cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Insulin sensitivity and complications in type 1 diabetes: New insights

Despite improvements in glucose, lipids and blood pressure control, vascular complications remain the most important cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with type 1 diabetes. For that reason, there is a need to identify additional risk factors to utilize in clinical practice or translate to novel therapies to prevent vascular complications. Reduced insulin sensitivity is an increasingly recognized component of type 1 diabetes that has been linked with the development and progression of both micro- and macrovascular complications. Adolescents and adults with type 1 diabetes have reduced insulin sensitivity, even when compared to their non-diabetic counterparts of similar adiposity, serum triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, level of habitual physical activity, and in adolescents, pubertal stage. Reduced insulin sensitivity is thought to contribute both to the initiation and progression of macro- and microvascular complications in type 1 diabetes. There are currently clinical trials underway examining the benefits of improving insulin sensitivity with regards to vascular complications in type 1 diabetes. Reduced insulin sensitivity is an increasingly recognized component of type 1 diabetes, is implicated in the pathogenesis of vascular complications and is potentially an important therapeutic target to prevent vascular complications. In this review, we will focus on the pathophysiologic contribution of insulin sensitivity to vascular complications and summarize related ongoing clinical trials.
Whip-PIFA combination in wireless handset application: a hybrid circuit model and full wave analysis

In this paper, a circuit model was developed in RF ADS to simulate the coupling effect of a retracted whip on a PIFA (Planar Inverted "F" antenna) in a wireless handset application. A PIFA was designed as the main antenna of a handset to cover the 800 MHz band (824 MHz /spl sim/ 894 MHz) and 1900 MHz band (1850 MHz /spl sim/ 1990 MHz). A parasitic dual band whip antenna was used to improve the performance of the PIFA especially when the handset is used against the head. In such a whip-PIFA combination environment, the retracted whip degrades the PIFA performance if it is not designed carefully. The purpose of this paper is to present an efficient method to optimize the PIFA performance when the whip is in retracted position.
Effects of chondroitin sulfate on trabecular meshwork in rabbit eyes an electron microscopic study

Abstract The intraocular pressure of four New Zealand albino rabbit eyes was elevated when we replaced the aqueous humor of these eyes repeatedly with a chondroitin sulfate solution. Seen by electron microscopy, the trabecular meshwork of these eyes showed moderately increased collagen fibers, elastic fibers, and fine fibrils, and thickening of basement membrane. The amount of extracellular material present was markedly increased when compared with control eyes. Three types of basement membranes were noted. Compact multilaminated basement membrane and placoid accumulations of filamentous material with a granular background were found adjacent to the endothelial cells of the trabecular meshwork, and fine fibrils were observed around the angular aqueous veins. The ultrastructural alterations we observed were similar to those seen in some human glaucoma cases. The metabolism of trabecular meshwork cells may be affected by the long-term chondroitin sulfate treatment. As a result, extracellular matrix material appears to be accumulated in the trabecular meshwork, which may then contribute to an increased outflow resistance and a mild intraocular pressure elevation.
Fireball Loading and the Blast-Wave Model of Gamma-Ray Bursts

A simple function for the spectral power P(,t)≡νL(ν) is proposed to model, with nine parameters, the spectral and temporal evolution of the observed nonthermal synchrotron power flux from gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) in the blast-wave model. Here =hν/mec2 is the observed dimensionless photonenergy, and t is the observing time. Assumptions and an issue of lack of self-consistency are spelled out. The spectra are found to be most sensitive to baryon loading, expressed in terms of the initial bulk Lorentz factor Γ0 and an equipartition term q, which is assumed to be constant in time and independent of Γ0. Expressions are given for the peak spectral power Pp(t)=P(p,t) at the photon energy =p(t) of the spectral power peak. A general rule is that the total fireball particle kinetic energy E0~Π0td, where tdΓ is the deceleration timescale, and Π0≡P(p,td)Γ is the maximum measured bolometric power output in radiation during which it is carried primarily by photons with energy 0=p(td)qΓ40. This rule governs the general behavior of fireballs with different baryon loading. Clean fireballs with small baryon loading (Γ0300) are intense, subsecond, medium-to-high-energy gamma-ray events and are difficult to detect because of dead time and sensitivity limitations of previous gamma-ray detectors like EGRET on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory. Dirty fireballs with large baryon loading (Γ0300) produce transient emissions that are longer lasting and most luminous at X-ray energies and below, but these events are lost behind the glow of the X-ray and lower energy background radiations, except for rare serendipitous detections by pointed instruments. The correlation between hardness and duration of loaded GRB fireballs (100Γ01000) follows from this rule.
Ag+-Mediated Assembly of 5′-Guanosine Monophosphate

