cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thoracic response to shoulder belt loading: comparison of tabletop and frontal sled tests with PMHS.

Objective: The recent refinement of high-rate optical tracking allows dramatically detailed thoracic deformation measurements to be taken during postmortem human subject (PMHS) sled tests. These data allow analysis of restraint belt geometry and the 3-dimensional thoracic deformations generated by belt impingement. One consequence of this new capability is a better understanding of complementary thoracic characterization experiments such as tabletop tests and how the thoracic response can be interpreted for applications involving more complex loading mechanisms. Methods: This article reports a detailed evaluation of the timing, magnitude, and direction of the applied belt forces and the resulting thoracic deformations in 2 previously performed tests series involving frontal sled tests and tabletop belt-loading tests. Results: In the sled tests, the posteriorly directed component (SAE x) of the belt tension (F B ) was F Bx = 0.70 F B at the shoulder but only F Bx = 0.14 F B where the belt engaged the anter...
Glutamine supports recovery from loss of transepithelial resistance and increase of permeability induced by media change in Caco-2 cells1

Recent evidence suggests that the conditionally essential amino acid glutamine is important for intestinal barrier function. However, the mechanism remains undefined. To determine the effects of glutamine on permeability of intestinal epithelial cell monolayers, Caco-2 cells were grown on membrane filters and exposed to 4 mmol/L sodium butyrate in order to rapidly achieve high levels of alkaline phosphatase and high transepithelial resistance as seen in functionally mature enterocytes. A standard method of medium exchange consisting of removal and replacement resulted in a catastrophic loss of transepithelial resistance and increase of mannitol and dextran fluxes that required 2-4 hrs and protein synthesis to recover. The effect was attributed to exposure of the upper monolayer surface to atmosphere and could be avoided by refeeding by incremental perfusion. Spontaneously-differentiated Caco-2 monolayers were resistant to this stress. This novel stress test was employed as a sensitive assay for the requirement of glutamine for monolayer transepithelial resistance and mannitol permeability. Pre-stress glutamine availability was more important than Gln-availability during the recovery phase. Thus the transepithelial resistance and permeability of butyrate-induced monolayers is dynamically-regulated in response to atmospheric exposure, by a mechanism that depends on threshold levels of glutamine availability.
Microsomal Prostaglandin E2 Synthase-1 Modulates the Response to Vascular Injury

Background—Microsomal (m) prostaglandin (PG) E2 synthase (S)-1 catalyzes the formation of PGE2 from PGH2, a cyclooxygenase product that is derived from arachidonic acid. Previous studies in mice suggest that targeting mPGES-1 may be less likely to cause hypertension or thrombosis than cyclooxygenase-2–selective inhibition or deletion in vivo. Indeed, deletion of mPGES-1 retards atherogenesis and angiotensin II–induced aortic aneurysm formation. The role of mPGES-1 in the response to vascular injury is unknown. Methods and Results—Mice were subjected to wire injury of the femoral artery. Both neointimal area and vascular stenosis were significantly reduced 4 weeks after injury in mPGES-1 knockout mice compared with wild-type controls (65.6±5.7 versus 37.7±5.1×103 pixel area and 70.5±13.4% versus 47.7±17.4%, respectively; P<0.01). Induction of tenascin-C, a proproliferative and promigratory extracellular matrix protein, after injury was attenuated in the knockouts. Consistent with in vivo rediversion of PG ...
Diamine-Quinone Polymers as Effective Anticorrosive Coatings

Abstract Quinone-diamine polymers have unusually strong affinity towards metals. The affinity is sufficiently strong to displace water from wet and rusty metal surfaces. The potential of these polymers as anti-corrosive coatings is reviewed.
A change in basal FSH release accompanies the onset of the second or selective phase of increased serum FSH in the cyclic rat.

Abstract Experiments were undertaken to investigate if changes occur at the level of the anterior pituitary gland to result in selective follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) release during late proestrus in the cyclic rat. At 1200 h proestrus, prior to the preovulatory luteinizing hormone (LH) surge in serum and the accompanying first phase of FSH release, serum LH and FSH concentrations were low. At 2400 h proestrus, after the LH surge and shortly after the onset of the second or selective phase of FSH release, serum LH was low, serum FSH was elevated about 4-fold, pituitary LH concentration was decreased about one-half and pituitary FSH concentration was not significantly decreased. During a two hour in vitro incubation, pituitaries collected at 2400 h released nearly two-thirds less LH and 2.5 times more FSH than did pituitaries collected at 1200 h. Addition of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) to the incubations caused increased pituitary LH and FSH release. However, the LH and FSH increments due to LHRH in the 2400 h pituitaries were not different from those in the 1200 h pituitaries. The results indicate that a change occurs in the rat anterior pituitary gland during the period of the LH surge and first phase of FSH release which results in a selective increase in the basal FSH secretory rate. It is suggested that this change is primarily responsible for the selective increase in serum FSH which occurs during the second phase of FSH release.
Through the magnifying glass: Underlying literacy deficits and remediation potential in Childhood Apraxia of Speech

