cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Congenital portosystemic shunts: imaging findings and clinical presentations in 11 patients.

Abstract Objective To evaluate the clinical anatomy and presentations of congenital portosystemic shunts, and determine features that promote recognition on imaging. Materials and methods Institutional review board approval was obtained for this HIPAA-compliant study. The requirement for written informed consent was waived. Radiology reports were retrospectively reviewed from non-cirrhotic patients who underwent imaging studies from January 1999 through February 2009. Clinical sources reviewed included electronic medical records, archived images and histopathological material. Results Eleven patients with congenital portosystemic shunts were identified (six male and five female; age range 20 days to 84 years). Seven patients had extrahepatic and four patients had intrahepatic shunts. All 11 patients had absent or hypoplastic intrahepatic portal veins, a feature detected by CT and MRI, but not by US. Seven patients presented with shunt complications and four with presentations unrelated to shunt pathophysiology. Three adult patients had four splenic artery aneurysms. Prospective radiological evaluation of five adult patients with cross-sectional imaging had failed prospectively to recognize the presence of congenital portosystemic shunts on one or more imaging examinations. Conclusions Congenital portosystemic shunts are associated with splenic artery aneurysms, a previously unrecognized association. Portosystemic shunts were undetected during prospective radiologic evaluation in the majority of adult patients, highlighting the need to alert radiologists to this congenital anomaly.
SEROTONIN-INDUCED PARTURITION IN THE FINGERNAIL CLAM SPHAERIUM (MUSCULIUM)TRANSVERSUM (SAY)

Parturition in the freshwater fingernail clam Sphaerium (=Musculium) transversum (Say) was induced by external application of both 10−4 and 10−3 M serotonin [5-hy-droxytryptamine (5-HT)]. 5-HT induced release of viable juveniles within 30–60 min of application. Parturitions in 5-HT (10−3 M) occurred sooner and more often than in 5-HT (10−5 or 10−4 M) or in artificial pond water. The numbers of juveniles per parturition in 5-HT varied from one to nine. The parturition response to 5-HT was completely blocked by 10−4 M methiothepin (a vertebrate 5-HT1/5-HT2 receptor antagonist) known to bind with high affinity to gastropod 5-HT receptors and to block 5-HT-induced spawning in other freshwater bivalves. However, parturition was not induced by 8-OH-DPAT (8-hydroxy-dipropylaminotetralin HBr, a vertebrate 5-HT1A receptor agonist), a potent inducer of spawning in freshwater bivalves. Thus, the pharmacological profile of the 5-HT receptor(s) mediating parturition in S. transversum may be unlike that mediating spawning in other bivalves. This is the first report of 5-HT-induced parturition in any brooding bivalve. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Observations on the Acetate and Citrate Metabolism of Streptococcus Lactis and Streptococcus Cremoris

Summary A study of the acetate-citrate metabolism of the lactic group of streptococci revealed that strains of Streptococcus cremoris responded significantly when a level of 10mg. per milliliter of acetate was used in the medium but failed to respond when citrate was added at the same concentration; with some strains this level of citrate proved to be inhibitory. Streptococcus lactis responded significantly to this concentration of either acetate or citrate; the magnitude of the response to citrate was significantly greater than to acetate. These data support the contention that two distinct species exist in the lactic group of streptococci. Experiments with calcium pantothenate revealed that all of the strains tested were unable to grow in its absence. Furthermore, coenzyme A as a source of pantothenate was considerably less effective in meeting this requirement than was Ca pantothenate.
Synthesis and Structure of PNP-Supported Iridium Silyl and Silylene Complexes: Catalytic Hydrosilation of Alkenes

Oxidative addition of bulky primary, secondary, and tertiary silanes to PNP (PNP = [N(2-PiPr2-4-Me-C6H3)2]−) iridium complexes (PNP)IrH2 and (PNP)Ir(COE) (11) afforded iridium silyl hydride complexes (PNP)Ir(H)(SiRR′R′′) (3−8). Addition of 2 equiv of PhSiH3 or (3,5-Me2C6H3)SiH3 to (PNP)IrH2 or 11 yielded disilyl complexes (PNP)Ir(SiH2R)2 (R = Ph (9), 3,5-Me2C6H3 (10)). Hydride abstraction from (PNP)Ir(H)(SiH2R) (R = Trip (5), Dmp (6)) by [Ph3C][B(C6F5)4] afforded iridium silylene complexes [(PNP)(H)Ir═SiR(H)][B(C6F5)4] (R = Trip (12), Dmp (13)) exhibiting downfield 29Si NMR resonances (234 ppm (12), 226 ppm (13)) and downfield 1H NMR resonances for the Si−H group (10.76 ppm (12), 9.76 ppm (13)). Thermally stable disubstituted silylene complexes [(PNP)(H)Ir═SiPh2][A] (A = −B(C6F5)4 (14), −CB11H6Br6 (16)) were isolated via hydride abstraction from (PNP)Ir(H)(SiHPh2). The X-ray structure of 16 confirmed sp2 hybridization at silicon and revealed a short Ir−Si bond of 2.210(2) A. Catalytic hydrosilation of alk...
Endogenous Mechanisms Underlying the Activation and Sensitization of Meningeal Nociceptors: The Role of Immuno-Vascular Interactions and Cortical Spreading Depression

