cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evolving specialization of the arthropod nervous system

The diverse array of body plans possessed by arthropods is created by generating variations upon a design of repeated segments formed during development, using a relatively small “toolbox” of conserved patterning genes. These attributes make the arthropod body plan a valuable model for elucidating how changes in development create diversity of form. As increasingly specialized segments and appendages evolved in arthropods, the nervous systems of these animals also evolved to control the function of these structures. Although there is a remarkable degree of conservation in neural development both between individual segments in any given species and between the nervous systems of different arthropod groups, the differences that do exist are informative for inferring general principles about the holistic evolution of body plans. This review describes developmental processes controlling neural segmentation and regionalization, highlighting segmentation mechanisms that create both ectodermal and neural segments, as well as recent studies of the role of Hox genes in generating regional specification within the central nervous system. We argue that this system generates a modular design that allows the nervous system to evolve in concert with the body segments and their associated appendages. This information will be useful in future studies of macroevolutionary changes in arthropod body plans, especially in understanding how these transformations can be made in a way that retains the function of appendages during evolutionary transitions in morphology.
FREQUENCY DISCRIMINATION OF SHORT- VERSUS LONG-DURATION TONES BY NORMAL AND HEARING-IMPAIRED LISTENERS

This investigation explored the effects of stimulus level on the frequency discrimination of long- and short-duration pure tones by 5 subjects with normal hearing and 7 with sensorineural hearing i...
Drawing movements as an outcome of the principle of least action

Abstract According to the two-thirds power law the cube of the speed of a drawing movement is proportional to the radius of curvature of the trajectory, and the coefficient of proportionality has the meaning of mechanical power . We derive this empirical law from the variational principle known in physics as the principle of least action . It states that if a movement between two points of a given path obeys the two-thirds law, then the amount of work required to execute a trajectory in a fixed time is minimal. In this strict sense one may say that among infinitely many ways to execute a given path, the central nervous system chooses the most economical. We show that the kinematic equations for all drawing movements are solutions of a certain differential equation with a single (time-variable) coefficient. We consider several special cases of drawing movements corresponding to simplest forms of this coefficient.
A unified approach to the study of mutation, from bacteria to humans: some potentialities of the new DNA technologies.

Let me at the outset express my deep appreciation at the receipt of the Annual Award of the Environmental Mutagen Society. In the 27 years since this Award was established, it has recognized many persons for seminal contributions to the field of mutagenesis, and I am honored to join those previous recipients. I was impressed by how many different facets of the subject of mutagenesis they represented. Today, in the course of my brief remarks, I hope to direct attention to still another aspect of our complex field. As many of you know, for more than 50 years I have been involved in studies of spontaneous and radiation-induced mutation rates in humans. This work has been in collaboration with quite a number of American and Japanese colleagues, to whom I am very grateful and whose contributions will be recognized in the citations that follow. Now, my genetic roots were formed in the course of studies with two eminent Drosophilists, Warren P. Spencer and Curt Stern, and you can be certain that after my transition into human genetics and my involvement with the genetic effects of the atomic bombs, I have kept a close eye on developments in experimental radiation genetics, especially those involving the fruit fly and the mouse. Some 17 years ago, in the Wilhemina E. Key Lecture of the American Genetic Association [Neel, 1983], I attempted to compare spontaneous mutation rates in the fruit fly, the house mouse, and humans. It was a pretty unsatisfactory business, but what emerged was, to me, an apparent surprising similarity in the spontaneous mutation rates per gene per generation of these three species, considering the great differences in their life cycles. Then, some 9 years ago, Susan Lewis and I [Neel and Lewis, 1990] attempted to compare radiationinduced rates in humans and mice, and again it was a frustrating undertaking. Now the issue was to what extent did the genetic findings on radiation effects in humans agree with those on mice. This is a whole other story I do not propose to get into today, other than to comment that recent developments regarding mosaic mutation in mice [Russell and Russell, 1996] and the prevalence of cluster mutations in mice [Selby, 1998] seem to be bringing the estimates of the genetic doubling dose based on mice closer to the higher estimate based on the findings in Japan [Neel, 1999]. But today, rather than dwelling on the past, I propose to engage in a fantasy for the future. The fantasy emerges out of the truly amazing developments in molecular genetics and genomics over the past several decades. The fantasy involves the concept that we may soon be able to study comparative mutagenesis, both spontaneous and induced, at the DNA level, thus providing the ultimate basis for acrossspecies comparisons. As I say this, I realize that many EMS members have already been engaged in analyzing at the molecular level a variety of mutations detected through some phenotypic effect. I want to talk about a method of screening for mutations that begins at the molecular level.
Characterization of cores of assignment games

