cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CT of pancreatic neoplasms. Part I: Adenocarcinoma.

Abstract Adenocarcinoma of the pancreas has been one of the most formidable diseases of the past half century, consistently ranking among the leading causes of death from cancer in the industrialized world. The profound diagnostic difficulties that characterized this neoplasm during the early decades of that era have largely given way to radiologic advances of recent decades. Daunting therapeutic challenges persist, however, as few individuals in whom this common form of pancreatic cancer develops are aware of their illness before the disease has advanced beyond the stage of curability. The benefits of recent diagnostic break-throughs in pancreatic adenocarcinoma are nonetheless immense. Although their proportion remains disappointingly small, an increasing number of persons owe their lives to the detection of pancreatic carcinoma at a stage amenable to complete surgical resection. Far more patients benefit from timely detection, accurate staging, and nonsurgical biopsy of an unresectable neoplasm. Still more, perhaps, benefit from the confident exclusion of pancreatic cancer as a source of worrisome symptoms. The goal of this discussion is to help the radiologist achieve full diagnostic potential in examining patients who have, or who are suspected to have, adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. As the leading method in the diagnostic advance on pancreatic cancer, computed tomography (CT) is given predominant attention. The principles of diagnostic interpretation, however, are based on an understanding of the neoplasm itself. In that respect, the manifestations of pancreatic adenocarcinoma as displayed by CT are in large measure just as pertinent to any other worthwhile method of pancreatic imaging.
KDD CUP-2005 report: facing a great challenge

The KDD-Cup 2005 Competition was held in conjunction with the Eleventh ACM SIGKDD International Conference on Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining. The task of the KDD-Cup 2005 competition was to classify 800,000 internet user search queries into 67 predefined categories. This task is easy to understand, but the lack of straightforward training set, subjective user intents of queries, poor information in short queries, and high noise level make the task very challenge.In this paper, we summarize the competition task, the evaluation method, and the results of the competition. Here we only highlight some key techniques used in submitted solutions. The technical details of the solutions from the three award winning teams are available in their papers separately in this issue of SIGKDD Explorations. At the end, we also share the results of a survey conducted with this year's Cup participants. To facilitate research in this area, the task description, data, answer set, and related information of this KDD-Cup are published at the KDD-Cup 2005 web site: http://www.acm.org/sigs/sigkdd/kdd2005/kddcup.html.
Enlightened Witnesses: Providing Trauma-Reducing Interventions to Juvenile Sexual Offenders within a Maximum Security Prison

Working with adolescents with trauma in their background can be a complex ordeal in any setting. Working therapeutically with traumatized juvenile sexual offenders can also be filled with challenges that require the clinician to be creative in their handling of the client. The clinician must play an active role with the client's larger environment and help the juvenile and their family or caretakers strive for more consistency and gentleness while the young person works through their childhood issues. When the environment in which the therapeutic intervention takes place is also frequented by numerous interruptions, violent possibilities, and chaotic and unpredictable procedures therapeutic interventions can cause even the most seasoned of clinicians to worry that any intervention they apply will be fruitless and a desire to “give up” and return to the safety of private practice. In this article, I will first explore the prison environment and the everyday practices of running such an institution as well ...
Investigation of the mode of inheritance of the HLA associated diseases by the method of antigen genotype frequencies among diseased individuals.

Statistical features of the method of antigen genotype frequencies among the diseased, for single and multiple disease associations at a locus, will be presented. A methodology to determine when a true intermediate mode of inheritance can be distinguished from strict recessive or additive inheritance will be developed. The effect of sporadics and ascertainment bias on the observed antigen genotype frequencies will be investigated. Data on ankylosing spondylitis, multiple sclerosis and dermatitis herpetiformis are very close to expectations for an additive (or dominant) mode of inheritance for the HLA-linked disease-predisposing gene, and data on hemochromatosis, insulin dependent diabetes mellitus and celiac disease are close to recessive expectations. If an intermediate model does apply in any of these cases, it must be an intermediate model that is fairly close to a strict recessive or dominant model, as appropriate. DR data for insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) strongly indicate that there are two separate “disease” alleles, which exhibit negative complementation, predisposing individuals to IDDM, where the mode of inheritance of the “disease” alleles considered separately is close to recessive. In general, this method cannot rule out the existence of sporadics or a second disease-predisposing gene, when the penetrance values over the two disease-predisposing genes are strictly additive, for diseases showing agreement with additive (or dominant) modes of inheritance.
Increased expression of the INK4a/ARF locus in polycythemia vera

