cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Placental Fatty Acid Ethyl Esters Are Elevated with Maternal Alcohol Use in Pregnancies Complicated by Prematurity

The accumulation of fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs) in meconium of term newborns has been described as one potential biomarker of maternal alcohol use during pregnancy. FAEEs accumulate in multiple alcohol-exposed fetal tissues and in the placenta. Limited research has focused on the identification of the premature newborn exposed to alcohol in utero. We hypothesized that maternal alcohol use occurs in a significant proportion of premature deliveries and that this exposure can be detected as elevated placental FAEEs. The goals of this study were to 1) determine the prevalence of maternal alcohol use in the premature newborn and 2) investigate whether placental FAEEs could identify those newborns with fetal alcohol exposure. This prospective observational study evaluated 80 placentas from 80 women after premature delivery. Subjects were interviewed for alcohol intake and placental FAEEs were quantified via GC/MS. Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) Curves were generated to evaluate the ability of placental FAEEs to predict maternal drinking during pregnancy. Adjusted ROC curves were generated to adjust for gestational age, maternal smoking, and illicit drug use. 30% of the subjects admitted to drinking alcohol during pregnancy and approximately 14% answered questions indicative of problem drinking (designated AUDIT+). The specific FAEEs ethyl stearate and linoleate, as well as combinations of oleate + linoleate + linolenate (OLL) and of OLL + stearate, were significantly (p<0.05) elevated in placentas from AUDIT+ pregnancies. Adjusted ROC Curves generated areas under the curve ranging from 88–93% with negative predictive values of 97% for AUDIT+ pregnancies. We conclude that nearly one third of premature pregnancies were alcohol-exposed, and that elevated placental FAEEs hold great promise to accurately determine maternal alcohol use, particularly heavy use, in pregnancies complicated by premature delivery.
Benign Tumors and Cysts of the Esophagus

Benign tumors and cysts of the esophagus are rare, particularly when compared with other esophageal lesions such as carcinoma and reflux esophagitis. Their importance lies in the obvious necessity for accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Surface Modification for Enhanced Biofilm Formation and Electron Transport in Shewanella Anodes

In this study a simple, fast and effective surface modification method for enhanced biofilm formation, increased electron transfer rate and higher current density generation from microbial fuel cell (MFC) has been demonstrated. This method consists of partial oxidation of carbon felt material by UV/O3 treatment. Results from the electrochemical studies performed suggest that Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 biofilm formation is favored on UV/O3 treated carbon felt electrodes when subjected to an applied potential of −0.3 V vs. Ag/AgCl. Carbon electrodes exposed to 45 min of UV/O3 treatment provided the best electrochemical results and richer bacterial cell attachment. Ozone exposure above 45 min presented decreased MFC performance and current generation. Visual confirmation via SEM images indicated a link between the current generation and the presence of biomass attached to the working electrodes. In addition, we have shown enrichment of the electrode surface with flavin, which correlates with the increased anodic performance.
Dynamic scheduling for soft real-time distributed object systems

Distributed real-time applications require flexible and dynamic scheduling mechanisms to provide timeliness guarantees to application objects. In this paper we present a new scheduling algorithm that exploits the task laxities and the object importance to make effective scheduling decisions. The algorithm uses current timing and resource measurements to determine the feasibility of the tasks and to distribute the objects to the processors. A task's timing parameter (laxity value) is carried, from one processor to another, with the object invocations, yielding a system-wide scheduling strategy that requires only local computations. The algorithm aims to ensure that a low importance object does nor delay the execution of a high importance task.
Splenic-priming of virus specific CD8 T cells following influenza virus infection

In healthy individuals, influenza virus (IAV) infection generally remains localized to the epithelial cells of the respiratory tract. Previously, IAV-specific effector CD8 T cells found systemically during the course of IAV infection were thought to have been primed in lung-draining lymph nodes with subsequent migration to other tissues. However, little is known about whether other lymphoid sites participate in the generation of virus-specific CD8 T cells during localized IAV infection. Here, we present evidence of early CD8 T cell priming in the spleen following respiratory IAV infection independent of lung-draining lymph node priming of T cells. Although we found early indications of CD8 T cell activation in the lymph nodes draining the respiratory tract, we also saw evidence of virus-specific CD8 T cell activation in the spleen. Furthermore, CD8 T cells primed in the spleen differentiated into memory cells of equivalent longevity and with similar recall capacity as CD8 T cells primed in the draining lymph nodes. These data showed that the spleen contributes to the virus-specific effector and memory CD8 T cell populations that are generated in response to respiratory infection.
The effects of a natural gas boom on employment and income in Colorado, Texas, and Wyoming ☆

