cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Generational Politics and Renewal of Leadership in the Moroccan Women's Movement

This article uses generational analysis to discuss generational politics and renewal of leadership in the Moroccan women's movement. I argue that while assessments of the achievements and challenges of the movement abound within and outside academia, there is a remarkable silence around issues of generations and intergenerational relationships. How do recent gains in women's rights resonate with the younger generation in the country? How supportive and involved are young people in consolidating these gains? To explore these questions, this article draws on in-depth interviews with thirty-two young men and women. While the sample size is relatively small, the ethnographies suggest complex ways in which youth relate to the gains of the women's movement and women's rights activism. I have identified three broad trends in youth's attitudes: willed self-distantiation, cautious identification and strategic endorsement. They all suggest that the consolidation of recent gains and promotion of gender equity are di...
IL-10 Polymorphism Associated with Decreased Risk for Mortality After Burn Injury

Objective Evaluation of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the interleukin‑10 promoter (‑592 and ‑819) on risk for death after burn injury. Methods Association between the IL-10 SNPs and outcome after burn injury was evaluated in a cohort of 265 patients from Parkland Hospital, Dallas, TX with ≥15% TBSA burns without non-burn trauma (ISS ≤ 16), traumatic or anoxic brain injury or spinal cord injury, who survived >48 h under an IRB-approved protocol. Clinical data were collected prospectively and genotyping was conducted by TaqMan assay. Whole blood from 31 healthy volunteers was stimulated with LPS (100 ng/mL) to determine the level of IL-10 expression for each allele by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results After adjustment for percent total body surface area (TBSA) burned, inhalation injury, age, gender, and race/ethnicity, carriage of ‑592A and/or ‑819T was significantly associated ( P = 0.014) with a decreased risk for death (adjusted odds ratio: 0.404; 95% CI: 0.197–0.829). As the candidate SNPs were in complete linkage disequilibrium, it was not possible to distinguish which allele was associated with decreased mortality risk. Age, inhalation injury, and full-thickness burn size were significantly associated with increased risk for death. In the LPS stimulated blood of healthy controls, carriage of the -592A and/or -819T allele demonstrated a trend for decreased levels of IL-10 ( P = 0.079). Conclusion Carriage of the ‑592A and/or ‑819T allele in the IL-10 promoter appears to reduce the risk for death after burn injury.
Monkey visual behavior falls into the uncanny valley

Very realistic human-looking robots or computer avatars tend to elicit negative feelings in human observers. This phenomenon is known as the “uncanny valley” response. It is hypothesized that this uncanny feeling is because the realistic synthetic characters elicit the concept of “human,” but fail to live up to it. That is, this failure generates feelings of unease due to character traits falling outside the expected spectrum of everyday social experience. These unsettling emotions are thought to have an evolutionary origin, but tests of this hypothesis have not been forthcoming. To bridge this gap, we presented monkeys with unrealistic and realistic synthetic monkey faces, as well as real monkey faces, and measured whether they preferred looking at one type versus the others (using looking time as a measure of preference). To our surprise, monkey visual behavior fell into the uncanny valley: They looked longer at real faces and unrealistic synthetic faces than at realistic synthetic faces.
Response to Drs Gordon and Clark

We appreciate the interest shown in our case report and the comments of Drs Gordon and Clark.1 Gordon and Clark provide very interesting findings from the largest dataset of preterm infants with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and their eosinophil counts at the time of the NEC diagnosis. In their dataset, in addition to the lack of feeding history (pathogenesis of allergic colitis is driven by dietary antigens), it is not clear whether stool examination for leucocytes was done in the subset of NEC patients categorized based on peripheral eosinophil count. The supposition about the allergic enterocolitis as a benign entity compared to NEC in general is based on lack of reported mortality rates in neonatal literature attributed to allergic enterocolitis as a clinical entity in itself and the dramatic improvement and non-progression of systemic symptomatology with removal of offending dietary antigen. Although a mortality rate of 16.8% relative to the higher mortality rate of 22% between low (<10) eosinophil count and higher eosinophil count (10) groups with NEC may appear important, for a condition thought to be benign, even 16.8% mortality may be considered high by many in neonatal practice, if this subset were to truly represent allergic enterocolitis.
Targeting SVCT for enhanced drug absorption: synthesis and in vitro evaluation of a novel vitamin C conjugated prodrug of saquinavir.

