cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Retinopathy of prematurity: A comprehensive risk analysis for prevention and prediction of disease.

Background Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a blinding morbidity of preterm infants. Our current screening criteria have remained unchanged since their inception and lack the ability to identify those at greatest risk. Objectives We sought to comprehensively analyze numerous proposed maternal, infant, and environmental ROP risk variables in a robustly phenotyped population using logistic regression to determine the most predictive model for ROP development and severity. We further sought to determine the statistical interaction between significant ROP risk variables, which has not previously been done in the field of ROP. We hypothesize that our comprehensive analysis will allow for better identification of risk variables that independently correlate with ROP disease. Going forward, this may allow for improved infant risk stratification along a time continuum from prenatal to postnatal development, making prevention more feasible. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort analysis of preterm infants referred for ROP screening in one neonatal intensive care unit from 2010–2015. The primary outcome measure was presence of ROP. Secondary outcome measures were ROP requiring treatment and severe ROP not clearly meeting current treatment criteria. Univariate, stepwise regression and statistical interaction analyses of 57 proposed ROP risk variables was performed to identify variables which were significantly associated with each outcome measure. Results We identified 457 infants meeting our inclusion criteria. Within this cohort, numerous factors showed a significant individual association with our ROP outcome measures; however, stepwise regression analysis found the most predictive model for overall ROP risk included estimated gestational age, birth weight, the need for any surgery, and maternal magnesium prophylaxis. The corresponding Area Under the Curve (AUC) for this model was 0.8641, while the traditional model of gestational age and birth weight predicted ROP disease less well with an AUC of 0.8489. Development of severe ROP was best predicted by estimated gestational age (week), the need for any surgery and increased probability of death or moderate-severe BPD at 7 days. Finally, the model most predictive for type 1 ROP included estimated gestational age (week) and the presence of severe chronic lung disease. No significant statistical interaction was found between variables. Conclusions Our work is unique as we report comprehensive analysis of the greatest number of proposed ROP risk variables to date in a robustly phenotyped population. We describe novel risk models for our ROP outcome measures and demonstrate independence of these variables using statistical modeling not previously applied to ROP. This may better allow for individual infant risk stratification and importantly mitigation of future risk.
Characterization of exposure to byproducts from firing lead-free frangible ammunition in an enclosed, ventilated firing range

ABSTRACTU.S. Air Force small arms firing ranges began using copper-based, lead-free frangible ammunition in the early 2000s due to environmental and health concerns related to the use of lead-based ammunition. Exposure assessments at these firing ranges have routinely detected chemicals and metals in amounts much lower than their mass-based occupational exposure limits, yet, instructors report work-related health concerns including respiratory distress, nausea, and headache. The objective of this study at one firing range was to characterize the aerosol emissions produced by weapons during firing events and evaluate the ventilation system's effectiveness in controlling instructor exposure to these emissions. The ventilation system was assessed by measuring the range static air pressure differential and the air velocity at the firing line. Air flow patterns were near the firing line. Instructor exposure was sampled using a filter-based air sampling method for metals and a wearable, real-time ultrafine part...
Outcomes targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 axis in conjunction with stereotactic radiation for patients with non-small cell lung cancer brain metastases.

Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapies have demonstrated activity in patients with advanced stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, little is known about the safety and feasibility of patients receiving anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy and stereotactic radiation for the treatment of brain metastases. Data were analyzed retrospectively from NSCLC patients treated with stereotactic radiation either before, during or after anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy with nivolumab (anti-PD-1) or durvalumab (anti-PD-L1). Seventeen patients treated with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) or fractionated stereotactic radiation therapy (FSRT) to 49 brain metastases over 21 sessions were identified. Radiation was administered prior to, during and after anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy in 22 lesions (45%), 13 lesions (27%), and 14 lesions (29%), respectively. The 6 months Kaplan–Meier (KM) distant brain control rate was 48% following stereotactic radiation. Six and 12 month KM rates of OS from the date of stereotactic radiation and the date of cranial metastases diagnosis were 48/41% and 81/51%, respectively. The 6 month rate of distant brain control following stereotactic radiation for patients treated with stereotactic radiation during or prior to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy was 57% compared to 0% among patients who received anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy before stereotactic radiation (p = 0.05). A Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) of <90 was found to be predictive of worse OS following radiation treatment on both univariate and multivariate analyses (MVA, p = 0.01). In our series, stereotactic radiation to NSCLC brain metastases was well tolerated in patients who received anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy. Prospective evaluation to determine how these two modalities can be used synergistically to improve distant brain control and OS is warranted.
Acquisitions in the biopharmaceutical IPO market: Collaboration, competition and co-opetition

The present paper explores the little studied area concerning the acquisition of recent biopharmaceutical initial public offering firms. We examine the nature of the relationship between the acquiring firm and the acquired initial public offering firm prior to the acquisition and from the perspective of the resource-based view. We find to some extent that firm specific-resources affect the prospect that the firm will be acquired. Furthermore, our findings show that firms with more of these types of resources are likely to be acquired by firms engaged in co- opetition rather than by firms engaged solely in collaboration, competition, or (to a limited extent) with no prior relationship.
Research on market orientation: Some lessons shared and issues discussed in a doctoral seminar

