cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The surface chemistry of cerium oxide

Abstract This review covers the structure of, and chemical reactions on, well-defined cerium oxide surfaces. Ceria, or mixed oxides containing ceria, are critical components in automotive three-way catalysts due to their well-known oxygen storage capacity. Ceria is also emerging as an important material in a number of other catalytic processes, particularly those involving organic oxygenates and the water–gas shift reaction. Ceria׳s acid–base properties, and thus its catalytic behavior, are closely related to its surface structure where different oxygen anion and cerium cation environments are present on the low-index structural faces. The actual structure of these various faces has been the focus of a number of theoretical and experimental investigations. Ceria is also easily reducible from CeO 2 to CeO 2− X . The presence of oxygen vacancies on the surface often dramatically alters the adsorption and subsequent reactions of various adsorbates, either on a clean surface or on metal particles supported on the surface. Most surface science studies have been conducted on the surfaces of thin-films rather than on the surfaces of bulk single crystal oxides. The growth, characterization and properties of these thin-films are also examined.
Appearance of myelin proteins in rat sciatic nerve during development

Rats between 5 and 45 days of age were sacrificed and their sciatic nerves dissected. Myelin was prepared from these sciatic nerves by a procedure involving purification on discontinuous sucrose gradients. The proteins of whole sciatic nerves at different ages and the proteins derived from the myelin isolated from these sciatic nerves were examined by discontinuous polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in buffers containing sodium dodecyl sulfate. Over half of the proteins of sciatic nerve myelin migrated in a single band on the gel (P0). There were only minor changes in the protein distribution of sciatic nerve mylein during development. In contrast, the polyacrylamide gel patterns of whole sciatic nerve homogenate changed markedly during development between 5 and 15 days of age. The amount of P0 protein as a proportion of the total sciatic nerve protein increased from 3% at 5 days of age to 13% at 15 days of age after which it remained constant. Several other proteins which were also characteristic of the isolated myelin increased in relative importance during this time period. Parallel experiments dealing with a metabolic parameter of myelinogenesis, incorporation of intraperitoneally injected [35S]sulfate into sulfatide, were conducted. The maximum synthesis of sulfatide occurred between 6 and 16 days of age, coincident with the marked accumulation of myelin proteins in sciatic nerve.
Stabilization of hydroxyl-terminated silanes in porous silicon for in-situ DNA synthesis

Passivation of porous silicon sensors is a critical issue for achieving high sensitivity and selectivity toward biomolecule targets that may be detected in complex physiologic solution. Without appropriate passivation, degradation of the porous silicon matrix inhibits the repeatability of optical measurements and limits applications in complex media. In this work, we present a method for stabilizing TEOS-HBA monolayers in porous silicon. Annealing of the silane at 200°C for 16 hours, followed by a deionized water wash for a minimum of one hour, results in a porous silicon surface that is highly stable in a number of solvents. Annealing improves cross-linking of surface-attached silane molecules for added stability, and hydrolyzing facilitates removal of weakly bound multilayers. This surface treatment procedure is of considerable interest in applications such as DNA synthesis where hydroxyl functionality is critical and a thick silane surface coating is not desired. (© 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Transmission Lines at Very High Radio Frequencies

Radiation resistance, although ordinarily neglected, is actually of dominant importance in determining the selectivity factor Q and the input impedance Z s for both parallel-wire and concentric lines at high radio frequencies, and therefore materially changes the optimum design of the line, whether used as a low-loss inductive or capacitive reactance or to give high selectivity or high impedance as a resonant line. Accurate design equations for maximum selectivity and for maximum impedance are developed in this paper for both parallel-wire and concentric lines, and curves are included showing radiation resistance, selectivity, input impedance, optimum values of spacing, conductor radius, etc. It is shown that for maximum Q the optimum ratio of spacing to wire radius for parallel-wire lines is D/r = 6.186, and the ratio of outer conductor radius to inner conductor radius for concentric lines is b/a = 4.22, as compared with values of about 3.6 for both ratios when radiation resistance is neglected. For maximum impedance corresponding values are D/r = 20.96 and b/a = 14.3, as compared with values of 8 and 9.2, respectively, predicted neglecting radiation resistance. Moreover, Q and Z s are not proportional to D and b, as indicated in previous analyses; instead definite values of D and b give maximum Q and slightly larger values give maximum Z s , and even a small departure from the best value produces a large decrease in Q or in Z s .
A new T helper cell specificity within the pigeon cytochrome c determinant 95–104

A T cell hybridoma with unusual antigen specificity has been isolated from B10.BR mice immunized with pigeon cytochrome c. Using synthetic peptide analogues of the pigeon cytochrome c T cell determinant 81-104 we have determined that this hybridoma is specific for residues within the sequence 95-104. However, the mode by which this T cell hybridoma recognizes this determinant in the context of the I-Ek molecule differs from all previously described T cell clones in that it is not stimulated by the moth cytochrome c analogue 81-103.
Medullary carcinoma of the thyroid: prognostic factors and treatment recommendations.