We consider the assignment game of Shapley and Shubik (1972). We prove that the class of possible cores of such games (expressed in terms of payoffs for players on one side of the market) is exactly the same as a special class of polytopes, called “45‡-lattices”. These results parallel similar work done by Conway (in Knuth, 1976) and Blair (1984) for marriage markets.
A nonlinear filter for film restoration and other problems in image processing

Abstract A filter is proposed for removing noise and other types of degradation. An application is explored to enhancement of frame sequences , motivated by the problem of film restoration for the movie industry. Experiments are performed on sequences from a degraded black and white copy of a recently released movie. Both temporal and spatial information are used in the restoration. Temporal information is obtained from the preceding unprocessed frame; spatial information enters by smoothing the current frame. The smoothing must be nonlinear in order to preserve boundaries.
RAIRS, TPD, and TOF-QMS study of the 248-nm photolysis of CH 3 I thin films on Ag(111)

The 248 nm photochemistry of methyl iodide thin films was studied using reflection absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS), temperature programmed desorption (TPD) and time-of-flight quadrupole mass spectrometry (TOF-QMS). The formation of two major photoproducts, CH2I2 and CH4, in the film was characterized by RAIRS and TPD. At all laser energies used in this study, CH3, I, and CH3I were ejected into the gas phase. The CH3 TOF distribution showed the signature of gas phase CH3I photodissociation dynamics--two sharp peaks corresponding to production of iodine atoms in the I (2P3/2) and I* (2P1/2) states. The TOF distributions of I and CH3I were fit to Maxwell-Boltzmann distributions corresponding to temperatures of 1400 K and 1170 K, respectively. The photochemistry of methyl iodide thin films can be understood in terms of photoprocess occurring in the film and at the film surface.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Pathophysiology of peptic ulcer

Summary Traditionally, all ulcerating lesions in the gastric duodenal mucosa have been considered as belonging to the single clinical entity of “peptic ulcer.” In this review the clinical and biologic arguments, supporting a classification of various types of peptic ulcer are discussed. Some etiologic concepts underlying each type of ulcer are reviewed.
Clinical research and global health: Mentoring the next generation of health care students

Interest in global health and opportunities to conduct clinical research at international sites have increased markedly for health profession trainees. With this increase in demand comes an increase in the need for mentors at international and home institutions to provide guidance with designing, implementing and analysing clinical research projects that benefit both the trainees and the research site. In this article, we provide an overview of our insights gained through mentoring in the international setting and suggest a series of key points to help ensure an enjoyable and productive international clinical research experience for both trainees and mentors.
On separability: Functional structure

Abstract Bliss' notion of nonstrict separability is shown to be the most general yet practical formulation of separability. This paper extends the classic theory of strict separability to nonstrict separability. Gorman's basic theorem for overlapping strictly separable groups of variables is generalized. With the generalized basic theorem on hand, Gorman's procedure for deducing functional structures can be extended for deducing the internal structure of a wider class of economic systems modelled by continuous functions. The generalized basic theorem also prepares for the joint characterization of the additively separable and Leontief functional forms.
Studies in the genus Maieta (Melastomataceae)

The intraspecific variation found withinMaieta guianensis Aublet is discussed, and a new variety,M. guianensis Aublet var.leticana Whiffin, is described. The variation found withinM. poeppigii Mart, ex Triana is compared to that withinM. guianensis, and a possible vegetative difference between the two species is discussed. A key to the taxa is provided.
Progress in natural laminar flow research

For decades, since the earliest attempts to obtain natural laminar flow (NLF) on airplanes, three classical objections to its practicality have been held in the aeronautical community. These objectives concerned first, the capability to manufacture practical airframe surfaces smooth enough for NLF; second, the apparent inherent instability and sensitivity of NLF; and third, the accumulation of contamination such as insect debris in flight. This paper explains recent progress in our understanding of the achieveability and maintainability of NLF on modern airframe surfaces. This discussion explains why previous attempts to use NLF failed and what has changed regarding the three classical objections to NLF practicality. Future NASA research plans are described concerning exploring the limits of NLF usefulness, production tolerances, operational considerations, transition behavior and measurement methods, and NLF design applications.
Operating Systems: A statistical model for console behavior in multiuser computers

The ability of a computer system to communicate with the outside world efficiently is as important as its ability to perform computations efficiently. It is quite difficult to characterize a particular user, but rather easy to characterize the entire user community. Based on the properties of this community we have postulated a hypothetical “virtual console.” No claim is made that a virtual console behaves like any actual console, but the entire collection of virtual consoles models the collection of actual consoles. Using the model we answer questions like: How many processes are suspended waiting for console input? What is the maximum rate at which a process can execute? What bounds can be set on overall buffer requirements? Answers to these and similar questions are needed in certain aspects of operating system design.
Expression of inducible cyclooxygenase mRNA in the mouse brain after systemic administration of bacterial lipopolysaccharide

