cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Generative-based airway and vessel morphology quantification on chest CT images

Accurately and precisely characterizing the morphology of small pulmonary structures from Computed Tomography (CT) images, such as airways and vessels, is becoming of great importance for diagnosis of pulmonary diseases. The smaller conducting airways are the major site of increased airflow resistance in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), while accurately sizing vessels can help identify arterial and venous changes in lung regions that may determine future disorders. However, traditional methods are often limited due to image resolution and artifacts. We propose a Convolutional Neural Regressor (CNR) that provides cross-sectional measurement of airway lumen, airway wall thickness, and vessel radius. CNR is trained with data created by a generative model of synthetic structures which is used in combination with Simulated and Unsupervised Generative Adversarial Network (SimGAN) to create simulated and refined airways and vessels with known ground-truth. For validation, we first use synthetically generated airways and vessels produced by the proposed generative model to compute the relative error and directly evaluate the accuracy of CNR in comparison with traditional methods. Then, in-vivo validation is performed by analyzing the association between the percentage of the predicted forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1%) and the value of the Pi10 parameter, two well-known measures of lung function and airway disease, for airways. For vessels, we assess the correlation between our estimate of the small-vessel blood volume and the lungs' diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO). The results demonstrate that Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) provide a promising direction for accurately measuring vessels and airways on chest CT images with physiological correlates.
Biomimetic sponges improve muscle structure and function following volumetric muscle loss

Skeletal muscle is inept in regenerating after traumatic injuries such as volumetric muscle loss (VML) due to significant loss of basal lamina and the resident satellite cells. Currently, there are no approved therapies for the treatment of muscle tissue following trauma. In this study, biomimetic sponges composed of gelatin, collagen, laminin-111, and FK-506 were used for the treatment of VML in a rodent model. We observed that biomimetic sponge treatment improved muscle structure and function while modulating inflammation and limiting the extent of fibrotic tissue deposition. Specifically, sponge treatment increased the total number of myofibers, type 2B fiber cross-sectional area, myosin: collagen ratio, myofibers with central nuclei, and peak isometric torque compared to untreated VML injured muscles. As an acellular scaffold, biomimetic sponges provide a promising off-the-shelf clinical therapy for VML.
Hospital- and System-Wide Interventions for Health Care-Associated Infections: A Systematic Review:

Hospitals face increasing pressure to reduce health care-associated infections (HAI) due to their costs and evidence of preventability. However, there is limited synthesis of evidence regarding interventions that can be successfully implemented hospital- or system-wide. Using Donabedian's structure-process-outcome model, we conducted a systematic literature review from 2008 to early 2019, identifying 96 studies with 214 outcomes examining the relationship between hospital- or system-wide interventions and HAIs. This literature's methodologic and reporting quality was generally poor. The most common HAIs studied were methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (22%) and Clostridium difficile (21%). 97 outcomes showed a desirable change, 72 showed no significant effect, 17 showed conflicting effects, and 3 found undesirable effects; 25 outcomes were from studies without a statistical analysis. Our findings highlight structural and process approaches meriting additional research and policy exploration, and identify recommendations for future investigation and reporting of hospital and system-wide HAI interventions to address gaps in existing literature.
Space-Time Wave Packets as a Platform for a Free-Space Optical Delay Line

We demonstrate free-space optical delay lines that make use of diffraction-free space-time wave-packets whose group velocities are continuously tunable in free space, and thus provides a potential platform for all-optical buffers by providing group delays that far exceed the pulse widths.
An evaluation of resurgence in mice

Abstract Owing in part to the implications of resurgence for issues surrounding human health and adaptive problem solving, a substantial amount of laboratory research has been dedicated to understanding why this form of relapse occurs and what factors affect it. This research, however, has never been extended to mice, leaving unknown the specific experimental parameters that are appropriate for studying resurgence in this species. Two experiments were conducted in which mice were exposed to a three-phase resurgence preparation in a multiple-baseline-across-subjects design. In Phase 1, pressing a target lever produced food according to a variable-interval 15-s schedule. In Phase 2, target-lever pressing was extinguished, and nose poking produced reinforcement according to either a variable-interval 15-s (Experiment 1) or fixed-ratio 1 (Experiment 2) schedule. Finally, alternative reinforcement was suspended to test for resurgence. Lever pressing relapsed for one of four mice in Experiment 1, but all four mice demonstrated relapse in Experiment 2. Thus, relatively dense schedules of alternative reinforcement may be required to reliably study resurgence of previously reinforced responding in mice. These findings are instructive for researchers who are interested in studying resurgence of mice’s behavior and further demonstrate the cross-species generality of this form of relapse.
Life Course Transitions and Educational Trajectories: Examining Adolescents who Fall off Track Academically

Educational interventions typically center on youth displaying early academic risk, potentially overlooking those falling off track academically later in their educational careers. The current study investigated the extent to which life course transitions experienced during adolescence were linked to falling off-track academically in high school. Data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (N = 4284; 53% female; Mage = 14.88) documented that 1516 students displayed no educational risk in early high school, yet 14% did not pursue 4-year college by age 24. Analyses revealed the unique life course transitions predictive of falling off-track academically (i.e., sexual intercourse, alcohol use, family transitions, residential mobility). The study’s findings highlight important intervention avenues to promote adolescents’ continued educational persistence.
Cracking genetic codes of longevity.

