cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Symbolic target detection in SAR imagery via rotationally invariant-weighted feature extraction

This article introduces the application of a physics-based symbolic image partitioning method to detect targets in synthetic aperture radar SAR imagery. ‘Targets’ in this case refer to vehicular objects which produce a distinct radar return pattern, and have spatial characteristics that are known a priori. The proposed Rotationally Invariant Symbolic Histogram RISH detection method co-analyses both target and speckle statistics, and significantly reduces computational requirements by partitioning the data into a discrete number of state representations. RISH requires only one pass for robust detection, unlike other SAR detection methods which rely on difference metrics calculated using multiple passes. To improve performance in high-resolution data, RISH uses a weighted feature extraction algorithm to avoid the common requirement of processing each pixel of the image equally. The weighted structure extracts geometrically undefined and rotationally invariant target features. This article details the analysis of 24 experimentally obtained very high-frequency VHF-band SAR magnitude images using this novel approach to SAR target detection. In localizing small ~8.4 m2 foliage-concealed targets, without the aid of pre-processing, this method results in high performance characteristics 90% true positive with a low Type-II error rate of 6.4 false alarms per 1 × 106 m2. With the addition of change detection, RISH lowers the error rate by 85%.
Oilseed protein solubility after exposure to hydrogen peroxide

Cucurbitin, a physicochemically typical oilseed storage protein from pumpkin and other cucurbits, was treated with 20% H2O2 for periods up to 36 h to determine the length of exposure needed to render it water-soluble. Maximum solubility was reached in 8 h from virtual insolubility and started decreasing after about 12h. These results not only indicate that H2O2 was effective in rendering oilseed protein water-soluble and can be used to prepare several ratios of soluble-to-insoluble protein products, but also show the lengths of exposure needed to obtain the required solubilities.
Compartmentalization of amino acids in surfactant aggregates - Partitioning between water and aqueous micellar sodium dodecanoate and between hexane and dodecylammonium propionate trapped water in hexane

Cationic amino acids, arginine and lysine partition differentially from water into aqueous micellar sodium dodecanoate. Conversely, partitioning of serine, glycine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, threonine, alanine, proline, valine, leucine, phenylalanine and isoleucine do not vary appreciably. Partitioning from neat hexane into dodecylammonium propionate trapped water in hexane is, however, dependent upon both electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions. These results imply that the interior of dodecylammonium propionate aggregates is negatively charged and is capable of hydrogen bonding in addition to providing a hydrophobic environment. The solubilities of amino acids in neat hexane substantiate the previously derived amino acid hydrophobicity scale. Relevance of partitioning in these systems to the postulated selective amino acid compartmentalization is discussed.
Activin Increases Phosphorylation and Decreases Stability of the Transcription Factor Pit-1 in MtTW15 Somatotrope Cells

Activin is a polypeptide growth factor which exerts endocrine, paracrine, and autocrine effects in a variety of tissues. In the pituitary somatotrope, activin represses proliferation and growth hormone (GH) biosynthesis and secretion. We previously demonstrated that decreases in GH biosynthesis in MtTW15 somatotrope cells are due at least in part to decreased binding of the tissue-specific transcription factor, Pit-1, to the GH promoter, resulting in decreased transcription of the GH gene. The objective of the current study was to determine the extent to which activin-mediated decreases in GH transcription were the result of decreased Pit-1 activity and/or decreased Pit-1 protein content in MtTW15 cells. Activin caused rapid increases in Pit-1 phosphorylation, which were temporally correlated with decreases in GH DNA binding. Pit-1 phosphorylation preceded marked decreases in steady-state levels of Pit-1 protein. The rate of Pit-1 synthesis was only moderately decreased by activin, with a time-course similar to that observed for decreases in GH biosynthesis. However, Pit-1 stability was markedly decreased after more than 4 h of activin treatment. These data demonstrate that activin decreases GH expression in MtTW15 cells through multilevel regulation of Pit-1, which may represent a more general mechanism whereby activin and other transforming growth factor β family members modulate gene expression through regulation of transcription factor activity as well as content.
Micromethod for the Investigation of the Interactions between DNA and Redox-Active Molecules

A novel microscale and surface-based method for the study of the interactions of DNA with other redox-active molecules using DNA-modified electrodes is described. The method is simple, convenient, reliable, reagent-saving, and applicable for DNA studies, especially those involving microsamples. Information such as binding site size (s, in base pairs), binding constant (K), ratio (KOx/KRed) of the binding constants for the oxidized and reduced forms of a bound species, binding free energy (ΔGb), and interaction mode, including changes in the mode of interaction, and “limiting” ratio KOx°/KRed° at zero ionic strength can be obtained using only 3−15 μg of DNA samples. The method was developed using [Co(Phen)3]3+/2+ (Phen = 1,10-phenanthroline)/double-stranded DNA (dsDNA)-modified gold electrodes and [Co(bpy)3]3+/2+ (2,2‘-bipyridyl)/dsDNA-modified gold electrodes as model systems. For the [Co(Phen)3]3+/2+/dsDNA-modified gold electrode system, a K2+ of (2.5 ± 0.3) × 105 M-1 and an s of 5 bp were obtained in 5 ...
Interaction of transferrin with iron‐loaded rat peritoneal macrophages

