cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Derivation and external validation of risk stratification models for severe maternal morbidity using prenatal encounter diagnosis codes.

We sought to develop a prediction model using prenatal diagnosis codes that could help clinicians objectively stratify a women’s risk for delivery-related morbidity. We performed a prospective cohort study of women delivering at a single academic medical center between 2016 and 2019. Diagnosis codes from outpatient encounters were extracted from the electronic health record. Standard and common machine-learning methods for variable selection were compared. The performance characteristics from the selected model in the training data set—a LASSO model with a lambda that minimized the Bayes information criteria—were compared in a testing and external validation set. The model identified a group of women, those in the highest decile of predicted risk, who were at a two to threefold increased risk of maternal morbidity. As EHR data becomes more ubiquitous, other data types generated from the prenatal period may improve the model’s performance.
The Great War at Sea: A Naval History of the First World War

This is a major new naval history of the First World War which reveals the decisive contribution of the war at sea to Allied victory. In a truly global account, Lawrence Sondhaus traces the course of the campaigns in the North Sea, Atlantic, Adriatic, Baltic and Mediterranean and examines the role of critical innovations in the design and performance of ships, wireless communication and firepower. He charts how Allied supremacy led the Central Powers to attempt to revolutionize naval warfare by pursuing unrestricted submarine warfare, ultimately prompting the United States to enter the war. Victory against the submarine challenge, following their earlier success in sweeping the seas of German cruisers and other surface raiders, left the Allies free to use the world's sea lanes to transport supplies and troops to Europe from overseas territories, and eventually from the United States, which proved a decisive factor in their ultimate victory.
The Use of Tracers and Water Masses to Estimate Rates of Respiration

One method of estimating oxygen utilization rates in the sea is to infer them from the spatial distributions of dissolved oxygen and other properties. That is, one obtains some measure of the “age” or velocity of a given parcel of water, and combining this with an observed deficit or gradient in dissolved oxygen concentration, one obtains an apparent oxygen utilization rate. The advantage of such an approach is that it represents a true in situ measurement; there is no experimental perturbation of the system. The disadvantage of such an approach is that it is often a rather model-dependent calculation and is therefore subject to potential ambiguities, inaccuracies and even fallacies due to the model used. However, in all fairness it should be noted that even quite unrealistic models may in fact give rather good estimates of oxygen utilization, largely due to the degree of similarity between the boundary conditions of oxygen and the tracer used to calibrate the model. Such “metaphoric” models have proven very powerful in this regard, and in large part form the basis of our quantitative understanding of the rates of chemical and biological processes in the oceans. After all, a model is really an abstraction of the essence of a system, and as such cannot contain all elements of reality. Philosophically, it may be argued that the more abstract the model, the more that is learned, whereas a too articulated model, although perhaps more successful in mimicing observations, may not have much predictive power.
Computation of Partial Derivatives for Ground Tracking of Space Shuttle Orbits

Ground radar tracking data has been processed for many years to determine the trajectories of manned space vehicles. Recently, it was decided that venting and atmospheric drag, as well as Space Shuttle vehicle and payload orbits, were to be determined in real time from the tracking data. This has required a modification and extension of the method used for many years to calculate partial derivatives of the position and velocity components of space vehicles. The way in which this was done is described in detail, but also placed in a general context which might prove useful for other important applications.
A Retrospective Study of Sagittal Plane Slab Fractures of the Third Carpal Bone in Racing Thoroughbred Horses

Reasons for performing study Sagittal plane slab fractures of the third carpal bone are a recognised injury in the racehorse. One study [1] reported 32 horses with sagittal fractures, 69% raced again. Surgical management appeared beneficial, with all horses that underwent inter-fragmentary compression racing again. Objectives To document the success rate following sagittal slab fracture of the third carpal bone in UK-based racehorses, and to compare conservative and surgical management. Study design Retrospective study. Methods Inclusion criteria were Thoroughbred racehorses with a simple sagittal slab fracture of the third carpal bone. Exclusion criteria were comminuted fractures, radial carpal bone fractures and short incomplete linear lucencies. Fractures were classified as complete, incomplete or uncertain. Time from injury to next race was recorded. Success rates were compared by Fisher's exact test. Results Forty horses were identified. Two were subjected to euthanasia and 3 have <6 months follow-up. Eleven were managed nonsurgically of which 4 (36%) were complete (5 uncertain) and 7 (64%) raced, 154–508 days following injury (median 242 days). Twenty-seven horses underwent surgery to place a single 3.5 mm (n = 26) or 4.5 mm (n = 1) lag screw under arthroscopic guidance, of which 18 (67%) were complete. Thirteen (48%) raced again 147–711 days following surgery (median 256 days) P = 0.48. Of 23 horses with complete fractures 13 (57%) raced again, compared with 5/15 (33%) horses with incomplete fractures P = 0.2. Of horses with complete fractures, 10/18 (55%) underwent surgery and raced again compared to 3/4 (75%) horses managed conservatively P = 0.62. Conclusions The results confirm that the prognosis for athletic function is favourable but do not suggest that surgery is beneficial, or necessary for complete fractures. The numbers managed conservatively are small and it was not clear radiographically if the fracture was complete in 5/11 horses. Ethical animal research: Research ethics committee oversight not currently required by this conference: retrospective study of clinical records. Explicit owner informed consent for inclusion of animals in this study was not stated. Source of funding: None. Competing interests: None declared.
Quantum physics and the nature of computation