Improvements in technology have made it profitable to tap unconventional gas reservoirs in relatively impermeable shale and sandstone deposits, which are spread throughout the U.S., mostly in rural areas. Proponents of gas drilling point to the activity's local economic benefits yet no empirical studies have systematically documented the magnitude or distribution of economic gains. I estimate these gains for counties in Colorado, Texas, and Wyoming, three states where natural gas production expanded substantially since the late 1990s. I find that a large increase in the value of gas production caused modest increases in employment, wage and salary income, and median household income. The results suggest that each million dollars in gas production created 2.35 jobs in the county of production, which led to an annualized increase in employment that was 1.5% of the pre-boom level for the average gas boom county. Comparisons show that ex-ante estimates of the number of jobs created by developing the Fayetteville and Marcellus shale gas formations may have been too large.
Enhanced cell motility and invasion of chicken embryo fibroblasts in response to JUN over‐expression

Malignant tumor cells exhibit a number of distinct properties involved not only with deregulated cell proliferation but also enhanced migration and invasion. The Jun oncogene has been well studied in regard to its role in cell proliferation. Many of the target genes deregulated by Jun encode matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) such as MMP1, MMP3 and MMP9. These targets implicate a prominent role for Jun in tumor cell invasion, in addition to its role in growth transformation. To investigate this possibility, we have examined the effect of over-expression of transforming and non-transforming versions of Jun on motility and invasion of chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEFs). We found that over-expression of either form of Jun results in elevated intrinsic cellular motility as well as increased motility in response to several different chemo-attractants, including 3T3-conditioned media, basic fibroblast growth factor, hepatocyte growth factor and Matrigel. The capacity of these cells to invade through Matrigel is also elevated as a result of Jun over-expression. In addition to these effects, CEFs expressing Jun secrete factors that stimulate the motility of a human tongue carcinoma cell line. Our results suggest that Jun plays an important role in the potentiation of cell motility and invasion through multiple mechanisms. Int. J. Cancer 81:404–410, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A size reduced reflection‐mode phase shifter

We describe a reflection-mode phase shifter which exhibits a large phase-shift range and is size-reduced by using slow-wave microstrip lines. We characterize its response between 1.9 and 2.1 GHz and achieve a more than 300° phase shift with less than 3.5-dB insertion loss, with 435° at its center frequency. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 47: 457–459, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.21198
A century of progress in hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (Lynch syndrome).

One of the earliest references to heredity in colorectal cancer dates to Aldred Warthin's now-famous recollection of his seamstress' distress regarding “cancer excess” in her family history. her predication of an early demise secondary to cancer of the female organs, colon, or stomach proved true. The slow, arduous investigation that ensued followed a tortuous route of nearly eight decades before the implications of such family histories were widely acknowledged through the degisnation of hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer or Lynch Syndrome Variants I and II. The story of hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer is one of chance meetings, the selfless sharing of information, perseverance in the face of adversity, meticulous scientific documentation, and ultimate vindication by a scientific process that yielded molecular genetic evidence through the identification of the culprit mutations (hMSH2, hMLH1, hPMS2, and hMSH6). Our purpose is to provide a brief outline of the course charted by the study of the genetics of hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer. This should be of particular interest to the readers of this Journal as we celebrate 100 years of dedication to the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the colon, rectum, and anus through the efforts of The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons.
Mass transfer characteristics of gases in n-hexane at elevated pressures and temperatures in agitated reactors

Abstract The solubilities C*, mass transfer coefficients kLa, and volumetric mixing power input P*/VL were measured for H2, N2 and CH4 in n-hexane at various pressures (1–50 bar), temperatures (328–378 K), and mixing speeds (800–1200 rpm) in a four-liter gas-inducing type of agitated autoclave. The C* values were calculated using the Peng-Robinson equation of state. The kLa data were determined using the transient physical gas absorption technique and a rigorous calculation method considering the change of the liquid-phase volume was introduced. The P* values were obtained using a torquemeter. All operating variables, including the decline of system pressure as a function of time, were recorded using an on-line computer and data acquisition system. Analysis of the data showed that C* for the three gases increased with gas partial pressure. C* values for H2 and N2 increased whereas those for CH4 decreased with temperature. In the ranges of operating conditions used, the C* values followed the order The experimental C* values were modeled using quadratic relationships. kLa values for all the gas—liquid systems increased with mixing speed. kLa values for H2 decreased whereas those for N2 and CH4 increased with pressure. No particular trend for the effect of temperature on kLa was observed. In the ranges of operating conditions used, kLa values followed the order kLa values were found to increase with P*/VL at constant pressure and temperature. An empirical correlation to predict kLa for H2, N2, and CH4 in n-hexane as a function of dimensionless numbers was proposed.
Reaction time and intelligence in the mentally retarted

Abstract Mildly retarted young adults were given simple and choice reaction time (RT) tests. Scores were also obtained on the Raven Progressive Matrices and the Figure Copying Test. Subjects' RTs increased as a function of stimulus complexity, and they were consistently subjects' intraindividual variability of response time was also markedly greater than that of non-retarded subjects. A number of RT parameters were found to be related to the measures of intelligence. Subjects seen on ten successive days showed low day-to-day stability of RT but no practice or fatigue effect.
Management of bulimia nervosa