Summary, Rat peritoneal macrophages are capable, in vitro, of processing and releasing iron derived from phagocytosed, immunosensitized red cells, From 20% to 60% of the red cell iron can be returned to the culture medium in 24 h, with resident macrophages more active than inflammatory, peptone-induced macrophages. When apotransferrin is present in the culture medium, from 39% to 72% of iron released from macrophages is bound to the protein, with most of the remainder in a ferritin-like form. No distinct preference of released iron for either site of transferrin could be observed. The absence of apotransferrin depresses iron release only slightly, with much of the iron then released in a form readily available to the protein in vitro. Pronase treatment of macrophages, which abolishes their ability to bind transferrin, depresses iron release no more than 10–15%. It appears, therefore, that binding of apotransferrin to macrophages may not be essential for iron excretion by the cells.
Assessment of Oil Dispersion Pesticide Formulations Using Rheology and Near Infrared Centrifugation Techniques

Oil dispersion (OD), as a formulation type in the pesticide industry, has become more important over the past few years. This increased importance is due to (1) new water sensitive active ingredients, (2) the compatibility of active ingredient mixtures, (3) the need to build-in adjuvancy properties, and (4) customer preference of liquid formulations. Unlike well known technologies such as aqueous suspension concentrates (SCs), for which scientists have extensive experience in formulation practices resulting in readily available technologies for developing a stable formulation, OD is a relatively new technology. Technical knowledge for developing a stable OD formulation is still an area that needs significant investigation. The present work seeks to determine useful criteria for characterizing and predicting long term stability of OD formulations using readily accessible technologies such as rheological measurements and centrifugation. The characterization results are reported for systems that are commercially available from two agricultural companies.
5.1.1 System Evolution in the Intelligent Enterprise: An Historical Case Study of VISA's Transaction Processing Systems

Intelligent enterprises need systems which evolve well. Systems will increasingly be expected to evolve to meet users' changing needs, and predicting user demand is becoming more inexact. System engineers need to understand why some systems evolve well and put this knowledge into practice. Lessons learned from the evolution of actual systems should be incorporated into system design and development processes to equip the system engineer to meet this challenge. This paper discusses a case study of the technological evolution of VISA's credit card transaction processing systems. It identifies key principles which were successfully applied to enhance system evolution. The paper discusses observations concerning how generic properties (the illities) relate to one another and how they were achieved in VISA's system design. Related issues of system platforms and component coupling which affect system evolution are also addressed.
Insulin therapy, glycemic control, and cardiovascular risk factors in young Latin Americans with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background Type 2 diabetes has been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease, but this risk has not been well documented in young patients, especially of Latin American descent. Also, the potential CV benefits of insulin therapy have not been evaluated in young patients with type 2 diabetes. The objectives of this study were to determine any gender-related difference in the presence of CV risk factors in young Latin Americans with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes and the effect of intensive insulin therapy on these CV risk factors. Methods and Results Fifty-seven Latin American patients with type 2 diabetes between the ages 18 and 45 years were evaluated at baseline. All women were premenopausal and had regular menstrual periods. The mean body mass index (BMI) was > 30 kg/m2 in both genders. Percent body fat, percent hemoglobin A1c, and lipoprotein profiles were similar between genders. Highly sensitive C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were elevated and similar between genders (p = .4). Leukocyte adhesion molecules (intercellular adhesion molecule 1, vascular adhesion molecule 1, E-selectin) and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 were elevated, whereas adiponectin levels were below normal in both gender groups. Urinary albumin excretion was similar between genders and did not show any relationship with any of the variables. In women, there was a direct relationship between waist circumference and high-sensitivity CRP levels (rho = .53, p = .01). No other significant relationships were observed. Eighteen Latin American patients with type 2 diabetes completed up to 104 weeks of postintervention with insulin monotherapy. In these patients, glycemic, lipoprotein, and anthropometric measurements were obtained every 12 weeks. Highly sensitive CRP, leukocyte adhesion molecules, and urinary albumin excretion, among other tests, were obtained every 52 weeks. At 52 and 104 weeks, body weight, BMI, waist circumference, and percent body fat increased in a parallel and significant manner. Despite a significant decrease in percent hemoglobin A1c (22.2%; p = Conclusions In young, obese, Latino type 2 diabetic patients, improvement in glycemic control with insulin monotherapy was not associated with a parallel improvement in markers of vascular inflammation. Premenopausal Latino women with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes have CV risks comparable to Latino diabetic men of the same age. Obesity and underlying insulin resistance may counteract the potential CV benefits associated with insulin therapy in lean diabetic patients. Weight loss could be a potential therapeutic modality to improve CV risk in Latino type 2 diabetic patients, especially women.
Phonon-Raman Anomaly in the Ternary Graphite Intercalation Compound K 1 − x Rb x C 8

We report the first measurements of the Raman spectra of an alkali ternary-solid-solution graphite-intercalation compound ${\mathrm{K}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Rb}}_{x}{\mathrm{C}}_{8}$, $0l~xl~1$. A broad asymmetric softening of the graphite $M$-point phonon modes is observed at $x\ensuremath{\approx}0.67$. This anomaly is attributed to electronic band-structure modifications which alter the electron-phonon contribution to the phonon self-energies and which result from the formation of K${\mathrm{Rb}}_{2}$-like clusters.
Endoscopic surgery for cystic lesions of the pituitary region.