Polymorphic forms of nucleic acids provide platforms for new nanomaterials, and transition metal cations give access to alternative arrangements of nucleobases by coordinating with electron-rich functional groups. Interaction of Ag+ with 5′-guanosine monophosphate (5′-GMP) is considered in this work. Ag+ promotes nucleotide stacking and aggregation, as indicated by the increased viscosity of 5′-GMP solutions with Ag+, magnification of the circular dichroism response of guanine by Ag+, and exothermic reactions between Ag+ and guanine derivatives. Isothermal titration calorimetry studies show that the reaction is favored starting at 10 μM 5′-GMP. Utilizing the exothermic heat change associated with reaction of Ag+ with 5′-GMP, local structure within the aggregate was assessed. On the basis of the salt dependence of the reaction and comparison with the corresponding nucleoside, the dianionic phosphate of 5′-GMP is one binding site for Ag+, although this electrostatic interaction is not a dominant contributio...
Lunar Gravity Determinations and their Implications

Mass distributions inferred from lunar gravity data are studied, with emphasis on mascons as mass excesses in topographic lows in all the near-side ringed basins, with best representation as near-surface disks with excess loads of 800 kg per sq cm. The gravity data are derived from earth-based radiometric data on speed variations of orbiting Apollo spacecraft observed from the earth. Mass deficits are found in the case of large 100 km craters (Langrenus, Theophilus, Copernicus), and are consistent with crater volume. Earlier states of the moon are hypothesized on the basis of the small gravitational anomaly associated with the Apennine mountains, and on the basis of lunar isostasy, plasticity, and maria flooding and filling.
RISKS AND COMPLICATIONS OF TRANSRECTAL ULTRASOUND GUIDED PROSTATE NEEDLE BIOPSY: A PROSPECTIVE STUDY AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

AbstractPurpose: Transrectal ultrasound guided needle biopsy of the prostate is routinely performed to diagnose and stage prostate cancer. We prospectively evaluated the true incidence of complications and identified risk factors of needle biopsy.Materials and Methods: We prospectively studied 128 patients who underwent transrectal ultrasound guided needle biopsy. A pre-biopsy questionnaire provided demographic information. Immediate complications were recorded by the surgical team at the procedure. Information on delayed complications was obtained by telephone interview. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed.Results: There was 1 major and 135 minor complications in 77 patients with at least 1 complication in 63.6%. Most patients tolerated the procedure with minimal discomfort regardless of the number and location of biopsies but younger patients had significantly more discomfort than older men (R = -0.26, p = 0.005). The most common complication was persistent hematuria in 47.1% of cases. N...
A neuroectodermal syndrome of dominant inheritance

Abstract Ten members of a family consisting of 68 individuals spread over five generations were affected in some measure with a characteristic syndrome, which involved the nervous, ectodermal, skeletal, and glandular systems. The familial condition described showed certain resemblances to the syndromes of Werner, Refsum and Cockayne . Distinct differences, however, also were found. The nature of inheritance in the family described was discussed in terms of its being due to a dominant gene. This was in contrast with the recessive inheritance in the other neuroectodermal syndromes considered. In spite of the differences between our family and the other syndromes reported, our study has suggested the possibility of a spectrum of neuroectodermal disorders, which may include the three syndromes mentioned and possibly others, as well as the syndrome described in the present report. The incidence in the family of adeno-hypophyseal insufficiency was described and a possible mechanism for this was suggested. A possible etiologic mechanism was suggested in terms of a genetically determined enzymic defect.
Pattern and Structure in an Oceanic Zooplankton Community

An analysis of pattern can reveal a great deal about the processes that regulate the species structure of a community, especially in those cases where experiments are not possible. It is predicted that differing mechanisms of regulation should result in different patterns in the distribution and abundance of potentially competing species and in the ways in which they utilize limiting resources. In this paper we describe these patterns in the zooplankton community of the North Pacific central gyre. The gyre community is old, stable and diverse and past studies have suggested that it is regulated by in situ processes. An analysis of samples collected over many years shows that the species are close to equilibrium. There are not large spatial, seasonal or year to year changes in abundance and disturbances do not seem to be large enough to perturb the species structure and prevent competitive exclusion. Food and predation are the two main limiting factors. Competition, by inference, appears to be strong, even between relatively dissimilar species. In spite of this the species do not seem to be specialists and niche separation is not apparent in either space or food utilization. This is surprising considering the age, stability and high diversity of the system. It is concluded that either some other mechanism, such as frequency dependent predation, regulates the species structure or that the mechanisms of niche separation are much more subtle than is suspected. Some of the implications of regulation through predation are discussed.
Predicting residual lymph node basin disease in melanoma patients with sentinel lymph node metastases

Abstract Background The incidence of residual occult disease in nonsentinel lymph nodes (NSLN) after a positive sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy in patients with melanoma is relatively low. The purpose of this study is to identify factors that may be predictive of occult NSLN metastases after positive SLN biopsy. Methods Fifty-six consecutive melanoma patients with positive sentinel nodes who subsequently underwent complete lymph node dissection (CLND) were evaluated. Results Only the number of positive SLN predicted the status on NSLN by univariate ( P = 0.008) and multivariate ( P = 0.028) analyses. None of the other variables (characteristics of SLN metastases, number of draining nodal basins, age, sex, thickness, Clark level, ulceration, number of mitoses/mm 2 , histological subtype, and location of the primary) significantly predicted CLND results. Conclusions Identifying patients with residual lymph node basin disease remains difficult. Thus, lymph node dissection should be performed in all patients after positive sentinel node biopsy.
Inelastic neutron scattering, Raman and DFT investigations of the adsorption of phenanthrenequinone on onion-like carbon