Background: Because medullary thyroid carcinoma accounts for only 7% of all thyroid malignancies, data to support treatment strategies are scarce.
Helix-coil transition in homopolypeptides under stretching.

We consider the effect of an external applied force on the \ensuremath{\alpha}-helix--coil transition of a single-stranded homopolypeptide chain. An annealed scenario is assumed, where the building amino acid monomers may interconvert between random-coiled and ordered \ensuremath{\alpha}-helical configurations. By exact evaluation of the partition function of the freely jointed chain with helix-coil internal degrees of freedom in the thermodynamic limit, we obtain the result that the stress-strain characteristic has an asymmetrical sigmoid shape with a prominent pseudoplateau. Because of the one-dimensional nature of this system, fluctuations dominate over the mean-field approximation, which incorrectly predicts a second-order phase transition.
Active Submarine Volcanism in the Austral Islands

An active submarine volcano has been found on a southeastward extension of the Austral Islands chain. Its last eruption, in May 1967, was detected by North Pacific hydrophones. The position computed by sofar was 32 kilometers northwest of that found in a search by echo sounder, 29°019S, 140°179W. The minimum depth encountered was 460 meters.
ADP-ribosylation of integrin α7 modulates the binding of integrin α7β1 to laminin

The extracellular domain of integrin α7 is ADP-ribosylated by an arginine-specific ecto-ADP-ribosyltransferase after adding exogenous NAD+ to intact C2C12 skeletal muscle cells. The effect of ADP-ribosylation on the structure or function of integrin α7β1 has not been explored. In the present study, we show that ADP-ribosylation of integrin α7 takes place exclusively in differentiated myotubes and that this post-translational modification modulates the affinity of α7β1 dimer for its ligand, laminin. ADP-ribosylation in the 37-kDa ‘stalk’ region of α7 that takes place at micromolar NAD+ concentrations increases the binding of the α7β1 dimer to laminin. Increased in vitro binding of integrin α7β1 to laminin after ADP-ribosylation of the 37-kDa fragment of α7 requires the presence of Mn2+ and it is not observed in the presence of Mg2+. In contrast, ADP-ribosylation of the 63-kDa N-terminal region comprising the ligand-binding site of α7 that occurs at approx. 100 μM NAD+ inhibits the binding of integrin α7β1 to laminin. Furthermore, incubation of C2C12 myotubes with NAD+ increases the expression of an epitope on integrin β1 subunit recognized by monoclonal antibody 9EG7. We discuss our results based on the current models of integrin activation. We also hypothesize that ADP-ribosylation may represent a mechanism of regulation of integrin α7β1 function in myofibres in vivo when the continuity of the membrane is compromised and NAD+ is available as a substrate for ecto-ADP-ribosylation.
Effects of ACTH on steroidogenesis in bovine adrenocortical cells in primary culture—increased secretion of 17α-hydroxylated steroids associated with a refractoriness in total steroid output☆

The long-term effects of ACTH on steroidogenesis in bovine adrenocortical cells maintained in primary culture have been investigated. Cells in monolayer culture were incubated in the presence or absence of ACTH for up to 72 h, and the steroid content of the incubation medium was assayed at 12 h intervals. During the first 12 h, adrenocortical cells incubated in the presence of ACTH (10−9 M and 10−6 M) produced substantially more cortisol and corticosterone than did cells incubated in the absence of ACTH. The production of steroidogenic intermediates such as pregnenolone, progesterone, and 17α-hydroxypregnenolone, as well as 17α-hydroxyprogesterone, 11-deoxycortisol, and 11-deoxycorticosterone also was increased by short-term (12 h) treatment with ACTH. Thereafter, corticosteroid production by cells incubated in the continued presence of ACTH decreased in a time and concentration dependent fashion. The maximal rate of cortisol production by cells incubated in the presence of ACTH (10−9 M and 10−6 M) for 72 h was only one third that of cells incubated in the presence of ACTH for 12 h. More dramatically, by 36 h, corticosterone secretion by cells incubated in the presence of ACTH (10−6 M) declined to less than 20% of that of nontreated cells, and the production of 11-deoxycorticosterone was no longer detectable. ACTH also induced refractoriness in the production of other C21-steroids (pregnenolone, progesterone, 17α-hydroxypregnenolone, 17α-hydroxyprogesterone, and 11-deoxycortisol) as well as of C19-steroids (dehydroepiandrosterone, androstenedione, and 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione). The ACTH-induced refractoriness in the production of C21-steroids lacking a 17α-hydroxyl group occurred earlier than that of 17-hydroxylated C21-steroids. Despite the decline in total corticosteroid production, the long term effect of ACTH was to enhance the relative secretion of 17α-hydroxylated steroids and C19-steroids. Adrenocortical cells incubated for 72 h in the presence of ACTH continued to secrete cortisol, 17α-hydroxyprogesterone, 11-deoxycortisol, and 11β-hydroxyan drostenedione in increased amounts. In fact, 11-deoxycortisol became a major secretory product of the ACTH-refractory adrenocortical cell. These results are indicative that ACTH acts in diverse manners on the bovine adrenocortical cell to affect corticosteroid secretion. The initial stimulation of corticosteroid production appears to be reflective of an increase in overall substrate (cholesterol) utilization and probably is mediated, in part, by an increase in cholesterol side chain cleavage activity. The secretion of 17α-hydroxysteroids and C19-steroids is enhanced further by an action of ACTH to increase 17α-hydroxylase activity and possibly also 17,20-lyase activity. The ACTH-induced refractoriness in corticosteroid production, on the other hand, appears to result primarily from a decline in precursor (cholesterol) utilization.
The relations between perfectionism and achievement goals