Cystic lesions of the pituitary region are quite common but present a challenge for diagnosis and treatment. Several types of cystic lesion are recognized, including cystic pituitary adenomas, Rathke cleft cysts, arachnoid cysts, and craniopharyngiomas. The clinical symptoms and diagnosis of these lesions, and the use of endoscopy for surgical intervention, are discussed in this Viewpoint.
A 2.5-8Gb/s transceiver with 5-tap DFE and Second order CDR against 28-inch channel and 5000ppm SSC in 40nm CMOS technology

This paper presents a 2.5–8Gb/s transceiver for PCI Express Gen3.0/2.0/1.0 applications. To overcome channel loss of high bit rate application, a linear equalizer (LEQ) and decision feedback equalizer (DFE) are used to eliminate ISI effect, compensate channel loss, and improve BER performance for 28-inch FR4 channel. The 3-tap feed-forward equalizer (FFE) is used to improve signal quality in transmitter. The resolution of de-emphasis and pre-shoot is up to 1/63 and 1/15. It also performs 0.8UIpp eye opening for 8Gb/s operation. A 2nd order clock and data recovery (CDR) employs digital finite state machine to track phase difference and frequency between clock and data. The CDR can cover 0 to −5000ppm frequency offset of SSC modulation and achieve jitter tolerance of up to 0.2UIpp at 8Gb/s with a BER=10−10 when all specified jitter sources is included. The integrated transceiver operates from 2.5Gb/s to 8Gb/s and consumes 235mA at 8Gb/s current with 0.95V supply voltage. The test-chip is implemented by flip chip layout and fabricated in TSMC 40nm 0.9V/1.8V CMOS technology. The area of transceiver is 725um × 615um.
Diagnosis of neoplasia in Barrett's esophagus using vital-dye enhanced fluorescence imaging.

The ability to differentiate benign metaplasia in Barrett’s Esophagus (BE) from neoplasia in vivo remains difficult as both tissue types can be flat and indistinguishable with white light imaging alone. As a result, a modality that highlights glandular architecture would be useful to discriminate neoplasia from benign epithelium in the distal esophagus. VFI is a novel technique that uses an exogenous topical fluorescent contrast agent to delineate high grade dysplasia and cancer from benign epithelium. Specifically, the fluorescent images provide spatial resolution of 50 to 100 μm and a field of view up to 2.5 cm, allowing endoscopists to visualize glandular morphology. Upon excitation, classic Barrett’s metaplasia appears as continuous, evenly-spaced glands and an overall homogenous morphology; in contrast, neoplastic tissue appears crowded with complete obliteration of the glandular framework. Here we provide an overview of the instrumentation and enumerate the protocol of this new technique. While VFI affords a gastroenterologist with the glandular architecture of suspicious tissue, cellular dysplasia cannot be resolved with this modality. As such, one cannot morphologically distinguish Barrett’s metaplasia from BE with Low-Grade Dysplasia via this imaging modality. By trading off a decrease in resolution with a greater field of view, this imaging system can be used at the very least as a red-flag imaging device to target and biopsy suspicious lesions; yet, if the accuracy measures are promising, VFI may become the standard imaging technique for the diagnosis of neoplasia (defined as either high grade dysplasia or cancer) in the distal esophagus.
Experimental and Numerical Characterization of an Orifice Type Cryogenic Pulse Tube Refrigerator

An orifice type pulse tube refrigerator (OPTR) was designed, built and operated to provide cryogenic cooling. The OTPR is a travelling wave thermoacoustic refrigerator that operates on a modified reverse Stirling cycle. We consider a system that is comprised of a pressure wave generator (a linear motor), an aftercooler heat-exchanger, a regenerator (comprising of a porous structure for energy separation), a pulse tube (in lieu of a displacer piston as found in Stirling refrigerators) with a cold and a warm heat-exchanger at its two ends, a needle-type orifice valve, an inertance tube and a buffer volume. The experimental characterization is done at various values of mean pressure of helium (∼ 0.35 MPa–2.2 MPa), amplitude of pressure oscillations, frequency of operation and size of orifice opening. A detailed time-dependent axisymmetric computational fluid dynamic (CFD) model of the OPTR is simulated to predict the performance of the OPTR. In the CFD model, the continuity, momentum and energy equations are solved for both the refrigerant gas (helium) and the porous media regions (the regenerator and the three heat-exchangers) in the OPTR. An accurate representation of heat transfer in the porous media is achieved by employing a thermal non-equilibrium model to couple the gas and solid (porous media) energy equations. In the future, a validated computational model can be used for system improvement and optimization.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
NaV1.6a is required for normal activation of motor circuits normally excited by tactile stimulation