Cyclooxygenase (COX) is an enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of prostaglandins and is one of the principle targets of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Two isoforms of this enzyme are known to exist in the brain; one of these (type 1 COX or COX1) is constitutively expressed, whereas the other form of the enzyme, which is inducible, has been called type 2 COX (COX2). We have used systemic administration of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as a model of the acute phase response to study the expression of COX2 in the murine CNS. We observed COX2 expression in neurons of several regions of the normal murine telencephalon. Robust expression of COX2 mRNA was induced in perivascular cells between 45 min and 6 h after LPS injection. The role of prostaglandins produced by these perivascular cells in the cerebral components of the acute phase response remains to be elucidated.
Zirconium phospho-sulfates with NaZr2(PO4)3-type structure

Abstract Two new crystalline zirconium phospho-sulfates, α- and β-Zr 2 (PO 4 ) 2 (SO 4 ) were prepared by the gel method followed by drying and calcining at controlled temperatures. Their X-ray patterns were indexed and their infrared spectra interpreted. They belong to the NaZr 2 P 3 O 12 or [NZP] structural family, and constitute the first example with S 6+ in the tetrahedral site.
A century of water supply expansion for ten U.S. cities

Abstract As population and water demand have grown, U.S. cities have responded by expanding their water supplies. This article traces this process over a century for ten U.S. cities. Most of the cities began by providing inexpensive local ground water. As the renewable supply capacity of local sources was exceeded, cities were forced to look further afield to obtain (or purchase) water (e.g., Marion, IL; Greensboro, NC), to access water from Federal projects (Tucson, AZ) or through international or interstate agreements (Waukesha, WI and Virginia Beach, VA), to combine with other localities in large joint projects (Greensboro, NC), or to use eminent domain to annex land for a new reservoir. This last approach has become increasingly limited by environmental statutes. The purchasing of water from other systems (Greensboro, NC) or water rights ( Tucson, AZ), aquifer storage and recovery systems (Tucson, AZ, Wichita, KS), and reclaiming wastewater for use in non-potable landscaping (Alamogordo, NM; Lubbock, TX; Tucson, AZ) are the more expensive options that cities are increasingly utilizing. Desalination represents the end of this process – expensive, but with a potential for enormous supply expansion that exceeds all likely demands. Demand management measures come into play only when the cost of securing additional water begins to exceed the cost of conservation or is induced by law. Reservoirs, well-fields, desalination plants, aquifer storage and recovery systems, and inter-basin water purchases have been abandoned because of the restrictions imposed by environmental laws or because less expensive demand-side options have been identified. The relationship between city size and its progression through these increasingly expensive water supply options is determined by local water resource endowments as determined by legal considerations and its physical geographic setting.
Automating clinically relevant prefetch processes in picture archiving and communciation systems solutions

As picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) hit the mainstream of projects gaining attention and priority in healthcare organizations, the promise of achieving better operational efficiencies in the radiology department is at the forefront of the financing discussions. Although some positive economic returns have been documented from the early proponents of PACS, most of the PACS installations are still working through operational changes in regards to digital image prefetching to achieve this objective. The lynchpin for achieving the desired operational efficiency is the enabling of an automated, clinically relevant prefetch process for comparison studies from the digital archives. This report explores the solutions deployed at two hospital systems in Minneapolis to utilize a “comparative region of interest” data element to augment the body region information typically available for prefetching in the PACS system. With this information, the prospective PACS implementer will know how to build in their body region requirements up-front in order to maximize their operational efficiency benefits later.
Immediate diagnosis of acute myocardial contusion by two-dimensional echocardiography: Studies in a canine model of blunt chest trauma

The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of two-dimensional echocardiography in the diagnosis of myocardial contusion resulting from blunt chest trauma. In 25 anesthetized dogs, blunt chest trauma was delivered to the right or left chest using a captive bolt pistol. Eighteen dogs survived. Two-dimensional echocardio-graphic recordings and myocardial perfusion determinations (microspheres) were performed before and 15 and 90 minutes after trauma. Pathologic examination confirmed and localized the extent of myocardial contusion. When trauma was delivered to the left side of the chest, two-dimensional echocardiographic and pathologic abnormalities were primarily in the anterolateral wall of the left ventricle; right chest trauma produced septal and right ventricular wall contusion. From short-axis two-dimensional echocardiographic recordings, the end-diastolic wall thickness and systolic function of regions that corresponded to areas of damage in anatomic sections were analyzed and compared with those of remote normal-appearing regions. The contused region showed increased end-diastolic wall thickness and impaired regional systolic function. Further, there was a visible increase in the echo brightness in the contused region. Regional perfusion was norma) and thus the functional impairment of the contused myocardium was not due to ischemia. Other abnormalities observed on the two-dimensional echocardiograms included pericardial effusion and discrete intramyocardial sonolucent zones due to hematomas. Contused myocardium can be identified on a two-dimensional echocardiogram by 1) increased end-diastolic wall thickness, 2) increased echo brightness, and 3) impaired regional systolic function. Two-dimensional echocardiography can also demonstrate other complications of cardiac trauma such as intramyocardial hematoma and hemopericardium.
Acyclic Nucleosides other than Acyclovir as Potential Antiviral Agents