Quantum physics is a fascinating area from a computational viewpoint. The features that make quantum systems prohibitively hard to simulate classically are precisely the aspects exploited by quantum computation to obtain exponential speedups over classical computers. In this talk I will survey our current understanding of the power of quantum computers and prospects for experimentally realizing them in the near future. I will also touch upon insights from quantum comuptation that have resulted in new classical algorithms for efficient simulation of certain important quantum systems.
The Polarity Protein Pals1 Regulates Radial Sorting of Axons

Myelin is essential for rapid and efficient action potential propagation in vertebrates. However, the molecular mechanisms regulating myelination remain incompletely characterized. For example, even before myelination begins in the PNS, Schwann cells must radially sort axons to form 1:1 associations. Schwann cells then ensheathe and wrap axons, and establish polarized, subcellular domains, including apical and basolateral domains, paranodes, and Schmidt-Lanterman incisures. Intriguingly, polarity proteins, such as Pals1/Mpp5, are highly enriched in some of these domains, suggesting that they may regulate the polarity of Schwann cells and myelination. To test this, we generated mice with Schwann cells and oligodendrocytes that lack Pals1. During early development of the PNS, Pals1-deficient mice had impaired radial sorting of axons, delayed myelination, and reduced nerve conduction velocities. Although myelination and conduction velocities eventually recovered, polyaxonal myelination remained a prominent feature of adult Pals1-deficient nerves. Despite the enrichment of Pals1 at paranodes and incisures of control mice, nodes of Ranvier and paranodes were unaffected in Pals1-deficient mice, although we measured a significant increase in the number of incisures. As in other polarized cells, we found that Pals1 interacts with Par3 and loss of Pals1 reduced levels of Par3 in Schwann cells. In the CNS, loss of Pals1 affected neither myelination nor the establishment of polarized membrane domains. These results demonstrate that Schwann cells and oligodendrocytes use distinct mechanisms to control their polarity, and that radial sorting in the PNS is a key polarization event that requires Pals1. Significance statement: This paper reveals the role of the canonical polarity protein Pals1 in radial sorting of axons by Schwann cells. Radial sorting is essential for efficient and proper myelination and is disrupted in some types of congenital muscular dystrophy.
On the Distribution of Sums of Independent Random Variables

Let {X j ; j = 1, 2,...} be a finite sequence of independent random variables. Let S = Σ X j be their sum, and let P j be the distribution of X j . Let M be the measure defined on the line deprived of its origin by M (A) = Σ j P j {A ∩ {0}c}. The purpose of the present paper is to develop certain results on the approximation of the distribution L (S)of S by the accompanying infinitely divisible distribution which has for Paul Levy measure the measure M itself. If λ= || M || is the total mass of M then V = M/λ is a probability measure. Let {Z k ; k = 1, 2,...} be an independent sequence of random variables having common distribution V. Let N be a Poisson variable independent of the Z k and such that EN = λ. A “natural” infinitely divisible approximation to the distribution of S is the distribution of T = Zk with Z o = 0. If μ is a signed measure, let || μ || be its norm, equal to the total mass || μ || = ||μ + || + || u − ||. It can be shown that in some cases the approximation of L (S)by L (T)is good in the sense that || L (S) — L (T) || is small. More generally it will be shown that the Kolmogorov-Smirnov distance ϱ [L (S), L (T)] is small. This distance is defined by $$ \left( \mu ,\upsilon \right)=\sup \left| \mu \left\{ \left( -\infty ,x \right] \right\}-\upsilon \left\{ \left( -\infty ,x \right] \right\} \right| $$ for any two signed measures,u and v. One could also use Paul Levy’s diagonal distance Λ [μ, v] defined as the infimum of numbers α such that $$ v\left\{ \left( -\infty ,x-\alpha \right] \right\}-\alpha \le \mu \left\{ \left( -\infty ,x \right] \right\}\le v\left\{ \left[ -\infty ,x+\alpha \right] \right\}+\alpha $$ for every value of x. However, since Λ is not invariant under scale changes, approximations in this sense are not always entirely satisfactory.
Discover trending domains using fusion of supervised machine learning with natural language processing

In this paper, a new technique is presented for mining key domain areas from scientific publications. A domain refers to a particular branch of scientific knowledge and hence largely defines the theme of any scientific research paper. The proposed technique stems from a fusion of knowledge derived from natural language processing and machine learning. Some words or phrases are extracted based on their meaning inferred by the application of preposition disambiguation. These key words or phrases are then classified as domain areas using supervised learning. Various experiments and their analyses yield concrete results validating the efficacy and application of our methodology. The fusion technique therefore extracts an interesting aspect of research from scientific text and hence propounds a hybrid methodology for deriving meaning from underlying text. This approach thus takes a definitive step in advancing text analytics.
Surgeon Awareness of Operating Room Supply Costs.