Meng Wang discusses the importance of early studies that led to the discovery of genes that regulate longevity.
Teaching for a Data-Driven Future: Intentionally Building Foundational Computing Skills

Despite the centrality of data analysis to the discipline, sociology departments are currently falling short of teaching both undergraduate and graduate students crucial computing and statistical s...
Replacing Animal Protein with Soy-Pea Protein in an “American Diet” Controls Murine Crohn Disease–Like Ileitis Regardless of Firmicutes: Bacteroidetes Ratio

BACKGROUND The current nutritional composition of the "American diet" (AD; also known as Western diet) has been linked to the increasing incidence of chronic diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), namely Crohn disease (CD). OBJECTIVES This study investigated which of the 3 major macronutrients (protein, fat, carbohydrates) in the AD has the greatest impact on preventing chronic inflammation in experimental IBD mouse models. METHODS We compared 5 rodent diets designed to mirror the 2011-2012 "What We Eat in America" NHANES. Each diet had 1 macronutrient dietary source replaced. The formulated diets were AD, AD-soy-pea (animal protein replaced by soy + pea protein), AD-CHO ("refined carbohydrate" by polysaccharides), AD-fat [redistribution of the ω-6:ω-3 (n-6:n-3) PUFA ratio; ∼10:1 to 1:1], and AD-mix (all 3 "healthier" macronutrients combined). In 3 separate experiments, 8-wk-old germ-free SAMP1/YitFC mice (SAMP) colonized with human gut microbiota ("hGF-SAMP") from CD or healthy donors were fed an AD, an AD-"modified," or laboratory rodent diet for 24 wk. Two subsequent dextran sodium sulfate-colitis experiments in hGF-SAMP (12-wk-old) and specific-pathogen-free (SPF) C57BL/6 (20-wk-old) mice, and a 6-wk feeding trial in 24-wk-old SPF SAMP were performed. Intestinal inflammation, gut metagenomics, and MS profiles were assessed. RESULTS The AD-soy-pea diet resulted in lower histology scores [mean ± SD (56.1% ± 20.7% reduction)] in all feeding trials and IBD mouse models than did other diets (P < 0.05). Compared with the AD, the AD-soy-pea correlated with increased abundance in Lactobacillaceae and Leuconostraceae (1.5-4.7 log2 and 3.0-5.1 log2 difference, respectively), glutamine (6.5 ± 0.8 compared with 3.9 ± 0.3 ng/μg stool, P = 0.0005) and butyric acid (4:0; 3.3 ± 0.5 compared with 2.54 ± 0.4 ng/μg stool, P = 0.006) concentrations, and decreased linoleic acid (18:2n-6; 5.4 ± 0.4 compared with 8.6 ± 0.3 ng/μL plasma, P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Replacement of animal protein in an AD by plant-based sources reduced the severity of experimental IBD in all mouse models studied, suggesting that similar, feasible adjustments to the daily human diet could help control/prevent IBD in humans.
Treatment of Chronic Pancreatitis

The treatment of chronic relapsing pancreatitis as typified by alcoholic pancreatitis follows the same therapeutic efforts outlined in Chapter 8 for treatment of acute pancreatitis. If a relapse is associated with minimal discomfort, the nasogastric tube can be omitted or removed after only 1 or 2 days. Proper attention must still be directed to fluid and electrolyte balance, and the use of a metabolic flow sheet is strongly urged in all instances of pancreatitis whether clinically mild or severe.
Robust stability of time delay systems: theory

Given that a time-delay system is stable for some delay h0 > 0, a procedure is given to find the stability interval [h*1, h*2]such that h0 ϵ [h*1, h*2]and for all h satisfying h*1 < h < h*2 the system is stable. Further, the system is shown to be unstable if h = h*1 or hh = h*2. It is then shown how this can be applied to test the robust stability (with respect to delay values) of a Smith-Predictor based controller.
Comment on R. Dornbusch, “The Theory of Flexible Exchange Rate Regimes and Macroeconomic Policy”

The paper by Rudiger Dornbusch first sets out a theory of the long run determination of the exchange rate and then discusses a number of issues connected with the operation of flexible exchange rate regimes over a shorter period characterized by expectational errors. Since the paper is admirably lucid, there is little for the discussant to do beyond expressing minor reservations at certain points and emphasizing some aspects of the analysis.
Factors Affecting Emulsion Capacity as a Measure of Protein Functionality for Nonmeat Proteins