For more than a quarter of a century, a large body of research in marketing, as well as in other disciplines, has focused on a number of substantive, theoretical and methodological issues relating to market orientation. Reflecting on their market orientation focused research journey, Jaworski and Kohli (2017) offer 22 valuable lessons for researchers on the nuances of conducting field-based, discovery-oriented research. For over two decades, market orientation has been among the substantive topics on the syllabus of a doctoral seminar on strategic marketing that I have taught at Texas A&M University. Over the years, I have greatly benefited from reading a number of journal articles on market orientation, in preparing for the seminar session on market orientation. Reflecting on the insights gained from this learning journey, I elaborate on five lessons shared, and five issues discussed in the seminar.
Career Adaptability and Social Support Among Graduating College Seniors

Previous research has highlighted the employment needs of recent college graduates, focusing on the specific challenges members of this group encounter as they transition into the workforce. This study examined graduating seniors (N = 164) during their senior year of college as they transitioned to the workforce, investigating career adaptability and social support. Results from multiple regression analyses found that the concern resource of career adaptability was significantly predicted by social support. Implications and future directions are highlighted.
Determining sources of nitrate in the semi-arid Rio Grande using nitrogen and oxygen isotopes

Abstract The Rio Grande, a semi-arid river in the American Southwest, is a major source of surface water for agriculture and municipal purposes in New Mexico and western Texas. In addition to increasing salinity, considerable increases in nitrate (NO 3 − ) concentrations have been observed in the semi-arid portion of the Rio Grande. It is possible that elevated water salinity inhibits denitrification on irrigated fields and, thus fails to mediate the excess nutrient load from anthropogenic activities. Therefore, the two major goals of this study were to i) characterize and quantify major NO 3 − sources, and ii) assess whether elevated water salinity affects microbial denitrification in the watershed. In fall 2014 and summer 2015, the Rio Grande surface water, irrigation drains, precipitation (urban runoff), and municipal waste effluents were sampled between Elephant Butte, New Mexico and Tornillo, Texas (∼260 km distance) for chemical and stable isotope analyses. The highest NO 3 − concentrations, up to ∼70–140 mg/L, were observed in waste effluents and agricultural drains irrigated with the reclaimed city water. Conversely, NO 3 − concentrations in the river and agricultural drains were significantly lower ( 3 − sources were identified using isotope tracers: fertilizers, with low δ 15 N and high δ 18 O (average + 0.6 and + 18.3‰, respectively), and waste water effluents from cities, with high δ 15 N and low δ 18 O (average + 10.5 and −5.1‰, respectively). According to nitrogen isotope mass balance constraint, the contribution of waste effluent-derived NO 3 − was the smallest in upstream locations, between Elephant Butte and Las Cruces, and accounted for up to 0–25% (±10%) compared to the fertilizer-derived NO 3 − . Further downstream near big urban centers, the effluent contributions increased and accounted for up to 70–100% between Las Cruces and El Paso. The highest effluent-derived NO 3 − contributions of 90–100% were measured in the agricultural district located below El Paso where the reclaimed city water is commonly used for irrigation. Elevated salinity does not appear to limit microbial denitrification. Locally, the strongest isotopic evidence of microbial denitrification was observed in a couple of water samples showing elevated salinity (EC 2.9–4.2 mS/cm). The results of this study suggest that urban centers are important NO 3 − contributors into the aquatic system of the semi-arid Rio Grande watershed, and that microbial processes (e.g., denitrification) do not appear to significantly reduce NO 3 − loads from anthropogenic sources.
Ventricular Collagen Matrix and Alterations

There is a complex extracellular structural matrix in the heart. This matrix appears to be composed of a variety of fibrils and fibers extending from the cell surface to the basal lamina and from the basal lamina to the matrix. The extensions into the extracellular region interconnect with a system of collagen bundles. The latter are so located that they would tether the myocytes to each other as well as tether the capillaries to the myocytes. There is an extensive weave of collagen analogous to the perimysium of sekletal muscle that separates groups of myocytes. The weave surrounding a group of myocytes is connected to adjacent weave patterns by long, tendonlike structures.
Local Texture Descriptors on Biometric Detection: New Local Quaternary Pattern Descriptors and Case Study on Eye Detection