Background:The extent to which surgeons understand costs associated with expensive operative procedures remains unclear. The goal of the study was to better understand surgeon cost awareness of ope...
SU‐FF‐I‐78: Evaluating the Effect of Dielectric Resonance On Image Uniformity at 1.5T and 3T in An ACR MRI Phantom Filled with Mineral Oil and Silicone Fluid

Purpose: The use of oil‐based phantoms instead of water‐based ones is known to be a more suitable method of assessing image uniformity of high field magnets. This study aims to investigate the appropriateness of using oil or silicone in the ACR phantom for routine quality control for both 1.5T and 3T MRI systems paying particular attention to the dielectricresonanceeffect.Methods and Materials: A prototype ACR phantom which was used to help develop the existing ACR MRI phantom was filled with three different materials and scanned in both a 1.5T and 3T magnets using the recommended ACR T1 sequence. The first material was the standard phantom water‐based liquid, the second material was mineral oil and the third was a silicone fluid. Percent image uniformity (PIU) as well as low and high contrast resolutions were assessed for all three filling liquids at both fields. Results: For the standard MRI phantom solution, the PIU was calculated to be 95% at 1.5 T and 80% at 3T. The same phantom filled with mineral oil produced a PIU of 99% on the 1.5 T and 95% on the 3T magnet. There was a marked decrease in SNR in going from standard aqueous solution to mineral oil, but this did not seem to affect the high contrast resolution or the low contrast detectability at either field. Results for the silicone fluid will also be presented. Conclusions: Central brightening artifacts are often seen as high signal intensity in the center of the imaged object and have caused problems with the PIU analysis of the water‐based ACR phantom on 3T systems. Filling the phantom with a material that has a lower dielectric value than water such as mineral oil or silicone provides images which are more uniform and tends to improve the artifactual lower PIU measurements.
Inversion of randomly corrugated surface structure from atom scattering data

The sudden approximation is applied to invert structural data on randomly corrugated surfaces from inert atom scattering intensities. Several expressions relating experimental observables to surface statistical features are derived. The results suggest that atom (and in particular He) scattering can be used profitably to study hitherto unexplored forms of complex surface disorder.
Severe hypotension after interscalene block for outpatient shoulder surgery: a case report☆

The case of a 43 year-old woman who underwent successful right interscalene brachial plexus block for arthroscopic shoulder surgery is presented. During the surgery, she subsequently exhibited signs of neuraxial spread of local anesthetic. Bilateral motor block was noted postoperatively. Spontaneous ventilation was maintained throughout the case, and she was successfully discharged home several hours after the procedure with no residual symptoms.
A multidisciplinary investigation of neurosurgical rehabilitation in bilateral parkinsonism.

This report concerns the authors' findings on the effect of thalamic surgery (particularly cryothalamectomy) in bilateral parkinsonism, not only from the viewpoint of neurosurgery but from that of several other disciplines, e.g., physical therapy, speech therapy, psychology, and vocational rehabilitation—in both the immediate postoperative and long-range situations. The purpose of the investigation was to gain more knowledge concerning the treatment of parkinsonism and the pathophysiological mechanisms of the disease, and also the relationship between behavioral disturbances and alterations in the subcortical regions of the brain. Details are given in five chapters entitled respectively: Background, Patients and Procedures, Results, Discussion and Implications, and Significant Findings for the Rehabilitation Worker. The conclusions, outlined in the fifth chapter, are: Bilateral tremor and rigidity can be relieved by bilateral cryothalamectomy in most parkinsonian patients who are properly selected for surgery. Symptomatic relief is significantly related to improvement in self-care ability, functional status and return to gainful employment. The work-lives of preoperatively employed parkinsonian patients may be extended by surgical treatment combined with postoperative rehabilitation services. Preoperatively unemployed or disabled patients require more intensive postoperative treatment and vocational rehabilitation. Long-range postoperative therapy can be of great assistance for patients with postoperative sequelae such as difficulties with balance and speech, and decreased activation. The preoperative psychological, neurological and vocational status of the parkinsonian patient is the single most important factor in predicting the overall outcome of thalamic surgery, particularly with reference to functional and vocational status. Therefore there should be greater emphasis on improvements in surgical techniques and in the criteria for selection of patients. Patients who undergo surgery early in the course of the disease have a greater chance for functional and vocational adequacy. The importance of follow-up programs involving physical therapy and vocational counseling cannot be overestimated. Additional programs of education and communication should be started in cooperation with community agencies and with medical and rehabilitation centers so that they may become more aware that bilateral thalamic surgery is an effective approach to the rehabilitation of patients with parkinsonism.
A likelihood reformulation method in non‐normal random effects models

In this paper, we propose a practical computational method to obtain the maximum likelihood estimates (MLE) for mixed models with non-normal random effects. By simply multiplying and dividing a standard normal density, we reformulate the likelihood conditional on the non-normal random effects to that conditional on the normal random effects. Gaussian quadrature technique, conveniently implemented in SAS Proc NLMIXED, can then be used to carry out the estimation process. Our method substantially reduces computational time, while yielding similar estimates to the probability integral transformation method (J. Comput. Graphical Stat. 2006; 15:39-57). Furthermore, our method can be applied to more general situations, e.g. finite mixture random effects or correlated random effects from Clayton copula. Simulations and applications are presented to illustrate our method.
Dopant segregation during liquid-encapsulated Czochralski crystal growth in a steady axial magnetic field