The emulsion capacity (EC) of two commonly used nonmeat proteins, isolated soy protein (ISP) and sodium caseinate (SC), was measured by using a variety of conditions. The EC end point for the different proteins was significantly influenced in different ways by environmental conditions. The end point of the ISP was decreased significantly if sodium chloride was present, if the ISP were added first to water as opposed to oil or if the temperature were increased. The end point of the SC was significantly increased by low sodium chloride levels, unaffected by order of addition to water or oil and was decreased by increasing temperature. Light microscopy demonstrated the structural changes occurring at the EC end points.
Anisotropic properties of the layered superconductor Cu 0.07 Ti Se 2

The anisotropic superconducting properties of single crystals of ${\mathrm{Cu}}_{0.07}\mathrm{Ti}{\mathrm{Se}}_{2}$ were studied by measurements of magnetization and electrical resistivity. ${T}_{c}$ is around $3.9\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$, and the measured upper critical field $({H}_{c2})$ values are $\ensuremath{\sim}1.25$ and $0.8\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{T}$, for applied field parallel and perpendicular to the $\mathrm{Ti}{\mathrm{Se}}_{2}$ planes, respectively. The anisotropy ratio ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{\mathrm{anis}}={H}_{c2}^{ab}∕{H}_{c2}^{c}$ is close to 1.6 and nearly temperature independent. The lower critical field $({H}_{c1})$ values are much smaller ($\ensuremath{\sim}32\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{Oe}$ for $H\ensuremath{\Vert}ab$ and $17\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{Oe}$ for $H\ensuremath{\Vert}c$); demagnetizing corrections for field perpendicular to the thin plate crystals are required for the determination of ${H}_{c1}^{c}$. The anisotropy of the critical fields is described well by the anisotropic Ginzburg-Landau (GL) theory, and the characteristic GL parameters are determined and discussed.
An Ecological Model of Workplace Bullying: A Guide for Intervention and Research

The origins and outcomes of workplace bullying can be understood through the use of a conceptual model which is based on the ecological perspective. This model portrays the work environment as a series of nested, interconnected layers that exist within society as a whole. These layers are society (macrosystem), the corporation (exosystem), the co-workers and managers of the bully and target (mesosystem), and the bully and target (microsystem). Workplace bullying does not occur in isolation. Elements at each of these levels serve as antecedents to bullying, and the outcomes of bullying are manifested at each of these levels. These antecedents and outcomes need to be considered when developing interventions that target workplace bullying. The model can be used as a theoretical framework to guide intervention planning and evaluation, and can also be used to guide the formulation of questions for empirical research.
Toxicity of the mycotoxins fumonisins B1 and B2 and Alternaria alternata f. sp. lycopersici toxin (AAL) in cultured mammalian cells

Fumonisins B1 and B2 and AAL toxin are a series of structurally related mycotoxins. Fumonisins B1 and B2, produced by Fusarium moniliforme Sheldon induce toxic hepatitis and hepatomas in rats and leukoencephalomalacia in horses. The cancer-promotion assay which has been used to guide their purification is slow and consumes large amounts of sample. We have examined a series of cultured mammalian cell lines in order to develop a more rapid and sensitive bioassay system, which may be useful for examining structure-activity relationships and the mechanism(s) of action of these toxins. Of 9 rat hepatoma cell lines tested, all except the two most de-differentiated lines were sensitive to the three toxins, with a toxic response visible by 48 h. Approximate IC50 values for the most sensitive hepatoma line, H4TG, were 4, 2 and 10 μg/ml for fumonisins B1, B2 and AAL toxin, respectively „in 100 μl cultures. Among 15 cell lines from other sources, only MDCK dog kidney epithelial cells were sensitive (IC50 = 2.5, 2 and 5 μg/ml, respectively). Studies in co-cultures of sensitive and insensitive cell lines and in cultures of a sensitive cell line over a range of cell densities indicated that cytotoxicity of fumonisins B1 and B2 does not involve metabolite activation to a derivative stable enough to diffuse to adjacent cells.
Race, drug, and criminal sentencing: Hidden effects of the criminal law

Abstract This study analyzes a sample of 1,379 cases involving persons arrested and charged with a single drug felony in Sacramento County, California, in 1987, and completed before December 31, 1989. The data were collected from the district attorney's files, and permit an analysis of the intersection between the racial/ethnic status of the defendant, type of drug, and criminal justice system decision making from the point of intake in the district attorney's office to final case disposition. Major findings include: African Americans are significantly more likely than Caucasians or Latinos to have their cases rejected or dismissed by prosecutors; Caucasians are more likely to be placed on diversion and to have their charges reduced to a misdemeanor; African Americans are more likely than Latinos who are more likely than Caucasians to receive a prison term; and, when sentenced to prison, African Americans and Latinos receive substantially longer terms than Caucasians. Two major hypotheses are offered to explain these findings. First, the penalty structure prescribed by the penal code provides for significantly less severe penalties for those charged with methamphetamine offenses than for those charged with offenses involving other drugs, in particular crack cocaine, and these drugs represent drugs of choice for different racial/ethnic groups. Second, the law provides for more severe penalties for those charged with possession for sale and sale than for those charged with simple possession. This study argues that the character of inner city drug markets, coupled with law enforcement drug suppression strategies, means that African Americans and, secondarily, Latinos are more frequently charged with more severe offenses than Caucasians. These factors, rather than racial/ethnic status per se, account for the differences in outcomes noted above.
Separation of recombinant apolipoprotein A-IMilano modified forms and aggregates in an industrial ion-exchange chromatography unit operation

