cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Shunting for syringomyelia in patients with spinal cord injuries: self-reported, long-term effects in 8 patients.

Abstract Hess MJ, Foo D. Shunting for syringomyelia in patients with spinal cord injuries: self-reported, long-term effects in 8 patients. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2001;82:1633-6. Objective: To investigate the long-term effects of shunting on neurologic outcome of syringomyelia, a complication of spinal cord injury (SCI). Design: Retrospective data collection using telephonic survey. Setting: University based medical center. Participants: Eight of 15 patients who had shunts placed between 1976 and 1999. Interventions: Review of clinical records and self-reported telephone interview. Main Outcomes Measures: Initial clinical presentation, recovery after shunt placement, and subsequent neurologic status were recorded. Patients were asked to rate symptomatic improvement after surgery on a 100-point analog scale; they were also asked whether they would have the surgery again. Results: Presenting symptoms were weakness in all 8 patients, pain in 5 patients, and numbness in 5 patients. After shunting, 6 patients had improved strength, all had less pain, and 2 had less numbness. Six patients experienced neurologic decline an average of 2 years after shunt placement, 3 because of shunt failure, 2 from a new syrinx, and 1 from both shunt failure and new syrinx. Two of the 3 patients who underwent second shunt placements for a new syrinx had full neurologic recovery. Six patients said they would repeat the shunting procedure if necessary, 1 was uncertain, and 1 would not. Conclusion: Initial improvements noted after shunting provide long-lasting effects, even though many patients may need a second procedure. Less pain and improved strength are more significant than decreased numbness. © 2001 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Fine structure observations on experimental papilledema in the rhesus monkey.

Abstract Papilledema was induced in monkeys by raising the intracranial pressure or by ocular hypotony. Fine structure examination of the swollen discs showed that the extracellular spaces were enlarged in well-perfused areas of the subhyaloid portion of prelaminar optic disc and the adjacent nerve fiber layer of the retina. Axonal swelling was present mostly in areas where there was evidence of inadequate perfusion. It is concluded that the axonal swellings are fixation artifacts, and that fluid enters the axons from an enlarged extracellular space during fixation. The glial cells in the prelaminar optic nerve were not significantly swollen, which suggests that swelling of astrocytes plays no part in the etiology of uncomplicated papilledema. Axons were occasionally distended with myelin figures and mitochondria. The possible mechanism of fluid accumulation in the optic disc is discussed.
A Cre/LoxP conditional luciferase reporter transgenic mouse for bioluminescence monitoring of tumorigenesis.

Genetically engineered, Cre/LoxP-conditional mouse models of cancer are designed to investigate the genetic contributors of tumorigenesis and are well suited to assess therapeutic treatment responses. The capacity to serially visualize tumor burden in a noninvasive fashion would greatly strengthen their applications. We report the generation of a bioluminescent reporter strain that allows monitoring of tumor development in preexisting conditional mouse tumor models. We demonstrate that, in a Cre-dependent glioblastoma multiforme model, tumor initiation and progression is readily monitored over time and that luminescent output is related to tumor volume. Our results show that this reporter strain may be combined with various Cre/loxP mouse tumor models to allow for noninvasive longitudinal monitoring of tumor growth and therapeutic response in vivo. genesis 47:659–666, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Motorola and MEMMS: the way up to a surface micromachined accelerometer

Abstract After a short history of sensor development at Motorola, this article details the technology of the surface micro-machined accelerometer, its high volume application and some possible further developments.
Hepatitis C advances in antiviral therapy: what is accepted treatment now?

The vast number of patients with hepatitis C represent a huge medical and economic burden. While 20-30% of these patients progress and develop advanced liver disease, the majority do not. Thus, it is crucial to identify patients suitable for treatment and those who may benefit most from therapy. Anti-viral therapy is recommended for those patients with chronic hepatitis C who also have elevated liver tests, detectable hepatitis C virus ribonucleic acid and significant inflammation and/or fibrosis on liver biopsy. Currently, the most effective initial therapy is the combination of interferon plus ribavirin. The sustained viral response rate (SVR) is 36-41% following a 24- or 48-week course of therapy. In general, patients with the genotype 1 infection should receive 48 weeks of therapy, and those with genotypes 2 or 3 infection only 24 weeks. Viral load estimations are problematic because of normal fluctuations (up to 0.5-10 log), assay variability and lack of a universally accepted standard; thus, viral load testing is not recommended routinely at present. The sustained viral response rate produces improvements in quality of life and liver histology (including reversal of bridging fibrosis and cirrhosis is some), and durable responses lasting 5-11 years in 95-97% of cases. While the optimal dose of ribavirin is currently unknown, available data suggest that higher doses increase efficacy (albeit with a greater degree of anemia). The dose of 800 mg/day may be the most appropriate lower dose for those patients who require dosage modification for anemia or other side-effects. Patients who have relapsed after interferon monotherapy can be successfully retreated with higher doses of interferon for 1 year or the combination of interferon and ribavarin for 24-48 weeks. Preliminary data suggest that patients with an unfavorable profile, including those with genotype 1 infection, should probably be retreated with interferon and ribavirin for 48 rather than 24 weeks. With our current best therapies, the majority of patients still do not achieve the benefits of a sustained response. Re-treatment with interferon and ribavirin may achieve a sustained response in approximately 10-25% of these patients. In the immediate future, once-weekly pegylated interferons will replace standard interferons. Initial data suggest that SVR achieved with these drugs in combination with ribavirin is increased to 54-61%, but dose modifications and side-effects are more frequent. They will thus provide an incremental benefit in terms of efficacy, particularly for genotype 1-infected patients.
A cost-effective three-in-one personal digital assistant input control