Bulimia nervosa is a disorder of complex etiology that tends to occur in young women. These individuals binge eat and purge by vomiting or other means, and often have depression, anxiety, substance abuse and extremes of impulse control. It is thought that binge eating and purging behaviors are, at least in part, a means of coping with dysphoric mood states and interpersonal stress. Bulimic symptoms are not likely to abate without development of new coping skills and behaviors. In the past 25 years, considerable progress has been made in developing specific psychotherapies and medication for the treatment of bulimia nervosa. Despite this progress, many individuals have partial responses to therapy and may remain chronically ill. This complex illness often requires a multidisciplinary team of professionals for effective management and, despite significant advances in treatment, bulimia nervosa continues to present major challenges for providers of care.
DETERMINING OUTCOMES OF COLLECTIVE BARGAINING IN TWO‐YEAR INSTITUTIONS‐PART 1

This research is presented in a two part series. The first article sets forth the objectives of the study and the research methodology and design. Basic demographic and institutional data are also presented. The second article in this series discusses interrelations among research data and presents conclusions and implications for practice. An attempt is made to assess the extent to which faculty associations have penetrated certain management functions or rights. A related and second objective was to determine the impact of faculty unions on the traditional professional prerogatives of the faculty. The sample studied was approximately 63 percent of all collective bargaining agreements in existence at two‐year institutions. The authors also sought to develop predictors (institutional and demographic variables) of contractual language. In part 1, characteristics of institutions where contracts are in existence are discussed. A statistically significant relationship was found to exist between the demographi...
Cytoskeletal proteins in chronic villitis of unestablished etiology.

Cytoskeletal proteins (i.e., cytokeratins, vimentin, actin, and desmin) are normally present in the placental chorionic villi and are related to the maintenance of the villous shape, and to the ability of the villi to contract and permit a normal blood flow. In areas of villitis of unestablished etiology, the normal reactivity of these proteins in the villous core around fetal stem vessels disappears, and an increased number of cytokeratin positive cells is identified. The vascular damage in stem villi with villitis could develop ischemia in the villous tree promoting cytotrophoblast proliferation. Increased numbers of these areas could be related with the appearance of abnormal pregnancies.
A low energy gap and fully regioregular poly(3-Dodecyl-2,5-thienylenevinylene) for photovoltaics

We report the development of a fully regioregular Poly(3-Dodecyl-2,5-thienylenevinylene) (HT-HT PDDTV) using the Horner-Emmons reaction, and studies using proton and carbon NMR spectroscopy, UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, cyclovoltametry, thermal analysis (DSC & TGA) and XRD. The HT-HT PDDTV developed has practically no solubility in boiling hexane, in sharp contrast to the literature PDDTV prepared from the Stille coupling reaction, which is mostly soluble in hexanes (an indication of high content of structural defects). The optical energy gaps are 1.80 eV in chloroform solution and 1.65 eV in film. The HOMO/LUMO of the film were -5.03 eV and -3.63eV, respectively. The electrochemical energy gap in the film is 1.4 eV. XRD study shows that a decent crystalline structure was formed without any annealing of the as-cast films. The lamellar sheets (formed from π. π. stacking) preferentially are oriented in parallel to the substrate surface with an interlayer spacing of 17.6 angstrom.
Influence of cyclic AMP on intracellular pH regulation and chloride fluxes in barnacle muscle fibers.

THE pH sensitivity of numerous intracellular processes requires the close regulation of internal pH (pHi). As the pHi of many cells is maintained at a higher value than it would have if H+ were at equilibrium across the cell membrane, it follows that the acidifying effects of cellular metabolism and of passive H+ influx and HCO−3 efflux must be balanced by active acid extrusion. It is now generally accepted that this extrusion is stimulated by decreases in pHi, and that, in several cells, it is accomplished by exchanging external HCO−3 for internal Cl− (refs 1–4). Recently, a role for cyclic 3′,5′-adenosine monophosphate (cyclic AMP) in pHi regulation was suggested by the observation that dibutyryl cyclic AMP attenuates the CO2-induced fall of pHi in mammalian cardiac muscle5. We now report experiments on the effects of cyclic AMP on acid extrusion and on accompanying Cl− fluxes in the barnacle muscle fibre, a preparation known to contain cyclic AMP (ref. 6). Our data show that internally applied cyclic AMP enhances the response of the pHi-regulating system to acid loads.
Correlation Between Two Types of Surface Stress Mitigation and the Resistance to Corrosion of Alloy 22

When metallic plates are welded, residual tensile stresses may develop in the vicinity of the weld seam. Processes such as Low Plasticity Burnishing (LPB) and Laser Shock Peening (LSP) could be applied locally to eliminate the residual stresses produced by welding. In this study, Alloy 22 (N06022) plates were welded and then the above-mentioned surface treatments were applied to eliminate the residual tensile stresses. The aim of the current study was to compare the corrosion behavior of as-welded (ASW) plates with the corrosion behavior of plates with stress mitigated surfaces. Immersion and electrochemical tests were performed. Results show that the corrosion resistance of the mitigated plates was not affected by the surface treatments applied.
Dynamics of multimode coupled lasers