This study sought to provide empirical support for the notion that adaptive and maladaptive perfectionists fundamentally differ in their reported achievement goals and that their differential profiles manifest in varying academically-related outcomes. College students (N = 180) enrolled in a military institution responded to the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, achievement goal measures from the Patterns of Adaptive Learning Scales, and two subscales measuring academic functioning. As expected, adaptive perfectionists endorsed a preference for mastery goals along with an advantageous profile of academic functioning. Although maladaptive perfectionists endorsed comparable mastery goals to the adaptive group, they also reported heightened performance goals and a poorer profile of academic functioning. These results suggest that any positive effects that could otherwise be associated with a mastery orientation are negated when the perfectionist concurrently espouses a performance orientation and harbors concerns related to the self. The implications for these findings are discussed.
Multiwavelength imaging of kpc-scale jets in AGN with Chandra and HST

Abstract I highlight recent developments from Chandra and HST observations of kpc-scale jets in AGN, with particular emphasis on our survey of 17 radio jets in a sample of FR II radio galaxies. These observations show that: (1) X-ray and optical emission is common from kpc-scale jets, (2) a large fraction of the bolometric luminosity is emitted at X-rays, and (3) in most sources, a candidate emission process for the X-rays is inverse Compton scattering of the Cosmic Microwave Background off the relativistic electrons in the jet. If the latter scenario holds, the implication is that jets are still relativistic on kpc scales.
Pocket echocardiography system for detection of patent ductus arteriosus in neonates.

Background Neonates are commonly referred for a cardiology consult and an echocardiogram to rule out patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Objectives Evaluate the usefulness of current pocket echocardiography system (PES) in PDA detection compared to traditional full-featured echo system (FFES). Hypothesis The determination of the presence of a PDA in neonates can be done using PES. Methods Fifty newborns with orders for echo evaluation were included in this study. A 5-minute PES scan was performed first. Then a full echo study was performed on a traditional FFES. Images were evaluated by three pediatric cardiologists blinded to the patients and the FFES results. Results The overall accuracy of reviewers rating PES versus FFES to rule in PDA had low false-positive rates 9.5% (95% CI: 1.2–30%), 11.8% (95% CI: 1.5–36%), 11.1% (95% CI: 1.4–35%) and the false-negative rate to rule out PDA was 0% (95% CI: 0–18%), 5.5% (95% CI: 0.14–27%), 0% (95% CI: 0–26%) for each reviewer 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Upon further analysis, PES scan was shown not to be accurate on infants with body weight below 1000 g with encouraging results for infants above 1000 g and those >37 weeks gestational age. Conclusions Our results suggest that the current PES could potentially be used in larger and near-term infants but has less than acceptable performance in low birth weight and premature infants in determining who should undergo a FFES study for persistent PDA diagnosis. Improvements in the technology along with developing limited training protocols for noncardiology personnel should make it possible for PES scan to be used as a screening tool and as an extension of physical examination especially in limited resource settings.
Brain retraction and thickness of cerebral neocortex: an automated technique for detecting retraction-induced anatomic changes using magnetic resonance imaging.

BACKGROUND: Treating deep-seated cerebral lesions often requires retracting the brain. Retraction, however, causes clinically significant postoperative neurological deficits in 3% to 9% of intracranial cases. OBJECTIVE: This pilot study used automated analysis of postoperative magnetic resonance images (MRIs) to determine whether brain retraction caused local anatomic changes to the cerebral neocortex and whether such changes represented sensitive markers for detecting brain retraction injury. METHODS: Pre- and postoperative maps of whole-brain cortical thickness were generated from 3-dimensional MRIs of 6 patients who underwent selective amygdalohippocampectomy for temporal lobe epilepsy (5 left hemispheres, 1 right hemisphere). Mean cortical thickness was determined in the inferior temporal gyrus (ITG test), where a retractor was placed during surgery, and in 2 control gyri—the posterior portion of the inferior temporal gyrus (ITG control) and motor cortex control. Regions of cortical thinning were also compared with signs of retraction injury on early postoperative MRIs. RESULTS: Postoperative maps of cortical thickness showed thinning in the inferior temporal gyrus where the retractor was placed in 5 patients. Postoperatively, mean cortical thickness declined from 4.1 ± 0.4 mm to 2.9 ± 0.9 mm in ITG test (P = .03) and was unchanged in the control regions. Anatomically, the region of neocortical thinning correlated with postoperative edema on MRIs obtained within 48 hours of surgery. CONCLUSION: Postoperative MRIs can be successfully interrogated for information on cortical thickness. Brain retraction is associated with chronic local thinning of the neocortex. This automated technique may be sensitive enough to detect regions at risk for functional impairment during craniotomy that cannot be easily detected on postoperative structural imaging.
Modulation of venom-induced leukocyte histamjne release by mononuclear cells: effect of venom immunotherapy

Abstract Leukocyte histamine release and blood mononuclear cell proliferative responses to venoms were evaluated in nine patients with sting anaphylaxis. The effect of venom-activated mononuclear cells on the autologous mononuclear cell proliferative response and venom-induced leukocyte histamine release was also studied before and on maintenance immunotherapy. The mononuclear cell proliferative response was low (specific incorporations
A switch in the control of growth of the wing imaginal disks of Manduca sexta.