The retinoblastoma (Rb), cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK), and CDK inhibitor genes regulate cell generation, and deregulation can produce increased cell growth and tumorigenesis. Polycythemia vera (PV) is a clonal myeloproliferative disease where the mechanism producing increased hematopoiesis is still unknown. To investigate possible defects in cell-cycle regulation in PV, the expression of Rb and CDK inhibitor gene messenger RNAs (mRNAs) in highly purified human erythroid colony-forming cells (ECFCs) was screened using an RNase protection assay (RPA) and 11 gene probes. It was found that RNA representing exon 2 of p16INK4a and p14ARF was enhanced by 2.8- to 15.9-fold in 11 patients with PV. No increase of exon 2 mRNA was evident in the T cells of patients with PV, or in the ECFCs and T cells from patients with secondary polycythemia. p27 also had elevated mRNA expression in PV ECFCs, but to a lesser degree. Because the INK4a/ARF locus encodes 2 tumor suppressors, p16INK4a and p14ARF with the same exon 2 sequence, the increased mRNA fragment could represent either one. To clarify this, mRNA representing the unique first exons of INK4a and ARF were analyzed by semiquantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction. This demonstrated that mRNAs from the first exons of both genes were increased in erythroid and granulocyte-macrophage cells and Western blot analysis showed that the INK4a protein (p16INK4a) was increased in PV ECFCs. Sequencing revealed no mutations of INK4a or ARF in 10 patients with PV. p16INK4a is an important negative cell-cycle regulator, but in contrast with a wide range of malignancies where inactivation of the INK4a gene is one of the most common carcinogenetic events, in PV p16 INK4a expression was dramatically increased without a significant change in ECFC cell cycle compared with normal ECFCs. It is quite likely that p16INK4a and p14ARF are not the pathogenetic cause of PV, but instead represent a cellular response to an abnormality of a downstream regulator of proliferation such as cyclin D, CDK4/CDK6, Rb, or E2F. Further work to delineate the function of these genes in PV is in progress.
Image-Guided Convection-Enhanced Delivery Platform in the Treatment of Neurological Diseases

Convection-enhanced delivery (CED) of substances within the human brain is becoming a more frequent experimental treatment option in the management of brain tumors, and more recently in phase 1 trials for gene therapy in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Benefits of this intracranial drug-transfer technology include a more efficient delivery of large volumes of therapeutic agent to the target region when compared with more standard delivery approaches (i.e., biopolymers, local infusion). In this article, we describe specific technical modifications we have made to the CED process to make it more effective. For example, we developed a reflux-resistant infusion cannula that allows increased infusion rates to be used. We also describe our efforts to visualize the CED process in vivo, using liposomal nanotechnology and real-time intraoperative MRI. In addition to carrying the MRI contrast agent, nanoliposomes also provide a standardized delivery vehicle for the convection of drugs to a specific brain-tissue volume. This technology provides an added level of assurance via visual confirmation of CED, allowing intraoperative alterations to the infusion if there is reflux or aberrant delivery. We propose that these specific modifications to the CED technology will improve efficacy by documenting and standardizing the treatment-volume delivery. Furthermore, we believe that this image-guided CED platform can be used in other translational neuroscience efforts, with eventual clinical application beyond neuro-oncology and PD.
The relationships of sediments, life and water in a marine basin

Abstract Benthic animals are essentially absent at the deepest part of Santa Barbara Basin where the oxygen content of the bottom water is very low and where hydrogen sulphide is present in surface layers of the sediments. Past periods of similarly barren seafloor in the area are recorded by the presence of laminated sediments in cores. These periods are alternated with others when benthic megafauna was sufficiently abundant to mix and homogenize the sediments. The presence or absence of benthic megafauna in the basin appears to be controlled by small differences in the content of oxygen in bottom waters. It is inferred that periodically oxygen contents greater than 0·1 ml/l result from the inflow of larger than ordinary quantities of new basin water, which in turn is permitted by greater than normal mixing of basin waters by standing internal waves.
The cost-effectiveness of a trial of labor accrues with multiple subsequent vaginal deliveries

Objective The purpose of this study was to estimate costs and outcomes of subsequent trials of labor after cesarean delivery (TOLAC) compared with elective repeat cesarean deliveries (ERCD). Study Design To compare TOLAC and ERCD, maternal and neonatal decision analytic models were built for each hypothetic subsequent delivery. We assumed that only women without previa would undergo TOLAC for their second delivery, that women with successful TOLAC would desire future TOLAC, and that women who chose ERCD would undergo subsequent ERCD. Main outcome measures were maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity rates, direct costs, and quality-adjusted life years. Values were derived from the literature. One-way and Monte-Carlo sensitivity analyses were performed. Results TOLAC was less costly and more effective for most models. A progression of decreasing incremental cost and increasing incremental effectiveness of TOLAC was found for maternal outcomes with increasing numbers of subsequent deliveries. This progression was also displayed among neonatal outcomes and was most prominent when neonatal and maternal outcomes were combined, with an incremental cost and effectiveness of –$4700.00 and .073, respectively, for the sixth delivery. Net-benefit analysis showed an increase in the benefit of TOLAC with successive deliveries for all outcomes. The maternal model of the second delivery was sensitive to cost of delivery and emergent cesarean delivery. Successive maternal models became more robust, with the models of the third-sixth deliveries sensitive only to cost of delivery. Neonatal models were not sensitive to any variables. Conclusion Although nearly equally effective relative to ERCD for the second delivery, TOLAC becomes less costly and more effective with subsequent deliveries.
Primordial metamorphism of asteroids via electrical induction in a T Tauri-like solar wind