Abstract We attach an inexpensive pressure sensor to the side of a personal digital assistant and use it as three input devices at once. Users can squeeze the device to provide near-continuous input to applications. At the same time the drivers interpret a sudden full squeeze as the push of a virtual button. A user's sudden pressure release while squeezing is detected as the push of a second virtual button. We briefly describe our hardware and signal processing techniques. The remainder of the writing describes an experiment that explores whether users can cope cognitively with the 3-in-1 control. We compare against a three-control setup consisting of a jog wheel and two physical buttons. We show that the three-in-one control enables a 13% faster reaction time over the three-control one, but that the three-in-one control suffers a 4% penalty in the accuracy of users choosing between the two buttons in response to cues from an application. We show that a good choice of application cue is more important for assuring accuracy in the 3-in-1 than in the more traditional set of separate controls.
Effect of root zone carbon dioxide enrichment on ethylene inhibition of carbon assimilation in potato plants

Potato plants (Solanum tuberosum L. var. Russet Burbank) treated with 1 μl ethylene 1−1 of air showed an inhibition of CO2 assimilation by 18%. The inhibition occurred after 3 h of exposure to ethylene and was not mediated through closure of the stomata. The enrichment of the root zone with CO2 almost completely abolished the ethylene inhibition of CO2 assimilation which was apparently due to an increase in the intercellular concentration of CO2 in leaves following enrichment. The effect of application of CO2 to the root zone on ethylene inhibition of CO2 assimilation seemed to last for a few days. Potato plants treated with aminoethoxyvinlglycine (AVG) showed an increase in fresh and dry weight as compared to non-treated plants. Our results indicate that both CO2 and AVG alter the effect of ethylene and promote growth in plants by inhibiting ethylene action and biosynthesis, respectively.
Genotoxicity of tobacco smoke and tobacco smoke condensate

This report reviews the literature on the genotoxicity of mainstream tobacco smoke and cigarette smoke condensate (CSC) published since 1985. CSC is genotoxic in nearly all systems in which it has been tested, with the base/neutral fractions being the most mutagenic. In rodents, cigarette smoke induces sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) and micronuclei in bone marrow and lung cells. In humans, newborns of smoking mothers have elevated frequencies of HPRT mutants, translocations, and DNA strand breaks. Sperm of smokers have elevated frequencies of aneuploidy, DNA adducts, strand breaks, and oxidative damage. Smoking also produces mutagenic cervical mucus, micronuclei in cervical epithelial cells, and genotoxic amniotic fluid. These data suggest that tobacco smoke may be a human germ-cell mutagen. Tobacco smoke produces mutagenic urine, and it is a human somatic-cell mutagen, producing HPRT mutations, SCEs, microsatellite instability, and DNA damage in a variety of tissues. Of the 11 organ sites at which smoking causes cancer in humans, smoking-associated genotoxic effects have been found in all eight that have been examined thus far: oral/nasal, esophagus, pharynx/larynx, lung, pancreas, myeoloid organs, bladder/ ureter, uterine cervix. Lung tumors of smokers contain a high frequency and unique spectrum of TP53 and KRAS mutations, reflective of the PAH (and possibly other) compounds in the smoke. Further studies are needed to clarify the modulation of the genotoxicity of tobacco smoke by various genetic polymorphisms. These data support a model of tobacco smoke carcinogenesis in which the components of tobacco smoke induce mutations that accumulate in a field of tissue that, through selection, drive the carcinogenic process. Most of the data reviewed here are from studies of human smokers. Thus, their relevance to humans cannot be denied, and their explanatory powers not easily dismissed. Tobacco smoke is now the most extreme example of a systemic human mutagen.
Organizational structure, leadership and readiness for change and the implementation of organizational cultural competence in addiction health services

Increasing representation of racial and ethnic minorities in the health care system and on-going concerns about existing health disparities have pressured addiction health services programs to enhance their cultural competence. This study examines the extent to which organizational factors, such as structure, leadership and readiness for change contribute to the implementation of community, policy and staffing domains representing organizational cultural competence. Analysis of a randomly selected sample of 122 organizations located in primarily Latino and African American communities showed that programs with public funding and Medicaid reimbursement were positively associated with implementing policies and procedures, while leadership was associated with staff having greater knowledge of minority communities and developing a diverse workforce. Moreover, program climate was positively associated with staff knowledge of communities and having supportive policies and procedures, while programs with graduate staff and parent organizations were negatively associated with knowledge of and involvement in these communities. By investing in funding, leadership skills and a strategic climate, addiction health services programs may develop greater understanding and responsiveness of the service needs of minority communities. Implications for future research and program planning in an era of health care reform in the United States are discussed.
Characterization of hepatic epidermal growth factor receptors in the developing rat.

