cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Redefining ‘Virgin Birth’ After Kaguya: Mammalian Parthenogenesis in Experimental Biology, 2004-2014

Virgin birth is a common theme in religious myths, science fiction, lesbian and feminist imaginaries, and sensational news stories. Virgin birth enters a laboratory setting through biologists’ use of the term parthenogenesis (Greek for virgin birth ) to describe various forms of development without sperm. Scientific consensus holds that viable mammalian parthenogenesis is impossible; that is, mammalian embryos require both a maternal and a paternal contribution to develop completely. This essay investigates the historical development of that consensus and the evolving scientific language of parthenogenesis after the birth of Kaguya, a mouse with two mothers and no father. I qualitatively analyze 202 scientific publications that cite the Kaguya experiment and find unconventional interpretations of sex and parenthood, even in publications that maintain the impossibility of mammalian parthenogenesis. Though many scientists insist that males are necessary, they also describe eggs as paternal, embryos as sperm-free, and bimaternal sexual reproduction as something distinct from parthenogenesis. I argue that the scientific language used to explain the Kaguya experiment both supports a heteronormative reproductive status quo and simultaneously challenges it, offering bimaternal sexual reproduction as a feasible alternative.
Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy for the Treatment of Childhood Spasticity

The most common disorder of the nervous system affecting young children is cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy is a non-progressive disorder of the nervous system affecting muscle tone, posture and movement. It is due to an injury to the nervous system sustained either in utero or at birth. Some would expand the definition to include non-progressive nervous system disorders due to injuries not only during the perinatal period but also during the first several years of life.
Coding and Classification of Grave Inclusions

This research is not intended as a study of archaeological taxonomy and relies heavily on the traditional classification of Bronze Age artifacts. Nevertheless, the preparation of the raw archaeological data for an anthropological study of the funerary program inevitably raises a series of issues relating to typology and classification.
COMPARISON OF EXTRACT-RELEASE VOLUME, PH, AND AGAR PLATE COUNT OF SHRIMP

During refrigerated storage of shrimp, an initial increase in Extract-Release-Volume (ERV) with little or no change in bacterial count was followed by a rapid increase in bacterial count and decrease in ERV. The pH of shrimp increased gradually during storage. In commercial samples of stored iced shrimp little correlation existed between ERV and bacterial count, ERV and pH, and pH and bacterial count.
The Wisdom of Beating the Fool

This chapter establishes that the book of Proverbs instructs Israel to physically beat an obstinate fool who will not turn from his folly for the purpose of instruction. This chapter connects the Passion and the book of Proverbs vis-a-vis the network of connections to the Mosaic law. The Passion stories are about God’s response to sin, including sinful-foolishness as defined by the Pentateuch and the law of Moses. If Christ is the solution to Israel’s sinful status under the covenant established at Mount Sinai, again, he must also provide a resolution to their identity as a “stiff-necked” people who become like the animals they were tempted to idolize.
Nou Mache Ansanm (We Walk Together): Queer Haitian Performance and Affiliation

This special issue emerges from a symposium at Duke University in fall 2015, “Nou Mache Ansanm (We Walk Together): Performance, Gender, and Sexuality in Haiti,” which brought scholars, artists, and...
High bandwidth class-AB amphfier with high slew rate and fast current sensing for envelope tracking applications

This work presents the design of a high-bandwidth and high slew rate class-AB amplifier in a linear assisted hybrid converter for envelope tracking (ET) applications. ET has become prevalent for improving the efficiency of RF power amplifiers (PA) in portable devices when transmitting LTE signals. The class-AB amplifier in the hybrid converter provides the AC power to the PA, whereas the DC power is provided by a DC-DC converter. The class-AB amplifier is designed to track the LTE signal envelope, up to 20 MHz in bandwidth. Optimization is required to improve the efficiency of the system. A novel high-speed current-sense block is implemented to accurately sense the output stage currents of the class-AB amplifier. The amplifier is implemented in a 0.5–μ\Ά CMOS process, operates from a 3.6–5.0 V supply and is capable of driving a resistive load range from 20–4 Ω. The class-AB amplifier achieves 80 MHz UGF at a 4 Ω load, consuming roughly 33 mA quiescent current. Simulation results shows the tracking of 20 MHz LTE signals with an RMS error better than −34 dB.
HIGHLY ACTIVE DIPEPTIDE AND TRIPEPTIDE ENKEPHALIN ANALOGS

Twenty-five tripeptide enkephalin analogs with the structure Tyr-X-Phe, where X is a D- or L-amino acid, and four aralkylamides of the dipeptide Tyr-D-Ala with benzyl amine, phenethylamine, phenyl propyl amine and phenyl butylamine were made and assayed in vitro (stimulated guinea pig ileum). Tyr-D-Ala-Phe-NH2, Tyr-D-Ala-Phe-ol and Tyr-Pro-Phe-NH2 had 25% of Met-enk potency. Tyr-D-Ala-phenylpropyl amide had 77% of Met-enk activity in vitro, and is equipotent in vivo with Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-Phe-Met-NH2 in producing analgesia in mice. Tyr-D-Phe-NH2 had full intrinsic activity in vitro but very low potency.
CRISPR GENOME SURGERY IN THE RETINA IN LIGHT OF OFF-TARGETING.