Abstract In order to improve oral absorption, a novel prodrug of saquinavir (Saq), ascorbyl-succinic-saquinavir (AA-Su-Saq) targeting sodium dependent vitamin C transporter (SVCT) was synthesized and evaluated. Aqueous solubility, stability and cytotoxicity were determined. Affinity of AA-Su-Saq towards efflux pump P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and recognition of AA-Su-Saq by SVCT were studied. Transepithelial permeability across polarized MDCK-MDR1 and Caco-2 cells were determined. Metabolic stability of AA-Su-Saq in rat liver microsomes was investigated. AA-Su-Saq appears to be fairly stable in both DPBS and Caco-2 cells with half lives of 9.65 and 5.73 h, respectively. Uptake of [3H]Saquinavir accelerated by 2.7 and 1.9 fold in the presence of 50 μM Saq and AA-Su-Saq in MDCK-MDR1 cells. Cellular accumulation of [14C]AA diminished by about 50–70% relative to control in the presence of 200 μM AA-Su-Saq in MDCK-MDR1 and Caco-2 cells. Uptake of AA-Su-Saq was lowered by 27% and 34% in the presence of 5 mM AA in MDCK-MDR1 and Caco-2 cells, respectively. Absorptive permeability of AA-Su-Saq was elevated about 4-5 fold and efflux index reduced by about 13-15 fold across the polarized MDCK-MDR1 and Caco-2 cells. Absorptive permeability of AA-Su-Saq decreased 44% in the presence of 5 mM AA across MDCK-MDR1 cells. AA-Su-Saq was devoid of cytotoxicity over the concentration range studied. AA-Su-Saq significantly enhanced the metabolic stability but lowered the affinity towards CYP3A4. In conclusion, prodrug modification of Saq through conjugation to AA via a linker significantly raised the absorptive permeability and metabolic stability. Such modification also caused significant evading of P-gp mediated efflux and CYP3A4 mediated metabolism. SVCT targeted prodrug approach can be an attractive strategy to enhance the oral absorption and systemic bioavailability of anti-HIV protease inhibitors.
Genetic variation for aerial dispersal behavior in the Banks grass mite

Banks grass mites, Oligonychus pratensis (Banks), exhibit a behavior that facilitates their dispersal as aerial plankton over long distances. The propensity to display this behavior and its latency varies among individual mites. Some of this variation can be attributed to genetic differences among individuals. Mother-daughter resemblance and bi-directional selection were used to estimate the genetic component of latency of the aerial dispersal behavior in a wild population collected from corn plants. Mother-daughter regression analysis suggested that up to 10% of variation in initiation of aerial dispersal behavior was attributable to an additive genetic component. Subsequent selection for shorter and longer latency resulted in significant divergence between selected lines after 9 generation, but the response was not symmetrical. Realized heritability for shorter latency was 0.09, while that for longer latency was not different from 0. This response to selection was consistent with results of the mother-daughter analysis, and the response asymmetry may explain the high variability in the mother-daughter regression. In both their natural habitat and in a corn agroecosystem, mites survive by using a succession of temporarily available hosts. Aerial dispersal behavior by Banks grass mites facilitates colonization of new hosts. The genetic basis and selection response of behavior initiating aerial dispersal is consistent with its role in mites population dynamics in this setting.
Self-heating in SOI nano devices

State of the art 2D and 3D electro-thermal particle-based device simulators have been developed to investigate degradation in the on-current due to self-heating effects in fully-depleted SOI devices and nanowire transistors. For the fully-depleted SOI devices in which we have thin silicon slabs temperature and thickness dependent expression for the thermal conductivity data that agrees perfectly with Asheghi and co-workers experimental data is derived and implemented in the code. Regarding the thermal conductivity of the nanowire transistor, the experimental data of Li Shi and co-workers are used. We find that velocity saturation effect in both fully-depleted SOI and nanowire transistors is the main reason for the observation of smaller degradation due to self-heating effects. For the case of FD SOI devices, we find that crystallographic orientation plays role on the amount of current degradation. For the case of the nanowire transistors, we find that placement of contacts significantly affects the current degradation.
High-Temperature Inducible Cell-Free Transcription and Replication of Double-Stranded RNAs within the Parasitic ProtozoanCryptosporidium parvum

Abstract Sporozoites of the protozoan parasite, Cryptosporidium parvum, were found to contain free, full-size plus strands transcribed from two extrachromosomal, cytoplasmic, virus-like double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs). Cell-free transcription and replication of both dsRNAs were observed in crude sporozoite lysates. RNA polymerase activity was found to be dependent upon addition of Mg 2+ or Mn 2+ , as well as the four ribonucleoside triphosphates, and was insensitive to inhibitors of cellular DNA-dependent RNA polymerase. Semiconservative transcription of the dsRNAs (plus strand synthesis) was observed at a wide range of temperatures, with an optimum of 50°C. In contrast, replication (minus strand synthesis) was detected only at 50 and 60°C.
Interannual Variation in Coral Reef Plant Communities of Central Belize

Algal and seagrass community composition were monitored biennially along three transect lines in Belize from 1997 through 2001. Two sites were on South Water Caye. The first was on the seaward side, between the reef crest and the caye. The second was on the landward side of the caye. The third site was on Long Caye, Glover's Reef Atoll. This transect line ran from a coral rubble filled embayment, through a small channel (formed by hurricane Hattie in 1960, bisecting Long Caye), and into a seagrass meadow in the interior of the atoll. After a 38-year hiatus, hurricanes struck Belize in 1998, 2000 and 2001, giving us the opportunity to examine changes in plant community structure before and after the storm sequence. Minimal interannual changes were seen at South Water Caye. The seagrasses at Long Caye were nearly eliminated along the transect line due to burial by sand. Peak density of Thalassia testudinum at Long Caye was over 60 shoots/m2 in 1997 and less than 2 shoots/m2 in 1999 and 2001. Halodule wrightii and Syringodium filiforme were both completely eliminated between 1997 and 1999. Padina and Dictyota spp. flourished in the embayment following the hurricane, but had been virtually absent prior to the sequence of storms. Future monitoring will be conducted to follow recovery of the meadow and look for other long-term changes.
A fully integrated 1.5-V 5.5-GHz CMOS phase-locked loop

