cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis arising in a patient with atopic dermatitis on dupilumab.

Despite a common CD4+ T-cell precursor, helper T (Th) 1 and 2 lymphocytes affect different immunologic responses, including cellular and humoral pathways, respectively. Th1 cells stimulate the activation of type 1 macrophages, IgG/immunoglobulin M production, and cytokine release (eg, interferon gamma [IFN-γ], interleukin 2) to respond to intracellular pathogens. In contrast, Th2 cells target extracellular pathogens, leading to increases in immunoglobulin E and proliferation of eosinophils, basophils, B lymphocytes, type 2 macrophages, and mast cells through the actions of interleukin 4 (IL-4), interleukin 5, interleukin 13 (IL-13), and interleukin 31.1 Th17 cells are important for host defense against extracellular bacteria and fungi, as well as injury, and are thought to be key drivers of autoimmune diseases. Th17 cells produce interleukin 17A, interleukin 17F, interleukin 22, and C-C motif chemokine ligand 20 and are characterized by neutrophil and macrophage recruitment. The Th2 cytokine, IL-4, has been shown to inhibit Th17 development.2 Dupilumab (Dupixent, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and Sanofi Genzyme), a fully human monoclonal (IgG4) antibody, inhibits the signaling of IL-4/13 by blocking the shared receptor subunit, IL-4 receptor α. Dupilumab is an effective treatment for a number of Th2-driven conditions, including atopic dermatitis (AD), asthma, and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system, which is characterized by multifocal demyelination and neuroaxonal degeneration, where the immune system is skewed toward Th1/Th17 axes.3 Interestingly, epidemiologic studies have suggested that a history of allergic diseases may confer some protection from MS.4 We report a temporal association of relapsing-remitting MS flareup and dupilumab treatment for AD. We provide a potential mechanism by which dupilumab leads to Th2 suppression with secondary Th1/17 dysregulation.
Vascular Malformations of the Extracranial Head and Neck in Children and Young Adults

Common extra-cranial vascular malformations of the head and neck encountered in the pediatric population include capillary malformations (CM), venous malformations (VM), lymphatic malformations (LM) and arteriovenous malformations (AVM). These subtypes of vascular malformations are differentiated clinically, radiologically and pathologically according to the types of vessels involved.
Simulations of effects of fiber rigidity on wet press

A previously developed lattice-Boltzmann lattice-spring method is applied to simulate a wet press process. In simulations, multi-individual flexible fibers are settled on a wire screen by the force of gravity, and a fiber network is formed on the top surface of the wire screen. Next, the coordinates and velocities of fluid and fiber solid particles are copied to a computer press simulator composed of two perforated plates. A pressure pulse is imposed at the fluid contact line of the two press plates. Water is squeezed out of the fiber network by the pressure. During simulations, fiber rigidity, fiber concentrations, and pressure pulses are varied and their effects on water removal and re-wet phenomena are systematically studied.
There's No Such Thing as Biopiracy...And it's a Good Thing Too

Tales of northern exploitation of biological wealth and ethnobiological knowledge from the global south have become so frequent, so familiar, and so uniform that allegations of biopiracy now follow a predictable script. I come not to praise the biopiracy narrative, but to bury it. Most allegations of biopiracy are so thoroughly riddled with inconsistencies and outright lies that the entire genre, pending further clarification, must be consigned to the realm of rural legend. Despite its implausibility, however, accusations of biopiracy set the rhetorical baseline in many debates within the international law of environmental protection and intellectual property. The time has come to dismantle the myth of biopiracy root and branch.This article assesses claims of biopiracy according to the layered model of information platforms. Every information platform consists of three distinct layers - physical, logical, and content - and biological information is no exception. The conventional biological distinction between phenotypes and genotypes separates the physical from the logical layer of information in individual biological specimens and in species at large. Ethnobiological knowledge is best characterized as the inventive transformation of genetic information into commercially valuable applications. An appropriately utilitarian view of property and its relationship to each layer of biological information dissolves any allegation of biopiracy.Moreover, this article considers what the proponents of the biopiracy narrative have been seeking and how the global community might give the global south what it needs (if not necessarily what it wants). Although the overarching goal of compensating traditional communities for their contribution to the global storehouse of biological knowledge remains out of reach for the moment, more modest - and in many ways more beneficial - intermediate objectives are quite feasible. Simple reforms of existing patent law can prevent outsiders from securing intellectual property in knowledge already developed by traditional communities. In addition, countries rich and poor should develop a framework for regulating the practice of bioprospecting and encourage the professionalization of parataxonomy.
“The first case of scientific time‐study that I ever saw...”: G.A. Wentworth's impact on F.W. Taylor