Abstract The orientation and bonding of adsorbed 9,10-phenanthrenequinone (PQ) on onion-like carbon (OLC) were determined by combining spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Electrochemical measurements demonstrated relatively strong bonding of PQ to the OLC as indicated by persistent and reversible features in the cyclic voltammetry. Spectra of bulk solid and adsorbed PQ were obtained by inelastic neutron scattering (INS) and Raman spectroscopy, and the bands were compared with vibrational energies calculated from DFT. At energy losses (frequencies) above 400 cm−1, no band shifts in INS or Raman spectra were observed between bulk solid and adsorbed PQ. However, adsorption of PQ resulted in shifts in the lowest frequency modes (
Understanding Electrocatalytic Activity Enhancement of Bimetallic Particles to Ethanol Electro-oxidation. 1. Water Adsorption and Decomposition on PtnM (n = 2, 3, and 9; M = Pt, Ru, and Sn)

The fundamental assumption of the bifunctional mechanism for PtSn alloy to catalyze ethanol electro-oxidation reaction (EER) is that Sn facilitates water dissociation and EER occurs over the Pt site of the PtSn alloy. To clarify this assumption and achieve a good understanding about the EER, H2O adsorption and dissociation over bimetallic clusters PtM (M = Pt, Sn, Ru, Rh, Pd, Cu, and Re) are systematically investigated in the present work. To discuss a variety of effects, PtnM (n = 2 and 3; M = Pt, Sn, and Ru), one-layer Pt6M (M = Pt, Sn, and Ru), and two-layer (Pt6M)Pt3 (M = Pt, Sn, Ru, Rh, Pd, Cu, and Re) clusters are used to model the PtM bimetallic catalysts. Water exhibits atop adsorption on Pt and Ru sites of the optimized clusters PtnM (n = 2 and 3; M = Pt and Ru) and bridge adsorption on Sn sites of Pt2Sn as well as distorted tetrahedral Pt3Sn. However, in the cases of one-layer Pt6M and two-layer Pt9M cluster models, water preferentially binds to all of the investigated central atom M of the surf...
Adolescents exposure to community violence: Sleep and psychophysiological functioning

The relationships among psychophysiological indices, sleep disturbance, and adolescents' exposure to community violence were examined in a pilot study of 64 community youth (ages 16–18; 84% African American), 25 of whom had their blood pressure and pulse rates assessed. Neither age nor gender differences were found in self-reported sleep disturbance or community violence exposure. Self-reported exposure to community violence and sleep deprivation were positively related. Multivariate analyses of covariance (MANCOVAs) revealed that youth at the highest of three levels of violence exposure had the lowest resting pulse rates. These results suggest that youth in communities marked by pervasive violence may be physiologically adapting and emotionally desensitizing to that violence. Implications for intervention are discussed. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Design considerations of a cable wiring system for a new medical center to support a future medical imaging system

Our Medical Center is faced with the problem to design a cable wiring system today, install it by the middle 1990''s, and allow for upgrades and enhancements for the next ten to fifteen years. The cable plant must be able to support functions and activities which are poorly defined today, but will include the hospital information system (HIS), a future picture archiving and communication system (PACS), and possibly an electronic patient chart with integrated image data. The cable plant must also connect to a future campus wide Medical Network of the Indiana University Medical center with the first component being a positron emission tomography system (PET) located approximately one mile away. To meet these goals the proposed cable plant will be a structured wire cabling system following existing and proposed standards for building wiring architectures including the Electronics Industries Association (EIA) and the Telecommunications Industries Association (TIA) 568 Commercial Building Wiring Standard and the proposed Federal Telecommunication Standard 1090. The structured wiring system approached has been evaluated with emphasis on the present and future network topologies that can be implemented, the type and size of fiber optic cable to install, and the need to install fiber optic cable to individual workstations.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
High performance computing with spatial datasets