This chapter presents a new local texture descriptor, local quaternary patterns (LQP), and its extension, feature local quaternary patterns (FLQP). The LQP, which encodes four relationships of local texture, includes more information of local texture than the local binary patterns (LBP) and local ternary patterns (LTP). The FLQP which encodes both local and feature information is expected to perform better than the LQP for texture description and pattern recognition. To reduce the size of feature dimensions and histograms of both LQP and FLQP, a new coding schema is proposed to split the LQP and FLQP into two binary codes: the upper and lower binary codes. As a result, the total possible values of split LQP and FLQP are reduced to 512. The feasibility of the proposed LQP and FLQP methods is demonstrated on an eye detection problem. Experimental results using the BioID database show that both the FLQP and the LQP methods archive better eye detection performance than the feature LTP, the LTP, the feature LBP, and the LBP methods. Specifically, the FLQP method achieves by far the highest eye detection rate among all the competing methods. In addition, the FLQP method has the lowest average relative distance error γ, while the average γ of the LQP, the feature LTP, the LTP, the feature LBP, and the LBP methods are 5.8%, 7.5%, 9.7%, 6.9%, and 125.6% higher than the average γ of the FLQP method, respectively.
Complete Hydatidiform Mole

Complete mole, also known as “classic” hydatidiform mole, is the prototype of molar gestation bearing the traditional description of “hydatid,” for example, grape-like structures at the time of evacuation, a term that was used throughout the last century. The historical tale of “365 babies” of the Dutch’s Countess Margaret of Henneberg (Chap. 1) clearly documented a case of a well-developed complete mole some 700 years ago. It is important to note that essentially all meaningful epidemiology data of hydatidiform mole in the literature have been based on studies of complete mole rather than partial moles. Epidemiological data on partial hydatidiform mole have been at best unreliable, largely because of significant diagnostic inaccuracy in practice, even at present time (see Chap. 1).
Linking Dynamic Capabilities and Healthcare Innovations: A Case Study Approach

This study explores the relationship between dynamic capabilities and different types of innovations in healthcare industry. It utilizes a case study approach by conducting semi-structured interviews with clinicians and hospital administrators from two types of hospitals—academic and community. The main findings are: 1) the learning, coordinating, and integrating capabilities are associated with product/service and process innovations in academic hospitals; 2) the learning and integrating capabilities are associated with product/service and process innovations in community hospitals; 3) the barrier internal resources contention act as a moderator between the dynamic capabilities and innovations. This paper concludes by outlining propositions for additional research that would contribute to a more complete understanding of relationship between dynamic capabilities and different types of innovations in hospitals setting.
TEACHING METHOD: English for Craft Students —5

The very mention of poetry, poems or verse immediately suggests to craft students something superior, something beyond their ken, something ‘soppy’. The reasons for this attitude are not hard to find, for the culture of our society has not been given to them in a natural way. With poetry, for example, there is no tradition of daily readings, followed, when the poems have become part of their mental make up, by any necessary explanations. There is rather this obtrusive, banal method of teaching in the most ham‐handed way a handful of poems, so that when a fifteen— or sixteen‐year‐old lad enters a craft course or a course preliminary to a craft course, any natural enthusiasm has long since waned, and an attitude of opposition or uninterestedness — it may be positive or negative — has taken its place and has to be dealt with.
Engagement, Innovation, and Advocacy: Presidential Leadership at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Hispanic-Serving Institutions

In this chapter, we focus on the way presidents of Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Hispanic-Serving Institutions engage with constituencies, bring about innovations, make changes, and foster stability to their campuses, and how they advocate for their communities.
“Intelligent” Pt Catalysts Studied on High-Surface-Area CaTiO3 Films

CaTiO3-supported Pt is sometimes referred to as an “Intelligent” catalyst because Pt can reversibly leave or enter the perovskite lattice following high-temperature reduction or oxidation; however,...
Minimization of Surgical Site Infections in Patients With Delayed Sternal Closure After Pediatric Cardiac Surgery

Background:Delayed sternal closure (DSC) following pediatric cardiac surgery is commonly implemented at many centers. Infectious complications occur in 18.7% of these patients based on recent multi...
Coronary Cannulation: Tips for Success in Transradial Angiography and Interventions

Transradial artery access (TRA) is associated with reduced bleeding risk, length of stay, costs, and increased patient satisfaction. Approximately one-third of TRA failures are due to lack of guiding catheter support. Catheter selection and engagement technique are crucial for obtaining good-quality angiograms and successfully completing percutaneous coronary intervention. The maneuvers required for catheter manipulation and coronary engagement differ between TRA and transfemoral arterial access. One of the advantages of TRA is the ability to use a universal catheter, saving time, radiation, and contrast. This review discusses practical learning points to improve operator understanding of catheter selection and coronary engagement technique.
The association between gender roles and smoking initiation among women and adolescent girls.

Smoking cigarettes is a leading global cause of preventable death and disease. Men historically smoke more than women, but the prevalence of smoking among women in low and middle-income countries i...
Prenatal infection with Mycoplasma pulmonis in rats exaggerates the angiotensin II pressor response in adult offspring.

