cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transgene copy number can be positively or negatively associated with transgene expression.

Two different types of T-DNA insert were found in tobacco plants transformed with Agrobacterium tumefaciens. High-expressing (H) types had one copy of the T-DNA at a locus and produced high expression of the transgene uidA, as measured by uidA RNA levels and β-glucuronidase activity; low-expressing (L) types had inverted repeats of the T-DNA at a locus and produced low uidA expression. H-types from different transformants acted additively, and cross-fertilization between two different homozygous transformants with H-type inserts produced F1 plants with GUS activity that equalled the parents and individual F2 plants with 50%, 100%, 150% and 200% of parental values. However, the L-type inserts worked in trans to suppress uidA expression from H-type inserts when both were present in the same genome. Hence when a transformant homozygous for the L-type insert was crossed to one homozygous for the H-type, all plants in the F1 and F2 generations with both types of insert had low GUS activity while F2 segregants that only had the H-type inserts had high GUS activity again. Suppression of the H-type gene was associated with increased methylation of the insert. Particle acceleration was used to introduce further copies of uidA into tissues of the transformants. Regardless of the promoter used, those plants with endogenous L-type inserts showed none of the distinct loci of GUS activity readily visible in material with no inserts, showing that L-type inserts could suppress not only the uidA expression of genomic homologues, but also of copies added in vitro.
Trials and tribulations: a primer on successfully navigating the waters of the Food and Drug Administration.

Conducting clinical trials in a regulated environment constitutes unfamiliar territory for most physicians. There exists no formal training in this subject, so many clinicians lack even a basic understanding of the procedures required by the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and their implications vis-a-vis clinical practice. The authors distill drug regulation to relevant applications and elucidate the rationale and procedures for submitting an Investigational New Drug application by providing a user-friendly road map of the process.
Florida Gopher tortoise relocation: Overview and case study

Abstract Gopher tortoise Gopherus polyphemus populations are greatly reduced from former numbers. Relocation is one technique currently being used to protect tortoises on land being developed. Previous relocations have generally been poorly documented and the usefulness of relocation for tortoise conservation is unclear. In this study, 85 tortoises were relocated from a development site to a county park 25 km away where tortoises had been extirpated. Two years after release, 35 tortoises remained in the park, an apparently stable population. The presence of hatchlings demonstrated that successful reproduction was occurring. This study showed that it is possible to relocate and reintroduce gopher tortoises fairly successfully. It does not support the suggestions of previous workers that social structure determinants such as sex and size, gravidity, or on-site penning before release, may influence the success rate.
Carbon–hydrogen versus carbon–chalcogen bond cleavage of furan, thiophene and selenophene by ansa molybdenocene complexes

Abstract [Me2Si(C5Me4)2]MoH2 reacts with furan and benzofuran to yield products resulting from C–H bond cleavage, namely [Me2Si(C5Me4)2]Mo(η1-C-C4H3O)H and [Me2Si(C5Me4)2]Mo(η1-C-C8H5O)H, whereas the corresponding reactions of selenophene and benzoselenophene yield products resulting from C–Se bond cleavage, namely [Me2Si(C5Me4)2]Mo(η2-C,Se-SeC4H4) and [Me2Si(C5Me4)2]Mo(η2-C,Se-SeC8H6). On this basis, the reactivity of the selenophene derivatives is analogous to that of previously reported thiophene derivatives, while the reactivity of the furan derivatives is unique. DFT calculations indicate that C–E (E = O, S, Se) bond cleavage is thermodynamically more favored than C–H bond cleavage for each of the chalcogen derivatives. As such, the calculations provide evidence that C–O bond cleavage of the furan derivatives is not observed because of kinetic factors. DFT calculations also demonstrate that the observation of C–S bond cleavage of thiophene by the ansa metallocene [Me2Si(C5Me4)2]MoH2 and C–H bond cleavage by Cp2MoH2 is dictated by thermodynamic factors. Specifically, the Me2Si ansa bridge thermodynamically favors [Me2Si(C5Me4)2]Mo(η2-C,S-SC4H4) over [Me2Si(C5Me4)2]Mo(η1-C-SC4H3)H because the bridge promotes a shift in the coordination of the cyclopentadienyl rings from η5-coordination towards η3-coordination and this thermodynamically unfavorable modification is stabilized by sulfur-to-metal π-donation within [Me2Si(C5Me4)2]Mo(η2-C,S-SC4H4).
Ghrelin promotes thymopoiesis during aging