Abstract During the magnetically stabilized liquid-encapsulated Czochralski (MLEC) process, a single compound semiconductor crystal such as indium-phosphide (InP) or gallium-antimonide (GaSb) is grown by the solidification of an initially molten semiconductor (melt) contained in a crucible. The motion of the electrically conducting molten semiconductor can be controlled with an externally applied magnetic field. This paper presents a model for the unsteady transport of a dopant during the MLEC process with a steady axial magnetic field. The convective species transport during growth is driven by the melt motion, which produces segregation, i.e. non-uniformities in the dopant concentration, in both the melt and the crystal. This convective transport is significant even for a magnetic field strength of 2 T. Except for the last-solidified part of the crystal, the crystal's axial dopant homogeneity, i.e. uniformity in the dopant concentration, improves as the magnetic field strength is decreased. Dopant distributions in the crystal and in the melt at several different stages during growth are presented for several magnetic field strengths.
Howard Carter and the Discovery of Tuttankhamun, H.V.F. Winstone, Constable, London, 1991

This is a fascinating book dealing with a memorable character. To really understand all the trials and tribulations associated with the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922. one must read this book more than once. This book should be read first as a character study of a complex individual who rose from humble beginnings in Norfolk, En­gland, to perhaps the most famous archaeologist of this century. Howard Carter was a gifted child whose drawings of antiquities attracted the attention of Lord and Lady Amherst who sponsored his first trip to Egypt as an assistant draughtsman under the supervision of Flinders Petrie. Petrie had already established a reputation for himself as an Egyptologist and unless one had the eye and skills as exhibited by Carter, there would have been little or no chance for such a job or assignment.
Efficient block error concealment code for image and video transmission

Image and video compression standards such as JPEG, MPEG, H.263 are highly sensitive to error during transmission. Among typical error propagation mechanisms in video compression schemes, loss of block synchronization produces the worst image degradation. Even an error of a single bit in block synchronization may result in data to be placed in wrong positions that is caused by spatial shifts. Our proposed efficient block error concealment code (EBECC) virtually guarantees block synchronization and it improves coding efficiency by several hundred folds over the error resilient entropy code (EREC), proposed by N. G. Kingsbury and D. W. Redmill, depending on the image format and size. In addition, the EBECC produces slightly better resolution on the reconstructed images or video frames than those from the EREC. Another important advantage of the EBECC is that it does not require redundancy contrasting to the EREC that requires 2-3 percent of redundancy. Our preliminary results show the EBECC is 240 times faster than EREC for encoding and 330 times for decoding based on the CIF format of H.263 video coding standard. The EBECC can be used on most of the popular image and video compression schemes such as JPEG, MPEG, and H.263. Additionally, it is especially useful to wireless networks in which the percentage of image and video data is high.
Behavioral and neurochemical effects of neurotensin microinjection into the ventral tegmental area of the rat.

Abstract The ventral tegmental area of the rat brain has been shown to possess high densities of neurotensin- and dopamine-containing neuronal perikarya. We recently demonstrated that microinjection of neurotensin into the ventral tegmental area produces behavioral hyperactivity similar to amphetamine-induced increase in exploratory behaviors, but lacking stereotypies. In this study, we report that the threshold dose for neurotensin-induced hyperactivity is 0.10–0.25 μg neurotensin/side. Either intracerebroventricular injection of haloperidol (5.0 μg/lateral ventricle) or destruction of the mesolimbic dopamine system by 6-hydroxydopamine abolishes the behavioral hyperactivity produced by intraventral tegmental injection of neurotensin (2.5 μg/side). Using high pressure liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection, we show that neurotensin injection into the ventral tegmental area increases the concentration of dopamine metabolites, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and homovanillic acid in the nucleus accumbens and olfactory tubercles, but not in the striatum. This effect is especially profound in the nucleus accumbens where the threshold dose is less than 0.025 μg/side. The ratio of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid to dopamine increased in the nucleus accumbens and olfactory tubercles in a dosedependent fashion (0.025 μg–2.50 μg/side). Neurotensin-induced behavioral hyperactivity correlates positively with neurotensin-induced changes in the ratio of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid to dopamine. This study indicates that neurotensin acts in the ventral tegmental area to activate the mesolimbic dopamine system. Further, this activation produces behavioral hyperactivity characterized by an increase in exploratory behaviors. The fact that both immunoreactive neurotensin and neurotensin receptors are found in high concentration in the ventral tegmental area supports the possible physiological significance of this peptide-catecholamine interaction.
Orbital apex syndrome due to sinus infection.

