cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of radiofrequency ablation lesions with gadolinium-enhanced cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging.

Objectives This study was designed to evaluate the characteristics of gadolinium-enhanced imaging of radiofrequency ablations. Background Gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been used successfully to evaluate tissue necrosis after myocardial infarction. In electrophysiology, radiofrequency energy is used to create a targeted myocardial necrosis for the treatment of various arrhythmias. Methods Using a power-controlled, cooled-tip 7-F catheter system, radiofrequency lesions (10 to 40 W for 30 s) were created on the epicardium of the right ventricle in eight mongrel dogs. After injection of 0.225 mmol/kg gadolinium, T1-weighted fast gradient echo images were obtained during a follow-up of 10 h using an intrathoracic high-resolution coil. Radiofrequency ablations were analyzed on the MR images and compared with gross anatomy and histopathology. Results Four distinct phases of signal enhancement were observed. After gadolinium injection, radiofrequency lesions were delineated clearly as contrast-free areas of low signal intensity (contrast-to-noise ratio [CNR] = −21.1 ± 19.8). Signal enhancement in the lesion periphery started 4.0 ± 1.8 min after injection and progressively extended toward the lesion center at a rate of 0.02 mm/min. Full delayed enhancement was observed after 98 ± 21 min (CNR = +17.8 ± 9.0). During the follow-up period, CNR started to decrease, but the lesions were detectable for as long as 10 h of follow-up. During the first three phases of enhancement, MRI correlated well with the pathological findings (r = 0.88, r = 0.88, and r = 0.86 [p Conclusions Radiofrequency ablation can be evaluated accurately by using gadolinium-enhanced MRI, which may allow the noninvasive assessment of procedural success. The dissimilar wash-in and wash-out kinetics compared with myocardial infarction suggest a different pathophysiological process with complete loss of microvasculature.
Design method for SAW resonators using natural SPUDT substrates

Several new materials for SAW devices exhibit the natural SPUDT (N-SPUDT) effect, which causes an SAW transducer to generate waves with different amplitudes in the two directions. In general, SAW devices on such materials need to be designed allowing for the complications introduced by this effect. A design method for one-port resonators is derived, valid if the resonance frequency and the Bragg frequencies of the transducer and gratings are all different. The design is versatile enough to remain valid if the N-SPUDT effect is absent.
Loss of UO2 from molybdenum-UO2 cermets by high-temperature diffusion

Abstract The loss of UO 2 from a MoUO 2 cermet upon heating has been investigated. Loss was measured as a function of temperature, time and sample thickness. Despite the inhomogeneous nature of the solid, the results were treated by application of diffusion theory. The diffusion coefficient has been found to vary with temperature as D = 2.40 × 10 −3 exp (−77500/ RT ). The technique for treating inhomogeneous systems is discussed. It is concluded that the escape of UO 2 occurs along the grain boundaries of the Mo.
Technology development in the U.S. photovoltaic program

Abstract This paper explores the current activities of the U.S. Photovoltaic (PV) Program to advance the technological development and commercialization of PV technologies. The U.S. PV Program assists industry to develop photovoltaic technology that will both provide competitive electricity generation and become an important contributor to the national and global energy mix. Under the Program's leadership, great strides have been made in PV technology in recent years—in materials, manufacturing processes and products. Important technological and economic challenges remain, however, and the PV Program is addressing these through a multifaceted technology development strategy, comprised of strategic research and development, technology development, and systems engineering and applications.
La Zona de Desarrollo Próximo de Vygotski: Una reconsideración de sus implicaciones para la enseñanza

(1990). La Zona de Desarrollo Proximo de Vygotski: Una reconsideracion de sus implicaciones para la ensenanza. Journal for the Study of Education and Development: Vol. 13, No. 51-52, pp. 247-254.
Multivariate Statistical Mapping of Spectroscopic Imaging Data

For magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) studies of the brain it is important to measure the distribution of metabolites in a regionally unbiased way - that is without restrictions to apriori defined regions of interest (ROI). Since MRSI provides measures of multiple metabolites simultaneously at each voxel, there is furthermore great interest in utilizing the multidimensional nature of MRSI for gains in statistical power. Voxelwise multivariate statistical mapping is expected to address both of these issues but it has not been previously employed for SI studies of brain. The aims of this study were to: 1) develop and validate multivariate voxel based statistical mapping for MRSI and 2) demonstrate that multivariate tests can be more powerful than univariate tests in identifying patterns of altered brain metabolism. Specifically, we compared multivariate to univariate tests in identifying known regional patterns in simulated data and regional patterns of metabolite alterations due to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a devastating brain disease of the motor neurons.
Nudibranch-sponge feeding dynamics: Benefits of symbiont-containing sponge to Archidoris montereyensis (Cooper, 1862) and recovery of nudibranch feeding scars by Halichondria panicea (Pallas, 1766)

