cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
In vitro studies of the interactions between platelets and amniotic membranes: A potential treatment for preterm premature rupture of the membranes

Objective: Thus far there is no satisfactory treatment for preterm premature rupture of the amniotic membranes. To evaluate the use of platelets to seal the membranes, we investigated in vitro interactions between platelets and the membranes. Study design: Platelet aggregation in the presence of amnion, chorion, and amniotic fluid was quantified. Platelet adhesion to the fetal membranes was investigated by electron microscopy. In addition, a model system was designed to evaluate the capacity of platelets to seal a standardized puncture in the membranes. Results: Platelets aggregated in response to amnion but not to chorion or amniotic fluid. Adhesion and activation occurred on connective tissues underlying amnion and chorion but not on the amniotic epithelium. Platelets sealed a puncture in fetal membranes, and the platelet plug was visualized by electron microscopy. Conclusions: Exposed connective tissue of amniotic membranes was demonstrated to trigger platelet adhesion, aggregation, and activation, and platelets were shown to seal a standardized puncture in fetal membranes. Our results indicate that platelets might be useful for treatment of ruptured membranes after needle puncture
Epigenetic and 3-dimensional regulation of V(D)J rearrangement of immunoglobulin genes

V(D)J recombination is a crucial component of the adaptive immune response, allowing for the production of a diverse antigen receptor repertoire (Ig and TCR). This review will focus on how epigenetic regulation and 3-dimensional (3D) interactions may control V(D)J recombination at Ig loci. The interplay between transcription factors and post-translational modifications at the Igh, Igκ, and Igλ loci will be highlighted. Furthermore, we propose that the spatial organization and epigenetic boundaries of each Ig loci before and during V(D)J recombination may be influenced in part by the CTCF/cohesin complex. Taken together, the many epigenetic and 3D layers of control ensure that Ig loci are only rearranged at appropriate stages of B cell development.
Energy bands in nonlinear schrödinger equations

Abstract Energy bands are shown to arise in the Hartree approximation to the Schrodinger equation for ( p + 1)- and (2 p + 1)- body contact interactions. The exact wave functions are solutions of nonlinear Schrodinger equations similar to envelope solitons.
Growth spiral in the eutectic system BaNb2O6-SrNb2O6

Abstract The growth spirals reported in this paper have some different growth features relative to the conventional spirals found during crystal growth experiments. All of the observed spirals consist of a two phase region, and have unique crystallographic orientation dependence. Most of the spirals were orthogonal, but some non-orthogonal spirals were also observed. The growth mechanism proposed here for the formation of these spirals is based on the growth anisotropy.
Acute effects of carboxyatractyloside and stevioside, inhibitors of mitochondrial ADP/ATP translocation, on renal function and ultrastructure in pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs

To assess the direct renal toxicity of carboxyatractyloside (CATR), it was administered in relatively low intravenous (i.v.) doses (6.5 and 13.0 mumol/kg) to pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs that were being mechanically ventilated in order to circumvent severe extrarenal effects, such as hypoxemia, that could contribute to its nephrotoxicity. Within 2 h post-CATR, site-specific renal damage was noted in S2 and S3 cells of the proximal tubules; characteristic lesions in both cell types included loss of brush border, condensation of mitochondria and proliferation of small vesicles. Other S2 cells exhibited intense staining and reduced cell height. In 3 of 14 CATR-treated dogs, extrarenal effects were of sufficient magnitude to induce cellular swelling and occlusion of tubular lumina in S3 and thick ascending limb segments. Stevioside (STEV), related to CATR in structure and actions on the mitochondrial ADP/ATP translocase, was totally devoid of acute extrarenal or direct renal effects during the 6-h period following intravenous administration of 2.5 times the higher dose of CATR. The ability of CATR to produce renal toxicity via its renal and extrarenal actions emphasizes the importance of minimizing the latter actions of any toxicant when attempting to ascertain the mechanism by which it adversely affects renal function and ultrastructure.
Development of the amphibian pineal organ; fine structure during maturation.

The pineal organ of the West Coast newt Taricha torosa has been examined electron microscopically one, two and five years after metamorphosis. Although the organ has flattened with concomitant reduction of the lumen, the basic larval organization of the pineal photoreceptors and supportive cells is retained. Photoreceptors demonstrate both basal synaptic regions and outer segments, although the latter are disorganized as compared to the larva. Supportive cells, which increase in volume with age, contain membranous debris suggesting a sequence of phagocytosis of outer segments. Tubular vesticular membrane complexes enclosing 450 A tubules are found in supportive cell processes adjacent to the basal lamina near blood vessels. Despite these changes the adult pineal organ retains the morphological entities thought to be necessary for photoreceptive function.
Nanostructured Silicon-based Composites for High Temperature Thermoelectric Applications