We have shown how protein self-association impacts the ion-exchange separation of modified forms and aggregates for apolipoprotein A-I(Milano). It is well known that reversible self-association of a protein can lead to chromatographic band broadening, peak splitting, merging, fronting, and tailing. To mitigate these effects, urea or an organic modifier can be added to the chromatography buffers to shift the equilibrium distribution of the target molecule to the dissociated form. A first generation process that did not utilize urea resulted in low yield and low purity as it was not possible to separate protein aggregates. A second generation process run in the presence of 6M urea resulted in high purity and high yield, but throughput was limited due to low resin binding capacity when the protein was completely denatured. A third generation process achieved high purity, high yield, and high throughput by shifting the urea concentration during the process to continually operate in the optimal window for maximum loading and selectivity. Key to these systematic process improvements was the rational understanding of the interplay of urea concentration and ion-exchange chromatographic behavior. Results from pilot and industrial scale operations are presented, demonstrating the suitability of the techniques described in this work for the large scale manufacture of recombinant therapeutic proteins.
Engineering Efficient Technology Transfer

Academic and industry leaders strategize for efficient translation of university-driven biomedical engineering innovations.
A review of different perspectives on uncertainty and risk and an alternative modeling paradigm

Abstract The literature in economics, finance, operations research, engineering and in general mathematics is first reviewed on the subject of defining uncertainty and risk. The review goes back to 1901. Different perspectives on uncertainty and risk are examined and a new paradigm to model uncertainty and risk is proposed using relevant ideas from this study. This new paradigm is used to represent, aggregate and propagate uncertainty and interpret the resulting variability in a challenge problem developed by Oberkampf et al. [2004, Challenge problems: uncertainty in system response given uncertain parameters. Reliab Eng Syst Safety 2004; 85(1): 11–9]. The challenge problem is further extended into a decision problem that is treated within a multicriteria decision making framework to illustrate how the new paradigm yields optimal decisions under uncertainty. The accompanying risk is defined as the probability of an unsatisfactory system response quantified by a random function of the uncertainty.
COACHING MIDDLE-LEVEL TEACHERS TO THINK ALOUD IMPROVES COMPREHENSION INSTRUCTION AND STUDENT READING ACHIEVEMENT

In an effort to improve student achievement, a group of middle-school teachers at an underperforming school developed a schoolwide literacy plan. As part of the plan, they agreed to model their thinking while reading aloud. Eight teachers were selected for coaching related to think alouds in which they exposed students to comprehension strategies that they used while reading. The achievement of their students was compared with the achievement of students whose teachers participated in the ongoing professional development but who were not coached. Results indicate that the coached teachers changed their instructional practices and that student achievement improved as a result.
Role of hydrodynamics on chemical reactor performance

Many different types of multiphase flow chemical reactors manifest multi-scale structures in both phase distribution and velocities. Recent experiments and simulations suggest that these structures form initially at small scale and evolve into larger scales, which affect reactor performance. Such structures in trickle bed reactors and circulating fluidized bed risers are discussed as illustrative examples. Process modifications aimed at improving reactor performance generally tend to correct for macro-scale inhomogeneous structures by disrupting the macro-scale coherent structures. It is suggested that significant improvements in reactor performance can emerge through material and process innovations aimed at disrupting these structures at the small scale where they originate.
Small form factor microsensor system using optical MEMS for passive optical digital communications (PODC)

A small form factor microsensor system with optical MEMS devices is discussed in this paper. The key components in the microsensor system include a temperature and humidity sensor for environmental monitoring, a microprocessor for signal processing, and an optical MEMS device (active corner cube retroreflector or CCR) for remote free space optical communication. A flexible circuit design and a folded packaging scheme have been utilized to minimize the overall form factor. Flat, flexible polymer batteries are incorporated to minimize the vertical profile to a few millimeters. The entire fully packaged sensor system is about 30mmx30mmx6 mm. MEMS design of the CCR, fabrication, hermetic packaging of CCR, flexible circuit design and fabrication, flip chip bonding of die form microprocessor, and a battery replacement scheme for extended operation lifetime are crucial elements for the development of a real product for the microsensor system. Optical MEMS CCR is a torsion mirror design and was fabricated using surface micromachining with Si 3 N 4 as a structural layer. A finite element analysis (FEA) model was developed to optimize design and performance of the MEMS structures. The sensor system has a miniature mechanical switch for local actuation and an optical switch for remote actuation. The applications of such a microsensor system include both tracking, tagging, locating (TTL) and remote sensing.
Client Engagement in Drug Treatment