Abstract Binding of 125 I-labeled epidermal growth factor (EGF) was characterized in basolateral plasma membranes prepared from the livers of 21-day gestation fetuses, 14-day-old sucklings and adult Sprague-Dawley rats using a self-generating Percoll gradient method. The membrane preparations employed have been previously assayed in terms of plasma membrane protein yield, enrichment of various marker enzymes and sodium-dependent bile acid and amino acid transport. 125 I-EGF binding was saturable and time and temperature dependent. Equilibrium analyses showed that the suckling period is characterized by a marked decrease in overall hepatic EGF binding capacity (460 ± 50 fmol/mg protein) compared to either the fetal period (1290 ± 160 fmol/mg) or to adults of either sex (males = 1540 ± 230, females 1010 ± 130 fmol/mg). Treatment of the suckling rat with parenteral EGF resulted in a 78% reduction in the observed binding capacity when assessed 2 h after growth factor administration. Comparison of binding affinities revealed no significant difference between the suckling and adult preparations ( K d = 0.40 ± 0.03 vs. 0.39 ± 0.02 nM, respectively); however, both preparations differed significantly from the fetal group which exhibited a decreased affinity of binding with a higher overall dissociation constant ( K d = 0.68 ± 0.06 nM). Thus, it appears that major ontogenetic changes occur in the rat hepatic ligand/receptor system for epidermal growth factor. These changes are discussed in the context of transitional events in mammalian development such as birth and weaning.
Methane production from fresh versus dry dairy manure

Dung cake is thought by some in Africa to be a better substrate for methane production than fresh manure. This contradicts with the general thinking that fresher manure is more productive in methane yield than older manure. The discrepancy was due to the lack of information on two quantities; the amount of organic materials lost during drying and a comparison of the final methane yields from fresh and dry manure. This study examined batch digestion of fresh and dry dairy manure and showed that the methane yields (based on m3 CH4/kg volatile solids fed) from fresh and dry manure were the same statistically (α=0·05). However, fresh manure produced a greater total volume of methane than the dry manure when the loss in organic materials during drying was taken into account.
Synthesis and application of fluorescent labeled nucleotides to assay DNA damage

Abstract A facile method was developed to covalently attach a fluorophore to the 5′-phosphate of a nucleic acid. The procedure, illustrated by coupling 5′-dNmp ( N = A,C,G,T) with 5-dimethylaminonaphthalene 1-sulfonyl chloride, commonly known as Dansyl chloride, involves 5′-phosphoramidation with ethylenediamine (EDA) followed by conjugation of the free aliphatic amino group of the phosphoramidate with Dansyl chloride. This method is also applicable to multi-incorporation of fluorescent labels in the nucleic acids. The reaction of 5′-Amp with a polyamine such as poly L-lysine (PLL, mol. wt., 4000) resulted in a phosphoramidate with multiple amino groups, which after isolation and conjugation with fluorescamine gave dAmp with multilabeled fluorophores. A condition was devised to separate the four dansylated mononucleotides of DNA, conjugated via ethylenediamine linker, by reverse phase HPLC. The elution profile could be monitored with a variable wavelength detector at 254 nm and 340 nm corresponding to the absorption of the nucleotides and the dansyl moiety, respectively. The detection limit was 2 nmol at 254 nm. The use of a fluorescence detector enhanced the detection sensitivity to a sub-picomole level (200 fmol). Samples of a DNA model, d(pCpGpTpA) and calf-thymus DNA were digested enzymatically to 5′-mononucleotides and labeled with Dansyl chloride. HPLC analysis of the dansylated digests from these samples, both before and after irradiation, suggests that the combination of enzymatic digestion and fluorescence postlabeling could be a novel approach to assay DNA damage.
TEAD1 inhibits prolactin gene expression in cultured human uterine decidual cells

Forced overexpression of TEAD1 in human uterine fibroblast (HUF) and human endometrial stromal cells markedly inhibited prolactin promoter activity in both cell types in a dose-dependent manner, with maximal inhibition of greater than 90%. Conversely, the knockdown of TEAD1 expression in HUF cells with a TEAD1 siRNA resulted in a 75-80% increase in prolactin mRNA levels (p<0.01) compared to control cells exposed to a scrambled nonsense RNA. Mutagenesis of the putative TEAD site inhibited basal promoter activity by about 80%. However, mutagenesis of the TEAD site did not prevent TEAD1-induced inhibition of promoter activity; and the transcription activity of a minimal promoter fragment lacking a putative TEAD binding site was repressed by overexpression of TEAD1. Taken together, these findings suggest that the TEAD binding site on the prolactin promoter is important for the maintenance of basal prolactin promoter activity and that overexpression of TEAD1 has a dominant-negative effect on prolactin promoter activity, probably by interacting directly with other transcription factors.
Antibiotics for secondary prevention of coronary artery disease: an ACES hypothesis but we need to PROVE IT

