cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Point Mutations in Homology Domain II Modify the Sensitivity of Rat Nav1.8 Sodium Channels to the Pyrethroid Insecticide Cismethrin

Abstract Two point mutations in homology domain II of the house fly Vssc1 voltage-sensitive sodium channel α subunit, M918T and L1014F, are associated with resistance to pyrethroid insecticides and reduce the pyrethroid sensitivity of Vssc1 sodium channels expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. To assess the impact of these residues as determinants of pyrethroid sensitivity in another sequence context, we mutated the corresponding positions of the rat pyrethroid-sensitive, TTX-resistant peripheral nerve sodium channel (rNav1.8; also called SNS or PN3) and determined the sensitivity of native and mutated channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes to the pyrethroid insecticide cismethrin. The rNav1.8 channel, like other vertebrate sodium channel isoforms, contains a conserved isoleucine residue at sequence position 780 that aligns with the conserved methionine at position 918 of Vssc1 and other insect sodium channels. Channels mutated to contain methionine at position 780 (I780M) exhibited enhanced sensitivity to cismethrin and larger decay constants for pyrethroid-modified channel states. In contrast, the mutation corresponding to M918T in the Vssc1 channel (I780T) profoundly decreased the cismethrin sensitivity of expressed channels. Insertion of the mutation corresponding to L1014F (L879F in rNav1.8) reduced the cismethrin sensitivity of channels having either isoleucine or methionine at position 780, whereas channels containing the I780T/L879F double mutation were insensitive to this insecticide. Mutations at Ile780 and Leu879 also modified the voltage dependence of rNav1.8 channels, but these effects were not related to changes in pyrethroid sensitivity. These results confirm the importance of residues in homology domain II as fundamental determinants of the pyrethroid sensitivity of sodium channels.
Elastase-like protease and elastolytic activities expressed in cultured dermal fibroblasts derived from lesional skin of patients with pseudoxanthoma elasticum, actinic elastosis, and cutis laxa.

Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE), actinic elastosis, and cutis ‘laxa are three cutaneous disorders in which alterations in the structure of dermal elastic fibers are seen [1,2]. Elastic fibers in PXE are increased in number, appear clumped and become calcified. The acquired skin disorder, actinic elastosis, is described as a proliferation (elastosis) of abnormal elastic fibers that become thickened and tangled [3]. Cutis rhomboidalis nuchae represents an extensive form of actinic elastosis on the posterior aspect of the neck of individuals 60 years of age or older who have had chronic exposure to the sun. Cutis laxa is considered to be a more generalized elastolysis; the skin is abnormally lax and hangs in folds; histopathological changes include a reduction in elastic fibers. In addition, the remaining elastic fibers appear thin and fragmented. Therefore, these three distinct disorders are all characterized by abnormalities in elastic fibers. It has been suggested that proteolytic degradation by elastase(s) plays a role in the formation of the elastin abnormalities seen in disease states [4-61. These proteases have been found in extracts prepared from dermal fibroblasts [7-lo] and in sera from a patient with cutis laxa [ll]. In this investigation, fibroblast cultures were established from affected areas of patients with pseudoxanthoma elasticum, actinic elastosis (cutis rhomboidalis nuchae), and cutis laxa. Elastase-like protease and elastolytic activities were assayed using succinyl trialanine paranitroanilide (SANA) and radiolabeled insoluble skin elastin in extracts of these cells.
A structural DNA binding protein of African swine fever virus with similarity to bacterial histone-like proteins.

Here we describe an African swine fever virus (ASFV) protein encoded by the open reading frame 5-AR that shares structural and functional similarities with the family of bacterial histone-like proteins which include histone-like DNA binding proteins, integration host factor, andBacillus phage SPO1 transcription factor, TF1. The ASFV 5-AR gene was cloned by PCR and expressed inE. coli. Monospecific antiserum prepared to the 5-AR bacterial expression product specifically immunoprecipitated a protein of approximately 11.6 kDa from ASFV infected swine macrophages at late times post-infection. Additionally, the 5-AR expression product was strongly recognized by ASFV convalescent pig serum, indicating its antigenicity during natural infection. Cloned p11.6 bound both double and single stranded DNA-cellulose columns. Consistent with a DNA binding function, immunoelectronmicroscopy localized p11.6 to the virion nucleoid. To our knowledge, p11.6 is the first bacterial histone-like DNA-binding protein found in an animal virus or eukaryotic cell system.
Estrogen binding and the actions of testosterone in the brain of the male rhesus monkey