A screen for zebrafish motor mutants identified two non-complementing alleles of a recessive mutation that were named non-active (navmi89 and navmi130). nav embryos displayed diminished spontaneous and touch-evoked escape behaviors during the first three days of development. Genetic mapping identified the gene encoding NaV1.6a (scn8aa) as a potential candidate for nav. Subsequent cloning of scn8aa from the two alleles of nav uncovered two missense mutations in NaV1.6a that eliminated channel activity when assayed heterologously. Furthermore the injection of RNA encoding wild type scn8aa rescued the nav mutant phenotype indicating that scn8aa was the causative gene of nav. In vivo electrophysiological analysis of the touch-evoked escape circuit indicated that voltage-dependent inward current was decreased in mechanosensory neurons in mutants, but they were able to fire action potentials. Furthermore tactile stimulation of mutants activated some neurons downstream of mechanosensory neurons but failed to activate the swim locomotor circuit in accord with the behavioral response of initial escape contractions but no swimming. Thus mutant mechanosensory neurons appeared to respond to tactile stimulation but failed to initiate swimming. Interestingly fictive swimming could be initiated pharmacologically suggesting that a swim circuit was present in mutants. These results suggested that NaV1.6a was required for touch-induced activation of the swim locomotor network.
E2-M1 mixing ratios in 2′ → 2 → 0 transitions

The results of twelve published angular correlation experiments have been analyzed, and the E2---M1 mixing ratios of the 2' yields 2 transitions have been obtained for twelve different even nuclei. Particular attention has been given to evaluation of the errors in the measured values of the mixing ratios. The available data range from A = 56 to A = 198. When ( delta /E/sub gamma /)/sup 2/is plotted against Z/sup 2/A/sup 4/3 / three of the experimentally observed points, those for Fe/sup 56/, Zr/sup 92/, and Hg/sup 198/, deviate sharply from a curve calculated from the theoretical considerations of Davydov and Filippov. (auth)
Assessment of Capacity to Consent to Treatment: Challenges, the “ACCT” Approach, Future Directions

OBJECTIVE: To review approaches to assessing consent capacity in patients with neurocognitive or neuropsychiatric illness; to summarize the rationale behind our structured interview for consent capacity; and to outline questions for future research. METHOD: After reviewing legal and clinical literature, and empirically comparing three leading consent capacity instruments, we developed the Assessment of Capacity to Consent to Treatment (ACCT) interview and administered it to adults with dementia (n=20), schizophrenia (n=20), and controls (n=19). Capacity ratings by primary care clinicians and experts blind to the patients' status were obtained for a subsample. RESULTS: Interscorer reliability was r=.90; internal consistency reliability was .α=96. ACCT scores agreed 82% of the time (kappa = .44; p<.01) with primary care clinician ratings of capacity and 75% of the time (kappa = .50; p<.05) with expert ratings of capacity. Patients with dementia and schizophrenia could express treatment choices but performed worse than controls on measures of understanding, appreciation as problems with foresight, rational reasoning, and values-based reasoning. Only patients with schizophrenia performed worse on a measure of appreciation as problems with distrust. CONCLUSION: The method of assessing consent capacity described here has adequate reliability and validity, and may provide a useful starting point for clinicians and researchers. Many questions remain about the nature of consent capacity, its component constructs, and the meaning of instrument versus clinician ratings of capacity. Future adaptations, particularly in the assessment of appreciation and reasoning, and additional studies in more diverse samples, are needed.
Summarizing How to Teach Group Work

Robert K. Conyne, Ph.D., is a professor and director of the Counseling Program at the University of Cincinnati. Fred Bemak, Ed.D., is a professor and coordinator of the Counseling Program at George...
Rollable, efficient, low concentration PV for powering small satellites via diffractive modulation

We present a novel LP-CPV (Low Power Concentrating Photo-Voltaics) technology well suited for Low Earth Orbit small satellites. The LP-CPV consists of three layers: the first two layers are optical redirection layers which implement non-tracking concentrating functionality and the third one is a support layer for single crystal silicon lamellar strips covering 10% of the overall area. The optical layers are diffractive transparent plastic layers embossed with micro-structures via roll-to-roll embossing. Instead of using spectral dispersion, we use diffraction efficiency modulation to reduce the amount of IR light concentrated on the crystal silicon strips, therefore allowing maximum conversion efficiency even at 10X concentration over silicon. All three layers (concentrating optics and lamellar silicon PV strips) comprise, when deployed, a uniaxial PV system periodic in the other (non-axis) principal in-plane direction. The layers can be rolled together in one compact cylindrical roll to minimize the payload volume. The entire LP-CPV system can then be deployed/unrolled in space and held in place, but can also be rolled back in order to prevent damage from solar flares, micro-meteorites, etc.
Evaluating the Performance of Two Salmon Management Strategies using Run Reconstruction