The paper is concerned with a theoretical study of synchronization between two end-to-end coupled lasers. Lasers are treated within the framework of a special multimode theory, valid for arbitrary coupling between lasers, where the laser field is decomposed in terms of the composite-cavity modes of the entire coupled-laser system. Bifurcation continuation techniques are used to systematically investigate the resulting equations under class-A, and further under class-B approximation. We discovered that the mechanism leading to laser synchronization changes from strong composite-cavity mode competition in class-A regime to frequency locking of composite-cavity modes in class-B regime.
Development and Initial Validation of a Brief Self-Report Measure of Cognitive Dysfunction in Fibromyalgia

Abstract Pain is often the focus of research and clinical care in fibromyalgia (FM); however, cognitive dysfunction is also a common, distressing, and disabling symptom in FM. Current efforts to address this problem are limited by the lack of a comprehensive, valid measure of subjective cognitive dysfunction in FM that is easily interpretable, accessible, and brief. The purpose of this study was to leverage cognitive functioning item banks that were developed as part of the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) to devise a 10-item short form measure of cognitive functioning for use in FM. In study 1, a nationwide (U.S.) sample of 1,035 adults with FM (age range=18–82, 95.2% female) completed 2 cognitive item pools. Factor analyses and item response theory analyses were used to identify dimensionality and optimally performing items. A recommended 10-item measure, called the Multidimensional Inventory of Subjective Cognitive Impairment (MISCI) was created. In study 2, 232 adults with FM completed the MISCI and a legacy measure of cognitive functioning that is used in FM clinical trials, the Multiple Ability Self-Report Questionnaire (MASQ). The MISCI showed excellent internal reliability, low ceiling/floor effects, and good convergent validity with the MASQ ( r = −.82). Perspective This paper presents the MISCI, a 10-item measure of cognitive dysfunction in FM, developed through classical test theory and item response theory. This brief but comprehensive measure shows evidence of excellent construct validity through large correlations with a lengthy legacy measure of cognitive functioning.
Macrophage/epithelial cell CCL2 contributes to rhinovirus-induced hyperresponsiveness and inflammation in a mouse model of allergic airways disease.

Human rhinovirus (HRV) infections lead to exacerbations of lower airways disease in asthmatic patients but not in healthy individuals. However, underlying mechanisms remain to be completely elucida...
Finite deformations of cylindrical membrane under internal pressure

Abstract This paper investigates the large deformations of an extended cylindrical membrane under internal pressure. A detailed experimental analysis is carried out involving different traction forces and/or geometries and the influence of the axial force and the internal pressure in the stability. The membrane used experimentally consisted of an isotropic, homogeneous, incompressible and hyperelastic rubber-like material, which is modeled as Mooney–Rivlin, described by two elastic constants. The comparison between the experimental and numerical results for the membrane under traction is used to identify the material parameters of the model. The numerical analysis of the membrane is done using finite elements by the software ABAQUS. When the extended membrane is filled with air, it is observed that the pressure in the membrane initially increases as the volume of air inside the membrane increases until a certain critical limit pressure is reached, after which it decreases steadily with increasing volume. A parametric analysis is carried out to study the influence of the geometric and load parameter on the overall behavior and stability of the membrane. These experimental results are, as shown in the paper, in satisfactory agreement with the numerical ones.
A phase I study of targeted, dose-escalated intravenous busulfan in combination with etoposide as myeloablative therapy for autologous stem cell transplantation in acute myeloid leukemia.

Abstract Background Busulfan and etoposide have been used as myeloablative therapy for autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in adults with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) for > 20 years. The use of targeted intravenous (I.V.) busulfan has significantly improved the tolerability and efficacy of this regimen. We designed a dose-escalation study to examine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of targeted I.V. busulfan with bolus etoposide as preparative therapy for autologous HSCT in AML. Patients and Methods In this single-center, phase I study, adult AML patients received I.V. busulfan targeted to either an area under the curve (AUC) of 1250 (cohort 1) or 1400 (cohort 2) μmol/min over 16 doses. Dose adjustments based on plasma pharmacokinetics occurred before doses 2 and 11. Etoposide 60 mg/kg I.V. was administered 24 hours after the last busulfan dose and 3 days before stem cell infusion. Results Twelve patients with intermediate-risk AML in first complete remission were treated. All patients in cohort 1 and 5 patients (83%) in cohort 2 were within 10% of the target AUC. The MTD was not reached, although Grade ≥ 3 mucositis occurred in 3 patients (50%) in cohort 1 and in 4 patients (66%) in cohort 2, limiting further dose escalation. Two-year relapse-free survival was 33% in cohort 1 versus 67% in cohort 2 ( P = .08). Conclusion Etoposide and targeted, dose-escalated I.V. busulfan as myeloablative therapy for autologous HSCT in AML is safe, with mucositis being the most significant toxicity. A phase II study is warranted to further evaluate the activity and safety of busulfan targeted to AUC 1400 μmol/min.
Effect of Histamine, Epinephrine and Anti-Histamine (Antistine) on Glucose Turnover in the Isolated Liver