A 1.5-V 5.5-GHz fully integrated phase-locked loop (PLL) has been implemented in a 0.25-/spl mu/m foundry digital CMOS process. From a 5.5-GHz carrier, the in-band phase noise can be as low as -88 dBc/Hz at a 40-kHz offset, while the phase noise for the free-running VCO is -116 dBc/Hz at an 1-MHz offset. The VCO core current is 4.6 mA. The prescaler is implemented using a variation of the source-coupled logic (SCL) structure to reduce the switching noise, and thus to reduce the PLL side-band spurs. At -18 dBm signal power measured off chip, the switching noise coupled through substrate and metal interconnect generates spurs with power levels less than -99 dBm when the loop is open. A new charge-pump circuit is developed to reduce the current glitch at the output node. By incorporating a voltage doubler, the voltage dynamic range at the charge-pump output and thus the VCO control voltage range is increased from 1.3 to 2.6 V with immeasurable phase noise and spurious level degradation to the PLL. When the loop is closed, the power levels of side-band spurs at the offset frequency equal to the /spl sim/43-MHz reference frequency are < -69 dBc. The total power consumption of the PLL including that for the output buffers is /spl sim/23 mW.
Asynchronous and Synchronous Dispersals in Spatially Discrete Population Models

This study is on the role of synchronous and asynchronous dispersals in a discrete-time single-species population model with dispersal between two patches, where predispersal dynamics are compen- satory or overcompensatory and dispersal is synchronous or asynchronous or mixed synchronous and asynchronous. It is known that single-species dispersal-linked population models behave as single- species single-patch models whenever all predispersal local dynamics are compensatory and dispersal is synchronous. However, the dynamics of the corresponding model connected by asynchronous and mixed synchronous-asynchronous dispersals depend on the dispersal rates, intrinsic growth rates, and the parameter that models the possible modes of dispersal. The species becomes extinct on at least one patch when the asynchronous dispersal rates are high, while it persists when the rates are low. In mixed synchronous-asynchronous systems, depending on the model parameters, the pioneer species either becomes extinct on all patches or persists on all patches. Overcompensatory predispersal dynamics with synchronous dispersal can lead to multiple attractors with fractal basin boundaries. However, the associated models with either asynchronous or mixed synchronous and asynchronous dispersals exhibit multiple attractors with fewer numbers of distinct attractors. That is, the long-term dynamics of synchronous dispersal-linked systems can be more sensitive to initial population sizes than that of the corresponding asynchronous and mixed synchronous-asynchronous systems. Also, synchronous, asynchronous, and mixed synchronous-asynchronous dispersals can "stabilize" the local patch dynamics from overcompensatory to compensatory dynamics. In our mixed synchronous-asynchronous model, the dominant mode of dispersal usually drives the dynam- ics of the full system.
The Drosophila P68 RNA helicase regulates transcriptional deactivation by promoting RNA release from chromatin

Terminating a gene’s activity requires that pre-existing transcripts be matured or destroyed and that the local chromatin structure be returned to an inactive configuration. Here we show that the Drosophila homolog of the mammalian P68 RNA helicase plays a novel role in RNA export and gene deactivation. p68 mutations phenotypically resemble mutations in small bristles (sbr), the Drosophila homolog of the human mRNA export factor NXF1. Full-length hsp70 mRNA accumulates in the nucleus near its sites of transcription following heat shock of p68 homozygotes, and hsp70 gene shutdown is delayed. Unstressed mutant larvae show similar defects in transcript accumulation and gene repression at diverse loci, and we find that p68 mutations are allelic to Lighten-up, a known suppressor of position effect variegation. Our observations reveal a strong connection between transcript clearance and gene repression. P68 may be needed to rapidly remove transcripts from a gene before its activity can be shut down and its chromatin reset to an inactive state.
The Changing Character of Behavioral Assessment and Treatment: A Historical Introduction and Review of Functional Analysis Research

This paper presents a brief introduction to the historical development of functional analysis as an important pretreatment assessment and analysis strategy for treating academic and social behavior problems. Studies considered to be seminal or influential are reviewed to highlight the historical and contemporary refinement of functional analysis methodologies. Conclusions are presented in terms of functional analysis' conceptual and methodological impact on behavioral assessment and treatment, and its advancement into various human service sectors concerned with the care of individuals with special needs.
Asymptotic freedom and the baryon-quark phase transition