Recently nanostructured bulk silicon and silicon-germanium have achieved large increases in the thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT). The ZT enhancement is attributed to a significant reduction in the lattice thermal conductivity while maintaining relatively high carrier mobility. Silicon-based thermoelectric devices are attractive due to their low-toxicity, thermal stability, low density, relative abundance and low cost of production. Although significant enhancements in ZT have been achieved using the nanostructuring route, additional decoupling of the thermal and electric transport terms is still necessary in order for silicon-based materials to be viable for thermoelectric applications such as waste heat recovery or radioisotope thermoelectric generators. It is theorized that additional increases in ZT could be achieved by forming composites with nanostructured inert inclusions to further scatter the heat-carrying phonons. Here we present the impact of insulating and conductive nanoparticle composites on ZT. The nanostructured composites are formed via ball milling and high pressure sintering of the nanoparticles. The thermoelectric properties and microstructure of the silicon-based composites are discussed.
Dendritic Cells in the Kidney

Dendritic cells (DC) in nonlymphoid organs function at the crossroads of innate and adaptive immunity, self-tolerance, and tissue homeostasis. This review provides an overview of the study of DC in the kidney, tracing its history leading to the current knowledge of the origins, migration, and function of renal DC. Together, these studies suggest that renal DC play a critical role in the health and disease of the kidney, opening the way to direct targeting of renal DC for therapeutic benefit.
Concurrent and Selective Logic Extraction with Timing Consideration

We study the problem of concurrent and selective logic extraction in a Boolean circuit. We first model the problem using graph theory, prove it to be NP-hard, and subsequently formulate it as a Maximum-Weight Independent Set problem in a graph. We then use efficient heuristics for solving the MWIS problem. Concurrent logic extraction not only allows us to achieve larger literal saving and smaller area due to a more global view of the extraction space, but also provides us with a framework for reducing the circuit delay.
AN OVERVIEW OF THE MECHANISM, SUBSTRATE SPECIFICITIES, AND STRUCTURE OF FMOs

Kinetic studies carried out over the past three decades, primarily with purified pig liver flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO1), demonstrated that the mechanism of this flavoenzyme was distinctly different from other widely studied flavin-dependent monooxygenases in that reduction of O2 by nicotinamide-adenine-dinucleotide-phosphate reduced (NADPH) occurred before the addition of the xenobiotic substrate. Compounds bearing a soft nucleophilic heteroatom show substrate activity provided they could contact the enzyme-bound 4a-hydroperoxy flavin. Structure–activity studies suggest that in addition to nucleophilicity, size and charge of potential substrates are important parameters limiting access to the enzyme-bound hydroxylating intermediate form of the enzyme. The mechanism of FMO 1, 2, 3, and 4 are similar and differences in the substrate specificities of these isoforms can be attributed almost entirely to differences in the dimensions of the cleft or channel limiting access to the 4a-hydroperoxy flavin...
German Syntax on the Screen

grammatical term, c.g. "finite verb" or "dependent infinitive." The best results of the projector method can be accomplished if the instructor succeeds in demonstrating that the particular intricate passage This content downloaded from 207.46.13.172 on Fri, 07 Oct 2016 06:02:32 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms 138 FREDERICK A. REISS on the screen is only a representative of a general syntactical type. To do that, the actual passage is stripped to its basic essentials and these, now, are formulated in general terms. The instructor might quote other examples that fit into the same basic pattern. This technique teaches each student to identify a difficulty he encounters later on in his reading with the common type he has experienced again and again in class. And that is the aim of the course; the moment a student recognizes what sort of a difficulty he faces it ceases to be a difficulty. It is true that the teacher has to adapt his technique to the method, but he will be amply rewarded by the spirited atmosphere in class and by the response of his students. FREDERICK A. REISS University of Michigan This content downloaded from 207.46.13.172 on Fri, 07 Oct 2016 06:02:32 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
Methotrexate for Ocular Inflammatory Diseases

Purpose To evaluate the outcome of treatment with methotrexate for noninfectious ocular inflammation. Design Retrospective cohort study. Participants Patients with noninfectious ocular inflammation managed at 4 tertiary ocular inflammation clinics in the United States observed to add methotrexate as a single, noncorticosteroid immunosuppressive agent to their treatment regimen, between 1979 and 2007, inclusive. Methods Participants were identified from the Systemic Immunosuppressive Therapy for Eye Diseases Cohort Study. Demographic and clinical characteristics, including dosage, route of administration of methotrexate, and main outcome measures, were obtained for every eye of every patient at every visit via medical record review by trained expert reviewers. Main Outcome Measures Control of inflammation, corticosteroid-sparing effects, and incidence of and reason for discontinuation of therapy. Results Among 384 patients (639 eyes) observed from the point of addition of methotrexate to an anti-inflammatory regimen, 32.8%, 9.9%, 21.4%, 14.6%, 15.1%, and 6.3%, respectively, had anterior uveitis, intermediate uveitis, posterior or panuveitis, scleritis, ocular mucous membrane pemphigoid, and other forms of ocular inflammation. In these groups, complete suppression of inflammation sustained for ≥28 days was achieved within 6 months in 55.6%, 47.4%, 38.6%, 56.4%, 39.5%, and 76.7%, respectively. Corticosteroid-sparing success (sustained suppression of inflammation with prednisone ≤10 mg/d) was achieved within 6 months among 46.1%, 41.3%, 20.7%, 37.3%, 36.5%, and 50.9%, respectively. Overall, success within 12 months was 66% and 58.4% for sustained control and corticosteroid sparing (≤10 mg), respectively. Methotrexate was discontinued within 1 year by 42% of patients. It was discontinued owing to ineffectiveness in 50 patients (13%); 60 patients (16%) discontinued because of side effects, which typically were reversible with dose reduction or discontinuation. Remission was seen in 43 patients, with 7.7% remitting within 1 year of treatment. Conclusions Our data suggest that adding methotrexate to an anti-inflammatory regimen not involving other noncorticosteroid immunosuppressive drugs is moderately effective for management of inflammatory activity and for achieving corticosteroid-sparing objectives, although many months may be required for therapeutic success. Methotrexate was well tolerated by most patients, and seems to convey little risk of serious side effects during treatment. Financial Disclosure(s) The authors have no proprietary or commercial interests in any of the materials discussed in this article.
Gender symmetry in prevalence, severity, and chronicity of physical aggression against dating partners by university students in Mexico and USA.