The importance of geo-spatial data is growing with the increasing availability of large geo-spatial datasets such as maps, remote-sensing images, and the decennial census. Applications include geo-spatial intelligence, real-time situation assessment (e.g. during disaster response); high-fidelity terrain visualization (e.g. Google Earth, flight simulators); location-based services; predicting clustering or spread of disease; finding crime hot spots; mission to planet earth (global change and climatology, land-use classification); etc. Many of these applications often impose stringent performance and response time constraints which cannot often be met by today's sequential Geographic Information Systems (GIS) due to the large volume of geo-spatial datasets and the complexity of geo-spatial data-items including imagery, and extended objects (e.g. polygons and line-strings).High performance computing, e.g. parallelization of GIS, may meet the requirements of some of these applications. In this talk, we illustrate this message in context of two case studies. First, we focus on real-time terrain visualization in context of flight simulators, whose workload can be modeled as range queries on geo-spatial data-sets. Our work with the GIS-range-query operation shows that data-partitioning is an effective approach towards achieving high performance in GIS. As partitioning extended spatial objects is difficult, special techniques such as systematic declustering beyond random partitioning are needed. Experiments also show that the replication of data may be needed to facilitate dynamic load balancing, as the cost of local processing is often less than the cost of data transfer for spatial objects. Second, we describe our recent effort to parallelize spatial data mining algorithms. In particular, we present preliminary results in parallelizing algorithms for multi-scale multi-granular classification and for estimating parameters for spatial auto-regression model, which generalizes the linear regression model to address the lack of independence among nearby spatial data-points.
Discriminative anatomy detection: Classification vs regression

Abstract Detecting a single anatomy or a plurality of anatomical objects, such as landmarks or organs, in a medical image is important yet challenging. An anatomy detection method has to address offline model learning complexity related to modeling the appearance of a single object or a plurality of objects and online computational complexity related to search or inference strategy. In the paper, we present a survey of discriminative learning methods for appearance modeling as well as their corresponding search strategies and discuss how they leverage the anatomical context embedded in the medical image for more effective and more efficient detection.
Degradation of pentachlorophenol in soil by Phanerochaete chrysosporium

Abstract Biodegradation of pentachlorophenol (PCP) by Phanerochaete chrysosporium was examined in nonsterile soil. The rate of mineralization of PCP was essentially linear for at least 27 d and increased almost linearly with increasing concentration of PCP (from 50 to 1600 ppm). At 100 ppm no PCP was found at 18 d while 40% of the added PCP was present as pentachloroanisole (PCA), and mineralization continued linearly. Both PCP and PCA were found after 18 d when the initial concentration of PCP was 800 ppm. The rate of mineralization of PCA also increased with increasing concentrations of PCA, however the increase was not linear. Essentially no radioactivity was found in either the aqueous or volatile organic fraction during the mineralization of either PCP or PCA.
A new category of autoinflammatory disease associated with NOD2 gene mutations

Introduction Autoinflammatory diseases are characterized by seemingly unprovoked episodes of inflammation, without high titers of autoantibodies or antigen-specific T cells, and derive from genetic variants of the innate immune system. This study characterized a cohort of patients with similar phenotypes and nucleotide oligomerization domain 2 (NOD2) gene mutations.
Steady-state kinetic properties of purified rat liver alcohol dehydrogenase: Application to predicting alcohol elimination rates in vivo

Abstract The rate of ethanol elimination in fed and fasted rats can be predicted based on the liver content of alcohol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.1), the steady-state rate equation, and the concentrations of substrates and products in liver during ethanol metabolism. The specific activity, kinetic constants, and multiplicity of enzyme forms are similar in fed and fasted rats, although the liver content of alcohol dehydrogenase falls 40% with fasting. The two major forms of the enzyme were separated and found to have very similar kinetic properties. The rat alcohol dehydrogenase is subject to substrate inhibition by ethanol at concentrations above 10 m m and follows a Theorell-Chance mechanism. The steady-state rate equation for this mechanism predicts that the in vivo activity of the enzyme is limited by NADH product inhibition at low ethanol concentrations and by both NADH inhibition and substrate inhibition at high ethanol concentrations. When the steady-state rate equation and the measured concentrations of substrates and products in freeze-clamped liver of fed and fasted rats metabolizing alcohol are employed to calculate alcohol oxidation rates, the values agree very well with the actual rates of ethanol elimination determined in vivo.
Computer simulation of atomic ordering and compositional clustering in the pseudobinary Ni3Al–Ni3V system

The kinetics of diffusional phase transformations in the pseudobinary Ni{sub 3}Al-Ni{sub 3}V system were studied using a computer simulation technique based on microscope diffusion equations. The focus is on the initial stages of atomic ordering and compositional clustering process during the phase transformation of an initially homogeneous disordered f.c.c. ternary alloy (Ni{sub 75}Al{sub 25{minus}x}V{sub x}) into a two-phase mixture of L1{sub 2} (Ni{sub 3}Al) and DO{sub 22} (Ni{sub 3}V) ordered phases. A thermodynamic model is proposed to describe the phase equilibria in this pseudobinary system. The computer simulations demonstrated that at small vanadium content, the L1{sub 2} ordered domains appear first, followed by the nucleation of DO{sub 22} ordered domains at the antiphase domain boundaries of L1{sub 2}, whereas at large vanadium content, precipitation of DO{sub 22} precedes L1{sub 2} domain formation. The simulation results are discussed employing the thermodynamic stability analysis. The ordering and clustering kinetics predicted the computer simulation are consistent with recent experimental observations.
Correlation of Illite Crystallinity and Thermal Maturity in Carboniferous Strata of Ouachita Mountains: ABSTRACT