Background: Insulin and ecdysone are the key extrinsic regulators of growth for the wing imaginal disks of insects. In vitro tissue culture studies have shown that these two growth regulators act synergistically: either factor alone stimulates only limited growth, but together they stimulate disks to grow at a rate identical to that observed in situ. It is generally thought that insulin signaling links growth to nutrition, and that starvation stops growth because it inhibits insulin secretion. At the end of larval life feeding stops but the disks continue to grow, so at that time disk growth has become uncoupled from nutrition. We sought to determine at exactly what point in development this uncoupling occurs. Methodology: Growth and cell proliferation in the wing imaginal disks and hemolymph carbohydrate concentrations were measured at various stages in the last larval instar under experimental conditions of starvation, ligation, rescue, and hormone treatment. Principal Findings: Here we show that in the last larval instar of M. sexta, the uncoupling of nutrition and growth occurs as the larva passes the critical weight. Before this time, starvation causes a decline in hemolymph glucose and trehalose and a cessation of wing imaginal disks growth, which can be rescued by injections of trehalose. After the critical weight the trehalose response to starvation disappears, and the expression of insulin becomes decoupled from nutrition. After the critical weight the wing disks loose their sensitivity to repression by juvenile hormone, and factors from the abdomen, but not the brain, are required to drive continued growth. Conclusions: During the last larval instar imaginal disk growth becomes decoupled from somatic growth at the time that the endocrine events of metamorphosis are initiated. These regulatory changes ensure that disk growth continues uninterrupted when the nutritive and endocrine signals undergo the drastic changes associated with metamorphosis.
Effects of Relatedness, Dominance, Age, and Association on Reciprocal Allogrooming by Captive Impala

Wild impala display a highly reciprocal allogrooming system that, by virtue of its frequency and high degree of reciprocity, is unique among ungulates. A herd of 35 free-ranging captive impala provided opportunity to examine the degree of reciprocity of allogrooming exchanges and the influence of relatedness, dominance, age and association on partner preferences and distribution of grooming between allogrooming partners. As in wild impala, the exchange of allogrooming bouts in the captive impala was highly reciprocal regardless of partners. Kinship and dominance had no influence on partner preference or distribution of grooming between partners. Although mothers showed a significant preference to allogroom with their unweaned offspring, this preference practically disappeared with older offspring. Age-mates (no greater than 6 mo apart) tended to associate with one another and spatial proximity was positively correlated with grooming partner preference. It was not clear whether impala actively sought out age-mates for grooming, or randomly chose grooming partners from nearby age-mates. The failure to find a role for kinship and dominance is counter to what has generally been found in most Old World terrestrial primate studies. The absence of pronounced social influences, coupled with the known effectiveness of grooming in removing ectoparasites, suggest that a utilitarian role, especially removal of ticks, is an important function of the impala reciprocal allogrooming system.
A case of Pneumocystis pneumonia in an HIV-negative patient

Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) is an opportunistic infection that occurs in immunosuppressed individuals. Apart from HIV, cases have been associated with malnutrition, corticosteroid therapy, hematologic malignancy, antineoplastic chemotherapy, congenital or acquired immunodeficiencies, and idiopathic CD4 þ T-lymphocytopenia. We report a woman who developed PCP with no identifiable risk factor other than a history of past chemotherapy for malignancy and present reports of similar cases from the literature. We conclude that such a history should be considered as a predisposing factor for the development of PCP.
Improved error analysis in estimation of raindrop spectra, rain rate, and liquid water content using multiple wavelength radars

The aim of this work is to rectify and expand upon an error analysis contained in a previous paper by Goldhirsh and Katz [1] dealing with the feasibility of estimating raindrop spectra using multiple wavelength radars. The revised error analysis demonstrates that radars operating at K band ( \lambda = 1 cm) and S band ( \lambda = 10 cm) may give rise to acceptable accuracies when used for the estimation of rain rate and liquid water content.
Asymmetric Indentation of a Finite Elastically Supported Beam

This paper presents the results of an investigation into the behavior of an elastic beam that is loaded by a frictionless cylindrical indenter. Results are obtained using a solution which incorporates both local contact behavior as well as global beam behavior. The solution is obtained by superposing an elastic layer solution derived through the use of integral transforms and the cylindrical bending solution for a flat plate. The problem reduces to two coupled Fredholm integral equations of the second kind which are solved numerically. Local contact stresses and load-deflection relations are examined in detail for various geometric and contact parameters. The results are compared to Hertz theory contact stresses and beam theory deflection predictions.
Scattering and Pair Production from the Deuteron at Large Momentum Transfers