The decline in adaptive immunity, T lymphocyte output, and the contraction of the TCR repertoire with age is largely attributable to thymic involution. The loss of thymic function with age may be due to diminished numbers of progenitors and the loss of critical cytokines and hormones from the thymic microenvironment. We have previously demonstrated that the orexigenic hormone ghrelin is expressed by immune cells and regulates T cell activation and inflammation. Here we report that ghrelin and ghrelin receptor expression within the thymus diminished with progressive aging. Infusion of ghrelin into 14-month-old mice significantly improved the age-associated changes in thymic architecture and thymocyte numbers, increasing recent thymic emigrants and improving TCR diversity of peripheral T cell subsets. Ghrelin-induced thymopoiesis during aging was associated with enhanced early thymocyte progenitors and bone marrow–derived Lin–Sca1+cKit+ cells, while ghrelin- and growth hormone secretagogue receptor–deficient (GHS-R–deficient) mice displayed enhanced age-associated thymic involution. Leptin also enhanced thymopoiesis in aged but not young mice. Our findings demonstrate what we believe to be a novel role for ghrelin and its receptor in thymic biology and suggest a possible therapeutic benefit of harnessing this pathway in the reconstitution of thymic function in immunocompromised subjects.
Reproductive allometry in Malaysian rain forest trees: Biomechanics versus optimal allocation

Quantitative predictions of reproductive allometry in iteroparous plants may be derived from two bodies of theory: biomechanics and optimal allocation theory. Biomechanical theory predicts allometric scaling exponents between reproductive (R) and vegetative (V) biomass in the range of 0.44–1.33, while very general models of life history evolution predictR–V exponents > 1 in all cases. These predictions are examined in light of allometric patterns of flower and fruit production in 32 species of Malaysian rain forest trees. Among these species the mean estimatedR–V exponents are in the range 1.8–2.0 for staminate flower, pistillate flower and fruit production. This range of exponent values provides unambiguous support for some of the general predictions of optimal allocation models, but not for biomechanical theory. Optimal allocation models also predict a positive relationship between species size andR–V slope and a positive relationship between species size andR–V intercept parameters. The latter, but not the former prediction is supported by the data.R–V allometries in sexes of dioecious species were also found to differ in intercept, though not slope, reflecting smaller sizes at reproductive onset in staminate trees. Further critical examinations of reproductive allometry are encouraged as a relatively unexplored avenue for increasing the contact of theory and data in studies of life history evolution in long-lived organisms such as tropical trees.
Comparison of acute hemodynamic effects of inhaled nitric oxide and inhaled epoprostenol in patients with pulmonary hypertension.

AbstractInhaled nitric oxide (iNO) is used for acute vasoreactivity testing in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) patients. Inhaled epoprostenol (iPGI2) has pulmonary selectivity and is less costly. We sought to compare acute hemodynamic effects of iNO (20 ppm) and iPGI2 (50 ng/kg/min) and determine whether their combination has additive effects. We conducted a prospective, single center, randomized, cross-over study in 12 patients with PAH and seven with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). In PAH patients, iNO lowered mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) by 9 ± 12% and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) by 14 ± 32% (mean ± SD). iPGI2 decreased mPAP by 10 ± 12% and PVR by 12 ± 36%. Responses to iNO and iPGI2 in mPAP and PVR were directly correlated (r2 = 0.68, 0.70, respectively, P < 0.001). In HFpEF patients, mPAP dropped by 4 ± 7% with each agent, and PVR dropped by 33 ± 23% with iNO, and by 25 ± 29% with iPGI2 (P = NS). Pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP) increased significa...
Photobiological properties of methylene violet

The interaction of methylene violet (MV) and 4-bromomethylene violet (BrMV) with calf thymus and supercoiled phi X174 phage RF I DNA is reported. Measurements employing UV-visible absorption spectroscopy and equilibrium dialysis give evidence for the formation of complexes by each dye with DNA in the dark. They covalently bind to DNA, and MV nicks DNA, when the nucleic acid/dye mixtures are irradiated with visible light in a deoxygenated environment. Quantum efficiencies for singlet oxygen formation are 0.27 and 0.25 for MV and BrMV, respectively. A higher value (0.49) is observed for 4-iodomethylene violet (IMV).
A Strategy for Improving Health Disparities Education in Medicine

Introduction A health disparities curriculum that uses evidence-based knowledge rooted in pedagogic theory is needed to educate health care providers to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse U.S. population.
Aberrant thymus in infants : sonographic evaluation

We report five children with aberrant thymus, four of whom presented with an upper suprasternal mass and one with a lateral neck mass. Awareness of this entity, together with knowledge of its variable presentation, is essential for unnecessary surgery to be avoided. US should be the initial diagnostic approach and occasionally leads to the correct diagnosis.
Individual variation in enamel structure of human mandibular first premolars.