SummaryThe isolated liver of the bull frog is perfused with oxygenated amphibian Ringer glucose solution. The glucose concentration of the perfusate returning from the liver is determined in control experiments and under the influence of histamine, anti-histamine (Antistine) and epinephrine. Histamine and epinephrine cause an increase of the glucose concentration, probably due to enhanced glycogenolysis. Antistine causes a retention of glucose in the hepatic tissue. Antistine inhibits the spontaneous hepatic glycogenolysis as well as the glycogenolysis induced by histamine and epinephrine.
Repeated multiple fractures of ribs by cough in bronchial asthma

Abstract Fracture of the ribs due to severe cough in bronchial asthma should be considered when pain in the chest is present. Excessive chest pain occurring in bronchial asthma should lead one to obtain special chest films for ribs.
Biological activity of designed photolabile metal nitrosyls : Light-dependent activation of soluble guanylate cyclase and vasorelaxant properties in rat aorta

The biological and pharmacological utility of nitric oxide (NO) has led to the development of many classes of NO-donor compounds as both research tools and therapeutic agents. Many donors currently in use rely on thermal decomposition or bioactivation for the release of NO. We have developed several photolabile metal-nitrosyl donors that release NO when exposed to either visible or UV light. Herein, we show that these donors are capable of activating the primary “NO receptor”, soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), in a light-dependent fashion leading to increases in cGMP. Moreover, we demonstrate that these donors are capable of eliciting light-dependent increases of cGMP in smooth muscle cells and vasorelaxation of rat aortic smooth muscle tissue, all effects that are attributed to activation of sGC. The potential utility of these compounds as drugs and/or research tools is discussed.
Cutaneous manifestations of Wegener's granulomatosis: a clinicopathologic study of 17 patients and correlation to antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody status.

Background: Wegener’s granulomatosis (WG), a systemic vasculitis, can be associated with cutaneous signs and symptoms before, during or after the diagnosis of systemic disease. Methods: We reviewed clinical and histologic features of cutaneous lesions from 17 patients with WG. The temporal relationship between development of cutaneous symptoms and onset of systemic disease was determined, and antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) status of the patients was also established. Results: In six patients, systemic and cutaneous disease developed concurrently. In eight patients, cutaneous disease developed after patients received the diagnosis of systemic disease. In three patients, cutaneous disease preceded systemic disease. Cytoplasmic ANCA or proteinase-3-ANCA [c-ANCA/proteinase 3 (PR3)-ANCA] serologic test results were negative for one patient when cutaneous disease developed, and one patient had c-ANCA/PR3-ANCA seroconversion a year before systemic disease developed. Histopathologic features of cutaneous WG were not limited to leukocytoclastic vasculitis; they also included acneiform perifollicular and dermal granulomatous inflammation and palisaded neutrophilic and granulomatous inflammation. Conclusions: Patients with WG can present initially with cutaneous symptoms. Histopathologic patterns vary, but leukocytoclastic vasculitis is most commonly noted. Patients with WG and skin lesions are likely to have positive c-ANCA/PR3-ANCA serologic test results.
Gradient flows and double bracket equations

Abstract A unified extension of the gradient flows and the double bracket equations of Chu–Driessel and Brockett is obtained in the frame work of reductive Lie groups. We examine the gradient flows on the orbit in the Cartan subspace of a reductive Lie algebra, under the adjoint action. The results of Chu–Driessel and Brockett are corresponding to the reductive groups GL(n, R ) and O(p,q).
Universal characteristics of an interfacial spalling cyclic oxidation model

Abstract A mathematical model has been generated to represent the iterative, discrete growth and spallation processes associated with cyclic oxidation. Parabolic growth kinetics (kp) and a constant spall area (FA) were assumed, with spalling occurring interfacially at the thickest region of the scale. Although most models require numerical techniques, the regularity and simplicity of this progression permitted an approximation by algebraic expressions. Normalized responses reflected all parametric effects and yielded a universal cyclic oxidation expression: W u = 1 2 {3J u 1/2 +J u 3/2 }, where Wu is weight change normalized by the maximum and Ju is the cycle number normalized by the number to reach maximum. Similarly, the total amount of metal consumed was represented by a single normalized curve, using the figure of merit [(Sc−1)·(FAkpΔt)1/2], where Sc is the scale mass ratio of oxide to oxygen and Δt is the cycle duration. Also, a universal or invariant cyclic oxidation failure map was constructed in normalized kp–FA space.
Metabolism of 17α‐ethynylestradiol by intact liver parenchymal cells isolated from mouse and rat