Interactions among psycholinguistic deficits and literacy difficulties in childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) have been inadequately studied. Comparisons with other disorders (Specific Language Impairment (SLI) and phonological dyslexia) and the possibility of reading remediation in CAS warrant further research. This case study describes the speech, language, cognitive, and literacy deficits and therapy gains in a girl aged 11;6 with severe CAS and borderline IQ. A comprehensive assessment of literacy-related cognitive skills, including phonological memory and working memory capacity, language, speech production and reading skills, was administered. Treatment from 6;0 to 11;6 targeted speech sounds, oral sequencing, phonological awareness (PA), speech-print connections, syllabic structure, and real and non-word decoding. Phonological memory was similar to that of children with SLI, but working memory was significantly worse. Unlike children with phonological dyslexia, our participant demonstrated relative s...
Luteal supplementation in in vitro fertilization: more questions than answers

Objective To update clinicians on different regimens of luteal phase supplementation in IVF-stimulated cycles and to identify areas that need further research in this subject. Design Literature review and critical analysis of published studies on luteal phase supplementation during the last 20 years. Conclusion(s) Luteal phase supplementation in IVF-stimulated cycles, both in gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist and antagonist protocols, is considered an essential requirement for optimal success rates. The date of initiation and discontinuation of supplemented hormones is not adequately studied in the literature. In most major controlled and randomized studies, there are no significant differences in success rates with progesterone supplementation alone, progesterone and estradiol, progesterone and human chorionic gonadotropin, and human chorionic gonadotropin alone. Success rates seem similar with intramuscular and vaginal progesterone administration with patient preference for the vaginal route. The optimal dose of progesterone has not been studied in a scientific way in the literature. The use of gonadotropin releasing hormone agonists for luteal phase supplementation in antagonist cycles appears to be promising, and is worthy of further investigation.
Aspergillus sydowii MG 49 is a strong producer of thermostable xylanolytic enzymes

The mycelial fungus Aspergillus sydowii MG49 was found to produce xylanase (EC 3.2.1.8.) and β-xylosidase (EC 3.2.1.37) in high specific activity (72.8 and 9.8 U mg−1 protein, respectively) in a short incubation period of 72 h when grown on xylan as the sole carbon source. Xylose, the breakdown product of xylan, could also induce the production of both the xylanolytic enzymes efficiently. A. sydowii was capable of growth on several underutilized agricultural residues, which also led to the production of these enzymes in high specific activity. Xylanase enzyme produced was secreted extracellularly, but β-xylosidase was found to have intramycelial localization, unlike the reports of extracellular production of this enzyme by many of the other organisms. The optimum production pH for both the enzymes was 4.0, while the production temperature was 30°C. However, both these enzymes exhibited thermostable characteristics, having maximum in vitro enzyme activity at 60°C. Production of xylanase was found to be strongly influenced by the addition of certain amino acids in the enzyme fermentation medium, while the pretreatment of crude xylanolytic enzymes with additives such as metal ions and surfactants also affected the specific activity of the enzymes. This fungus did not produce any cellulolytic enzymes.
The Properties of Incremental VaR in Monte Carlo Simulations

Incremental value‐at‐risk (VaR) is used to measure the effectiveness of diversification. However, the statistical properties of the estimated incremental VaR have not been fully explored. In this article, the author compares incremental VaR with other VaR‐based risk measures. The article derives the exact distribution of the estimated incremental VaR, when obtained using Monte Carlo simulation. The approach obtains general results with the implication that incremental VaR is dependent on the simulation method.
Is there a race-based disparity in the survival of veterans with HIV?

BACKGROUND: Disparities in survival for black patients with HIV in the United States have been reported. The VA is an equal access health care system.
Spontaneous Liquid-Liquid Slug Flow in Microchannels

Spontaneous liquid-liquid slug (bislug) flow in microchannels has been observed for both circular and square cross sections. Flow is induced via an imbalance in interfacial tensions and curvatures between the two gas-liquid surfaces and the liquid-liquid surface. Bislug flow in square cross-section microchannels is generally much quicker than bislug flow in circular capillaries for a variety of reasons; including the self-wetting nature of the microchannel and the decrease in viscous resistance in the corners.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Androgen metabolism in tissue recombinants composed of adult urinary bladder epithelium and urogenital sinus mesenchyme