Migraine is considered one of the most prevalent neurological disorders but its underlying pathophysiology is poorly understood. Over the past two decades, it became widely accepted that activation of primary afferent nociceptive neurons that innervate the intracranial meninges serves as a key process that mediates the throbbing head pain of migraine. Knowledge about the endogenous factors that play a role in promoting this neural process during a migraine attack slowly begins to increase, and a better understanding remains one of the holy grails in migraine research. One endogenous process, which has been invoked as a major player in the genesis of migraine pain, is cortical spreading depression (CSD). Until recently, however, this notion was only supported by indirect evidence. Recently, electrophysiological data provided the first direct evidence that CSD is indeed a powerful endogenous process that can lead to persistent activation of meningeal nociceptors and the migraine pain pathway. CSD has been suggested to promote persistent sensitization and ensuing activation of meningeal nociceptors through a mechanism involving local neurogenic inflammation including the activation of mast cells and macrophages and subsequent release of inflammatory mediators. Local action of such nociceptive mediators can increase the responsiveness of meningeal nociceptors. Recent studies provided key experimental data implicating complex meningeal immuno-vascular interactions, in particular, the interplay between proinflammatory cytokines, the meningeal vasculature and immune cells, in enhancing the responses of meningeal nociceptors.
Comments on ‘Possible Role of MHD Waves in Heating the Solar Corona’ by Dwivedi and Pandey

We comment on the recent paper by Dwivedi and Pandey (Solar Physics216, 59, 2003). Parts of that paper closely reproduce, without reference, material that we had published previously, while other parts that deviate from our earlier analysis contain several critical flaws. We show that magnetoacoustic waves are capable of heating the corona with a modest enhancement in the coefficient of compressive viscosity.
Central projections from the skin of the hand in squirrel monkeys.

Central termination patterns of afferents from the hands of squirrel monkeys were studied after subdermal injections of wheat germ agglutinin conjugated with horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP) or cholera toxin subunit B conjugated to HRP (BHRP). WGA-HRP more effectively labeled axons terminating in the superficial dorsal horn of the spinal cord, while BHRP more effectively labeled axons terminating in the deeper layers. Injections of both tracers, when restricted to parts of glabrous digits, palm, or dorsal hand, revealed somatotopic patterns in the spinal cord and pars rotunda of the cuneate nucleus that were, in some respects, similar and, in other respects, quite different from those previously reported for macaque monkey (Florence et al., J. Comp. Neurol. 286:48-70, '89). As in macaques, injections in digits 1-5 produced a rostrocaudal sequence of foci of terminations in the cervical spinal cord. However, inputs from the palm were located medial to those from the digits, whereas the palm is represented lateral to the digits in macaque monkeys. Since inputs from the palm is also medial in the dorsal horn in cats (Nyberg and Blomqvist, J. Comp. Neurol. 242:28-39, '85), the condition in squirrel monkeys may be similar to the generalized state. In the cuneate nucleus, single injections in the hand produced dense label in the pars rotunda, and sparse label in the rostral and caudal poles. As in macaque monkeys, inputs from specific parts of the hand related to rostrocaudal clusters of cells that are cytochrome oxidase dense. The representation of the digits differed from macaques in that the digits were represented dorsal to the palm, rather that ventral to the palm as in macaques. Again, comparisons with cats suggest that squirrel monkeys have the more generalized pattern. Finally, inputs from the hair, dorsal surfaces of the digits terminated on the same clusters as the inputs from the glabrous, ventral surfaces, apparently overlapping somewhat. The proximity of these terminations from dorsal and ventral surfaces of the digits may be related to observations that cortical representations of the glabrous surfaces of digits become responsive to dorsal surfaces of the same digits when inputs from glabrous skin are chronically deactivated (e.g., Merzenich et al., Neuroscience 3:33-55, '83).
Ribonucleotide reductase: regulation, regulation, regulation

Ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) catalyses the rate limiting step in the production of deoxyribonucleotides needed for DNA synthesis. It is composed of two dissimilar subunits, R1, the large subunit containing the allosteric regulatory sites, and R2, the small subunit containing a binuclear iron center and a tyrosyl free radical. Recent isolation of the mammalian and yeast RNR genes has shown that, in addition to the well documented allosteric regulation, the synthesis of the enzyme is also tightly regulated at the level of transcription. The mRNAs for both subunits are cell-cycle regulated and, in yeast, inducible by DNA damage. Yeast encode a second large subunit gene, RNR3, that is expressed only in the presence of DNA damage. This regulation is thought to provide a metabolic state that facilitates DNA replicational repair processes.
The band structure of GaAs from a self-consistent pseudopotential approach

Abstract A procedure is set up which generates a nearly self-consistent pseudopotential using an RPA dielectric function. The core valence interaction is treated in the Ashcroft local operator formalism. Excellent results are achieved for GaAs.
Soluble Two-Dimensional Models of Generally Covariant Field Theories