Purpose – This paper aims to investigate the merit of Fred Taylor's claim that he did not conceive the notion of time study on his own. He insisted that he acquired it while a student at Phillips Exeter Academy and identified the particular individual to whom, he claimed, he owed his earliest exposure to time study – George A. “Bull” Wentworth.Design/methodology/approach – Drawing on archival material, including a recently discovered letter by Taylor, this paper substantiates Taylor's claims regarding his association with Wentworth. By corroborating existing and new evidence of the Wentworth‐Taylor link, it probes into the nature and the scope of the influence of the “Old Bull” of Exeter on the father of scientific management.Findings – Taylor did not conceive of time study on his own but acquired it early in his life via traceable socialization influences, many of which came from Wentworth. Such influences were both substantive and lasting: the residue of Wentworth's methodology is distinct in Taylor's e...
Endoscopic Sinus Surgery: Outcome in 155 Cases:

For this retrospective study of endoscopic sinus surgery, charts of 22 patients from a medical center and 133 patients from a private practice (N = 155) were reviewed. Preoperative complaints, clinical findings, computed tomographic evidence of extent of sinus disease, surgical outcome, possible predictors of success, and complications were considered. Indications for endoscopic surgery were persistence of symptoms despite aggressive medical therapy and radiologic evidence of a significant sinus abnormality. Median followup was 12 months. Hemorrhage occurred postoperatively in two patients (1.5%); 17 patients required additional endoscopic surgery. Overall, 140 (91%) patients believed that the surgery was beneficial. Patients with facial pain pre-operatively showed the greatest improvement. All patients having simultaneous septoplasty (N = 64) had successful outcome. The total number of opacified sinuses was not a predictor of outcome, but opacification of the sphenoid sinus correlated with a poorer outco...
Pancreatic adaptation to change in dietary protein source in rats fed at different frequencies.

JEAN TWOMBLY SNOOKDepartment of Food and Nutrition, New "York State College ofHome Economics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New YorkABSTRACT The rates at which the pancreatic concentrations of chymotrypsinogen,trypsinogen, amylase, and nucleic acid adapt to the substitution of whole-egg proteinfor casein at the 15% level of the diet were determined over a 2-week period usingrats fed 1) ad libitum, and 2) for 1-hour intervals spaced 12 hours apart (space-fed).Chymotrypsinogen and trypsinogen increased almost immediately, with maximaladaptation occurring within 2 to 4 days. Four to seven days were required for amylaseto adjust, by increasing, to the change in protein source. There was some evidence toindicate that the mechanisms mediating amylase and protease induction were notidentical although the direction of adaptation was the same for all 3 enzymes.Enzyme and RNA levels in rats fed the same diet did not differ significantly regardlessof feeding frequency on any specific day of the experiment although, on the average,more chymotrypsinogen and trypsinogen, but not amylase, were found throughout theexperimental period in rats fed the egg protein diet at intervals. The introduction ofwhole-egg protein into the diet caused pancreatic UNA but not DNA to increase asmuch as 66% within 2 to 3 days.
THE ROLE OF SOCIAL SUPPORT ON MENTAL HEALTH AFTER MULTIPLE WILDFIRE DISASTERS

Disasters can erode mental health (MH), even if it does not reach mental illness. This study explored the direct or moderating role of social support on MH after multiple wildfires, with attention to evacuation status and participant sex. Participants (N = 402) responded to a random digit dial telephone survey about their disaster exposure, current MH, MH at the time of the fire, social support, and life stressors since the disaster. For the evacuated, social support moderated the relation of fire stress to MH at the time of the fire, with those with high social support having better MH. For current MH, social support had a direct relation to MH, and moderated the influence of life stressors since the disaster for the evacuated and women. For those with a life stressor, current MH was better with high social support, but worse under average or low social support. Social support had a relation to current MH for women, but not men.
1644 THE DEVELOPMENT OF INSULIN RECEPTORS IN THE FETAL RABBIT LUNG

Recent studies demonstrated higher insulin (I) binding to various fetal tissues when compared to the adult. We investigated the status of I receptors in developing fetal lung in rabbit. Plasma membranes were prepared from the lungs of fetuses at various gestations: 22-24D (n=5), 26-27D (n=5), 28-29D (n=8) and 30D (n=5); lungs from non-pregnant adult animals >2 years of age (n=3) and a younger group <4 months (n=6) were used as controls. I dose-response binding curves were done with I125 insulin and native I at various doses (10−10 to 10−7M), and analysed by Scatchard plots. There was no change in total affinity of the I receptor sites at different gestational ages. However, the number of I receptors × 1016 per mg protein increased with gestational age from 2.1 ± 0.8 at 22-24D to a peak of 12 ± 4.8 at 29D, decreasing to 1.67 ± 0.66 prior to birth. The number of I receptors were markedly lower in the adult lung; 0.58 ± 0.23 in the younger group and 0.2 ± 0.08 in the older group; affinity was also significantly lower. This pattern differed from PGE1 (1 × 10−4M) stimulated c-AMP generation which increased steadily from 26D to 30D gestation (30% to 300%) in these lung membranes. Conclusions: 1) The I receptor number and affinity are higher in fetal lung than in adult; 2) The decrease in I receptor number just prior to parturition does not parallel the progressive increase in adenylate cyclase sensitivity to PGE1 and 3) Since c-AMP promotes lung maturation and I retards it, the fall in I receptors and increase in c-AMP responsiveness are appropriate maturational events.
Ultrastructural changes in the gastric parietal cell of dogs after repeated gastric freezing.