Selected interactions between the encrusting sponge Halichondria panicea and its primary predator, the dorid nudibranch Archidoris montereyensis, were investigated in a high-latitude rocky intertidal community spatially dominated by H. panicea. Feeding experiments were conducted in which A. montereyensis pairs were provided with sponge containing symbiotic zoochlorellae or sponge in which the zoochlorellae population had been reduced or removed by shading. Nudibranchs consuming H. panicea with symbiotic zoochlorellae had higher feeding, growth, and egg production rates than individuals eating aposymbiotic sponge. We simulated A. montereyensis predation on H. panicea by creating typically sized feeding grooves in the sponge. H. panicea's response was high linear growth rates into the experimental feeding grooves, generally recovering most of the groove area within 4 weeks. Overall, the sponge's rapid response to tissue damage minimizes grazing impacts and substrate loss and reduces susceptibility to wave removal.
Multiple sclerosis patients benefit from massage therapy

Abstract Twenty-four adults with multiple sclerosis were randomly assigned to a standard medical treatment control group or a massage therapy group that received 45-minute massages twice a week for 5 weeks. The massage group had lower anxiety and less depressed mood immediately following the massage sessions and, by the end of the study, they had improved self-esteem, better body image and image of disease progression, and enhanced social functional status.
Is the National Research Council Committee’s Report on Scientific Research in Education Scientific? On Trusting the Manifesto

The National Research Council Committee’s report, in part a response to congressional legislation, pursues an outline for the foundations of an education science necessary for policy making. This article focuses on these foundations and argues that they have little to do with science and its relation to policy may not be as fruitful as the committee believes. The so-called bedrocks of science are based on, at best, weak premises and an unrigorous understanding of the sociology, history, and philosophy of science. There is a nostalgia for a simple and ordered universe of science that never was. The resulting models of science embody a technological sublime that weaves together the procedures of administration and engineering with utopian visions and discourses of progress ordered by the expansion of its expertise. Finally, although the resulting framework was to relieve educational research of its “awful” reputation, the report may reinstitute and reinstantiate those very practices.
Communication channels and the adoption of digital libraries for electronic theses and dissertations

Summary form only given. This research used diffusion of innovation theory to explore factors that influence adoption of digital libraries for electronic theses and dissertations (ETD-DL) among members of the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (NDLTD). Communication channels were categorized as being either interpersonal or mediated, and the perceived importance of these channels was assessed both within and between organizations. A Web-based survey collected data from the 133 universities in 26 countries that were NDLTD members in December 2002. Respondents were members of the university's "ETD Committee" and represented academic administrators, faculty, librarians, and computer systems specialists. Surveys were received from 95 respondents representing 65 universities in 14 countries. Twenty-one of these universities were outside the United States, and represented countries with a wide range of economic development. Results provide insights into university attitudes towards distributed digital libraries. For example, results suggest that interpersonal channels of communication about digital library adoption are more important than mediated channels within the organization. However, mediated channels of communication are more important for those universities that have decided to adopt the ETD-DL but have not yet implemented the DL. There were also significant differences in the importance attributed to these channels by individuals in different jobs. The results suggest strategies that could encourage development of digital libraries within other social systems. The study also illustrates the importance of planning for the human factor in digital library management. Carefully constructed strategies that address all the parties involved in DL adoption and that account for differences in communication style will more readily facilitate successful adoption of distributed digital libraries.
Protein transfer of preformed MHC-peptide complexes sensitizes target cells to T cell cytolysis

Recombinant GPI-anchored HLA-A2.1 (HLA-A2.1-GPI/beta 2m) was used as a protein transfer vehicle to deliver a hepatitis B virus antigenic peptide to the surfaces of cytotoxic T cell targets. Empty HLA-A2.1-GPI/beta 2m was first produced in D. melanogaster cotransfectants and immunoaffinity purified. Cell coating with HLA-A2.1-GPI/beta 2m was shown to occur rapidly, and to be protein concentration dependent. Protein-transferred HLA-A2.1-GPI/beta 2m effectively presented a hepatitis B virus peptide to peptide-specific HLA-A2.1-restricted T cell clones in cytotoxicity assays. Protein transfer of functional GPI-modified class I MHC-antigenic peptide complexes represents a novel strategy for delivering functional antigenic complexes to cell surfaces that bypasses limitations of gene transfer and permits control of antigenic peptide densities at cell surfaces.
Pharmacological specificity of the phencyclidine discriminative stimulus in rats