Purpose:Recent concerns regarding the clinical utilization of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) involve uncertainties about the potential detrimental effects that many arise due to unintended genetic changes, as in off-target mutagenesis, during CRISPR genome surgery
Electrocortical responses associated with attention bias to fearful facial expressions and auditory distress signals.

Abstract Understanding how emotional stimuli across auditory and visual sensory domains interact and influence multimodal attentional mechanisms is important to understanding how humans prioritize and isolate emotionally-laden stimuli in a continual stream of sensory information that occurs in everyday life. While multimodal emotional human-relevant stimuli have been used in the past, this study is one of the first to look at how human-generated threat-related sounds (e.g., screams) interact with human-generated visual cues of threat (fearful facial expressions) to determine whether these converging sources of threat are represented by either combined or isolated enhancements of visual attention as measured with event-related potential (ERP) components related to attention: the N170, N2, and N2pc. Using the dot-probe task, this study demonstrates that converging sources of multimodal audiovisual threat interact to modulate the N170 ERP component such that auditory distress signals widen the spotlight of attention beyond the contralateral enhancement elicited by the fearful face cue. Multimodal facilitation was neither observed on the N2pc nor the anterior N2. Rather, separate unimodal effects were observed on these ERP components.
Reusing Search Data in Ranking and Selection: What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

It is tempting to reuse replications taken during a simulation optimization search as input to a ranking-and-selection procedure. However, even when the random inputs used to generate replications are identically distributed and independent within and across systems, we show that for searches that use the observed performance of explored systems to identify new systems, the replications are conditionally dependent given the sequence of returned systems. Through simulation experiments, we demonstrate that reusing the replications taken during search in selection and subset-selection procedures can result in probabilities of correct and good selection well below the guaranteed levels. Based on these negative findings, we call into question the guarantees of established ranking-and-selection procedures that reuse search data. We also rigorously define guarantees for ranking-and-selection procedures after search and discuss how procedures that only provide guarantees in the preference zone are ill-suited to this setting.
Introduction: Taking Laughter Seriously in Nineteenth-Century Philosophy

Philosophers in the nineteenth century took laughter and its related concepts very seriously. Most philosophers before this period treated laughter as tangential to philosophy’s core concerns, but beginning with Kant’s immediate successors, the family of concepts relating to the laughable—including comedy, wit, irony, and ridicule—took on new significance. They went from describing something derivative about humans to telling us what we, in the most basic sense, are. Well-known philosophers such as Hegel, Schopenhauer, Kierkegaard, and Nietzsche offered substantial treatments of these topics; they were also taken up by lesser-known thinkers such as Rosenkranz, Solger, Jean Paul, Bahnsen, and Bergson. The nineteenth century also saw the introduction of humor in particular as a new and distinct aesthetic category. For several philosophers of this period, humor described nothing less than the relationship between the human and the divine and its implications for how humans should live. It described our awareness of our finitude—our fallibility, our petty concerns, our meaningless obsessions—and the amusement tinged with melancholy this awareness elicits. Despite this wealth of theorizing, the nineteenth century is often neglected in studies of the philosophy of laughter and humor. This essay introduces a volume of articles intended to remedy that neglect.
Focal disruption of temporal cortex in macaque during midbrain-induced neglect

Hemi-spatial neglect in humans is a common aftermath of stroke damage to subcortical and cortical brain structures, including the dorsocaudal temporal cortex. In macaques, reversible inactivation of some homologous brain structures (e.g. midbrain, prefrontal cortex) in selective attention tasks lead to behavioral symptoms of neglect, but as yet there is no evidence linking temporal cortex to neglect. To identify the neurological basis of neglect in macaques, we combined fMRI during attention tasks with pharmacologic suppression of midbrain activity. Functional mapping of brain areas during midbrain-induced neglect revealed a profound suppression of attention-related modulation in a small region (aFST/IPa) on the floor of the superior temporal sulcus. The same aFST/IPa region was also affected during neglect induced by inactivation of the prefrontal cortex. These results identify for the first time a region in the temporal cortex of macaque that is selectively affected during neglect induced by both subcortical and cortical inactivation.
Primary complex motor stereotypies are associated with de novo damaging DNA coding mutations that identify candidate risk genes and biological pathways