The paper reports results from analyses of the physical aggression against dating partners by four samples of university students in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Mexican Americans and Non-Mexican Whites in El Paso and Lubbock Texas, and New Hampshire (N=1,544). The percent reporting partner violence (PV) was high in all samples, but also differed significantly between samples. The lowest rate was in New Hampshire (29.7%), followed by Texas, Non-Mexican Whites (30.9%), Texas Mexican American (34.2%), and the highest rate was in Juarez (46.1%). When only severe assaults were compared, the differences between samples was similar, i.e., lowest in New Hampshire and highest in Juarez. In all four samples, there was no significant difference between males and females in either the overall prevalence of physical aggression or the prevalence of severe attacks. Among the 553 couples where one or both of the partners were violent, in almost three quarters of the cases (71.2%) there was gender symmetry in the sense that both partners engaged in this type of behavior. When only one partner was violent, this was twice as likely to be the female partner (19.0%) as the male partner (9.8%). Among the 205 couples where there was an act of severe aggression, symmetry was less prevalent (56.6%), but when only one partner was violent, it was again twice as likely to be the female partner (29.8% female only versus 13.7 male partner only). These results are consistent with the gender symmetry in PV found in many studies. They extend those results by showing that gender symmetry prevails in four different cultural contexts. The presence of gender symmetry in these different cultural contexts, combined with studies showing that women are injured more often and more seriously by partner-assaults, and studies showing that women initiate PV as often as men, suggests that programs and policies aimed at primary prevention of PV by women are crucial to ending PV and for reducing the victimization of men and women. Language: en
Myosin-1c Interacts with Hair-Cell Receptors through Its Calmodulin-Binding IQ Domains

Myosin-1c plays an essential role in adaptation of hair-cell mechanoelectrical transduction. To mediate adaptation, myosin-1c must interact directly or indirectly with other components of the transduction apparatus, including the mechanically gated transduction channel. As a first step toward identifying myosin-1c receptors, we used recombinant myosin-1c fragments to identify specific binding sites in hair cells and to biochemically characterize their interaction with myosin-1c. Myosin-1c fragments bound to tips of hair-cell stereocilia, the location of transduction and adaptation. Surprisingly, this interaction did not depend on the C-terminal tail of myosin-1c, proposed previously to be the receptor-binding site of the molecule. Instead, the interaction of myosin-1c with stereociliary receptors depended on its calmodulin-binding IQ domains. This interaction was blocked by calmodulin, which probably bound to a previously unoccupied IQ domain of myosin-1c. The calcium-sensitive binding of calmodulin to myosin-1c may therefore modulate the interaction of the adaptation motor with other components of the transduction apparatus.
Effects of coal combustion residues on survival, antioxidant potential, and genotoxicity resulting from full-lifecycle exposure of grass shrimp (Palaemonetes pugio Holthius)

Coal combustion residues (CCRs), largely derived from coal-fired electrical generation, are rich in numerous trace elements that have the potential to induce sublethal effects including oxidative stress, alterations in antioxidant status and DNA single strand breaks (SSB). CCRs are frequently discharged into natural and man-made aquatic systems. As the effects of CCRs have received relatively little attention in estuarine systems, the estuarine grass shrimp, Palaemonetes pugio, was chosen for this study. Grass shrimp were exposed in the laboratory to CCR-enriched sediments and food over a full life cycle. Survival to metamorphosis was significantly reduced in CCR-exposed larvae (17+/-4 versus 70+/-13% in the controls) but not in the juveniles or adults. The COMET assay, a general but sensitive assay for genotoxicity, was used to quantify DNA SSB in the adults. Total antioxidant potential was examined to assess the overall antioxidant scavenging capacity of CCR-exposed and non-exposed adult grass shrimp. Grass shrimp exposed to CCR significantly accumulated selenium and cadmium compared to unexposed shrimp, although an inverse relationship was seen for mercury accumulation. Chronic CCR exposure caused DNA SSB in hepatopancreas cells, as evidenced by the significantly increased percent tail DNA, tail moment, and tail length as compared to reference shrimp. However, no significant difference was observed in total antioxidant potential. Our findings suggest that genotoxicity may be an important mode of toxicity of CCR, and that DNA SSB may serve as a useful biomarker of exposure and effect of this very common, complex waste stream.
High-temperature batteries for geothermal and oil/gas borehole applications