Epithelium of the adult mouse urinary bladder (BLE) was experimentally combined with mesenchyme of the urogenital sinus (UGM) and grown in intact male hosts to produce prostate-like glandular structures. To determine the extent to which the BLE is altered in a functional sense by inductive influences from UGM, investigations into the in vitro metabolism of tritiated testosterone (T) were undertaken. An isocratic high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method was developed in order to separate the metabolites of T in mouse bladder, prostate and UGM + BLE tissue recombinants. Using a C-18 reversed phase column and a tetrahydrofuran (20): methanol (40): H2O (40) mobile phase, efficient and rapid separation of T, dihydrotestosterone, 3α-androstanediol, androstenedione, androstanedione and androsterone was achieved. The identities of the radiolabeled T metabolites were confirmed by recrystallization to constant specific activity. The results of the present study revealed that tissue recombinants expressed testosterone metabolic profiles only partially toward that of the adult prostate. For example, percentage formation of 5α-androstanedione, 3α-androstanediol and unknown polar metabolites in the UGM + BLE resembled the prostate and differed significantly from the urinary bladder. Conversely, formation of the 3β-androstanediol and androsterone from testosterone resembled the urinary bladder and differed from the formation of these metabolites in the prostate. These results suggest that in contrast to histomorphology, androgen-induced DNA synthesis, androgen receptor binding activity and total tissue two-dimensional gel electrophoretic protein profiles, androgen metabolic profiles in the tissue recombinants showed only partial transformation into prostatic phenotypes. Analysis of steroid-metabolic profiles, therefore, may represent an exquisite and sensitive method to assess gene expression in various hormone-responsive target tissues.
Automated lung segmentation in digital lateral chest radiographs.

We are developing a fully automated computerized scheme for segmenting the lung fields in digital lateral chest radiographs. Existing computer-aided diagnostic(CAD) schemes and automated lung segmentation methods have focused exclusively on the posteroanterior view, despite the diagnostic importance of the lateral view. Information from the lateral radiograph is routinely incorporated by radiologists in their decision-making process, and thus computeranalysis of lateral images may potentially add another dimension to current CAD schemes. Automated analysis of the lung fields in lateral images will necessarily require accurate segmentation. Our scheme employs an initial procedure to eliminate external and subcutaneous pixels. Global gray-level histogram analysis then allows for the identification of a range of gray-level thresholds. An iterative gray-level thresholding scheme is implemented using this range of thresholds to construct a series of binary images in which contiguous regions are identified and geometrically analyzed. Regions determined to be outside the lungs are prevented from contributing to binary images at later iterations. Adaptive local gray-level thresholding is applied along the initial contour that results from the global thresholding procedure to extend the contour closer to the true lung borders. This local thresholding method uses regions of interest of various dimensions, depending on the enclosed anatomy. Smoothing and polynomial curve fitting complete the segmentation. A database of 100 normal and 100 abnormal lateral images was analyzed. Quantitative comparison of computer-segmented lung regions with lung regions manually delineated by two radiologists indicated that 83% and 84% of normal and abnormal images, respectively, displayed segmentation contours within three standard deviations of the mean inter-radiologist contour degree-of-overlap value.
Compilation techniques for parallel systems

Abstract Over the past two decades tremendous progress has been made in both the design of parallel architectures and the compilers needed for exploiting parallelism on such architectures. In this paper we summarize the advances in compilation techniques for uncovering and effectively exploiting parallelism at various levels of granularity. We begin by describing the program analysis techniques through which parallelism is detected and expressed in form of a program representation. Next compilation techniques for scheduling instruction level parallelism (ILP) are discussed along with the relationship between the nature of compiler support and type of processor architecture. Compilation techniques for exploiting loop and task level parallelism on shared-memory multiprocessors (SMPs) are summarized. Locality optimizations that must be used in conjunction with parallelization techniques for achieving high performance on machines with complex memory hierarchies are also discussed. Finally we provide an overview of compilation techniques for distributed memory machines that must perform partitioning of both code and data for parallel execution. Communication optimization and code generation issues that are unique to such compilers are also briefly discussed.
Development of monoclonal antibodies and immunoassays for sensitive and specific detection of Shiga toxin Stx2f.

Background Shiga toxin 2 (Stx2) is a major virulence factor in gastrointestinal diseases caused by Escherichia coli. Although Stx2a (prototypical Stx2) is well-studied, all seven subtypes of Stx2 have been associated with disease in mammals. Several subtypes of Stx2, including Stx2f, are difficult to detect immunologically. Methods And Findings Four novel monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against the Stx2f subtype were produced and characterized. These mAbs react exclusively to the Stx2f A subunit, and do not cross-react with other subtypes of Stx2. A Stx2f-specific sandwich ELISA was established and a limit of detection of 0.123 ng/mL was obtained using one pair of the mAbs. The receptor preference of Stx2f was confirmed using this sandwich ELISA. Three out of four mAbs can partially neutralize the toxicity of Stx2f in a cell-based assay. These mAbs were also demonstrated to be highly specific and reactive when applied to colony immunoblot assays. Conclusions Novel mAbs specific to Stx2f were developed for the first time, providing new assets for the STEC community. Immunoassays with improved sensitivity and specificity will be useful for the detection of Stx2f present in food, environmental, and clinical samples.
Microinjection of dynorphin into the hippocampus impairs spatial learning in rats

Abstract The effect of hippocampal dynorphin administration on learning and memory was examined in spatial and nonspatial tasks. Bilateral infusion of dynorphin A(1–8) (DYN; 10 or 20 μg in one μl) into the dorsal hippocampus resulted in a dose-related impairment of spatial working memory in a radial maze win-stay task. Subsequent experiments found that acquisition of a reference memory task in the water maze was impaired by DYN injections (20 μg/μl) in the dorsal hippocampus, but not in the ventral hippocampus, and that this impairment could be blocked by naloxone. In a nonspatial task, posttraining DYN injections in the dorsal hippocampus had no effect on retention of step-through passive avoidance. These results suggest that dynorphin specifically interferes with spatial learning and memory, and that this effect is mediated by opioid receptors in the dorsal hippocampus.
An estimate of transparency of the atmospheric window 16 mu to 24 mu.