Possible heating mechanisms for an intense thermal cycle in the early solar system are considered, and inductive asteroid heating in a T Tauri environment is examined. Calculations of thermal models based on recent measurements of the electrical conductivity of carbonaceous meteorites are reported which are presumably more representative of actual conditions in the early solar nebula. Asteroidal thermal evolution is computed using a highly simplified code that restricts induction to the dc limit of the TM mode, approximates the complete unipolar-generation differential equation by a simple series-resistance model, and restricts the modeling of thermal conduction to a calculation of heat transfer across a thin planar shell of given thickness increasing with time, which blankets a body assumed to have an isothermal core. A grid of results is obtained for 20 combinations of asteroid radius and solar distance representing the populaton of asteroids. It is found that there is a relative heating maximum with respect to body radius, that this effect is due to the operation of two distinct heating-rate restrictions which have opposite radius dependences, and that the maximum current density is roughly proportional to the inverse of interior radius.
Systematic molecular genetic analysis of congenital sideroblastic anemia: evidence for genetic heterogeneity and identification of novel mutations.

Background Sideroblastic anemias are heterogeneous congenital and acquired bone marrow disorders characterized by pathologic iron deposits in mitochondria of erythroid precursors. Among the congenital sideroblastic anemias (CSAs), the most common form is X-linked sideroblastic anemia, due to mutations in 5-aminolevulinate synthase (ALAS2). A novel autosomal recessive CSA, caused by mutations in the erythroid specific mitochondrial transporter SLC25A38, was recently defined. Other known etiologies include mutations in genes encoding the thiamine transporter (SLC19A2), the RNA-modifying enzyme pseudouridine synthase 1 (PUS1), a mitochondrial ATP-binding cassette transporter (ABCB7), glutaredoxin 5 (GLRX5), as well as mitochondrial DNA deletions. Despite these known diverse causes, in a substantial portion of CSA cases a presumed genetic defect remains unknown.
Growth and characterization of copper nanoclusters embedded in SiC matrix

Abstract Nanocrystalline copper clusters embedded in silicon carbide were made by island growth during sputter deposition. The distribution and morphology of metal clusters were observed by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. To investigate chemical bonding at the copper–silicon carbide interface, we studied the electronic states of copper and silicon using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). It was found that the formation of copper silicide was suppressed in this system and that small shifts in binding energy were observed for different sizes of clusters, which was different from the chemical shift for copper silicide formation.
Normalization, Cold Dark Matter, and Large-Scale Velocities

The normalization process used to predict large-scale velocities is examined. In this study, a standard model is assumed, and the quasi-linear evolution of the rms value of density perturbation is calculated. The calculation of the quasi-linear growth of density perturbations using the Zel'dovich (1970) approximation is described. The data reveal that, when the rms value of the density perturbations equals 1, the standard normalization overestimates the normalization constant, the amplitude of the velocity field, and the microwave background anisotropies. The quasi-linear calculations are applied to cold and hot dark matter models. 30 references.
Energy source for auroral electrons from two proposed substorm onset processes

[1] There are two main processes in the tail that are proposed to link electron precipitation for the initial brightening auroral arc at substorm onset. These are current disruption/dipolarization (CDD) and magnetic reconnection (MR). To provide further clues in differentiating these two processes, we examine the electron energy spectrum and the associated total field-aligned energy flux during six CDD events and compare them with five MR events. Data from the Active Magnetospheric Particle Tracer Explorers/Charge Composition Explorer (AMPTE/CCE), Geotail, and Time History of Events and Macroscale Ineractions during Substorms (THEMIS) missions are used in this study. It is found that (1) the total field-aligned electron energy flux from CDD sites is generally high enough to account for the energy flux required to produce bright auroral arcs at substorm onsets and (2) the total field-aligned electron energy flux from MR sites is generally a factor of one to two orders of magnitude lower than that from CDD sites. These results favor a direct link between the CDD sites and the substorm onset arcs, but they do not rule out further acceleration of auroral electrons away from these sites by other energy sources (e.g., field-aligned potential drops and kinetic Alfven waves) to produce even higher-intensity auroral arcs.
Gape limitation and piscine prey size‐selection by yellow perch in the extreme southern area of Lake Michigan, with emphasis on two exotic prey items

The trophic linkage between yellow perch Perca flavescens and two exotic prey items, alewife Alosa pseudoharengus and round goby Neogobius melanostomus, was investigated in the extreme southern area of Lake Michigan during the summer of 2002. Yellow perch >100mm total length, LT (n = 1293) exhibited size selective feeding, with 148 fish containing round gobies and 120 fish containing alewives. The mean round goby L T , preyed on by yellow perch, was 23% of the predator L T , with a range of 7 to 47%, and mean alewife L T was 32% of yellow perch L T , with a range of 18 to 46%. Although the selection of prey size by yellow perch increased proportionally with yellow perch L T , prey consumed appeared smaller than theoretically possible based on gape size.
The Citizenships: Local, State, and National