Abstract The discriminative stimulus effects of phencyclidine (PCP), pentobarbital and the competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist 3-([±]-2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)propyl-1-phosphonic acid (CPP) were examined in rats trained to discriminate PCP from saline under a 2-lever, food-maintained operant schedule. Dose-response curves were obtained for all three drugs at PCP training dose of 1.25 mg/kg; subsequently, rats were retrained to discriminate either 0.56 or 3.0 mg/kg PCP. The dose-response to PCP was not substantially changed by raising or lowering the training dose. However, doses of pentobarbital and CPP produced augmented levels of substitution when the training dose was lowered and decreased substitution when it was raised. The changes in PCP training dose were, therefore, effective in either diminishing or amplifying the pharmacological specificity of the PCP stimulus. Under conditions where specificity was high (high training dose), neither pentobarbital (0.1–17 mg/kg) nor CPP (1–17 mg/kg) produced apprecciable PCP-like stimulus effects, supporting evidence that competitive NMDA antagonists may be no more PCP-like than are barbiturates. These data provide additional evidence for differences in the behavioral effects of noncompetitive and competitive NMDA antagonists.
Comprehensive quantitation of metabolite concentrations, gross reaction fluxes, and reaction free energies across cells from four organisms

Background Current technological limitations hinder the measurement of certain core metabolites, including glyceraldehyde-3phosphate and erythrose-4-phsophate. For measurable metabolites, absolute concentration data sets are not always thermodynamically consistent. The use of a previously underappreciated thermodynamic relationship, however, provides a way to remedy these shortcomings. We develop a novel approach to integrate metabolite concentrations, reaction fluxes, and reaction free energies (ΔrG) and apply it across four organisms: E. coli, C. acetobutylicum, Baker’s yeast, and mouse renal epithelial cells.
On the integration of Radon measures and set functions

A theory of integration is described which subsumes as special cases Bourbaki's integration of Radon measures and Caratheodory's integration of set functions.
A neural network based approach to knowledge acquisition and expert systems

Often a major difficulty in the design of expert systems is the process of acquiring the requisite knowledge in the form of production rules. This paper presents a novel class of neural networks which are trained in such a way that they provide an appealing solution to the problem of knowledge acquisition. The value of the network parameters, after sufficient training, are then utilized to generate production rules on the basis of preselected meaningful coordinates. Further, the paper provides a mathematical framework for achieving reasonable generalization properties via an appropriate training algorithm (supervised decision-directed learning) with a structure that provides acceptable knowledge representations of the data, The concepts and methods presented in the paper are illustrated through one practical example from medical diagnosis. >
Fundamental Limits to Digital Syncronization

One of the key problems in data transmission is the recovery and maintenance between transmitter and receiver. The unknown delay is exhibited in Figure 21.1.
Corporate Grassroots Programs in the 1980s

Record numbers of executives are enrolling in political education seminars as corporations strive to gain more influence in the public policy process. Four key changes in the political environment over the last twenty-five years—growth in the volume of government activity, the reorganization of Congress, the rise of interest groups, and the decline in voter participation—emphasize the need for effective programs in corporate political involvement. The consistent message from legislators, lobbyists, and political experts is "develop your grassroots capabilities." This article explores the opportunities and obstacles in grassroots programs, examines ways to evaluate them, and emphasizes the importance of communication with constituents in the coming years.
Linking a Static Signal to Current Condition: Song-Repertoire Size, Corticosterone, and Immunity in the Brown-Headed Cowbird

Abstract. We examined two measures of immune function (bactericidal capacity of the blood plasma and a pro-inflammatory response to an injection of phytohemagglutinin) and baseline levels of corticosterone in wild adult male Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater) to determine whether the size of the song repertoire, a fixed or “static” signal, can be linked to current condition. We hypothesized that static signals and immune function are positively correlated with males' quality because high-quality males should exhibit relatively large sexual signals and also maintain high levels of immune function. In contrast to our primary prediction, we found that song-repertoire size and bactericidal capacity were negatively correlated. We also found that repertoire size and corticosterone levels were positively correlated and that there was no relationship between corticosterone level and either measure of immunity. The positive correlation between corticosterone level and repertoire size suggests that males with l...
Optimal Control of Film Growth in Lithium-Ion Battery Packs via Relay Switches

Recent advances in lithium-ion battery modeling suggest unequal but controlled and carefully timed charging of individual cells by reduce degradation. This paper compares anode-side film formation for a standard equalization scheme versus unequal charging through switches that are controlled by deterministic dynamic programming (DDP) and DDP-inspired heuristic algorithms. A static map for film growth rate is derived from a first-principles battery model adopted from the electrochemical engineering literature. Using this map, we consider two cells that are connected in parallel via relay switches. The key results are the following: 1) optimal unequal and delayed charging indeed reduces film buildup, and 2) a near-optimal state feedback controller can be designed from the DDP solution and film growth rate convexity properties. The simulation results indicate that the heuristic state feedback controller achieves near optimal performance relative to the DDP solution, with significant reduction in film growth compared to charging both cells equally, for several film growth models. Moreover, the algorithms achieve similar film reduction values on the full electrochemical model. These results correlate with the convexity properties of the film growth map. Hence, this paper demonstrates that unequal charging may indeed reduce film growth, given certain convexity properties exist, lending promise to the concept for improving battery pack life.
Simultaneous superior repositioning of the maxilla and mandibular advancement A report on stability