Exposure to different stressors in utero is linked to adult diseases such as obesity and hypertension. In this study, the impact of prenatal infection (PNI) on adult body weight and cardiovascular ...
Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Protocols in Orthopedic Patients

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathways describe perioperative evidence-based care paradigms designed to improve outcomes and reduce morbidity after major surgery. Although ERAS was initially developed and applied to patients undergoing colorectal procedures, today the concepts, principles, and practice of ERAS care have found success in a range of surgical subspecialties, including orthopedic surgery. This chapter presents the method for developing and implementing ERAS pathways in general and how they can be tailored and applied to specific orthopedic procedures. The evidence underlying ERAS efficacy in elective total joint arthroplasty (including hip, knee, and shoulder) is presented. Further, emerging areas of ERAS research and practice are considered, including how ERAS may benefit care of the patient undergoing hip fracture repair, revision joint arthroplasty, and spine surgery.
Spinach Plants Favor the Absorption of K+ over Na+ Regardless of Salinity, and May Benefit from Na+ When K+ is Deficient in the Soil

Two spinach (Spinacea oleracea L.) cultivars were evaluated for their response to deficient (0.25 mmolc L-1 or 0.25 K) and sufficient (5.0 mmolc L-1 or 5.0 K) potassium (K) levels combined with salinities of 5, 30, 60, 90, and 120 mmolc L-1 NaCl. Plants substituted K for Na proportionally with salinity within each K dose. Plants favored K+ over Na+, regardless of salinity, accumulating significantly less Na at 5.0 K than at 0.25 K. Salinity had no effect on N, P, and K shoot accumulation, suggesting that spinach plants can maintain NPK homeostasis even at low soil K. Ca and Mg decreased with salinity, but plants showed no deficiency. There was no Na+ to K+ or Cl- to NO3- competition, and shoot biomass decrease was attributed to excessive NaCl accumulation. Overall, 'Raccoon' and 'Gazelle' biomasses were similar regardless of K dose but 'Raccoon' outproduced 'Gazelle' at 5.0 K at the two highest salinity levels, indicating that 'Raccoon' may outperform 'Gazelle' at higher NaCl concentrations. At low K, Na may be required by 'Raccoon', but not 'Gazelle'. This study suggested that spinach can be cultivated with recycled waters of moderate salinity, and less potassium than recommended, leading to savings on crop input and decreasing crop environmental footprint.
Design and implementation of a novel tool to collect milk feeding type in children 0-2 years

Purpose: Breastfeeding rates in the USA are collected via mail or telephone surveys, which are prone to recall bias and poor response rates. In order to more accurately determine feeding practices within our urban, racially and socioeconomically diverse patient population, we initiated the use of Milk Box, a question integrated into the EMR that captures milk feeding type at each patient visit from birth to age 2. Methods: We added the Milk Box tool into a flowsheet item in the EMR used by an …
Chlorine inhalation induces acute chest syndrome in humanized sickle cell mouse model and ameliorated by postexposure hemopexin

Abstract Triggering factors of Acute Chest Syndrome (ACS) is a leading cause of death in patients with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) and targeted therapies are limited. Chlorine (Cl2) inhalation happens frequently, but its role as a potential trigger of ACS has not been determined. In this study, we hypothesized that Cl2 exposure resembling that in the vicinity of industrial accidents induces acute hemolysis with acute lung injury, reminiscent of ACS in humanized SCD mice. When exposed to Cl2 (500 ppm for 30 min), 64% of SCD mice succumbed within 6 h while none of the control mice expressing normal human hemoglobin died (p
Modeling Large-Scale Manipulation in Open Stock Markets

This article studies the feasibility of using a botnet to automate stock market manipulation, incorporating data from U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission case files, security surveys of online retail brokerage accounts, and dark web marketplace listings.
Impact of a deep learning model to reduce variation and costs of federally mandated breast density legislation.

1550Background: Dense breast tissue is an independent risk factor for malignancy and can mask cancers on mammography. Yet, radiologist-assessed mammographic breast density is subjective and varies ...
Community Making: An Expansive View of Curriculum

Making as a term has gained attention in the educational field. It signals many different meanings to many different groups, yet is not clearly defined. This project’s researchers refer to making as a term that bears social and cultural impact but with a broader more sociocultural association than definitions that center making in STEM learning. Using the theoretical lenses of critical relationality and embodiment, our research team position curriculum as a set of locally situated activities that are culturally, linguistically, socially, and politically influenced. We argue that curriculum emerges from embodied making experiences in specific interactions with learners and their communities. This study examines multiple ways of learning within and across seven community-based organizations who are engaged directly or indirectly in making activities that embedded literacy, STEM, peace, and the arts. Using online ethnography, the research team adopted a multiple realities perspective that positions curriculum as dynamic, flexible, and evolving based on the needs of a community, its ecosystems, and the wider environment. The research team explored making and curricula through a qualitative analysis of interviews with community organizers and learners. The findings provide thick descriptions of making activities which reconceptualize making and curriculum as living and responsive to community needs. Implications of this study expand and problematize the field’s understanding of making, curriculum, and learning environments.
Speech-language Pathology Approaches to Neurorehabilitation in Acute Care During COVID-19: Capitalizing on Neuroplasticity.