The contemporary city is regarded as an almost trivial affair, a weak and subordinate polity with an open economy. Though recognized as a tragic site of important events, it is esteemed to have little power to affect the lives of its inhabitants for good or ill. Its leaders are largely reduced to seeking handouts from superior governments. This low estate for the city is of long standing, commencing with the Greek city-state's loss of independence. Yet the city of the Hellenistic monarchies and the Roman Empire played a vital role. As Max Weber (1962) maintained, the modern nation-state battered down the walls of the city. But society cannot do without cities and their civilizing mission. If one agrees with Aristotle that the informing principle of the polity is its conception of the good life, that conception will be found most truly embodied in the city, which alone enables its inhabitants to live a full life.
Incorporating Competition into the APV Technique for Valuing Leveraged Transactions

According to a recent survey, the discounted cash flow approach is the valuation technique most widely used by companies evaluating acquisition targets. But because the DCF approach is inappropriate when the capital structure is changing during the forecast period, many analysts turn to the adjusted present value (APV) approach, which can easily accommodate a changing capital structure. Still, the finance literature has not shown how to incorporate assumptions about the effect of competition in the post-forecast period into an APV analysis. This paper provides two new tools for calculating horizon values with changing leverage and competition. First, it provides a new model, based on more realistic assumptions, for valuing a growing annuity of free cash flows when ROIC is expected to decline due to competition. Second, it provides a model for valuing tax shields that correctly incorporates the impact of competition in the post-forecast period. When used together with the APV approach, these two new tools allow an analyst to estimate the value of a company with a changing capital structure that faces competition in the post-forecast period.
Influence of solidification variables on the microstructure, macrosegregation, and porosity of directionally solidified Mar-M247

Abstract The solidification microstructure is critical in determining the amount and distribution of porosity that develops during the freezing of castings. As the solidification velocity V s increases, the microstructural length scales (primary and secondary dendrite arm spacings) decrease; thus (1) the mushy zone permeability would be expected to decrease; and (2) nucleated pores would be increasingly isolated. Although the first effect would tend to increase the observed porosity, the second effect would tend to decrease the porosity. To better understand these competitive mechanisms, a series of controlled unidirectional solidification experiments were performed on bars of nickel-base superalloy Mar-M247. Samples were produced with constant dendrite arm spacing throughout an extended length of each cast bar. The axial thermal gradient and withdrawal velocity imposed on each casting were varied between castings to produce a range of microstructures from aligned cellular dendritic to aligned dendritic to mis-aligned dendritic. Macrosegregation effects along the lengths of the bars were evaluated and the resultant impact upon the density along the length of each casting was also characterized. The density measurements were found to be very sensitive to both (1) compositional macrosegregation in these castings and (2) internal porosity. Statistical analyses of microporosity in the castings were based upon metallographic measurements. The development of microporosity in the unidirectionally solidified castings is shown to be dependent upon the hydrogen gas content of the samples and the imposed solidification velocity through the sample's cast microstructures. An optimum intermediate withdrawal velocity of 0.005–0.01 cm s −1 was found, which led to closely spaced dendrite arms, a large number of very small pores and a minimum total porosity level. Lower velocities lead to increased porosity from larger pores whereas higher velocities lead to macroporosity due to centerline shrinkage.
Thin layer chromatography in studies of cereal lipids

Verderb im Getreidekorn konnte chemisch charakterisiert werden durch Herabsetzung nichtpolarer und polarer Lipide, Bildung freier Fettsauren und rasches Verschwinden von wenigstens 5 Ninhydrinoder Dragendorff-positiv polaren Lipiden. Der Abbau der polaren Lipide erfolgte rascher und intensiver als die Bildung freier Fettsauren oder das Verschwinden der Triglyceride. Wahrend des Lagerungsverfalls von Weizen werden mindestens 4 Bestandteile gebildet, wie Autofluoreszenz unter ultraviolettem Licht erkennen lies. Freie Fettsauren verschwanden und. Triglyceride wurden wahrend der Reife der Weizencaryopse gebildet. Carotinoidfarbstoffe verschwanden mit der Entwicklung und Reife der Weizencaryopse. Studien an einzelnen Caryopsen des reifenden Weizens liesen eine Zunahme der Monogalactosylglyceride, der Digalactosylglyceride und des Phosphatidylcholins erkennen. Die Endospermlipide des Weizens waren mengenmasig reicher an polaren Lipiden als die Kleie oder der Keimling. Digalactosylglycerid ist hauptsachlich im Endosperm lokalisiert. Der Sitz des Phosphatidylcholins ist in den ausseren Schichten der Weizencaryopse. Phosphatidylcholin und wahrscheinlich Phosphatidylserin verschwinden wahrend der Keimung. Spros und Wurzel von keimenden Weizencaryopsen enthalten mengenmasig mehr an einer Mischung von Hydrocarbonen und Sterolestern und freien Fettsauren aber weniger von Triglyceriden als die Caryopsen selbst. La deterioration des grains est accompagne d'une diminution des lipides polaires et non polaires, de la formation d'acides gras libres et de la disparition rapide d'au moins 5 lipides polaires donnant des reactions positives a la ninhydrine et du Dragendorff. L'hydrolyse des lipides polaires est plus rapide, plus complete que la formation d'acides gras libres ou la disparition des triglycerides. Au cours de la deterioration du ble stocke, au moins 4 composes se forment, qui montrent une auto-fluorescence en lumiere ultraviolette. Les acides gras libres disparaissent et les triglycerides se forment au cours de la maturation du ble. Les pigments carotenoides disparaissent lorsque le grain de ble se developpe et murit. L'etude de grains de ble individuels en cours de maturation revele une augmentation des monogalactosylglycerides, des digalactosylglycerides et de la phosphatidylcholine. Les lipides de l'endosperme du ble sont notablement plus riches en lipides polaires que ceux du son ou du germ. Les digalactosylglycerides sont localises principalement dans l'endosperme; la phosphatidylcholine se situe dans les couches peripheriques du grain. La phosphatidylserine et probablement la phosphatidylserine disparaissent durant la germination. La plumule, les racines du ble germe contiennent notablement plus de melange et d'esters d'hydrocarbones de sterides, et d'acides gras libres et moins de triglycerides que les grains eux-memes.
Development of the motor system: Effects of radiation on developing corticospinal neurons and locomotor function