Several soluble generally covariant field theories defined on a two-dimensional indefinite metric are discussed. The differential equations for the metrics are nonlinear and hyperbolic. These are solved in closed form.
An operator-splitting algorithm for the three-dimensional diffusion equation

A second-order-accurate and unconditionally stable operator-splitting algorithm for the three-dimensional diffusion equation is presented in this article. The governing equation is split into three one-dimensional equations, and the split equations are solved by a finite-element method. The simulation characteristics of the algorithm are demonstrated by numerical experiments. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
An exploratory study of a finite difference method for calculating unsteady transonic potential flow

A method for calculating transonic flow over steady and oscillating airfoils was developed by Isogai. The full potential equation is solved with a semi-implicit, time-marching, finite difference technique. Steady flow solutions are obtained from time asymptotic solutions for a steady airfoil. Corresponding oscillatory solutions are obtained by initiating an oscillation and marching in time for several cycles until a converged periodic solution is achieved. The method is described in general terms and results for the case of an airfoil with an oscillating flap are presented for Mach numbers 0.500 and 0.875. Although satisfactory results are obtained for some reduced frequencies, it is found that the numerical technique generates spurious oscillations in the indicial response functions and in the variation of the aerodynamic coefficients with reduced frequency. These oscillations are examined with a dynamic data reduction method to evaluate their effects and trends with reduced frequency and Mach number. Further development of the numerical method is needed to eliminate these oscillations.
Sean Breanndan Moore (1944–2009)

Sean Breanndan Moore, a member of the AJCP editorial board for many years, died at his home in Rochester, MN, April 22, 2009. He had lived with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis since 2006, never losing his innate grace, dignity, and courage. Breanndan was born on August 4, 1944, in Dublin, Ireland, to the late Michael and Ita (Cuddihy) Moore. He was educated in Ireland and graduated from University College, Dublin, in 1968, obtaining MB, BCh, and BAO degrees (MD equivalent). …
Uncooled sensor technology

1. Review of HIDAD Focal Plane Development • Ferroelectric Detector • Bolometric Detector 2. Performance Status 3. Theoretical Underpinnings 4. LOCUSP • Prototype Description • Field Test 5. Future Directions • Military/Civilian 6. Conclusions 7. Video Tape
REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION OF NITRIC OXIDE (NO) and NITRIC DIOXIDE (NO2) DURING INHALATIONAL THERAPY: EFFECT OF VENTILATION STRATEGY. † 2329

REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION OF NITRIC OXIDE (NO) and NITRIC DIOXIDE (NO2) DURING INHALATIONAL THERAPY: EFFECT OF VENTILATION STRATEGY. † 2329
Acoustic input-admittance of the alligator-lizard ear: Nonlinear features

Abstract The acoustic input-admittance at the alligator lizard's tympanic membrane varies with stimulus level; the magnitude of the variation can be as much as a factor of three. At 1.6 kHz, the frequency of maximum admittance magnitude, the admittance varies when the stimulus level exceeds 65 dB SPL. At frequencies above or below 1.6 kHz, larger SPLs are needed to produce admittance changes. With stimulus frequencies below 0.3 kHz or above 4.0 kHz the admittance is virtually constant for stimulus levels up to at least 100 dB SPL. The nonlinear behavior 1. (a) is greatly reduced when the cochlear partition is destroyed, 2. (b) does not return when the mechanical load of the partition is replaced, 3. (c) is decreased by the introduction of proteolytic enzymes into the inner ear, and 4. (d) is not affected by some manipulations that greatly reduce cochlear potentials. The results suggest that the mechanical properties of the cochlear partition are the source of the nonlinear admittance. Parallels between this phenomenon and two-tone distortion products in the ear canal (Rosowski et al. (1984): Hearing Res. 13, 141–158) suggest that the same nonlinear mechanical source that generates the level-dependent admittance also produces two-tone distortion products in the lizard ear canal. Published demonstrations of level-dependent admittance in mammalian ears, although rather different from these results, do not rule out the presence of a similar mechanism in the mammalian cochlea.
17O NMR study of YBa2Cu3O7−δ

Abstract We present our 17 O NMR experimental results in a magnetically aligned powder sample of YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7−δ (T c = 93K). The sign of the anisotropic Knight shift shows that the spin density resides mainly on the p σ orbitals at the planar O(2,3) and bridging O(4) sites. About 30 % of the total spin susceptibility is attributed to the oxygen 2p σ states. The Knight shift at the O(2,3) sites decrease more rapidly than that at the chain O(1) sites, indicating a larger gap in the planes. The nuclear relaxation rate at the O(2,3) sites shows linear-T (Korriga) behavior above T c , in contrast to the much weaker temperature dependence at the planar Cu(2) sites. However, these two rates show identical temperature dependence below about 110 K, indicating that an important change in the spin dynamics takes place above T c .
GAT-3 transporters regulate inhibition in the neocortex

The role of GAT-3 transporters in regulating GABAA receptor-mediated inhibition was examined in the rat neocortex using an in vitro slice preparation. Pharmacologically isolated GABAA receptor-medi...
Light and electron microscopic study on thyroxine-induced in vitro resorption of the tadpole tail fin.