Client engagement in drug abuse treatment is associated with favorable treatment outcomes, but it is not completely understood why some clients are more likely to engage in treatment. This study examines a wide array of client characteristics and treatment experiences potentially associated with engagement. Findings from the Los Angeles Target Cities Project, funded by the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, indicate that the predictors of treatment engagement are generally confined to current treatment experiences. For both women and men, the perceived utility of treatment, ancillary services, and the client-counselor relationship are the strongest predictors of client engagement in treatment. Client characteristics are generally not strong predictors of treatment engagement. Concerning the client-counselor relationship, the findings suggest that women may respond more favorably to an empathic counseling style, whereas men may respond to a more utilitarian style. The findings contradict popular stereotypes about the treatment-"receptive" client, identify possible directions for treatment improvement, and highlight the need for more research examining the treatment experience of the client. Other research, clinical, and policy implications are discussed.
Impact of delay after biopsy and post-biopsy haemorrhage on prostate cancer tumour detection using multi-parametric MRI: a multi-reader study.

Aim To assess impact of haemorrhage and delay after biopsy on prostate tumour detection using multi-parametric (MP) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assessment. Materials and methods Forty-four patients underwent prostate MRI at 1.5 T using a pelvic phased-array coil, including T1-weighted imaging (T1WI), T2-weighted imaging (T2WI), diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) imaging, before prostatectomy. Three radiologists independently reviewed images during four sessions [T2WI, DWI, DCE, and all parameters combined (MP-MRI)] to assess for tumour in each sextant. In a separate session, readers reviewed T1WI to score the extent of haemorrhage per sextant. Accuracy was assessed using logistic regression for correlated data. Results There was no significant difference in accuracy between readers for any session (p ≥ 0.166), and results were averaged across the three readers for remaining comparisons. Accuracy was significantly greater for MP-MRI than for any parameter alone (p ≤ 0.020). For T2WI alone, there was a trend toward decreased sensitivity in sextants with extensive haemorrhage (p = 0.072). However, accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were otherwise similar for sextants with and without extensive haemorrhage for all sessions (p = 0.192–0.934). No session showed a significant improvement in accuracy, sensitivity, or specificity in cases with delay after biopsy of over 4 weeks compared with shorter delay. Conclusion Extensive haemorrhage and short delay after biopsy did not negatively impact accuracy for tumour detection using MP-MRI. Further studies using MP-MRI protocols and interpretation schemes from other institutions are required to confirm these observations.
Latency analysis in epidemiologic studies of occupational exposures : Application to the colorado plateau uranium miners cohort

Background Latency effects are an important factor in assessing the public health implications of an occupational or environmental exposure. Usually, however, latency results as described in the literature are insufficient to answer public health related questions. Alternative approaches to the analysis of latency effects are warranted. Methods A general statistical framework for modeling latency effects is described. We then propose bilinear and exponential decay latency models for analyzing latency effects as they have parameters that address questions of public health interest. Methods are described for fitting these models to cohort or case-control data; statistical inference is based on standard likelihood methods. Application A latency analysis of radon exposure and lung cancer in the Colorado Plateau uranium miners cohort was performed. We first analyzed the entire cohort and found that the relative risk associated with exposure increases for about 8.5 years and thereafter decreases until it reaches background levels after about 34 years. The hypothesis that the relative risk remains at its peak level is strongly rejected (P > 0.001). Next, we investigated the variation in the latency effects over subsets of the cohort based on attained age, level and rate of exposure, and smoking. Age was the only factor for which effect modification was demonstrated (P > 0.014). We found that the decline in effect is much steeper at older ages (60> years) than younger. Conclusion The proposed methods can provide much more information about the exposure–disease latency effects than those generally used. Am. J. Ind. Med. 35:246–256, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Synthesis and Structure of 2-Cyclohexylamino-3-methyl-1,1-diphenyl-butan-1-ol (d-N-Cyclohexyl-diphenylvalinol), an Amino Alcohol Ligand Useful in Asymmetric Catalysis

Amino alcohols are important ligands for the asymmetric catalytic hydroamination of aminoallenes to form chiral pyrrolidines. The amino alcohol d-N-cyclohexyl-diphenylvalinol was synthesized and crystallized by slow evaporation from a 7:1 ether:ethanol mixture. The molecule crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2 1 with unit cell parameters a = 8.0724(8) A, b = 14.4327(14) A, c = 8.6752(9) A and β = 107.098(2)° and contains one molecule in the asymmetric unit with all constituent atoms being on general positions. Close inspection of the solid-state structure revealed a strong intramolecular hydrogen bond between the hydrogen atom of the hydroxyl group and the amine nitrogen. Herein we report the solid state structure of the chiral amino alcohol D-N-cyclohexyl-diphenylvalinol, a molecule which can serve as a ligand for transition metal complexes that function as asymmetric hydroamination catalysts .
Characteerization of basal estrogen and androgen levels and gonadotropin release patterns in the obese adolescent female