Expressions are derived for Glauber double scattering and pair production via twin scattering from the deuteron at large momentum transfers. In the double-scattering region, it is shown that twin scattering is comparable to the Drell-S\"oding contribution and can even dominate the process.
Cognitive Complexity and Written Production in English as a Second Language

An experimental study was conducted to investigate the effects of cognitive complexity upon the written production of learners of English as a second language (ESL). Sixty-three intermediate ESL learners provided written responses to questions at high and low cognitive levels. Their performances at the two cognitive levels were rated for total number of words produced, syntactic complexity, and linguistic accuracy. It was found that a higher order of cognition increased both the amount and the order of syntactic complexity of written English responses. But across the two cognitive levels, the degree of inaccuracy remained stable. It was also found that an increase in cognitive complexity increased variability in terms of total amount of production and syntactic complexity but reduced the dispersion in error incidence. Comparisons between standard deviations and standard errors of estimate pointed to substantial inaccuracy of prediction if generalizations were to be made about ESL performance at a high cognitive level from a knowledge of performance at a low level.
An adaptive approach for image encryption and secure transmission over multirate wireless sensor networks

In this paper, we propose an innovative adaptive secure image delivery approach, to achieve effective and efficient image encryption based on an optimal transmission rate in terms of energy efficiency in wireless sensor networks (WSN). Our contribution is three folds—First, the proposed component based selective encryption scheme achieves high image security, while incurring little encryption overhead; furthermore, the proposed adaptive encryption scheme achieve the best security effort within delay bound; finally, the proposed transmission rate optimization improves energy efficiency, and feeds back effective path capacity parameters for adaptive encryption. Simulation results show a significant gain in both energy efficiency and security based on the proposed approach for image secure transmissions in WSN. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Distal femoral physiolysis in renal osteodystrophy: Successful nonoperative treatment of 3 cases followed for 5 years

Slippage of 5 distal femoral epiphyses in 3 children with renal osteodystrophy was successfully treated without operation. During optimal medical treatment and plaster immobilization of the knee, remodelling took place by reorientation of the growth plate.
Rap1 Signaling Prevents L-Type Calcium Channel-Dependent Neurotransmitter Release

The small GTPase Rap1 contributes to fear learning and cortico-amygdala plasticity by inhibiting glutamate release from cortical neurons, but mechanisms of this inhibition remain unknown. Conversely, L-type calcium channels (LTCCs) become involved in glutamate release after fear learning and LTP induction. Here, we show that Rap1 deletion in mouse primary cortical neurons increases synaptic vesicle exocytosis without altering endocytosis or vesicle pool size in an LTCC-dependent manner. We identify Erk1/2 as the downstream effector of Rap1 and show that its inhibition increases plasma membrane expression of LTCCs near presynaptic terminals. We propose that the Rap1 signaling enables plasticity and fear learning by regulating LTCCs at cortico-amygdala synapses.
Validation Studies of the PEPSS, a Measure of Perceived Emotional Support for Use with Adolescents:

The validity of a self-report measure of emotional support, the Perceived Emotionall Personal Support Scale (PEPSS), was investigated in two studies of middle and late adolescents. The PEPSS asks respondents to nominate nine social network members and then to rate each of these relationships on four emotional support items. Factor-analytic techniques were used to demonstrate the validity of the proposed subscale structure of the measure, and both the predictive and the concurrent validity of PEPSS subscales were investigated. Weak but significant correlations were found between family support and a measure of depressive symptoms completed 6 months later. Family and friend subscales of the PEPSS were highly correlated with the family and friend sections of another measure of perceived emotional support. Results of the two studies suggest that the PEPSS may be a useful research instrument for future investigations of emotional support from family members and friends among adolescents.
ANALYSIS OF THE BLOOD SUGAR RESPONSE OF OBESE-HYPERGLYCEMIC MICE AND NORMAL MICE TO HORMONES: INSULIN, GLUCAGON, AND EPINEPHRINE1

SHULL and Mayer (1955) described the effects of growth hormone, corticotropin, and cortisone on the blood sugar of the obese-hyperglycemic mice and their non-obese siblings. It was of importance to assay the effects of glucagon and epinephrine on the blood sugar of the obese mice since it has been found that the turnover of liver glycogen is greatly accelerated (Shull and Mayer, 1955) and the activity of liver phosphorylase is greatly elevated (Shull, Ashmore and Mayer, 1955) in the obese-hyperglycemic mice. The insulin resistance previously reported for these mice (Mayer et al., 1951) has been further analyzed by determining the blood sugar response after administration of various doses of insulin.
Lengthening of mouse hindlimbs with joint loading