The effective solar radiation intensity, as observed through the atmospheric window between 16 mu and 24 mu, is determined by comparison with the observed radiation intensity of the earth’s surface (thermocouple) below 13 mu. The ratio of the effective value to the value calculated for T=6000°K is the transparency of the atmosphere to solar radiation within the interval 16 mu−24 mu. Opacity in this spectral region is due largely to water vapor and carbon dioxide. Provisional estimates of percent transmission, probably lower limits, are found to be: DatePrecipitable water vaporSpectral intervalPercent transmission30 Sept. ’411 cm16 mu–19 mu3.3%24 Nov. ’411 mm16 mu–19 mu14.3%24 Nov. ’411 mm16 mu–22 mu12.6%The net loss of energy by the earth’s surface, through the 16-mu–24-mu window, is small, but probably not negligible from a meteorological point of view.
Fluoride and Dental Caries Prevention in Children

1. Charlotte W. Lewis, MD, MPH* 1. *Department of Pediatrics, Division of General Pediatrics, Child Health Institute and Seattle Children’s Hospital Craniofacial Center, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. * Abbreviations: CWF: : community water fluoridation ECC: : early childhood caries FDA: : Food and Drug Administration FPL: : federal poverty level FTP: : fluoride toothpaste FS: : fluoride supplement FV: : fluoride varnish NHANES: : National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1. Low-income children experience more dental caries and more complications of caries, such as dental abscesses. Beginning fluoride toothpaste and fluoride varnish during the first year of life can reduce low-income children’s risk of getting dental caries. 2. Pediatricians and other primary care clinicians for children have an important role to play in implementing a dental caries primary prevention program for all children, which should include regular use of fluoride as the mainstay. 3. Fluoride toothpaste and community water fluoridation benefit both children and adults, decreasing the risk of dental caries throughout the life span. After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. Understand the mechanism that leads to dental caries. 2. Understand how fluoride prevents dental decay. 3. Be knowledgeable of the various sources of fluoride. 4. Be aware of evidence to support safe use of fluoride and how to counter misinformation perpetuated by antifluoride groups. 5. Be able to recommend specific fluoride modalities, depending on the child’s risk for dental caries. Fluoride is a valuable caries prevention modality that has a large body of evidence supporting its use. Because infants, young children, and their parents typically visit the pediatric office many times before ever seeing a dentist, parents may bring questions about fluoride to their pediatricians. Moreover, health supervision visits provide unique opportunities for pediatricians to address fluoride in the context of preventive oral health. However, until recently, pediatricians typically received little training in oral health and therefore may need additional education about fluoride to answer parents’ questions, counter misinformation, and ensure appropriate use of fluoride among their patients. Given that approximately one-quarter of US children younger than 5 years have caries, it is particularly important that …
Defining and Establishing Relationships between Essential and Higher Order Teaching Skills.

AbstractThe dependent variables of teacher effectiveness research have traditionally been student achievement and conduct. Recently, the focus has been on student acquisition of thinking skills. Using concepts of teacher performance validated in process/product research, this exploratory study measured and compared essential (Florida Performance Measurement System, FPMS) teacher performance scores that associate with student achievement and conduct and higher order teaching performance (Teaching for Higher Order Thinking, THOT) that associates with student acquisition of thinking skills. In the study reported in the article, FPMS and THOT observations of teacher performance were made in pre- and posttraining in higher order thinking. Teacher participation in the training program resulted in substantial increases in THOT performance, but it did not affect performance levels on essential skills, suggesting that the two types of teaching performance may be relatively independent of each other. The results of...
Positron emission tomography with F‐18‐fluorodeoxyglucose to evaluate the results of hepatic chemoembolization