We have calculated the ground-state properties of a quark gas to second order in the quark-gluon coupling constant. Asymptotic freedom has been taken into account by using the renormalized coupling constant of Politzer and Gross and Wilczek. We find that this asymptotically free perturbation theory leads to an equation of state for a quark gas which for pressure P > 0 is very similar to the equation of state obtained from the MIT bag model of hadrons. In particular, we can identify a ''bag pressure'' term in the perturbation theory expression for the pressure as a function of density. We obtain estimates for the baryon-quark transition pressure by comparing the perturbation theory results for the Gibb's energy per baryon of baryonic matter. Our calculations show that the baryon-quark transition takes place at densities on the order of 10--20 times that in ordinary nuclei. These transition densities are higher than the maximum central density calculated for a neutron star.
Results of Selective Management of Ureteropelvic Junction Obstruction

Background and Purpose: Controversy continues over the need to image the ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) before endopyelotomy to detect crossing vessels. We evaluated a selective management model for UPJ obstruction. Patients and Methods: Intraoperative ultrasonography was performed before endopyelotomy in 19 men and 16 women. Patients with large (>4-mm) crossing vessels underwent open or laparoscopic pyeloplasty; the others had ureteroscopic or percutaneous endopyelotomy with electrocautery or the holmium laser. Results: Crossing vessels were found in 25 of the 35 patients and a high-inserting ureter in 4. The vessels were >4 mm in nine patients, seven of whom had successful pyeloplasty and two of whom were managed expectantly with good results. Endopyelotomy was successful in 94% without a crossing vessel and 70% of those with a crossing vessel. The overall success rate (absence of symptom and resolution of obstruction on renal scintigraphy) was 89%. Conclusion: Selective management of UPJ obstruction, avo...
Electron density uncertainties in proton computed tomography

An expression is derived for the electron density resolution of proton computed tomography obtained from algebraic reconstruction methods. The dependence of the resolution on system parameters is clarified and methods for achieving the best resolutions possible are suggested. Comparison of our results with previous ones from the literature is included as well as a discussion of the limitations of the results.
A pathway approach to evaluating the association between the CHIEF pathway and risk of colorectal cancer

Inflammation, hormones and energy-related factors have been associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) and it has been proposed that convergence and interactions of these factors importantly influence CRC risk. We have previously hypothesized that genetic variation in the CHIEF (convergence of hormones, inflammation and energy-related factors) pathway would influence risk of CRC. In this paper, we utilize an Adaptive Rank Truncation Product (ARTP) statistical method to determine the overall pathway significance and then use that method to identify the key elements within the pathway associated with disease risk. Data from two population-based case–control studies of colon (n = 1555 cases and 1956 controls) and rectal (n = 754 cases and 959 controls) cancer were used. We use ARTP to estimate pathway and gene significance and polygenic scores based on ARTP findings to further estimate the risk associated with the pathway. Associations were further assessed based on tumor molecular phenotype. The CHIEF pathway was statistically significant for colon cancer ( PARTP = 0.03) with the most significant interferons ( PARTP = 0.0253), JAK/STAT/ SOCS (PARTP = 0.0111), telomere (PARTP = 0.0399) and transforming growth factor β (PARTP = 0.0043) being the most significant subpathways for colon cancer. For rectal cancer, interleukins (PARTP = 0.0235) and selenoproteins (PARTP = 0.0047) were statistically significant although the pathway overall was of borderline significance ( PARTP = 0.06). Interleukins (PARTP = 0.0456) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (PARTP = 0.0392) subpathways were uniquely significant for CpG island methylator phenotypepositive colon tumors. Increasing number of at-risk alleles was significantly associated with both colon [odds ratio (OR) = 6.21, 95% confidence interval (CI): 4.72, 8.16] and rectal (OR = 7.82, 95% CI: 5.26, 11.62) cancer. We conclude that elements of the CHIEF pathway are important for CRC risk.
Metabolic alkalosis: A less appreciated side effect of Imipenem-cilastin use-comment

Sir, I read with interest the article “Metabolic alkalosis: A less appreciated side effect of Imipenem-cilastin use” by Panda and colleagues in the July–August issue of the journal.[1] Ironically, the authors substituted imipenem-cilastin with piperacillin-tazobactum which has also been reported to be associated with hypokalemia and metabolic alkalosis by a similar mechanism.[2,3]
Diffusion of chemically reacting fluids through nonlinear elastic solids: Mixture model and stabilized methods

This paper presents a stabilized mixed finite element method for advection-diffusion-reaction phenomena that involve an anisotropic viscous fluid diffusing and chemically reacting with an anisotropic elastic solid. The reactive fluid–solid mixture theory of Hall and Rajagopal (Diffusion of a fluid through an anisotropically chemically reacting thermoelastic body within the context of mixture theory. Math Mech Solid 2012; 17: 131–164) is employed wherein energy and entropy production relations are captured via an equation describing the Lagrange multiplier that results from imposing the constraint of maximum rate of entropy production. The primary partial differential equations are thus reduced to the balance of mass and balance of linear momentum equations for the fluid and the solid, together with an equation for the Lagrange multiplier. Present implementation considers a simplification of the full system of governing equations in the context of isothermal problems, although anisothermal studies are bein...
Pixel-wise motion detection in persistent aerial video surveillance