Abstract Autoradiography and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were used to determine where metabolites of testosterone interact with estrogen binding sites in the brain of the male primate. Three days after castration, animals received a subcutaneous injection of either estradiol benzoate (EB, 200 μg/kg, n = 4) or oil vehicle (controls, n = 4). Three hours later, 5 mCi[3H]testosterone was administered as an intravenous bolus. At 60 min, brains were rapidly removed, left halves were used for autoradiography and right halves were dissected into 14 samples for HPLC of nuclear and supernatant fractions. In control males, labeled neurons were observed in preoptic area, hypothalamus and amygdala. In EB-pretreated males, the number of labeled neurons was reduced by 35% in the anterior hypothalamus and ventromedial nucleus, and by 65% in the cortical and accessory basal amygdaloid nuclei, but was not significantly reduced in other brain regions. In hypothalamus, preoptic area and amygdala, EB-pretreatment reduced nuclear concentrations of [3H]estradiol to 37–55% of control levels, but reduced neither the nuclear concentrations of [3H]testosterone nor the supernatant concentrations of [3H]estradiol and [3H]testosterone. The data suggest that the actions of testosterone in regions such as the arcuate nucleus and lateral septal nucleus primarily involve unchanged testosterone or dihydrotestosterone, while in regions such as the amygdala, aromatization and interaction with estrogen receptors is involved also.
Cortico–Amygdala–Striatal Circuits Are Organized as Hierarchical Subsystems through the Primate Amygdala

The prefrontal and insula cortex, amygdala, and striatum are key regions for emotional processing, yet the amygdala's role as an interface between the cortex and striatum is not well understood. In the nonhuman primate (Macaque fascicularis), we analyzed a collection of bidirectional tracer injections in the amygdala to understand how cortical inputs and striatal outputs are organized to form integrated cortico-amygdala-striatal circuits. Overall, diverse prefrontal and insular cortical regions projected to the basal and accessory basal nuclei of the amygdala. In turn, these amygdala regions projected to widespread striatal domains extending well beyond the classic ventral striatum. Analysis of the cases in aggregate revealed a topographic colocalization of cortical inputs and striatal outputs in the amygdala that was additionally distinguished by cortical cytoarchitecture. Specifically, the degree of cortical laminar differentiation of the cortical inputs predicted amygdalostriatal targets, and distinguished three main cortico-amygdala-striatal circuits. These three circuits were categorized as "primitive," "intermediate," and "developed," respectively, to emphasize the relative phylogenetic and ontogenetic features of the cortical inputs. Within the amygdala, these circuits appeared arranged in a pyramidal-like fashion, with the primitive circuit found in all examined subregions, and subsequent circuits hierarchically layered in discrete amygdala subregions. This arrangement suggests a stepwise integration of the functions of these circuits across amygdala subregions, providing a potential mechanism through which internal emotional states are managed with external social and sensory information toward emotionally informed complex behaviors.
A computer simulation study of fluid ammonia

Abstract We report results of computer simulation studies for fluid ammonia. The intermolecular potential model consists of a central Lennard-Jones part, to which are added point dipoles, quadrupoles and also polarizability. The latter introduces effective many body intermolecular interactions. The model parameters were obtained from dilute gas and crystal lattice properties. Properties calculated include dimer, liquid and solid structure and energy, transport and thermodynamic properties. The simulation results have been compared with experimental data to demonstrate the adequacy of the model for a wide range of properties over a wide range of state conditions.
Biogeochemical and Biophysical Responses of the Land Surface to a Sustained Thermohaline Circulation Weakening

Abstract Biotic responses to climate change may constitute significant feedbacks to the climate system by altering biogeochemistry (e.g., carbon storage) or biophysics (i.e., albedo, evapotranspiration, and roughness length) at the land surface. Accurate projection of future climate change depends on proper accounting of these biological feedbacks. Similarly, projections of future climate change must include the potential for nonlinear responses such as thermohaline circulation (THC) weakening, which is increasingly evident in paleoclimate reconstructions and model experiments. This article uses offline simulations with the Integrated Biosphere Simulator (IBIS) to determine long-term biophysical and biogeochemical responses to climate patterns generated by the third Hadley Centre Coupled Ocean–Atmosphere General Circulation Model (HadCM3) under forced THC weakening. Total land surface carbon storage decreases by 0.5% in response to THC weakening, suggesting that the biogeochemical response would not const...
Mind–Body Therapies for Sleep Disturbances in Women at Midlife

Multiple factors contribute to sleep disturbances in women at midlife. Poor sleep is a common occurrence in women transitioning through midlife and is associated with significant morbidity. Factors that are known to disturb sleep in women at midlife include vasomotor symptoms, nocturia, sleep apnea, and stress. Stress in particular has a significant impact on sleep. Various treatments, pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic, are available to treat sleep disturbances. One nonpharmacologic option includes mind-body medicine, which encompasses several therapies. Practices within this realm have been shown to moderate the experience of stress and help restore sleep quality. Each woman's experience of disturbed sleep and transition through midlife is unique. By having a broad awareness of all evidence-based therapeutics, the clinician is able to present a diverse set of options for women at midlife who are affected by poor sleep.
Adjunct Laboratory Tests in the Diagnosis of Early-Onset Neonatal Sepsis

Early-onset sepsis remains a major diagnostic problem in neonatal medicine. Definitive diagnosis depends on cultures of blood or other normally sterile body fluids. Abnormal hematological counts, acute-phase reactants, and inflammatory cytokines are neither sensitive nor specific, especially at the onset of illness. Combinations of measurements improve diagnostic test performance, but the optimal selection of analytes has not been determined. The best-established use of these laboratory tests is for retrospective determination that an infant was not infected, based on failure to mount an acute-phase response over the following 24 to 48 hours.
The Haitian housing dilemma: can sustainability and hazard-resilience be achieved?

