cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Harmonization of methods to facilitate reproducibility in medical data processing: Applications to diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging

Data and methodology sharing is essential for progression of scientific research. Several research groups have built tools for medical big data (MBD) processing applicable to Diffusion Tensor MRI (DTI) processing pipelines. In this paper, we propose a framework enabling methodology sharing (i.e. harmonization) to facilitate the reproducibility in DTI processing.
A Phase II study of MRI based functional imaging of bone metastases in men with metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) receiving XL184.

e16112 Background: XL184 (cabozantinib) is a small molecule inhibitor of receptor tyrosine kinases including VEGFR-2, c-MET. Trials of XL184 have shown significant improvements in bone pain and bon...
Parents' Perceptions of and Responses to Children's Emotions: Relations with Meta-Emotion Philosophy and Adult Attachment.

SYNOPSISObjective. This study investigated how parents’ perceptions of, feelings toward, and anticipated responses to children’s emotions relate to parents’ meta-emotion philosophy and attachment. Design. Parents (112 mothers and 95 fathers) completed an online research study where they viewed photographs of unfamiliar girls and boys (aged 10–14 years) displaying varying intensities of happiness, sadness, fear, anger, and neutral expressions. Parents labeled the emotion, identified the emotion’s intensity, and reported their mirrored emotion and responses. They also completed measures assessing their meta-emotion philosophy and attachment. Results. Meta-emotion philosophy predicted parents’ responses to children’s negative emotion, in that greater emotion-coaching predicted greater accuracy in labeling emotions (boys only), a greater likelihood to interact with children, and for mothers to be further from the mean in either direction in their mirrored emotion. Attachment also predicted parents’ responses ...
Response to osimertinib following treatment with EGF816 in patients with T790M EGFR mutant NSLCLC.

e20673Background: Third generation (3rd gen) epidermal growth factor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have been developed to treat EGFR T790M-mediated resistance to EGFR TKIs by inhibiting ...
Qualitative evaluation of a narrative reflection program to help medical trainees recognize and avoid overuse: “Am I doing what’s right for the patient?”

Abstract Objective The Do No Harm Project is a novel reflective writing program that encourages medical trainees to reflect on and write up clinical narratives about instances of avoidable medical overuse. Our goal is to describe this program and to explore the effect of the program on those participating. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore how participating in the project influenced the thinking, attitudes, and behaviors of participating internal medicine residents. Interviews were conducted with 20 out of the 24 participants from the first 15 months of the program. Results The following themes emerged from our analysis: 1) learning through reflection (with three sub-themes: empathy for the patient perspective, a critical approach to one’s own clinical practice, and awareness of the problem of overuse); 2) empowerment to discuss instances of overuse and act before it occurs; and 3) perceptions of enhanced evidence-based practice and shared decision-making. Conclusion Trainees volunteering to complete a reflective writing exercise perceived improved ability to avoid overuse and improved self-efficacy to change clinical behaviors that do not align with optimal patient care. Practice implications Reflective writing may help trainees recognize and avoid medical overuse.
Fish sperm motility analysis: the central role of the flagellum