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death in the Western world, and atherosclerosis is responsible for virtually all of the cases. An understanding of atherosclerosis as an inflammatory process, rather than just a disease of lipid accumulation, has evolved over the recent years. There is compelling evidence that elevated levels of inflammatory mediators (interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor [TNF]), cell adhesion molecules (intercellular adhesion molecule-1, P-selectin, E-selectin), and acute phase reactants (Creactive protein, fibrinogen, serum amyloid A) correlate with increased vascular risk. Oxidized lipoproteins, components of the renin-angiotensin system, high serum glucose, and obesity serve as potential triggers for inflammation in atherogenesis. These triggers are instantly recognizable as components of such risk factors for atherosclerosis as dyslipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. However, while epidemiologic evidence for these and other “traditional” risk factors, such as age, gender, smoking, and family history of CAD is well established, a significant proportion of patients with symptomatic atherosclerosis fail to demonstrate any of them. An exploration of potential novel risk factors for CAD has been advocated, and the influence of infection as a contributor to atherogenic inflammation has since emerged as one of the attractive targets for basic scientific and clinical investigation.
The effect of foreign trade and investment liberalization on spatial concentration of economic activity

Abstract I examine the varying responses of countries to foreign trade and direct investment liberalization on spatial concentration of their economic activity by taking into consideration moderating factors such as their market size and level of economic development. I argue that liberalization increases the concentration under normal conditions but large market size, and underdevelopment can disperse economic activity. Using data from 168 countries for the period of time starting in 1980s, I found support for all hypotheses.
Rehabilitation outcome measures on the horizon.

The quest for better measurement strategies utilizing new approaches was discussed at a conference sponsored by the National Centre for Medical Rehabilitation Research (NCMRR) at The National Insti...
Synonymies of Wasp-Mimicking Species within the Katydid Genus Aganacris (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Phaneropterinae)

Abstract Five neotropical wasp-mimicking species of the genus Aganacris—two known only from females and three from males—are reviewed. Based on observation of interspecific interactions and morphological comparison, it is shown that sexual dimorphism occurs within species, and that female species are conspecific with sympatric male species. This is reinforced by field observations in northern Peru of a pairing between A. pseudosphex and A. nitida, wherein the male was in the process of secreting a spermatophore. Aganacris sphex and A. pseudosphex are morphologically nearly identical and probably represent variants of a single species. Since those species known from females only are both senior to sympatric male species, the number of species is reduced from five to two — A. nitida (A. pseudosphex and A. sphex designated herein as junior synonyms) and A. velutina (A. insectivora designated herein as a junior synonym).
Distribution and activity of oceanic bacteria

Abstract A survey was conducted on 381 samples collected to depths of 1200 m at 47 offshore stations in the Pacific, Caribbean and Atlantic. All samples were cultured in Agar roll tubes and incubated within 4·5°C of the temperature of the water from which they were obtained. The heterotrophic population thus obtained was tested directly for a few biochemical activities or isolated, tested more extensively and keyed to genus. A marked bacterial flora in the 150 μ thick surface film overlying ‘low count’ waters was observed only off the west coast of Central America in an area known for upwelling. The ratio of lipolytic: proteolytic: amylolytic bacteria in thid Flora was 93:92:24 compared to a ratio of 46:53:54 for ‘high count’ surface and subsurface samples which were obtained sporadically from the Caribbean and Atlantic. Atypical pseudomonads dominated the Pacific samples, while types two and four pseudomonads were twice as high in the Caribbean and Atlantic samples. The bacteria in the more typical ‘low count’ samples had biochemical activities which differed from the ‘high count’ samples. The ‘low count’ flora had similar proteolytic ratios regardless of latitude, depth or oceanic area.
ACCEPTABILITY STUDIES OF MILITARY RATION: MEAL, READY‐TO‐EAT

The military operational ration, designated as Meal, Ready-to-Eat (MRE) has been developed to furnish combat troops with a higher quality food product in a logistically more suitable container than its predecessor, Meal, Combat, Individual (MCI). A study was conducted to determine the acceptability of feeding the MRE ration for a 34-day test period. Two combat support companies from the 25th Infantry Division participated in this study at the Pohakuloa Training Area, Hawaii. One company subsisted solely on MRE rations (experimental group), while the other company was fed an A ration breakfast and dinner and a MRE lunch (control group). The MRE items were well received, with average acceptability scores of 7.05 for the experimental group and 6.48 for the control group on a 9-point hedonic scale. Nevertheless, the MRE ration was not consumed in sufficient quantity by the experimental group, resulting in significant body weight loss and some vitamin and mineral intakes that were below recommended levels (Wenkam et al. 1989). However, physiological evaluations did not reveal significant differences between the two companies or values that were outside of the normal range, thus indicating that nutritional status was not compromised by subsisting solely on the MRE ration for 34 days (Lichton et al. 1988).
Breast radiotherapy and lymphedema.