The present danger in the Haitian rebuilding efforts, outside of the extreme level of need that often encourages temporary solutions at the expense of long-term capacity building, centers on the assumption that sustainability and resilience are mutually exclusive. They cannot be if this rare opportunity to achieve meaningful long-term change within a country that has suffered for far too long is to be fully seized. This change can be realized only with appropriate policies and incentives that do not simply fund the re-implementation of vulnerable construction modes in an effort to meet immediate needs, but that foster the introduction of alternative structural systems with the requirement that they build genuine local capacity to deliver sustainable and resilient homes that meet Haiti’s cultural and economic constraints. This short communication reviews the important housing dilemma Haiti now faces, a dilemma with international extensions since researchers and construction firms from all over the world (including France, Germany, Italy, Greece, Japan, Canada, US) are involved, and presents thoughts for the importance of offering solutions that serve both ends of the economic spectrum, are hazard-resilient and truly sustainable.
Physical Path Planning Using a Pervasive Embedded Network

We evaluate a technique that uses an embedded network deployed pervasively throughout an environment to aid robots in navigation. The embedded nodes do not know their absolute or relative positions and the mobile robots do not perform localization or mapping. Yet, the mobile robot is able to navigate through complex environments effectively. First, we present an algorithm for physical path planning and its implementation on the Gnats, a novel embedded network platform. Next, we investigate the quality of the computed paths. We present quantitative results collected from a real-world embedded network of 60 nodes. Experimentally, we find that, on average, the path computed by the network is only 24% longer than the optimal path. Finally, we show that the paths computed by the network are useful for a simple mobile robot. Results from a network of 156 nodes in a static environment and a network of 60 nodes in a dynamic environment are presented.
Enhanced MIMO LMMSE Turbo Equalization: Algorithm, Simulations, and Undersea Experimental Results

In this paper, an enhanced linear minimum mean square error (LMMSE) turbo equalization scheme is proposed for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication systems with bit-interleaved coded modulation (BICM) in the time domain and multiplexing in the space domain. The proposed turbo equalization scheme outperforms the conventional LMMSE turbo equalization by adopting two new signal processing techniques. First, it performs hybrid soft interference cancellation (HSOIC) by subtracting the soft decisions of the interfering symbols, and the soft decisions are calculated by using a hybrid of the a priori information at the equalizer input and the a posteriori information at the equalizer output. Second, it employs a novel block-wise reliability-based ordering scheme such that more “reliable” symbols are detected before the less “reliable” ones to reduce error propagation in HSOIC. The symbol reliability information is based on the symbol a priori probability, as a unique byproduct of turbo detection, thus can be obtained with very small overhead. A low-complexity approximation of the enhanced MIMO LMMSE turbo equalization is also proposed to balance the tradeoff between complexity and performance. The performance of the enhanced MIMO LMMSE turbo equalization has been verified through both numerical simulations and the undersea experimental data collected in the SPACE08 experiment launched near Martha's Vineyard, Edgartown, MA, in 2008.
Generation and Separation of Mesoscale Eddies from Surface Ocean Fronts

AbstractThis study is motivated by Arctic Ocean observations of sub–mixed layer eddies found at large distances from their assumed formation region of a surface ocean front. Eddy formation is explored through high-resolution numerical simulations of surface fronts, separating two mixed layers, with a range of configurations similar to those observed in the Arctic Ocean. This study finds that frontal instabilities lead to the development of self-propagating dipoles, which have the potential to propagate far from the front if interactions with other eddies are avoided. However, most dipoles are unbalanced, consisting of a dominating surface cyclone and a weaker anticyclone below, and thus propagate on curved trajectories with eventual recirculation back to the front. Their maximum separation distance from the front depends on the ratio of self-advecting velocities ϵ; balanced dipoles that have ϵ ≈ 1, and the ability to propagate far from the front. For dipoles generated numerically, this study estimates ϵ u...
Criminal justice involvement, trauma, and negative affect in Iraq and Afghanistan war era veterans.