We present a pixel-wise metric for change detection in stabilized, persistent aerial video. The method first decomposes a raw windowed temporal signal and performs time-frequency analysis to calculate a scalar value for each pixel. From this value, the algorithm indicates whether the pixel underwent independent motion in the time window or parallax. The method outlined does not make any assumptions on the sparsity of structural motion, amount of independent movement, nor calculate any camera geometry. The algorithm is naturally parallelizable and can be applied prior to Structure From Motion (SFM) frameworks to disambiguate independent and structural motion or create a mask for object-oriented video compression.
Pediatric otogenic intracranial abscesses

OBJECTIVE: To describe the presentation and management of otogenic intracranial abscesses in a tertiary care pediatric hospital. STUDY DESIGN: Case series and chart review. SETTING: Tertiary care pediatric hospital. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: An inpatient database was queried for the following diagnostic codes from 2000 to 2008: [383.2] petrositis, [383] acute mastoiditis, [386.3] labyrinthitis, [351.0] facial paralysis (Bell's palsy), [351.9] facial nerve disorder unspecified, [351.8] other facial nerve disorders, [383.01] subperiosteal abscess, [383.02] Gradenigo's syndrome, [320] meningitis, [324.9] extradural or subdural abscess, [324.0] intracranial abscess, [325] thrombosis of intracranial venous sinus, and [348.2] otic hydrocephalus. Presenting signs and symptoms, microbiology, length of stay, surgical findings, and outcomes were recorded for each patient. RESULTS: Forty patients were identified with an otogenic intracranial complication. Thirty patients had evidence of an intraparenchymal, epidural, subdural, or petrous apex suppurative complication of otitis media. Twenty-four of 30 (80%) patients had a canal wall up mastoidectomy, three (10%) patients had a craniotomy without a mastoidectomy, and three (10%) patients were managed with intravenous antibiotics with or without pressure equalization tubes. There were no mortalities in this series of patients. CONCLUSION: Patients with intracranial abscesses, in selected cases, can be managed with intravenous antibiotics without mastoidectomy. The use of canal wall up mastoidectomy is an acceptable alternative to radical mastoidectomy when surgical intervention is necessary.
A Modified Analysis of the Microstructural Characteristics of General Fiber Assemblies

A critical problem in the study by Komori and Makishima about the microstructural characterization of general fiber assemblies is analyzed, and a modified approach is presented in this paper. The modified theory is able to predict satisfactorily such , parameters as the mean values of the number of fiber contacts and fiber segments between contacts in an unbonded fiber system. For a bonded fibrous structure like a nonwoven material, the relative proportions, the distributions of the bond lengths, and the free fiber lengths are also provided based on the modified theory. The theory has been applied to three typical fibrous systems to calculate the microstructural pa rameters that are believed useful for further studies of these systems.
Training preschool children to identify emergency situations and make emergency phone calls

Preschool children (4- and 5-year-olds) were taught to (a) discriminate emergencies from nonemergencies, (b) provide reasons for designating an emergency or nonemergency as such, (c) dial 911, the emergency phone number, and (d) provide information pertaining to an emergency (name, address, phone number, type of emergency, number of people appearing injured, whether an ambulance is needed). The children were divided into groups, and each group participated in a single 30-min training session that consisted of videotaped scenes of emergencies and nonemergencies, an adult trainer modeling correct responses, and feedback from the trainer for the children's responses. In a multiple baseline design, that training was associated with improvements in discriminating emergencies from nonemergencies, providing reasons for designating a scene as an emergency or nonemergency, reporting the number of people appearing injured in an emergency, deciding whether an ambulance was needed, and reporting home phone numbers and addresses. These behaviors generalized to four scenes that were not trained and were maintained at a 3-month follow-up.
AdS/CFT energy loss in time-dependent string configurations

We analyze spacetime momentum currents on a classical string world sheet, study their generic connection via AdS/CFT correspondence to the instantaneous energy loss of the dual field theory degrees of freedom and suggest a general formula for computing energy loss in a time-dependent string configuration. Applying this formula to the case of falling strings, generally dual to light quarks, reveals that the energy loss does not display a well-pronounced Bragg peak at late times, as previously believed. Finally, we comment on the possible implications of this result to the jet quenching phenomena in heavy ion collisions.
The Anophthalmic Socket

Following enucleation or evisceration surgery, the anatomy and physiology of the orbit are changed. These changes affect not only the cosmetic appearance of the anophthalmic patient but also the function of the socket and the prosthesis. Surgical techniques for primary enucleation and evisceration surgery and correction of early and late complications are described. During the course of this century many operations and prosthetic devices have been advocated. A brief summary of these is given as well as detailed surgical descriptions of techniques the author believes have proven successful over the years.
Development of the NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator Training Guidebook

ABSTRACT This paper provides an overview of the Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) Training Guidebook and describes the knowledge and skills necessary for the SSC position. This Guidebook provide...
Milk Production and Feed Intake of Holstein Cows Given Short (30-d) or Normal (60-d) Dry Periods