Abstract As examined under the electron microscope, the gastric mucosal cells of normal dogs and of dogs frozen once and killed 24 hr post freeze exhibited no significant ultrastructural differences between them. Definite ultrastructural changes did, however, appear in the parietal cells of dogs whose stomachs had been frozen once a month for 16 months. These changes involved the mitochondria and/or the endoplasmic reticular network of vesicles and intracellular canaliculi, with one type of change usually predominating in a single cell. Surface cells, mucous neck cells and zymogenic cells, on the other hand, exhibited no evidence of any significant changes as compared with those of the control animals. No correlation between extensive morphologic changes in the parietal cell and any lessening of acid secretion could be established. Whatever the ultimate implications, our investigations present definite ultrastructural evidence that the gastric parietal cell is selectively susceptible to repeated, controlled cryogenic injury.
Alexia and agraphia in four Chinese stroke patients with review of the literature: A proposal for a universal neural mechanism model for reading and writing

Abstract Four Chinese stroke patients with alexia and agraphia are presented. The responsible cerebral lesions are on the left and located at or near the: (1) Wernicke's area; (2) middle and inferior temporal gyri; (3) angular gyrus; and (4) parieto-temporo-occipital region respectively. All are first evaluated by the Standard Language Test of Aphasia (SLTA) and then tested for reading and writing by: (1) oral reading of single and compound characters; (2) reading comprehension by character selection, wrong homonym pick-up, synonym/antonym discrimination, and proverb interpretation by matching; and (3) writing by copy, dictation, and wrong homonym correction; and body parts naming by writing. Arguments, based on the test results and literature review, towards Iwata's hypothesis on the neural mechanisms of reading and writing kana and kanji are proposed. A universal neural mechanism model for reading and writing is formulated accordingly.
Intra-abdominal inverted umblical cord in gastroschisis: a unique ultrasound finding

A relatively new surgical technique allows for sutureless closure of a gastroschisis defect. Immediately after birth, a long umbilical cord stump is temporarily inverted into the abdominal cavity and later retracted and used to close the abdominal wall defect. Knowledge of this entity is important since the inverted umbilical cord simulates an intra-abdominal mass on cross-sectional imaging. While this procedure is well described in the surgical literature, the imaging features of inverted umbilical cord have yet to be reported. The case presented here highlights the sonographic imaging findings of the umbilical cord during the intestinal decompression phase of sutureless repair of gastroschisis.
The small‐comet hypothesis: An upper limit to the current impact rate on the moon

Frank et al. [1986b] and Frank and Sigwarth [1993] hypothesized the intense bombardment of the terrestrial atmosphere by small comets. Their model requires that the Moon is impacted by small comets (10 7 -10 8 g) at a rate of almost one per minute. We calculate that an object of this mass, even with an exceedingly low density and relatively low velocity, will nevertheless produce a crater at least 50 m in diameter. These craters will excavate immature lunar soil and produce a very bright spot with a diameter of at least 150 m. If low-density comets exist that might not create deep craters [O'Keefe and Ahrens, 1982], they will nevertheless disturb the regolith sufficiently to create detectable bright spots. If the small-comet hypothesis is correct then the near-global lunar imaging returned by Clementine in 1994 should reveal 10 7 bright spots in locations where craters are not present in images acquired in the 1960's and early 1970's. We find no new bright spots in a carefully-studied area of 5.2x104 km 2 , so an upper limit to the current cratering rate by small comets is 33/yr, ∼10 4 below that expected if the small-comet hypothesis were valid.
Do former preterm infants remember and respond to neonatal intensive care unit noise

Abstract Background Previous studies have shown that 4-month-old infants have a decrease in heart rate, a component of the orienting reflex, in response to interesting auditory stimuli and an increase in heart rate to aversive auditory stimuli. Objective To compare the heart rate responses of former preterm and term infants at 4–5months corrected age to a recording of NICU noises. Methods 13former preterm infants and 17full-term infants were presented NICU noise and another noise of similar level and frequency content in random order. Heart rate 10s prior to the stimulus and for 20s during the stimulus was analyzed. Group differences in second by second heart rate changes in response to the two noise stimuli were compared by analysis of covariance. Results Both the preterm and term newborns responded similarly to the NICU noise and the control noise. The preterm infants did not alter their heart rate in response to either stimulus. In contrast, the term infants displayed an orienting response to the second stimulus presented regardless of whether it was the NICU or control noise. Conclusions Former preterm infants at 4–5months corrected age have reduced responsiveness to auditory stimulation in comparison to 4- to 5-month-old term infants. Furthermore, they did not respond to the NICU noise as an aversive stimulus.
Extracting Salient Keywords from Instructional Videos Using Joint Text, Audio and Visual Cues

This paper presents a multi-modal feature-based system for extracting salient keywords from transcripts of instructional videos. Specifically, we propose to extract domain-specific keywords for videos by integrating various cues from linguistic and statistical knowledge, as well as derived sound classes and characteristic visual content types. The acquisition of such salient keywords will facilitate video indexing and browsing, and significantly improve the quality of current video search engines. Experiments on four government instructional videos show that 82% of the salient keywords appear in the top 50% of the highly ranked keywords. In addition, the audiovisual cues improve precision and recall by 1.1% and 1.5% respectively.
Laparoscopic repair of a large symptomatic epiphrenic esophageal diverticulum.