Objective: Although criminal behavior in veterans has been cited as a growing problem, little is known about why some veterans are at increased risk for arrest. Theories of criminal behavior postulate that people who have been exposed to stressful environments or traumatic events and who report negative affect such as anger and irritability are at increased risk of antisocial conduct. Method: We hypothesized veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or traumatic brain injury (TBI) who report anger/irritability would show higher rates of criminal arrests. To test this, we examined data in a national survey of N = 1,388 Iraq and Afghanistan war era veterans. Results: We found that 9% of respondents reported arrests since returning home from military service. Most arrests were associated with nonviolent criminal behavior resulting in incarceration for less than 2 weeks. Unadjusted bivariate analyses revealed that veterans with probable PTSD or TBI who reported anger/irritability were more likely to be arrested than were other veterans. In multivariate analyses, arrests were found to be significantly related to younger age, male gender, having witnessed family violence, prior history of arrest, alcohol/drug misuse, and PTSD with high anger/irritability but were not significantly related to combat exposure or TBI. Conclusions: Findings show that a subset of veterans with PTSD and negative affect may be at increased risk of criminal arrest. Because arrests were more strongly linked to substance abuse and criminal history, clinicians should also consider non-PTSD factors when evaluating and treating veterans with criminal justice involvement. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved). Language: en
High performance ladar focal plane arrays for 3D range imaging

We have developed high-speed ladar read out integrated circuits (ROIC) and high performance detector arrays for high-resolution 3D range imaging applications. Our focal plane array imagers are based on direct detection ladar architecture that provides the 3D shape of objects in a single laser pulse. We have demonstrated a 64/spl times/64 element, 100-/spl mu/m pixel pitch CMOS ROIC having low noise (40e-) and high analog bandwidth (115 MHz) for short pulse laser signal detection at long ranges. The read out chip allows in-pixel range thresholding and capturing of the time gated intensity profiles of the ladar echoes. The readout can accommodate either p-i-n diode or avalanche photodiode (APD) detector arrays operating in the visible through IR spectral bands. We discuss the status of recent detector and focal plane array developments for the SWIR, MWIR, and LWIR bands. We will also review our recent field test results of the SWIR 64/spl times/64 element focal plane array demonstrating the capability of discriminating object separations of about 0.5-m.
Design parameters of accomodation pumps

Abstract Most of the material of the paper presented verbally has already been published, and the objective of the present extended abstract is to give the main conclusions of the work to date together with references to published work.
The History of Nutrition: Malnutrition, Infection and Immunity

The relationship between nutritional status and the immune system has been a topic of study for much of the 20th century. Dramatic increases in our understanding of the organization of the immune system and the factors that regulate immune function have demonstrated a remarkable and close concordance between host nutritional status and immunity. This report traces the increasing sophistication of our understanding of these relationships and their impact on susceptibility to infection through six stages to the present time. The cyclical relationship between poor nutrition, increased susceptibility to infectious diseases, leading to immunological dysfunction and metabolic responses that further alter nutritional status is described and, wherever possible, related to physiological mechanisms. In addition, the particular role of Nevin Scrimshaw in guiding the progress over the past 50 y is discussed.
A Quasi-Stationary Markov Chain Model of a Cooperative Multi-Hop Linear Network

We consider a quasi-stationary Markov chain as a model for a decode and forward wireless multi-hop cooperative transmission system that forms successive Opportunistic Large Arrays (OLAs). This paper treats a linear network topology, where the nodes form a one-dimensional horizontal grid with equal spacing. In this OLA approach, all nodes are intended to decode and relay. Therefore, the method has potential application as a high-reliability and low-latency approach for broadcasting in a line-shaped network, or unicasting along a pre-designated route. We derive the transition probability matrix of the Markov chain based on the hypoexponential distribution of the received power at a given time instant assuming that all the nodes have equal transmit power and the channel has Rayleigh fading and path loss with an arbitrary exponent. The state is represented as a ternary word, which indicates which nodes have decoded in the present hop, in a previous hop, or have not yet decoded. The Perron-Frobenius eigenvalue and the corresponding eigenvector of the sub-stochastic matrix indicates the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) margin that enables a given hop distance.
Lenth's Method for the Analysis of Unreplicated Experiments

Lenth's method is an objective method for deciding which effects are active in the analysis of unreplicated experiments, when the model is saturated and hence there are no degrees of freedom for estimating the error variance. The article reviews its formulation, computation, and examples, and discusses the choice of critical values and the presentation and interpretation of the results. Keywords: Lenth's method; unreplicated factorial experiments; screening experiments; saturated model
Compositional changes over space and time along an occurrence–abundance continuum: anthropogenic homogenization of the North American avifauna