Fifty-three patients who underwent simultaneous surgical superior repositioning of the maxilla and mandibular advancement were studied cephalometrically and clinically for at least 1 year after surgery (mean 2.4 years). The pattern of change for the maxilla and the percentage of patients who had 2 mm or more movement of landmarks were consistent with that observed following isolated superior repositioning of the maxilla. Although changes similar to those observed with isolated mandibular movement occurred, because the changes in the maxilla also affected the mandible, a greater percentage of patients experienced postsurgical movement of the mandible in this group than in those undergoing mandibular advancement alone. Clinically, satisfactory or better results were observed in 42 (79%) patients at their longest follow-up examination. The only significant variable associated with clinical outcome was the presence (presurgically) of an open bite (p less than 0.04) in 10 of 11 patients with poor clinical results. There was no statistically significant relationship between cephalometric stability and clinical outcome in this series of patients.
Understanding Layer 4 of the Cortical Circuit: A Model Based on Cat V1

This paper reviews theoretical and experimental results on the processing of layer 4, the input-recipient layer, of cat primary visual cortex (V1). A wide range of experimental data can be understood from a model in which response tuning of layer 4 cells is largely determined by a local interplay of feedforward excitation (from thalamus) and feedforward inhibition (from layer 4 inhibitory interneurons driven by thalamus). Feedforward inhibition dominates excitation, inherits its tuning from the thalamic input and sharpens the tuning of excitatory cells. At least a strong component of the feedforward inhibition received by a cell is spatially opponent to the excitation it receives, meaning that inhibition is driven by dark in regions of the visual field in which excitation is driven by light, and vice versa. The idea of opponent inhibition can be generalized to mean inhibition driven by input patterns that are strongly anti-correlated with the patterns that excite a cell. This paper argues that dominant feedforward opponent inhibition may be a general principle of cortical layer 4. This leads to the suggestion that the properties that show columnar organization--invariance across the vertical depth of cortex--may be properties that are shared by 'opposite' (anticorrelated) stimulus pairs. This contrasts with the more common idea that a column represents a set of cells that all share similar stimulus preferences.
Measurement of skeletal related events in SEER-Medicare: a comparison of claims-based methods.

Skeletal related events (SREs) are common in men with metastatic prostate cancer (mPC). Various methods have been used to identify SREs from claims data. The objective of this study was to provide a framework for measuring SREs from claims and compare SRE prevalence and cumulative incidence estimates based on alternative approaches in men with mPC. Several claims-based approaches for identifying SREs were developed and applied to data for men aged [greater than or equal to] 66 years newly diagnosed with mPC between 2000 and 2009 in the SEER-Medicare datasets and followed through 2010 or until censoring. Post-diagnosis SREs were identified using claims that indicated spinal cord compression (SCC), pathologic fracture (PF), surgery to bone (BS), or radiation (suggestive of bone palliative radiation, RAD). To measure SRE prevalence, two SRE definitions were created: ‘base case’ (most commonly used in the literature) and ‘alternative’ in which different claims were used to identify each type of SRE. To measure cumulative incidence, we used the ‘base case’ definition and applied three periods in which claims were clustered to episodes: 14-, 21-, and 28-day windows. Among 8997 mPC patients, 46 % experienced an SRE according to the ‘base case’ definition and 43 % patients experienced an SRE according to the ‘alternative’ definition. Varying the code definition from ‘base case’ to ‘alternative’ resulted in an 8 % increase in the overall SRE prevalence. Using the 21-day window, a total of 12,930 SRE episodes were observed during follow up. Varying the window length from 21 to 28 days resulted in an 8 % decrease in SRE cumulative incidence (RAD: 10 %, PF: 8 %, SCC: 6 %, BS: 0.2 %). SRE prevalence was affected by the codes used, with PF being most impacted. The overall SRE cumulative incidence was affected by the window length used, with RAD being most affected. These results underscore the importance of the baseline definitions used to study claims data when attempting to understand relevant clinical events such as SREs in the real world setting.
Hybrid Tandem Mass Spectrometry

The development of hybrid sector/quadrupole instruments for tandem mass spectrometry is described. The operational modes of these instruments are illustrated by MS/MS and MS/MS/MS analyses of peptides, xenobiotic metabolites and other compounds of biological importance.The versatility of operation (with respect to scan modes and the conditions utilized for collisionally activated decomposition) is a particular advantage of hybrid instruments.
A comparison of gastrointestinal transit time in ten species of mammal

The efficiency of digestion and absorption is dependent upon the rate at which digesta moves through the gastrointestinal tract. The following report describes the gastrointestinal transit for digesta markers given to ten species of mammals fed the same diet.
Extrinsic regime shifts drive abrupt changes in regeneration dynamics at upper treeline in the Rocky Mountains, USA