Nine human mandibular first premolars were examined to assess variation in external morphology and enamel structural organization within a tooth type. The relationship of enamel ultrastructure to gross dental morphology was also studied. The teeth were cut in the mesiodistal direction just lingual to the buccal cusp, and etched. Montages were constructed of the cut enamel surface photographed in the scanning electron microscope at 100 × magnification. Parameters were measured and correlation coefficients were calculated for the comparison of various odontometric features. The mesiodistal and buccolingual dimensions were highly correlated and the occlusal thickness of enamel was signficantly correlated to crown height but not crown width. Hunter-Schreger bands were less pronounced in fossa areas than at lateral aspects, cusps, or ridges; these bands were directly related to the geometry of the tooth. It was concluded that within this tooth type, there is a large amount of individual variation not only in gross morphology but also in enamel ultra-structure. This result underscores the fact that interspecific comparisons must be made with care.
Focus on Latino Learners: Developing a Foundational Understanding of Latino Cultures to Cultivate Student Success

With the dramatic increase of diverse student populations in U.S. schools, educators and school professionals are encountering significant difficulties in meeting the needs of struggling students and establishing an overall positive academic climate. This is particularly true with the influx of Latino students, who now constitute the majority of diverse populations in many parts of the country. Furthermore, Latinos are the projected majority population of the United States. Research has indicated a failure to meet the diverse needs of Latino students. As a group, they have historically experienced overrepresentation in disability categories, received a disproportionate number of disciplinary actions, and evidence high dropout rates. In this article, the authors discuss educational and social issues facing Latino populations, present specific points focused on the development of a better understanding of Latino cultures, and offer recommendations regarding ways to better meet the needs of this growing popu...
Rotation Numbers of Projectivities

Abstract Let D be a nonempty open convex region in R 2, bounded by a closed curve C. For any a ∈ D we define a map ƒa : C → C by requiring that for each x ∈ C, the point ƒa(x) be the point of C other than x which lies on the line through x and a. If A ≔ (a1, a2, ..., an), where a1, a2, ..., an ∈ D, then we set ƒA ≔ ƒan ∘ ƒan−1 ∘· · ·∘ ƒa1. Since it is an orientation preserving homeomorphism of C onto itself and C is homeomorphic to a circle, we can speak about the rotation number of ƒA, which we denote by ρ(A). We investigate the dynamical properties of ƒA depending on C and ρ(A). In particular, we show that if n ≥ 3 and k ≥ 1 are integers and ρ(A) = (2k + 1)/2 for some A ∈ Dn, then ƒ2A = id for all A ∈ ρ−1 ((2k + 1)/2) if and only if C is an ellipse.
Microbial Transformation of the Antihistaminic Drug Triprolidine Hydrochloride

The production of a known mammalian metabolite of the antihistamine triprolidine through fungal metabolic transformation has been demonstrated. The filamentous fungus Cunninghamella elegans ATCC 9245 was grown in Sabouraud dextrose broth containing triprolidine hydrochloride monohydrate. One major metabolite was extracted with methylene chloride, isolated by high-performance liquid chromatography, and identified by its proton-nuclear magnetic resonance and desorption chemical ionization mass spectral properties as hydroxymethyl triprolidine (2-[1-(4-hydroxymethylphenyl)-3-(1-pyrrolidinyl-1-propenyl)] pyridine). After 240 h of incubation, the hydroxymethyl derivative represented approximately 55.0% of the initial dose. Fungal oxidation of hydroxymethyl triprolidine to the corresponding carboxylic acid triprolidine derivative (also a known mammalian triprolidine metabolite) was not observed. No mutagenic activity was observed for triprolidine and hydroxymethyl triprolidine by reversion of Salmonella typhimurium strains TA97, TA98, TA100, and TA104 at concentrations up to 1000 and 200 micrograms/plate, respectively. These results suggest that the fungal metabolism of triprolidine to the hydroxymethyl derivative occurs predominantly through pathways which do not result in mutagenic activation. Incubation of C. elegans with triprolidine under an 18O2 atmosphere and subsequent electron impact mass spectral analysis of the hydroxymethyl triprolidine formed indicate that molecular oxygen was incorporated into the methyl group and suggest a mono-oxygenase catalyzed reaction. This study parallels previous studies on the mammalian metabolism of triprolidine and clearly indicates that the microbial transformation of triprolidine is a useful alternative for the synthesis of potential mammalian metabolites.
Comparison of methods for detecting bottlenecks from microsatellite loci

This paper describes simulation tests to compare methods for detecting recent bottlenecks using microsatellite data. This study considers both type I error (detecting a bottleneck when there wasn’t one) and type II error (failing to detect a bottleneck when there was one) under a variety of scenarios. The two most promising methods were the range in allele size conditioned on the number of alleles, M k , and heterozygosity given the number of alleles, H k , under a two-phase mutation model; in most of the simulations one of these two methods had the lowest type I and type II error relative to other methods. M k was the method most likely to correctly identify a bottleneck when a bottleneck lasted several generations, the population had made a demographic recovery, and mutation rates were high or pre-bottleneck population sizes were large. On the other hand H k was most likely to correctly identify a bottleneck when a bottleneck was more recent and less severe and when mutation rates were low or pre-bottleneck population sizes were small. Both methods were prone to type I errors when assumptions of the model were violated, but it may be easier to design a conservative heterozygosity test than a conservative ratio test.
Effects of Current Flow on the Optical Absorption of a Semiconductor