OBESITY has been associated with amenorrhea and oligomenorrhea, with the return of normal menses following weight reduction? Extraglandular estrogen production has been identified as an etiologic factor in the menstrual abnormalities associated with obesity. Siiteri and MacDonald ~ have demonstrated a direct correlation between body weight and peripheral conversion of androstenedione to estrone in postmenopausal women, and a substantial increase in extraglandular estrone production in premenopausal women with polycystic ovarian disease. The secretion of excessive amounts of androgen and its subsequent peripheral conversion to estrone, with the resulting chronic positive feedback effect on the hypothalamic-pituitary system, has been suggested as a possible basis for the development of chronic anovulation?
C/EBPβ: Case Study for the Importance of Intrinsic Disorder for Protein Function

The basic region:leucine zipper (bZIP) DNA-binding protein, C/EBPbeta is a key regulator of numerous cellular processes, but can also contribute to tumorigenesis and to viral diseases. It binds to specific DNA sites as homo- or hetero-dimers and interacts with other transcription factors to control transcription of a number of eukaryotic genes. Importantly, C/EBPbeta induces chromatin opening at several cell-type specific enhancers.C/EBPbeta is an intrinsically repressed protein that is activated in response to growth factors. This report discusses possible mechanisms modulating the biological activities of C/EBPbeta based on results from sequence analysis, molecular modeling, X-ray crystallography and mutagenesis studies. Analysis of primary structure indicated that C/EBPbeta is natively unstructured protein, which consists of regions with potential to fold upon binding to molecular partners and regions that retain irregular conformations independently of their environment. Conformational flexibility allows for the initial auto-inhibition via intramolecular interactions, and subsequently facilitates formation of transient intermolecular interactions that regulate C/EBPbeta's dimerization, nuclear translocation, DNA- binding and trans-activation activities in response to cellular signals.
Understanding urban process through the study of specialized subsistence economy in the Near East

Abstract The hierarchical regulation of a specialized economy is held to be one of the central operational features of the state and its spatial expression as a regional urban system. Projections about the operation of specialized economy in urban contexts are made and are applied to the study of the operation of a single key aspect of urban economy in the Near East—animal-based subsistence economy. Predictions about the nature of animal management and resource distribution in early urban contexts in the Near East are evaluated through the examination of animal bones from the highland Iranian urban center of Tal-e Malyan, 3200-1000 B.C.
Role of periureteral injections in children with vesicoureteral reflux.

Purpose of reviewPeriureteral injection has become an increasingly popular method for managing vesicoureteral reflux in children. This minimally invasive and seemingly effective technique, completed in a simple manner, is attracting more attention from urologists and parents alike. This review descr
The first catalytic enantioselective Diels–Alder reactions of 1,2-dihydropyridine: efficient syntheses of optically active 2-azabicyclo[2.2.2]octanes with chiral BINAM derived Cr(III) salen complexes

Abstract We have synthesized a new family of enantiomerically enriched BINAM-derived Schiff base Cr(III) complexes and evaluated them as catalysts for Diels–Alder reactions. These complexes effectively catalyze, for the first time, the enantioselective Diels–Alder reactions between 1,2-dihydropyridine and N -acryloyloxazolidinone to afford 2-azabicyclo[2.2.2]octanes in high yields (89–99%) and with moderate to good enantioselectivities (79–85%).
Image fusion for enhanced visualization of brain imaging

We present a new formalism for the treatment and understanding of multispectral images and multisensor fusion based on first order contrast information. Although little attention has been paid to the utility of multispectral contrast, we develop a theory for multispectral contrast that enables us to produce an optimal grayscale visualization of the first order contrast of an image with an arbitrary number of bands. In particular, we consider multiple registered imaging modalities as different bands of a multispectral image and thus we apply our techniques for enhanced visualization of multi-modal medical imaging. We demonstrate how our methodology can reveal significantly more interpretive information to a radiologist or image analyst, who can use it in a number of image understanding algorithms. Existing grayscale visualization strategies are reviewed and a discussion is given as to why our algorithm performs better. A variety of experimental results from medical imaging and remotely sensed data are presented.
Transtelephonic electrocardiographic monitoring: reliability in detecting the ischemic ST segment response during exercise.