Tail fin pieces (“discs”) of Rana pipiens tadpoles were treated with thyroxine (T4) solution (50 μg/liter) and the induced changes were studied with the light and electron microscopes. Definitive effects first appeared after 4 days of treatment. Thereafter various resorptive processes proceeded at an accelerating pace. By the 9th or 10th day the discs were reduced to tiny spherules. The most conspicuous changes were those of the breakdown and disposal of the basement lamella. First there was a “loosening” of the collagen layers followed by massive infiltration by macrophages which engulfed the collagen fibrils. By the 8th day the phagocytosis of the basement lamella was completed for the most part and the macrophages were clumped into masses. After 6 days of T4 treatment the epidermis was transformed from a 2- or 3-cell layered epithelium to a multilayered one. This was due to the detachment of the basal epithelial cells from the basement lamella followed by their movement towards the surface. Later, the epidermal cells showed atrophy by extensive autolytic processes. Discs incubated in the control medium (devoid of T4) remained intact for the duration of the experiment. Their morphology was essentially the same as that described by others from studies in vivo.
Complicated parapneumonic effusions in children caused by penicillin-nonsusceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Objective. To describe the clinical characteristics of complicated parapneumonic effusions (CPE) in children caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae nonsusceptible to penicillin (PCN-N) and compare their clinical outcome with CPE caused by penicillin-susceptible (PCN-S) organisms. Design. Children with parapneumonic effusions were identified retrospectively between July 1992 and June 1996. Charts of patients with CPE were reviewed for data obtained at the time of hospital admission. In addition, outpatient charts and/or the families of children with CPE caused by PCN-N S pneumoniae were reviewed to identify specific risk factors associated with PCN-N organisms. Results. Sixty-four cases of CPE were identified during the 4-year period. In 26 cases a bacterial pathogen was recovered, with S pneumoniae accounting for 23 of these isolates (88%). Of the 23 S pneumoniae cases, 17 were PCN-S and 6 cases were nonsusceptible. Complicated parapneumonic effusions caused by PCN-N S pneumoniae occurred in significantly younger patients than CPE that were PCN-S (2.1 years vs 7.9 years). Nonsusceptible effusions also had a higher incidence of bacteremia than PCN-S effusions (100% vs 29%). There were no significant differences between the two groups for duration of chest tube drainage, febrile days, oxygen use, and hospital stay. Conclusion. CPE caused by PCN-N S pneumoniae is associated with a younger age and higher rate of bacteremia than CPE caused by PCN-S strains. However, there were no significant differences in outcome measures between patients infected with susceptible or nonsusceptible organisms.
Time-Series Modeling for Statistical Process Control

In statistical process control, a state of statistical control is identified with a process generating independent and identically distributed random variables. It is often difficult in practice to attain a state of statistical control in this strict sense; autocorrelations and other systematic time-series effects are often substantial. In the face of these effects, standard control-chart procedures can be seriously misleading. We propose and illustrate statistical modeling and fitting of time-series effects and the application of standard control-chart procedures to the residuals from these fits. The fitted values can be plotted separately to show estimates of the systematic effects.
Coulomb correlations, broken symmetries and dimensionality effects

Abstract Within single particle theories occurrence of spatial broken symmetries depend only on nesting. This picture is shown to change dramatically for nonzero Coulomb interactions, where dimensionality plays a much stronger role. We examine the Peierls-Hubbard model in two dimension, and show that while the simple Peierls instability can occur in one, two or three dimension for perfect nesting, the Hubbard interaction destroys this instability for dimensionality greater than one. The spin-Peierls transition is a unique feature of one dimension. The above is also related to the occurrence of antiferromagnetism in two dimension. Recent observation of the vanishing of the spin-Peierls phase and the appearance of an antiferromagnetic phase in TMTTF-salts under pressure can be explained within the present theory.
Psychological Factors Affecting Perceptions of Unsolicited Commercial E-mail

Abstract Using the online survey method, this study investigates how consumers regard unsolicited commercial e-mail (spam) and their possible responses. Specifically, the study closely examines the relationships among five key indicators: (a) perceived intrusiveness, (b) perceived irritation, (c) attitudes toward the advertising medium, (d) ad skepticism, and (e) ad avoidance. Also examined is the process of attitude formation concerning unsolicited commercial e-mail. The results indicate that while perceived intrusiveness increases the likelihood of avoiding unsolicited commercial e-mail, perceived irritation tends to raise the degree of ad skepticism.
A rare penetrant mutation in CFH confers high risk of age-related macular degeneration

Two common variants in the gene encoding complement factor H (CFH), the Y402H substitution (rs1061170, c.1204C>T)(1-4) and the intronic rs1410996 SNP(5,6), explain 17% of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) liability. However, proof for the involvement of CFH, as opposed to a neighboring transcript, and knowledge of the potential mechanism of susceptibility alleles are lacking. Assuming that rare functional variants might provide mechanistic insights, we used genotype data and high-throughput sequencing to discover a rare, high-risk CFH haplotype with a c.3628C>T mutation that resulted in an R1210C substitution. This allele has been implicated previously in atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome, and it abrogates C-terminal ligand binding(7,8). Genotyping R1210C in 2,423 AMD cases and 1,122 controls demonstrated high penetrance (present in 40 cases versus 1 control, P = 7.0 × 10(-6)) and an association with a 6-year-earlier onset of disease (P = 2.3 × 10(-6)). This result suggests that loss-of-function alleles at CFH are likely to drive AMD risk. This finding represents one of the first instances in which a common complex disease variant has led to the discovery of a rare penetrant mutation.
Sleep Characteristics of Youth with Functional Abdominal Pain and a Healthy Comparison Group