Neurologic manifestations associated with a COVID-19 diagnosis are common and often occur in severe and critically ill patients. In these patients, the neurologic symptoms are confounded by critical care conditions, such as acute respiratory distress syndrome. Patients with dual diagnoses of COVID-19 and neurologic changes such as myopathy, polyneuropathy, and stroke are likely at a higher risk to experience deficits with swallowing, communication, and/or cognition. Speech-language pathologists are an integral part of both the critical care and neurological disorders multi-disciplinary teams, offering valuable contributions in the evaluation, treatment, and management of these areas. Patients in intensive care units (ICUs) who require mechanical ventilation often experience difficulty with communication and benefit from early speech-language pathology intervention to identify the most efficient communication methods with the medical team and caregivers. Moreover, patients with neurologic manifestations may present with cognitive-linguistic impairments such as aphasia, increasing the need for communication-based interventions. Difficulties with voice and swallowing after extubation are common, often requiring frequent treatment sessions, possibly persisting beyond ICU discharge. After leaving the ICU, patients with COVID-19 often experience physical, cognitive, and mental health impairments collectively called post-intensive care syndrome. This is often a lengthy road as they progress toward full recovery, requiring continued speech-language pathology treatment after hospital discharge, capitalizing on the principles of neuroplasticity. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Improving building performance at urban scale with a framework for real-time data sharing

This paper describes work in progress toward an urban-scale system aiming to reduce energy use in neighboring buildings by providing three components: a database for accessing past and present weather data from high quality weather stations; a network for communicating energy-saving strategies between building owners; and a set of modeling tools for real-time building energy simulation.
Propane Utilization by Microorganisms

Publisher Summary Propane is of widespread occurrence in petroleum deposits and represents 1–2% of natural gas. It is of considerable advantage as a raw material in the fermentation industry as it is low in cost, yields a weight increase on conversion proportional to the amount of oxygen incorporated, and is relatively insoluble in water, so that the unused gaseous substrate could readily be recycled in continuous fermentations. Some of the strains that utilize propane include Mycobacterium rhodochrous strains OFS, Mycobacterium convolutum strain R-22, and M. rhodochrous strain OC2A. The yield from propane and ethane, on a gram per gram substrate basis, is quite high and in line with results for methane-utilizing organisms. Studies show that considerably greater growth can be attained with a continuous flow of propane or butane into the system. Propane has been reported to effectively inhibit bacterial spore germination. Propylene is readily converted to acrylic acid by propane-utilizing bacteria and acrylic acid is an effective inhibitor of fatty acid synthesis.
Community Development and Education: A Tripod Approach To Improving America.

Education plays an important role in community development initiatives. A movement toward an increased linkage between the two arenas has emerged. Two major theories undergird this movement: economic/investment and the ecology of community revitalization. The Clinton administration's Empowerment Zone/Enterprise Community program offers a concrete example of a community development initiative. Preliminary reports on educational components from sites nationwide are highlighted. In addition, a review of the literature reveals several major issues that surround these community development activities, including values conflicts, economic sustainability, school improvement, trust, and administrative issues. Overall, the purpose of this paper is to bring into focus the major theoretical and practical issues that community development efforts confront in attempting to improve the lives of Americans in need.
The influence of somatosensory cortex on climbing fiber responses in the lateral hemispheres of the rat cerebellum after peripheral tactile stimulation

This report describes the temporal relationship between the latency of responses to peripheral stimulation in primary somatosensory (SI) cerebral cortex and the timing of climbing fiber inputs to the lateral hemispheres of the rat cerebellum. Examined in the tactilely responsive regions of crus IIa in the rat, the results show that SI influences the timing of both evoked and spontaneous climbing fiber activity in these cerebellar regions without affecting the rate or probability of complex spike discharge. By reversibly blocking SI activity, we demonstrate that the absence of cortical input results in a lengthening of climbing fiber response latency to peripheral stimuli. Similarly, enhancing the cortical input by subthreshold electrical stimulation of SI results in a shortening of climbing fiber response latency. These results provide a new explanation for the tendency of the inferior olive to oscillate at 7-12 Hz and is consistent with the hypothesis that the inferior olive provides the cerebellum information about the timing of cortical computational cycles. Results are discussed in the context of previous and current hypotheses concerning the physiology and function of the inferior olive/climbing fiber system and are interpreted to provide additional evidence of a role for the cerebellum in the tactile somatosensory system.
Regulation of basal LC20 phosphorylation by MYPT1 and CPI-17 in murine gastric antrum, gastric fundus, and proximal colon smooth muscles.