Abstract In the past few years interest in the synthesis and biological properties of acyclic nucleosides has been generated based largely upon the development of acyclovir [9-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyll guanine, 1a] as an antiviral agent for the treatment of certain herpesvirus infections. The literature in the area covers a variety of different heterocycles, a variety of different side chains, and spans research that is strictly synthetic to research that is strictly biological. Two compounds, 9-[(2-hydroxy-l-(hydroxymethyl)ethoxy)methyl] guanine (1b) and 9-(S)-(2,3-dihydroxypropyl)adenine (2), have received the most attention, but many others have been made.
Role of polymer-clay interactions and nano-clay dispersion on the viscoelastic response of supercritical CO2 dispersed polyvinylmethylether (PVME)-Clay nanocomposites

Abstract Clay dispersion and polymer–clay interactions play a key role in producing property enhancements in nanocomposites; yet characterizing them in complex polymer–clay systems is often a challenge. Rheology can offer insights into clay dispersion and clay–polymer interactions. We have investigated the viscoelastic response for a series of supercritical CO2 (scCO2) processed polyvinylmethylether (PVME)/clay nanocomposites with varying polymer–clay interactions and nano-clay dispersion. PVME is used in this study because it is highly swellable in scCO2, thereby enabling processing of PVME/clay mixtures without the presence of a co-solvent. Since PVME and natural clay are water-soluble, highly dispersed PVME-clay nanocomposites were prepared using water, followed by lyophilization in the presence of polymer. In this ‘weakly interacting’, but highly dispersed systems, with clay loadings above the percolation threshold, terminal behavior was observed in the linear viscoelastic moduli (i.e. no low frequency plateau is observed). When the nanocomposites were processed in scCO2, with 15 wt% of 30B and I.30P, the WAXD patterns of the resultant nanocomposites were largely comparable, indicating partial dispersion, with intercalation peaks. However, the rheology of these two nanocomposites were significantly different despite similar inorganic volume loading (4 vol%). Even with less dispersion compared to the water-based system, the low-frequency moduli were significantly more enhanced, accompanied by a plateau, and a cross-over frequency shift. Neglecting the small differences in the actual clay content between these clays (4–5 vol% of inorganic matter), this suggests that rheology may be sensitive to strong interactions between the clay surfactant and the polymer. Therefore, polymer–clay interactions and clay–clay interactions may both be important in the ability to sustain a “so-called” percolated network, rather than just clay dispersion.
Crystallographic studies of cowpea mosaic virus by electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction.

The particle packing in a hexagonal crystal form of cowpea mosaic virus (CpMV) was determined using electron micrographs of thin-sectioned crystals and single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. The unusual packing is characterized by large open channels along the hexad axes and along the a- and b-crystallographic axes. The unit cell contains six particles situated on crystallographic twofold axes. Each particle has four nearest neighbors at 284 A. A crystal form of southern bean mosaic virus (SBMV) has the same c-axis projection as the CpMV crystals. Previously reported rotation function results from these crystals are reinterpreted and a new particle orientation is proposed for the SBMV crystals. By comparing the CpMV and SBMV crystal forms and considering the relationship between particle and crystal symmetry reported for other crystalline viruses an orientation for the CpMV virions is proposed. This orientation dictales that neighboring particles have icosahedral twofold axes approximately aligned with vectors connecting the particles centers.
A histochemical analysis of polyanionic compounds found in the extracellular matrix encountered by migrating cephalic neural crest cells

Neural crest cells destined to form craniofacial primordia initially are "seeded" into and subsequently migrate through the extracellular matrix (ECM) of a cell free space (CFS) between the surface ectoderm and the underlying mesoderm. Utilizing histochemical procedures for polyanionic compounds, we have demonstrated that both sulfated and nonsulfated glycosaminoglycans (GAG) are present in the CFS of the cephalic region of the chick embryo and that their distribution and structural organization vary with the passage of neural crest or mesodermally derived (MD) mesenchymal cells through it. In stages 7 and 8 embryos a predominance of fine filamentous strands composed primarily on nonsulfated, carboxyl-rich GAG is seen spanning intercellular spaces between adjacent tissues and MD mesenchymal cells. In older embryos (stages 9 and 10) much of the filamentous material is replaced by coarse fibrillar strands or amorphous material which coats the surfaces of MD mesenchymal and neural crest cells as they invade the CFS. Using enzymatic digestions (Streptomyces and testicular hyaluronidase) and the critical electrolyte concentration procedure, data suggest that the fine filamentous matrix onto which the neural crest cells migrate consists mainly of hyaluronate with lesser amounts of chondroitin and some sulfated GAG present. The coarse fibrillar matrix that appears after passage of either neural crest or MD mesenchymal cells through the original CFS contains strongly sulfated polyanionic material, predominantly chondroitin sulfates A, C. Since GAG is located ubiquitously within the ECM of embryos at various stages, the role of GAG, if any, in the transfer of developmental information may be of a general nature (ie. stimulus of motility) rather than of specific morphogenetic cues (for specific differentiation into craniofacial primordia).
Shame and Fantasy in Athletes and Dancers