Abstract Purpose The diagnosis of symptomatic epiphrenic esophageal diverticula is uncommon. Even less common are published reports regarding the efficacy of laparoscopic repair of this malady. Methods We report the case of a 59-year-old male patient with Parkinsonism found to have a large, symptomatic epiphrenic diverticulum and discuss the surgical treatment performed. The patient presented with a 6-month history of worsening dysphagia to both solids and liquids, regurgitation of undigested food, and weight loss. Barium esophagram identified the presence of a large distal esophageal diverticulum. Esophagoscopy confirmed the epiphrenic location of the diverticulum and the absence of other pathology. Laparoscopic transhiatal diverticulectomy was performed utilizing a gastrointestinal endoscopic stapler. Intraoperative esophagoscopy was performed to confirm resection of the diverticulum without constriction of the lumen. Results The patient resumed intake of liquids on postoperative day 1 after a water-soluble contrast esophagram revealed no extravasation. The patient was discharged on hospital day 3. He reported residual dysphagia to solids postoperatively, which appeared to resolve after pneumatic dilation. Conclusions We conclude that laparoscopic epiphrenic diverticulectomy is technically feasible and safe. The comorbidity of Parkinsonism adds complexity to the diagnosis and treatment of this uncommon disorder.
The Role of Dissociation in the Cycle of Violence

The primary aim of this study was to examine the role of dissociation in the relationship between child maltreatment and intimate partner violence among 148 inner city women. It was proposed that dissociation would be a mediator in the relationship between child maltreatment and intimate partner perpetration. Overall, the hypothesis was supported. Findings revealed that women with a history of child maltreatment who experienced high levels of dissociation were more likely to be perpetrators of intimate partner violence than those with low levels of dissociation.
Audit committees: where do we go from here?

Auditors are urged to promote communication with audit committees as well as with the entire board. Contacts with the entire board are most appropriate, given the rise of issues of corporate governance. It is not yet understood how effective audit committees have actually been, although the committees’ objectives are commendable. It is likely that any significant shortcomings will be redressed by synthesizing the work of the committees and of the board. The responsibilities of audit committees will be broadened, especially with respect to new practice areas, some of which involve proactive audit approaches. The qualifications for audit committee membership require upgrading; a need exists for practical accommodation between independence, on the one hand, and the tight market for qualified committee members, on the other.
Demonstration of averaged operant potentials in the human EEG.

Abstract A retrospective summation method is described for study of EEG event preceding an operant patient hand-signal, together with notes on the intrinsic difficulties of such analysis. A significant cluster of small amplitude waves is found commonly present in bipolar recordings from the contralateral parietal area, in the period from 330 to 140 msec pre-trigger, in particular a 300 msec positive peak.
If at First You Don’t Succeed, Try, Try Again: Applications of Sequential IRT Models to Cognitive Assessments

Previous research has considered sequential item response theory (SIRT) models for circumstances where examinees are allowed at least one opportunity to correctly answer questions. Research suggest...
Improvement in symptoms of depression and in an index of life stressors accompany treatment of severe hypertriglyceridemia

In 14 men and nine women referred because of severe primary hypertriglyceridemia, our specific aim in a 54-week single-blind treatment (Rx) period was to determine whether triglyceride (TG) lowering with a Type V diet and Lopid would lead to improvement in symptoms of depression, improvement in an index of life stressors, change in locus of control index, and improved cognition, as serially tested by Beck (BDI), Hassles (HAS) and HAS intensity indices, Locus of Control index, and the Folstein Mini-Mental status exam. On Rx, median TG fell 47%, total cholesterol (TC) fell 15%, and HDLC rose 19% (all p < or = 0.001). BDI fell at all nine Rx visits (p < or = 0.001), a major reduction in a test of depressive symptoms. The HAS score also fell at all nine visits (p < or = 0.05 - < or = 0.001). Comparing pre-Rx baseline BDI vs BDI at 30 and 54 weeks on Rx, there was a major shift towards absence or amelioration of depressive symptoms (chi 2= 5.9, p = 0.016). On Rx, the greater the percent reduction in TG, the greater the percent fall in BDI (r = 0.47, p < or = 0.05); the greater the percent reduction in TC, the greater the percent fall in HAS (r = 0.41, p < or = 0.05). Improvement in the BDI and HAS accompanied treatment of severe hypertriglyceridemia, possibly by virtue of improved cerebral perfusion and oxygenation. There may be a reversible causal relationship between high TG and symptoms of depression.
Quantifying the advantages of production quota flexibility in the automotive industry