Objective To describe sleep problems among youth with and without functional abdominal pain (FAP). Methods Participants were 8-15 years of age diagnosed with FAP (n = 67) or healthy pain-free comparisons (n = 80). Parents and participants completed instruments assessing sleep, psychiatric status, and FAP symptoms. Parent and child reports of sleep problems were compared across groups and the association of FAP to behavioral sleep problems was assessed controlling for psychopathology. Results Children with FAP were reported to have more symptoms of behavioral sleep disorders (BSD), as well as increased nightmares and daytime tiredness than the comparison group. There were no group differences in total sleep time. Logistic regression analysis indicated that FAP was associated with a significantly increased risk of BSD symptoms [Odds ratio (OR): 4.17] after controlling for psychopathology. Conclusion Sleep problems in youth with FAP warrant clinical attention and future research should continue to explore sleep problems that co-occur with and independent of psychopathology.
Opportunistic Bandwidth Sharing Through Reinforcement Learning

As an initial step toward solving the spectrum-shortage problem, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has started the so-called opportunistic spectrum access (OSA), which allows unlicensed users to exploit the unused licensed spectrum, but in a manner that limits interference to licensed users. Fortunately, technological advances have enabled cognitive radios, which have recently been recognized as the key enabling technology for realizing OSA. In this paper, we propose a machine-learning-based scheme that will exploit the cognitive radios' capabilities to enable effective OSA, thus improving the efficiency of spectrum utilization. Our proposed learning technique requires no prior knowledge of the environment's characteristics and dynamics, yet it can still achieve high performance by learning from interaction with the environment.
Least Constrained Slot Allocation in Optical TDM Networks

In this paper, we propose a timeslot allocation scheme in all-optical TDM networks with no traffic buffering. The purpose of the new scheme is to take the blocking rate to an optimal level close to what can be achieved with the use of buffers. Previous works considered the first fit and least loaded approaches to reserve timeslots in networks that include buffers and multi-fibers. Our proposed scheme applies to more basic networks that have single unidirectional fibers and no buffers.
Understanding Economic Abuse in the Lives of Survivors

Intimate partner violence (IPV) often includes economic abuse as one tactic commonly used by an abuser; unfortunately, there is a lack of empirical understanding of economic abuse. Additionally, research is limited on the predictors of economic self-sufficiency in the lives of women experiencing IPV. This paper furthers our knowledge about economic abuse and its relationship with economic self-sufficiency by presenting the results from an exploratory study with IPV survivors participating in a financial literacy program. Of the 120 individuals who participated in the first wave, 94% experienced some form of economic abuse, which also correlated highly with other forms of IPV. Seventy-nine percent experienced some form of economic control, 79% experienced economic exploitative behaviors, and 78% experienced employment sabotage. MANOVA results also indicated that economic control differed significantly based on education with those with a high school education experiencing higher rates than those with less than high school education or those with some college. Finally, results from the OLS regressions indicated that experiencing any form of economic abuse as well as economic control significantly predicted a decrease in economic self sufficiency. Implications suggest that advocates should assess for economic abuse when working with survivors and should be prepared to offer financial tools to increase survivors' economic self-sufficiency. Policymakers should understand the ramifications of economic abuse and create policies that support survivors and prohibit economic abuse. Finally, more research is needed to fully understand economic abuse and its impact on survivors and their economic self-sufficiency.
Lower extremity overuse injuries in pediatric athletes: clinical presentation, imaging findings, and treatment ☆

Paralleling the growing popularity of organized sports among pediatric athletes, the stress and intensity of training regimens has escalated the frequency and severity of pediatric overuse injuries. It is essential that radiologists have a thorough knowledge of the pathogenesis of these injuries and of their characteristic patterns with different imaging techniques in order to appropriately diagnose overuse injuries in the pediatric skeleton. Knowledge of the classification, mechanism, clinical and imaging manifestations of acute and chronic overuse injuries of the lower extremities common among pediatric athletes can assist in imaging-based diagnosis and characterization of injury.
A Rapid One-Generation Genetic Screen in a Drosophila Model to Capture Rhabdomyosarcoma Effectors and Therapeutic Targets