Abstract The ECG detection of ST segment depression during maximal treadmill exercise has diagnostic and prognostic significance in coronary artery disease. This study of 200 consecutive patients undergoing Bruce exercise testing for chest pain documents the ability of a transtelephonic ECG system, capable of storing segments of ECG memory during exercise, to reliably record ST segment depression detected during simultaneous exercise testing (sensitivity 79%; specificity 99.6%). Of the three transtelephonic ECG systems tested, the modified precordial V 5 snap-on lead most accurately reflected ST segment amplitude and morphology with no "false positives" (specificity 100%) and few "false negatives" (sensitivity 78%). Therefore, this system is a potentially important clinical tool for accurately and conveniently monitoring coronary patients during exercise outside the hospital (e.g., following myocardial infarction) as well as for providing useful clinical information for ambulatory patients with undiagnosed sporadic chest pain.
Effects of chemical constituents on crystalline properties of ethylene ionomers

The effect of % methacrylic acid (%MAA), % neutralization (%N) and ion type (Na+ or Zn++) on the crystalline properties of neutralized ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymers (ionomers) were studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Two endothermic melting peaks were observed for all the nine ionomers studied, the lower melting point (LMP) due to ordered ionic clusters and the higher melting point (HMP) due to polyethylene crystallites. Effects of %MAA, %N and ion type on LMP and HMP for as-received, aged and annealed samples are compared. Effect of types of pretreatments on LMP and HMP of ionomers at high and low %MAA contents for both ion types are discussed. Most of these results are explained from the point of view of crystalline morphology of ionomers.
The Influence of Sea-Surface Temperature on Surface Wind in the Eastern Equatorial Pacific: Weekly to Monthly Variability

Abstract Temporal correlations between near-equatorial surface wind and sea-surface temperatures (SST) at 11°W in the eastern Pacific Ocean are investigated using data from an array of moored sensors between 5°N and 5°S. The signature of tropical instability waves with periods of 20–30 days is apparent in time series of SST and both the meridional and zonal wind components. Results indicate the existence of a band of pronounced horizontal divergence in the surface wind field associated with the large meridional SST gradient (equatorial front) normally located just north of the equator. Perturbations of the equatorial front by the instability waves induce fluctuations in the overlying winds. Evidence of the air-sea coupling is stronger in time series of the meridional gradients of wind and SST than between time series of the variables themselves. The meridional differencing serves as a high-pass filter in the space domain, which removes planetary-scale wind fluctuations that are unrelated to the local SST ...
Proposed Experiment to Test the Possible Time Dependence of the Onset of the Pauli Exclusion Principle

Ernesto Corinaldesi has conjectured that the symmetry of integral spin particles under exchange and the anti-symmetry of half-integral spin particles under exchange are not kinematic principles but are rather the time-dependent consequences of interactions among the particles. Hence, a freshly constituted ensemble of electrons may exhibit violations of the Pauli Exclusion Principle (PP), but as the ensemble ages, the violations become more and more infrequent. An experiment is proposed to test Corinaldesi's conjecture. A beam of Ne+ ions, accelerated in a linear accelerator to 100th the velocity of light, is crossed by a beam of electrons from an electron gun at variable positions along the direction of flow of the ions. Some of the ions capture electrons, at a rate monitored by detectors sensitive to the photons emitted in the capture process. A PP violating electron can make a transition to the doubly occupied 1s level, emitting a photon of approximately 1 keV. A rate of detection of such photons, which diminishes with the distance of the detector from the point of capture, and hence with the age of the ensemble, permits in principle the calculation of the equilibration constant of Corinaldesi's conjecture. Reasonable assumptions about the parameters of the experimental arrangement indicate that if the conjecture is correct and the equilibration constant is not shorter than 10?15 s, the proposed experiment can determine the value of this constant.
THE POLLINATION ECOLOGY OF ZENOBIA (ERICACEAE)

Zenobia is a shrub endemic to the coastal plain of the Carolinas and southeastern Virginia. The sole species, Zenobia pulverulenta, appears to be weakly self-compatible and partially selfpollinating. Fruit set was reduced, but not eliminated by excluding insect floral visitors. Insect visitors were collected and their pollen loads examined for Zenobia and foreign pollen. Analysis of these pollen loads and observations of insect-foraging behavior indicate that workers of three species of bumblebee (Bombus bimaculatus, B. griseocollis and B. impatiens) are the principal pollinators of Zenobia. However, pollinator density and composition appear to be strongly influenced by the habitats in which Zenobia grows. Pollen and nectar serve as the primary rewards for pollinators.
Familial juvenile nephronophthisis and medullary cystic disease

A child who died after many years of slowly progressive renal failure had postmortem evidence of renal cystic disease. Her family history, clinical course, renal dysfunction, and pathologic findings were compatible with either familial juvenile nephrovophthisis or medullary cystic disease. After consideration of these conditions in detail, the authors believe that the distinction between the two may be artificial. The term “hereditary degenerative nephropathy” is suggested as a suitable designation for both disorders.
Generation and in Situ Evaluation of Libraries of Poly(acrylic acid) Presenting Sialosides as Side Chains as Polyvalent Inhibitors of Influenza-Mediated Hemagglutination

This paper describes a simple, microscale method for generating and evaluating libraries of derivatives of poly(acrylic acid) (pAA) that present mixtures of side chains that influence their biologi...
Oxidative tissue: perilipin 5 links storage with the furnace