Carboniferous shales from the Ouachita Mountains have been studied to determine mineralogy and thermal maturities, the latter ascertained by means of vitrinite reflectance and bitumen/organic carbon ratios. The less than 2 µm fractions of these shales indicate 2 major clay-mineral components, illite and chlorite, and 2 minor varieties, expandable clays and pyrophyllite. Expandable clays are found at low thermal maturities and pyrophyllite at high maturity. Scanning electron micrographs show differences in clay morphology and texture, which are influenced by the degree of thermal maturity. Weaver's sharpness ratio for illite and Kubler's crystallinity index are both significantly related to mean vitrinite reflectance. The log of the sharpness ratio increases while the log of the crystallinity index decreases with increasing mean vitrinite reflectance. These relationships suggest that illite crystallinity is controlled by the same geologic agents that control vitrinite reflectance, namely temperature and time. A plot of vitrinite reflectance and/or crystallinity index versus bitumen/organic carbon ratio shows a maximum analogous to a hydrocarbon window. These statistically significant correlations provide useful means of estimating the thermal maturity of these strata where they contain insufficient amounts of vitrinite for thermal maturity evaluation. End_of_Article - Last_Page 260------------
A new micromethod for determination of protein in cerebrospinal fluid and urine.

We developed a new micro-scale procedure for determination of protein in cerebrospinal fluid and urine. The sample (50 µl) is mixed with a trichloroacetic acid—Ponceau S dye solution. The proteins, together with a proportional amount of dye, are precipitated and the red precipitate is dissolved in dilute sodium hydroxide solution, giving a violet-colored solution. This color, linearly proportional to the amount of protein present (up to 150 mg/dl), is measured spectrophotometrically at 560 nm. By varying the sample size alone, protein concentrations up to 1500 mg/dl can be measured. The detection limit for the method is 2 mg/dl of sample. Precipitation of the proteins is independent of temperature and albuminbinding compounds, and is not appreciably affected by the albumin—gamma globulin ratio.
Comparison of Glioblastomas and Brain Metastases using Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Perfusion MRI

PURPOSE To compare glioblastoma and brain metastases using T1-weighted dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)-MRI perfusion technique. METHODS 26 patients with glioblastoma and 32 patients with metastatic brain lesions with no treatment who underwent DCE-MRI were, retrospectively, analyzed. DCE perfusion parameters Ktrans and Vp were calculated for the whole tumor. Signal intensity time curves were quantified by calculating the area under the curve (AUC) and the logarithmic slope of the washout phase to explore the heterogeneous tumor characteristics. RESULTS Glioblastoma did not differ from all brain metastases in Ktrans (P = .34) or Vp (P = .47). Glioblastoma and melanoma metastases differed from hypovascular metastases in AUC and log slope of the washout phase of the signal intensity time curve (P < .05); however, glioblastoma and melanoma metastases did not differ from each other (AUC: P = .78, Log slope: P = .77). Glioblastoma and melanoma metastases differed from hypovascular metastases in the ratio of Voxelneg/Voxelpos (P< .03); however, they did not differ from each other. Glioblastoma and melanoma metastases differed from each other in Voxelneg_threshold at higher negative log slope threshold. CONCLUSION DCE-MRI showed that it has a potential to differentiate glioblastomas, melanoma metastases and hypovascular brain tumors. Logarithmic slope of the washout phase and AUC of the signal intensity time curve were shown to be the best discriminator between hypervascular and hypovascular neoplasms.
Photophysical Characterization and α-Type Delayed Luminescence of Rapidly Prepared Au Clusters

A new and perspective addition to traditional fluorescent probes is the Au clusters (8–25 atoms) which can label proteins, rendering them extremely bright and photostable. In this paper, we show that albumins can quickly and effectively be labeled using microwave acceleration, which shortens the time of Au labeling from several hours to <30 s. Chromatography of Au proteins and FLIM (fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy) reveals that Au clusters readily form and remain associated with the proteins. Subsequently, luminescence of the Au proteins (BSA, biotinylated-BSA, HSA) was studied using 3D-emission spectroscopy, time-resolved spectroscopy, and FLIM. We show that the red luminescence of the 25-atom gold cluster attached to the proteins has a broad range of emission lifetimes: about 95% of the total emission has a lifetime component ranging from 0.4 to 105 ns, and ∼5% is a delayed (alpha) emission with a range of lifetimes from 1 to 280 μs. The spectrum of Au delayed emission coincides with its fluore...
Effect of pent-4-enoic acid, propionic acid and other short-chain fatty acids on citrulline synthesis in rat liver mitochondria.