For devising clinical approaches to treating limb length discrepancies, strategies that will generate differential longitudinal growth need to be improved. This report addresses the following question: does knee loading increase bone length of the loaded hindlimb? Knee loading has been shown to induce anabolic responses on the periosteal and endosteal surfaces, but its effects on longitudinal bone growth have not yet been examined. In the present studies, loads were applied to the left hindlimb (5-min bouts at 0.5 N) of C57/BL/6 mice (21 mice, ~8 weeks old). Compared to the contralateral and age-matched control groups, knee loading increased the length of the femur by 2.3 and 3.5%, together with the tibia by 2.3 and 3.7% (all P < 0.001), respectively. In accordance with the length measurements, knee loading elevated BMD and BMC in both the femur and the tibia. Histological analysis of the proximal tibia revealed that the loaded growth plate elevated its height by 19.5% (P < 0.001) and the cross-sectional area by 30.7% (P < 0.05). Particularly in the hypertrophic zone, knee loading increased the number of chondrocytes (P < 0.01) as well as their cellular height (P < 0.001) along the length of the tibia. Taken together, this study demonstrates for the first time the potential effectiveness of knee loading in adjusting limb length discrepancy.
Discussion of “Feature Matching in Time Series Modeling” by Y. Xia and H. Tong

Discussion of "Feature Matching in Time Series Modeling" by Y. Xia and H. Tong [arXiv:1104.3073]
What Do Mental Health Professionals Really Think of Family Members of Mental Health Patients

Mental health professionals working at three rural public community mental health agencies were asked for their views on the families of mental health patients. Findings revealed themes that included families as supportive caregivers, as unsupportive agitators, as in pain, as uninformed, and as unequal partners. Implications for clinical intervention, education, and research are discussed.
A secure and efficient inventory management system for disasters

An efficient humanitarian inventory control model and emergency logistics system plays a crucial role in maintaining reliable flow of vital supplies to the victims located in the shelters and minimizing the impacts of the unforeseen disruptions that can occur. This system should not only allow the efficient usage and distribution of emergency supplies but should also offer the ability to be integrated with emerging ITS technologies such as Radio Frequency Identification Devices (RFIDs) for commodity tracking and logistics. This paper proposes a comprehensive methodology for the development of a humanitarian emergency management framework based on the real-time tracking of emergency supplies and demands through the use of RFID technology integrated with a multi-commodity stochastic humanitarian inventory management model (MC-SHIC). First, logistics and management aspects of RFID technologies in the context of the emergency disaster relief framework are discussed. Then, MC-SHIC model proposed to determine the optimal emergency inventory levels to prevent possible disruptions at the minimal cost is presented. The solution of the model with several sensitivity analyses obtained using the pLEPs algorithm is presented and discussed. Realizing that actual emergency inventory levels can deviate from optimal values during the actual disaster relief period due to the possible stochastic disruptions such as fluctuating demand for vital supplies in the shelters, a comprehensive on-line inventory control framework is proposed to minimize impacts of these unforeseen disruptions, or at least to address the problem at hand as fast as possible. Within this methodology, we obtain an approximation of the MC-SHIC model using a simultaneous perturbation stochastic approximation (SPSA) based functional approximator, and compare the performance of these algorithms for solving the new unconstrained optimization problem. Finally, proposed model-free on-line control methodology is discussed using examples to understand the efficiency and practicality of both algorithms in terms of computational times and accuracy of results.
Effects of Spectator Ligands on the Specific Recognition of Intrastrand Platinum-DNA Cross-links by High Mobility Group Box and TATA-binding Proteins

The results presented describe the effects of various spectator ligands, attached to a platinum 1,2-intrastand d(GpG) cross-link in duplex DNA, on the binding of high mobility group box (HMGB) domains and the TATA-binding protein (TBP). In addition to cisplatin-modified DNA, 15-base pair DNA probes modified by {Pt(1R,2R-diaminocyclohexane)}2+,cis-{Pt(NH3)(cyclohexylamine)}2+, {Pt(ethylenediamine)}2+,cis-{Pt(NH3)(cyclobutylamine)}2+, and cis-{Pt(NH3)(2-picoline)}2+were examined. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays show that both the A and B domains of HMGB1 as well as TBP discriminate between different platinum-DNA adducts. HMGB1 domain A is the most sensitive to the nature of the spectator ligands on platinum. The effect of the spectator ligands on protein binding also depends highly on the base pairs flanking the platinated d(GpG) site. Double-stranded oligonucleotides containing the AG*G*C sequence, where the asterisks denote the sites of platination, with different spectator ligands are only moderately discriminated by the HMGB proteins and TBP, but the recognition of dsTG*G*A is highly dependent on the ligands. The effects of HMGB1 overexpression in a BG-1 ovarian cancer cell line, induced by steroid hormones, on the sensitivity of cells treated with [Pt(1R,2R-diaminocyclohexane)Cl2] andcis-[Pt(NH3)(cyclohexylamine)Cl2] were also examined. The results suggest that HMGB1 protein levels influence the cellular processing ofcis-{Pt(NH3)- (cyclohexylamine)}2+, but not {Pt((1R,2R)-diaminocyclohexane)}2+, DNA lesions. This result is consistent with the observed binding of HMGB1a to platinum-modified dsTG*G*A probes but not with the binding affinity of HMGB1a and HMGB1 to platinum-damaged dsAG*G*C oligonucleotides. These experiments reinforce the importance of sequence context in platinum-DNA lesion recognition by cellular proteins.
Management of patients with combined tracheoesophageal fistula, esophageal atresia, and duodenal atresia