A literature survey and technical evaluation was carried out of past and present battery technologies with the goal of identifying appropriate candidates for use in geothermal borehole and, to a lesser extent, oil/gas boreholes. The various constraints that are posed by such an environment are discussed. The promise as well as the limitations of various candidate technologies are presented. Data for limited testing of a number of candidate systems are presented and the areas for additional future work are detailed. The use of low-temperature molten salts shows the most promise for such applications and includes those that are liquid at room temperature. The greatest challenges are to develop an appropriate electrochemical couple that is kinetically stable with the most promising electrolytes-both organic as well as inorganic-over the wide operating window that spans both borehole environments.
The Impact of Race, Physical Attractiveness, and Gender On Education Majors' and Teachers' Perceptions of Student Competence

Stereotypical thinking and prejudgments from teachers have been found to hinder students' academic and social performance. The relationship between students' race, physical attractiveness, gender, and perceived academic and social competence by both undergraduate education majors and practicing teachers was investigated. Participants were 72 individuals (51 teachers, 21 undergraduate education majors) at a midsized university. Participants viewed eight scenarios (varying by race, gender, and physical attractiveness of target child) in which a child's picture was displayed. Participants then rated the child's social and academic competence on an eight-question, 5-point, Likert-type scale. A 4-way (Child Gender × Child Race × Child Physical Attractiveness × Rater Educational Level) mixed factorial design was used to test the hypotheses. Results showed that the lowest competency ratings were for Black, unattractive boys. No differences were found for ratings by teacher education level. These findings have im...
Analog Computation at a Critical Point: A Novel Function for Neuronal Oscillations?

We show that a simple spin system biased at its critical point can encode spatial characteristics of external signals, such as the dimensions of "objects" in the visual field, in the temporal correlation functions of individual spins. Qualitative arguments suggest that regularly firing neurons should be described by a planar spin of unit length, and such XY models exhibit critical dynamics over a broad range of parameters. We show how to extract these spins from spike trains and then measure the interaction Hamiltonian using simulations of small dusters of cells. Static correlations among spike trains obtained from simulations of large arrays of cells are in agreement with the predictions from these Hamiltonians, and dynamic correlations display the predicted encoding of spatial information. We suggest that this novel representation of object dimensions in temporal correlations may be relevant to recent experiments on oscillatory neural firing in the visual cortex.
Performance of space-time codes over a flat-fading channel using a subspace-invariant detector

Multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) communications has received considerable attention in recent years. The flat-fading channel, with identical, independently distributed gains between all transmitter and receiver pairs has been one of the MIMO channels studied extensively. Many studies have focused on channel capacity and coding in additive white Gaussian noise. When the noise background has an unknown spatial covariance due to interference, receivers that adapt to the noise background can be more robust. One way of achieving robustness builds invariances into the detector, creating a channel model that incorporates adaptive beamforming naturally into signal detection and coding. In the particular case of frequency-hopped waveforms with random fading and hop to hop white noise, the capacity of this channel can be evaluated. A family of space-time codes for the invariant detector is investigated and its performance compared with the derived capacity bounds. Theoretical predictions of performance in interference and in different fading conditions are presented and compared with simulation results for a concatenated coding architecture involving space-time inner codes and low density parity-check outer code.
Primary Care Physicians and Elder Abuse: Current Attitudes and Practices

CONTEXT: while estimates suggest that between 1.4% and 5.4% of older adults experience abuse, only 1 of 14 cases of elder abuse or neglect is ever reported to authorities. It is critical for clinicians to be aware of elder abuse in order to improve primary care. OBJECTIVE: to understand Michigan primary care physicians' knowledge of and reporting practices for elder abuse, including the type of elder abuse education they received, the nature of their clinical practice, and the barriers that prevent them from reporting elder abuse. METHODS: a 17-item survey was mailed to 855 primary care physicians in Michigan in 2 waves between October 2007 and December 2007. RESULTS: Of the 855 surveys mailed, 222 were returned for a response rate of 26%. The majority of physicians (131 [67%] of 197 physicians) believed that their training about elder abuse was not very adequate or not adequate at all. Physicians with fewer than 10 hours of training were more likely to rate their training as not adequate when compared to those who had more than 10 hours of clinical training (χ(2)=64.340, P<.001). Whether abuse was reported was highly correlated with whether it was suspected (χ(2)=26.195, P<.001). Those physicians who reported receiving formal training on the topic of elder abuse in residency programs and those who reported participating in CME activities while in practice were less likely to identify not recognizing abuse at time of patient visits as a barrier to reporting. CONCLUSION: recognizing the subtle signs of elder abuse continues to be a barrier for physicians who treat older adult patients. However, education may improve primary care physicians' ability to detect and recognize elder abuse.
Outward current in single smooth muscle cells of the guinea pig taenia coli