The effect of electric-field-induced current flow on the direct optical absorption in a semiconductor is calculated. The calculations are performed specifically for InSb, under the assumption that the only effect of the electric field is to shift the distribution of carriers in k space; however, the method may be applied to any semiconductor for which the electron wave functions have a sufficiently simple analytic form, and the substitution of other angularly dependent distribution functions would not alter the interesting characteristics of the results. A change in the absorption is found which is dependent on the photon energy and varies approximately as the square of the electric field. It is also found that the absorption depends on the relative orientation of the dc electric field and the polarization vector of the light. This polarization effect is, in turn, found to vary as the square of the carrier drift velocity, and its magnitude and sign are found to depend on the relative amounts of $X$ and $Z$ components in the atomic $p$ orbitals in the carrier wave functions. Curves showing the results of calculations of the absorption change and the polarization effect for both fundamental and inter-valence-band absorption are presented. The possibility of measuring current-flow effects and the extraction from such measurements of information concerning the band structure and distribution functions of semiconductors are discussed. A comparison is made between the effect considered here and a similar effect studied experimentally by Bray and Pinson in $p$-type germanium.
The Role of the Autonomic Nervous System in Hypertension.

The role of the autonomic nervous system in the genesis and maintenance of hypertension is becoming clearer with time. Early research suggested that increased vascular resistance in hypertension was not dependent on excess autonomic tone and thus it was presumed that the autonomic nervous system had little to do with hypertension. More recent studies have demonstrated that the initial hemodynamic abnormality in hyperkinetic borderline hypertension is "normal" vascular resistance, with an elevated cardiac optput and heart rate, associated with markers of increased sympathetic and decreased parasympathetic tone of central origin. Over time there is a transition to the high peripheral resistance and normal cardiac output hemodynamic state characteristic of established hypertension, which is due to the development of adaptive structural changes in the peripheral resistance vessels and heart. The autonomic abnormality in hypertension and subsequent vascular and cardiac changes may explain some of association between hypertension and risk factors for coronary heart disease. The autonomic imbalance found in hypertension may not be a chance occurrence and we postulate that it is due to the inheritance of the genes responsible for a more pronounced defense reaction, which in earlier times may have conferred a survival advantage but now permit the negative impact of this trait to become evident.
Comparison of metabolic and prolactin variables from a six-month randomised trial of olanzapine and quetiapine in schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia patients have a potential increased risk of metabolic dysregulation during antipsychotic treatments. Our objective was to compare changes in prolactin and metabolic variables (glucose...
A critical analysis of maternal morbidity and mortality in Liberia, West Africa

Abstract Objective to conduct a secondary analysis of maternal death and near-miss audits conducted at the community and facility level to explore the causes and circumstances surrounding maternal mortality and severe morbidity in one rural county in Liberia, West Africa. Design a non-experimental, descriptive design utilising maternal death and near-miss audit surveys was utilised for data collection. Thaddeus and Maine's Three Delays Model was used as a framework for analysis. Setting one rural county in north-central Liberia. Participants interviews were conducted with (1) women who suffered a severe morbidity or nearmiss event, (2) family members of women who died or presented with a severe morbidity, and (3) community members or health workers involved in the care of the woman. Measurements (1) maternal mortality, (2) near-miss events, and (3) delays related to problem identification, transportation challenges and delays after reaching the referral site. Findings 120 near-miss events and 28 maternal mortalities were analysed. 16% of all deliveries at the referral hospital were classified as near-miss events. Near-miss events were six times more common than deaths. The majority of women experiencing a near-miss event (85%) were in critical condition upon arrival at the hospital suggesting important delays were encountered in reaching the facility. Key conclusions maternal mortality and near-miss audits allow exploration of medical and non-medical factors leading up to a severe complication or maternal death. Delays in reaching a referral hospital can have a significant impact on maternal survival rates. Implications for practice audits can stimulate a change in clinical practice and help identify areas for county health departments to focus their scant resources. Audits can be used as a quality improvement tool in facilities. Results can be used to identify communities with high rates of delay to target educational programmes.
Chemical and structural evidence for [4] B ⇔ [4] Si substitution in natural tourmalines