Given the widespread and often dramatic influence of climate change on terrestrial ecosystems, it is increasingly common for abrupt threshold changes to occur, yet explicitly testing for climate and ecological regime shifts is lacking in climatically sensitive upper treeline ecotones. In this study, quantitative evidence based on empirical data is provided to support the key role of extrinsic, climate-induced thresholds in governing the spatial and temporal patterns of tree establishment in these high-elevation environments. Dendroecological techniques were used to reconstruct a 420-year history of regeneration dynamics within upper treeline ecotones along a latitudinal gradient (∼44–35° N) in the Rocky Mountains. Correlation analysis was used to assess the possible influence of minimum and maximum temperature indices and cool-season (November–April) precipitation on regional age-structure data. Regime-shift analysis was used to detect thresholds in tree establishment during the entire period of record (1...
Brillouin scattering and vibrational relaxation in benzene

Spontaneous Brillouin scattering was used to determine the vibrational relaxation in liquid benzene. Comparison between theoretical predictions and experimental results reconfirms the existence of one relaxation of all but the lowest energy mode of the molecule, with the relaxation of the last mode occurring at a higher frequency than those of this experiment.
Processing of DNA for nonhomologous end-joining by cell-free extract

In mammalian cells, nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) repairs DNA double-strand breaks created by ionizing radiation and V(D)J recombination. We have developed a cell-free system capable of processing and joining noncompatible DNA ends. The system had key features of NHEJ in vivo, including dependence on Ku, DNA-PKcs, and XRCC4/Ligase4. The NHEJ reaction had striking properties. Processing of noncompatible ends involved polymerase and nuclease activities that often stabilized the alignment of opposing ends by base pairing. To achieve this, polymerase activity efficiently synthesized DNA across discontinuities in the template strand, and nuclease activity removed a limited number of nucleotides back to regions of microhomology. Processing was suppressed for DNA ends that could be ligated directly, biasing the reaction to preserve DNA sequence and maintain genomic integrity. DNA sequence internal to the ends influenced the spectrum of processing events for noncompatible ends. Furthermore, internal DNA sequence strongly influenced joining efficiency, even in the absence of processing. These results support a model in which DNA-PKcs plays a central role in regulating the processing of ends for NHEJ.
Modulation scaling for Energy Aware Communication Systems

In systems that require low energy consumption, voltage scaling is an invaluable circuit technique. It also offers energy awareness, trading off energy and performance. In wireless handheld devices, the communication portion of the system is a major power hog. We introduce a new technique, called modulation scaling, which exhibits benefits similar to those of voltage scaling. It allows us to trade off energy against transmission delay and as such introduces the notion of energy awareness in communications. Throughout our discussion, we emphasize the analogy with voltage scaling. As an example application, we present an energy aware wireless packet scheduling system.
Caudate responses to reward anticipation associated with delay discounting behavior in healthy youth

Background Choices requiring delay of gratification made during adolescence can have significant impact on life trajectory. Willingness to delay gratification can be measured using delay discounting tasks that require a choice between a smaller immediate reward and a larger delayed reward. Individual differences in the subjective value of delayed rewards are associated with risk for development of psychopathology including substance abuse. The neurobiological underpinnings related to these individual differences early in life are not fully understood. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we tested the hypothesis that individual differences in delay discounting behavior in healthy youth are related to differences in responsiveness to potential reward.
Disease Management in the Young Diabetic Patient: Glucose Monitoring, Coping Skills, and Treatment Strategies

Type 1 diabetes mellitus was thought to be the prevalent type of diabetes in children and adolescents; however, increasing numbers of juvenile patients appear to have type 2 diabetes. Management of all diabetes in young patients should include regular assessment, careful monitoring for glycemic control and the presence of hypoglycemia, and educational training on disease management. Hypoglycemic episodes, especially nocturnal events, are frequent in the young diabetic patient. Improvements in glycemic control and nocturnal hypoglycemia have been observed with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion and insulin glargine. A continuous glucose-monitoring system can provide important insight into 24-hour glycemic control. Overall, careful management, monitoring, and education can improve glycemic control and yield positive treatment outcomes in the child or adolescent with diabetes.
Pt/C/MnO2 hybrid electrocatalysts for degradation mitigation in polymer electrolyte fuel cells

Abstract Pt/C/MnO 2 hybrid catalysts were prepared by a wet chemical method. Pt/C electrocatalysts were treated with manganese sulfate monohydrate (MnSO 4 ·H 2 O) and sodium persulfate (Na 2 S 2 O 8 ) to produce MnO 2 . The presence of MnO 2 was confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy. Rotating ring–disk electrode (RRDE) experiments were performed on electrodes prepared using the hybrid electrocatalysts to estimate the amount of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) formed during the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) as a function of MnO 2 content. Pt/C/MnO 2 (5% by weight of MnO 2 ) hybrid electrocatalysts produced 50% less hydrogen peroxide than the baseline Pt/C electrocatalyst. The hybrid electrocatalysts were used to prepare membrane electrode assemblies that were tested at 90 °C and 50% RH at open circuit with pure hydrogen as fuel and air as the oxidant. The fluoride ion concentration was measured using an ion selective electrode. The concentration of F − in the anode condensate over 24 h was found to be reduced by a factor of 3–4 when Pt/C/MnO 2 replaced Pt/C as the catalyst. Through cyclic voltammetry and RRDE kinetic studies, the lower ORR activity of the acid treated hybrid electrocatalysts was attributed to catalyst treatment with acid during MnO 2 introduction. The activity of the hybrid catalyst was improved by switching to a water-based synthesis.
The potential utility of HPV genotyping in screening and clinical management.