19 The effect of pent-4-enoic acid, propionic acid and several other short-chain fatty acids on citrulline synthesis in rat liver mitochondria was studied. 2.Pent-4-enoate at 1 mM inhibited mitochondrial citulline synthesis by about 80-90%. It is concluded that pent-4-enoate inhibits citrulline synthesis by interfering with some aspect of mitochondrial energy metabolism. This results in impairment of mitochondrial ornithine uptake or depletion of mitochondrial ATP, which, in turn, impairs carbamoyl phosphate synthesis or both. Evidence in support of this conclusion includes: pent-4-enoate has no effect on citrulline synthesis supported by succinate or exogenous ATP; pent-4-enoate lowers the medium plus mitochondrial ATP concentration; finally, when glutamate is the oxidizable substrate, pent-4-enoate decreases the carbamoyl phosphate concentration in mitochondria incubated without ornithine to minimize citrulline synthesis and impairs the mitochondrial uptake of ornithine, but it has neither effect when succinate is the oxidizable substrate. 4. Propionate, butyrate and crotonate also inhibit mitochondrial citrulline synthesis, but much less than pent-4-enoate. 5. Acetate, pentanoate, pent-2-enoate, hexanoate, octanoate, isovalerate, tiglylate and alpha-methylbutyrate have little or no effect on mitochondrial citrulline synthesis.
Rapid design of denaturing gradient-based two-dimensional electrophoretic gene mutational scanning tests

With the current rapid pace at which human disease genes are identified there is a need for practical, cost-efficient genetic screening tests. Two-dimensional electrophoretic separation of PCR-amplified gene fragments on the basis of size and base pair sequence, in non-denaturing and denaturing gradient polyacrylamide gels respectively, provides a rapid parallel approach to gene mutational scanning. Accuracy of the denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) component of this system strongly depends on the design of the PCR primers and the melting characteristics of the fragments they encompass. We have developed a fully automated generally applicable procedure to generate optimal two-dimensional test designs at a minimum amount of time and effort. Designs were generated for the RB1 , TP53 , MLH1 and BRCA1 genes that can be readily implemented in research and clinical laboratories as low cost genetic screening tests.
Electrical Properties of High‐Purity Polycrystalline Barium Titanate

Fine particle size, high-purity BaTiO3 powder was used to fabricate sintered and hot-pressed specimens. A second phase, BaTi3O7, frequently developed in samples fired at high temperatures. The dielectric properties of many specimens had frequency dispersions characteristic of interfacial polarization or other related space charge effects. Controlled particle size specimens were fabricated by hot-pressing and the temperature dependence of their dielectric properties was evaluated as a function of heat treatment.
Cleansing uncertain databases leveraging aggregate constraints

Emerging uncertain database applications often involve the cleansing (conditioning) of uncertain databases using additional information as new evidence for reducing the uncertainty. However, past researches on conditioning probabilistic databases, unfortunately, only focus on functional dependency. In real world applications, most additional information on uncertain data sets can be acquired in the form of aggregate constraints (e.g., the aggregate results are published online for various statistical purposes). Therefore, if these aggregate constraints can be taken into account, uncertainty in data sets can be largely reduced. However, finding a practical method to exploit aggregate constraints to decrease uncertainty is a very challenging problem. In this paper, we present three approaches to cleanse (condition) uncertain databases by employing aggregate constraints. Because the problem is NP-hard, we focus on the two approximation strategies by modeling the problem as a nonlinear optimization problem and then utilizing Simulated Annealing (SA) and Evolutionary Algorithm (EA) to sample from the entire solution space of possible worlds. In order to favor those possible worlds holding higher probabilities and satisfying all the constraints at the same time, we define Satisfaction Degree Functions (SDF) and then construct the objective function accordingly. Subsequently, based on the sample result, we remove duplicates, re-normalize the probabilities of all the qualified possible worlds, and derive the posterior probabilistic database. Our experiments verify the efficiency and effectiveness of our algorithms and show that our approximate approaches scale well to large-sized databases.
Applications of Platelet-Rich Plasma in Musculoskeletal and Sports Medicine: An Evidence-Based Approach

This article aims to provide a comprehensive review of the current literature that pertains to the therapeutic use of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP). The basic science literature regarding the role of growth factors in mediating the healing process and the laboratory data from in vitro and in vivo studies that evaluated PRP are reviewed. Subsequently, the current evidence regarding PRP efficacy from animal models, human surgical studies, and human clinical studies is presented. A critical analysis of the literature follows, and the article concludes with the authors' perspectives on the state of PRP as a potentially efficacious bioregenerative treatment option for musculoskeletal and sports medicine applications. The relevant articles in this review were obtained via PubMed literature searches for PRP publications that pertain to musculoskeletal and sports medicine conditions. This article is not intended to be a formal meta-analysis.
Vibrational and thermodynamic properties of forsterite at mantle conditions

[1] We present a first-principle study of the vibrational and thermodynamic properties of Mg2SiO4 forsterite up to 20 GPa. The calculated local density approximation (LDA) frequencies and their pressure dependence are in good agreement with the available Raman and infrared spectroscopy data. We also predict the pressure dependence of the modes which are yet to be measured. Thermodynamic properties are obtained using the quasi-harmonic approximation (QHA) to the free energy in conjunction with these results. The calculated pressure-volume-temperature (P-V-T) relations and thermodynamic properties agree well with the reported experimental data within the regime of validity of the QHA. The only discrepancies with experimental data that point to intrinsic anharmonic effects are the mode Gruneisen parameters of two Raman and one infrared modes. However, their effect on thermodynamic properties appears to be negligible. Citation: Li, L., R. M. Wentzcovitch, D. J. Weidner, and C. R. S. Da Silva (2007), Vibrational and thermodynamic properties of forsterite at mantle conditions, J. Geophys. Res., 112, B05206, doi:10.1029/2006JB004546.
Shoulder joint position sense improves with elevation angle in a novel, unconstrained task.