Because tourmaline is the most common boron-bearing mineral, the crystal chemistry of B in the phase is of fundamental importance to understanding the boron budget in the Earth. Until recently, the presence of [4] B as a substituent in the tourmaline tetrahedral ( T ) ring was unrecognized. However, a study of an Austrian olenite has shown that the substitution is not only possible but can occur in amounts up to B 1.00 per T 6.00 . Through Magic-Angle-Spinning Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (MAS-NMR) spectroscopy, it was recently shown that [4] B in tourmaline can be identified by its spectroscopic signature. This study characterizes the structural response to small ( apfu ) amounts of substituent [4] B. Two tourmaline samples ( [4] B. 0.028 , [4] B 0.37 by chemical analysis) that have been demonstrated by MAS-NMR to contain [4] B were analyzed by single-crystal X-ray techniques. It was found that reasonable agreement is obtained between [4] B content as determined by Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry and X-ray site refinement, although the X-ray refinement significantly overestimates [4] B (by 30) in one sample. The response of the tourmaline atomic arrangement to the incorporation of substituent [4] B is subtle, perhaps explaining the lack of previous recognition of the substitution. The P-T-X conditions required for the substitution are not known, but are being studied by mineral researchers; it has been observed that all of the [4] B-bearing tourmalines discovered to date contain little or no Mg on the octahedral sites.
Partial-Shading Assessment of Photovoltaic Installations via Module-Level Monitoring

Distributed maximum power point tracking (DMPPT) is a topic of much interest in improving photovoltaic (PV) system performance. This study uses measured performance data at the module level for 542 PV systems to estimate lost system performance due to partial shade. Because each of the monitored systems is equipped with module-level dc power optimizers, an estimate is made of the overall system shading loss and the performance improvement that the system has received from this use of DMPPT. The estimate of shade extent and performance improvement predicted by this approach is verified experimentally against a system that has site survey images, and measured production with and without module-level electronics. Summary data for this analysis across 542 systems find an average power loss of 8.3% due to partial shading, which would have increased to 13% were the systems not equipped with panel-level optimizers. It is estimated that on average, 36% of the power lost from partial shading has been recovered through use of module-level dc power electronics.
Hymenoptera (Insecta) of Plummers Island, Maryland: Symphyta and Selected Families of Apocrita

ABSTRACT Ninety-one species of sawflies (Hymenoptera: Symphyta) are recorded for Plummers Island, Maryland. Records are from collections during the periods of 1902–1924, 1958–1972, and 2005. An estimated 97 species currently may occur on the Island. Indications are that species composition has changed through the years. Only 22 of the 51 species (43%) collected during 1902–1924 have been collected in subsequent years, and only 26 of the 48 species collected in 2005 (54%) have been collected previously. Records also are given for 20 species of 11 families of Apocrita: 6 species of Aulacidae, 3 of Evaniidae, 1 of Gasteruptiidae, 1 of Heloridae, 1 of Ibaliidae, 1 of Pelecinidae, 1 of Roprionidae, 2 of Rhopalosomatidae, 1 of Stephanidae, 2 of Trigonalidae, and 1 of Vanhorniidae.
Directionality of Rewarding Impulses within the Medial Forebrain Bundle Self-Stimulation System of the Rat

Self-stimulation performance of rats was tested with conditioning pulses to the anterior preoptic area of the medial forebrain bundle followed at various intervals by test pulses to the contralateral posterior hypothalamic area of this bundle. Alternatively, conditioning pulses were delivered through the posterior electrode and test pulses were sent through the anterior electrode. The animals' performance in these two test sequences was indicative of (i) synaptic facilitation and (ii) a posterior convergence site of "self-stimulation impulses" in the medial forebrain bundle.
Are There Water-Bridge-Induced Hydrophilic Interactions?

Inspired by experimental studies of the transfer free energies of phenol derivatives with hydroxylmethyl substitutions at ortho, meta, and para positions, Ben-Naim has proposed that water-bridge-induced “hydrophilic interactions” are stabilizing by about 3 kcal/mol, much larger than corresponding hydrophobic interactions. We have used theoretical free energy perturbation calculations to assess this proposal. By use of two sets of partial charge models derived by fitting to ab initio quantum mechanical electrostatic potentials, free energy calculations have shown that the solvation free energy differences between these substituted phenols are small. These results are inconsistent with the aforementioned “water-bridge” hypothesis. Interestingly, these calculated free energies for gas phase → water are quite consistent with the experimental values for octanol → water free energies of transfer but not with the experimental values for toluene → water free energies of transfer, which were used by Ben-Naim to de...
Epigenetic Alterations in Diabetic Cardiomyopathy

DNA methylation of the β-myosin heavy chain (HC) promoter plays a primary role in altering the structure and function of the failing heart. The modification of specific promoter sequences induces a cardiomyopathy in a transgenic mouse model and de novo DNA methylation occurs in the myocytes of failing but not of nonfailing human hearts. To determine if comparable epigenetic alterations of the β-myosin HC promoter are involved in diabetic cardiomyopathy, we used the bisulfite mapping technique to examine DNA methylation of the human β-myosin HC promoter in left ventricular tissue of non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients obtained at autopsy. Genomic DNA was treated with bisulfite, a 320-bp region of the β-myosin HC promoter containing 7 CpG methylation sites was amplified by PCR and cloned in a plasmid vector, and cytosine methylation was assessed by DNA sequencing of <20 clones. Of the 7 CpG sites, three are methylated de novo in failing human hearts. In DNA from the type 2 diabetic hearts (n = 12), only one of the latter 3 CpG sites is methylated to a substantial extent. The same change in DNA methylation occurs in solid-organ transplants (n = 3) with steroid-induced diabetes as well as in type 1 diabetics (n = 2). These data indicate that unique alterations in DNA methylation are associated with diabetes. As in the failing heart, such epigenetic modifications of the β-myosin HC promoter may play a primary role in altering the phenotype of the diabetic heart.
The transfer mission: Tried and true, but troubled?