Abstract Detection of specific human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes, or HPV genotyping, may be useful for differentiating between those women who are carcinogenic HPV-positive at lower and higher risk for cervical precancer and cancer. Considerable evidence already exists that the absolute risk for cervical precancer and cancer varies considerably among specific HPV genotypes, and that detection of HPV-16 and -18 may have clinical usefulness, especially among women who tested positive for carcinogenic HPV and have negative cytology. Detection of persistent carcinogenic HPV is strongly associated with cervical precancer and cancer and strongly predicts its development, and might be used to monitor the outcomes of HPV infections. However, several practical considerations must be addressed before HPV genotyping can be used in screening and clinical management.
Cat heart muscle in vitro. III. The extracellular space.

The "osmotic gradient" method, an intracellular microelectrode technique for determining whether an uncharged, water-soluble molecule enters cells or remains extracellular, is described. Using this method, a series of carbohydrates of graded molecular size were examined. In cat papillary muscles mannitol, molecular radius 4.0 A, remained extracellular while arabinose, molecular radius 3.5 A entered the cells. Measurement of the simultaneous uptake of H3-mannitol and C14-inulin showed that mannitol equilibrates with 40 per cent of total water in 1 hour, after which the mannitol space does not further increase. By contrast, inulin, molecular radius ∼15 A, equilibrates with 24 per cent of total water in 1 hour; thereafter the inulin space continues to increase very slowly. The intracellular K concentrations are significantly higher and the intracellular Na and Cl concentrations significantly lower when mannitol rather than inulin is used to measure the extracellular space. The intracellular Cl concentration determined with Cl36 or Br82 is significantly higher than that calculated from the membrane potential assuming a passive Cl distribution. In addition, it is shown that choline enters and is probably metabolized by the cells of papillary muscle.
Angiotensin II sensitization of aldosterone responsiveness to plasma sodium in conscious dogs

Studies were performed to quantify the interaction of angiotensin II (ANG II) and plasma sodium (Na+) on the adrenal gland's ability to secrete aldosterone (Aldo). Two groups of normal conscious dogs were used in which plasma Na+ was independently elevated in the face of differing background levels of ANG II. In group 1 (n = 6), plasma Na+ was increased progressively over a 1-h period (from 143 +/- 1 to 152 +/- 1.2 meq/l), whereas plasma K+ was maintained at a constant level by intravenous infusion. With low background levels of ANG II (0.5 ng.kg-1.min-1), plasma Aldo remained unchanged with the increase in plasma Na+. With high ANG II (20.0 ng.kg-1.min-1), plasma Na+ changed in a similar manner (143.1 +/- 1.2 to 154.3 +/- 0.7 meq/l), whereas plasma Aldo decreased progressively from 35.3 +/- 2.3 to 27.9 +/- 3.8 ng/dl (P less than 0.05). In group 2 (n = 5), plasma Na+ was increased abruptly (144.9 +/- 0.6 to 152.1 +/- 0.5) and maintained at the elevated level for 3 h, and plasma K+ was held constant. Again, at low steady-state levels of ANG II (0.5 ng.kg-1.min-1), plasma Aldo levels remained unchanged. But, at intermediate levels of ANG II (5.0 ng-kg-1.min-1), producing plasma ANG II levels similar to those seen with dietary NaCl restriction, plasma Aldo decreased from 20.4 +/- 4.3 to 9.0 +/- 1.3 ng/dl (P less than 0.05). This rate of infused ANG II has been shown to result in plasma ANG II levels similar to that seen with dietary NaCl restriction. At the highest dose of ANG II (20 ng.kg-1.min-1), the ability of plasma Na+ to lower plasma Aldo was blunted to the extent that the decrease from 27.5 +/- 2.2 to 21.3 +/- 1.6 was not statistically significant. These studies indicate that physiological elevation of ANG II appears to sensitize the adrenal aldosterone responsiveness to changes in plasma Na+.
Year Effects on Stock Returns, Earnings, and Capital Expense