BACKGROUND. Breast radiotherapy has a low incidence of long term complications. Lymphedema is the most commonly reported complication and adversely affects the quality of life of the breast carcinoma patient. Although its incidence is decreasing, lymphedema still remains a significant concern for patients and their physicians. With the indications for radiotherapy in breast carcinoma management broadening, current strategies to prevent radiation-related lymphedema should be applied and new strategies should be developed. METHODS. A review of the literature addressing lymphedema as a complication of radiotherapy in breast carcinoma management was performed. RESULTS. Arm, breast, and truncal edema occur after primary breast carcinoma management. The literature supports the view that radiotherapy contributes to arm and breast edema. Lymphedema occurs most commonly in patients who have both axillary radiotherapy and surgery, is often triggered by a soft tissue infection, and is more common in obese patients. The incidence of arm edema is decreasing due to more conservative surgical treatment of the axilla and possibly due to more conservative management of the breast. Trends in breast edema are less discernible. Single-modality treatment of the axilla is associated with a very low incidence of arm edema. CONCLUSIONS. Lymphedema continues to be a problem in the care of the breast carcinoma patient. More conservative surgery combined with careful patient selection for nodal radiotherapy reduces its incidence. Radiotherapy technique, prompt treatment of soft tissue infections, and weight loss in obese patients each can contribute to prevention. The risk of lymphedema is greatly surpassed by the benefits of radiotherapy in the care of the breast carcinoma patient.
Silica-collagen hybrid artificial cornea

Tissue-engineered artificial corneas could eventually replace cadaveric corneal transplantation, enabling sight-restoring procedures to many who do not have access to eye banking facilities. We investigated compositions of silica–collagen hybrid materials as potential artificial corneal substitutes. Hybrid materials were created from different proportions of collagen and silica precursors and manufactured to specific dimensions. Materials were implanted into animal corneas to determine if they supported epithelialization of their surface. The refractive indices of the hybrid materials ranged from 1.33 to 1.40 depending upon the composition and manufacturing characteristics. Transmissibility of 3:1 (silica:collagen ratio by weight) and 9:1 rehydrated xerogels was similar to that of normal rabbit corneas. Re-epithelialization of 5- to 6-mm-wide rabbit corneal epithelial defects was complete in 5.5 ± 2.4 days (n = 6), with evidence of epithelial stratification. Silica–collagen hybrid materials have properties that are promising for use as an artificial corneal substitute. Additional studies are required to determine long-term outcomes in vivo.
Heat exchanger situated downstream of a right-angle bend

Abstract Heat transfer, pressure drop, and flow visualization experiments were performed for a tube-bank-type crossflow heat exchanger situated downstream of a right-angle bend. The heat exchanger was housed in a duct of square cross section, and the L-shaped duct which delivered the airflow to the tube bank inlet was of identical cross section. Two geometrical parameters were varied during the course of the experiments: (1) the distance between the bend and the tube bank inlet and (2) the orientation of the plane of the bend with respect to the axes of the tubes in the bank (either parallel or perpendicular to the axes). The Reynolds number was varied over nearly an order of magnitude. For each geometry and Reynolds number, per-tube heat transfer coefficients were determined at each relevant tube site in the array. It was found that the presence of the right-angle bend did not have a major effect on the heat transfer characteristics of the tube bank. Bend-related enhancements in the 10–15% range were encountered at individual tubes in the initial rows, but the rowaverage enhancements were smaller. Intra-row nonuniformities occurred for the perpendicular orientation but not for the parallel orientation. The system pressure drop (from delivery duct inlet to tube bank exit) was even less sensitive to the geometrical parameters than the per-tube heat transfer.
Identification of fundamental building blocks in protein sequences using statistical association measures

Protein sequence data is abundant, yet derivation of structural features from sequence alone is generally restricted to prediction of domain architecture, secondary structure elements and motifs. Precise feature boundaries cannot be determined reliably, and it is unknown to what extent these features constitute fundamental building blocks of protein sequences, a question with particular relevance to protein folding. Here we propose a statistical approach using mutual information, a measure of association, to predict feature boundaries. In this approach, proteins are viewed as strings of adjacent, non-overlapping features, where each feature is a subsequence of the protein, and the union of the features is the entire protein. Mutual information values are measured between nearby amino acids along sequences, and low values are indicators for feature boundaries. These boundaries are then predicted using a flexible partitioning algorithm. The algorithms presented in this paper were tested on the GPCR protein family and subfamilies. A comparison with segment boundaries implied indirectly from secondary structure prediction and expert knowledge demonstrates that the algorithm can be used to statistically predict feature positions in protein sequences generically, without assumptions on the feature type to be detected. Access to the data used and algorithms presented in this paper are available at flan.blm.cs.cmu.edu.
Autoimmunity in endometriosis: relevance to infertility.