Abstract Corticospinal (CS) neurons demonstrated by retrograde axonal HRP from the cord in adult rats were concentrated in a minor rostral band in area 10, projecting to the cervical cord, and a major caudal band, areas 3, 4, and 6, projecting as far as lumbar levels. The gap between the bands contained CS neurons projecting to the cervical cord only until age 2 weeks, but if the caudal band was ablated, the projections persisted. The problems investigated were (i) How would CS neurons develop postnatally and be distributed in rats prenatally irradiated on the 12th, 14th, 15th (150 R), or 17th day (150 or 200 R)? and (ii) Would answers to the foregoing help establish correlations between the development of structural and motor abnormalities? Most 12th-day-irradiated rats showed normal locomotion on difficult paths and nearly normally developing brain and cord structure, but rare CS neurons had bifurcated apical dendrites. Fourteenth and 15th-day rats had a thin cortex, a large subcortical ectopia, a malformed spinal cord, and a hopping gait. They showed diminished numbers of CS neurons in the cortex with persistent gap CS neurons, and CS neurons in the ectopia that mirrored those in the cortex. Hopping seemed to be generated in the cord, but supraspinal influences require further study. Seventeenth-day rats usually showed disordered locomotor rhythm and inability to adapt it to difficult paths, suggesting impairment of corticostriatal circuits. Some rats also showed inability to place limbs and feet during locomotion on difficult terrain, which resembled that following ablation of areas 3, 4, and 6. Dorsal cortex, including area 10, the chief source of corticostriatal projections in the rat, and areas 3, 4, and 6, was most severely malformed. Discrepancies between functional results of ablating area 10 and malforming it with radiation led us to suggest that abnormal thalamocortical and cortical wiring, for which there was evidence, as well as deficits, might be responsible for the abnormal locomotion.
Tourette's Syndrome: A Model Neuropsychiatric Disorder

CASE REPORT Anthony and Brian (not their real names) are monozygotic (MZ) twins who were born by normal spontaneous vaginal delivery at full term following an unremarkable pregnancy. Labor lasted 3 hours, with Brian born by breech delivery 8 minutes after Anthony, who was born head first. Both twins were healthy at birth, Brian weighing 3000 g and Anthony 3254 g. Their neurodevelopmental milestones were normal and neither had learning disabilities or problems with hyperactivity, anxiety, phobias, or memory. From about 2 years of age, Brian was felt to be easily distracted and his gross motor skills also appeared to be less refined. Brian developed motor tics at age 6 years with eye blinking as the presenting symptom, and vocal tics began with sniffing at age 9 years. Anthony developed motor tics at age 7 years with eye blinking as the presenting symptom. He has never manifested vocal tics. The
Video-EEG monitoring in a geriatric veteran population.

Summary:Video-EEG monitoring is a standard tool to evaluate possible seizures. However, there are limited data available for the elderly population, and no data are available for the elderly veteran population. The records of 71 veterans ages 60 and older who underwent video-EEG monitoring at the Mi
Separation of current and spin contributions to isovector M 1 excitations by means of the ( e , e ′ ) and ( p , n ) reactions

The orbital current and spin contributions to isovector $M1$ excitations in light nuclei are studied microscopically by combining information from inelastic electron scattering at small momentum transfers with that obtained from recent measurements of ($p$,$n$) cross sections at forward angles. The ($p$,$n$) reaction is studied within the distorted-wave approximation using a $G$-matrix interaction and shell model wave functions and the ($e$,${e}^{\ensuremath{'}}$) scattering is calculated in a plane wave approximation.NUCLEAR REACTIONS Charge exchange scattering, ${E}_{p}=62$ MeV, cross sections; inelastic electron scattering; targets $^{12}\mathrm{C}$, $^{24}\mathrm{Mg}$, $^{28}\mathrm{Si}$.
Amygdala Inputs to the Prefrontal Cortex Elicit Heterosynaptic Suppression of Hippocampal Inputs