BACKGROUND. Positron emission tomography (PET) using F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose ( 18 FDG) is an imaging modality allowing direct evaluation of cellular glucose metabolism. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of 18 FDG-PET in monitoring chemoembolization therapy of patients with liver metastases from adenocarcinoma. METHODS. Thirty-four hepatic lesions in 4 patients were evaluated with 18 FDG-PET before and 2-3 months after interventional therapy. All patients underwent transcatheter arterial chemoembolization. A total of nine PET studies were performed. Semiquantitative measurement of the metabolic activity of the lesions was performed using the standard uptake value (SUV) of 18 FDG. Comparison was performed between sequential PET scans using Student's t test for paired data analysis. The PET findings were also compared with tumor marker levels measured at the time of the PET scans. RESULTS. Twenty-five of 34 lesions had decreased 18 FDG uptake (SUV = 8 ± 2 vs. 3 ± 1 ; P < 0.00001), as expected in successful tumor chemoembolization. These findings were associated with a significant decrease in serum tumor marker levels (86±4% ; P < 0.05) after treatment. However, there were 3 new lesions, and 6 of the 34 lesions demonstrated persistent or increased 18 FDG uptake after treatment (SUV = 8 ± 2 vs. 13 ± 3 ; P < 0.05), consistent with the presence of residual viable tumor. These findings led to further interventional therapy in all patients. CONCLUSIONS. 18 FDG-PET allows monitoring of response to treatment with hepatic chemoembolization in patients with liver metastases from adenocarcinoma. PET is a useful diagnostic tool and has the potential to be used to guide further interventional therapy.
Ram Accelerator Operating Limits, Part 1: Identification of Limits

Operational limits of the thermally choked ram accelerator are investigated. A quasisteady, one-dimensional model of the ram accelerator predicts it should be able to operate when the projectile Mach number is sufficient to maintain supersonic flow past the projectile throat and the heat release is sufficient to stabilize a normal shock upon the projectile body, but not enough to drive the shock over the projectile throat. These limits to operation can be expressed as relations of Mach number and heat release Q, and together they define a theoretical envelope of operation in the Q-M plane. The corresponding experimental envelope was investigated by injecting projectiles at different Mach numbers into methane/oxygen/ nitrogen and hydrogen/oxygen/methane mixtures at 25 and 50 atm, respectively. The results indicated a broad range of mixtures that were able to accelerate the projectile through the Chapman-Jouguet (CJ) detonation speed of the mixture. In the more energetic mixtures, the normal shock wave surged forward and immediately unstarted the projectile as it entered the test section. Unstarts were also observed when the projectile was accelerated beyond the CJ detonation speed, but because of the projectile's long intube residence time, these unstarts are believed to have been structural, not gasdynamic in nature.
The decay of 194Au to the levels of 194Pt

Abstract The γ-rays emitted in the decay of 194Au have been investigated by means of Ge(Li) detec tors. The energies and intensities of 93 γ-rays have been determined from the γ-ray singles spectrum. Two-parameter γ-γ coincidence experiments, with two Ge(Li) detectors, have been performed. The coincidence relations were used by the authors to construct a level scheme for 194Pt, consisting of 36 excited states. The ambiguities previously reported in the locations of several transitions have been removed, and several transitions have been placed in new positions. New levels at 1229.3, 1373.6, 2134.2, 2158.0, 2184.8 and 2287.3 keV have been postulated and five previously reported levels have been removed from the scheme. K-conversion coefficients, calculated from the γ-ray intensities of this work and the K-conversion electron intensities of Bergman and Backstrom, were used to determine the multipolarities of the transitions and the spin and parity assignments of the levels. Four levels are proposed as possible members of the quintet of three-phonon states.
Cost Effective Hi-Performance Color Television

During the past few years engineers have been processing sampled TV signals in an effort to provide a better picture and provide more features than what present analog receivers can economically deliver. In addition, the continuing cost pressure puts manufacturers into the necessity of reducing component count and using automated assembly techniques. Two approaches have been used to accomplish the above: (1) Sampling the analog signal and converting it to digital words for digital processing (2) Sampling the analog signal and processing the sampled data
Efficacy of percutaneous treatment of biliary tract calculi using the holmium:YAG laser

Background Few Western studies have focused on percutaneous techniques using percutaneous transhepatic choledochoscopy (PTHC) and holmium:yttrium–aluminum–garnet (YAG) laser to ablate biliary calculi in patients unable or unwilling to undergo endoscopic or surgical removal of the calculi. The authors report the efficacy of the holmium:YAG laser in clearing complex biliary calculi using percutaneous access techniques.
Subroutine library for partial differential approximants

Abstract Partial differential approximants can accurately approximate functions of two variables, even when the only information available concerning the function is a finite number of terms in its power series expansion. They are particularly effective in the approximation of multisingular functions. After a brief review we present a library of FORTRAN 77 subroutines which generate and analyze partial differential approximants. A driver program which demonstrates the library's use is also included.
Spatial evolution of laser beam profiles in an SBS amplifier

We have performed an experimental and theoretical analysis of the modification of the transverse structure of a probe beam on propagation through an SBS amplifier. The theoretical analysis is based on performing a mode decomposition of the incident fields and determining how each mode amplitude is modified as a result of the nonlinear coupling. For the case of input beams with Gaussian intensity profiles and in the limit of negligible pump depletion, we find that the input probe profile is preserved during amplification only when the probe spot size is smaller than that of the pump in the focal region.
EARLY IDENTIFICATION OF CEREBRAL PALSY IN PRETERM INFANTS