Aim Changes in community attributes due to the influence of anthropogenic activities have been examined primarily using occurrence data with little consideration of associated changes in abundance. To determine how this influences our perception of biotic homogenization, we examined compositional patterns for avian assemblages over space and time along an occurrence–abundance continuum. Location The contiguous United States and southern Canada. Methods We examined avian assemblages at 951 Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) routes from 1970 to 2005 that contained a total of 443 species. We used five dissimilarity indices to estimate compositional patterns along an occurrence–abundance continuum of assemblage structure (from species occurrence to transformed abundance to raw abundance) for 396,925 unique combinations of BBS route pairs. We examined annual plots of dissimilarity by distance between BBS routes pairs to estimate spatial and temporal patterns for each index. Results Dissimilarity declined with increasing distance between route pairs for occurrence and transformed abundance, reaching an asymptote at approximately 2500 km. For raw abundance, dissimilarity peaked at intermediate distances (1000–2500 km) with no evidence of an asymptote. Avian assemblages became more similar over time at all points along the continuum. Occurrence and transformed abundance presented the weakest temporal trends, which were uniform or poorly delineated as a function of distance between routes. Raw abundance presented the strongest temporal trends, which declined in strength with increasing distance between routes. Main conclusions With the addition of abundance, there was a substantial and consistent pattern of degradation of β-diversity for North American avifauna that differed considerably from that observed from occurrence data alone. The geographical expansion of a few species, which recently benefited from the direct and indirect consequences of anthropogenic activities, probably played a prominent role in these patterns. When broad-scale expansions in occupancy are evident, minor gains in similarity based on species occurrence can mask more substantial gains in similarity based on local abundance. When abundance information is unavailable, its role can be estimated by how occupancy has responded geographically to anthropogenic activities and the expectations of the abundance–occupancy relationship. Our findings support previous work indicating that widespread and locally abundant species will tend to benefit more from anthropogenic activities, creating a possible synergism that enhances biotic homogenization.
Transpalatal advancement pharyngoplasty

The goal of surgery for obstructive sleep apnea is to reconstruct the upper airway to prevent obstruction during sleep. Unfortunately, traditional techniques suffer from technical failure. To better address technical failure, a method of reconstructing the upper pharynx by performing a posterior maxillary osteotomy and advancing the soft palate anteriorly (posterior palatal osteotomy and palatal advancement flap) is described. Results demonstrate both structural and clinical improvements compared to more traditional uvulopalatopharyngoplasty.
Life Versus Death

Randomized clinical trials have clearly shown that the implanted cardiac defibrillator (ICD) saves lives1–3 and that cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) and combined ICD and CRT devices reduce both heart failure and mortality.4–6 However, during long-term follow-up of patients with these implanted devices, only a minority will use appropriate ICD therapy for life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmic events. For example, in the Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator Implantation Trial II (MADIT-II), only 35% of the patients in the ICD arm received appropriate ICD therapy (shock or antitachycardia pacing) during 3-year follow-up.7 The challenge facing the medical profession is how to better identify and select patients who will benefit from implanted ICD or combined ICD and CRT devices so as to achieve greater therapeutic efficacy without losing patients. During recent years, several noninvasive and invasive electrophysiological tests have been evaluated, including signal-averaged ECG, heart rate variability, heart rate turbulence, T-wave alternans, and programmed electrophysiological testing, but the risk-stratification results from these tests have not been very encouraging. Recently, Goldenberg et al demonstrated that the ICD:conventional therapy hazard ratio in patients with advanced renal disease (blood urea nitrogen >50 mg/dL) and in good-risk patients without adverse clinical factors such as heart failure, atrial fibrillation, older age, and wide QRS complex, renal dysfunction was close to 1.0 in 35% of the …
An argument against Fregean that-clause semantics

I develop a problem for the Fregean Reference Shift analysis of that-clause reference. The problem is discussed by Stephen Schiffer in his recent book The Things We Mean (2003). Either the defender of the Fregean Reference Shift analysis must count certain counterintuitive inferences as valid, or else he must reject a plausible Exportation rule. I consider several responses. I find that the best response relies on a Kaplan-inspired analysis of quantified belief reports. But I argue that this response faces some serious problems.
Control of glucose transport by GLUT1: Regulated secretion in an unexpected environment

Studies designed to elucidate the mechanism of regulation of the GLUT1 isoform of the glucose transporter in response to a variety of cellular stresses are reviewed. Using ts mutants of vesicular stomatitis virus, it was shown that the viral L gene was responsible for the stimulation of glucose transport in infected cells. Immunofluorescence of GLUT1 demonstrated that the increase in glucose transport was the consequence of a translocation of the transporter from a reservoir in cytoplasmic vesicles to the plasma membrane. When cells were cycled between deficient and standard medium, the change in glucose transport rates was paralleled by a cycling of the transporter between the plasma membrane and the cytoplasmic vesicles. The redistribution of GLUT1 was not a consequence of a general redistribution of recycling plasma membrane proteins. Instead, the findings focus attention on the regulated exocytosis of specific membrane constituents in cells that, until recently, were not thought to exhibit this capacity.
Purchasing health care: an opportunity for a public-private partnership.