ABSTRACT Motor stereotypies are common in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), intellectual disability, or sensory deprivation, as well as in typically developing children (“primary” stereotypies, CMS). The precise pathophysiological mechanism for motor stereotypies is unknown, although genetic etiologies have been suggested. In this study, we perform whole-exome DNA sequencing in 129 parent-child trios with CMS and 853 control trios (118 cases and 750 controls after quality control). We report an increased rate of de novo predicted-damaging variants in CMS versus controls, identifying KDM5B as a high-confidence risk gene and estimating 184 genes conferring risk. Genes harboring de novo damaging variants in CMS probands show significant overlap with those in Tourette syndrome, ASD candidate genes, and those in ASD probands with high stereotypy scores. Furthermore, exploratory biological pathway and gene ontology analysis highlight histone demethylation, organism development, cell motility, glucocorticoid receptor pathway, and ion channel transport. Continued sequencing of CMS trios will identify more risk genes and allow greater insights into biological mechanisms of stereotypies across diagnostic boundaries.
Top Ten Tips Palliative Care Clinicians Should Know When Caring for Patients with Brain Cancer

The diagnosis of an aggressive, primary brain tumor is life altering for those affected and too often portends a poor prognosis. Despite decades of research, neither a cure nor even a therapy that reliably and dramatically prolongs survival has been found. Fortunately, there are a number of treatments that may prolong the life of select brain tumor patients although the symptom burden can sometimes be high. This article brings together neuro-oncologists, neurologists, and palliative care (PC) physicians to help shine a light on these diseases, their genetics, treatment options, and the symptoms likely to be encountered both from the underlying illness and its treatment. We hope to increase the understanding that PC teams have around these illnesses to improve care for patients and families.
Red Eye and Aching in the Extremities.

A woman presented with redness and pain in her right eye that was achy and associated with watery discharge but no visual changes.
Lateralization and Model Transference in a Bilateral Cursor Task

Post-stroke rehabilitation, occupational and physical therapy, and training for use of assistive prosthetics leverages our current understanding of bilateral motor control to better train individuals. In this study, we examine upper limb lateralization and model transference using a bimanual joystick cursor task with orthogonal controls. Two groups of healthy subjects are recruited into a 2-session study spaced seven days apart. One group uses their left and right hands to control cursor position and rotation respectively, while the other uses their right and left hands. The groups switch control methods in the second session, and a rotational perturbation is applied to the positional controls in the latter half of each session. We find agreement with current lateralization theories when comparing robustness to feedforward perturbations in feedback and feedforward measures. We find no evidence of a transferable model after seven days, and evidence that the brain does not synchronize task completion between the hands.
Kinetic Gait Changes after Robotic Exoskeleton Training in Adolescents and Young Adults with Acquired Brain Injury.

Background. Acquired brain injury (ABI) is one of the leading causes of motor deficits in children and adults and often results in motor control and balance impairments. Motor deficits include abnormal loading and unloading, increased double support time, decreased walking speed, control, and coordination. These deficits lead to diminished functional ambulation and reduced quality of life. Robotic exoskeletons (RE) for motor rehabilitation can provide the user with consistent, symmetrical, goal-directed repetition of movement, as well as balance and stability. Purpose. The goal of this preliminary prospective before and after study is to evaluate the therapeutic effect of RE training on the loading/unloading and spatial-temporal characteristics in adolescents and young adults with chronic ABI. Method. Seven participants diagnosed with ABI between the ages of 14 and 27 years participated in the study. All participants received twelve 45 minute sessions of RE gait training. The bilateral loading (linearity of loading and rate of loading), speed, step length, swing time, stance time, and total time were collected using Zeno™ walkway (ProtoKinetics, Havertown, PA, USA) before and after RE training. Results. Results from the study showed improved step length, speed, and an overall progression towards healthy bilateral loading, with linearity of loading showing a significant therapeutic effect ( ). Conclusion. These preliminary results suggest that high dose, repetitive, consistent gait training using RE has the potential to induce recovery of function in adolescents and young adults diagnosed with ABI.
Examining Personality, Interpersonal, and Symptom Correlates of Social Anhedonia in Early Adolescent Males and Females:

Social anhedonia, a tendency toward experiencing social stimuli as less positive or pleasurable, is associated with maladaptive personality traits, poor interpersonal functioning, and psychopatholo...
An Explicit Reference Governor for Time-Varying Linear Constraints

The explicit reference governor (ERG) is an add-on unit that provides constraint handling capabilities to prestabilized systems. The basic idea behind this approach is to translate state and input constraints into an upper-bound on the value of the Lyapunov function, which is then enforced by suitably manipulating the derivative of the auxiliary reference. This paper extends the ERG approach to deal with time-varying linear constraints. In particular, it is shown that under a certain condition on the rate of change of the constraints and the strength of stability of the prestabilized system (i.e., the speed of the dynamics of the prestabilized system), it is possible to deploy the ERG approach to handle time-varying constraints. To do so, components of the ERG approach are redefined, and constraints satisfaction and convergence properties are proven analytically. The effectiveness of the proposed scheme is demonstrated through a simulation study on filming a movie scene with a drone.
Polypharmacy and medication use by cancer history in a nationally representative group of adults in the USA, 2003-2014.