AbstractCommercial salmon fisheries in Alaska are managed to obtain escapement goals within a fixed range while attempting to maximize sustained yield. Two management strategies currently being used are emergency order authority and a fixed fishing schedule. We analyzed and compared the historical performance of these two management strategies for Bristol Bay, Alaska, fisheries targeting Egegik River and Togiak River Sockeye Salmon Oncorhynchus nerka. To accomplish this, we reconstructed the daily runs to each river through the use of catch, effort, and tower count data. Our results showed that management by emergency order openings resulted in (1) the catch of a higher percentage of returning fish, (2) less yearly variation in escapement, and (3) escapements that were always above the minimum escapement goal. A fixed fishing schedule resulted in less yearly variation in catch and a harvest rate that was spread more evenly throughout the run; the more even harvest rate likely provides better protection of...
Electrophysiological features of inherited demyelinating neuropathies: A reappraisal in the era of molecular diagnosis.

The observation that inherited demyelinating neuropathies have uniform conduction slowing and that acquired disorders have nonuniform or multifocal slowing was made prior to the identification of mutations in myelin-specific genes which cause many of the inherited disorders involving peripheral nerve myelin. It is now clear that the electrophysiological aspects of these disorders are more complex than previously realized. Specifically, certain mutations appear to induce nonuniform slowing of conduction which resemble the findings in acquired demyelinating neuropathies. It is clinically important to recognize the different electrodiagnostic patterns of the various inherited demyelinating neuropathies. In addition, an understanding of the relationship between mutations of specific genes and their associated neurophysiological findings is likely to facilitate understanding of the role of these myelin proteins in peripheral nerve function and of how abnormalities in myelin proteins lead to neuropathy. We therefore review the current information on the electrophysiological features of the inherited demyelinating neuropathies in hopes of clarifying their electrodiagnostic features and to shed light on the physiological consequences of the different genetic mutations.
PSYCHOLOGIST, HEAL THYSELF!

The American Board of Examiners in Professional Psychology should discharge its responsibility to society, to psychology, and to psychologists by developing the best possible measures of profession...
Reveries and Line Drawings

In Reveries and Line Drawings, a projected video piece first shown at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago's New Blood exhibition, artists Georgia Wall and Nick Bastis offer methods in which stored spatial reveries can be recalled and represented using both analog and digital technologies. The piece posits forms in which spaces can be visualized without being physically present through the use of technology and memory. This process was explored with two participants, who visualized places they had never visited: Rebecca Zorach, an art historian at the University of Chicago, visualized Art & Soul, an experimental art center founded by a street gang and the MCA in the Lawndale neighborhood of Chicago that existed from 1968 to 1972; and Andrew Norman Wilson, an MFA candidate at SAIC, visualized the home of his collaborator in Bangalore, India -- he has come to know both the person and the place through the internet.
A hybrid model of the role of VEGF binding in endothelial cell migration and capillary formation

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is the most studied family of soluble, secreted mediators of endothelial cell migration, survival, and proliferation. VEGF exerts its function by binding to specific tyrosine kinase receptors on the cell surface and transducing the effect through downstream signaling. In order to study the influence of VEGF binding on endothelial cell motion, we develop a hybrid model of VEGF-induced angiogenesis, based on the theory of reinforced random walks. The model includes the chemotactic response of endothelial cells to angiogenic factors bound to cell-surface receptors, rather than approximating this as a function of extracellular chemical concentrations. This allows us to capture biologically observed phenomena such as activation and polarization of endothelial cells in response to VEGF gradients across their lengths, as opposed to extracellular gradients throughout the tissue. We also propose a novel and more biologically reasonable functional form for the chemotactic sensitivity of endothelial cells, which is also governed by activated cell-surface receptors. This model is able to predict the threshold level of VEGF required to activate a cell to move in a directed fashion as well as an optimal VEGF concentration for motion. Model validation is achieved by comparison of simulation results directly with experimental data.
Network meta-analysis shows that prostaglandin inhibitors and nifedipine are best short-term tocolytics for preterm delivery

Commentary on: Haas DM, Caldwell DM, Kirkpatrick P, et al. Tocolytic therapy for preterm delivery: systematic review and network meta-analysis. BMJ 2012;345:e6226.[OpenUrl][1][Abstract/FREE Full Text][2] Preterm birth is the leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality and a major source of healthcare costs. Despite advances in obstetrical care, the incidence of preterm birth is at an all-time high and may be rising due to increasing rates of advancing maternal age, maternal medical conditions, assisted reproductive technology and multiple gestations.1 Prevention of preterm birth and its associated neonatal morbidity and mortality are major concerns and a significant focus for obstetrical research. Tocolytics have not been shown to decrease the risk for preterm birth, but they have been associated with a short-term delay in delivery. Therefore, the primary goal of tocolysis is to allow administration of glucocorticoids in order to reduce the risk … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DBMJ%2B%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1136%252Fbmj.e6226%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F23048010%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/ijlink?linkType=ABST&journalCode=bmj&resid=345/oct09_2/e6226&atom=%2Febmed%2F18%2F5%2F182.atom
Aplastic anemia complicating orthotopic liver transplantation