We investigated the differences in internalized shame and fantasy proneness between a group of athletes (n = 99) and a group of dancers (n = 140). We wanted to examine Schoenleber and Berenbaum's m...
Vibration of bimodular sandwich beams with thick facings: A new theory and experimental results☆

Abstract This study deals with both analytical and experimental investigations of three-layer beams with cores of polyurethane foam and facings of unidirectional cord-rubber. Both of these materials are bimodular (i.e., having different behavior in compression as compared to tension). The new theory presented is a shear-flexible laminate version of the well-known Timoshenko beam theory, which, due to the bending-stretching coupling present in the bimodular case, results in a coupled sixth-order system of differential equations. In this theory, a separate derivation is presented for the shear correction factor. Due to the discontinuities in the normal stress distribution and the bimodularity, the shear correction factor is much different than the classical homogeneous material value of 5 6 . Theoretical and experimental results are presented for the frequencies of the first three modes of vibration for a pin-ended beam without axial restraint. This work is believed to be the first devoted to vibration of bimodular materials in a sandwich configuration.
The concept of a universal learning system as a basis for creating a general mathematical theory of learning

The number of studies related to natural and artificial mechanisms of learning rapidly increases. However, there is no general theory of learning that could provide a unifying basis for exploring different directions in this growing field. For a long time the development of such a theory has been hindered by nativists' belief that the development of a biological organism during ontogeny should be viewed as parameterization of an innate, encoded in the genome structure by an innate algorithm, and nothing essentially new is created during this process. Noam Chomsky has claimed, therefore, that the creation of a non-trivial general mathematical theory of learning is not feasible, since any algorithm cannot produce a more complex algorithm. This study refutes the above argumentation by developing a counter-example based on the mathematical theory of algorithms and computable functions. It introduces a novel concept of a Universal Learning System (ULS) capable of learning to control in an optimal way any given constructive system from a certain class. The necessary conditions for the existence of a ULS and its main functional properties are investigated. The impossibility of building an algorithmic ULS for a sufficiently complex class of controlled objects is shown, and a proof of the existence of a nonalgorithmic ULS based on the axioms of classical mathematics is presented. It is argued that a non-algorithmic ULS is a legitimate object of not only mathematics, but also the world of nature. These results indicate that an algorithmic description of the organization and adaptive development of biological systems in general is not sufficient. At the same time, it is possible to create a rigorous non-algorithmic general theory of learning as a theory of ULS. The utilization of this framework for integrating learning-related studies is discussed.
Ignition of Cellulose Nitrate by High Velocity Particles

Abstract Ignition of highly flammable surfaces by impinging particles has been studied using cellulose nitrate slabs as the model surface. Spherical particles with various initial temperatures and velocities were assumed to impact and imbed to a depth of one-half a diameter. Kinetic energy of impact is assumed converted to thermal energy absorbed by a shell of cellulose nitrate surrounding the imbedded particle. The heat transfer from the particle to the slab and to the surroundings, as well as the kinetics of chemical decomposition are considered in developing a mathematical model of the ignition process. One decomposition mechanism is considered between 140° and 190 °C, and a second above the latter temperature. The model equations are solved numerically to give temperature/time data from which the time to ignition can be estimated. The total energy of a particle is important in the ignition process. At velocities below a certain threshold the particle enthalpy (or temperature) determines if ignition wi...
Artificial neural network models of wheat leaf wetness

Abstract Most bacterial and fungal plant pathogens require free moisture for infection and reproduction so a disease forecasting model needs to estimate wetness duration on plant surfaces if direct measurement is unavailable. Artificial neural network (ANN) models with a backpropagation architecture were developed to predict wetness on wheat flag leaves using environmental variables recorded at 0.5 h intervals by an electronic datalogger. For comparison, multivariate discriminant and stepwise logistic models also predicted wetness, and dew periods were predicted with a classification tree-discrimination approach, a relative humidity indicator, and a physical model. ANN and logistic models correctly classified 93% and 90% of the validation cases and were more accurate than discriminant models. Many of the ANN errors occurred during times of dew onset or evaporation and were ≤ 1 h per event. Model accuracy for all methods improved 3–4% when input data from a wetness sensor positioned above vegetation were included. The average absolute error per night for prediction of dew period was 0.6 h for the classification-discrimination model, 0.8–1.1 h for ANN models, 1.2 h for a logistic model, 1.4 h for the physical model, and 2.1 h for the relative humidity index. ANN and logistic models thus performed well compared to previously developed models for prediction of dew duration and these models predicted leaf wetness from both dew and rain, an advantage for disease forecasting. Further improvements in ANN performance are possible, making the technique a viable research tool.
Testimony on Sexual Orientation Change Efforts