Whereas cooperative communication between the hippocampus (HP) and prefrontal cortex (PFC) is critical for cognitive functions, an antagonistic relationship may exist between the basolateral amygdala (BLA) and PFC during emotional processing. As PFC neurons integrate information from converging excitatory BLA and HP inputs, we explored whether the ability of BLA inputs to evoke feedforward inhibition in the PFC affects converging HP synaptic inputs using in vivo intracellular recordings in anesthetized rats. BLA train stimulation decreased HP synaptic responses in the PFC in vivo. This effect was dependent on the timing of HP-evoked responses and the strength of BLA activation. BLA train stimulation also produced heterosynaptic suppression of responses from the amygdalo-piriform cortex, an associative temporal cortical structure. Heterosynaptic suppression was unidirectional as HP trains failed to modify BLA synaptic responses. These findings provide a mechanism by which BLA activation could decrease PFC neural activity and transiently attenuate the HP influence on PFC function.
Expression of the Lycat gene in the mouse cardiovascular and female reproductive systems.

The Lycat homologue in zebrafish maps to the deletion interval of the cloche mutant in which hematopoietic and endothelial cell lineages are affected. However, its definitive relationship to cloche is inconclusive, partly due to inadequate expression data of Lycat from any organisms. We precisely examined the temporal and spatial expression patterns of Lycat in mouse using RNA in situ hybridization, immunostaining, and BAC transgenesis. Lycat is initially expressed in developing heart, lung, and somites, and later becomes progressively restricted to all vascular smooth muscle cells. In adult ovaries, Lycat turns on in oocytes during the transition from primary to secondary follicles. Expression of the Lycat/reporter transgene in the extraembryonic mesoderm, cardiogenic mesoderm, and primitive streak, but not extraembryonic endoderm at E7.5, suggests its potential roles in regulating cardiac, smooth muscle, hematopoietic and endothelial lineages. Promoter mapping assay by transient transgenesis identifies a novel cardiac-specific regulatory region in the Lycat locus. Developmental Dynamics 239:1827–1837, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Communication-aware distributed PSO for dynamic robotic search

The use of swarm robotics in search tasks is an active area of research. A variety of algorithms have been developed that effectively direct robots toward a desired target by leveraging their collaborative sensing capabilities. Unfortunately, these algorithms often neglect the task of communicating possible task solutions outside of the swarm. Many scenarios require a monitoring station that must receive updates from robots within the swarm. This task is trivial in constrained locations, but becomes difficult as the search area increases and communication between nodes is not always possible. A second shortcoming of existing algorithms is the inability to find and track mobile targets. We propose an extension to the distributed Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm that is both communication-aware and capable of tracking mobile targets within a search space. Simulated experiments show that our algorithm returns more accurate solutions to a monitoring station than existing algorithms, especially in scenarios, where the target value or location changes over time.
An Unusual Case of Chronic Otorrhea

Aman inhis 70spresentedwith a5-year historyof a right tympanic membraneperforationandintermittentpainlessotorrheathatcleared withmedicalmanagement.Hehad required theuseof a hearing aid inthatearforthepast4years.Physicalexaminationrevealedadrytympanicmembraneperforationwith noevidenceof active drainageor granulation tissue in theearcanalormiddleear.Audiometry findings revealedseveretoprofoundmixedconductiveandsensorineuralhearing loss on the right side. Therewere no neurologic deficits. Acomputed tomographic (CT) scandemonstratedamixed lytic and sclerotic lesion with temporal bone infiltration and encroachmentof theossicles (Figure, A).Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) distinguished between the diffusely enhancing lesion and underlying trapped fluid within the middle ear. There was a dural-based nodular enhancing component of the lesion (Figure, B). The patient was brought to the operating room for transmastoidbiopsy. Findings revealeda soft red to tan tissue filling themastoid antrumwith dural erosion. Hematoxylin-eosin–stained sections of the specimen revealed amoderately cellular neoplasm incohesive lobules andwhorls,with fibroustissueandfragmentsof lamellarbone.Tumorcellshadroundto-ovoid nuclei with punctate nucleoli, intranuclear cytoplasmic pseudoinclusions, and eosinophilic cytoplasm. (Figure, C). There were concentrically laminated calcospherites. Brain invasion,mitoses, and necrosis were absent. Immunohistochemical analysis revealedmembranous reactivity for epithelialmembraneantigenand nuclear reactivity for proliferationmarkerKi-67 in 3%to4%of cells (Figure, D). What is your diagnosis? A B
Imaging of skull-base cephalocoeles and cerebrospinal fluid leaks