In single myocytes of the guinea pig taenia coli, dispersed by enzymatic digestion, the late outward current is carried by K+. It has both a Ca2+-activated component and a voltage-dependent component which is resistant to external Co2+. The reversal potential is -84 mV, and the channel(s) for it are highly selective to K+. At 33 degrees C, the activation follows n2 kinetics, with a voltage-dependent time constant of 10.6 ms at 0 mV, which shortens to 1.7 ms at +70 mV. Deactivation follows a single-exponential time course, with a voltage-dependent time constant of 11 ms at -50 mV, which lengthens to 33 ms at -20 mV. During a 4.5-s maintained depolarization, IK inactivates, most of it into two exponential components, but there is a small noninactivating residue. It is surmised that during an action potential under physiological conditions, there is sufficient IK to cause repolarization.
Norms, perverse effects, and torture

If torture is both ethically odious and usually ineffective as an interrogation method, why have states, especially democratic ones, practiced it? This paper develops a theoretical response to this puzzle by extending constructivist understandings of normative effects. I argue that the norm prohibiting torture has the perverse effect of making torture more attractive to some political leaders in two ways: first, the norm attracts those who are looking for an outside-the-box solution to challenging intelligence-gathering scenarios; second, the norm offers political leaders a narrative of heroism in which they sacrifice their morality for the greater good. I illustrate these explanations with the example of torture in the United States war on terror. My argument suggests that norms can shape the interests even of those who do not follow their scripts, implying that the scope of normative impact may be much wider than previously believed.
PARTIAL IDENTIFICATION OF COUNTERFACTUAL CHOICE PROBABILITIES

This article shows how to predict counterfactual discrete choice behavior when the presumed behavioral model partially identifies choice probabilities. The simple, general approach uses observable choice probabilities to partially infer the distribution of types in the population and then applies the results to predict behavior in unrealized choice settings. Two illustrative applications are given. One assumes only that persons have strict preferences. The other assumes strict preferences and utility functions that are linear in attribute bundles, with no restrictions on the shape of the distribution of preference parameters.
Salesforce selection that meets federal regulation and management needs

Abstract A key problem for industrial marketing management is to develop a selection process that is both legally valid and managerially useful. By applying a selection approach which incorporates both a sequential selection process and a validation procedure, industrial marketers should be able to make better hiring decisions as well as comply with existing governmental regulations.
Flight-Level Thermodynamic Instrument Wetting Errors in Hurricanes. Part I: Observations

The implications of flight-level instrument wetting error removal upon the mean thermodynamic structure across the eyewall, buoyancy of rainband vertical motions, and vertical energy fluxes near the top of the inflow layer are studied. Thermodynamic quantities across the mean eyewall are found to increase at all levels. As a result, maximum radial gradients of each quantity are shifted from the center of the eyewall cloud toward the outer edge. The increase in equivalent potential temperature lifts eyewall values to comparable magnitudes observed in the eye. The mean virtual potential temperature deviation of rainband updrafts increases from slightly negative to slightly positive. This increase and shift in sign are more pronounced in stronger updrafts. The mean deviation in rainband downdrafts decreases slightly toward neutral conditions. Vertical sensible heat fluxes near the top of the inflow layer are found to shift from downward to upward. Upward latent heat fluxes increase. Implications of these results upon hurricane structure and evolution are discussed.
Raman Characterization of Composition and Strain in Si1−xGex/Si Heterostructures

High quality epitaxial Sil−xGex/Si (x = 0.09 to 0.27) samples were studied with polarized Raman scattering technique. The LO (longitudinal optical) -TO (transversal optical) phonon mode splitting due to the tetragonal strain imposed by the lattice mismatch between Sil−xGex and Si was observed for the first time in such structures. In contrast to the case of uniaxial stress, the biaxial stress induces a larger strain frequency shift for the LO mode than for the TO mode. The phonon strain shift coefficient for the LO mode was found to be 1010 cm−1, which is larger than most of the values reported in the literatures, and almost composition independent throughout the range of x≤0.27. We argue that the smaller LO strain shift coefficients indicate that the Sil−xGex films used in previous work were partially relaxed.
Heterogeneity in the pharmacological treatment of children with ADHD: cognitive, behavioral, and social functioning differences.