Background Myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) and myosin light chain phosphatase (MLCP) govern myosin light chain (LC20) phosphorylation and smooth muscle contraction. Rho kinase (ROK) inhibits MLCP, resulting in greater LC20 phosphorylation and force generation at a given [Ca2+]i. Here, we investigate the role of ROK in regulating LC20 phosphorylation and spontaneous contractions of gastric fundus, gastric antrum, and proximal colon smooth muscles. Methods Protein and phosphorylation levels were determined by western blotting. The effects of Y27632, nicardipine, and GF109203X on phosphorylation levels and contraction were measured. Key Results γ-Actin expression is similar in all three smooth muscles. LC20 and pS19 are highest, but ROK1 and ROK2 are lowest, in antrum and proximal colon smooth muscles. LZ +/− myosin phosphatase targeting subunit 1 (MYPT1), CPI-17, and pT696, pT853, and pT38 are highest in fundus and proximal colon smooth muscles. Myosin phosphatase-rho interacting protein (M-RIP) expression is lowest in fundus, and highest in antrum and proximal colon smooth muscles. Y27632 reduced pT853 in each smooth muscle, but reduced pT696 only in fundus smooth muscles. Nicardipine had no effect on pT38 in each smooth muscle, while GF109203X reduced pT38 in proximal colon and fundus smooth muscles. Y27632 or nicardipine reduced pS19 in proximal colon and fundus smooth muscles. Y27632 or nicardipine inhibited antrum and proximal colon smooth muscle spontaneous contractions, but only Y27632 reduced fundus smooth muscle tone. Zero external Ca2+ relaxed each smooth muscle and abolished LC20 phosphorylation. Conclusions & Inferences Organ-specific mechanisms involving the MLCP interacting proteins LZ +/− MYPT1, M-RIP, and CPI-17 are critical to regulating basal LC20 phosphorylation in gastrointestinal smooth muscles.
Pattern recognition based identification of nitrated explosives

We report an effective approach for the identification of nitro explosives by the reaction of an electron-acceptor with an electron-donor with and without the addition of γ-cyclodextrin (γ-CD). A charge-transfer complex was prepared in acetonitrile by the reaction of the nitro explosive TNT as an electron acceptor with the donor N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine (TMPD). The complex TNT/TMPD converts gradually into TNT˙−/TMPD˙+ in water with 5% acetonitrile by volume. The inclusion behavior of TNT˙−/TMPD˙+ with γ-CD was studied by UV-visible spectroscopy. The effect of α- and β-CD with TNT˙−/TMPD˙+ was also studied. Similar experiments were also carried out for RDX˙−/TMPD˙+ with γ-CD. The binding of TNT˙−/TMPD˙+ and RDX˙−/TMPD˙+ with γ-CD were compared for the application of the complexes in a sensor array. Subsequently, the visible absorption spectra of nitro explosives as analytes, such as TNT, RDX, HMX and Tetryl with TMPD in the presence and absence of γ-CD, were measured with time. We worked with the same analytes with a second electron donor tetrakis(dimethylamino)ethylene (TDAE) using 96-well plate experiments. Pattern recognition analysis was applied to analyze the data collected and it showed successful discrimination of the nitro explosives. This work represents the simplest colorimetric chemical sensor technique to be used in monitoring the range of common nitro explosives.
Some studies on the photo-initiated cationic polymerisation of epoxides

Abstract Several triarylsulphonium and diaryliodonium compounds have been synthesised. Alkylarylsulphonium compounds were obtained by alkylating diaryl sulphides with trialkyloxonium salts and by reaction of diaryl sulphides with alkyl halides in the presence of silver tetrafluoroborate. Photolysis of the sulphonium salts in methanol gave diaryl sulphides and, in the case of triarylsulphonium compounds, the appropriate aromatic hydrocarbon and its methyl ether. Diaryliodonium tetrafluoroborates and pentafluorophosphates gave aryl fluorides, biaryls and aromatic hydrocarbons. The decomposition of the salts is suggested as occurring via both free radical and ionic pathways. The ability of the compounds to sensitise the polymerisation of epoxy resins was found to be dependent upon the counterion (hexafluorophosphates being more efficient than tetrafluoroborates) and upon the structure of the cation. Sensitised cationic initiated polymerisation was also investigated and it was found that both excited singlet state and triplet state sensitisers were effective.
ELECTRON SCATTERING FROM DEFORMED NUCLEI.

A general phenomenological theory is developed for the calculation of both elastic and inelastic transverse and longitudinal form factors for electron scattering from nuclei whose surfaces are deformed according to the expression $R+{(4\ensuremath{\pi})}^{\frac{1}{2}}{\ensuremath{\Sigma}}_{\mathrm{lm}}{\stackrel{^}{a}}_{\mathrm{lm}}{Y}_{\mathrm{lm}}(\stackrel{^}{\mathcal{r}})$. Here, the ${\stackrel{^}{a}}_{\mathrm{lm}}$ are operators in the nuclear Hilbert space, whose detailed dynamical character is left unspecified. The effects of deformation on the scattering, to any desired accuracy, are contained in reduced matrix elements of tensor products of the ${\stackrel{^}{a}}_{\mathrm{lm}}$. These are then treated as phenomenological parameters whose values are to be fixed from an analysis of the scattering cross sections, particularly at high momentum transfer. All the static and transition multipole moments of the nucleus are thereby determined, at least in principle. The Helm model and its generalization to transverse scattering are obtained in the small-deformation limit. The theory is used to analyze the Coulomb elastic and inelastic (to the 1.3-MeV ${\frac{3}{2}}^{+}$ level) scattering of electrons from $^{59}\mathrm{Co}$, as well as the magnetic elastic and inelastic scattering from $^{10}\mathrm{B}$. It is shown that the contribution of the deformation to elastic monopole scattering may be interpreted as due to an effective, oscillatory, spherically symmetric "modulating-charge" distribution, superimposed upon the more usual smeared uniform distribution. It is therefore suggested that the oscillations in the charge distribution which seem to be required in order to fit the high-energy elastic scattering from $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}$ and other nuclei may be due to deformations.
The role of intertrial interval in the learning of two simple avoidance tasks