This paper details the author's testimony before the New Jersey State Senate in January 2013 on sexual orientation change efforts (SOCE). New Jersey was contemplating, and eventually passed, a law banning conversion therapy or SOCE for minors.
Incidence of and risk factors for posttransplant diabetes mellitus after pancreas transplantation

Posttransplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM) after pancreas transplantation (PTX) has not been extensively examined. This single center, retrospective analysis of 674 recipients from 1994 to 2005 examines the incidence of and risk factors for PTDM after PTX. PTDM was defined by fasting plasma glucose level > or =126 mg/dL, confirmed on a subsequent measurement or treatment with insulin or oral hypoglycemic agent for > or =30 days. The incidence of PTDM was 14%, 17% and 25% at 3, 5 and 10 years after PTX, respectively and was higher (p = 0.01) in solitary pancreas (PAN) versus simultaneous kidney pancreas (SPK) recipients (mean follow-up 6.5 years). In multivariate analysis, factors associated with PTDM were: older donor age (hazard ratio [HR] 1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03-1.06, p < 0.001), higher recipient body mass index (HR 1.07,CI 1.01-1.13, p = 0.01), donor positive/recipient negative CMV status (HR 1.65,CI 1.03-2.6, p = 0.04), posttransplant weight gain (HR 4.7,CI 1.95-11.1, p < 0.001), pancreas rejection (HR 1.94.CI 1.3-2.9, p < 0.001) and 6 month fasting glucose (HR 1.01,CI 1.01-1.02, p < 0.001), hemoglobin A(1)c, (HR 1.12,CI 1.05-1.22, p = 0.002) and triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein (TG/HDL) ratio (HR 0.94,CI 0.91-0.96, p < 0.001). This study delineates the incidence and identifies risk factors for PTDM after PTX.
Variation of the thickness and composition of lpe InGaAsP, InGaAs, and InP layers grown from a finite melt by the step-cooling technique

Constant composition InGaAsP and InGaAs epitaxial layers can be grown using the step-cooling technique. However, the requirement of a fixed growth temperature limits the maximum thickness that can be obtained. The thickness of InGaAsP (λg = 1.15 µm@#@), InGaAs (λg = 1.68 µm), and InP liquid phase epitaxial layers grown on (100) InP sub-strates by the step-cooling technique has been measured as a function of growth time. (λg is defined as the wave-length corresponding to the band gap of the epitaxial layer). For long growth times, the effect of the finite growth solution becomes important, and beyond a distinct growth time, constant composition growth can no longer be maintained. The maximum constant composition layer thick-ness obtainable is not severely restricted by the fixed growth temperature, and from the experimental results this maximum thickness can be estimated for any melt size.
Neuroendocrine Tumors of the Pancreas: Current Concepts and Controversies

In the past decade, the clinico-pathologic characteristics of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) in the pancreas have been further elucidated. Previously termed “islet cell tumors/carcinomas” or “endocrine neoplasms”, they are now called pancreatic NETs (PanNETs). They occur in relatively younger patients and may arise anywhere in the pancreas. Some are associated with von Hippel–Lindau, MEN1, and other syndromes. It is now widely recognized that, with the exception of tumorlets (minute incipient neoplasms) that occur in some syndromes like MEN1, all PanNETs are malignant, albeit low-grade, and although they have a protracted clinical course and overall 10-year survival of 60–70 %, even low-stage and low-grade examples may recur and/or metastasize on long-term follow-up. Per recent consensus guidelines adopted by both European and North American NET Societies (ENETS and NANETs) and WHO-2010, PanNETs are now graded and staged separately, unlike previous classification schemes that used a combination of grade, stage, and adjunct prognosticators in an attempt to define “benign behavior” or “malignant” categories. For staging, the ENETs proposal may be more applicable than CAP/AJCC, which is based on the staging of exocrine tumors. Current grading of PanNETs is based on mitotic activity and ki-67 index. Other promising prognosticators such as necrosis, CK19, c-kit, and others are still under investigation. It has also been recognized that PanNETs have a rather wide morphologic repertoire including oncocytic, pleomorphic, ductulo-insular, sclerosing, and lipid-rich variants. Most PanNETs are diagnosed by fine needle aspiration biopsy, in which single, monotonous plasmacytoid cells with fair amounts of cytoplasm and distinctive neuroendocrine chromatin are diagnostic. Molecular alterations of PanNETs are also very different than that of ductal or acinar tumors. Loss of expression of DAXX and ATRX proteins has been recently identified in 45 %. Along with these improvements, several controversies remain, including grading, value of current cutoff ranges, and the best methods for counting ki-67 index (manual count by computer-captured image may be the most practical for the time being). More important is the controversial use of the term “carcinoma”, which was previously employed in WHO-2004 only for invasive and metastatic cases but has now been made synonymous with grade 3 group of tumors. It is becoming clear that grade 3 group comprises two distinct categories: (1) differentiated but proliferatively more active tumors which typically have ki-67 indices in the 20–50 % range and (2) true poorly differentiated NE carcinomas as defined in the lung, with ki-67 typically >50 %. Further studies are needed to address these controversial aspects of PanNETs.
A randomized trial of buprenorphine maintenance for heroin dependence in a primary care clinic for substance users versus a methadone clinic