Orbital extension of acute paranasal sinus infection seems to be an occurrence of increasing frequency and increasing severity in the past few years. This recurrence of an old phenomenon is happening despite medical specialization, due to alteration of bacteria biology due to generation-long use of antibiotics. Alteration of host responses due to use of steroids is also responsible. Over-reliance on diagnostic aids alters clinical judgment. Especially important is the fact that, in the most serious complication, cavernous sinus thrombophlebitis, one can be misled by fundoscopic examination, inasmuch as the state of the disk is not a reliable index. Six case records are used to illustrate various degrees of orbital content involvement, including blindness and meningitis complications. Early diagnosis of the spread of infection, vigorous antibiotic therapy, and surgical drainage when necessary are required. Steroid use is apparently ineffective and possibly erroneous, and anticoagulant-anti-inflammatory agents of an older era are probably more reliable when life and sight are threatened.
Increased IκB Expression and Diminished Nuclear NF-κB in Human Mononuclear Cells following Hydrocortisone Injection

We have recently demonstrated that hydrocortisone and other glucocorticoids inhibit reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation by mononuclear (MNC) and polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNL). Since NF-κB/IκB system regulates the transcription of proinflammatory genes, including those responsible for ROS generation, we tested the hypothesis that hydrocortisone may stimulate IκB production thus inhibiting NF-κB translocation from the cytosol into the nucleus in MNC, in vivo. One hundred milligram of hydrocortisone was injected intravenously into 4 normal subjects. Blood samples were obtained prior to the injection and at 1, 2, 4, 8 and 24 hr after the injection. Nuclear extracts and total cell lysates were prepared from MNC by standard techniques. IκB levels in MNC homogenates increased at 1 hr, peaked at 2–4 hr, started to decrease at 8 hr, and returned to baseline levels at 24 hr. NF-κB in MNC nuclear extracts decreased at 1 hr, reached a nadir at 4 hr, gradually increased at 8 hr and returned back to baseline...
Efficient mining of max frequent patterns in a generalized environment

This poster paper summarizes our solution for mining max frequent generalized itemsets (g-itemsets), a compact representation for frequent patterns in the generalized environment.
Wideband Spectrum Sensing and Non-Parametric Signal Classification for Autonomous Self-Learning Cognitive Radios

This paper presents an autonomous cognitive radio (CR) architecture, referred to as the Radiobot. This model goes beyond adaptive radio systems to exploit the main ingredients of cognition which, in this context, are mainly self-learning and self-reconfiguration. Without any prior knowledge of the RF environment, the Radiobot applies a sequence of increasingly sophisticated processing steps to detect and identify the sensed signals. In particular, in this paper, it applies a blind energy detection followed by a cyclostationary detection method to detect the active signals and extract their underlying periodic properties as reflected in cyclic frequencies. These extracted signal features are classified based on the Chinese restaurant process (CRP) and a learning algorithm is applied to achieve autonomous self-reconfiguration of the sensing module. We analyze the impact of fading and Doppler frequency shift on both the energy and cyclostationary detections, and show the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) of the carrier frequency detector. We show the robustness of the cyclostationary detection against channel fading and wide-sense stationary noise. Simulation results are presented to verify the multi-band operability and the reconfiguration ability of the Radiobot and to verify the convergence of the proposed learning algorithm.
Sodium-Ion Binding to DNA: Detection by Ultrafast Time-Resolved Stokes-Shift Spectroscopy

The nature of the counterion is shown to have a pronounced effect on the apparent dynamic polarity in the interior of DNA. Time-resolved Stokes-shift measurements in the 80 ps to 40 ns time range were made on a polarity-sensitive fluorophore (coumarin 102) that replaces a base pair in an oligonucleotide. With sodium counterions, the emission spectrum narrows with time, whereas with tetrabutylammonium counterions, it does not. Our interpretation is that a subpopulation of helices have sodium cations bound in a fashion that slows the normal dynamics.
Very young foster children and foster families: Clinical challenges and interventions

Recent federal reviews of the foster care system in the United States have concluded that the system is “in crisis.” Clinicians familiar with the foster care system are undoubtedly aware of significant stress points directly impacting foster families. In July of 1997, an innovative program was developed to assess and treat young foster children (under 48 months of age). A significant focus of this program's clinical work is supporting foster parents. This article begins with a brief review of the status of foster parenting in the United States. A description of challenges and obstacles faced by foster parents participating in this program and the service providers who work with them follows. Finally, a review of the various intervention strategies used by our program to address clinical challenges inherent in work with foster families is provided. ©2002 Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health.
IMMUNIZATION OF INFANTS WITH Haemophilus influenzae TYPE b (Hib) POLYSACCHARIDE-OUTER MEMBRANE PROTEIN (PS-OMP) CONJUGATE VACCINE PRIMES FOR IgGl BOOSTER RESPONSES TO CONVENTIONAL Hib PS VACCINE

A conjugate vaccine of Hib PS linked to an OMP of N. meningitidis is immunogenic in infants as young as 2-3 mo. (Lancet 1986;2:299). 43 children immunized at ages 2-17 mo. have been followed for 10-15 mo. The geo. mean serum Hib PS antibody (Ab) concentration declined but remained higher than that of unimmunized controls (p 6 mo. The geo. mean Ab response of the reimmunized children was 10-folld higher than that of control children immunized with PS for the first time, and was not significantly different than that of adults immunized with PS vaccine. However, the IgG Ab responses of the adults were composed of both IgG1 and IgG2 (geo. mean G1/G2=1.7), while those of the infants were restricted to IgG1 (G1/G2=9.7, p=0.01). Thus, exposure to PS-OMP primes infants to an IgG1 memory Ab response to PS vaccine. In contrast, infants with Hib disease at ages 3-17 mo., and immunized with PS vaccine 7-21 mo. later did not show a memory Ab response.
Neuropeptide Y: its multiple effects in the CNS and potential clinical significance.