Cellular energy homeostasis is a crucial function of oxidative tissues and is altered in obesity, a continuously rising health problem. Lipid droplets (LD) are thought to play a central role in lipid homeostasis by mediating the transient storage of fatty acids in the form of triglyceride, while preventing high levels of toxic lipid intermediates or oxidized lipids that mediate cellular lipotoxicity. Members of the perilipin protein family coating LD surfaces have been found to serve important regulatory and structural functions crucial to the regulation of lipid stores. This review examines the results of studies on one of the newest members of the perilipin family, perilipin 5, which has emerged as a putative key player in LD function in oxidative tissues.
What Anthropologists Do

What Anthropologists Do Veronica Strang Oxford and New York, Berg Publishing, 2009 224 pp., 50 b&w ill., bibliography, index, ISBN: 9781845203559, £14.99 (paperback) Although anthropology has a ric...
Mesoscopic conductance fluctuations in the presence of spin-orbit coupling and Zeeman splitting

Conductance fluctuations in disordered metals with spin-orbit scattering are calculated diagrammatically in the diffusive regime l\ensuremath{\ll}L. The effect of Zeeman splitting of the conduction electrons is also properly taken into account. It is shown that reductions of the factors (1/2, (1/4, or (1/8 of the conductance fluctuations from the ``universal'' value \ensuremath{\sim}${e}^{2}$/h per phase-coherence volume result for different regimes of the strengths of spin-orbit-scattering rate and magnetic field. Experimental implications of these predictions are briefly discussed.
Light scattering in optical CT scanning of Presage dosimeters

The intensity of the scattered light from the Presage dosimeters was measured using a Thorlabs PM100D optical power meter (Thorlabs Inc, Newton, NJ) with an optical sensor of 1 mm diameter sensitive area. Five Presage dosimeters were made as cylinders of 15.2 cm, 10 cm, 4 cm diameters and irradiated with 6 MV photons using a Varian Clinac 2100EX. Each dosimeter was put into the scanning tank of an OCTOPUS optical CT scanner (MGS Research Inc, Madison, CT) filled with a refractive index matching liquid. A laser diode was positioned at one side of the water tank to generate a stationary laser beam of 0.8 mm width. On the other side of the tank, an in-house manufactured positioning system was used to move the optical sensor in the direction perpendicular to the outgoing laser beam from the dosimeters at an increment of 1 mm. The amount of scattered photons was found to be more than 1% of the primary light signal within 2 mm from the laser beam but decreases sharply with increasing off-axis distance. The intensity of the scattered light increases with increasing light attenuations and/or absorptions in the dosimeters. The scattered light at the same off-axis distance was weaker for dosimeters of larger diameters and for larger detector-to-dosimeter distances. Methods for minimizing the effect of the light scattering in different types of optical CT scanners are discussed.
Predation and space utilization patterns in a marine epifaunal community

The relative abundance patterns of several sessile epifaunal species occurring subtidally on large artificial substrata (pilings) were examined under experimental conditions involving the manipulation of densities of the echinoid Arbacia punctulata (Lamarck). The foraging activities of this predator could denude the substratum of most species with notable exceptions including the colonial hydroid Hydractinia echinata Fleming and the sponge Xestospongia halichondroides (Wilson). Moreover, these were the only two of the twenty most common species which did not significantly change in relative abundance over the experimental period. Both species had low recruitment rates and were commonly associated with substrata which had been submerged for several years. Neither species aggressively interacted with adjacent spatial competitors but instead, appeared to employ a defensive space utilization ‘strategy’. Provision of unoccupied substrata by Arbacia was apparently the major factor favoring both recruitment and growth of Hydractinia, which covered up to 30% of the area on the oldest pilings. More recently submerged substrata were covered by species such as Schizoporella errata (Waters) which had a much higher recruitment rate but was commonly overgrown by several other species. Recruitment rate, competitive ability, and vegetative growth are discussed in terms of the size of the substratum and the possibility of biased sampling in fouling studies. The widespread introduction of large artificial substrata into the natural environment has considerably altered the structure of the natural habitat and constitutes a potentially important selective force for changes in settlement preferences, especially among species such as Hydractinia which persist and become abundant on these substrata.
Chronic caffeine consumption potentiates the hypotensive action of circulating adenosine

Mean arterial blood pressure was correlated with arterial plasma adenosine levels during intravenous adenosine infusion in unanesthetized, unrestrained rats. Elevation of plasma adenosine to 5 to 6 microM (normal range 1.6 to 4.6 microM) depressed mean arterial pressure by 20 to 30 percent: this was blocked by a single caffeine injection (15 mg/kg). In contrast, caffeine consumption for 3 weeks, followed by a 1-day washout, markedly potentiated responses to adenosine, plasma levels in the 2 to 4 microM range causing 30 to 40 percent reductions in mean arterial pressure. These observations suggest that chronic occupancy of cardiovascular adenosine receptors by caffeine can enhance tissue responsiveness to adenosine, and that endogenous adenosine might act as a circulating hormone.