One of the original missions of the two-year college, the transfer mission was highly criticized in the latter part of the twentieth century. It is currently experiencing both challenges and opportunities due to changing enrollment demographics and governmental interest in transfer and articulation.
Maximum Likelihood Estimation of Target Location In Acoustic And Electromagnetic Imaging

S u m m a r y termine for instance whether it is there and if yes where it is. This is the case also when one wishes to determine which one We present a procedure for determining the location of an underground object from scattering data. The procedure assumes that the object is known and that its location is to be estimated from an arbitrary (small) number of noisy scattering experiments. The procedure is not limited to a particular measurement geometry and is particularly suited to geophysical problems where the cost per experiment puts a limit on the amount of available data, a situation that we refer to as the data-poor case. The procedure consists of computing the log likelihood image of the object location, the location of the peak of which is the estimate of the location of the object location. The log likelihood image is shown to consist of a weighted summation of several sub-images, the weighting factors of which are determined by the data. Each sub-image depends on the exact geometry of one experiment used for collecting the data and can be precomputed such that the estimation process can be carried out in real time and recursively, meaning that the log likelihood image is built progressively with the process of data collection. An a-priori decision upon the number of experiments necessary for estimating the location of an object does not have therefore to be made. Based on intermediate log likelihood images it can be decided whether a reliable estimate can be made or more experiments are necessary. of a group of possible targets (hypotheses in the terminology of the signal processing community) is there or when one knows the target shape and only does not know its contrast with respect to the surrounding and/or its size scale. Usually there is no known way to integrate this a-priori knowledge into the imaging algorithm and it is left to the (human) interpreter to use it when interpreting a low quality image. In this case the imaging approach appears to be inefficient and an alternative approach that focuses only on the sought information and uses much less data is more appropriate. One such alternative approach is that of target detection and parameter estimation and is the subject of this paper. Stated in a simplified manner, in this (maximum likelihood) approach the scattering data are compared (correlated) with the scattering data that would be measured for each of the hypothesized underground structures or objects and the hypothesis that corresponds to the highest correlation is decided to be the correct one. The hypotheses can be discrete like the presence or nonpresence of one particular underground object from a collection of possible objects, or continuous like the coordinates of the location of a particular object. In order to implement this approach one needs to compute (or measure in a test site) the scattered signal for every one of the hypotheses and perform a
Two cases of type 1 diabetes in adolescents: to test blood glucose or not to test?

Coping with diabetes and managing daily challenges remain a major factor in adolescents. After initial diagnosis, the daily management of diabetes happens at home. Dealing with diabetes on a daily basis affects dietary habits and physical activities. Daily multiple testing of finger blood glucose levels increases the emotional burden of the disease. Clarifying the responsibility for diabetes self-management should be a continuous dialogue between adolescents and parents. These are two cases of adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus that did not have direct parental supervision at home. The two adolescents concerned have altered the results of their self-glucose monitoring to obtain secondary gain and avoid diabetes self-management, showing how manipulative teenagers can be when it comes to dealing with diabetes. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons. Practical Diabetes 2013; 30(7): 294 ‐295
55-base pair deletion in certain patients with Gaucher disease complicates screening for common Gaucher alleles.

Mutations in the glucocerebrosidase gene which result in Gaucher disease can originate from the highly homologous glucocerebrosidase pseudogene. A 55-bp deletion in exon 9, which corresponds to a 55-bp segment absent from the pseudogene, has been identified in patients with Gaucher disease. We have developed a simple polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based method to detect this 55-bp deletion, and have found this mutation in 3 of 75 DNA samples (4%) collected from patients with Gaucher disease. Commonly used PCR-based screening methods for specific Gaucher mutations frequently make use of primers either within or surrounding the 55-bp gap to selectively distinguish the glucocerebrosidase gene from the pseudogene. However, if the 55-bp deletion in exon 9 occurs, primers will either fail to produce an amplification product or will produce a shortened product which will be falsely attributed to the pseudogene. This could lead to inaccurate genotyping and genetic counseling for some Gaucher patients and their families. We therefore recommend that laboratories using PCR-based screening techniques involving primers in this region initially determine whether this 55-bp sequence is present. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Cutaneous burn injury alters relative tricarboxylic acid cycle fluxes in rat liver.