AC= : adenylyl cyclase; cAMP= : cyclic adenosyl monophosphate; DRG= : dorsal root ganglion; GABA= : γ-aminobutyric acid; GIRK= : G-protein-coupled, inwardly rectifying K+ current; MAPK= : mitogen-activated protein kinase; NPY= : neuropeptide Y; PKC= : protein kinase C; PLC= : phospholipase C. Neuropeptide tyrosine (neuropeptide Y [NPY]) is widely expressed in the CNS and peripheral nervous systems and has been shown to have a role in numerous physiologic processes, including modulation of cortical excitability,1 circadian rhythms,2 stress response and emotion,3,4 pain processing,5–7 food intake,8 and cardiovascular function.9 NPY has been implicated in mechanisms of epilepsy,1,10 anxiety and depression,11,12 pain and analgesia,6 neuroprotection,13 and neurogenesis.14 This review focuses on selective aspects of NPY neurobiology and its relationship with CNS disorders. NPY is a 36–amino acid member of the pancreatic polypeptide family that is widely distributed in the CNS, peripheral nervous system, and many other tissues. In the CNS, NPY is predominantly expressed in interneurons of the neocortex, hippocampus, striatum, and amygdala, particularly in those synthesizing γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and somatostatin.13 NPY is also present in long projections neurons, including brainstem catecholaminergic groups and neurons in the arcuate (infundibular) nucleus of the hypothalamus.8,13 NPY, like other neuropeptides, is synthesized in the neuronal cell body, stored and transported in dense core vesicles by fast anterograde axonal transport, and released during high frequency neuronal activity, such as that observed during an epileptic seizure. NPY is a potent neuromodulator of neurotransmission15,16 (figure). Figure Neuromodulatory effects of NPY Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is present in interneurons synthesizing γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), as well as in catecholaminergic brainstem neurons and neurons of the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (not shown). NPY is a potent neuromodulator that acts via guanidine nucleotide (G) protein-coupled receptors. The most abundant receptors are Y1 receptors, located mainly postsynaptically, and Y2 receptors, located both presynaptically and postsynaptically. Both Y1 and Y2 receptors inhibit adenylyl cyclase (AC) and presynaptic N and P/Q-type Ca2+ channels involved in release of …
The effect of fraction time in intensity modulated radiotherapy: theoretical and experimental evaluation of an optimization problem (the real conclusions): in regard to Mu et al. Radiotherapy on Oncology 2003; 68: 181-87.

The effect of fraction time in intensity modulated radiotherapy : theoretical and experimental evaluation of an optimization problem (the real conclusions): in regard to Mu et al. Radiotherapy on Oncology 2003; 68 : 181-87 - Reply
A Corpus-Based Evaluation of Syntactic Complexity Measures as Indices of College-Level ESL Writers' Language Development

This article reports results of a corpus-based evaluation of 14 syntactic complexity measures as objective indices of college-level English as a second language (ESL) writers' language development. I analyzed large-scale ESL writing data from the Written English Corpus of Chinese Learners (Wen, Wang, & Liang, 2005) using a computational system designed to automate syntactic complexity measurement with 14 measures that have been proposed in second language writing development studies (Lu, 2010). This analysis allows us to investigate the impact of sampling condition on the relationship between syntactic complexity and language development, to identify measures that significantly differentiate between developmental levels, to determine the magnitude at which between-level differences in each measure reach statistical significance, to assess the pattern of development associated with each measure, and to examine the strength of the relationship between different pairs of measures. This research provides ESL teachers and researchers with useful insights into how these measures can be used effectively as indices of college-level ESL writers' language development.
Dyadic adjustment in relational types: Consensus, cohesion, affectional expression, and satisfaction in enduring relationships

This paper reports the third in a series of studies designed to empirically develop a typology of enduring relationships. The purpose of this study is to validate the category scheme established in previous work by comparing the relational types on measures of dyadic adjustment. A secondary purpose involved an examination of the effect of relational definition agreement and, disagreement on the adjustment measures. The results indicate that couples who share a similar definition of their relationship are significantly more in agreement on a variety of relational issues and more cohesive than are couples who do not share a relational definition. Those who disagree on a relational definition tend to agree only on expressions of affection and sexual relations. In the relationships previously typed as Traditional, Separate, Independent, and Separate / Traditional, couples exhibit significantly different levels of dyadic adjustment.
Lake Front Property: A Unique Germinal Niche by the Lateral Ventricles of the Adult Brain