Motility analysis of spermatozoa relies on the investigation of either head trajectories or flagellum characteristics. Those two sets of parameters are far from being independent, the flagellum playing the role of motor, whereas the head plays a passive role of cargo. Therefore, quantitative descriptions of head trajectories represent a simplification of the complex pattern of whole sperm cell motion, resulting from the waves developed by the flagellum. The flagellum itself responds to a large variety of signals that precisely control its axoneme to allow activation, acceleration, slowing down or reorientation of the whole spermatozoon. Thus, it is obvious that analysis of flagellum characteristics provides information on the original source of movement and orientation of the sperm cell and presents additional parameters that enrich the panoply of quantitative descriptors of sperm motility. In this review, we briefly describe the methodologies used to obtain good-quality images of fish spermatozoa (head and especially flagellum) while they move fast and the methods developed for their analysis. The paper also aims to establish a link between classical analyses by computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA) and the descriptors generated by fish sperm flagellum analysis, and emphasises the information to be gained regarding motility performance from flagellum motion data.
Decreased testosterone levels in men with rheumatoid arthritis: effect of low dose prednisone therapy.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether men with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have abnormal hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis function and to measure the effects of low dose prednisone therapy in these patients. METHODS We measured testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH) in 36 men aged 38-75 (mean age +/- 1 sd = 62 +/- 10 years) who had longstanding active RA (mean disease duration = 17 +/- 12 years) and in 70 healthy elderly male controls, aged 53-83 (mean age 68 = +/- 6 years). We divided the group with RA into those taking no prednisone (n = 12) and those taking 5 to 10 mg/day of prednisone (n = 24) and analyzed these groups separately to determine whether low doses of prednisone affected testosterone levels. RESULTS Compared to the healthy controls, patients with RA not taking prednisone had normal testosterone levels but significantly elevated levels of FSH and LH (p < 0.01 for both comparisons). In contrast, patients with RA taking prednisone had significantly lower testosterone levels (p < 0.05), but levels of FSH and LH were only slightly elevated compared to controls. Compared to patients not taking prednisone, patients taking prednisone had lower levels of testosterone, FSH, and LH. CONCLUSION Male patients with RA who are not taking prednisone have significantly elevated levels of FSH and LH with normal testosterone levels, suggesting a state of compensated partial gonadal failure. Male patients with RA taking low doses of prednisone have lower testosterone and gonadotropin levels, suggesting that prednisone may suppress the hypothalmic-pituitary-testicular axis. Since testosterone affects immune function as well as bone and muscle metabolism, androgen deficiency in some men with RA may predispose these patients to more severe disease and to increased complications of steroid therapy such as myopathy and osteoporosis.
Digital Signal Compression: Principles and Practice

With clear and easy-to-understand explanations, this book covers the fundamental concepts and coding methods of signal compression, whilst still retaining technical depth and rigor. It contains a wealth of illustrations, step-by-step descriptions of algorithms, examples and practice problems, which make it an ideal textbook for senior undergraduate and graduate students, as well as a useful self-study tool for researchers and professionals. Principles of lossless compression are covered, as are various entropy coding techniques, including Huffman coding, arithmetic coding and Lempel-Ziv coding. Scalar and vector quantization and trellis coding are thoroughly explained, and a full chapter is devoted to mathematical transformations including the KLT, DCT and wavelet transforms. The workings of transform and subband/wavelet coding systems, including JPEG2000 and SBHP image compression and H.264/AVC video compression, are explained and a unique chapter is provided on set partition coding, shedding new light on SPIHT, SPECK, EZW and related methods.
Viral Infections Transmitted through Tissue TRANSPLANTATION

The incidence of tissue allograft-transmitted infection is unknown and can best be inferred from prospective studies — that have not yet been performed and reported. Viral infections have been transmitted via tissue allografts such as bone, skin, cornea, and heart valves. Bone allografts have transmitted hepatitis C, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1), and human T-cell leukaemia virus. Corneas have transmitted rabies, hepatitis B virus, cytomegalovirus (CMV), and herpes simplex virus. Heart valves have been implicated in transmitting hepatitis B. HIV-1 and CMV have been transmitted by skin allografts. Use of comprehensive donor eligibility criteria; excluding potential donors with behaviours risky for HIV-1 and hepatitis infection, and donor blood testing have greatly reduced the risk. Recent reports of HIV transmitted from a seronegative donors prompts the addition of viral nucleic acid testing of the donor. During tissue processing, many allografts are exposed to disinfectants and sterilisation steps such as gamma irradiation, which further reduce or remove the risk of transmitted disease. Some viruses are fairly resistant to gamma irradiation and the high doses needed may be harmful to the tissue allografts. Because the effectiveness of some tissue grafts depends on cellular viability, not all can be subjected to sterilisation steps, and, therefore, the risk of infectious disease transmission remains. For these, preventing the transmission of viral infection relies mostly on careful donor selection and viral testing, but processing with mild disinfectant can be useful. To further assure safety in the use of allografts, the physician and hospital should select tissue banks that follow national professional standards as their source for allografts.
Beam-Profile Effects in Self-Induced Transparency: On-Resonance Self-Focusing of Coherent Optical Pulses in Absorbing Media