Manufacturers use production quotas to smooth and synchronize production. We use a Markov chain to quantify the effect of quota flexibility on overtime and inventory costs. This quantification allows us to trade off these costs to find the optimal amount of quota flexibility. We define quota flexibility as the permitted amount and duration of deviations from the cumulative quota. We specifically analyse the cost savings as a function of the maximum allowed deviation amount from the cumulative quota for four policies. These example policies are the four permutations of two factors: whether or not backlogging is permitted; and whether or not actual production and the quota must be reconciled weekly. We apply the model to three automotive assembly plants and conclude that permitting modest flexibility in production quotas (of ⩾ 1 h of production) significantly reduces total cost.
Ultrahigh Count Coherent WDM Channels Transmission Using Optical Parametric Comb-Based Frequency Synthesizer

A novel optical frequency synthesizer capable of generating a multitude of narrow linewidth oscillations, fully compatible with high-speed fiber-optic transmission requirements, is presented. The new device is based on an ultra-dense and wideband parametric comb capable of generating more than 1800 spectral lines with 6.25 GHz spacing within 100 nm (C + L band) of optical bandwidth and 3 dB spectral flatness. The parametric comb generation relies on the highly efficient nonlinear interaction of the ultra-short and high peak power pulse train in the precisely controlled dispersive medium. The generated comb source is used for coherent transmission of 1520 Nyquist ultra-dense wavelength division multiplexed channels in a flex-grid compatible optical access network architecture, offering up to 30 Gb/s per user over a 50 km of standard single mode fiber with estimated aggregate capacity of 32 Tb/s. The line spacing tunablity and one-to-multiple coherent cloning capability make the proposed multicarrier generator a strong contender fully capable of replacing thousands of discrete lasers in optical data communication systems.
Real-Time Path Planning for Time-Optimal Exploration

Motivated by cooperative exploration missions, this paper considers constant velocity, level ight path planning for Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs) equipped with range limited, omni-directional sensors. These active energy-based sensors collect information about objects of interest at rates that depend on the range to the objects according to Shannon’s channel capacity equation, where the signal to noise ratio is governed by the radar equation. The mission of the UAVs is to travel through a given area and collect a specied amount of information about each object of interest while minimizing the total ight time. This information can then be used to classify the objects of interest. An optimal path planning problem is examined where the states are the coordinates of the UAVs and the amounts of information collected about each object of interest, the control inputs are the UAV heading angles, the objective function is the elapsed time, and the boundary conditions are subject to inequality constraints that reect the requirements of information collection. Based on this problem, several technical approaches are suggested for the implementation of a real-time path planner. The computational speed of the path planner is dependent upon onboard processing capability. As an optimal solution may not be feasible during an allowed planning interval, the problem becomes one of bounded rationality, where the optimality of the solution is directly dependent upon the length of computational time available. A parametric approximation and table lookup strategy are discussed as two possible methods of approaching bounded rationality. These strategies are implemented in a receding horizon controller suitable for a time-varying environment. The methods are compared by their various virtues and the results are illustrated on several time-optimal exploration scenarios.
The ecology of Paleozoic ferns

Abstract Ferns or fern-like plants have been important elements of terrestrial vegetation since the Late Devonian. Rhacophyton, a fern-like plant of the Late Devonian, appears to have been a colonizer of wet substrates, often forming large, nearly monotypic stands in peat-accumulating swamps. The earliest true ferns have been found in environments with high levels of disturbance, often fire, which suggest opportunistic, colonizing life histories, consistent with small, scrambling body plans. During the Early Carboniferous all major body plans and life histories of ferns appear, including scrambling ground cover, tree habit, and lianas. These ecological roles are distributed across several major lineages, including the Zygopteridales, Filicales, and Marattiales, plus some fern-like groups of uncertain affinity, and disappear and reappear independently within these groups. Until the Stephanian, the later part of the Late Carboniferous, ferns largely were confined to secondary ecological roles: colonists, understory vegetation, small vines. Beginning in the latter part of the Westphalian and expanding dramatically in the Stephanian, marattialean tree ferns became the dominant trees of tropical lowland, wetland forests. This dominance continued locally into the Permian in wetter parts of the landscape. The Paleozoic ferns suffered major extinctions at several times, beginning in the Late Carboniferous. By the Permian, new lineages were appearing, some of which would persist into and become dominant vegetational components during the Mesozoic. Among these lineages virtually all of the life histories and body plans that characterized Paleozoic ferns would reappear independently, plus some new kinds of organization and ecology, emphasizing the great evolutionary flexibility and responsiveness of fern-like construction and reproductive biology.
Targeted Transgenic Expression of an Osteoclastic Transmembrane Protein-tyrosine Phosphatase in Cells of Osteoclastic Lineage Increases Bone Resorption and Bone Loss in Male Young Adult Mice