In a prospective study of 137 preterm infants, 4 developed cerebral palsy (C.P.); 1 severe, 2 moderate, and 1 mild, as assessed at 2 years. Their birth weights (B.W.) ranged from 1840-2500 gms and gestational ages from 33-36 weeks. The means and standard deviations for the sample were 1927 gms ± 456 and 33 weeks ± 3. Very low B.W. and gest. age were not predictors of C.P. and only one C.P. Infant had a low R.W. for gest. age. All C.P. cases were diagnosed by poor motor and adaptive performances on the 9 month Gesell developmental test. All were clinically suspect at 3 to 6 months as were other infants who did not develop C.P. On a 4 month Gesell test all the C.P. cases had performance levels in the lowest 10% (13 cases) of the sample. Since five of these at 2 years are performing at normal developmental levels additional discriminators were needed. All infants had assessments of obstetric and neonatal complications and a term (EDC) sleep polygraph with EEG. The C.P. infants were in the 35% with the greatest number of obstetric plus neonatal complications and in the half of these with deviant sleep polygraphs. Using this combination of obstetric and neonatal complications assessments and a neonatal neurophysiological measure, the term sleep polygraph with a behavioral assessment at 4 months, the Gesell test, only one other infant besides the C.P. cases was selected. This child is awkward and has some motor delay at 2 years.
Glucocorticoid and Acid-Base Homeostasis: Effects on Glutamine Metabolism and Transport

The amino acid glutamine serves as a major fuel, powering tubular transport processes and base generation in the kidneys of acidotic animals. Removing the adrenals limits the kidneys' response to an exogenous acid load and impairs the removal rate of glutamine from the blood. Administering glucocorticoid to adrenalectomized (ADX) rats reverses a small net release of glutamine to uptake; similarly, administering an exogenous acid load to ADX rats restores the kidneys to organs of net extraction. Glucocorticoid-induced uptake is substantially less than the filtered glutamine load in contrast to uptake across both the luminal and basolateral surfaces when filtered HC03is reduced. Furthermore, mitochondrial glutamine oxidation is glucocorticoid dependent with a distinct impairment exhibited by the ADX acidotic rat kidney. However, combining the effect of reduced filtered HC0 3 with glucocorticoid supplementation results in a marked potentiation of glutamine uptake coupled to oxidation. These results are consistent with a proposed proximaltubule cell modelin which basolateral glutamine uptake is inversely related to basolateral HC03efflux and coupled, in the presence of glucocorticoid, to mitochondrial oxidation. This model of glucocorticoid-induced ammoniagenesis predicts an increased renal work capacity when basolateral transport of a major metabolic fuel, glutamine, is closely coupled to its oxidative metabolism.
Physiological and cytotoxic effects of Ca2+ ionophores on caco-2 paracellular permeability : relationship of 45Ca2+ efflux to 51Cr release

The human intestinal cell line, Caco-2, and the Ca2+ ionophores, A23187 and ionomycin, were used to determine the interrelationships of 45Ca2+ efflux, transepithelial
A note on silent ovulation identified by using radiotelemetry for estrous detection

Abstract This study was undertaken to determine the occurrence of silent ovulation (SO) in high-producing, postpartum (PP) Holstein cows. Nineteen high-producing, multiparous cows received transmitters (Heatwatch®, DDX, Denver, CO) for radiotelemetry (RT) and began visual estrus detection (VED) routine for 1/2 h twice daily, on day 10 PP. Blood samples were obtained every other day commencing on day 10 PP, for RIA of progesterone (P4). Following P4 assay, RT and VED data were evaluated at time periods coinciding with ovulation to determine whether standing estrus had occurred. First ovulation occurred at 29.1±3.0 days PP (range 17–69 days) compared to first mount at 39.6±4.0 days PP (range 17–69 days) and at 47.6±3.6 days PP (range 24–77 days) for RT and VED, respectively. VED indicated 94.7% of first ovulations as SO while the inclusion of RT with VED indicated that only 42.1% of first PP ovulations were true SO. During second PP ovulations (n=16), VED indicated 50% SO while the inclusion of RT indicated only 12.5% true SO. During third and fourth PP ovulations (n=15), VED indicated 33.3% SO while the inclusion of RT indicated only 6.7% true SO. When RT was associated with ovulation, there were fewer mounts at first PP ovulations compared to subsequent ovulations (1.1±0.1 vs. 3.8±0.7, P
Peripheral Plasma Progesterone Levels in the Ewe During Pregnancy and Parturition

Progesterone levels in peripheral plasma were similar in ewes with single and twin fetuses during the first SO days of gestation (2–3 ng/ml). A gradual upward trend in progesterone concentration began at about days 55 to 60 (week 8) in ewes carrying twin lambs and at approximately day 75 (week 11) in ewes with single lambs. Progesterone levels increased in ewes with single fetuses from about 3 ng/ml on day 75 to 9.5 ng/ml at day 125 (week 18), and in ewes with twins from 3 ng/ml on day 55 to 15.5 ng/ml at day 130 (week 19). The slopes of the regression lines bsingle and bdoubles) between days 60 and 130 were significantly different (P < 0.01). The wide variation within and between ewes, however, reduced the probability of accurately differentiating between single and twin pregnancies. The decline in progesterone concentration which began about days 130–135 (week 19) and continued to the day of parturition (9.5 ng to 4.3 ng in singles and 15.5 ng to 3.8 ng in twin pregnancies) suggests endocrine preparatio...
A zebrafish screen for craniofacial mutants identifies wdr68 as a highly conserved gene required for endothelin-1 expression