Severe injury induces a hypermetabolic state in the liver; however, the pathways that are responsible for the increase in hepatic energy demand have not been identified. Relative fluxes in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle were determined in perfused livers from rats 4 days after administration of a cutaneous burn injury. The perfusate was supplemented with 5 mM uniformly labeled 13 C-lactate to efficiently label intracellular metabolites. Flux ratios were calculated on the basis of (1) the 13 C-labeling pattern of the glutamate and lactate isotopomers within the liver as determined by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and (2) an isotopomer mass balance model of the TCA cycle. Calculated flux ratios suggest that burn injury results in an increase in the contribution of pyruvate to the oxaloacetate pool at the expense of non-TCA cycle sources. Furthermore, a dramatic increase in 13 C-labeling of glucose was observed in burned rat livers. These data taken together suggest that burn injury induces intrinsic changes in intrahepatic metabolism, including an alteration of the relative fluxes consistent with increased gluconeogenesis from lactate.
The Tensile Response and Fracture Behavior of Four High Strength Specialty Steels

In this technical paper the role of alloy chemistry and secondary processing on tensile response and final fracture behavior of four high strength steels is presented and discussed. The conjoint influence of composition, secondary processing and intrinsic microstructural features in governing stress versus strain response and tensile properties is highlighted. The macroscopic mode and intrinsic microscopic features that result from final fracture of the four high strength steels is discussed. The intrinsic microscopic mechanisms governing tensile deformation and final fracture behavior of the high strength steels are outlined in light of the specific role played by composition, intrinsic microstructural effects and nature of loading.
Religiosity and generational effects on gambling: Support for and opposition to introducing casino gambling in a non-gambling tourist entertainment environment

Abstract Today casino gambling and state lotteries have become the dominant types of gambling. Tourist destinations are attractive targets for gambling because large markets of potential customers already exist. Previous studies focus primarily on the current residents in geographic markets to estimate support for proposed casino gambling. The current study examines visitors to an existing tourist destination to gauge the level of support for and opposition to casino gambling coming into a tourist region/market with over eight million annual visitors. Tourists representing all 50 US states participated in this study. Religiosity, religious giving, denominational and generational effects are important factors in explaining attitudes toward gambling among participants.
The TRH test in patients with borderline personality disorder

Fifteen patients with a primary diagnosis of borderline personality disorder were studied with the thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) test. Twelve carried the additional diagnosis of depression, substance abuse, or both. A blunted thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) response to TRH was found in seven patients, two of whom were neither depressed nor had the additional diagnosis of depression and/or substance abuse. TSH blunting was unrelated to such factors as thyroid status, serum cortisol, weight, height, or body surface. Since TSH blunting occurs in about 25% of patients with major depression but not in schizophrenia, the findings suggest that some patients with borderline personality disorder share a neuroendocrine abnormality with some affective disorder patients.
Bear Spends Time in Our Dreams Now: Magical Thinking and Cultural Empathy in Multicultural Counselling Theory and Practice

Traditional lifeways and thoughtways of ethnocultural clients can impede the success of psychosocial interventions. Frequently hidden from the view of outsiders, traditional belief systems and practices are a source for explanations of various experiences ranging from occurrences of natural phenomena to the cause and treatment of physical and psychological conditions. Magical thinking as it's referred to in the psychiatric literature often is a source of many of the explanations. However, conventional mental health counsellors may view magical thinking as unrealistic and thus an obstruction to intervention. Given this consideration, magical thinking and its relevance for promoting cultural empathy form the major theme of this article. Challenges to the genuineness of an ethnocultural client's magical thinking calls into question a counsellor's cultural sensitivity and competence. Conversely, counsellors who establish a culturally resonant relationship with ethnocultural clients come to realize that magica...
History of Millimeter and Submillimeter Waves

In this review an attempt is made to identify many of the major events that have occurred in the development of millimeter- and submillimeter-wave technology from its beginnings in the 1890's until the present time. The review is not intended to be the definitive history of the field, but may form the basis for someone to later write a more comprehensive or encyclopedic version. The history conveniently divides into three periods: 1890 through World War II, Post War (1947 to 1965), and Modern Age (after 1965).
Ketamine for Conscious Sedation in Pediatric Emergency Care

The literature concerning the efficacy and safety of ketamine for conscious sedation during procedures in pediatric emergency departments was reviewed. Data were obtained from the Guidelines for Monitoring and Management of Pediatric Patients During and After Sedation for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Drugs, and from a MEDLINE search (January 1966-July 2004). Search terms were conscious sedation, ketamine, and emergency department; articles relevant to pediatric age group were selected. Clinical end points were efficacy and adverse effects associated with ketamine. Ketamine was effective for conscious sedation in 89-100% of patients in various studies using intravenous, intramuscular, or oral routes of administration. The efficacy of ketamine was similar to or greater than that of other drugs, such as midazolam and the combination of meperidine, promethazine, and chlorpromazine. The main adverse effects of ketamine were emesis, recovery agitation, and emergence phenomena. Ketamine appears to be an effective and well-tolerated agent for conscious sedation in pediatric patients. Overall physician and parent satisfaction with the administration of this agent for conscious sedation was high.
Systemic Delivery of Bioactive Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 after Adenoviral-Mediated Gene Transfer in the Murine Salivary Gland