PROBLEM: Endometriosis is a complicated multi-factorial disease. Genetic and immunologic factors play a key role in its pathophysiology. We were the first to describe endometrial and ovarian autoimmunity in women with endometriosis in 1981. METHODS OF STUDY: ELISA and Western blot analysis. It is accepted that women with endometriosis have autoimmunity to endometrial, ovarian and nuclear antigens. We have now established that: 1The endometrial autoantigens to which the endometriosis patients have autoimmune reactions are endometrial transferrin and alpha 2-HS glycoprotein. 2Levels of antibodies to both these proteins are specifically elevated in women with endometriosis, thus making them important candidates for developing an endometrial antibody assay for a non-invasive diagnosis of endometriosis. 3Levels of transferrin and alpha 2-HS glycoprotein are significantly elevated in the peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis. 4Antibodies to transferrin and alpha 2-HS glycoprotein also inhibit in vitro sperm motility. CONCLUSION: These data strongly suggest the possibility of endometrial autoantibodies playing an important role in the infertility often associated with endometriosis.
A Review of Lunar Regolith Excavation Robotic Device Prototypes

The excavation of lunar regolith is desirable for use as a feedstock for oxygen production processes as well as civil engineering purposes and for the fabrication of parts and structures. This is known as In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU). More recently, there has been mounting evidence that water ice exists at the poles of the Moon, buried in the regolith where thermally stable conditions exist. This means that regolith excavation will be required to mine the water ice which is believed to be. mixed in with the regolith, or bonded to it. The mined water ice can then be electrolyzed to produce hydrogen and oxygen propellants which could form the basis of a cis-lunar transportation system using in-situ derived propellants. In 2007, the National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) sponsored a Lunar Regolith Excavation Competition as part of its Centennial Challenges program, The competition was not won and it was held again in 2008 and 2009, when it was won by a university team. A $500,000 prize was awarded to the winning team by NASA. In 2010, NASA continued the competition as a spinoff of the Centennial Challenges, which is restricted to university participation only. This competition is known as the "Lunabotics Mining Competition" and is hosted by NASA at Kennedy Space Center. Twenty three American university teams competed in the 2010 Lunabotics Mining Competition. The competition was held again in May 2011 with over 60 teams registered, including international participation. The competition will be held again in May 2012 at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. . This paper contains a thorough review of the various regolith eX,cavation robotic device prototypes that competed in these NASA competitions, and will. classify the machines and their methods of excavation to document the variety of ideas that were spawned and built to compete at these events. It is hoped that documentation of these robots will serve to help future robotic excavation designers and provide a historical reference for future lunar mining machine endeavors.
Contribution of Granulocyte-(G-) and Granulocyte Macrophage-(GM-) Colony Stimulating Factor (CSF) to Airway Inflammation in Infants who develop Chronic Lung Disease (CLD) |[dagger]| 1565

Studies on bronchoalveoar lavage (BAL) fluid of infants developing CLD have shown large numbers of neutrophils and macrophages in the airways. G-CSF and GM-CSF are known to increase the activity of granulocytes and macrophages, therefore these factors could be important in determining the number and the function of neutrophils (N) and macrophages in the lungs of patients with CLD. This study was undertaken to determine: 1) concentrations of G- and GM-CSF in the BAL fluid of preterm infants developing CLD, 2) whether G- and GM-CSF concentrations correlate with neutrophil and macrophage counts in BAL, and 3) whether alveolar macrophages (AMs) are sources of G- CSF and GM-CSF. BAL was performed in 11 ventilated infants (BW≤1350g) during endotracheal intubation. Dexamethasone (Dxm) was administered to 4/6 infants who later developed CLD, starting on day 10 to 12. BAL specimens obtained while on Dxm were analyzed separately. Table
Vortex generator induced heat transfer augmentation past a rib in a heated duct air flow

The present investigation represents the initial phase of a comprehensive experimental program designed to study the potential for increasing the heat transfer per unit pressure drop in a ribbed duct by positioning vortex generators at key locations in the flow. In particular, the present investigation consists of a rib positioned at the inlet to a rectangular test section with uniform heating at its bottom wall. Local and average Nusselt number results are obtained for a circular rod positioned either immediately above or just downstream of the rib.
EXPONENTIAL REPRESENTATION FOR SCATTERING AMPLITUDES.

A representation of scattering amplitudes as Laplace transforms in the momentum transfer is described. The representation is motivated by the observed (approximate) exponential decrease with increasing $|t|$, for small $t$, of differential scattering cross sections at high energies. Applications to some scattering problems are discussed. The resulting expressions tend to be simpler than those one obtains with the Fourier-Bessel transform.
Electronic markets hypothesis redux: where are we now?