Liver parenchymal cells isolated by perfusion from female C3H/HeN‐MTV+Nctr mice and Sprague‐Dawley rats were incubated with [6,7‐3H] 17α‐ethynylestradiol (EE2). The incubates were individually fractionated into free steroid (organic phase), steroid conjugates (aqueous), and bound steroids (macromolecular pellet). The rat had significantly less total free radioactive steroid but significantly more total conjugated and irreversibly bound radioactivity than the mouse. However, when the metabolic conversion of EE2 was compared in the rat and the mouse on a cellular basis (metabolic clearance per 106 cells), the rat was found to be less efficient than the mouse. The two species were essentially equivalent in their covalent binding when expressed on a per 106 cell basis. Purification of the free radiolabeled steroids on LH‐20 demonstrated the mouse to have the parent compound and an identifiable 2‐OH‐EE2 fraction. The rat had EE2 and an identifiable 2‐methoxy‐EE2 fraction. A major metabolite fraction for both s...
Gestational Choline Deficiency Causes Global and Igf2 Gene DNA Hypermethylation by Up-regulation of Dnmt1 Expression

During gestation there is a high demand for the essential nutrient choline. Adult rats supplemented with choline during embryonic days (E) 11-17 have improved memory performance and do not exhibit age-related memory decline, whereas prenatally choline-deficient animals have memory deficits. Choline, via betaine, provides methyl groups for the production of S-adenosylmethionine, a substrate of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs). We describe an apparently adaptive epigenomic response to varied gestational choline supply in rat fetal liver and brain. S-Adenosylmethionine levels increased in both organs of E17 fetuses whose mothers consumed a choline-supplemented diet. Surprisingly, global DNA methylation increased in choline-deficient animals, and this was accompanied by overexpression of Dnmt1 mRNA. Previous studies showed that the prenatal choline supply affects the expression of multiple genes, including insulin-like growth factor 2 (Igf2), whose expression is regulated in a DNA methylation-dependent manner. The differentially methylated region 2 of Igf2 was hypermethylated in the liver of E17 choline-deficient fetuses, and this as well as Igf2 mRNA levels correlated with the expression of Dnmt1 and with hypomethylation of a regulatory CpG within the Dnmt1 locus. Moreover, mRNA expression of brain and liver Dnmt3a and methyl CpG-binding domain 2 (Mbd2) protein as well as cerebral Dnmt3l was inversely correlated to the intake of choline. Thus, choline deficiency modulates fetal DNA methylation machinery in a complex fashion that includes hypomethylation of the regulatory CpGs within the Dnmt1 gene, leading to its overexpression and the resultant increased global and gene-specific (e.g. Igf2) DNA methylation. These epigenomic responses to gestational choline supply may initiate the long term developmental changes observed in rats exposed to varied choline intake in utero.
The Status of U.S. Public Pension Plans: A Review With Policy Considerations

The pension plans of U.S. state, county, and municipal employees play a large role in capital markets and corporate governance debates. Recent studies have investigated the governance, management, and performance of these plans, as well as their role in corporate governance. Informed by the findings of its integrative literature review, the article outlines several key considerations regarding the plans, including ones regarding the bearing of investment risk, public and private plan differentials, the presence and responsibilities of boards of trustees, and investment policy. The outlined considerations favor an appropriate balance between political and economic controls of the plans and recognize that the activism of public pension plans as institutional investors might improve the corporate governance system for all investors.
Werner Forssmann: a pioneer of cardiology.

Werner Forssmann, Andre F. Cournand, and Dickinson W. Richards were awarded the Nobel Prize in 1956 for seminal work on heart catheterization, Forssmann for his pioneering self-experiment, and Cournand and Richards for establishing heart catheterization as a standard diagnostic and treatment procedure in cardiology. Forssmann's self-experiment pushed the boundaries of medicine into a new era and opened the door of modern cardiology. This historical study depicts Forssmann's life narrative and the forces, political and personal as well, that shaped his personality. His upbringing in Berlin, his career as a physician, the self-experiment, and his life as a Nobel Laureate will be reviewed. His preoccupation with euthanasia, and in the scientific community a rather unknown aspect of his intellectual productivity in his late life, will also be evaluated.
Sewer plant operating efficiency, patronage, and competition

Sewer treatment plants in New York State, US, are studied for efficiency and economies of scale. Substantial economies of scale are found. The degree of inefficiency for each plant is then computed and this inefficiency is related to the degree of market concentration in that county. The result found is that greater concentration induces a reduction in efficiency. This is argued to be consistent with the Tiebout Hypothesis. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Computational intelligence and neuromorphic computing potential for cybersecurity applications

In today’s highly mobile, networked, and interconnected internet world, the flow and volume of information is overwhelming and continuously increasing. Therefore, it is believed that the next frontier in technological evolution and development will rely in our ability to develop intelligent systems that can help us process, analyze, and make-sense of information autonomously just as a well-trained and educated human expert. In computational intelligence, neuromorphic computing promises to allow for the development of computing systems able to imitate natural neurobiological processes and form the foundation for intelligent system architectures.
A comparison of daily solar radiation estimates for the Northeastern United States using the Northeast Regional Climate Center and National Renewable Energy Laboratory models