Abstract PURPOSE: Buprenorphine is an alternative to methadone for the maintenance treatment of heroine dependence and may be effective on a thrice weekly basis. Our objective was to evaluate the effect of thrice weekly buprenorphine maintenance for the treatment of heroin dependence in a primary care clinic on retention in treatment and illicit opioid use. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Opioid-dependent patients were randomly assigned to receive thrice weekly buprenorphine maintenance in a primary care clinic that was affiliated with a drug treatment program (n = 23) or in a traditional drug treatment program (n = 23) in a 12-week clinical trial. Primary outcomes were retention in treatment and urine toxicology for opioids; secondary outcomes were opioid withdrawal symptoms and toxicology for cocaine. RESULTS: Retention during the 12-week study was higher in the primary care setting (78%, 18 of 23) than in the drug treatment setting (52%, 12 of 23; P = 0.06). Patients admitted to primary care had lower rates of opioid use based on overall urine toxicology (63% versus 85%, P P = 0.02). Cocaine use was similar in both settings. CONCLUSIONS: Buprenorphine maintenance is an effective treatment for heroin dependence in a primary care setting.
Nephron proximal tubule patterning and corpuscles of Stannius formation are regulated by the sim1a transcription factor and retinoic acid in zebrafish

The mechanisms that establish nephron segments are poorly understood. The zebrafish embryonic kidney, or pronephros, is a simplified yet conserved genetic model to study this renal development process because its nephrons contain segments akin to other vertebrates, including the proximal convoluted and straight tubules (PCT, PST). The zebrafish pronephros is also associated with the corpuscles of Stannius (CS), endocrine glands that regulate calcium and phosphate homeostasis, but whose ontogeny from renal progenitors is largely mysterious. Initial patterning of zebrafish renal progenitors in the intermediate mesoderm (IM) involves the formation of rostral and caudal domains, the former being reliant on retinoic acid (RA) signaling, and the latter being repressed by elevated RA levels. Here, using expression profiling to gain new insights into nephrogenesis, we discovered that the gene single minded family bHLH transcription factor 1a (sim1a) is dynamically expressed in the renal progenitors—first marking the caudal domain, then becoming restricted to the proximal segments, and finally exhibiting specific CS expression. In loss of function studies, sim1a knockdown expanded the PCT and abrogated both the PST and CS populations. Conversely, overexpression of sim1a modestly expanded the PST and CS, while it reduced the PCT. These results show that sim1a activity is necessary and partially sufficient to induce PST and CS fates, and suggest that sim1a may inhibit PCT fate and/or negotiate the PCT/PST boundary. Interestingly, the sim1a expression domain in renal progenitors is responsive to altered levels of RA, suggesting that RA regulates sim1a, directly or indirectly, during nephrogenesis. sim1a deficient embryos treated with exogenous RA formed nephrons that were predominantly composed of PCT segments, but lacked the enlarged PST observed in RA treated wild-types, indicating that RA is not sufficient to rescue the PST in the absence of sim1a expression. Alternately, when sim1a knockdowns were exposed to the RA inhibitor diethylaminobenzaldehyde (DEAB), the CS was abrogated rather than expanded as seen in DEAB treated wild-types, revealing that CS formation in the absence of sim1a cannot be rescued by RA biosynthesis abrogation. Taken together, these data reveal previously unappreciated roles for sim1a in zebrafish pronephric proximal tubule and CS patterning, and are consistent with the model that sim1a acts downstream of RA to mitigate the formation of these lineages. These findings provide new insights into the genetic pathways that direct nephron development, and may have implications for understanding renal birth defects and kidney reprogramming.
Comparing health outcomes and point-of-use water quality in two rural indigenous communities of Baja California, Mexico before and after receiving new potable water infrastructure