New neurons and glial cells are generated in an extensive germinal niche adjacent to the walls of the lateral ventricles in the adult brain. The primary progenitors (B1 cells) have astroglial characteristics but retain important neuroepithelial properties. Recent work shows how B1 cells contact all major compartments of this niche. They share the "shoreline" on the ventricles with ependymal cells, forming a unique adult ventricular zone (VZ). In the subventricular zone (SVZ), B1 cells contact transit amplifying (type C) cells, chains of young neurons (A cells), and blood vessels. How signals from these compartments influence the behavior of B1 or C cells remains largely unknown, but recent work highlights growth factors, neurotransmitters, morphogens, and the extracellular matrix as key regulators of this niche. The integration of emerging molecular and anatomical clues forecasts an exciting new understanding of how the germ of youth is actively maintained in the adult brain.
Influence of Soil Moisture Conditions on Effectiveness of Systemic Insecticides in American Elm and Red Pine

Oxydemetonmethyl and disufoton were applied as concentrates to stems or as dilute emulsions to the foliage of red pine seedlings grown in the greenhouse under 2 soil moisture regimes. The greatest mortality of pine needle scales, Phenacaspis pinifoliae (Fitch), occurred on those plants grown under the drier conditions. Analysis of parent compound and metabolite of oxydemetonmethyl showed that the plants growing under dry conditions retained the insecticide at higher levels for longer periods than those growing under moist conditions, somewhat different results were obtained with the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urlicae Koch, on American elm. Suggested reasons for the different responses are given.
A clinical, pathological, and mycological study of a fatal case of histoplasmosis in an infant.

The clinical history of a fatal case of acute disseminated Histoplasmosis in a 3-month-old infant is described. A liver biopsy performed ante mortem revealed numerous encapsulated organisms which were identified at H.capsulatum. This suggests the applicability of this technique as a diagnostic tool. An autopsy showed extensive involvement, the organisms being found in the lungs, thymus, mediastinal and retroperitoneal nodes, liver, adrenals, spleen, and kidneys.
Depression with Panic Episodes and Coronary Vasospasm

Variant (Prinzmetal's) angina is an uncommon cause of precordial pain caused by coronary vasospasm and characterized by transient ST elevation and negative markers of myocardial necrosis. This is the case of a female patient with a prior history of depression and panic attacks who presented with recurrent symptoms including chest pain. A cardiac event monitor positively documented coronary vasospasm associated with anxiety-provoking chest pain, whereas the coronary arteries were angiographically normal. We noted that the frequency of angina attacks apparently increased during the period that coincided with the introduction of Bupropion SR for treatment of the patient's depression. Considering the possibility of bupropion-associated negative impact on coronary vasospasm, the antidepressant therapy was adjusted to exclude this drug. Although Prinzmetal's angina is relatively uncommon, we suspect that a routine use of cardiac event monitors in subjects with panic disorder might reveal a greater incidence of coronary vasospasm in this patient population.
Urea Nitrogen Excretion in Chair-Adapted Primates

To evaluate the temporal pattern of urea excretion in chair-adapted primates (Macaque fascicularis) on continuous total parenteral nutrition (TPN), two groups of five animals were studied. Group I received continuous TPN (75 glucose kcal; 0.56 g nitrogen; and 100 ml fluid per kg per day) while Group II received a single morning isonitrogenous oral meal along with a continuous isovolemic intravenous infusion of 0.45% saline. Urine was collected hourly in group I for 2 days and every 4 hr in group II for 5 days and analyzed for urea content. Time series analysis revealed no periodicity of urea excretion in either group. Six animals were then studied for a total of 46 TPN days to define the relationship between the urea content of a single 3-hr morning urine aliquot and its respective content in a 24-hr collection. A significant linear relationship was found (r = +0.76, p less than 0.01). However, using this relationship, a reasonable estimate (+20%) of measured 24-hr urea output was achieved only 50% of the time using a single 3-hr urea output. Chair-adapted primates maintained on continuous TPN or a single oral meal with continuous saline infusion do not exhibit a periodic pattern of urea excretion. The variability in 3-hr urinary urea output in the chaired primate on continuous TPN does not consistently permit accurate estimation of the coincident 24-hr urinary urea output.
Treatment of chronic tendinopathy with ultrasound-guided needle tenotomy and platelet-rich plasma injection.