Eighty-four Holstein cows were utilized to evaluate effects of dry period (60 d vs. 30 d), with or without estradiol cypionate (ECP) injections to accelerate mammary involution, on prepartum and postpartum dry matter intake (DMI), body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS), and subsequent milk yield (MY). Treatments were arranged in a 3 x 2 x 2 factorial design that included dry period (30 d dry, 30 d dry + ECP, and 60 d dry), prepartum and postpartum bovine somatotropin (bST; 10.2 mg/d), and prepartum anionic or cationic diets. To accelerate mammary involution, ECP (15 mg) was injected intramuscularly at dry-off. No interaction of bST or prepartum diet with dry period length was detected on BW, BCS, or MY. No significant effects of dry period length on prepartum DMI, BW, or BCS were detected. Cows with shorter dry periods maintained postpartum BCS better and tended to have greater DMI immediately postpartum. Mean daily yields of milk for dry period groups did not differ during overall lactation period (1 to 21 wk). Injection of ECP at the onset of the 30-d dry period did not affect MY. No significant differences due to dry period length were detected for milk, 3.5% FCM, or SCM yields during first 10 wk of lactation. Data indicated that a short dry period protocol can be used as a management tool with no loss in the subsequent milk production of dairy cows.
Anisotropy Decays Of Single Tryptophan Proteins Measured By Ghz Frequency-Domain Fluorometry With Collisional Quenching

We use frequency-domain fluorometry to determine the anisotropy decays of the tryptophan emission from S. nuclease and from the model compound gly-trp-gly. Resolution of the rapid and complex anisotropy decays was enhanced by global analysis of the data measured in the presence of quenching by either oxygen or acrylamide. Data were obtained at four to six quencher concentrations, and the data analyzed globally to recover the anisotropy decay. Because the decay times were decreased by quenching, measurements were possible to a upper frequency limit of 2 GHz. The anisotropy decay of gly-trp-gly revealed 40 ps of the indole ring, which was resolved from the overall 150 ps correlation times of the tripeptide. The anisotropy decay of nuclease displayed a 90/ps component as well as a 10 ns component due to overall rotational diffusion. We believe these highly resolved anisotropy decays are suitably for comparison with molecular dynamic simulations.
Proteomic analysis of multiple sclerosis cerebrospinal fluid.

Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and peptide mass fingerprinting were used to identify proteins in cerebrospinal fluid (C SF) pooled from three patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and in C SF pooled from three patients with non-MS inflammatory central nervous system (C NS) disorders. Resolution of C SF proteins on three pH gradients (3-10, 4-7 and 6-11) enabled identification of a total of 430 spots in the MS C SF proteome that represented 61 distinct proteins. The gels containing MS C SF revealed 103 protein spots that were not seen on control gels. A ll but four of these 103 spots were proteins known to be present in normal human C SF. The four exceptio ns were: C RTAC -1B (cartilage acidic protein), tetranectin (a plasminogen-binding protein), SPARC -like protein (a calcium binding cell signalling glycoprotein), and autotaxin t (a phosphodiesterase). It remains unknown whether these four proteins are related to the cause and patho genesis of MS.
A step closer to cardiac optogenetics in vivo

This editorial refers to ‘Systemic gene transfer enables optogenetic pacing of mouse hearts’ by C.C. Vogt et al. , pp. 338–343. Imagine having the means to fully control excitation in the heart—to be able to trigger waves at precise locations and with desired properties and to be able to precisely manipulate such waves, including to selectively overwrite them (that is, to terminate an arrhythmia without brute force); imagine being able to do all this in the intact heart, in vivo , by light; imagine being able to ‘see’ all this in real time, optically. The idea of ‘all-optical cardiac electrophysiology’1,2 may seem like science fiction, but recent advances in optogenetics3–6 make it more and more tangible. New technologies for cell-specific fast optical sensing or optical actuation have profoundly impacted neuroscience over the last decade and have become instrumental in the mechanistic dissection of brain function, in vivo. 7 These techniques rely on genetically encoded proteins, i.e. require genetic modification in the cells and tissues of interest, and most often employ transgenic animals. The cardiovascular area is lagging behind, and such transgenic mice, expressing optogenetic sensors and/or actuators, are still not widely available. Notably, the new CHROMus resource,8 sponsored by the National Institutes of Health in the USA, promises to supply a variety of relevant transgenic mouse models for the cardiovascular system, enabling optogenetic manipulation and imaging. Furthermore, new gene editing techniques open the door to affordable commercial …
A Review of “Nurturing Children's Spirituality: Christian Perspectives and Best Practices”

In June 2006, over 350 Christian educators, children's ministry leaders, researchers, and students gathered on the campus of Concordia University in River Forest, Illinois for the second triennial ...
Using graphs to analyze APL functions

The purpose of this paper is to show how graphs can be used to analyze APL functions. Several kinds of graphs are introduced. In each case, APL functions which generate matrix representations of these graphs derived from APL programs are presented. Then, APL functions which compute measures of the quality of a program based upon these graphs are suggested.
The Incursion of Acid Deposition into Western North America