This study evaluated whether transgenic expression of PTP-oc (osteoclastic transmembrane protein-tyrosine phosphatase) in cells of the osteoclast lineage would affect bone resorption and bone density in young adult mice. Transgenic mice were generated with a transgenic construct using a tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase exon 1C promoter to drive expression of rabbit PTP-oc in osteoclastic cells. pQCT evaluation of femurs of young adult male progeny of three lines showed that transgenic mice had reduced bone volume and area, cortical and trabecular bone mineral content, and density. Histomorphometric analyses at secondary spongiosa of the femur and at metaphysis of the L4 vertebra confirmed that male transgenic mice had decreased trabecular surface, reduced percentage of trabecular area, decreased trabecular number, increased trabecular separation, and increased osteoclast number per bone surface length. Consistent with an increase in bone resorption, the serum C-telopeptide level was 25% higher in transgenic mice than in wild-type littermates. However, the bone phenotype was not readily observed in female young adult transgenic mice. This could in part be due to potential interactions between estrogen and PTP-oc signaling, since the bone loss phenotype was seen in young adult ovariectomized transgenic mice by microcomputed tomography analysis. In vitro, the average pit area per resorption pit created by marrow-derived transgenic osteoclasts was ∼50% greater than that created by wild-type osteoclasts. Transgenic osteoclasts showed a lower c-Src phosphotyrosine 527 level, greater c-Src kinase activity, and increased tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin. In summary, this study provides compelling in vivo evidence that PTP-oc is a positive regulator of osteoclasts.
128 HANCOCK MITRAL VALVE REPLACEMENT IN CHILDREN; A NEW COMPLICATION

Nine children ages 2-15 years have undergone mitral valve replacement with Hancock porcine heterograft valves at Stanford Hospital. Six patients had isolated mitral valve abnormalities (congenital or rheumatic) while 3 had complex congenital heart disease. All had severe mitral insufficiency and 5 had heart failure. Porcine mitral valve sizes utilized ranged from 19-31 mm. There were no surgical deaths, and all patients were markedly improved on discharge. Postoperative follow-up has been 1-5.5 years (mean 3.7 years). None of the children has had bacterial endocarditis, and none has had thromboembolic complications despite no long term anticoagulation. Seven of the 9 patients have remained asymptomatic. The other 2 have required valve re-replacment 3.6 and 4.8 years postoperatively because of severe fibro-calcific obstruction but are now asymptomatic 2 and 5 months later. In marked contrast, only 2 of 453 Stanford adult patients developed obstruction of heterograft mitral valves which required re-replacement. At Stanford, the Hancock valve remains the preferred valve for mitral replacement in children because it, a) can be performed with low risk, b) provides good functional improvement, and c) ordinarily requires no long term anticoagulation. Stenosis of the porcine heterograft does occur and deserves particular attention because it may be a more frequent complication in children than in adults.
How much blood pressure control is beneficial in patients with chronic kidney disease

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major public health problem, with approximately 30% of incident end-stage renal disease (ESRD) attributed to hypertension. In epidemiologic studies, there is a direct relationship between blood pressure and the progression of CKD or the development of ESRD. The burden of hypertension-related CKD and ESRD is particularly high in black patients. In spite of the lack of compelling evidence, clinical guidelines have recommended more intensive blood pressure reduction targets for patients with CKD than for those without. The African-American Study of Kidney Disease and Hypertension (AASK) trial evaluated the effects of intensive blood pressure control as compared with a traditional blood pressure target on renal disease progression in African Americans with CKD.
The Intersection of Economics and Family Status in Late Life: xImplications for the Future

The factors that influence economic status in late life are examined with particular attention to economic trends, public and private income maintenance policies, and marital and family relations. While the impact of these factors on today's retirees has been mostly positive, current trends are identified that may result in a retreat from the strong economic gains made by the elderly over the past 50 years. An examination of how changes in family structure and composition may affect the economic status of Baby Boomers in retirement is highlighted.
Direct Application of the Polymerase Chain Reaction for Quantification of Total Bacteria on Fish Fillets

A rapid, conventional PCR assay that quantifies total bacteria from fish fillets is described. The methodology is based on the use of the universal primers DG74 and RW01 to amplify a 370-bp conserved sequence of the 16S rRNA gene of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The intensity of amplified DNA bands (from mixed bacterial flora of fish fillets) in agarose gels was found to be linear from 5 × 102 to 1 × 105 CFU/PCR. Differential centrifugation of tissue homogenates followed by sample dilution was successful in eliminating PCR inhibition by tissue components. A standard curve was generated relating the intensity of fluorescence of DNA bands to the log of bacterial numbers for rapidly assessing the total number of bacteria per gram of fish tissue by PCR.
Ambulatory care related to female pelvic floor disorders in the United States, 1995-2006.