Observed solar radiation data at three sites in the northeastern United States are compared with values estimated for nearby airport locations using the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Northeast Regional Climate Center (NRCC) models. A tendency toward considerable overestimation of relatively low values of observed solar radiation is evident in the NREL model. This bias is apparently regardless of season. A similar bias is not detected in the NRCC model. For moderate to high values of solar radiation both models produce estimates with similar accuracy for most practical applications. However, these models both tend to underestimate observed solar radiation on days when near maximum possible radiation levels are received. The tendency for the NREL model to overestimate low solar radiation values appears to be linked to the use of total sky cover, rather than the combination of cloud coverage and cloud base height information. Although total sky coverage data may be superior for estimates of moderate to high daily solar radiation values, it appears that information regarding the height of low overcast layers and the presence of obstructions to visibility, such as fog or haze, is required to accurately estimate low daily solar radiation totals.
Making room for words: people who stutter on the Internet

We examined one month of listserv postings written by individuals who stutter and asked in what ways does the Internet provide a forum for collectivity, advocacy and (re)constructing selves among people who stutter; and in what ways do people who stutter contend with disability and stigma through Internet discourse. We used biographical, discursive and thematic strategies to interpret the threads of conversation dealing specifically with the self and stuttering. On the listserv, people who stutter meet to fluently communicate through writing. They share their feelings, thoughts and behaviours and (re)negotiate what it means to be a person who stutters. They reveal fluid and multiple selves and build a multifaceted understanding that challenges the stigma attached to people with disability. These are not passive individuals experiencing disability and stigma but active participants collectively confronting the important issues they face as people who stutter. The Internet listserv is a potential site for p...
On 'Being Led by the Nose': Rapid Detection of Inborn Errors of Metabolism

We reviewed and emphasized the importance of olfaction for the diagnosis of inborn errors of metabolism. The "trained" nose has a remarkable sensitivity and specificity for discriminating odors that are associated with certain inborn errors of metabolism. These odors are often the first abnormality noticed on physical examination and should prompt the pediatrician to seek confirmatory laboratory studies. (Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1994;148:869-872)
Optimal preventive maintenance for a device submitted to random and deteriorating failures

A Markov model is used to characterize the performance of a continuously operating device that is subject to random failure as well as failure generated by deterioration. The optimum preventive maintenance of this device is determined by maximizing its availability with respect to the mean time to minimal preventive maintenance. An example is provided to illustrate the method. The computational work is performed through Matlab® software. The results indicate that, as deterioration rate decreases, availability increases and total cost of maintenance decreases, but the respective increase/decrease occurs in a non-linear way. On the other hand, as random failure rate decreases the respective increase in availability and decrease in total cost of maintenance occurs in almost a linear way. Thus it is concluded that preventive maintenance is more sensitive to the range of deterioration failure rates than that of random failure rates.
On learning formulas in the limit and with assurance

Abstract We consider the learning of formulas in the model of Bārzdiņs et al. [Proc. EuroCOLT'97, 1997, p. 272] and Osherson et al. [J. Symbolic Logic 56 (1991) 661]. We show that, in this model, a formula f can be learned in the limit if and only if ¬f can be learned with assurance.
Stochastic resonance electrical stimulation to improve proprioception in knee osteoarthritis

Proprioceptive deficits occur with knee osteoarthritis (OA) and improving proprioception may slow joint degeneration by allowing more appropriate joint loading. Stochastic resonance (SR) stimulation improves balance and the sensitivity of specific mechanoreceptors. Our purpose was to evaluate the effects of SR electrical stimulation combined with a knee sleeve on proprioception in subjects with knee OA. Joint position sense (JPS) was measured in 38 subjects with knee OA during four conditions in both a partial weight-bearing (PWB) and non weight-bearing (NWB) task: no electrical stimulation/no sleeve, no electrical stimulation/sleeve, 50 μA-RMS stimulation/sleeve, and 75 μA-RMS stimulation/sleeve. Subjects also reported their knee pain, stiffness, functionality (WOMAC), and instability. Repeated measures ANOVA and Spearman correlations were performed to investigate differences between the conditions and relationships among the outcome measures. JPS during the 75 μA-RMS stimulation/sleeve and sleeve alone conditions was significantly improved compared to the control condition in the PWB task. However, the 75 μA-RMS stimulation/sleeve and the sleeve alone conditions did not differ from each other. A moderate correlation was found between the improvements with the 75 μA-RMS stimulation/sleeve condition compared to the JPS of the control condition in the PWB task. No differences in JPS were found between the four conditions in the NWB task. Significant correlations were found between the control JPS and WOMAC indices (p<0.005). Improved proprioception during the PWB task was achieved with a sleeve alone and in combination with SR stimulation. The observed correlations suggest that subjects with larger proprioceptive deficits may benefit most from these therapies.
Clinical Factors Affecting Length of Stay After 100 Consecutive Cases of Primary Cleft Lip Repair.