Rats were trained to avoid shock in either a jump-up or a one-way running situation with intertrial intervals of 20 min to 3 h for different groups. The rats with the shorter intervals learned quickly and performed well, but those with the longer intervals showed little learning. The performance of control rats suggests that these decrements occur because, with the longer intervals, the apparatus becomes a safe place.
2:20 The osteogenic activity of 14 types of bone morphogenic proteins

Abstract Purpose of study: Although several bone morphogenic proteins (BMPs) have been shown to enhance bone healing and spinal fusion, the optimal BMPs or combination of BMPs to promote fusion are unknown. This study was designed to comprehensively elucidate the distinct and potentially synergistic osteogenic activity of 14 types of BMPs at various stages of osteogenesis. Methods used: Recombinant adenoviruses expressing 14 human BMPs (ie, BMP-2 to BMP-15) were constructed and used to infect both pluripotent mesenchymal progenitor C3H10T1/2 cells and committed osteoblastic C2C12 cells. The osteogenic activity was determined by measuring the induction of alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin and matrix mineralization on BMP stimulation. of findings: BMP-2, -4, -6, -7 and -9 significantly induced alkaline phosphatase activity in C2C12 osteoblastic cells. BMP-5, -8, -10, -11, -12 and -13 exerted weak induction of alkaline phosphatase. However, only BMP-2, -6 and -9 significantly induced alkaline phosphatase activity in C3H10T1/2 pluripotent cells, although weak induction by BMP4 and 7 was detected. Histochemical staining assays demonstrated that BMP-6 and -9 induced the greatest increase in alkaline phosphatase staining, whereas BMP-2 and -4 (and BMP-7 to lesser extent) induced a modest increase in alkaline phosphatase activity in C2C12 cells. BMP-2, -6 and -9 significantly induced osteocalcin expression (ie, a late marker of osteogenesis) in C3H10T1/2 cells, and BMP-4 and -7 slightly increased osteocalcin expression. In C2C12 cells osteocalcin expression was strongly induced by BMP-2, -4, -6, -7 and -9, whereas BMP-5, -10 and -14 slightly induced expression. Mineralized nodules were readily detected in the C3H10T1/2 cells infected with BMP-2, -6 and -9 vectors (and, to lesser extent, with BMP-4 -7 and -10). Finally, we observed strong synergistic effects among the BMPs that had an ability to activate the osteogenic markers. Interestingly, a strong synergistic effect on osteogenesis was detected in cells stimulated by BMP-5 plus -10, BMP-5 plus -12, BMP-5 plus -13, BMP-7 plus -10 or BMP-7 plus -13. Relationship between findings and existing knowledge: We have conducted a comprehensive analysis of the osteogenic activity of 14 types of BMPs in osteoblastic progenitor cells and demonstrated that BMP-2, -6 and -9 are the most potent osteogenic factors, whereas BMP-4 and -7 exhibit reasonably strong osteoinductive activity. Further, certain combinations of BMPs exert a strong synergy on osteogenesis. Overall significance of findings: These findings have important implications for the development of effective new formulas for bone healing and spine fusion. Disclosures: No disclosures. Conflict of interest: Tong-Chuan He, grant research support.
Bacterial contamination of needles used for intravitreal injections: a prospective, multicenter study.

Purpose: To determine the incidence of bacterial contamination of needles used for intravitreal injections.Methods: Patients undergoing intravitreal injections were enrolled prospectively. No pre-injection antibiotics were administered. Following povidone–iodine irrigation, conjunctival cultures were taken and the injection was performed. The needle was cultured. A dry control needle was exposed to the surgical field and cultured.Results: No patients developed endophthalmitis. Eighteen injection needles (18%) yielded positive bacterial growth. The most commonly encountered organisms were Propionibacterium acnes (n = 8) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (n = 6). Four control needles showed positive growth, in 2 cases with the same organism as a matching positive used needle. The difference between contamination rates of used and control needles was significant (p = .002, McNemar’s test).Conclusions: Bacterial contaminants are present on a substantial proportion of needles. Since the needle contacts both the o...
Spontaneous atherosclerosis: an ultrastructural study in the white Carneau pigeon.