The clinical characteristics and outcome of posttransplantation aplastic anemia (AA) were determined in 12 of 1,736 patients (0.007%) undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) that were afflicted with AA. None of the affected patients had a history of hematologic disease. Median patient age was 53 years (range, 2-61 years); 10 of the affected patients were men, and 2 were women. The etiologies of AA included non-A, non-B, non-C fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) (3 patients), graft-versus-host disease (4 patients), Parvovirus-induced (1 patient), and idiopathic (4 patients). The median duration between OLT and the onset of AA was 12 days (range, 11-14 days) in the 3 patients undergoing OLT for FHF; in contrast, AA developed in the other 9 patients at 37 days (range, 27-51 days) after OLT. Eleven patients were treated with reduction of their cyclosporine or tacrolimus dosage, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, anti-thymocyte globulin, and Solumedrol. Two of the 3 patients developing AA following OLT for FHF achieved hematologic recovery 21 and 92 days after diagnosis. In contrast, all 9 non-FHF patients developing AA after OLT died, 5 due to infectious complications and 4 following intracranial bleeding. AA is an unusual complication of OLT. In the setting of FHF, it affects young males in the early posttransplantation period, and, when infectious complications can be avoided, remission and stable allograft function can be anticipated. However, in the non-FHF patient, AA occurs in older individuals later in the posttransplantation period and has a uniformly poor outcome.
What a Coach Can Teach a Teacher, 1975-2004: Reflections and Reanalysis of John Wooden's Teaching Practices.

This paper revisits a 1970s study of Coach John Wooden’s teaching practices in light of new information. The original study reported discrete acts of teaching, including the number of instructions, hustles, praises, among other instructional moves. Using qualitative notes recorded during the original study, published sources, and interviews with Coach Wooden and a former UCLA player, we reexamined the 1970s quantitative data to better understand the context of Wooden’s practices and philosophy. We conclude that exquisite and diligent planning lay behind the heavy information load, economy of talk, and practice organization. Had qualitative methods been used to obtain a richer account of the context of his practices, including his pedagogical philosophy, the 1974-1975 quantitative data would have been more fully mined and interpreted.
Modeling networking protocols to test intrusion detection systems

Techniques for detecting previously unseen network intrusion attempts often depend on finding anomalous behavior in network traffic streams. Thus, intrusion detection systems generally require tuning to be effective in each new environment. It follows that researchers need to produce traffic backgrounds for laboratory testing that accurately reflect the characteristics of organizations of interest. To these they need to be able to add attacks under controlled conditions so that actual performance of new IDS techniques can be evaluated. The authors have been working towards such a realistic and flexible testing environment. In previous work we have used application protocol traffic generation techniques and confirmed some of the classical statistical distributions. The distributions of other protocols have been updated based on the analysis of current traffic. In This work hybrid and heavy-tailed modeling techniques are used to build a detailed model of FTP including session arrivals, bytes transferred, and idle times. The same techniques are being used for other protocols including HTTP.
Amorphous no longer: the centrosome comes into focus.

Abstract Recent genetic and biochemical studies have provided new insights into the molecular basis of centrosome-mediated microtubule nucleation. In addition, molecules and mechanisms involved in microtubule severing and stabilization at the centrosome, assembly of proteins onto centrosomes and regulation of centrosome duplication and separation are being defined. Characterization of centrosome function, together with studies implicating centrosomes in tumorigenesis and demonstrating that centrosomes are highly organized, are beginning to bring into focus an organelle once viewed as an ‘amorphous cloud’.
Heat shock protein 27 (HSP27): biomarker of disease and therapeutic target

Heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) is a multidimensional protein which acts as a protein chaperone and an antioxidant and plays a role in the inhibition of apoptosis and actin cytoskeletal remodeling. In each of these capacities, HSP27 has been implicated in different disease states playing both protective and counter-protective roles. The current review presents HSP27 in multiple disease contexts: renal injury and fibrosis, cancer, neuro-degenerative and cardiovascular disease, highlighting its role as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target.
Changes in Fatty Acid Composition of Papaya Lipids (Carica papaya) During Ripening

Lipids from papayas (Carica papaya L.) Solo cultivar at various stages of ripeness were extracted and fractionated into neutral lipids (NL), glycolipids (GL), and phospholipids (FL). The major fatty acids of the three lipid classes at all levels of ripeness were C16:0, C18:1, C18:2, C18:3. NL increased in unsaturation with maturity as indicated in the decrease of the various saturated/unsaturated fatty acid ratios, GL decreased in the ratio of C16:0/C16:1 due to an increase in C16:1 fatty acid with increasing fruit maturity. The remaining fatty acids in GL remained relatively unchanged. The phospholipid fraction increased in unsaturation with maturity due to increases in C16:1 and C18:3 fatty acids.
Should elderly patients with higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes undergo allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation?