In this study business cycle effects are taken into consideration in investigating the relationship between stock returns, earnings and capital expense in different countries. In countries where corporate governance rules and mechanisms are well-established, managers are closely monitored. Therefore, the earnings that the firm generates are used for good investment projects leading to positive stock returns. If the financial markets in these countries are also well-established and efficient, the reaction of stock returns to good investment projects should also be fast, in fact contemporaneous. The increase in stock returns increases the discount rate that investors use in valuation of firms. The high discount rate should lead to negative future stock returns, all else equal in efficient financial markets. Capital expense by the management should produce similar results as those of earnings but to a lesser extent because earnings are the first resort of funding in investment decisions. On the other hand, for countries where corporate governance mechanisms are not well established and where financial markets are not very efficient, earnings or capital expense may not be used for the best interests of shareholders, and stock price reaction to earnings will neither be necessarily positive nor contemporaneous. The results show that in common law countries earnings and capital expense produce positive contemporaneous returns. In civil law countries that is not necessarily the case. The results are more pronounced in developed countries. The analysis uses fixed effects regression models and therefore, takes into account the fact that the world economy has gone through different phases during 1990s and 2000s. Year dummies are introduced to counter the business cycle influence.
An Autoradiographic Study of Organically Bound Carbon-14 in Growing Epiphyseal Cartilage and Bone

The distribution of a single, subcutaneous tracer dose of sodium bicarbonate labeled with C14 has been visualized in bone and epiphyseal cartilage from a series of newborn rats by the technique of coated autoradiography. Contrary to expectations, the deposition of radioactive carbon occurred primarily in the formation of the organic components of bone and epiphyseal cartilage, rather than in their mineral portions. Evidence is presented to indicate that the greatest share of labeled organic matrix of both bone and cartilage takes the form of newly synthesized protein, especially collagen. In cartilage, some labeling of chondroitin sulphate may also occur. Glycogen, however, plays no role in the reactions observed. Observation of the reactions of epiphyseal cartilage over a three-day period after injection has yielded information which is interpreted as being indicative of the formation of labeled matrix by the chondrocytes. Following its elaboration, this matrix is passed from the cell into the surrounding stroma. The rate at which the chondrocytes synthesize and extrude labeled matrix varies in different regions of the epiphyseal cartilage. This variation gives some insight not only into the rapidity of the interstitial growth of cartilage, but also into the relative rapidity with which renewal of the matrix occurs. It is suggested that a reduced rate of matrix renewal in the zone of hypertrophic chondrocytes may be instrumental in causing the accrual of mineral salts in the zone of provisional calcification. Autoradiographic reactions of the bone matrix are in general similar in position to those already described for mineral-seeking isotopes. However, because they are not obscured by diffuse, exchange-type reactions commonly encountered in mineral studies, they offer a high degree of precision for microscopic study. In some areas, it is possible to visualize the appearance of labeled bone matrix before bone-salt deposition has begun.
Transformation of murine bone marrow-derived stem cells

A101 Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multi-potent cells with many potential clinical applications due to their capacity to be expanded in vitro and differentiate into several lineages. Although stem cells for therapeutic purposes can be managed safely, MSCs can undergo spontaneous transformation following long-term in vitro culture and genetic manipulations. We evaluated spontaneous transformation in culture of bone marrow derived murine mesenchymal stem cells that were used for magnetic resonance imaging and tracking in tumor models. We report that loading of MSCs with the Bangs particles containing iron oxide and long-term culture of genetically modified stem cells (transfected with the reporter gene) lead to their spontaneous transformation. We used established mouse mesenchymal stem cell line developed by the group of Dr.Prockop, Tulane University. These cells were originally derived from femurs and tibiae of C57BL mice. Differentiation assay performed with Passage 5 cells demonstrated that they maintain pluripotency. For transformation assay, we used MSCs transiently labeled in vitro with iron-oxide Bang’s particles (diameter 0.9 μm) or engineered MSCs expressing a unique cell surface receptor with GFP reporter. Our results indicate that transformation frequency (number of transformed foci per cell number) in iron oxide labeled MSCs was 5 times higher than in unlabeled MSCs. Incidence of transformation was also significantly higher in cells transfected with plasmid DNA (pEF1a-GFP-IRES-CD4), probably, due to increased genome instability in transfected cells. Normal stem cells and cancer stem cells share certain features, such as self- renewal and differentiation potential. These clear similarities suggest that some cancer stem cells could derive from adult stem cells. Our findings support the hypothesis of cancer stem cell origin and indicate the importance of bio-safety studies for efficient clinical applications of stem cells.
A note on heritability estimates for growth traits in male and female Romanov sheep

A total of 1855 records were analysed using restricted maximum likelihood (REML) techniques to estimate heritabilities separately for males and females lambs on birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), 90-day weight (W90) and average daily gains birth to weaning (Cl) and weaning to 90 days (C2). An animal model including fixed effects of year × season, parity, litter size and rearing type; and random effects of direct genetic effect (h 2 D ) and residual was applied. Estimates ofh 2 D for BWwere 048 (males) and 0·50 (females); for WW 0·35 (males) and 0·22 (females); for W90 0·21 (males) and 0·31 (females); for Cl 0·20 (males) and 0·25 (females); and for C2 0·18 (males) and 0·29 (females).
Performance Evaluation of Human Detection Systems for Robot Safety

Detecting and tracking people is becoming more important in robotic applications because of the increasing demand for collaborative work in which people interact closely with and in the same workspace as robots. New safety standards allow people to work next to robots, but require that they be protected from harm while they do so. Sensors that detect and track people are a natural way of implementing the necessary safety monitoring, and have the added advantage that the information about where the people are and where they are going can be fed back into the application and used to give the robot greater situational awareness for performing tasks. The results should help users determine if such a system will provide sufficient protection for people to be able to work safely in collaborative applications with industrial robots.
Comparison of caries diagnostic modalities: A clinical study in 40 subjects.