Acidification processes in western North America will probably increase in scope and visibility over the foreseeable future. Localized acidification seems more probable for the next few decades than does a generalized acidified deposition over the western States. At least part of current acid deposition downwind of urban areas is associated with automobile emissions. However, increases in coal combustion for power generation might be expected to increase sulphur dioxide concentrations, along with several related acidifying agents. Interactions of air pollutants with orographic precipitation and snowmelt may bring some areas to public attention much earlier than others, depending upon site-specific matters of climate, topography, soils, water-bodies, and biota. Lakes and streams on windward slopes facing large urban or industrial sources of sulphur and nitrogen oxides may be most seriously at risk.
Performance study of LQG, MCV, and risk-sensitive control methods for satellite structure control

This paper will review the full-state-feedback LQG, minimal cost variance (MCV), and risk-sensitive (RS) control for infinite time horizon case. In deriving the solutions of LQG, MCV, and RS control, Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equations are obtained using dynamic programming method. Unlike LQG and RS controllers, a pair of coupled algebraic Riccati-type equations arises in the solutions of MCV control. Average behavior of optimally controlled system is one possible performance indicator. The steady-state covariance matrices of the state and the control action are determined for finite an infinite time horizon. Furthermore, the equation for average values of the cost function is derived. A simple, single input, single output, one state example is discussed. The LQG, MCV, and RS controllers for this simple example are determined. Performance and stability characteristics of the three controllers are investigated. The performance of LQG, MCV, and RS controllers are investigated using a satellite structure control application. The objective of satellite structure control is to control the orientation of a satellite precisely and quickly. Results show that we can improve on LQG performance with both MCV and RS control.
Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Mediates Anoxia Response and Survival in Caenorhabditis elegans

Oxygen deprivation has a role in the pathology of many human diseases. Thus it is of interest in understanding the genetic and cellular responses to hypoxia or anoxia in oxygen-deprivation-tolerant organisms such as Caenorhabditis elegans. In C. elegans the DAF-2/DAF-16 pathway, an IGF-1/insulin-like signaling pathway, is involved with dauer formation, longevity, and stress resistance. In this report we compared the response of wild-type and daf-2(e1370) animals to anoxia. Unlike wild-type animals, the daf-2(e1370) animals have an enhanced anoxia-survival phenotype in that they survive long-term anoxia and high-temperature anoxia, do not accumulate significant tissue damage in either of these conditions, and are motile after 24 hr of anoxia. RNA interference was used to screen DAF-16-regulated genes that suppress the daf-2(e1370)-enhanced anoxia-survival phenotype. We identified gpd-2 and gpd-3, two nearly identical genes in an operon that encode the glycolytic enzyme glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. We found that not only is the daf-2(e1370)-enhanced anoxia phenotype dependent upon gpd-2 and gpd-3, but also the motility of animals exposed to brief periods of anoxia is prematurely arrested in gpd-2/3(RNAi) and daf-2(e1370);gpd-2/3(RNAi) animals. These data suggest that gpd-2 and gpd-3 may serve a protective role in tissue exposed to oxygen deprivation.
Too Much Too Soon? Refeeding Syndrome as an Iatrogenic Cause of Delirium

Background Delirium is a significant and costly complication of medical hospitalization, and it has been shown to be a significant predictor of morbidity and mortality. It is often noted as a symptom in reported cases of refeeding syndrome, which is a potentially fatal complication in the treatment of patients suffering from malnutrition. Objective A case of delirium due to refeeding syndrome in a 61-year-old man is presented to help clinicians recognize this entity. The pathophysiology of refeeding syndrome and its possible role as an as-yet poorly-identified iatrogenic cause of delirium are discussed. Method A diagnosis of delirium due to refeeding syndrome was made, and a nutrition consult was requested. Per nutrition recommendations, the patient was placed on a restricted calorie regimen, with aggressive supplementation of magnesium and phosphate. Results With his new dietary regimen, his mental status gradually improved, with complete resolution of his delirium by the 8th hospital day. He suffered no further episodes of confusion or disorientation. Conclusion The relationship between refeeding syndrome and delirium may be of particular significance in the elderly, since malnutrition, medical hospitalization, and delirium are prevalent phenomena in this population.
In Vivo Renal Vascular and Tubular Function in Experimental Hypercholesterolemia

Hypercholesterolemia (HC) is often associated with impaired peripheral and coronary vascular responses to endothelium-dependent vasodilators, which are probably due to low bioavailability of nitric oxide. To examine the effect of HC on renal vascular and tubular function, 22 domestic pigs were studied after being fed a 12-week normal (n=11) or HC (n=11) diet. Renal regional perfusion and intratubular contrast media concentration in each nephron segment (representing fluid reabsorption) were quantified in vivo with electron-beam computed tomography before and after a suprarenal infusion of either acetylcholine (6 pigs of each diet) or sodium nitroprusside (SNP; 5 pigs of each diet). An increase in cortical perfusion, observed in normal pigs with acetylcholine (+35+/-6%, P=0. 002) and SNP (+12+/-4%, P=0.005), was blunted in the HC group (+8. 8+/-4.0, P=0.01, and -4.6+/-4.0%, P=0.1, respectively, P=0.003 and P=0.005 compared with normal) as was an increase in medullary perfusion (+58+/-21 in normal versus +24+/-11% in HC, P=0.04). A decrease in the intratubular contrast media concentration in the distal tubule and collecting duct of normal pigs was observed in all tubular segments (and was significantly enhanced in the proximal tubule and Henle's loop) in the HC group, which was associated with increased sodium excretion. The tubular and renal excretory responses to SNP were similar between the groups. In conclusion, early experimental HC in the pig attenuates renal perfusion response to both endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilators possibly because of decreased bioavailability or decreased vascular responsiveness to nitric oxide. This vascular impairment may play a role in maladjusted renovascular responses and contribute to renal damage in later stages of atherosclerosis.
Documentation and Management of Overweight and Obesity in Primary Care