Craniofacial birth defects result from defects in cranial neural crest (NC) patterning and morphogenesis. The vertebrate craniofacial skeleton is derived from cranial NC cells and the patterning of these cells occurs within the pharyngeal arches. Substantial efforts have led to the identification of several genes required for craniofacial skeletal development such as the endothelin-1 (edn1) signaling pathway that is required for lower jaw formation. However, many essential genes required for craniofacial development remain to be identified. Through screening a collection of insertional zebrafish mutants containing approximately 25% of the genes essential for embryonic development, we present the identification of 15 essential genes that are required for craniofacial development. We identified 3 genes required for hyomandibular development. We also identified zebrafish models for Campomelic Dysplasia and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. To further demonstrate the utility of this method, we include a characterization of the wdr68 gene. We show that wdr68 acts upstream of the edn1 pathway and is also required for formation of the upper jaw equivalent, the palatoquadrate. We also present evidence that the level of wdr68 activity required for edn1 pathway function differs between the 1st and 2nd arches. Wdr68 interacts with two minibrain-related kinases, Dyrk1a and Dyrk1b, required for embryonic growth and myotube differentiation, respectively. We show that a GFP-Wdr68 fusion protein localizes to the nucleus with Dyrk1a in contrast to an engineered loss of function mutation Wdr68-T284F that no longer accumulated in the cell nucleus and failed to rescue wdr68 mutant animals. Wdr68 homologs appear to exist in all eukaryotic genomes. Notably, we found that the Drosophila wdr68 homolog CG14614 could substitute for the vertebrate wdr68 gene even though insects lack the NC cell lineage. This work represents a systematic identification of approximately 25% of the essential genes required for craniofacial development. The identification of zebrafish models for two human disease syndromes indicates that homologs to the other genes are likely to also be relevant for human craniofacial development. The initial characterization of wdr68 suggests an important role in craniofacial development for the highly conserved Wdr68-Dyrk1 protein complexes.
Rhabdomyosarcoma cells show an energy producing anabolic metabolic phenotype compared with primary myocytes

Background The functional status of a cell is expressed in its metabolic activity. We have applied stable isotope tracing methods to determine the differences in metabolic pathways in proliferating Rhabdomysarcoma cells (Rh30) and human primary myocytes in culture. Uniformly 13C-labeled glucose was used as a source molecule to follow the incorporation of 13C into more than 40 marker metabolites using NMR and GC-MS. These include metabolites that report on the activity of glycolysis, Krebs' cycle, pentose phosphate pathway and pyrimidine biosynthesis.
A Promising Measure of Sex Bias: The Incidental Memory Task.

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether differences in counselors’ retention of information about a female and a male client in a previous study would also be obtained with a non-counselor sample. Two hundred eighteen undergraduate students participated in the present study. The findings indicated similarity between the under-graduates and counselors on measures of retention and question generation. In findings similar to those of the previous study, participants in this study retained less information under the female client conditions, p < .01, a result that indicates a possible negative valuation of female client concerns. The implication of the findings for counselor training is discussed; in particular, the findings support the utility of free-response measures for assessing sex role stereotyping.
Whose turf is this, anyway? Technical communicators and the impact of technology

Who is "best" able to create effective Web pages and engage in multimedia-an engineer, a graphic designer, or a technical communicator? The paper shows that new technology is blurring the distinctions that have traditionally existed among these (and other) professions. These unclear boundaries are now creating both competitive and collaborative possibilities, depending on one's perspective. The paper discusses recent technology and its impact on one's work and working relationship with colleagues in other disciplines. It also re-examines the future of what one needs to know and what one needs to do to produce quality communication products.
Syntrophic growth via quinone-mediated interspecies electron transfer

The mechanisms by which microbial species exchange electrons are of interest because interspecies electron transfer can expand the metabolic capabilities of microbial communities. Previous studies with the humic substance analog anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate (AQDS) suggested that quinone-mediated interspecies electron transfer (QUIET) is feasible, but it was not determined if sufficient energy is available from QUIET to support the growth of both species. Furthermore, there have been no previous studies on the mechanisms for the oxidation of anthrahydroquinone-2,6-disulfonate (AHQDS). A co-culture of Geobacter metallireducens and Geobacter sulfurreducens metabolized ethanol with the reduction of fumarate much faster in the presence of AQDS, and there was an increase in cell protein. G. sulfurreducens was more abundant, consistent with G. sulfurreducens obtaining electrons from acetate that G. metallireducens produced from ethanol, as well as from AHQDS. Cocultures initiated with a citrate synthase-deficient strain of G. sulfurreducens that was unable to use acetate as an electron donor also metabolized ethanol with the reduction of fumarate and cell growth, but acetate accumulated over time. G. sulfurreducens and G. metallireducens were equally abundant in these co-cultures reflecting the inability of the citrate synthase-deficient strain of G. sulfurreducens to metabolize acetate. Evaluation of the mechanisms by which G. sulfurreducens accepts electrons from AHQDS demonstrated that a strain deficient in outer-surface c-type cytochromes that are required for AQDS reduction was as effective at QUIET as the wild-type strain. Deletion of additional genes previously implicated in extracellular electron transfer also had no impact on QUIET. These results demonstrate that QUIET can yield sufficient energy to support the growth of both syntrophic partners, but that the mechanisms by which electrons are derived from extracellular hydroquinones require further investigation.
Analytical approximation for stationary reliability of certain and uncertain linear dynamic systems with higher‐dimensional output