Proprioception, encompassing the submodalities of kinesthesia and joint position sense, is important in the maintenance of joint stability, especially in the shoulder. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of plane and elevation angle on unconstrained shoulder joint position sense. Twenty-two subjects (12 male, 10 female) without a history of shoulder pathology were recruited from a university campus. Subjects attempted to replicate, with respect to plane and elevationangles,varioustargetpositions.Targetpositionsconsistedoffiveplaneanglesat908ofarm elevationandfivearmelevationanglesinthescapularplane.Alltargetpositionsweretestedtwiceto assess the reliability of the measurement. Intraclass correlation coefficients were generally low across target positions, possibly owing to the novelty and demanding nature of the task. No differences in repositioning errors were observed between plane angles (p ¼0.255). Repositioning errors decreased linearly as the elevation angle increased from 308 to 908 (p ¼0.007) and increased again from 908 to 1108 of elevation (p ¼0.029). Our results suggest that unconstrained joint position sense may be enhanced with increased muscular activation levels. Further, afferent feedback from musculotendinous mechanoreceptors may dominate over that from capsuloligamentous sources in unconstrained movements. 2006 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 24:559-568, 2006
ARE MOJAVE DESERT ANNUAL SPECIES EQUAL? RESOURCE ACQUISITION AND ALLOCATION FOR THE INVASIVE GRASS BROMUS MADRITENSIS SUBSP, RUBENS (POACEAE) AND TWO NATIVE SPECIES

Abundance of invasive plants is often attributed to their ability ot outcompete native species. We compared resource acquisition and allocation of the invasive annual grass Bromus madritensis subsp. rubens with that of two native Mojave Desert annuals, Vulpia octoflora and Descurainia pinnata, in a glasshouse experiment. Each species was grown in monoculture at two densities and two levels of N availability to compare how these annuals capture resources and to understand their relative sensitivities to environmental change. During >4 mo of growth, Bromus used water more rapidly and had greater biomass and N content than the natives, partly because of its greater root-surface area and its exploitation of deep soils. Bromus also had greater N uptake, net assimilation and transpiration rates, and canopy area than Vulpia. Resource use by Bromus was less sensitive to changes in N availability or density than were the natives. The two native species in this study produced numerous small seeds that tended to remain dormant, thus ensuring escape of offspring from unfavorable germination conditions; Bromus produced fewer but larger seeds that readily germinated. Collectively, these traits give Bromus the potential to rapidly establish in diverse habitats of the Mojave Desert, thereby gaining an advantage over coexisting native species.
Moral Reflections from a Primary Classroom: one teacher's perspective

Teaching is by nature a complex activity filled with ambiguities and dilemmas. Teaching also is fundamentally a moral activity, making the dilemmas and ambiguities both pedagogical and moral in nature. This article describes one teacher's reflections on her efforts to resolve the dilemmas and ambiguities presented to her by the competing values of her school system and her own values as a teacher in a multi-age primary class. As a participant observer in her classroom over the course of one school year, the author examined how she addressed the moral ambiguities and dilemmas of the competing demands. These demands were exemplified in the way she taught mathematics and language arts lessons. The differences in the role she played in each lesson were subtle, but indicative of different values and beliefs about teaching and learning and, importantly, came to be seen by her as reflecting a moral stance. By reflecting upon the moral nature of the differences as they emerged, she re-examined her fundamental beliefs and values about teaching.
Chemotherapy in adult high-grade glioma: a systematic review and meta-analysis of individual patient data from 12 randomised trials.

Background Trials on the effect of systemic chemotherapy on survival and recurrence in adults with high-grade glioma have had inconclusive results. We undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the effects of such treatment on survival and recurrence. Methods We did a systematic review and meta-analysis using updated data on individual patients from all available randomised trials that compared radiotherapy alone with radiotherapy plus chemotherapy. Data for 3004 patients from 12 randomised controlled trials were included (11 published and one unpublished). Findings Overall, the results showed significant prolongation of survival associated with chemotherapy, with a hazard ratio of 0.85 (95% CI 0.78-0.91, p < 0.0001) or a 15% relative decrease in the risk of death. This effect is equivalent to an absolute increase in 1-year survival of 6% (95% CI 3-9) from 40% to 46% and a 2-month increase in median survival time (1-3). There was no evidence that the effect of chemotherapy differed in any group of patients defined by age, sex, histology, performance status, or extent of resection. Interpretation This small but clear improvement in survival from chemotherapy encourages further study of drug treatment of these tumours.
Development of a muscle spindle model

We are constructing a physiologically realistic model of the muscle spindle to assist in the analysis of natural sensorimotor control and to design biomimetic systems for restoration of reach and grasp tasks of paralyzed arm and hand muscles by functional electrical stimulation (FES). The model is composed of mathematical elements that are closely related to the anatomical components of spindles. The current spindle model is reasonably accurate in predicting spindle afferent activity recorded during a variety of ramp, triangular and sinusoidal stretches applied under various fusimotor conditions.
Influence of avian leukosis viral sequences on transmission to the egg and embryo.