tained via a telephone interview and abstraction of patients’ medical records. BMI (kg/m 2 ) was calculated from measured height and weight. Management of overweight/obesity included advice to lose weight, physical activity recommendations, dietary recommendations, and referral for nutrition counseling. Results: Documentation of weight status was more common with increasing BMI (13% of overweight patients, 39% of mildly obese patients, and 77% of moderately/severely obese patients). Documentation of overweight/obesity was associated with increased behavioral treatment; the biggest increase was seen for advice to lose weight (odds ratios were 7.2 for overweight patients, 3.3 for patients with mild obesity, and 4.0 for patients with moderate/severe obesity). Although weight-related comorbidities were associated with increased overweight/obesity management at all BMIs, the biggest increase in odds was for patients with moderate/severe obesity. Conclusions: Documentation of weight management was more common among patients with documented overweight/obesity and with weight-related comorbidities. These insights may help in designing new interventions in primary care settings for overweight and obese patients. (J Am Board Fam Med 2009;22:544–552.)
Severe and sustained drought in southern California and the West: Present conditions and insights from the past on causes and impacts

Abstract Southern California and much of the western United States face a chronic challenge of limited water supply due to high potential evaporation and low precipitation coupled with frequent droughts. Mitigation approaches include the use of ground water, reliance on water from river systems fed by mountainous regions that have relatively high precipitation, and the construction of extensive aqueduct and water storage systems. In southern California the present infrastructure is capable of insulating large water districts against the typical annual and multi-annual droughts experienced over the past 100 years. However, paleoclimatic records indicate that the region is also prone to much longer droughts, including a prolonged episode of generally arid conditions and severe droughts extending from the 9th through 14th centuries. This period is sometimes referred to as the medieval climate anomaly. Archaeological evidence suggests that prehistoric populations such as the Anasazi in the Southwest and the Chumash in southern California were impacted by mega-drought conditions during the medieval climate anomaly. These groups appear to have displayed a variety of responses—ranging from increased violence and the abandonment of some regions, to the development of greater cultural complexity and material infrastructure. Paleoclimatological and paleooceanographic data indicate that the arid conditions in western North America during the medieval climate anomaly were produced by the prolonged occurrence of cool surface waters in the eastern Pacific. Recent climate model experiments suggest relatively small increases in insolation and decreases in atmospheric volcanic emission concentrations can trigger such depressions of eastern Pacific temperatures. It is thus possible that a similar event could occur in the future due to natural or anthropogenic causes.
Endothelin-1-induced contraction in veins is independent of hydrogen peroxide.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as superoxide and H2O2, are capable of modifying vascular tone, although the response to ROS can vary qualitatively among vascular beds, experimental procedures,...
Growth and form in the reef-building coral Montastrea annularis

The in-situ growth rate of the reef coral Montastrea annularis on a reef at Jamaica, W. Indies was determined for a 1-year period using Alizarin Red-S staining techniques. Growth rate is correlated with water depth and growth form. The flattened growth form of M. annularis allows for continued rapid increase in colony surface area at low light intensities. The geomorphology of Jamaican reefs may in part be controlled by the population ecology of M. annularis.
Mosaicking of the ocean floor in the presence of three-dimensional occlusions in visual and side-scan sonar images

We describe how an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) engaged in the task of mosaicking an unknown region of the ocean floor recognizes "essential" occlusions in its sensor image. The sensor on board the AUV is either a downward pointing camera or a side-scan sonar. Essential occlusions, which are created by irregularities in bathymetry, force the AUV to make diversions from its regular mosaicking path in order to prevent gaps in the mosaic. We classify features on the ocean floor which give rise to visual occlusions into three categories: knolls, furrows and dimples. Geometric conditions are derived that enable the AUV's camera to distinguish between these occlusions. We show that only furrows and dimples give rise to essential occlusions. We discuss extensions of the geometric conditions to shadows in side-scan records. There, however, the conditions are not as straightforward, and their implementation constitutes work in progress. An example is provided, which exhibits the modifications required in a visual mosaicking procedure in a complex environment.
Major Salivary Glands

The parotid gland is a paired, irregular wedge-shaped unilobular organ in the preauricular region deep to the skin and subcutaneous tissues. The parotid compartment contains the parotid gland and associated vessels, nerves, and lymphatics and is bounded by the following landmarks: Superior – zygomatic arch Inferior – styloid process, styloid muscles, and internal carotid and jugular vessels Anterior – anterior border of masseter Posterior – mastoid process and external auditory canal Stensen’s duct is the parotid duct which lies anterior and exits the buccal mucosa at the level of the second upper molar.