This study examines polypharmacy and prescription drug use patterns in cancer survivors, a growing population at risk for cancer sequelae and side effects from treatment, which can arise months or even years following diagnosis. Survivors may experience greater medication burden than the general population, increasing concerns for polypharmacy and subsequent risks of drug interactions and non-adherence. Using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 2003 to 2014, we examined the association between a cancer history and presence of polypharmacy (5+ medications). We estimated prevalence ratios and prevalence differences for polypharmacy comparing those with and without a cancer history using binomial regression models and propensity score (PS) weighting to account for baseline differences between groups. We identified 32,238 adults aged 20 years or older; 1899 had cancer (excluding non-melanoma skin) at least 1 year before the survey. Overall, polypharmacy prevalence was 13% and 35% in those with and without a cancer history, respectively. After PS weighting, the polypharmacy prevalence was 1.26 times higher among those with versus without a cancer history (weighted prevalence ratio, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.18, 1.35). In sub-group analyses, the weighted prevalence ratio was largest for those 20–39 years old at survey (2.78; 95% CI, 1.71, 4.53), and the weighted prevalence difference was largest for those 40–64 years old at survey (9.35%; 95% CI, 5.70%, 13.01%). Cancer survivors of all ages take more medications than those without cancer history and may benefit from discussions with providers about age-tailored medication use management.
Enhanced hybridization in the electronic ground state of the intercalated honeycomb iridate Ag 3 Li Ir 2 O 6

We use x-ray spectroscopy at the Ir ${L}_{3}/{L}_{2}$ absorption edge to study powder samples of the intercalated honeycomb magnet ${\mathrm{Ag}}_{3}\mathrm{Li}{\mathrm{Ir}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{6}$. Based on x-ray absorption and resonant inelastic x-ray scattering measurements, and exact diagonalization calculations including nearest-neighbor Ir-Ir electron hopping integrals, we argue that the intercalation of Ag atoms results in a delocalized electronic structure with enhanced Ir-O hybridization, departing from the local relativistic ${j}_{\mathrm{eff}}=1/2$ state. We find that the relative orbital contribution to the magnetic moment is increased and the magnetization density is spatially extended and asymmetric in this hybridized state. Our results confirm the importance of metal-ligand hybridization in the magnetism of transition metal oxides and provide empirical guidance for understanding the collective magnetism in intercalated honeycomb iridates.
Acoustic Characteristics of Stop Consonants in Children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Speech of children with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) has been little studied compared to language. Becker, Warr-Leeper, and Leeper (1990), found a relationship between prenatal alcohol exposure, or...
Connected underwater robots: Theory and practice

Reliable subsea communication is the principal technical challenge that limits the ability of underwater vehicles to collaboratively perform tasks. The subsea communication channel is extremely low bandwidth and suffers from latencies and frequent dropouts. We present fundamental advances in network theory and corresponding distributed estimation and control algorithms that enable autonomous underwater vehicles to cooperate despite infrequent communication between vehicles. We describe the practical challenges of subsea operations and how our approach distributed data fusion and decentralized control addresses these challenges. We also discuss advances in stochastic graph theory that enable us to model the sparse, time-varying network topology available underwater in a manner suitable for control design. The practical utility of our approach has been verified during field trials in which a team of autonomous underwater vehicles cooperatively localized the source of an acoustic signal.
Co-ordinate and restricted expression of the ProXaaArg/Lys-specific GalNAc-transferase and the GalNAc beta 1,4GlcNAc beta 1,2Man alpha-4-sulfotransferase

Asn-linked oligosaccharides terminating with the sequence SO4-4GalNAc beta 1,4GlcNAc beta 1,2Man alpha (S4GGnM) are present on the glycoprotein hormones lutropin and thyrotropin, pro-opiomelanocortin, and tissue factor pathway inhibitor. The peptide motif ProXaaArg/Lys (PXR/K), which is recognized by a PXR/K-specific GalNAc-transferase, is present in each of these glycoproteins 6-9 residues NH2-terminal to an Asn glycosylation site. Both the PXR/K-specific GalNAc-transferase and a GalNAc beta 1,4GlcNAc beta 1,2Man alpha (GGnM)-4-sulfotransferase are required for synthesis of the S4GGnM sequence. Glycoproteins which do not contain the PXR/K motif but bear Asn-linked oligosaccharides terminating with GGnM or sialic acid alpha 2,3/6GGnM have also been described, suggesting a distinct GalNAc-transferase may be responsible for their synthesis. We have examined a number of tissues and cultured cell lines for the transfer of sulfate to the trisaccharide acceptor GGnM and transfer of GalNAc to oligosaccharide acceptors on protein which do, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), and do not, transferrin (Trf), contain the PXR/K motif. The PXR/K-specific GalNAc-transferase and the GGnM-4-sulfo-transferase are expressed in salivary gland, pituitary, lacrimal gland, kidney, and brain, and in the cell lines AtT-20, 293, SHSY5Y, and alpha T3. In contrast Bowes, EL-4, and B16L6 cell extracts transferred GalNAc to oligosaccharides acceptors on Trf but not on hCG. A number of tissues and cell lines displayed transfer of GalNAc to both hCG and to Trf suggesting that two distinct GalNAc-transferases were present. The GGnM-4-sulfotransferase was expressed in tissues and cell lines which expressed the PXR/K-specific GalNAc-transferase but not in cell lines expressing exclusively the Trf-specific GalNAc-transferase. Thus, the PXR/K-specific GalNAc-transferase and the GGnM-4-sulfotransferase are coordinately expressed in a number of tissues other than pituitary. The Trf-specific GalNAc-transferase may account for the presence of beta 1,4-linked GalNAc on glycoproteins which do not contain the PXR/K motif.
Air Conditioning Solutions for Hot, Humid Climates