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is an aggressive childhood malignancy of neoplastic muscle-lineage precursors that fail to terminally differentiate into syncytial muscle. The most aggressive form of RMS, alveolar-RMS, is driven by misexpression of the PAX-FOXO1 oncoprotein, which is generated by recurrent chromosomal translocations that fuse either the PAX3 or PAX7 gene to FOXO1. The molecular underpinnings of PAX-FOXO1−mediated RMS pathogenesis remain unclear, however, and clinical outcomes poor. Here, we report a new approach to dissect RMS, exploiting a highly efficient Drosophila PAX7-FOXO1 model uniquely configured to uncover PAX-FOXO1 RMS genetic effectors in only one generation. With this system, we have performed a comprehensive deletion screen against the Drosophila autosomes and demonstrate that mutation of Mef2, a myogenesis lynchpin in both flies and mammals, dominantly suppresses PAX7-FOXO1 pathogenicity and acts as a PAX7-FOXO1 gene target. Additionally, we reveal that mutation of mastermind, a gene encoding a MEF2 transcriptional coactivator, similarly suppresses PAX7-FOXO1, further pointing toward MEF2 transcriptional activity as a PAX-FOXO1 underpinning. These studies show the utility of the PAX-FOXO1 Drosophila system as a robust one-generation (F1) RMS gene discovery platform and demonstrate how Drosophila transgenic conditional expression models can be configured for the rapid dissection of human disease.
Symmetry properties of chemical graphs. IX. The valence tautomerism in the P73− skeleton†

We investigate the intramolecular rearrangement of the P73− ion in which PP bonds are continuously broken and reestablished resulting in a dynamic structure with all seven phosphorus atoms being chemically equivalent. This leads to 7/3 = 1680 valence tautomers. The P73− ion is a typical fluctuating molecule, distantly related to C10H10 bullvalene. In order to determine the symmetry of the process we first consider the problem of the construction of the rearrangement graph. Initial steps toward this goal are illustrated, and additional characterizations of the graph are derived after its construction by computer. A number of properties of this rather complicated graph having 1680 vertices and 2520 edges are discussed: in particular the occurrence of various cycles, the maximal distance between vertices, the count of neighbors at different distance, and finally its symmetry.
In vitro fertilization outcomes in patients experiencing a premature rise in luteinizing hormone during a gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist cycle

Patients undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and pituitary suppression with a GnRH antagonist who experienced a transient premature rise in LH were compared with those who did not have an early surge. Those experiencing a premature LH surge had equivalent clinical and ongoing pregnancy rates per ET.
A p-channel MOS synapse transistor with self-convergent memory writes

We have developed a p-channel floating-gate-MOS synapse transistor for silicon-learning applications. The synapse stores a nonvolatile analog weight by means of charge on its floating gate, modifies this weight bidirectionally using electron tunneling and hot-electron injection, and allows simultaneous memory reading and writing. The synapse also learns locally-its weight updates depend only on the applied terminal voltages and on the stored weight. We fabricated an array of synapses that computed both the array output, and the weight updates, in parallel. We also demonstrated a self-convergent write procedure that permitted accurate initialization of the synapse weights. Our pFET synapse is small, and is operated at subthreshold current levels; it will permit the development of dense, low-power, silicon learning systems.
Hydrological modelling of acidified Canadian watersheds

Abstract Hydrology plays an important role in the acidification of watersheds in Canada by airborne pollutants such as the wet and dry deposition of sulfate and nitrate. The pathways of the anions through the soil layers, the contact times with soil matrix, the snow accumulation and melting sequences and the groundwater flows are all important hydrological factors that influence the acidification processes. A hydrogeochemical model has been developed (TMWAM) and applied to Turkey Lakes Watershed. Results are presented on the calibration and confirmation of the model using the data from these watersheds. Particulate emphasis is placed on the hydrological factors and their relationships to the varying degrees of acidification observed at these locations. Preliminary results of linking the hydrological and hydrogeochemical models are discussed in the context of model applications as part of the national acidification assessment efforts in Canada.
A Low-Energy Reconfigurable Fabric for the SuperCISC Architecture

Hardware acceleration using field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) has become increasingly popular for computationally intensive digital signal processing (DSP) applications. Unfortunately, while FPGAs have a reasonably tractable computer aided design (CAD) flow and performance, they have poor power characteristics when compared to direct application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) fabrication. ASICs exhibit better performance and power than FPGAs, but require complex CAD and large non-recurring engineering (NRE) costs. A reconfigurable device that exhibits ASIC-like power characteristics and FPGA-like costs and tool support is desirable to fill this void. Several coarse-grained fabric architectures proposed during the last decade have been focused on performance and area-efficient architectural techniques. Even though power is becoming one of the critical design concerns for semiconductor industry, this issue has not been adequately addressed in the existing coarse-grained fabric architectures. In this paper, a low-power and high-performance hardware acceleration engine for DSP style applications is described. This reconfigurable fabric model is generic and parameterizable allowing design parameters to be adjusted within the architecture. The impact of varying different design parameters such as functional unit granularity, and multiplexer cardinality are studied for their implications on power and performance. The low-power fabric was designed to operate within the SuperCISC processor architecture designed at the University of Pittsburgh
NEGATIVE FREQUENCY DEPENDENCE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF SPATIAL SCALE

Issues of spatial scale are inherent in many ecological systems. This study uses a spatially explicit cellular automaton model to explore how the scale of dispersal interacts with the scale and strength of negative frequency dependence to determine patterns of species distribution. Counter to expectation, strong local frequency-dependent interactions result in random spatial patterns. When dispersal scale and interaction scale are decoupled, the resulting patterns are not necessarily random. For strong negative frequency dependence, stable bands result when the scale of interaction exceeds the scale of dispersal, and bands with two-point cycles result when the scale of dispersal exceeds the scale of interaction. However, for weaker interactions occurring over intermediate scales, only random patterns result. Thus, our results call into question the utility of inferring any ecological interaction from only the spatial distributions of the putatively interacting species. Furthermore, our results call for new experimental studies that explicitly manipulate the strength and the scale of the processes being studied.
Dissociation of motor task-induced cortical excitability and pain perception changes in healthy volunteers.