An adenoviral (Ad) vector that expresses bioactive glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) was generated, and its effectiveness at modulating glucose homeostasis was evaluated after transduction of murine salivary glands. The construct was engineered with the signal sequence of mouse GH to direct the peptide into the secretory pathway, followed by a furin cleavage site and the GLP-1(7–37) sequence encoding an Ala to Gly substitution at position 8 to achieve resistance to degradation. When expressed in Neuro2A and COS7 cells, an active form of GLP-1 was specifically detected by RIA in the conditioned medium of transduced cells, showed resistance to degradation by dipeptidyl-peptidase IV, and induced the secretion of insulin from NIT1 pancreatic β-cells in vitro. In vivo studies demonstrated that healthy mice transduced with Ad-GLP-1 in both submandibular glands had serum GLP-1 levels approximately 3 times higher than mice transduced with the control Ad-luciferase vector. In fasted animals, serum glucose levels wer...
POSTEROVENTRAL COCHLEAR NUCLEUS PROJECTIONS TO OLIVOCOCHLEAR NEURONS

The presence of ascending auditory inputs from the posteroventral cochlear nucleus (PVCN) to olivocochlear neurons was examined in guinea pig by using the combination Phaseolus vulgaris-leucoagglutinin (PHA-L) anterograde and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) retrograde tract-tracing technique. By labeling the somata of olivocochlear neurons after injection of HRP into the cochlea and simultaneously labeling terminal endings of PVCN efferent neurons after injection of PHA-L into PVCN, we observed neuronal connections between these two elements within all regions of the superior olivary complex known to contain olivocochlear neurons. These regions include the superior paraolivary nucleus, medial nucleus of the trapezoid body, lateral superior olive, and periolivary regions. All possible projection patterns regarding side of input and output of both large (four combinations) and small (two combinations) olivocochlear neurons were observed. However, the most frequently observed pattern was the PVCN projection to a contralaterally located and contralaterally projecting, large olivocochlear neuron. Thus the most prevalent pattern demonstrated a feedback pathway that crossed the brainstem twice. Additional patterns demonstrated pathways that fed back to the same cochlea as well as pathways that fed forward to the opposite cochlea.
Concrete column shape modification with FRP shells and expansive cement concrete

Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composites are an effective material for confining circular concrete columns. FRP confinement for square and rectangular columns is less effective due to stress concentrations at the sharp corners and loss of the membrane effect. Shape modification using post-tensioning of FRP shells through expansive cement concrete is described. In the field, shape modification can be achieved by utilizing pre-fabricated FRP shells as the permanent forms. An analytical model is briefly introduced to predict results of the experiments regarding the enhanced stress-strain behaviour of FRP-confined concrete. The confinement model and shape modification technique with FRP shells and expansive cement concrete are used in simulations of seismic rehabilitation of square columns for existing reinforced concrete bridges and are compared to in-situ tests of square columns with bonded FRP jackets.
Angiogenesis-related agents in esophageal cancer.

Introduction: Esophageal cancer is an aggressive disease with poor prognosis. The majority of the patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage and many with early stage disease will develop recurrent disease. Areas covered: Angiogenesis is essential to the progress and aggressiveness of solid malignancies. Success of anti-angiogenic therapy in colorectal, lung and breast cancers is a proof of principle. Thus far, evidence for benefit from anti-angiogenic therapy in esophageal cancer is lacking. Several Phase II trials with different agents have provided mixed results and the only Phase III trial in the esophageal and gastric cancer failed to show that these agents improve overall survival (OS). However, lack of observed benefit could be due to the challenges specific to the management of esophageal cancers as well as issues with the design of clinical trials for anti-angiogenic therapy. Expert opinion: An understanding of the biology of the esophageal cancer and its management is essential to the developme...
Real time estimation of sensitive parameters of composite power system load model

Electric load modeling is of great importance in power system stability analysis and control. Composite load model including induction motor in parallel with static load has been widely accepted as an appropriate structure for describing load behaviors, especially for the studies that deal with power system stability. This paper proposes a nonlinear observer based on Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) to estimate the dominant parameters of the composite load model using real time measurements. The developed estimator can be implemented online and does not require a huge memory for recording load behavior data over a long time. The outcome of this paper makes the online dynamic stability analysis of power systems a step closer to reality. Simulation results are carried out to show the effectiveness of the proposed approach.