By recommending that the federal government take a leadership role in driving quality improvement in the U.S. health care system, the Institute of Medicine has taken a bold step, one that signals a significant policy shift. Through regulations and payments, government incentives have a profound effect on the practices of hospitals, clinicians, and other institutions. Private-sector employers sponsor coverage for 165 million people, and they will want a substantial voice in government strategies and actions. This paper recommends that the two sectors formally develop a strategic partnership, mediated through two powerful advisory boards, one at the level of the HHS secretary and the other at the level of the CMS administrator.
Ethanol Sclerotherapy Reduces Pain in Symptomatic Musculoskeletal Hemangiomas

Hemangiomas, benign vascular lesions, require intervention if causing pain or functional limitations. Functional deficits are common after excision, favoring minimally invasive treatments. To determine whether ethanol sclerotherapy reduces pain and lesion size and to assess complications in symptomatic musculoskeletal hemangiomas, we retrospectively reviewed 19 patients (six males, 13 females; mean age, 34 years) meeting criteria of confirmed hemangioma, treatment with ethanol sclerotherapy, and minimum of 6 weeks of followup. Fourteen were primary lesions and five were recurrent; all were painful. Thirty-eight sclerotherapy procedures were performed, with each patient undergoing a maximum of three procedures. Mean followup was 24 months (range, 2–95 months). Four patients reported full pain relief, 11 had partial relief, and four had no relief. With recurrent lesions, one patient had full pain relief, one had partial relief, and three had no relief. For patients with lesions larger than 5 cm, two had full relief, six had partial relief, and three had no relief. Lesion shrinkage occurred in 12 patients. Temporary complications included paresthesiae (three), tendon contracture (one), skin breakdown (one), and deep vein thrombosis (one). Ethanol sclerotherapy afforded prompt pain relief in 15 of 19 patients with hemangioma, making it a reasonable option for initially avoiding surgical excision. However, the short followup of our patients requires additional long-term studies to assess the duration of the results. Level of Evidence: Level IV, therapeutic study. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Modeling of Submillimeter Passive Remote Sensing of Cirrus Clouds

The scattering properties of cirrus clouds at submillimeter-wave frequencies are analyzed and characterized in this paper. This study lays a theoretical foundation for using radiometric measurements to investigate and monitor cirrus properties from high-flying aircraft or satellite. The significance of this capability is that it would provide data on the global distribution of cloud ice mass that is currently required to validate climate models. At present, these needs remain unmet by existing and planned observational systems. In this study the brightness temperature depression (DTb) of upwelling radiation due to cirrus clouds is simulated at 150, 220, 340, 500, 630, and 880 GHz. The effects of a range of size distributions, eight ice particle shapes, and different atmospheric profiles are modeled. The atmospheric transmission is high enough in the submillimeter windows to allow upper-tropospheric sensing from space, but absorption by water vapor reduces the sensitivity to lower cirrus clouds in a simply predictable manner. It is shown that frequencies above 500 GHz have adequate sensitivity to measure cirrus cloud properties. For these higher frequencies, the DTb is closely proportional to ice water path (IWP) for median mass equivalent sphere diameters (Dme) above 125 mm. The differing sensitivity with frequency allows two channels to determine particle size. A two-channel Bayesian algorithm is developed to assess retrieval accuracy with a Monte Carlo error analysis procedure. Particle shape, size distribution width, and receiver noise are considered as error sources. The rms errors for a nadir view with 630/880 GHz are less than 40% for IWP . 5gm 22 and Dme . 100 mm, while using an oblique viewing angle of 738 results in the same accuracy down to an IWP o f1gm 22 (visible optical depth less than 0.1). The two-channel algorithm and error analysis methods are used to show how submillimeter radiometer and millimeter radar measurements may be combined.
Loma Prieta aftershock relocation with S-P travel times: Effects of 3-D structure and true error estimates

Abstract Aftershocks of the 18 October 1989 Loma Prieta, California, earthquake are located using S-P arrival-time measurements from stations of the PASSCAL aftershock deployment. We demonstrate the effectiveness of using S-P arrival-time data in locating earthquakes recorded by a sparse three-component network. Events are located using the program QUAKE3D (Nelson and Vidale, 1990) with both 2-D and 3-D velocity models that have been developed independently for this region. The dense coverage of the area around the Loma Prieta rupture zone by instruments of the California Network (CALNET) has allowed the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to find P -wave earthquake locations for both velocity models, which we compare with our solutions. We also perform synthetic calculations to estimate realistic location errors resulting from uncertainties in both the 3-D velocity structure and the timing of arrivals. These calculations provide a comparison of location accuracies obtained using S-P arrival times, S and P arrival times, and P times alone. We estimate average absolute errors in epicentral location and in depth for the Loma Prieta aftershocks to be just under 2 km and 1 km, respectively, using S-P phase data and the sparse PASSCAL instrument coverage. The synthetic tests show that these errors are much smaller than those predicted using P -wave data alone and are nearly the same as those predicted using S - and P -phase data separately. This suggests that future aftershock recording deployments with sparse networks of three-component data can retrieve accurate event locations even if absolute timing is problematic. We find moderate differences between our locations and those determined by the USGS from a larger network of stations; however, common characteristics in both seismicity patterns are apparent. Neither set of locations yields earthquake patterns that can be easily interpreted in terms of simple faulting geometries. The absence of a simple pattern in both sets of earthquake locations indicates that this complexity is not the result of earthquake mislocation but is a genuine feature of the seismicity. A deep southwesterly dipping plane and a near-vertical fault extending from the surface to at least 7-km depth beneath the surface trace of the San Andreas Fault are imaged by both sets of earthquake locations. Although earthquake locations indicate the existence of many more fault segments, the complexity of this region requires that a definitive picture of the faulting geometry will have to await improvement in our knowledge of the P - and S -wave velocity structures.
SINGLE BOOK REVIEWS