Objective: To analyze the hospital course of 100 consecutive infants after primary cleft lip repair (PCLR) and identify factors related to length of stay (LOS). Design: Retrospective analysis of 100 consecutive infants who were routinely admitted after PCLR. Setting: Tertiary care center. Patients: One hundred consecutive infants undergoing PCLR. Demographic and perioperative data were collected and analyzed. Main Outcome Measure: LOS, planned before data collection. Results: Male:female ratio was 65:35. Seventy-two infants had unilateral cleft lip; syndromic association was documented in 15 patients. Mean age and weight at PCLR were 5.6 ± 4.0 months and 6.7 ± 1.3 kg, respectively. Mean duration of surgery was 2.5 ± 0.9 hours, and mean duration of general anesthesia was 3.4 ± 0.9 hours. A total of 3.3 ± 1.5 mL of intraoperative local anesthetic was used per patient. Intravenous fluids were necessary after transfer from the post-anesthesia care unit to the general ward in 98% of patients. Almost half (44%)...
Large Eddy Simulation composition equations for single-phase and two-phase fully multicomponent flows

The Large Eddy Simulation (LES) equations for multicomponent (MC) fuel single-phase (SP) flow and two-phase (TP) flow with phase change are derived from the Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) equations by filtering the DNS equations using a top-hat filter. Additional to the equations solved for singlecomponent (SC) fuels, composition equations enter the formulation. The species composition is represented through a Probability Distribution Function (PDF), and DNS equations for the PDF moments are solved to find the composition. The TP filtered equations contain three categories of subgrid-scale (SGS) terms: (1) SGS–flux terms, (2) filtered source terms (FSTs) and (3) terms representing the ‘LES assumptions’. For SP flows no FSTs exist. The SGS terms in the LES equations must be either shown negligible or modeled. It is shown that for the composition equations, two equivalent forms of the DNS equations lead to two non-equivalent forms of the LES equations. Criteria are proposed to select the form best suited for LES. These criteria are used in conjunction with evaluations based on a DNS database portraying mixing and phase change, and lead to choosing one of the LES forms which satisfies all criteria. It is shown that the LES assumptions lead to additional SGS terms which require modeling. Further considerations are made for reactive flows.
A trust-aware tag-based privacy control for eHealth 2.0

Healthcare social networking is an emerging web 2.0 application that promise to bring about a whole revolution in the way that health care is delivered. In healthcare social networks, health information requires extra protection as its disclosure can have serious repercussions in the content owner's private and professional life. We have developed a prototype of healthcare social network system (called Husky eHealth 2.0) with a trust-aware tag-based privacy control scheme. The scheme protects private information from unauthorized access using both tagging and trust ratings information. A preliminary evaluation of the prototype system is also given. The results have shown that Husky eHealth 2.0 provides an effective privacy control to healthcare social network users.
Existence, Stability and Bifurcation of Periodic Motions in a Periodically Forced, Piecewise, Linear Oscillator With Impacts

The nonlinear dynamics of a generalized, piecewise linear oscillator with perfectly plastic impacts is investigated. The generic mappings based on the discontinuous boundaries are constructed. Furthermore, the mapping structures are developed for the analytical prediction of periodic motions of such a system. The stability and bifurcation conditions for specified periodic motions are obtained. The periodic motions and grazing motion are demonstrated. This model is applicable to prediction of periodic motion in nonlinear dynamics of gear transmission systems.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Scanning tunneling microscopy and atomic-force microscopy of n-alkanethiolate monolayers spontaneously adsorbed at gold surfaces

Monolayer films of alkanethiolates CH3(CH2)nSH at Au(111) films on mica were examined by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) (n equals 1,9,17) and AFM (n equals 1 - 17). The resulting atomically resolved images reveal the packing arrangement of the overlayer. Observed images correspond to a hexagonally packed array of adsorbates with respective nearest- and next-nearest-neighbor spacings of 0.50 +/- 0.02 nm and 0.87 +/- 0.04 nm with STM and 0.52 +/- 0.03 nm and 0.90 +/- 0.04 nm with the AFM. This packing agrees with the expected ((root)3 X (root)3)R30 degree(s) adlayer structure of the adsorbate. We believe the STM images reflect the arrangement near the gold-bound sulfur interface, whereas the AFM images reveal the arrangement of the alkyl chains.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Inference of tumor phylogenies with improved somatic mutation discovery

Next-generation sequencing technologies provide a powerful tool for studying genome evolution during progression of advanced diseases such as cancer. Although many recent studies have employed new sequencing technologies to detect mutations across multiple, genetically related tumors, current methods do not exploit available phylogenetic information to improve the accuracy of their variant calls. Here, we present a novel algorithm that uses somatic single nucleotide variations (SNVs) in multiple, related tissue samples as lineage markers for phylogenetic tree reconstruction. Our method then leverages the inferred phylogeny to improve the accuracy of SNV discovery. Experimental analyses demonstrate that our method achieves up to 32% improvement for somatic SNV calling of multiple related samples over the accuracy of GATK's Unified Genotyper, the state of the art multisample SNV caller.