Analytic and numerical solutions of the Maxwell- Bloch equations, including transverse and time-dependent phase variations, predict on-resonance self-focusing and elucidate its formation due to the combined effects of diffraction and inertial response of the medium. This self-focusing can be characterized by a single parameter in terms of the beam and medium parameters. Recently, two independent experiments in sodium+ and neon++ demonstrated this new self-focusing effect of spatially non-uniform self-induced transparency pulses propagating in thick resonant absorbers. Comparison of the experimental results with the theoretical analysis will be presented.
Flesh-Memories: Bearing Witness to Trauma and Survival

This chapter examines narrative persona and voice to explore how “enfleshment” is enhanced by awareness of cellular memory and the importance of how memory is recorded within the flesh. This chapter considers research in cognitive development studies and neuroscience to identify how experiences of trauma are recorded at the cellular level and the ways that cells and physiological reactions adapt for purposes of survival. This chapter focuses on ways that violence manifests within the home. It also considers how Latinas survive this violence and maintain their sentience. It examines how Maria Luisa Arroyo depicts the flesh as recording knowledge of this violence in juxtaposition to victim-blaming narratives and the distortions of reality that these narratives create. This chapter argues that honoring how flesh records violence holds a key understanding for why a nuanced understanding of Latina experience is vital for moving away from narratives of victim/survivor.
Alcohol Cue–Induced Ventral Striatum Activity Predicts Subsequent Alcohol Self‐Administration

Author(s): Lim, Aaron C; Green, ReJoyce; Grodin, Erica N; Venegas, Alexandra; Meredith, Lindsay R; Donato, Suzanna; Burnette, Elizabeth; Ray, Lara A | Abstract: BackgroundHuman laboratory paradigms are a pillar in medication development for alcohol use disorders (AUD). Neuroimaging paradigms, in which individuals are exposed to cues that elicit neural correlates of alcohol craving (e.g., mesocorticolimbic activation), are increasingly utilized to test the effects of AUD medications. Elucidation of the translational effects of these neuroimaging paradigms on human laboratory paradigms, such as self-administration, is warranted. The current study is a secondary analysis examining whether alcohol cue-induced activation in the ventral striatum is predictive of subsequent alcohol self-administration in the laboratory.MethodsNon-treatment-seeking heavy drinkers of East Asian descent (nn=n41) completed a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover experiment on the effects of naltrexone on neuroimaging and human laboratory paradigms. Participants completed 5ndays of study medication (or placebo); on day 4, they completed a neuroimaging alcohol taste cue-reactivity task. On the following day (day 5), participants completed a 60-minute alcohol self-administration paradigm.ResultsMultilevel Cox regressions indicated a significant effect of taste cue-elicited ventral striatum activation on latency to first drink, Wald χ2 n=n2.88, pn=n0.05, such that those with higher ventral striatum activation exhibited shorter latencies to consume their first drink. Similarly, ventral striatum activation was positively associated with total number of drinks consumed, F(1, 38)n=n5.90, p = 0.02. These effects were significant after controlling for alcohol use severity, OPRM1 genotype, and medication. Other potential regions of interest (anterior cingulate, thalamus) were not predictive of self-administration outcomes.ConclusionsNeuroimaging alcohol taste cue paradigms may be predictive of laboratory paradigms such as self-administration. Elucidation of the relationships among different paradigms will inform how these paradigms may be used synergistically in experimental medicine and medication development.
Safety of inactivated vaccines in patients with genitourinary (GU) malignancies receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI).

e17108Background: ICI therapy has become the standard of care for many advanced GU cancers, but immune-related adverse events (IRAE) may result in treatment delays or discontinuation. Concurrent va...
Attributions as Anchors: How the Public Explains School Shootings and Why It Matters

From Columbine to Sandy Hook to Marjory Stoneman Douglas, the American public has repeatedly witnessed the carnage and tragic consequences of mass school shootings. Using a national survey of Ameri...
A Complex Tricuspid Clip: Bridging the Decision