ABSTRACT This article provides a short discussion of the topic of air conditioning problems in hot, humid climates, and then introduces three articles which form a special issue on air conditioning solutions for hot, humid climates in this volume of Energy Engineering.
N-Ethyl-2-[1-(2-hy­droxy-6-meth­oxy­phenyl)ethyl­idene]hydrazinecarbothio­amide

In the title compound, C12H17N3O2S, the dihedral angle between the mean planes of the hydrazinecarbothio­amide group and the benzene ring is 86.8 (4)°. In the crystal, inter­molecular O—H⋯S hydrogen bonds link the mol­ecules into chains along [001]. The crystal studied was an inversion twin, the refined ratio of the twin components being 0.98021 (3):0.01978 (7).
Learning in Community: Small Group leadership for Educational Change

El text s'articula en tres idees: les comunitats d'aprenentatge com a agents de canvi, la investigacio en l'accio i la transformacio mitjancant la conversa. Totes es troben estretament relacionades i permeten explicar-nos els canvis individuals i col·lectius. Les comunitats d'aprenentatge constitueixen una important forca de transformacio; se les considera un enclavament per a l'aprenentatge actiu i incubadores de la innovacio. A mesura que creixen mitjancant la conversa, desenvolupen un llenguatge i un coneixement col·lectius. D'altra banda, la investigacio en l'accio te lloc en comunitats d'aprenentatge. Se les considera una oportunitat de verificar les propies creences en la practica, aixi com noves formes de portar la practica educativa a la realitat. El text descriu tres grans comunitats d'aprenentatge i mostra de quina manera l'staff universitari te un paper important en el desenvolupament del canvi, mitjancant la recerca en l'accio.
Using Ignatian Pedagogy to Guide Reflections While Blogging

Communicating, interpreting and connecting service experiences with learning can be challenging for both a student and for a mentor/instructor. How does one realize a transformation? How does another interpret if that transformation has taken place? Previously, an assignment to write a reflection paper about service learning experiences during one of the core undergraduate RN-BSN courses at Regis University was in place but it did not seem to provide an avenue for the student to make those connections or realizations. Likewise, it was extremely challenging for faculty to objectively understand if the transformation and learning occurred. We found that by combining a blog format with reflection questions using the Ignatian Pedagogy Conceptual Model and an enhanced grading rubric, students are better equipped and faculty can objectively evaluate the depth and quality of learning as they read the students’ journey through their service learning experiences. This paper will explain the thought process that went into transforming this assignment with technology and the Ignatian Pedagogy Conceptual Model.
Identification of naturally isolated Southern Louisiana's algal strains and the effect of higher CO2 content on fatty acid profiles for biodiesel production

BACKGROUND: Microalgae, with both high biomass productivity and oil content, are regarded as attractive candidates for the production of alternative biodiesel as well as for CO2 biofixation. In the present study, four microalgal strains native to southeastern Louisiana's waters were isolated and identified to evaluate their potential for the production of biodiesel. Selected strains were identified through genomic DNA in sequencing of either 16S rRNA or 18S rRNA genes followed by lipid and fatty acid content characterization and quantification. RESULTS: High correlation was found with known nucleotide sequence identities at 98% with Sellaphora pupula, and 99% with Synechococcus sp., Chlorella sorokiniana, Scenedesmus abundans, and Chlorella vulgaris (control). The fatty acid profiles of these organisms changed when using 5% CO2 aeration. Total fatty acids (TFA) decreased from 20.63 to 17.62, 54.83 to 24.4, and 29.82 to 23.99 g kg−1 in Synechococcus sp., Sellaphora pupula and Chlorella sorokiniana, respectively. TFA increased from 14.14 to 31.49 and 15.14 to 47.52 g kg−1 dry biomass in Scenedesmus abundans and Chlorella vulgaris (control), respectively. CONCLUSION: Chlorella sorokiniana, with a lower C18:3 and the highest biomass yield at 5% CO2 aeration, was found to be the best candidate for biodiesel production. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry
Severe Sepsis Secondary to Persistent Lysinibacillus sphaericus, Lysinibacillus fusiformis and Paenibacillus amylolyticus Bacteremia

Lysinibacillus and Paenibacillus are pervasive bacteria rarely associated with human disease. Less sophisticated microbiology techniques may frequently incorrectly identify these genera as Bacillus spp., often regarded as environmental contamination. This report describes a case of severe sepsis due to persistent Lysinibacillus and Paenibacillus bacteremia, identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization time-of-flight mass spectroscopy and 16S rRNA gene sequencing.
Serum lactic dehydrogenase as a tumor marker in dysgerminoma