Author(s): Mansour, Stephanie; Ajdaharian, Janet; Nabelsi, Tasneem; Chan, Gregory; Wilder-Smith, Petra | Abstract: Background and objectivesFew studies have been published that evaluate the usefulness of different caries- diagnostic modalities in general dental practice. The goal of this study was to compare the results of screening for coronal dental caries in a general dental practice using clinical observations, radiographs, laser fluorescence (DIAGNOdent™) (LF), and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Diagnostic agreement between OCT and LF versus standard clinical techniques for detecting caries was determined in 40 subjects.Study designs/materials and methodsForty patients with g1 coronal carious lesion as determined by prescreening using clinical examination and radiographs were enrolled in this study. Subjects with gross caries were excluded. Subsequently each patient underwent a full detailed dental examination by an experienced clinician, using visual examination and radiographs according to standard clinical practice. The coronal surfaces of a total of 932 teeth were examined and charted. Teeth were then photographed, rediagnosed using the LF system, and imaged using OCT. Two blinded pre-standardized examiners reviewed radiographic and OCT images and assigned caries status.ResultsBased on manufacturer's cutoff values, sensitivity and specificity for coronal caries using LF technique (i) on unaltered tooth surfaces were 73.7% and 94.1%, respectively and (ii) in previously restored or sealed teeth, they were 19.2% and 95.8%, respectively. LF technique was unable to assess tissue health underneath sealants and restorations. Clinician agreement (kappa [k]) regarding caries diagnosis using OCT imaging was overall 0.834 (SE = 0.034). Sensitivity and specificity for caries using OCT technique (i) on unaltered tooth surfaces approximated 74.1% and 95.7%, respectively and, (ii) in previously restored or sealed teeth, they approximated 76.0% and 95.6%, respectively. Although OCT was able to detect lesions beneath many resin restorations and sealants, results varied considerably between materials. OCT imaging was unable to detect caries when caries was g2 mm below the tooth surface.ConclusionThese findings support the usefulness of LF for primary caries detection, and the clinical utility of OCT for early caries detection and monitoring under dental resin restorations and sealants. Lasers Surg. Med. 48:924-928, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Lupus tubulointerstitial and vascular disease

Since its inception over 40 years ago, the classification of lupus nephritis has focused entirely on glomerular alterations. Existing data indicate that tubulointerstitial and possibly vascular alterations may be superior prognostic indicators. In particular, our group has demonstrated that in-situ immune processes can occur. Ectopic germinal center formation may be found in a subset of lupus patients, which has been observed in the target organs of other autoimmune disorders. Analysis of antibody sequences from the plasma cells isolated from these organized lymphoid structures demonstrates both clonal expansion and somatic hypermutation. Expression cloning of 27 antibodies generated from CD38 + or Ki-67 + B cells isolated from 8 lupus nephritis patients by laser capture microdissection. Thirteen antibodies revealed cytoplasmic immunoreactivity and 11 of these were subsequently confirmed to bind directly to vimentin, which was highly expressed in severely inflamed regions of the kidneys. In addition, high anti-vimentin antibody serum titers correlated with the presence of severe tubulointerstitial inflammation. Other studies have also demonstrated that renal vascular lesions are common and include thrombotic microangiopathy, atherosclerosis, noninflammatory necrotizing vasculitis and rarely true vasculitis. Incorporating both tubulointerstitial and vascular changes provides a more accurate assessment of the kidney in lupus patients.
Metabolism of fats. 3. Absorption of hydroxy acids via the lymph.

SummaryThe absorption of ricinoleic acid and its analogs has been studied in vivo. Corn oil, ricinoleic acid, triricinolein and methyl ricinoleate were administered by gastric intubation to rats with permanent thoracic duct cannulations. Corn oil administered to rats was readily emulsified, absorbed and transported to the lymph. Fifty per cent of the corn oil was absorbed in fasted rats. Maximum absorption of corn oil occurred after 8 hours, at which time 77% of the test fat was absorbed. Triricinolein and ricinoleic acid were completely absorbed after 27 hours, reaching maximum absorption within 24 hours after administration. The lymph lipids from rats fed the hydroxylated materials contained a low concentration of triglyceride and a higher concentration of mono- and diglycerides as well as free fatty acids when compared to that obtained from animals fed corn oil.