Objective The purpose of this study was to describe trends for pelvic floor disorder (PFD)-related ambulatory visits. Study Design Data were derived from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and the National Hospital Ambulatory Care Survey. PFD-related visits were based on ICD-9 codes. We collapsed 12 survey years into 3 study periods (1995-1998, 1999-2002, 2003-2006) to evaluate numbers, rates, and trends for PFD-related visits. Results The average annual number of PFD-related visits was 3.9 million (95% confidence interval, 3.1–4.7). The annual rate of PFD-related visits per 1000 women was 35.2% in 1995-1998, 40.6% in 1999-2002, and 36.3% in 2003-2006. PFD visits represent 0.9% of all ambulatory visits for adult women in the United States. Women ≥60 years old had higher rates of PFD-related visits compared with women Conclusion The annual number of PFD-related visits is significant and represents 0.9% of all ambulatory visits made by adult women in the United States.
Lipid synthesis by perfused lung.

An isolated lung ventilated with pulses of negative pressure and perfused through the pulmonary vasculature was utilized for the study of 3-sn-phosphatidylcholine synthesis. The perfusion fluid consisted of a Krebs-Ringer phosphate buffer with 6% bovine serum albumin, pH 7.4, and the appropriate substrate. The simultaneous incorporation of (1-14C) palmitate and (2-3H) glycerol and the simultaneous incorporation of (CH3-14C) choline and (CH3-3H) methionine were examined. From these experiments it is concluded: 1) lung tissue incorporates (2-3H) glycerol into 3-sn-phosphatidylcholine to a greater extent than any other lipid examined; 2) both choline and methionine contribute to the synthesis of 3-sn-phosphatidylcholine, and 50–70% of the label in its nitrogen base is derived from choline and 30–50% from methionine; and 3) a high PO2 appears to reduce the synthesis of 3-sn-phosphatidylcholine.
A generic framework for wind power forecasting

Numerous techniques have been proposed so far for forecasting of wind turbine output power in both short-term and long-term time horizons. The proposed techniques are oversimplified and regionally and/or temporally limited. This paper proposes a generic wind power forecasting framework with no regional or temporal restriction. Moreover, the effect of the energy lost within downtimes imposed by scheduled maintenances and external disturbances are also taken into account.
Still Lucky After All These Years

It seems to me that life is mostly, if not all, luck; good and bad. My good fortune has been to know, before I knew what it was to know, that I was made to do technical things.
On the Use of Hidden Markov Modeling and Time-frequency Features for Damage Classification in Composite Structures:

A novel approach based on hidden Markov models (HMMs) is proposed for damage classification in composite structures. Time-frequency damage features are first extracted from the measured signals using the matching pursuit decomposition algorithm. The features are then incorporated as observation sequences to be modeled statistically by the HMMs. Once built, the HMMs are integrated very efficiently into a Bayesian framework for the classification of structural damage. Both discrete and continuous observation density HMMs are considered; continuous HMMs are shown to yield better accuracy, but at the cost of added computational complexity. A decision fusion procedure is employed to combine the local classification results at each sensor, significantly enhancing the overall classification performance. The utility of the proposed technique is demonstrated by its application to the classification of delamination damage, impact damage, and progressive tensile damage in laminated composites.
Epidemiology and disease control in everyday beef practice

It is important for food animal veterinarians to understand the interaction among animals, pathogens, and the environment, in order to implement herd-specific biosecurity plans. Animal factors such as the number of immunologically protected individuals influence the number of individuals that a potential pathogen is able to infect, as well as the speed of spread through a population. Pathogens differ in their virulence and contagiousness. In addition, pathogens have various methods of transmission that impact how they interact with a host population. A cattle population's environment includes its housing type, animal density, air quality, and exposure to mud or dust and other health antagonists such as parasites and stress; these environmental factors influence the innate immunity of a herd by their impact on immunosuppression. In addition, a herd's environment also dictates the "animal flow" or contact and mixing patterns of potentially infectious and susceptible animals. Biosecurity is the attempt to keep infectious agents away from a herd, state, or country, and to control the spread of infectious agents within a herd. Infectious agents (bacteria, viruses, or parasites) alone are seldom able to cause disease in cattle without contributing factors from other infectious agents and/or the cattle's environment. Therefore to develop biosecurity plans for infectious disease in cattle, veterinarians must consider the pathogen, as well as environmental and animal factors.
Architectural and operational tradeoffs in wireless sensor networks

Although touted as a revolutionary technology with a wide scope of application, the actual design and implementation of full, end-to-end wireless sensor networks (WSNs) has rarely been demonstrated. One of the primary factors holding back the field is that the capabilities of WSNs and realistic specifications of WSN applications are not well understood. Much research has been devoted to specific hardware, software, or algorithmic components of these networks with very little work having been done on full system implementation for real-world problems. The multitude of WSN components that have been developed result from different tradeoffs made among the parameters governing WSN systems. This paper introduces and analyzes these governing parameters and how tradeoffs are made among them. Ultimately, a matching metric presented helps WSN designers use specifications on these parameters to find and integrate appropriate WSN components for implementing real-world WSN solutions.
Barcoding Influenza Virus to Decode Transmission

How much population diversity is transmitted during influenza virus infection? In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Varble et al. (2014) report a method of tagging influenza viruses with a unique genetic "barcode" that allows them to be traced through transmission and growth chains, providing a leap forward for the field.
Deciphering the anticancer mechanisms of sunitinib.