Background There is evidence that interventions aiming at modulation of the motor cortex activity lead to pain reduction. In order to understand further the role of the motor cortex on pain modulation, we aimed to compare the behavioral (pressure pain threshold) and neurophysiological effects (transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) induced cortical excitability) across three different motor tasks.
Structure prediction of polyglutamine disease proteins: comparison of methods

The expansion of polyglutamine (poly-Q) repeats in several unrelated proteins is associated with at least ten neurodegenerative diseases. The length of the poly-Q regions plays an important role in the progression of the diseases. The number of glutamines (Q) is inversely related to the onset age of these polyglutamine diseases, and the expansion of poly-Q repeats has been associated with protein misfolding. However, very little is known about the structural changes induced by the expansion of the repeats. Computational methods can provide an alternative to determine the structure of these poly-Q proteins, but it is important to evaluate their performance before large scale prediction work is done. In this paper, two popular protein structure prediction programs, I-TASSER and Rosetta, have been used to predict the structure of the N-terminal fragment of a protein associated with Huntington's disease with 17 glutamines. Results show that both programs have the ability to find the native structures, but I-TASSER performs better for the overall task. Both I-TASSER and Rosetta can be used for structure prediction of proteins with poly-Q repeats. Knowledge of poly-Q structure may significantly contribute to development of therapeutic strategies for poly-Q diseases.
Nodular Fasciitis Characteristic Imaging Features on Sonography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to evaluate the imaging features of nodular fasciitis on sonography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS A retrospective search of the radiologic and pathologic databases over the past 10 years for the diagnosis of nodular fasciitis was performed. Sonographic and MRI features were described. Pathologic specimens were reviewed. RESULTS Six pathologically confirmed cases of nodular fasciitis were found. The mean patient age was 19.5 years (range, 8-33 years); 3 patients were male and 3 were female. Four patients had sonography only; 1 patient had both sonography and MRI; and 1 patient had MRI only. Three masses were located in the subcutaneous tissue adjacent to fascia; 2 were at the subcutaneous/muscular border; and 1 was intramuscular; however, all were in contact with fascia and showed a fascial tail on sonography and MRI. On sonography and MRI, masses were oval with poorly defined lobulated borders, averaging 2.6 cm (range, 1.8-3.5 cm). On sonography, all masses were hypoechoic. On MRI, the masses were isointense to muscle on T1-weighted sequences, hyperintense to muscle on fluid-sensitive sequences, and enhanced avidly but heterogeneously. The masses were surrounded by fat. CONCLUSIONS When a rapidly growing oval mass in contiguity with a fascial plane is recognized, the diagnosis of nodular fasciitis should be entertained. More importantly, the possibility of an inaccurate diagnosis by core biopsy exists, which may warrant gross resection.
Analysis of a Racism Hoax at Oberlin College

It is often alleged that American society is racist, even though it is acknowledged that overt expressions of racism are extremely rare. How do people know that it is racist, then? This chapter raises the possibility that this claim of racism is often based on a projection. The value of the father’s accomplishments, through which he attempted to gain mother’s love, has been denied and assertions of their value are projected onto the father and experienced as white supremacy and racism. Among those who adopt this view, it provides the basis for their experience of the world, and of their proper place within it, but this view of the world is entirely in the mind and hence rests on faith. They need to keep this faith constantly renewed. I illustrate this through an analysis of the response, centering around an anti-racist convocation, to an efflorescence of racist material at Oberlin College in 2013. In fact, the material had been produced as part of a hoax. The administration knew that, but let the convocation proceed anyway. Why was that? I compare the convocation to a religious revival meeting, for which the provenance of the provocative material was not an important consideration. Within exclusively maternal psychology, by playing along with this, the administration was just doing what it thought was its job.
High-frame-rate full-vocal-tract 3D dynamic speech imaging.

Purpose To achieve high temporal frame rate, high spatial resolution and full-vocal-tract coverage for three-dimensional dynamic speech MRI by using low-rank modeling and sparse sampling. Methods Three-dimensional dynamic speech MRI is enabled by integrating a novel data acquisition strategy and an image reconstruction method with the partial separability model: (a) a self-navigated sparse sampling strategy that accelerates data acquisition by collecting high-nominal-frame-rate cone navigator sand imaging data within a single repetition time, and (b) are construction method that recovers high-quality speech dynamics from sparse (k,t)-space data by enforcing joint low-rank and spatiotemporal total variation constraints. Results The proposed method has been evaluated through in vivo experiments. A nominal temporal frame rate of 166 frames per second (defined based on a repetition time of 5.99 ms) was achieved for an imaging volume covering the entire vocal tract with a spatial resolution of 2.2 × 2.2 × 5.0 mm3 . Practical utility of the proposed method was demonstrated via both validation experiments and a phonetics investigation. Conclusion Three-dimensional dynamic speech imaging is possible with full-vocal-tract coverage, high spatial resolution and high nominal frame rate to provide dynamic speech data useful for phonetic studies. Magn Reson Med 77:1619-1629, 2017. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
Effects of total body x-irradiation on the peripheral blood of the monkey.