Dysgerminoma is the most common malignant germ cell tumor in young women. The management of advanced-stage dysgerminoma challenges the gynecologic oncologist to achieve maximal survival, while maintaining childbearing potential. Radiation therapy has been extremely successful in curing dysgerminoma, but ovarian conservation is usually not possible. In contrast, various chemotherapeutic regimens have achieved high cure rates with continued ovarian function. Diagnosing recurrent dysgerminoma promptly so that salvage therapy can be initiated is important when conservative management has been employed. While alpha-fetoprotein and human chorionic gonadotropin have proven useful as tumor markers in some types of germ cell tumors, they have not been useful in patients with dysgerminoma. Serum lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) levels are known to be elevated in some patients with dysgerminoma. We treated a patient with Stage IIIC dysgerminoma whose initial serum LDH level was markedly elevated. After unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy with pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy, followed by four cycles of VAC chemotherapy, her LDH level returned to normal. Her LDH level rose with disease recurrence and returned to normal again with salvage BEP chemotherapy. This is the first report to document the utility of serial LDH measurements in detecting disease recurrence in patients with ovarian dysgerminoma.
Knowledge-directed electroencephalography (EEG) signal analysis with recurrent context-learning neural networks

EEG signal analysis is a key to the understanding of brain activities. Traditionally, this process involves quantifying the signal in terms of frequency and amplitude, on which basis a number of waveforms have been identified. The complexity of EEG signals warrants the construction of a computer program for automatic interpretation. Symbolic knowledge is being built up for correlating the quantity of certain waveforms and brain behavior, and this knowledge can be readily programmed into a knowledge-based system (expert system) for various purposes such as cognitive research, neurological evaluation, and clinical diagnosis. The presented approach employs a knowledge-based neural network in conjunction with a recurrent neural network model as a memory deice which conducts context processing. This research emphasizes the need for the exploitation of `knowledge' and `context' in signal analysis.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Molecular analysis of single copy and repetitive genes on chromosome 2 in intergeneric tomato somatic hybrid plants.

Restriction fragment polymorphisms were used to identify and quantify the nuclear contributions from each parent to somatic hybrid plants between tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cv. Sub-Arctic Maxi and Solanum lycopersicoides Dun. Three single-copy clones, 2–13, 2–17, and 3–288, and a clone for the 45s ribosomal RNA, pHA2, all mapped to chromosome 2 of tomato, were used in analysis of 47 somatic hybrids. The amount of hybridizing probe for each parental band was quantified by densitometry of the autoradiograph film. Analyses with the three single-copy clones indicated that there were more than two S. lycopersicoides copies in most somatic hybrid plants. For at least one somatic hybrid there was a loss of one tomato copy. No evidence was found for more than two copies donated from tomato or loss of a copy from S. lycopersicoides. Most of the observed variation in copy number of the single-copy clones was consistent with chromosomal changes occurring in the suspension cells from which S. lycopersicoides parental protoplasts were derived.
Hyperacute rejection in porcine liver transplantation: I. clinical characteristics, histopathology, and disappearance of donor-specific lymphocytotoxic antibody from serum

Hyperacute rejection following orthotopic liver transplantation remains an extremely unusual occurrence. In this study, we examined a porcine model of liver transplantation in which recipient animals were sensitized prior to transplantation with three serial full-thickness skin grafts. Three experimental groups were studied. Group I recipients (n = 6) were specifically sensitized against their liver donors with biweekly skin grafts followed by hepatic grafting. Group II recipients (n = 6) underwent third-party skin graft sensitization prior to liver transplantation. Group III recipients (n = 6) underwent liver grafting without sensitization. Mixed lymphocyte cultures were done before each skin graft and prior to transplantation. Lymphocytotoxic antibody (LCTA) titers were measured before the first skin graft, at weekly intervals thereafter, intraoperatively, and daily postoperatively until death. Intraoperative and postmortem liver biopsies were obtained in all recipients. Five of six recipients in Group I died within 4 hr of hepatic revascularization. The remaining animal survived for four days. Mean survival time in group I was 0 +/- 0.7 days. In contrast, MST in groups II and III were 4.0 +/- 1.2 and 6.2 +/- 1.3 days, respectively. The MST in group I was significantly shorter than in groups II and III (P less than 0.026 and P less than 0.005, respectively). There was no significant difference in survival between groups II and III. MLC reactivity between recipients and skin donors increased progressively following each skin graft, reaching a peak just prior to liver transplantation. LCTA titers also increased following each skin graft, reaching peak levels immediately prior to hepatic grafting. Intraoperative LCTA titers decreased within 2 min of graft revascularization and were undetectable within 4 hr. In group III (unsensitized recipients), MLC reactivity was low and at no time was LCTA detectable. Histologic examination of the livers from group I recipients showed parenchymal hemorrhage, endophlebitis, and neutrophil infiltration. Histologic examination of postmortem liver biopsies from animals in groups II and III revealed acute cellular rejection. In conclusion, hyperacute rejection resulting in graft failure and recipient death can be consistently produced in a porcine model of hepatic transplantation by donor-specific sensitization of the recipient. It is postulated that high titers of donor-specific antibody are required to exceed the liver's capacity for antibody absorption and elimination and produce the clinical picture of hyperacute rejection.
Tolerance of sheep-goat chimeras to their component cells