Diabetes among the Pima: Stories of Survival. Carolyn Smith-Morris. Tucson: University of Arizona Press, 2006. 210 pp.
Analysis of Crosstalk in 3D Circularly Polarized LCDs Depending on the Vertical Viewing Location

Crosstalk in circularly polarized (CP) liquid crystal display (LCD) with polarized glasses (passive 3D glasses) is mainly caused by two factors: 1) the polarizing system including wave retarders and 2) the vertical misalignment (VM) of light between the LC module and the patterned retarder. We show that the latter, which is highly dependent on the vertical viewing location, is a much more significant factor of crosstalk in CP LCD than the former. There are three contributions in this paper. Initially, a display model for CP LCD, which accurately characterizes VM, is proposed. A novel display calibration method for the VM characterization that only requires pictures of the screen taken at four viewing locations. In addition, we prove that the VM-based crosstalk cannot be efficiently reduced by either preprocessing the input images or optimizing the polarizing system. Furthermore, we derive the analytic solution for the viewing zone, where the entire screen does not have the VM-based crosstalk.
Gα14 subunit-mediated inhibition of voltage-gated Ca2+ and K+ channels via neurokinin-1 receptors in rat celiac-superior mesenteric ganglion neurons.

The mechanisms by which G proteins modulate voltage-gated Ca2+ channel currents (CaV), particularly CaV2.2 and CaV2.3, are voltage dependent (VD) or voltage independent (VI). VD pathways are typica...
Bimodal Emergence of Adult Cecropia Moths under Natural Conditions

From 1966 to 1968 emergence of adult Hyalophora cecropia (L.)(Lepidoptera : Saturniidae) from overwintering pupae in Champaign and Urbana, Illinois, was bimodal. An average of 7.9% of the total emerged during the 2nd half of May and the 1st few days of June. The rest emerged during the 2nd half of June and the 1st week of July. The emergence times and proportions of early and late emergences as determined by trapping wild males and observing emergences from collected cocoons were in close agreement, showing that removing the cocoons from their individual micro environments to a common environment did not affect the emergence patterns. The timing of emergence is precise. Of the early group, 95% (± 2 standard deviations) emerged during an 11 to 18 day period, and 95% of the late group during a 14 to 18 day period. Males were the first to emerge in both groups. There is a statistically significant difference in the sex ratios of the 2 groups. The early group was from 62 to 67% females, but the late group was from 41 to 46% females.
Numerical simulation for the power-law in annulus based on PHOENICS and PIV

Support has been provided for that annulus fluid instances were numerical simulated with PHOENICS,PHOENICS is used to set up a numerical model of power-law fluid in a concentric annulus flow,by comparing the numerical simulation results for the axis velocity of the power-law fluid in a concentric annulus flow with two dimensional PIV experimental results.It simulation results proves that when the inner pipes in the concentric annulus pipes stand still,the turbulent flow nucleus area approaches inner pipes;and when inner pipes circumvolve,the turbulent flow nucleus area approaches outer pipes.The shearing velocity near the inner pipes is the biggest,and the shearing velocity increases with the velocity of the inner pipes increasing.It validates the feasibility of the application of PHOENICS and PIV in Non-Newtonian fluids in concentric annulus,and the maximum relative average tolerance is 5.925%,besides,the numerical simulation makes well with the experimental data.
Interkinetic Nuclear Migration in the Regenerating Retina

In the adult zebrafish, death of retinal neurons stimulates Muller glia to re-enter the cell cycle to produce neuronal progenitor cells (NPCs) that undergo further cell divisions and differentiate to replace lost neurons in the correct spatial locations. Understanding the mechanisms regulating retinal regeneration will ultimately provide avenues to overcome vision loss in human. Recently, the observation of interkinetic nuclear migration (INM) of Muller glia in the regenerating zebrafish retina resulted in the inclusion of an additional complex step to the regeneration process. The pathways regulating INM and its function in the regenerating retina have not been well studied. Here, we summarize the evidence for INM in the regenerating retina and review mechanisms that control INM during neuro-epithelial development in the context of pathways known to be critical during retinal regeneration.
Methods to Characterize Operating Room Variables in Robotic Surgery to Enhance Patient Safety