Evaluation of: Koreth J, Pidala J, Perez WS et al. Role of reduced-intensity conditioning allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation in older patients with de novo myelodysplastic syndromes: an international collaborative decision analysis. J. Clin. Oncol. 31(21), 2662–2670 (2013).Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) include a group of hematopoietic malignancies characterized by dysplastic changes, ineffective hematopoiesis and variable risk of leukemic progression. At diagnosis, 86% of MDS patients are ≥60 years. Azacitidine, the only drug that prolongs life in high-risk (HR)-MDS patients, adds a median of only 9.5 months to life. Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) remains the only potentially curative approach. Despite recent improvements including use of reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) that decrease transplant-related mortality, alloSCT continues to be used rarely in elderly MDS. There is paucity of data regarding outcomes of RIC alloSCT in elderly MDS patients, especially in direct...
Prevalence and Correlates of Suicidal Ideation Among Parolees

ObjectiveThis study examined the prevalence and correlates of suicidal ideation among parolees and among persons who were not on parole.MethodsThree years of data (2009 to 2011) from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health were analyzed. Data on sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and violent behaviors of parolees (N=1,249) and nonparolees (N=114,033) were examined as indicators of need and as predictors of suicidal ideation. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted, using suicidal ideation as the dependent variable.ResultsOver the three years, the average prevalence of suicidal ideation among parolees (8.6%) was more than twice that among nonparolees (3.7%). Characteristics associated with decreased suicidal ideation among nonparolees, such as being married, older, and employed, were not related to lower suicidal ideation among parolees. For parolees, having health insurance decreased the likelihood of suicidal ideation by 50%. Parolees who received a past-year prescription fo...
How efficient are autophagy inhibitors as treatment for glioblastoma

5 ISSN 2045-0907 10.2217/CNS.13.52 © 2014 Future Medicine Ltd CNS Oncol. (2014) 3(1), 5–7 Glioblastoma (GB) is the most common and most destructive form of primary brain tumor. Currently, the standard treatment for patients with GB consists of surgical resection, radiotherapy and chemotherapy with temozolomide (TMZ). These tumors have been well characterized for their resistance to standard therapeutic strategies and, despite decades of research, the median survival remains less than 15 months [1]. One of the proposed mechanisms for therapeutic resistance in GB is the activation of stressinduced autophagy. Autophagy is a form of self-degradation in which intracellular components are sequestered in double membrane vesicles called autophagosomes, which then fuse with lysosomes, allowing the recycling of cytoplasmic materials. Inhibition of this process is typically carried out using early-stage inhibitors, such as 3-MA and wortmannin, to prevent the initiation and elongation of the phagophore or late-stage inhibitors, such as bafilomycin-A1, chloroquine (CQ) and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), which target the functionality of the lysosome in fusing and recycling autophagosomes [2]. The role of autophagy in the development of cancer and response to chemotherapy is highly controversial. The allelic loss of BECN1, the mammalian ortholog of yeast Atg6, results in a high incidence of spontaneous tumors in mice, suggesting BECN1 has a tumor suppressor role [3,4]. Autophagy is thought to play a significant role in the removal of damaged/ oncogenic proteins as well as damaged organelles, and mutations in autophagy genes have been associated with numerous cancers [2]. Interestingly, while the induction of autophagic-dependent cell death has been proposed as a mechanism of cytotoxicity for some chemotherapeutics, activation of autophagy in the context of most therapies has been associated with prosurvival signaling through the maintenance of cellular integrity in response to metabolic and hypoxic stress [5,6]. The currently accepted hypothesis for this paradox is that autophagy may suppress tumor initiation, but promote established tumor progression and resistance to therapeutics [2,7]. While numerous cytotoxic therapeutics have been shown to induce autophagosome formation, the consequences seem to
CROWN DEVELOPMENT OF COASTAL PSEUDOTSUGA MENZIESII, INCLUDING A CONCEPTUAL MODEL FOR TALL CONIFERS

Seventy trees from seven stands 50–650 years old were selected for this investigation of crown structural development in Pseudotsuga menziesii. All branches, limbs, and trunks were nondestructively measured for size, structure, and location while climbing the trees with ropes. These data were used to generate a computer model of each tree's crown that was error-checked trigonometrically. Leaves, bark, cambium, and wood were quantified by using limited destructive sampling to develop predictive equations that were applied to the complete inventory of structures in each tree's crown. Summations of these values yielded whole-tree estimates of several structural variables. A second set of equations was then developed to predict these whole-tree parameters from simple, ground-based measurements. Principal components analysis of 24 tree-level variables revealed two orthogonal dimensions of structure that accounted for 71.3% and 12.4% of total variation in the 70 trees. The first dimension represented a gradient...
FEATHERS AT A FINE SCALE

