, the derived conditions guarantee the optimal input covariance. Numerical results are presented to illustrate the proposed theoretical findings.
Measures of Asociation between vectors

Let be a (p+q) - variate random vector (p≧1, q≧1) with . Partition ∑into p- and q- rows and columns such that . Let be the nonzero characteristic roots of where s is the rank of ∑12. Based on those roots, a class measures of association between is characterised. Some basic properties of these measures are explored. Among various special cases, an attractive measure of association is favoured which is derived from the vector coefficient of alienation. Justification fof the use of such a measure is included.
Comparative effects of telmisartan in the treatment of hypertension.

Three separate randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, 12-week trials compared telmisartan with enalapril, lisinopril, and amlodipine for treating mild to moderate hypertension. Telmisartan 80 mg was associated with a significantly greater mean decrease in trough systolic and diastolic blood pressure than enalapril 20 mg (p<0.05). Mean decreases in trough systolic and diastolic blood pressure with telmisartan (40, 80, and 160 mg) and lisinopril (10, 20, and 40 mg) were similar. Telmisartan (40, 80, and 120 mg) provided greater decreases in mean hourly systolic and diastolic blood pressure throughout the 24-hour dosing interval, including the last 4 hours of the dosing period, than amlodipine (5 and 10 mg). Telmisartan was associated with a lower incidence of treatment-related cough than lisinopril and enalapril and less treatment-related angioedema than amlodipine. These data suggest that for treating mild to moderate hypertension, telmisartan has efficacy similar to lisinopril, greater efficacy than enalapril and amlodipine throughout the 24-hour dosing interval, and better tolerability than these angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and amlodipine.
Effect of social support on the stress-burnout relationship

Business organizations have become interested in recent years in the role of social support in reducing the negative effect of stress. The purpose of this research is to examine the effects of two types of social support (i.e., job and life support) on the relationships between job and life stress and burnout. Participants consisted of 270 males and 254 females. For both males and females job stress and life stress correlate positively with burnout, while job and life support were negatively correlated with burnout. The hypothesis that social support would moderate stress-burnout relationships was not supported. Neither job support nor life support moderated job stress or life stress-burnout relationships. Females exhibited significantly higher levels of burnout, job stress, and life stress than males; however, there was no difference between males and females in the amount of social support received.
Child Maltreatment Fatalities: Predicting Rates and the Efficacy of Child Welfare Policy

Scientists have studied child maltreatment fatalities (CMFs) for several decades, yet little research has examined the social context in which CMFs occur and whether prevention efforts are effective. Using state-level data from 2006–2008, we examine the social context in which CMFs occur and conduct a five-year follow-up to a study that found media attention predicted CMF-related legislation (Douglas, 2009). The results indicate that the social context in which children live are important; poverty and region are the strongest predictors of CMFs and states that passed legislation to prevent future maltreatment fatalities did not experience a decline in the death rate. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.
Revised modified Oxford bone score: a simpler system for prediction of contralateral involvement in slipped capital femoral epiphysis.

BackgroundThe decision to prophylactically treat the uninvolved hip in slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) remains controversial. The modified Oxford bone score (mOBS) is predictive of future contralateral involvement in slipped capital femoral epiphysis. The scoring method for this system is c
Managing knowledge work: specialization and collaboration of engineering problem‐solving

In this paper we investigate the exploratory nature of knowledge creation and sharing practice in high‐technology industry. Traditional approaches in knowledge management focus on the storage and retrieval of knowledge, but they do not address the tacit dimension of knowledge process. Using data gathered at three semiconductor manufacturers in Japan and Korea, we examine the social processes by which expert teams cooperate across team boundaries despite differing points of view resulting from increasing team specialization. Three engineering teams are studied: design, process, and process integration. They are responsible for trouble management in the production of dynamic random access memory (DRAM), a class of integrated circuit semiconductor devices. Trouble management is the handling of problems that require exploratory, yet routine problem‐solving practice. The findings suggest that the crucial challenge in achieving effective control of the knowledge management process rests not in strategies for collecting and classifying relevant problem/solution information. Rather, it is in the management of “problematization”, a political process involving the articulation behaviors of different teams of engineers.
Magnetic resonance imaging for axillary staging in patients with breast cancer

Purpose To determine the utility of MRI for assessing axillary lymph node status in patients with breast cancer. Materials and Methods A consecutive series of patients who underwent breast MR before surgical management of breast cancer with axillary sampling between 2005 and 2007 were identified. MRs were evaluated for the number of nodes, contrast kinetics, nodal area, and number of nodes with no fatty hilum. Data were analyzed in the context of final breast pathology, sentinel lymph node status, and axillary nodal status. Correlations were analyzed using Kendall's τ-b test. Reported P values are one-sided. Results Fifty-six females (median = 58 years) were studied. Sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) were positive in 15/56 patients (27%). All SLN + patients (n = 15) had completion axillary dissection. Extent of nodal disease was 1 (n = 3), 2 (n = 4), >2 (n = 8). Presence of any axillary lymph node with no fatty hilum and the number of nodes with no fatty hilum on MR significantly correlated with pathologic node positivity (P = 0.04); while kinetics, node number, and node size did not correlate. Conclusion Breast MR may be useful in the assessment of axillary nodes in patients with breast cancer. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.