In monkeys subjected to a single dose of LD/50 total body x-irradiation, the periods of initial fall, continued depression and subsequent recovery were determined for total white counts, neutrophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, erythrocytes and platelets. In general, the effect of irradiation upon the blood picture in the monkey parallels closely that observed in lower animals. Discrepancies in the leukocyte recovery times between human atomic bomb casualties and animals, including the monkey, are noted. Observations on eosinophils and lymphocytes which bear upon the role of irradiation as a stress stimulus are presented and discussed.
Interleukin 3 Promotes the Differentiation of Isolated Single Megakaryocytes

Interleukin 3 (IL3) promotes the proliferation of murine hematopoietic progenitor cells, including the megakaryocytic colony-forming cell (CFU- MK). To determine whether IL3 influences more differentiated cells in the murine megakaryocytic lineage, IL3 was added to microcultures of single megakaryocytes isolated from CFU-MK-derived colonies. After two days of culture, cell diameter and DNA content were analyzed. Eighty- five percent of cells initially between 12 and 20 micron in diameter increased in size in response to IL3, while only 12% of these cells increased in size in its absence. The percentage of cells responding to IL3 varied inversely with the size of the initial cells. The culture procedure did not alter the relatively linear relationship between size and ploidy, suggesting that increments in cell size are accompanied by increased ploidy. After three days of culture, acetylcholinesterase (AchE) activity was assayed. A small but significant increment in AchE activity was observed in the presence of IL3. The data show that, at least in vitro, IL3 is a differentiation-promoting factor of the murine megakaryocytic lineage.
Gothic Adaptations and Reprisals

There were approximately seven to eight thousand churches standing on the eve of the Reformation in England. Not one of them remained wholly unscathed by the iconoclastic fervor that followed. Most were damaged quite extensively. Pictures, statues, images, and altars were especially targeted by the reformers. Consecrated in 1497, St. Mary’s, the Parish Church of Fairford in Gloucestershire, is as architecturally remarkable as it is historiographically anomalous (Figure 2.1). Unlike the vast majority of the churches extant when it was built, virtually all of its twenty-eight magnificent windows have their full complement of original stained glass, despite the near ubiquitous effects of the Reformation. This highly unusual circumstance has attracted the attention of many visitors, and inspired at least two seventeenth-century poems. In Upon Faireford Windowes1 (1630), Richard Corbett, Bishop of Oxford, provocatively inquires of the sixteenth-century iconoclasts why they failed in their endeavors. The poem begins with this rhetorical question: Tell mee, you Anti-Saintes, why glasse With you is longer liv’d than brass? And why the Saintes haue scap’t their falls Better from Windowes, then from Walles?
Competition-function tradeoffs in ectomycorrhizal fungi

Background. The extent to which ectomycorrhizal fungi mediate primary production, carbon storage, and nutrient remineralization in terrestrial ecosystems depends upon fungal community composition. However, the factors that govern community composition at the root system scale are not well understood. Here, we explore a potential tradeoff between ectomycorrhizal fungal competitive ability and enzymatic function. Methods. We grew Pinus muricata (Bishop Pine) seedlings in association with ectomycorrhizal fungi from three different genera in a fully factorial experimental design. We measured seedling growth responses, ectomycorrhizal abundance, and the root tip activity of five different extracellular enzymes involved in the mobilization of carbon and phosphorus. Results. We found an inverse relationship between competitiveness, quantified based on relative colonization levels, and enzymatic activity. Specifically, Thelephora terrestris, the dominant fungus, had the lowest enzyme activity levels, while Suillus pungens, the least dominant fungus, had the highest. Discussion. Our results identify a tradeoff between competition and function in ectomycorrhizal fungi, perhaps mediated by the competing energetic demands associated with competitive interactions and enzymatic production. These data suggest that mechanisms such as active partner maintenance by host trees may be important to maintaining "high-quality" ectomycorrhizal fungal partners in natural systems.
Spatial and temporal variability in the δ18Ow and salinity compositions of Gulf of Maine coastal surface waters

Abstract Hydrographic variability and dynamics in the Gulf of Maine are examined through the investigation of δ 18 O w and salinity properties of coastal surface waters. Data from Gulf of Maine waters sampled over a decade, from 2003 to 2015, including a suite of samples that were collected monthly from April 2014 to March 2015, are presented. These water samples fall on a mixing line between Maine River Water (MRW) and Scotian Shelf Water (SSW). However, slope waters likely also contribute to these surface waters. The seasonal variability in water samples collected during 2014 and 2015 indicates the strong influence of river runoff on coastal Gulf of Maine surface water properties. The coastal Gulf of Maine mixing line presented in this paper is a needed baseline for reconstructing hydrographic variability in bicarbonates using oxygen isotopes.