Objective: To investigate the extent to which children with ADHD in various medication statuses (i.e., medication naive, pure stimulant, stimulant plus another medication, nonstimulants) varied on cognitive or academic, behavioral, and social functioning during a psychoeducational assessment battery. Method: Participants for this study consisted of 66 children (20 girls) with a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.) (DSM-IV) diagnosis of ADHD confirmed by a comprehensive clinical diagnostic assessment, including the use of a semistructured interview and Conners’ Parent Rating Scales. Standardized cognitive and academic measures along with parent report of medication status, behavioral, and social functioning were collected. Results: No differences were found among children in the various medication groups in terms of ADHD symptoms severity, academic performance, processing speed, verbal abilities, or perceptual reasoning skills. However, children in the medication-naive group perf...
What is a mutation? Identifying heritable change in the offspring of survivors at Hiroshima and Nagasaki

"Mutations" have been crucial to the science of genetics, to the construction of evolutionary theory, and to efforts to understand the biological effects of radiation. Scientists have localized the abstraction of a "gene" by studying how its (mutant) effect was inherited. While a trait common to an entire population could not be analyzed, a deviation, thanks to its visual accessibility, could be.' At the same time, "mutation" has been a remarkably plastic concept, interpreted differently depending on the problem being investigated, the organism of interest, or the consequences of the interpretation. This paper examines the working concept of "mutation" in the original genetics study of the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission (ABCC), established in Japan to track the long-term medical effects (both somatic and genetic) of exposure to radiation on the survivors of the August 1945 bombings. The genetics work of this organization was guided by University of Michigan geneticist James V. Neel, who was part of the original study team of the ABCC in 1946, and his younger collaborator William J. Schull, who came to Japan to work as ABCC geneticist in the summer of 1949.2 Neel and Schull have continued to work together on the
Educating microwave engineers in the United States

Three knowledge areas in which a microwave engineer needs to be educated are reviewed, and implementation means discussed. It is shown that microwave engineering education in the US occurs primarily after receipt of the first (bachelor's) engineering degree. The inevitability of specialized academic education within the field of microwave engineering is pointed out. Overall results from a broadly based survey of US electrical engineering departments' microwave engineering programs are presented. They include information on master's and doctorate degrees awarded, faculty, and sources and level of research funding. Additional reference sources which contain information on US microwave engineering are identified. Opportunities for making educational improvements on the graduate level of this multifaceted engineering specialization, which is not centrally regulated, are pointed out and illustrated by a specific example. >
Influence of Land Use on Travel Behavior in Santiago, Chile

In an attempt to expand the research base on the land use-transport link in the developing world, a microeconomic model developed in the industrialized world context is adopted. The analysis focuses on the influence of three gross measures of urban form on travel behavior in Santiago, Chile. Controlling for socioeconomic and demographic factors, the analysis attempts to demonstrate the influence of population density, relative share of commercial and service land uses, and relative share of vacant land on an individual's propensity to make home-based, nonwork, non-school (HB NWNS) walking trips. Consistent with intuition, the model results suggest that the relative share of land devoted to commercial and service uses in the zone of trip origin increases the likelihood of making HB NWNS walking trips, whereas the relative share of vacant land decreases the probability. Somewhat surprisingly, population density in the zone of origin has no significant effect.
The Occupational Health Nurses in Agricultural Communities program: identifying and preventing agriculturally related illnesses and injuries.

1. The Occupational Health Nurses in Agricultural Communities (OHNAC) program is a national surveillance program to identify and prevent agriculturally related illnesses and injuries. Locally based nurses work closely with health departments, hospitals, physicians, and other providers to identify and report sentinel health events. 2. Through OHNAC, sentinel health events are assessed and evaluated to identify occupational risk factors that may be applicable to the larger community of agricultural workers. This information is then disseminated nationally, locally, and to the individual workers. 3. The surveillance and investigation information is used to develop programs to prevent agricultural illnesses and injuries. The use of case based surveillance and subsequent data driven interventions has broad applicability for occupational health nurses in other industrial sectors. Language: en
Characterization of New Members of the Steroid Receptor Super-Family

We have isolated and characterized new members of the steroid receptor super-family. The cDNA of one member, called TR2 receptor, was isolated from a human testis λgt11 cDNA library utilizing the homology of oligonucleotide probes to the DNA-binding domain common to members of the steroid receptor super-family. Expression of TR2 receptor cDNA produced a 52 kd DNA-binding protein that did not bind significantly to any known steroids. Based on Northern blot analysis, TR2 receptor mRNA is 2.5 kb in length and is relatively abundant in androgen-sensitive organs such as ventral prostate. Dot blot hybridization analysis showed that TR2 receptor mRNA levels increased after castration of rats. The increase was reversed by 5α-dihydrotestosterone injection, suggesting that the levels of TR2 receptor mRNA are negatively controlled by androgen in the rat ventral prostate. The cDNA of another member, called TR3 receptor was isolated from a human prostate λgt11 cDNA library. Nucleotide sequences showed that TR3 receptor may be closely related to NUR/77, the cDNA for which was isolated from a mouse fibroblast λgt10 cDNA library as one in a set of genes whose expression is rapidly activated by serum growth factors. Sequence analysis showed that NUR/77 cDNA contained two regions of sequence homology which correspond to the DNA- and hormone-binding domains of the steroid receptor super-family. Expression of NUR/ 77 mRNA yielded two detectable proteins with molecular weights of 64 kd and 58 kd.
The Arkansas Plan: Coon Dogs or Community Services?