Skull-base cephalocoeles and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks may be congenital, spontaneous, or secondary. A classification of congenital lesions is formulated and the imaging features are illustrated. The concept of spontaneous skull-base CSF leaks and the significance of aberrant arachnoid granulations in imaging these patients are explored. The majority of secondary lesions relate to trauma; however, other potential causes of secondary skull-base cephalocoeles and CSF leaks are discussed. Imaging evaluation in these clinical scenarios may be complex and the role of each imaging method is reviewed.
Statistical methods applicable to counting experiments and evaluation of experimental data

Abstract In an experiment a sequence of operations is performed that results in the collection, interpretation, and transmission of information on a topic of interest. Statistical methodology may be used to help in increasing the efficiency of collection, in checking the validity of interpretation, and in editing the presentation of results. Some such concepts and methods that are useful to counting experiments, and essential to the operations of standards and calibration laboratories, will be discussed.
Temperature measurements and dissociation of shock-compressed liquid deuterium and hydrogen

Temperatures of shock compressed liquid deuterium and hydrogen up to 5200 K were measured at pressures up to 83 GPa (830 kbar). The measurements are in excellent agreement with earlier calculations to about 20 GPa and show evidence for dissociation above 20 GPa. At the highest measured temperatures and pressures current theories break down and a revised theory is proposed.
Identifying Counseling Needs of Nulliparous Adolescent Intrauterine Contraceptive Users: A Qualitative Approach

Abstract Purpose To describe the intrauterine contraception (IUC) adoption process among nulliparous adolescents and to identify the role of the medical provider in this trajectory. Methods We conducted semistructured interviews with a clinic-based sample of 20 nulliparous adolescents (aged 15–24 years) with a history of IUC use. Interviews were analyzed using modified grounded theory and cross-case analysis to reveal a process model for IUC adoption, with a focus on the role of the medical provider. Results The model includes the following stages: first awareness, initial reaction, information gathering, adoption, and adjustment and reassessment. It is influenced by personal preferences and experiences, friends, family, sexual partner(s), and medical providers. Interactions with medical providers that study participants found helpful in navigating the adoption process included the use of visuals; tailored counseling to address specific contraceptive needs; assurance that IUC discontinuation was an option; information on a wide range of side effects; medical provider self-disclosure regarding use of IUC; and addressing and validating concerns, both before and after IUC insertion. Conclusions Nulliparous adolescents in this study described a complex IUC adoption process in which the medical provider plays a substantial supportive role. Findings from this study may be used to counsel and support future nulliparous adolescents regarding IUC use.
Chromatography of tobacco mosaic virus on a cellulose cation exchange adsorbent.

CHROMATOGRAPHIC procedures for tobacco mosaic virus using filter paper sheets1,2 and starch columns3 have been reported. Recently, cellulose ion-exchange adsorbents have been used for the chromatographic separation of serum proteins4,5.
Percolation Critical Polynomial as a Graph Invariant

Every lattice for which the bond percolation critical probability can be found exactly possesses a critical polynomial, with the root in $[0,1]$ providing the threshold. Recent work has demonstrated that this polynomial may be generalized through a definition that can be applied on any periodic lattice. The polynomial depends on the lattice and on its decomposition into identical finite subgraphs, but once these are specified, the polynomial is essentially unique. On lattices for which the exact percolation threshold is unknown, the polynomials provide approximations for the critical probability with the estimates appearing to converge to the exact answer with increasing subgraph size. In this paper, I show how this generalized critical polynomial can be viewed as a graph invariant, similar to the Tutte polynomial. In particular, the critical polynomial is computed on a finite graph and may be found using the recursive deletion-contraction algorithm. This allows calculation on a computer, and I present such results for the kagome lattice using subgraphs of up to 36 bonds. For one of these, I find the prediction ${p}_{c}=0.524\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}405\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}72\ensuremath{\cdots}$, which differs from the numerical value, ${p}_{c}=0.524\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}405\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}03(5)$, by only $6.9\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}7}$.
Reflections on the postmortem audit.

IN 1919, The Institute of Medicine of Chicago formed a committee on necropsies in the belief that "the interest of a hospital in necropsies is an important index of its efficiency in treating disease and of the grade of work done in the hospital." 2 For 69 years, this committee has compiled annual statistics on the frequency of autopsies in the metropolitan Chicago area. In 1967, Stenn 3 published a summary of the committee's activities and a graph illustrating the steady increase in autopsy rates in Chicago area hospitals over 50 years (Fig 1). From an overall rate of 11% in 1919, the number of necropsies performed in hospitals that reported had increased to 51.2% in 1965, when 14 506 postmortem examinations were performed on 28 350 patients who had died in the hospital. Stenn concluded that this interest in the postmortem audit meant that physicians were sincere in wanting
Recovering Cyclic Schedules Using Dynamic Produce-Up-To Policies