Commentary to: SU11248, A selective tyrosine kinases inhibitor suppresses breast tumor angiogenesis and growth via targeting both tumor vasculature and breast cancer cellsEmily Young, Lucio Miele, Kevan B Tucker, Min Huang, Jeremy Wells and Jian-Wei Gu
Four PSM/SH2-B Alternative Splice Variants and Their Differential Roles in Mitogenesis

An SH2 domain originally termed SH2-B had been identified as a direct cellular binding target of a number of mostly mitogenic receptors. The complete cellular protein, termed PSM, and respective sequence variants share additional Pro-rich and PH regions, as well as similarities with APS and Lnk. A role of these mediators has been implicated in signaling pathways found downstream of growth hormone receptor and receptor tyrosine kinases, including the insulin, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), nerve growth factor, hepatocyte growth factor, and fibroblast growth factor receptors. As a result of this report a total of four PSM/SH2-B sequence variants termed alpha, beta, gamma, and delta have now been identified in the mouse and have been compared with the available rat and human sequences. Variant differences are based on alternative splicing and define distinct last exons 7, 8, and 9 that result in reading frameshifts and unique carboxyl-terminal amino acid sequences. Variant sequences have been identified from cDNA libraries and directly by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Sequence analysis predicts four distinctly sized protein products that have been demonstrated after cDNA expression. All were found phosphorylated on tyrosine specifically in response to IGF-I and PDGF stimulation. cDNA expression of the four variants caused variant-dependent levels of stimulation of IGF-I- and PDGF-induced mitogenesis. The most pronounced increase in mitogenesis was consistently observed for the gamma variant followed by delta, alpha, and beta with decreasing responses. In contrast, the mitogenic response to epidermal growth factor consistently remained unaffected. The variants are expressed in most mouse tissues, typically, most strongly in pairs of alpha and delta or beta and gamma. Our findings implicate differential roles of the PSM/SH2-B splice variants in specific mitogenic signaling pathways.
Electron-transfer ionization in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry

Terthiophene and anthracene, both of which in positive mode form only molecular radical cations (M+•) upon laser irradiation (λ = 337 nm) at near-threshold laser powers, were used as matrices for matrix-assisted laser desorption/electron-transfer ionization of metallocenes (1,2-diferrocenylethane, ferrocene, and decamethylferrocene) and a methylene-bridged bisphenol, 2,2‘-methylenebis(6-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol). In the mass spectra of these matrix/analyte combinations, the formation of protonated molecules was not observed. Instead, each analyte formed a molecular radical cation (A+•) when either matrix was used. Experiments utilizing anthracene-d10 as the matrix confirmed the formation of only the analyte molecular radical cation. In addition, the molecular radical cation of ferrocenenot the protonated moleculewas produced when 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid was used as the matrix, indicating that a matrix commonly used to form protonated polar analytes can, in addition, function as an electron-transfer MAL...
Temptation, Willpower, and the Problem of Rational Self-Control

This article develops a model of consumption when individuals maximize utility knowing that they will experience varying levels of temptation and willpower over time. Examination of the optimal consumption path reveals that consumers may resist temptation by altering their consumption path. This can generate consumption patterns that mimic time preference even when no underlying time preferences exist. Self-control strategies to increase consumer welfare, such as precommitment and public side bets, are shown to derive directly from the model.
Placement optimization of liquid-cooled servers for power minimization in data centers

Most of today's data centers are equipped with servers that rely on air cooling, which is well known to have low cooling efficiency due to undesired air recirculation. As a result, many data centers have started to consider liquid-cooled servers for improved cooling efficiency. Since data centers normally replace only a portion of their servers at a time, an important problem is where in the data center to place those new liquid-cooled servers for the best return on their investment. Given the complex thermal dynamics in a data center, we find, in our process of deploying liquid-cooled servers, different placement strategies lead to significantly different cooling power consumption. In this paper, we propose SmartPlace, an intelligent placement algorithm that deploys liquid-cooled servers to minimize the power consumption of the data center cooling system. SmartPlace also takes into account the workload distribution among servers and putting selected servers into sleep for jointly minimized cooling and server power in the entire data center. We compare SmartPlace with a state-of-the-art cooling optimization solution for two data centers with 1,280 and 10,240 servers, respectively. The results show that SmartPlace achieves up to 26.7% (with an average of 15%) less total power consumption with dynamically guaranteed application response time. Our hardware testbed results also demonstrate the effectiveness of SmartPlace. Finally, we analyze how soon a data center can gain a full return on the capital investment of liquid-cooled servers.