a b s t r a c t INTRODUCTION: Patients with combined esophageal atresia (EA), tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF), and duodenal atresia (DA) pose a rare management challenge. PRESENTATION OF CASE: Three patients with combined esophageal atresia (EA), tracheoesophageal fis- tula (TEF), and duodenal atresia safely underwent a staged approach inserting a gastrostomy tube and repairing the EA/TEF first followed by a duodenoduodenostomy within one week. None of the patients suffered significant pre- or post-operative complications and our follow-up data (between 12 and 24 months) suggest that all patients eventually outgrow their reflux and respiratory symptoms. DISCUSSION: While some authors support repair of all defects in one surgery, we recommend a staged approach. A gastrostomy tube is placed first for gastric decompression before TEF ligation and EA repair can be safely undertaken. The repair of the DA can then be performed within 3-7 days under controlled circumstances.
Government centrality to university–industry interactions: University research centers and the industry involvement of academic researchers

Abstract This paper uses data from a national survey of academic researchers in the US to detect how different types of university research centers affect individual-level university–industry interactions. The results suggest that while affiliation with an industry-related center correlates positively with the likelihood of an academic researcher having had any research-related interactions with private companies, affiliation with centers sponsored by government centers programs correlates positively with the level of industry involvement, no matter whether these centers additionally have ties to private companies. The analysis takes the “scientific and technical human capital” approach, which draws from theories of social capital and human capital and proves useful for framing the institutional and resource-based perspectives that characterize much of the literature on university–industry interactions. The scientific and technical human capital approach is taken because its emphasis on the research capacities of individual academic researchers provides a more direct explanation of government centrality to academic researchers’ industry involvement than provide either the resource-based or institutional views. Implications for policy and management as well as for future applications of the scientific and technical human capital approach are discussed.
Stack and Queue Layouts for Toruses and Extended Hypercubes

Linear layouts play an important role in many applications including networks and VLSI design. Stack and queue layouts are two important types of linear layouts. We consider the stack number, s(G), and queue number, q(G), for multidimensional k-ary hypercubes and toruses. Heath, Leighton, and Rosenberg showed that d-dimensional ternary hypercubes have stack number &#8486;(N1/9), with N=3d nodes. Malitz showed that E edges implies stack number O(&#8730;E). For k-ary d-dimensional hypercubes, with N = kd vertices, Malitz's bound is O(kd/2). We improve this to 2d+1-3. The 2d+1-3 bound holds for arbitrary d-dimensional toruses. The queue number of d-dimensional k-ary hypercubes or toruses is bounded by O(d). Hence, Heath, Leighton, and Rosenberg exhibit an exponential tradeoff between s(G) and q(G) for multidimensional ternary hypercubes. Conversely, they conjectured that, for any G, q(G) is O(s(G)). We present a family {H} of modified multidimensional toruses and conjecture that q(H) is not O(s(H)).
Diagnosis of deep cutaneous fungal infections: Correlation between skin tissue culture and histopathology

Background Deep cutaneous fungal infections (DCFIs) are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality, particularly in immunocompromised patients. Although a direct correlation between histopathologic examination and culture is expected, discordant findings may be seen, presenting a unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Objectives We sought to determine the correlation between skin tissue cultures and histopathologic examination in patients with DCFI. Methods This is a 10-year retrospective review (2003-2012) of patients with a diagnosis of DCFI seen at a single tertiary care institution. Tissue cultures and histopathologic findings were reviewed. Results In 8 of 33 cases, fungal elements were seen on routine histopathologic sections but skin cultures were negative. Three of 8 of the discordant cases had concurrent positive non–skin tissue cultures that correlated with the pathology interpretation, and 3 of 8 patients in the discordant group died of systemic fungal infection. Limitations This was a retrospective study design and a single tertiary care institution experience. Conclusions The histopathologic interpretation of skin tissue specimens is critical for rapid and accurate diagnosis of DCFI. Despite the identification of fungal organisms on histopathologic assessment of skin tissue specimens, skin tissue culture may fail to show fungal growth. A diagnosis of a DCFI and initiation of appropriate treatment should always be considered in spite of discordant results.
Phototherapy in Psoriasis: A Review of Mechanisms of Action:

Background:Phototherapy is one of the most efficacious treatment options for psoriasis. New, emerging studies are beginning to define the biologic mechanisms by which phototherapy improves psoriasi...
Single-stage multiple-comparison procedure for quantiles and other parameters