Surgical team experience is an important determinant of operative outcome. However, even the most experienced team will not be familiar with all potential variability that could be encountered during a surgical procedure. Robotic surgery adds further complexity through advanced technology, additional equipment, intricate process steps, etc. One method that is crucial to understanding a robotic procedure is surgical observation, which can be used to identify the process flow and involved objects. Another method is task excursion analysis, a proactive approach to understanding system variability and key factors that may affect system performance and patient safety. Finally, a method must be used to efficiently present the gathered information to surgical teams. As rapidly evolving technology is introduced into health care systems, the adoption of these types of methods is necessary to ensure patient safety. This paper describes the proposed methodology for analyzing robotic surgery variability and provides some example data.
Designing of an O-type BWO with a metamaterial slow-wave structure

The aim of this work is to design a novel metamaterial slow wave structure (SWS) for high power microwave (HPM) generation using a short pulse relativistic electron beam. The structure provides around 15% efficiency with 250 MW output power at 1.4 GHz frequency. It generates backward wave generation and beam-wave interaction with a TE 21 -like mode.
A Retrospective Review of Outcomes of Patients with Chronic Myelomoncytic Leukemia Treated with 5-Azacitidine.

Abstract The chemotherapeutic agent 5-azacytidine (5-AZA) is an active agent in the treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Phase III data with 5-AZA for MDS of all types suggest a response rate (CR+PR) of 23% and hematologic improvement rate of 37% (Silverman, et al, 2002, JCO , 20:2429). We reviewed the outcomes of patients with the MDS subtype chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) in order to better characterize outcomes for patients with this specific subtype. Methods: Retrospective analysis of outcomes in 13 patients (median age 67; range 50–82) with CMML, who were drawn from a group of 165 consecutive patients treated with 5-AZA between 1991 and 2004 at UCSF on an NCI Special Exception Program, was performed. All patients signed informed consent to participate in the Expanded Access Protocol and IRB approval at UCSF was obtained to retrospectively review this data. IPSS of patients were 2 LOW, 7 INT-1, 3 INT-2, and 1 HIGH. 11 patients had CMML-1 and 2 patients had CMML-2. Responses were determined using the MDS International Working Group (Cheson et al., 2000 Blood 96:3671) criteria. Results: Three patients (23%) had CR and 6 patients (46%) had HI at 4 months. 9/13 patients had a response at 4 months for an overall response rate of 69% (95% CI 38.6% to 90.0%). Cytogenetic responses were seen in 1 out of 4 evaluable patients. The median AML free survival was 11 months. The median overall survival was 14 months. Download : Download high-res image (51KB) Download : Download full-size image Conclusions: For patients with CMML, 5-AZA provides an effective treatment option with significant improvements in peripheral blood counts, marrow blasts, and transfusion requirements. The overall response rate of 69% correlates well with larger studies in MDS.
Health Effects of Short-Term Fluctuations in Macroeconomic Conditions: The Case of Hypertension for Older Americans.

We investigate the health effects of short-term macroeconomic fluctuations as described by changes in unemployment rate, house, and stock market price indexes. The ‘Great Recession’ provides the opportunity to conduct this analysis as it involved contemporaneous shocks to the labor, housing, and stock markets. Using panel data from the Health and Retirement Study over the period 2004–2010, we relate changes in hypertension status to changes in state-level unemployment rate and house prices and to changes in stock market prices. We consider hypertension, a disease related to stress and of high prevalence among older adults, that has received little attention in the literature linking macroeconomic conditions to individual health. Our analysis exploits self-reports of hypertension diagnosis as well as directly measured blood pressure readings. Using both measures, we find that the likelihood of developing hypertension is negatively related to changes in house prices. Also, decreasing house prices lower the probability of stopping hypertension medication treatment for individuals previously diagnosed with the condition. We do not observe significant associations between hypertension and either changes in unemployment rate or stock market prices. We document heterogeneity in the estimated health effects of the recession by gender, education, asset ownership, and work status. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Paso Libre: Border Enactment, Infrastructure, and Crisis Resolution at the Port of Laredo 1954–1957

In 1954, Hurricane Alice destroyed the International Bridge at Laredo, Texas (USA) and Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas (Mexico). Eager to protect trade, the Mexican federal government and the City of Laredo rushed to rebuild but right-to-toll disagreements stalled construction. Laredo officials used the long-standing tradition of George Washington’s birthday celebration and the paso libre enacted for the festivities to resolve the crisis. Mexican citizens crossed the bridge without documentation during the festivities for almost 20 years.
Travelling discourses of Title IX: gender and sport for development in an era of securitised interests

AbstractThis investigation builds upon feminist postcolonial and related critical development scholarship to contextualise the mobilisation of Title IX – the 1972 US legal mandate requiring equity within educational settings including sports – within selected sport for development discourses promoted by the US State Department. This analysis of the State Department’s ‘Empowering Women and Girls Through Sports’ initiative draws upon feminist cultural studies and postcolonial sensibilities to interrogate the unique sporting narratives connected to Title IX and particular political contexts that continue to produce and support neoliberalism as well as securitised interests and insecurities across the globe.