An analytical approximation for the calculation of the stationary reliability of linear dynamic systems with higher-dimensional output under Gaussian excitation is presented. For systems with certain parameters theoretical and computational issues are discussed for two topics: (1) the correlation of failure events at different parts of the failure boundary and (2) the approximation of the conditional out-crossing rate across the failure boundary by the unconditional one. The correlation in the first topic is approximated by a multivariate integral, which is evaluated numerically by an efficient algorithm. For the second topic some existing semi-empirical approximations are discussed and a new one is introduced. The extension to systems with uncertain parameters requires the calculation of a multi-dimensional reliability integral over the space of the uncertain parameters. An existing asymptotic approximation is used for this task and an efficient scheme for numerical calculation of the first- and second-order derivatives of the integrand is presented. Stochastic simulation using an importance sampling approach is also considered as an alternative method, especially for cases where the dimension of the uncertain parameters is moderately large. Comparisons between the proposed approximations and Monte Carlo simulation for some examples related to earthquake excitation are made. It is suggested that the proposed analytical approximations are appropriate for problems that require a large number of consistent error estimates of the probability of failure, as occurs in reliability-based design optimization. Numerical problems regarding computational efficiency may arise when the dimension of both the output and the uncertain parameters is large.
Screening Revisited: A Survey of U.S. Requirements

Screening young children for physical, emotional, behavioral, and learning problems has received a great deal of attention since passage of P.L. 94-142. However, screening requirements and practices have not been examined on a state-by-state basis. To fill this gap, state education agencies were surveyed about early school screening requirements. Forty-nine states and the District of Columbia responded, giving information about timing, sources of data, and content areas of screening programs. Responses indicate great variation at the state and local district levels, and confusion of screening with evaluation. The results are discussed in relation to research findings from an ongoing longitudinal study. Implications for program design, planning, and research are presented.
Scaling Techniques for Massive Scale-Free Graphs in Distributed (External) Memory

We present techniques to process large scale-free graphs in distributed memory. Our aim is to scale to trillions of edges, and our research is targeted at leadership class supercomputers and clusters with local non-volatile memory, e.g., NAND Flash. We apply an edge list partitioning technique, designed to accommodate high-degree vertices (hubs) that create scaling challenges when processing scale-free graphs. In addition to partitioning hubs, we use ghost vertices to represent the hubs to reduce communication hotspots. We present a scaling study with three important graph algorithms: Breadth-First Search (BFS), K-Core decomposition, and Triangle Counting. We also demonstrate scalability on BG/P Intrepid by comparing to best known Graph500 results [1]. We show results on two clusters with local NVRAM storage that are capable of traversing trillion-edge scale-free graphs. By leveraging node-local NAND Flash, our approach can process thirty-two times larger datasets with only a 39% performance degradation in Traversed Edges Per Second (TEPS).
16S rRNA phylogenetic analysis of the bacterial endosymbionts associated with cytoplasmic incompatibility in insects

Bacterial endosymbionts of insects have long been implicated in the phenomenon of cytoplasmic incompatibility, in which certain crosses between symbiont-infected individuals lead to embryonic death or sex ratio distortion. The taxonomic position of these bacteria has, however, not been known with any certainty. Similarly, the relatedness of the bacteria infecting various insect hosts has been unclear. The inability to grow these bacteria on defined cell-free medium has been the major factor underlying these uncertainties. We circumvented this problem by selective PCR amplification and subsequent sequencing of the symbiont 16S rRNA genes directly from infected insect tissue. Maximum parsimony analysis of these sequences indicates that the symbionts belong in the alpha-subdivision of the Proteobacteria, where they are most closely related to the Rickettsia and their relatives. They are all closely related to each other and are assigned to the type species Wolbachia pipientis. Lack of congruence between the phylogeny of the symbionts and their insect hosts suggest that horizontal transfer of symbionts between insect species may occur. Comparison of the sequences for W. pipientis and for Wolbachia persica, an endosymbiont of ticks, shows that the genus Wolbachia is polyphyletic. A PCR assay based on 16S primers was designed for the detection of W. pipientis in insect tissue, and initial screening of insects indicates that cytoplasmic incompatibility may be a more general phenomenon in insects than is currently recognized.