We present a single-stage multiple-comparison procedure for comparing parameters of independent systems, where the parameters are not necessarily means or steady-state means. We assume that for each system, the parameter has an estimation process that satisfies a central limit theorem (CLT) and that we have a consistent variance-estimation process for the variance parameter appearing in the CLT. The procedure allows for unequal run lengths or sample sizes across systems, and also allows for unequal and unknown variance parameters across systems. The procedure is asymptotically valid as the run lengths or sample sizes of all system grow large. One setting the framework encompasses is comparing quantiles of independent populations. It also covers comparing means or other moments of independent populations, functions of means, and steady-state means of stochastic processes.
Cognitive code-division channelization with blind primary-system identification

We consider the problem of cognitive code-division channelization (simultaneous power and code-channel allocation) for secondary transmission links co-existing with an unknown primary code-division multiple-access (CDMA) system. We first develop a blind primary-user identification scheme to detect the binary code sequences (signatures) utilized by primary users. To create a secondary link we propose two alternative procedures –one of moderate and one of low computational complexity– that optimize the secondary transmitting power and binary codechannel assignment in accordance with the detected primary code channels to avoid “harmful” interference. At the same time, the optimization procedures guarantee that the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) at the output of the maximum SINR linear secondary receiver is no less than a certain threshold to meet secondary transmission quality of service (QoS) requirements.
Gender differences in trauma theory vs. practice: Comments on "Mechanism of estrogen-mediated intestinal protection following trauma-hemorrhage: p38 MAPK-dependent upregulation of HO-1" by Hsu JT et al

in the 14 years since the landmark report from the Institute of Medicine ([17][1]), much has been learned about the role of gender in patient outcomes. Women typically have lower mortality rates than men from many chronic diseases at any age ([5][2]). An increasing amount of data have described a
Pharmacologic Repression of Retinoic Acid Receptor–Related Orphan Nuclear Receptor γ Is Therapeutic in the Collagen‐Induced Arthritis Experimental Model

Objective The nuclear receptor retinoic acid receptor–related orphan nuclear receptor γ (RORγ; T cell–specific isoform RORγt) is a key regulator of Th17 cell differentiation, controlling the production of the inflammatory cytokine interleukin-17 (IL-17). Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation of monocytes leads to the induction of RORγ. We previously showed that the potent and selective inverse agonist of RORγ, SR2211, was effective at suppressing IL-17 production in EL4 cells. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of SR2211 treatment on proinflammatory cytokine expression in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells as well as on joint inflammation in vivo in mice with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). Methods Collagen was injected into the tail of DBA mice, followed by a booster inoculation 21 days later. Three days prior to the booster inoculation, SR2211 was administered twice daily for 15 days. Thymus, spleen, and draining lymph nodes (DLNs) were then harvested, and Th17 cell differentiation and DLN stimulation were performed. Results Treatment of Th17 cells with SR2211 suppressed the expression and production of inflammatory cytokines. Likewise, SR2211 reduced inflammatory cytokine production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Mice with CIA that received SR2211 twice daily for 15 days exhibited a statistically significant reduction in joint inflammation as compared to mice that received only vehicle. Interestingly, systemic Th1 cell activation was detected in SR2211-treated mice with CIA, as indicated by an increase in interferon-γ levels. Conclusion The findings of this study support the idea of targeting RORγ to therapeutically repress inflammatory T cell function and macrophage activation in humans with rheumatoid arthritis. Compounds such as SR2211 have potential utility for the treatment of inflammatory disease.
Attentional signatures of perception: multiple object tracking reveals the automaticity of contour interpolation.

Multiple object tracking (MOT) is an attentional task wherein observers attempt to track multiple targets among moving distractors. Contour interpolation is a perceptual process that fills-in nonvisible edges on the basis of how surrounding edges (inducers) are spatiotemporally related. In five experiments, we explored the automaticity of interpolation through its influences on tracking. We found that (1) when the edges of targets and distractors jointly formed dynamic illusory or occluded contours, tracking accuracy worsened; (2) when interpolation bound all four targets together, performance improved; (3) when interpolation strength was weakened (by altering the size or relative orientation of inducing edges), tracking effects disappeared; and (4) real and interpolated contours influenced tracking comparably, except that real contours could more effectively shift attention toward distractors. These results suggest that interpolation’s characteristics—and, in particular, its automaticity—can be revealed through its attentional influences or “signatures” within tracking. Our results also imply that relatively detailed object representations are formed in parallel, and that such representations can affect tracking when they become relevant to scene segmentation.
The provision of healthcare services for the Hmong women in the USA: a qualitative inquiry in the Alaskan context

We examine the struggles and needs for better healthcare services for the Hmong women migrated from China and living in Alaska, USA. The researchers identify three major concerns of the Hmong women living in Alaska regarding the US healthcare system: these include language barrier, lack of knowledge about the healthcare system, and cultural differences. Focus group method within the framework provided by the appreciative inquiry paradigm was employed to conduct the inquiry. It is expected that the findings of this study can be used to improve the provision of healthcare services for the Hmong women, especially those who live in the State of Alaska.
Quantitative duplex TaqMan real-time polymerase chain reaction for the assessment of the etiologic agent of epizootic bovine abortion.

Epizootic bovine abortion (EBA), also commonly known as “foothill abortion,” is a late-term abortion primarily in beef cattle with significant economic impacts in California, Nevada, and Oregon. Th...