Abstract Rous associated virus type-0 (RAV-0), a subgroup E replication-competent endogenous virus of chickens, is associated with a low efficiency of virus shedding into the egg albumen and failure to establish congenital transmission. In contrast, RAV-1, a subgroup A virus of exogenous origin, is efficiently shed into the albumen and readily infects the embryo. Among a series of in vitro constructed recombinants between RAV-0 and RAV-1, we have identified subgroup E recombinants that efficiently shed virus into the egg albumen but do not undergo efficient congenital transmission. The LTR region, subgroup-determining sequences in env, and sequences within a 375 by Sacl-Xhol fragment at the 5′ end of the genome each influenced the efficiency of virus shedding into the albumen. Egg inoculations with viruses differing only in env were used to confirm the low rate of congenital transmission of subgroup E viruses. These studies revealed that subgroup A envelope antigens are at least 100-fold more effective for the establishment of embryonic infection than subgroup E.
Judging the Best Interests of the Child: Judges' Accounts of the Tender Years Doctrine

With dramatic changes in family life over the last several decades, child custody law has shifted from a maternal preference to a more egalitarian standard, the best interests of the child. Despite this change in the law, scholars have debated whether gender continues to play a role in the resolution of custody disputes. Drawing on feminist legal scholarship and sociolegal research on judges, I assess the current debates over gender and custody by examining the accounts of judges who frequently adjudicate custody cases. I conduct in-depth, face-to-face interviews with twenty-five trial court judges in Indiana and investigate judges' accounts about whether they continue to use the tender years doctrine in custody disputes, even though the custody statute is explicitly gender-neutral. Then, I assess several competing explanations of the variation across judges' accounts, including the judges' gender role attitudes, gender, age, and political party affiliation. In exploratory analyses, I also examine the contested custody rulings of a subset of nine judges to assess whether judges' accounts are congruent with their actual custody decisions. I discuss the implications of these findings in light of feminist legal scholarship as well as empirical research on child custody adjudication.
On Logic in the Law: “Something, but not All”

Abstract. In 1880, when Oliver Wendell Holmes (later to be a Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court) criticized the “logical theology” of law articulated by Christopher Columbus Langdell (the first Dean of Harvard Law School), neither Holmes nor Langdell was aware of the revolution in logic that had begun, the year before, with Frege's Begriffsschrift. But there is an important element of truth in Holmes's insistence that a legal system cannot be adequately understood as a system of “axioms and corollaries”; and this element of truth is not obviated by the more powerful logical techniques that are now available.
Fusarium solani species complex isolates conspecific with Fusarium solani f. sp. cucurbitae race 2 from naturally infected human and plant tissue and environmental sources are equally virulent on plants, grow at 37°C and are interfertile

In a previous taxonomic study based on multilocus sequencing of Fusarium from clinical specimens and hospital environments, the most common lineage was Fusarium solani species complex group 1 (FSSC 1) which is conspecific with F. solani f. sp. cucurbitae race 2, a pathogen of cucurbit fruits. The aims of our study were to determine if clinical and environmental isolates of FSSC 1 are plant pathogens and members of the same biological species as cucurbit isolates, and to determine if all isolates can germinate, grow and sporulate at 37 degrees C. Isolates from the different sources did not differ in virulence on zucchini fruits. All FSSC 1 isolates were pathogenic and produced more rot than FSSC isolates from plant hosts other than cucurbits. Both mating types were found among isolates from each of the sources, and all isolates were sexually compatible with cucurbit isolates. All isolates germinated, grew and sporulated at 37 degrees C. This is the first report in which plant pathogenicity has been verified for a collection of human clinical isolates. Our data are consistent with the hypothesis that all FSSC 1 isolates, regardless of source, are a single biological species, equally virulent plant pathogens and tolerant of the human body temperature.
A laboratory investigation of wind‐generated waves

Waves were generated by forcing wind through a covered laboratory flume. For steady-state conditions, measurements by means of an oscillograph were made of the wave characteristics at various points in the flume. The significant heights and periods were determined and related to the fetch and wind speed. The height and period of the individual waves for various fetch lengths were compared by means of joint frequency diagrams. The orbital motions of particles throughout the water depth were determined from motion pictures. Particle velocities below the crest are compared with theoretical relationships. Some information on wind set-up and shear-stress coefficients are presented.