There are few generalizations that can safely be made about the complex relationships which have evolved between the fifty states and their local governments. One trend, however, is indisputable: the increased reliance of local government on state aid. In absolute terms, state aid to local governments has increased from $52 million in 1902 to $52 billion in 1975. More significantly, the percentage of state-local revenues raised locally declined from 79.4 percent in 1913 to 38.1 percent in 1974.'
Regulation of Low Km (Ecto) 5’-Nucleotidase Gene Expression in Leukemic Cells

Ecto-5’-NT has been considered a biochemical marker in leukemias and lymphomas (1). The enzyme activity is low in lymphocytes (2) and decreased in B-cells in patients with X-linked agammaglobulinemia (3), decreased or not detectable in lymphocytes from chronic lymphocytic leukemia and infectious mononucleosis (4) and decreased in CD8+ lymphocytes in AIDS (5). In general, low activity has been observed during development and in undifferentiated cells which increases markedly in some cell types at the final stages of differentiation and during senescence and aging. Although there are some data showing correlation of low ecto-5’-NT activity with efficacy of nucleoside analogues of anti-cancer activity, no specific role which would explain the pattern of distribution of this enzyme has been proposed.
International Gift Giving

International gift giving is not a new concept; in many cases it was done for political purposes in the Middle Ages (Polanyi 1944). Today, gift giving is a personalized activity flourishing because of globalization.
Guided Imagery and Stress in Pregnant Adolescents.

Objective We examined the effects of a guided imagery intervention on perceived stress in pregnant adolescents. Method Thirty-five pregnant adolescents recruited from a local alternative education program participated in a guided imagery intervention. Participants listened to a pregnancy-specific guided imagery recording on four separate occasions during their pregnancies. Perceived stress was measured immediately before and after each session using the Perceived Stress Measure-9 (PSM-9). Results Participants' pre- and postsession PSM-9 scores for three of the four sessions demonstrated a significant reduction in stress. Participants' baseline stress levels also decreased significantly across the four listening sessions. The greatest reductions in stress within and between sessions occurred in the early sessions, with effects diminishing over time. Conclusion Pregnant teens experienced initial short- and long-term stress reduction during a guided imagery intervention, supporting the use of guided imagery to reduce stress in pregnant adolescents.
The Factor Structure, Internal Consistency, and Convergent Validity of Two Suicide Assessment Competency Measures in Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors

We analyzed the psychometric properties of two published self-report suicide assessment competency rating scales—the Suicide Competency Inventory (SCI) and the Suicide Competency Assessment Form (S...
Infection of Shell Eggs With Yersinia Enterocolitica.

Shell eggs were immersed in bacterial suspensions containing 106 Yersinia enterocolitica /ml and subjected to either a temperature differential or a pressure differential inoculation technique in the presence or absence of 20 ppm iron to determine if Y. enterocolitica could penetrate and infect shell eggs. No Y. enterocolitica was detected inside eggs immediately after inoculation. After 3 d of storage at 10°C, Y. enterocolitica was detected in only one egg out of 24. After 7 d of storage at 10°C, approximately 14% of eggs from bacterial suspensions with no iron supplementation contained Y. enterocolitica . After 14 d, Yersinia counts exceeded log 6.0 CFU/ml and Yersinia were found inside 100% of eggs examined.
Ubiquitin Ligase NEDD4 Regulates PPARγ Stability and Adipocyte Differentiation in 3T3-L1 Cells.

Peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) is a ligand-activated nuclear receptor which controls lipid and glucose metabolism. It is also the master regulator of adipogenesis. In adipocytes, ligand-dependent PPARγ activation is associated with proteasomal degradation; therefore, regulation of PPARγ degradation may modulate its transcriptional activity. Here, we show that neural precursor cell expressed developmentally down-regulated protein 4 (NEDD4), an E3 ubiquitin ligase, interacts with the hinge and ligand binding domains of PPARγ and is a bona fide E3 ligase for PPARγ. NEDD4 increases PPARγ stability through the inhibition of its proteasomal degradation. Knockdown of NEDD4 in 3T3-L1 adipocytes reduces PPARγ protein levels and suppresses adipocyte conversion. PPARγ correlates positively with NEDD4 in obese adipose tissue. Together, these findings support NEDD4 as a novel regulator of adipogenesis by modulating the stability of PPARγ.
A continuous-infusion dynamic MRI model at 3.0 Tesla for the serial quantitative evaluation of microvascular proliferation in an animal model of glioblastoma multiforme