IN 1668, ANTOINE von Leeuwenhoek improved the crude microscopes that were being produced in Europe to better study small biological objects (Madigan et al. 1997). Although von Leeuwenhoek's microscope revolutionized biology-giving credence to, among other things, the theory of the cell-the microscope's potential escaped the attention of most ornithologists. Since the late 19th and 20th centuries, a small group of researchers have used microscopes to study feathers (for historical reviews, see Fox 1976, Prum 1999); but it was only recently that a consideration of feathers (and the organisms that live on them) has been united with traditional studies of colors and structures on a macroscopic level. The result is a new appreciation of the importance of the bacterial flora of feathers and their potential to serve as a selective force that can affect the colors of feathers. Microbes were isolated from feathers more than 40 years ago (e.g. Gierl0ff et al. 1961; Pugh and Evans 1970a, b), but feather bacteria went largely unstudied until Burtt and Ichida (1999) isolated feather-degrading Bacillus spp. from the feathers of several species. Shawkey et al. (2003a) subsequently cultured 13 distinct isolates from the feathers of House Finches (Carpodacus mexicanus). More comprehensive surveys, using both culture-based and cultureindependent methods (see Amann et al. 1995 for a review of those methods and their importance in detecting microbial diversity), have revealed even greater microbial diversity on feathers (M. D. Shawkey et al. unpubl. data). Although it is now clear that feathers are capable of harboring a diverse microflora, the ecological role(s) of that microflora remain largely a mystery. Goldstein et al. (2004) improves our understanding of these roles. Using standard microbiological methods, they demonstrate that feather-degrading bacteria degrade unmelanized white feathers more quickly and completely than melanized black
The Money Neutrality Proposition: Is Boosting Money Supply A Solution To US Economic Problems?

This paper unfastens the new classical structural model and broadens the reduced form output equation to investigate the money neutrality proposition in the United States. The hypothesis that any predictable monetary policy has no influence on output is extended by the inclusion of foreign exchange rationing to the supply side of the economy as cointegrated with money supply. The final prediction error determines the proper lag length that is used by the dynamic analysis to examine the causality relationship between imports, foreign price, foreign income, and output. The vector autoregressive is used to determine the exogeneity property of foreign exchange and output; it also helps extract the anticipated and unanticipated components of foreign exchange and money series. Empirical evidence provides considerable support for short run cyclical movements in the output of highly industrialized countries in affecting the real output in the United States. Indeed, any policy response in raising output should take into account the well-being of other developed countries. Predicted or not, an increase in the level of growth of other advanced countries does not leads to offsetting expectation and results in raising the economic growth. Empirical test presents no evidence that boosting the money supply leads to an increase in the level of growth. The result also refutes the view that the United States can quickly recover through a monetary policy aimed at depreciating the dollar and stands against the idea that devaluation tends to expand domestic output in industrialized countries. Incompatible with the economic logic is the lack of support of the apparent reality of output determination in industrialized countries open economy models.
Pre-pregnancy low to moderate alcohol intake and risk of spontaneous abortion

OBJECTIVE: To report the outcomes and patient perspectives of the medical management of nonviable pregnancies before 12 weeks gestation. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included women with first trimester miscarriages who underwent treatment with vaginal misoprostol from 1/2011 through 12/2014 at Houston IVF Clinic. Gestational age were calculated by certain menstrual dates or date of embryo transfer and compared with ultrasound criteria. Pregnancies were considered nonviable, if no cardiac activity was detect by a CRL greater than 7mm, no fetal pole detected whenmean sac diameter was greater than 25mm, or if the pregnancy displayed abnormal growth. Non-viability was confirmed with serial ultrasound scans. Once non-viability was confirmed, patients were given misoprostol 800mcg vaginally and followed up 24 hours post placement. The patients then filled out a post treatment questionnaire, which assessed onset of pain, bleeding, passage of tissues, and their overall experience. The primary outcome measured was whether or not patients would recommend misoprostol as a treatment to peers in the future. Means and standard deviations were calculated. RESULTS: 83 underwentmedical treatment withmisoprostol for their first trimester miscarriage. Five patients were excluded because of incomplete completion of the questionnaire. Complete miscarriage was induced without the need for surgery in 75 women (96%). Surgical dilation and curettage (D&C) was performed in 3 patients (4%). Women reported average onset of pain was 2.9 hours after miso placement, average pain rating was 7/10 and average duration of pain was 7.4 hours. Onset of bleeding after miso placement was 4.7 hours and 54% (42/78) perceived the bleeding as heavy, and 91% (71/78) reported noticing passed products of conception. Among those who returned patient questionnaires, 91% participants (71/78) indicated they would recommend medical management to peers, while 3% (3/ 78) indicated they would undergo surgery next time, and 5% (4/78) were undecided. 40% (31/78) of participants have had a D&C prior to this study. The major reason participants recommended misoprostol over D&C was that misoprostol was more simple, fast, and not as painful as expected. CONCLUSIONS: The medical management of first trimester miscarriage on the outpatient basis with misoprostol is effective and highly recommended by patients who experienced it.
Subacute Encephalitis in Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome: A Postmortem Study

Thirty-one out of 40 patients with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome examined at autopsy had significant central nervous system disease. A subacute encephalitis, found in 19 patients, was the most frequent finding and was characterized by marked brain atrophy and a progressive dementing illness. This entity is linked to cytomegalovirus (CMV) by typical histopathology and association with systemic CMV infection with supportive evidence of positive immunohistochemical staining of tissue sections and, in one case, identification of CMV-type viral particles by electron microscopy. However, brain tissue cultures have been negative, making the etiology of subacute encephalitis not entirely clear.