The atherosclerotic lesions, associated with the celiac intimal smooth muscle cushions, of four and five year old White Carneau pigeons were studied with the light and electron miscroscopes. Light microscopic examination of the spontaneous lesions demonstrated large intimal cushions composed of smooth muscle, abundant collagen, clusters of foam cells and cholesterol crystal clefts. Ultrastructural examination of the intimal atheroma revealed dilatations between apposing endothelial cells which contained a flocculent material, similar to that seen in the subendothelial space. The subendothelial compartment contained abundant collagen, extracellular lipid, vesiculated material and cell processes which contained a flocculent matrix and tubular-like elements. In addition, fibroblast-like interlaminar cells were often observed. Numerous intimal smooth muscle cells were seen which displayed varied morphology. Abundant foam cells were also present within the intimal atheromas. The presence of atherosclerotic lesions in preexisting intimal smooth muscle cushions suggests that hemodynamic factors may be important in the progression of these spontaneous lesions. Endothelial cell dilatations may provide an important route of transport for circulating elements which may accumulate within the subendothelial space. Morphologically, it appears that the smooth muscle cells undergo modification and may represent the precursors of foam cells in this species.
IL-2 gene therapy of solid tumors: An approach for the prevention of signal transduction defects in T cells

The identification of tumor-associated antigens has focused attention on the mechanisms that underlie the failure of T cells to destroy tumor cells. A deeper understanding of the process of signal transduction following the binding of ligand by the T cell receptor can help to identify underlying defects that may be involved. Gene therapy using tumor cells genetically modified to express cytokines or surface determinants is a promising technique for stimulating antitumor responses. A potential pitfall in its application to cancer, however, is that some patients' T cells are immune suppressed and may resist stimulation by such genetically engineered vaccines. Recent studies have demonstrated that T cells from tumor-bearing patients exhibit abnormalities in signal transduction events, possibly rendering them unable to respond to activation signals. Gene therapy with interleukin 2 secreting tumor cells in an animal model has been shown effective in preventing the onset of signaling defects. A more precise definition of the molecular mechanisms that enable cytokine-secreting tumor cells to stimulate specific antitumor responses may make it feasible to optimize immunotherapeutic approaches resulting in better clinical results.
Pelvic applications of MR-guided high intensity focused ultrasound

MR-guided high intensity focused ultrasound (MRg HIFU) is a novel method of tissue ablation that incorporates high energy focused ultrasound for tissue heating and necrosis within an MR scanner that provides simultaneous stereotactic tissue targeting and thermometry. To date, MRg HIFU has been used primarily to treat uterine fibroids, but many additional applications in the pelvis are in development. This article reviews the basic technology of MRg HIFU, and the use of MRg HIFU to treat uterine fibroids, adenomyosis, and prostate cancer.
Coloration, Paternity, and Assortative Mating in Western Bluebirds

Coloration in birds can act as an important sexual signal in males, yet in many species, both sexes display bright colors. Social selection may account for this pattern, with more brightly colored individuals pairing together on the best territories. Mutual mate choice may also explain this, as males investing a great deal of parental care in the offspring should be choosy about their social mates. It is less clear whether this pattern of mate choice can apply to extra-pair partners as well. We examined western bluebirds (Sialia mexicana) to determine whether more colorful individuals tended to pair with one another, both in social pairs and between females and their extra-pair partners. Both male and female western bluebirds display both UV-blue structural plumage and a melanin-based chestnut breast patch, although females are duller than males. Social pairs mated assortatively with regard to UV-blue brightness, but not chestnut coloration. There was no evidence that extra-pair partners mated assortatively, but males with brighter UV-blue coloration had fewer extra-pair offspring in their nests. Older males were more successful at siring extra-pair offspring, despite displaying no differences in coloration compared to younger males. Coloration did not play a role in determining extra-pair male success. These results suggest that coloration plays a role in the formation of social pairs, but not mate choice for extra-pair partners.
Complex blind source separation: optimal nonlinearity and approximation

This paper discusses the performance of complex blind source separation via the EASI algorithm. In particular, we show that the optimum amplitude nonlinearity used in the algorithm can be derived from the sources' distribution. In addition, this nonlinearity can be further approximated by a piecewise constant quantizer to reduce the complexity of the system. These results are obtained with an approach based on the magnitude-phase representation of complex signals and a circularly symmetric source PDF assumption. However, in the QAM signal separation case where this assumption is not true, the optimum nonlinearity and its approximation derived will still deliver good performances if a good amplitude PDF model is matched to the QAM source distribution.
U.S. Government information and the Nicaraguan revolution 1979–1989: An assessment of bias☆

Abstract The internal effects of the Nicaraguan revolutionary reconstruction, 1979–1989, are compared and contrasted with the portrayal of these effects in a sampling U.S. government documents. Special attention is given to U.S. Department of State documents aimed at influencing public opinion. That the revolution had some clearly positive effects on Nicaraguan society is concluded, but weaknesses and contradictions in the ideology and the programs of the revolution are exposed. It is suggested that much contemporaneous U.S. government information on the topic served a propagandizing function.