Purpose To develop a continuous-infusion dynamic MRI technique to characterize tumor-associated microvascular proliferation (MVP) in a rat brain model of glioblastoma multiforme. Methods The proposed model assumes effects due to tumor-associated MVP (eg, vascular permeability, Ktrans; intravascular plasma fraction, vp) cannot be individually separated and solves for a single parameter (kvasc) that quantifies the T1-weighted contrast enhancement from dynamic images acquired during continuous contrast agent (CA) infusion. Untreated C6 tumor-bearing animals (N = 6) were serially imaged on postoperative days (PODs) 14 and 18 with a 3 Tesla clinical scanner utilizing a dynamic spatial and temporal resolution of 0.38 × 0.38 × 1.5 mm3 and 3.47 s, respectively. Results An association was present between PODs 14 and 18 for median tumor kvasc (Pearson's r = 0.94, P = 0.0052) and CA concentration ([CA], derived from pre- and postcontrast R1 maps; r = 0.94, P = 0.0054). On POD 18, there was a voxel-based association between kvasc and [CA] within each tumor (0.45 0.05) or an inverse association (N = 1; r = –0.28, P = 0.001), indicating differences between locations of vascular permeability and subsequent CA pooling in tumors. Conclusion The continuous-infusion method may provide a quantitative measure for characterizing and monitoring tumor-associated MVP. Magn Reson Med 78:1824–1838, 2017. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
The effects of body mass index on complications and mortality after emergency abdominal operations: The obesity paradox

Abstract Background Recent literature suggests that obesity is protective in critically illness. This study addresses the effect of BMI on outcomes after emergency abdominal surgery (EAS). Methods Retrospective, ACS-NSQIP analysis. All patients that underwent EAS were included. The study population was divided into five groups based on BMI; regression models were used to evaluate the role of obesity in morbidity and mortality. Results 101,078 patients underwent EAS; morbidity and mortality were 19.5% and 4.5%, respectively. Adjusted mortality was higher in underweight patients (AOR 1.92), but significantly lower in all obesity groups (AOR's 0.73, 0.66, 0.70, 0.70 respectively). Underweight and class III obesity was associated with increased complications (AOR 1.47 and 1.30), while mild obesity was protective (AOR 0.92). Conclusions Underweight patients undergoing EAS have increased morbidity and mortality. Although class III obesity is associated with increased morbidity, overweight and class I obesity were protective. All grades of obesity may be protective against mortality after EAS relative to normal weight patients.
System Risk Identification methodology for cost-effective sustainment of products and services

The Noblis Earth Observations (EO) Team has developed a System Risk Identification methodology and dashboard to assist the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Satellite Ground Services to determine the likelihood of ground system component failures and their impact to high priority NOAA Satellite products and services. The methodology maps the system information back to products, and defines product risk based on aligned systems. The methodology then uses diagnostic information (such as system component trouble reporting frequency, system age and operating system software obsolescence) to assess system component health. The Noblis EO Team then employs various sequencing algorithms to identify and replace system components to reduce the risks associated with NOAA products and services based upon balancing high priority products and budgetary constraints. While this type of risk identification is not new it has not been widely adopted at many federal civilian agencies due to the perception that it is too complex to implement on a small/medium budget. The risk identification methodology that the Noblis EO Team has developed can be implemented using a simple spreadsheet if needed or with visualizations using Tableau or similar software. The Noblis EO Team has also built customized software to pull information from a database (Microsoft Access was used as a proxy for direct database interaction) and display the analysis results as a dashboard. Initial results using real data about NOAA products and systems along with (where necessary) assumptions about priorities/proxies for risk indicate the approach modeled in the dashboard can facilitate better decision making through comparative analysis of different resource management plans/repair sequences. In particular the Noblis EO team generated a customized Product-Risk sequencing method that was able to achieve similar results (all Products at low risk) as an “Oldest-First” sequencing method while replacing one-third the assets (8 vs. 24) and spending less than one-fourth the funds allocated to replacing/fixing ($250K vs $1.1M). Additional studies showing sensitivity to initial assumptions is planned to determine where it makes the most sense to improve or eliminate the assumptions/proxies. The Noblis EO Team expect this same paradigm could be relatively easily applied to other domain areas where modeling of the relationships of varied resources to a range of products is needed but not typically conducted. This methodology could provide quality analysis to aid in system planning and decision making.
RNA sequencing demonstrates large-scale temporal dysregulation of gene expression in stimulated macrophages derived from MHC-defined chicken haplotypes

Discovering genetic biomarkers associated with disease resistance and enhanced immunity is critical to developing advanced strategies for controlling viral and bacterial infections in different species. Macrophages, important cells of innate immunity, are directly involved in cellular interactions with pathogens, the release of cytokines activating other immune cells and antigen presentation to cells of the adaptive immune response. IFNγ is a potent activator of macrophages and increased production has been associated with disease resistance in several species. This study characterizes the molecular basis for dramatically different nitric oxide production and immune function between the B2 and the B19 haplotype chicken macrophages.A large-scale RNA sequencing approach was employed to sequence the RNA of purified macrophages from each haplotype group (B2 vs. B19) during differentiation and after stimulation. Our results demonstrate that a large number of genes exhibit divergent expression between B2 and B19 haplotype cells both prior and after stimulation. These differences in gene expression appear to be regulated by complex epigenetic mechanisms that need further investigation.