A popular theory on IT's impact fails to consider the rich, dynamic, relationship-filled environment in which IT operates.
Abstract B96: Akt and c‐Myc differentially activate cellular metabolic programs and prime cells to bioenergetic inhibition

The high glucose consumption of tumor cells even in oxygen rich environments, referred to as the Warburg effect, has been noted as a nearly universal biochemical characteristic of cancer cells. Targeting the glycolysis pathway has been explored as an anti‐cancer therapeutic strategy to eradicate cancer based on this fundamental biochemical property of cancer cells. Oncogenes such as Akt and c‐Myc regulate cell metabolisms. Accumulating studies have uncovered various molecular mechanisms by which oncoproteins affect cellular metabolism, raising a concern as to whether targeting glycolysis will be equally effective in treating cancers arisen from different oncogenic activities. To address this issue, we establish a dual‐regulatable FL5.12 pre‐B cell line in which myrAkt is expressed under the control of doxycycline, and c‐Myc, fused to the hormone‐binding domain of the human estrogen‐receptor (ER), is activated by tamoxifen. Using this system we directly compare the effect of these oncoproteins on cell metabolism in an isogenic background. Activation of either Akt or c‐Myc leads to the Warburg effect as indicated by increased cellular glucose uptake, glycolysis, and lactate generation. When cells are treated with glycolysis inhibitors, Akt sensitizes cells to apoptosis whereas c‐Myc does not. In contrast, c‐Myc but not Akt sensitizes cells to the inhibition of mitochondrial function. This is correlated with enhanced mitochondrial activities in c‐Myc cells. Hence, while both Akt and c‐Myc promote aerobic glycolysis, they differentially affect mitochondrial functions and render cells susceptible to the perturbation of cellular metabolic programs. Citation Information: Mol Cancer Ther 2009;8(12 Suppl):B96.
Anticarcinogenic effect of selenium in the dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced mammary tumor model in rats

Using the dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced mammary tumor model in rats, our studies indicated that there was a dose-response relationship between dietary selenium supplementation and the inhibition of mammary carcinogenesis. The degree of inhibition was proportional to the level of dietary selenium up to 5 ppm, at which point toxicity in the form of a reduction in weight gain was evident. Moreover, it was observed that the chemopreventive efficacy of selenium was influenced by the dose of carcinogen as well as the fat intake of the animals. By supplementing selenium for defined periods of time, we concluded that selenium inhibited both the initiation and the promotion phases of chemical carcinogenesis, and that a continuous intake of selenium was necessary to achieve maximal suppression of tumor growth. In an attempt to improve the efficacy of lower levels of selenium, we conducted another series of experiments in which selenium and vitamin E were tested in combination. Results showed that although vitamin E alone had no prophylactic effect against tumorigenesis, it potentiated the ability of selenium to inhibit the development of mammary tumors. Further investigation suggested that the anticarcinogenic action of selenium could not be explained by its antioxidant function in lipid peroxidation. On the other hand, vitamin E might be able to provide a more favorable environment against oxidant stress to assist selenium in exerting its inhibitory effect through some other mechanisms.
Induced smectic phase in mixtures of hyperbranched polyester and liquid crystal mesogens.

The phase diagram of a mixture consisting of hyperbranched polyester (HBPEAc-COOH) and eutectic nematic liquid crystals (E7) has been established experimentally by means of differential scanning calorimetry and polarized optical microscopy subjected to prolonged annealing. The observed phase diagram is an upper azeotrope, exhibiting the coexistence of nematic + isotropic phase in the vicinity of 90∼110 °C above the clearing temperature of neat E7 (60 °C). With decreasing temperature, a focal-conic fan shaped texture develops in the composition range of 63∼93 wt % of the annealed E7/HBPEAc-COOH blends, suggestive of induced smectic phase in the mixture. Wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) technique revealed the existence of higher order mesophase(s).
Three-dimensional solutions for the free vibrations and buckling of thermally stressed multilayered angle-ply composite plates

Analytic three-dimensional elasticity solutions are developed for the free vibration and buckling of thermally stressed rectangular multilayered angle-ply anisotropic plates which are assumed to have an antisymmetric lamination with respect to the middle plane. Sensitivity derivatives are evaluated and used to investigate the sensitivity of the vibration and buckling responses to variations in the different lamination and material parameters of the plate. A Duhamel-Neumann-type constitutive model is used, and the material properties are assumed to be independent of temperature. Numerical results are presented, showing the effects of variations in the material characteristics and fiber orientation of different layers, as well as the effect of initial thermal deformation on the vibrational and buckling responses of the plate.
Optimal SVM parameter selection for non-separable and unbalanced datasets

This article presents a study of three validation metrics used for the selection of optimal parameters of a support vector machine (SVM) classifier in the case of non-separable and unbalanced datasets. This situation is often encountered when the data is obtained experimentally or clinically. The three metrics selected in this work are the area under the ROC curve (AUC), accuracy, and balanced accuracy. These validation metrics are tested using computational data only, which enables the creation of fully separable sets of data. This way, non-separable datasets, representative of a real-world problem, can be created by projection onto a lower dimensional sub-space. The knowledge of the separable dataset, unknown in real-world problems, provides a reference to compare the three validation metrics using a quantity referred to as the "weighted likelihood". As an application example, the study investigates a classification model for hip fracture prediction. The data is obtained from a parameterized finite element model of a femur. The performance of the various validation metrics is studied for several levels of separability, ratios of unbalance, and training set sizes.
Mapping of neuronal function in the healthy and injured human spinal cord with spinal fMRI.