Objective To determine whether ultrasound (US)-guided percutaneous needle tenotomy followed by a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection would result in pain reduction, functional improvement, or structural alterations in patients with chronic, recalcitrant tendinopathy. Design Part A was a retrospective observational study. Part B was a prospective observational study. Setting Outpatient academic sports medicine center. Participants Patients were required to have chronic (>3 months), recalcitrant tendinopathy treated with US-guided percutaneous tenotomy and PRP injection between January 2007 and October 2009. Fifty-one subjects met the inclusion criteria. Forty-one (80%) participated in part A of the study, whereas 34 subjects (67%) participated in part B. Methods In part A, subjects completed a survey obtaining anthropomorphic, demographic, pain, and functional data. Subjects' platelet, hemoglobin, and white blood cell concentrations from their whole-blood and PRP samples were also obtained. In part B, subjects returned to the clinic after US-guided percutaneous needle tenotomy and PRP injection for a diagnostic US, which was compared with their preprocedure diagnostic US. Main Outcome Measures The main outcome measures included changes in pain, function, and tendon characteristics. Results The tendinopathy location was in the upper extremity in 10 subjects (24.4%), was in the lower extremity in 31 subjects (75.6%), and had been present for a mean of 40 months. The mean postprocedure follow-up was 14 months, and the maximum benefits occurred 4 months postprocedure. There were mean functional and worst-pain improvements of 68% and 58%, respectively. Eighty-three percent of subjects were satisfied with their outcomes and would recommend the procedure to a friend. Although no tendons demonstrated a normal sonographic appearance after the procedure, 84% of subjects had an improvement in echotexture, 64% had a resolution of intratendinous calcifications, and 82% had a decrease in intratendinous neovascularity. None of the variables analyzed in this study demonstrated a significant correlation with pain or functional outcome measures. Conclusions In this case series, we found US-guided percutaneous needle tenotomy followed by PRP injection to be a safe and effective treatment for chronic, recalcitrant tendinopathy, and this treatment was associated with sonographically apparent improvements in tendon morphology. However, because of the intrinsic limitations of the study design and the heterogeneity of treated tendons, further research is required to corroborate our findings.
Intrathecal anti-IL-6 antibody and IgG attenuates peripheral nerve injury-induced mechanical allodynia in the rat: possible immune modulation in neuropathic pain

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pleiotrophic cytokine with a diverse range of actions including the modulation of the peripheral and central nervous system. We have previously shown significant IL-6 protein and messenger RNA elevation in rat spinal cord following peripheral nerve injury that results in pain behaviors suggestive of neuropathic pain. These spinal IL-6 levels correlated directly with the mechanical allodynia intensity following nerve injury. In the current study, we sought to determine whether it is possible to attenuate mechanical allodynia and/or alter spinal glial activation resulting from peripheral nerve injury by specific manipulation of IL-6 with neutralizing antibodies or by global immune modulation utilizing immunogamma-globulin (IgG). Effects of peripheral administration of normal goat IgG and intrathecal (i.t.) administration of IL-6 neutralizing antibody, normal goat or normal rat IgG on mechanical allodynia associated with L5 spinal nerve transection were compared. Spinal glial activation was assessed at day 10 post surgery by immunohistochemistry. Low dose (0.01-0.001 microg) goat anti-rat IL-6 i.t. administration (P=0.025) significantly decreased allodynia and trended towards significance at the higher dose (0.08 microg to 0.008 microg, P=0.062). Low doses (0.01-0.001 microg) i.t. normal goat and rat IgG significantly attenuated mechanical allodynia, but not at higher doses (0.08-0.008 microg; P=0.001 for both goat and rat IgG). Peripherally administered normal goat IgG (30 or 100 mg/kg) did not attenuate mechanical allodynia. Spinal glial activation was unaltered by any treatment. These data provide further evidence for the role of central IL-6 and neuroimmune modulation in the etiology of mechanical allodynia following peripheral nerve injury.
P2-463: LXR agonist treatment of a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease: Effects on behavioral, electrophysiological and immunohistochemical markers

identified SEN12333 (WAY-317538) as a full agonist with an EC50 of 1.2 microM and selective over related receptors. In previous experiments, this new alpha7 nAChR agonists has demonstrated pro-cognitive properties in both Alzheimer disease as well as schizophrenia oriented behavioural tests in rodents. Here we describe experiments aimed to evaluate the neuroprotective property of this compound in in vivo models of neurodegeneration in comparison with nicotine and to investigate the mechanisms of neuroprotection. Results: Five microL of 0.5 M quisqualic acid solution injected into the nucleus basalis magnocellularis (NBM) of rats resulted in a highly significant decrease in the number of ChAT-positive neurons, massive reactive gliosis, involving both astrocytes and microglia, and a significant increase in p38-MAPK expression. A sub-chronic treatment with 3 mg/kg SEN12333 or 0.3 mg/kg nicotine for 7 days significantly attenuated the decrease in the number of ChAT-positive neurons in this brain region demonstrating neuroprotective effects. Conclusions: These effects may be relevant for treating neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. The ability of nicotinic agonist-treatments to protect brain tissues from gliosis and inflammation will be discussed.
Biosynthesis and evidence for the existence of the follicle stimulating hormone releasing hormone.

Abstract Biosynthesis with 14C-glutamic acid and 14C-glutamine in a hypothalamic system followed by fraction yielded fractions after defatting, Bio-Gel P2, CMC, and Sephadex G25 partition chromatography which released 40,000 to >128,000 ng/ml of FSH. The decapeptide, pGlu-His-Trp-Ser-Tyr-Gly-Leu-Arg-Pro-Gly-NH2 released about 18,000 and rarely up to 35,000 ng/ml of FSH. Radioactivity was associated with these exceptionally active FSH-fractions. The apparent new hypothalamic hormone releases both FSH and LH and can be FSHRH which is different from the decapeptide which is apparently LHRH and not LHRH FSHRH The associated radioactivity and FSH-releasing activity indicate that FSHRH may have a pGlu-moiety.