We consider facilities that follow a cyclic schedule to replenish the inventory of a set of items through production by a shared resource. We introduce a dynamic produce-up-to policy that recovers the target cyclic schedule after a single disruption, and is also shown to be effective when disruptions are more frequent. Our policy is more flexible than traditional recovery policies in that our policy is able to adjust the amount of idle time observed during recovery in response to disruptions, and yet re-establish the target idle time as the schedule recovers. This results in a policy that not only saves cost and time, but provides better schedule stability than other recovery procedures. Furthermore, unlike simple produce-up-to policies, our policy is anticipatory-replenishments will be speeded up or delayed, whichever is necessary, to help avoid congestion at the shared resource. In addition, recovery is controlled by a single "knob" or parameter that can tune recovery to be fast and aggressive (frequent setups and small batches) or slow and methodical (few setups and larger batches). Finally, our policy is easy to implement, augmenting a traditional produce-up-to policy with a simple set of counters that control replenishment decisions.
Use of SYTO 13, a fluorescent dye binding nucleic acids, for the detection of microparticles in in vitro systems

Microparticles (MPs) are small membrane-bound vesicles that are released from activated or dying cells by a blebbing process. These particles contain nuclear and cytoplasmic components and represent unique biomarkers for disease. The small size of particles, however, limits detection using flow cytometry with either light scatter or staining for surface markers. Because MPs contain DNA and RNA, we have explored the use of SYTO 13, a member of the class of SYTO dyes, for particle detection. SYTO 13 is cell permeable and has a high fluorescent yield when bound to DNA or RNA. In this study, we compared detection of MPs using either light scatter or SYTO 13 staining, testing the hypothesis that, with fluorescence detection with SYTO 13, problems of "noise" with light scatter are reduced and the range of MP sizes detected is increased. In these experiments, particles were obtained from lymphoid cell lines treated in vitro to undergo apoptosis. As these results showed, STYO 13 allowed the detection of 1.5-2.9 times as many particles as did light scatter. The increased sensitivity was observed with three different cell lines and was independent of inducing stimulus. Treatment of fixed and permeabilized MPs with DNase and RNase showed that SYTO 13 binding resulted from interaction with both DNA and RNA. Together, these findings indicate that the nucleic acid content of MPs provides the basis for their detection in in vitro systems and suggests the utility of fluorescent dyes like SYTO 13 for more sensitive quantitative assays.
Approximate Search on Massive Spatiotemporal Datasets

Efficient time series similarity search is a fundamental operation for data exploration and analysis. While previous work has focused on indexing progressively larger datasets and has proposed data structures with efficient exact search algorithms, we motivate the need for approximate query methods that can be used in interactive exploration and as fast data analysis subroutines on large spatiotemporal datasets. We formulate a simple approximate range query problem for time series data, and propose a method that aims to quickly access a small number of high quality results of the exact search result set. We propose an evaluation strategy on the query framework when the false dismissal class is very large relative to the query result set, and investigate the performance of indexing novel classes of time series subsequences.
Spatiotemporal Thermal Inhomogeneities During Compression of Highly Textured Zirconium

Using a focal plane array infrared camera, the heat generated during large strain compression (at a rate of 1 s−1) is used to study the characteristics of plastic flow for hcp zirconium. Heat generation during plastic flow in a reference material, copper, was seen to develop uniformly both at the lower (40 μm/pixel) and higher (8 μm/pixel) magnifications used in this study. The thermomechanical response of Zr, however, was seen to depend on the loading direction with respect to the specimen texture. Highly textured zirconium compressed along nonbasal oriented grains results in a homogeneous thermal response at both scales. However, compression along basal (0001) oriented grains shows evidence of inhomogeneous deformation at small strains that lead to macroscale localization and failure at large strains. The conversion of plastic work into heat is observed to be a dynamic process, both in the time-dependent nature of the energy conversion, but also in the passage of waves and ‘bursts’ of plastic heating. Basal compression also showed evidence of small scale localization at strains far below macroscale localization, even below 10%. These localizations at the lower strain levels eventually dominate the response, and form the shear band that is responsible for the softening of the macroscopic stress–strain curve.
Trajectories and keyframes for kinesthetic teaching: a human-robot interaction perspective

Kinesthetic teaching is an approach to providing demonstrations to a robot in Learning from Demonstration whereby a human physically guides a robot to perform a skill. In the common usage of kinesthetic teaching, the robot's trajectory during a demonstration is recorded from start to end. In this paper we consider an alternative, keyframe demonstrations, in which the human provides a sparse set of consecutive keyframes that can be connected to perform the skill. We present a user-study (n = 34) comparing the two approaches and highlighting their complementary nature. The study also tests and shows the potential benefits of iterative and adaptive versions of keyframe demonstrations. Finally, we introduce a hybrid method that combines trajectories and keyframes in a single demonstration.
Menkes's syndrome.

: Menkes's syndrome (trichopoliodystrophy) is an x-linked, recessive genodcrmatosis characterized by hair defects, severe retardation, convulsions, progressive neurologic deterioration, and early death. Recent studies in copper metabolism suggest that Menkes's syndrome may be a storage disease in which copper is irreversibly trapped in some tissues by metullothionein, a heavy-metal-binding protein. This then gives rise to a deficiency elsewhere, particularly in the brain, causing irreversible damage in the fetus. We present a patient with Menkes's syndrome and review the clinical and metabolic aspects of this disease.