Four sheep-goat chimeras with a goat or sheep sibling having an identical genotype to one of the two component species of cells were tested for tolerance through mixed lymphocyte response (MLR) and skin grafts. None of the four chimeras showed a response to its sib in MLR and three of the four accepted sib skin grafts. This demonstrates that the chimerism exhibited by these animals was sufficient to render the chimera tolerant to antigens expressed by the sib. Two of the four sibs showed positive responses to their chimeric sibs in MLR and two did not; one negative response was expected because the chimera's lymphocytes were essentially all the same species as the sib's. Chimeric skin grafts were partially accepted by two of the four sibs, suggesting the presence of both sheep and goat cells in the skin grafts derived from the chimeras. Two of the four sibs did not accept chimeric skin grafts, possibly due to lack of compatible cells in the graft. Neither differences between an allo- and xenoresponse in MLR nor time differences in the rejection of allo- and xenografts were observed.
Arterial geometry affects hemodynamics: A potential risk factor for atherosclerosis

Abstract Hemodynamic data obtained in pulsatile flow through casts of human aortic bifurcations reveal 4 geometric features of the bifurcation whose variation from one individual to another is sufficient to cause significant variability in the hemodynamic shear stress at particular sites on the vessel wall. If hemodynamic shear affects the atherogenic process, such features may be responsible for some of the variability in the location and rate of development of atherosclerotic disease.
Giant urethral calculus: A rare cause of acute urinary retention

We present a case of a 98-yr-old woman with acute urinary retention secondary to a large urethral calculus. This is a unique cause of obstructive uropathy for several reasons. First, urethral calculi are extremely rare in American-born Caucasian females. Second, urethral stones in females are nearly always associated with underlying genitourinary pathology; however, subsequent work up failed to reveal any strictures, diverticula, or related processes that may have predisposed this patient to urethral calculus formation. The epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, and emergency management of large urethral calculi are reviewed.
In vitro propagation of pecan [Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh) K. Koch]

An efficient method for in vitro propagation has been developed for pecan [Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh) K. Koch], a highly recalcitrant but commercially important fruit species. Nodal explants from in vitro grown cultivars, ‘Desirable’ and ‘Cape Fear’, were cultured on modified liquid woody plant medium (WPM) supplemented with 2% glucose and different concentrations of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP; 0.44–44.39 μM). At least nine multiple shoots per explants were induced on modified WPM containing 13.32 μM BAP after three weeks of culture. The efficiency of shoot induction was over 95% in both ‘Cape Fear’ and ‘Desirable’ cultivars. The multiple shoots were proliferated and/or elongated on plant growth regulator free liquid WPM. Subsequently, the multiple shoots were separated and successfully rooted in liquid WPM containing 49.20 μM indole-3-butyric acid. The efficiency of rooting was over 90% in both ‘Cape Fear’ and ‘Desirable’ cultivar. The pecan plantlets were initially transferred to peat pellets and subsequently to the greenhouse. This is a simple and efficient protocol that may be used to propagate pecan plants through tissue culture.
Genetic organization and sequence of the region encoding integrative functions from Lactobacillus gasseri temperate bacteriophage φadh

Abstract A 2.0-kb fragment from the Lactobacillus gasseri temperate bacteriophage φadh contained the essential genetic determinants for site-specific integration. The nucleotide sequence of this fragment was determined. An open reading frame (intG), which adjoined the phage attachment site (attP), encoded a deduced protein related to the integrase family. The organization of this region was comparable to other phage site-specific recombination systems.
Understanding the computer skills of adult expert users with down syndrome: an exploratory study

Recent survey research suggests that individuals with Down syndrome use computers for a variety of educational, communication, and entertainment activities. However, there has been no analysis of the actual computer knowledge and skills of employment-aged computer users with Down syndrome. We conducted an ethnographic observation that aims at examining the workplace-related computer skills of expert users with Down syndrome. The results show that expert users with Down syndrome have the ability to use computers for basic workplace tasks such as word processing, data entry, and communication.
Endoscopic clipping of a post-whipple pancreatic bleed

Background Bleeding after pancreaticoduodenectomy most often occurs from the gastro- or duodeno-jejunal anastomosis. Bleeding at the pancreatic surface would be the most difficult to treat because it typically requires surgical resection of the pancreatic remnant—a surgery that has significant morbidity and mortality. Data that describe the role of endoscopy in the management of pancreaticojejunostomy bleeding are limited.
INVERTING THE DIFFERENCE OF HILBERT SPACE PROJECTIONS