Abstract Functional magnetic resonance imaging of the human spinal cord is carried out with a graded thermal stimulus in order to establish the relationship between signal changes and neural activity. Studies of the lumbar spinal cord in 15 healthy subjects with 10°C stimulation of the skin overlying the calf demonstrate a pattern of activity that matches the neuronal anatomy of the spinal cord. This pattern shows primarily dorsal horn activity, with expected components of motor reflex activity as well. Moreover, a later response shifting to noxious cold over time is also demonstrated with a shift to more dorsal horn activity. Signal intensity changes detected at different degrees of thermal stimulation have a biphasic nature, with much larger signal changes below 15°C as the stimulus becomes noxious, and agree well with electrophysiological results reported in the literature. These findings demonstrate a strong correspondence between Spinal fMRI results and neural activity in the human spinal cord. Spinal fMRI is also applied to studies of the injured spinal cord, below the site of injury. Results consistently demonstrate activity in the spinal cord even when the subjects cannot feel the stimulus being applied. Signal intensity changes demonstrate the same stimulus–response pattern as that in noninjured subjects, but the areas of activity in the spinal gray matter are notably altered. In subjects with complete injuries, activity is absent ipsilateral to the thermal stimulation, but appears to be enhanced on the contralateral side. These findings demonstrate the reliability of Spinal fMRI and its clinical potential.
Autoantibodies to platelet glycoproteins in patients with disease-related immune thrombocytopenia.

Summary Although increased platelet destruction and elevated platelet-associated IgG have been shown in patients with lymphomas and various autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), there have been few studies evaluating autoantibodies against platelet-specific antigens. We evaluated 24 patients retrospectively with disease-related thrombocytopenia (12 with lymphoproliferative diseases and 12 with various autoimmune disorders) using a recently reported antigen-specific assay. Autoantibodies against platelet GPIIb/IIIa or GPIb/IX were noted in 15 of the 24 patients (10 of 12 with autoimmune disease and five of 12 with lymphoproliferative disorders). Platelet-associated autoantibodies were present in 60% and plasma autoantibodies in 33%. Anti-GPIIb/IIIa autoantibodies were much more common than those against GPIb/IX. In one patient each with thrombocytopenia and either SLE or myasthenia gravis, absorption of plasma with platelets completely removed the anti-GPIIb/IIIa autoantibodies, but did not affect the level of anti-cochlear autoantibody involved with immune-mediated hearing loss in the SLE patient or the anti-acetylcholine receptor autoantibody in the myasthenic patient. These findings show that, in some cases of disease-related immune thrombocytopenia, autoantibodies against GPIIb/IIIa or GPIb/IX can be detected similar to those seen in chronic ITP. As shown in two patients with multiple autoimmune manifestations, the various autoantibodies have diverse specificities and do not crossreact.
Bile duct size does not predict success of portoenterostomy for biliary atresia.

Abstract Background/Purpose: Presence of large bile ducts (>200 m) at the portal end-plate has been suggested to predict success after portoenterostomy. The authors reviewed their patients with biliary atresia to test the hypothesis that bile duct size in patients with successful portoenterostomy was no different than in the patients with unsuccessful portoenterostomy. Methods: The authors reviewed the patients at their institution from 1989 to 1998 who had the diagnosis of biliary atresia (n = 38). A pathologist blinded to the results of the operation confirmed the measurements of the bile duct remnants. Results: Five of the 38 patients did not have a portoenterostomy. They underwent cholangiogram and liver biopsy and were evaluated for liver transplantation. All patients who underwent surgery (n = 33) had a Roux-en-y hepaticojejunostomy. Twenty-one patients had successful surgery (64%) and 12 patients (36%) had unsuccessful surgery. The average age at operation in the successful group was 50.9 ± 3 days and in failures, 57.9 ± 4 days ( P =.16). Duct size at the portal end-plate was not different between the successes and failures. Two of the patients in the success group had no evidence of bile ducts grossly or histologically. Conclusion: Children presenting early in infancy (3 months) with biliary atresia should undergo a portoenterostomy regardless of the size of the bile ducts at the time of exploration. J Pediatr Surg 35:1006-1007. Copyright © 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company.
Rangeland Ecosystem Goods and Services: Values and Evaluation of Opportunities for Ranchers and Land Managers

Rangeland Ecosystem Goods and Services: Values and Evaluation of Opportunities for Ranchers and Land Managers DOI:10.2458/azu_rangelands_v33i5_maczko
The Deserving Sick: Income-Maintenance Policy Towards the Ill and Disabled

Illness and disability often result in a serious loss of income. Government response to this problem has been piecemeal, so that there is a patchwork of different programs, some state and some federal, covering particular types of medical disabilities and particular categories of people. This article briefly describes existing programs and then evaluates income-maintenance policy towards the ill and disabled using four broad criteria: clarity of objectives, adequacy of coverage, adequacy of benefits, and equity. The general findings are that extreme program fragmentation in this policy area have led to competing (and sometimes inconsistent) objectives, large gaps in population coverage, benefit levels that do not meet even minimal standards, and tremendous inequities across different programs. Recommendations for improvement include the development of a more workable definition of disability and development of a guaranteed minimum income plan in conjuction with supplementary disability insurance plans.