One of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals is to reduce the global proportion of people who do not have access to safe drinking water. In the past, the typical strategy to reach this goal has been the use of investment-intensive centralized infrastructure development for water supplies. However, there is increasing evidence suggesting that improving water quality at the source does not guarantee safe water at point-of-use. This study examined water quality, waterborne disease incidence and water system use over time in two small rural indigenous communities of Baja California, Mexico, before and after drinking-water infrastructure improvements. Community Promotoras collected data on the incidence of gastrointestinal illness through face-to-face surveys . Concurrently, water samples from the old and new water sources and household water storage containers were analyzed for fecal coliforms. Although source water quality was significantly improved in both communities ( p < 0.05), neither community had a significant decrease in the level of contaminated drinking water sampled at the household level. No significant decrease in gastrointestinal illness was found after the improvements to the source water supply. These results indicate that point-of-use contamination and acceptance of the new sources may be a critical point for intervention when attempting to assure access to safe water, especially in rural communities.
Hydrodynamic parameters of diffused air systems

Abstract The influence of hydrodynamic parameters of diffused air systems on the oxygen transfer efficiency and the longitudinal dispersion of liquid in diffused air aeration wastewater treatment tanks have been evaluated using dimensional analysis, which involved the identification of significant parameters, development of equations to relate the dimensionless mass transfer and dispersion criteria with dimensionless hydrodynamic and geometric variables, and experimentation to determine the necessary numerical values for these equations. The developed relationships can be used as a guide for the design and optimization of aeration tanks.
Real-time Analysis of the Inside-out Regulation of Lymphocyte Function-associated Antigen-1 Revealed Similarities to and Differences from Very Late Antigen-4

Ten years ago, we introduced a fluorescent probe that shed light on the inside-out regulation of one of the major leukocyte integrins, very late antigen-4 (VLA-4, CD49d/CD29). Here we describe the regulation of another leukocyte integrin, lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1, CD11a/CD18) using a novel small fluorescent probe in real time on live cells. We found that multiple signaling mechanisms regulate LFA-1 conformation in a manner analogous to VLA-4. LFA-1 can be rapidly activated by Gαi-coupled G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and deactivated by Gαs-coupled GPCRs. The effects of Gαs-coupled GPCR agonists can be reversed in real time by receptor-specific antagonists. The specificity of the fluorescent probe binding has been assessed in a competition assay using the natural LFA-1 ligand ICAM-1 and the LFA-1-specific α I allosteric antagonist BIRT0377. Similar to VLA-4 integrin, modulation of the ligand dissociation rate can be observed for different LFA-1 affinity states. However, we also found a striking difference in the binding of the small fluorescent ligand. In the absence of inside-out activation ligand, binding to LFA-1 is extremely slow, at least 10 times slower than expected for diffusion-limited binding. This implies that an additional structural mechanism prevents ligand binding to inactive LFA-1. We propose that such a mechanism explains the inability of LFA-1 to support cell rolling, where the absence of its rapid engagement by a counterstructure in the inactive state leads to a requirement for a selectin-mediated rolling step.
Multiple mode large amplitude vibration of thick orthotropic circular plates

Abstract This paper is analytically concerned with the large amplitude vibration of thick orthotropic circular plates incorporating the effects of transverse shear and rotatory inertia. Von Karman-type field equations written in terms of the three displacement components of the plate are utilized to obtain solutions to clamped stress-free and immovable plates. By means of Galerkin's technique and a numerical Runge-Kutta procedure a multiple-mode analysis is carried out in both cases. Exact solutions are reported for two of the three governing equations. Effects of transverse shear deformation and modal interaction are found to be significant for orthotropic thick plates. The method given here could be extended to the multiple-mode analysis of circular plates with other boundary conditions.
Interaction of estrogen and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) in immature male chickens (Gallus domesticus)

Abstract The interaction of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and estrogen was studied in chickens to more clearly define this relationship in an avian species and its role in the enhanced sensitivity of female chickens to TCDD-induced wasting syndrome. Twenty male chickens (7–9 weeks old) were divided evenly into four groups: control (CTL, received the same volume of vehicle); estrogen-treated (E2, 1 mg/kg estradiol cypionate injections on days 1, 2 and 3); TCDD-treated (TCDD, single 50 μg/kg injection on day 4); and estrogen plus TCDD (E2+TCDD, as above), with measurements taken on day 14. The E2 group compared with the CTL group had decreased comb height (24%), comb length (26%) and adipose tissue (AT) lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity relative to AT mass (51%), while liver mass and body weight gain were each increased by 28%. The TCDD group had increased liver mass (62%), reduced comb length (17%), and reduced AT LPL activity indexed to AT mass (70%) compared with the CTL group. Finally, the E2+TCDD group had 37% lower body weight gain and 30% larger livers relative to body mass compared with the E2 group, but were not significantly different from the TCDD group. These data show that TCDD antagonized several effects of exogenous estrogen in male chickens, while estrogen enhanced TCDD toxicity in a tissue-specific manner.