1. P. Erdos, Problem 3740, this Monthly 42 (1935), 396. 2. L. J. Mordell, Egy geometriai problema megoldasa (Solution of a geometrical problem), Kozepiskolai Matematikai es Fizikai Lapok 11 (1935), 145146. 3. Solution of Problem 3740, this A,lonthly 44 (1937), 252-254. (Solutions by L. J. Mordell and by D. F. Barrow.) 4. D. K. Kazarinoff, A simple proof of the Erdos-Mordell inequality for triangles, Michigan Math. J. 4 (1957), 97-98. 5. L. Bankoff, An elementary proof of the Erdos-Mordell theorem, this Monthly 65 (1958), 521. 6. A. Oppenheim, The Erdos inequality and other inequalities for a triangle, this Monthly 68 (1961), 226-230. 7. A. Avez, A short proof of a theorem of Erdos and Mordell, this Monthly 100 (1993), 60-62. 8. Reiman Istvan, 60 eve jelent meg a Kozepiskolai Matematikai Lapokban az Erdos-Mordell tetel (On the sLxtieth anniversary of the publication of the Erdos-Mordell theorem in this journal), Kozepiskolai A,latematikai es Fizikai Lapok 45 (1995), 385-394.
Toward ecologically realistic theories in visual short-term memory research

Recent evidence from neuroimaging and psychophysics suggests common neural and representational substrates for visual perception and visual short-term memory (VSTM). Visual perception is adapted to a rich set of statistical regularities present in the natural visual environment. Common neural and representational substrates for visual perception and VSTM suggest that VSTM is adapted to these same statistical regularities too. This article discusses how the study of VSTM can be extended to stimuli that are ecologically more realistic than those commonly used in standard VSTM experiments and what the implications of such an extension could be for our current view of VSTM. We advocate for the development of unified models of visual perception and VSTM—probabilistic and hierarchical in nature—incorporating prior knowledge of natural scene statistics.
Cellular Production Lines With Asymptotically Reliable Bernoulli Machines: Lead Time Analysis and Control

Cellular lines are production systems consisting of cells comprised of machines performing similar operations. These systems are notorious for having excessively long lead time $(LT)$ that are often an order of magnitude longer than the total processing time by all machines in the system. The main goal of this paper is to carry out an analytical investigation of this phenomenon and offer methods for its alleviation. To accomplish this, we develop a technique for performance evaluation of cellular lines with asymptotically reliable Bernoulli machines and use it for analysis and control of $LT$ .
Capture and Ingestion of Paramecium by Didinium nasutum

SYNOPSIS. This study attempts to analyze how a number of specialized organelles are coordinated in a rapid but complex sequence of events during the capture and ingestion of prey by Didinium. Accidental contact between a Paramecium and the proboscis of a hungry Didinium causes instantaneous discharge of 2 kinds of extrusive organelles from the latter. The short pexicysts attach to the surface of Paramecium but do not penerate. The long toxicysts penetrate the victim, altho their proximal end s remain embedded in the proboscis of Didinium. Cytoplasmic streaming pulls the discharged toxicysts inward, and since they are firmly attached to the prey, the latter is drawn steadily into the cytostome. As the prey is being swallowed, it is compressed, and its volume is reduced by elimination of fluid. When the prey is completely inside the predator, the temporary cytostome closes, and the proboscis is reformed.
A combined algorithm for weighting the variables and clustering in the clustering problem

Abstract One problem in clustering (classification) analysis relates to whether or not the original variables should be transformed in some way before they are used by the clustering algorithm. More often than not, the original variables do require some transformation. The purpose of the transformation may be a desire to have more compact clusters in the space of the transformed variables, to take into account the different nature and/or units of the variables involved, to allow for the different or equal ‘importance’ of different variables, to minimize the number of variables used, etc. Among the linear transformations of variables we distinguish two groups - those which change only the scales of the variables (they are often called weighting procedures), and those which also rotate the space of variables (a good example would be the method of principal components (1) ). This paper addresses the former group of transformations. One strong reason for using the weighted variables (as opposed to their linear combinations) is that when using them one can interpret the results of the classification in terms of the original (physical) variables. Unfortunately, weighting the variables can result in ‘spoiling’ the compactness of the clusters in the space of the weighted variables if the weighting procedure being used ‘does not care’ about the results of clustering (in other words if the weighting is done prior to and independently of the clustering). A method of weighting the variables which is a part of the classification procedure and thus guarantees an improvement of the cluster clarity is suggested in this paper. The weights of variables and the clusters of objects produced by the algorithm correspond to a local minimum of some classification criterion. Because of this, the resultant weights can be interpreted as a measure of ‘importance’ of the variables for the classification purpose. These weights are compared with such popular weighting procedures as equal variance (6) and Mahalanobis distance (7) methods. Two examples of the performance of the algorithm are presented.
The effects of amphetamine sensitization on conditioned inhibition during a Pavlovian–instrumental transfer task in rats

Rationale Psychostimulant sensitization heightens behavioral and motivational responses to reward-associated stimuli; however, its effects on stimuli associated with reward absence are less understood.