We present this case of a 22-year-old woman with congenital heart disease as the youngest reported patient, to the best of our knowledge, to successfully undergo treatment of medically refractory torrential tricuspid regurgitation with the MitraClip system as an adjunct to guideline directed therapy. (Level of Difficulty: Advanced.).
Immunohistochemical localization of prolactin receptor (PRLR) to Hodgkin’s and Reed-Sternberg cells of Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Abstract Prolactin receptor (PRLR), a type-1 cytokine receptor, is overexpressed in a number of cancer types. It has attracted much attention for putative pro-oncogenic roles, which however, remains controversial in some malignancies. In this study, we reported the localization of PRLR to the Hodgkin’s and Reed-Sternberg (HRS) cells of Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL), a neoplasm of predominantly B cell origin. Immunohistochemistry performed on 5-μm thick FFPE sections revealed expression of PRLR in HRS cells. Cellular immunofluorescence experiments showed that the HL-derived cell lines, Hs445, KMH2 and L428 overexpressed PRLR. The PRLR immunofluorescent signal was depleted after treating the cell lines with 10 μM of siRNA for 48 h. We also tested whether PRLR is involved in the growth of HL, in vitro. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) on cell growth data obtain from WST-1 cell proliferation assay and trypan blue exclusion assay and hemocytometry showed that siRNA-depletion of PRLR expression resulted in decreased growth in all three cell lines. These results offered only a short insight into the involvement of PRLR in HL. As a result, further investigation is required to decipher the precise role(s) of PRLR in the pathogenesis of HL.
"Vaccine Communication in a Pandemic: Improving Vaccine Literacy to Reduce Hesitancy, Restore Trust and Immunize Communities": Editor's Introduction.

The world first learned a year ago that a novel coronavirus, then designated as 2019-nCoV, was causing a serious outbreak of infections in Wuhan, China. Its name evolved to SARS-CoV-2, the virus re...
“Well-Bred and Well-Fed,” the Science Service Covers Eugenics: 1924 to 1966

Founded in 1921 by then-retired newspaper publisher, E.W. Scripps, Science Service was established as an agency for the popularization of science. The original intent of Science Service was to publ...
Automated Analysis and Classification of Histological Tissue Features by Multi-Dimensional Microscopic Molecular Profiling

Characterization of the molecular attributes and spatial arrangements of cells and features within complex human tissues provides a critical basis for understanding processes involved in development and disease. Moreover, the ability to automate steps in the analysis and interpretation of histological images that currently require manual inspection by pathologists could revolutionize medical diagnostics. Toward this end, we developed a new imaging approach called multidimensional microscopic molecular profiling (MMMP) that can measure several independent molecular properties in situ at subcellular resolution for the same tissue specimen. MMMP involves repeated cycles of antibody or histochemical staining, imaging, and signal removal, which ultimately can generate information analogous to a multidimensional flow cytometry analysis on intact tissue sections. We performed a MMMP analysis on a tissue microarray containing a diverse set of 102 human tissues using a panel of 15 informative antibody and 5 histochemical stains plus DAPI. Large-scale unsupervised analysis of MMMP data, and visualization of the resulting classifications, identified molecular profiles that were associated with functional tissue features. We then directly annotated H&E images from this MMMP series such that canonical histological features of interest (e.g. blood vessels, epithelium, red blood cells) were individually labeled. By integrating image annotation data, we identified molecular signatures that were associated with specific histological annotations and we developed statistical models for automatically classifying these features. The classification accuracy for automated histology labeling was objectively evaluated using a cross-validation strategy, and significant accuracy (with a median per-pixel rate of 77% per feature from 15 annotated samples) for de novo feature prediction was obtained. These results suggest that high-dimensional profiling may advance the development of computer-based systems for automatically parsing relevant histological and cellular features from molecular imaging data of arbitrary human tissue samples, and can provide a framework and resource to spur the optimization of these technologies.
Gaseous Self-Gravitational Effects in the Aggregation of Giant Molecular Clouds - the Stability of Global Spiral Structures

Self-gravitational effects of the clumpy, cloudy interstellar medium in model spiral galaxies are found to play an important multifold role in the global distribution and morphological appearance of the gas in galactic disks. The results are based on studies via an N-body, cloudparticle computational code developed for the purpose of isolating the role of gaseous self gravity from those of other dominant physical mechanisms and dynamical processes underlying the interstellar medium (Roberts and Stewart, 1987; Roberts, Adler, and Stewart, 1987). Self gravitational effects of the clouds are included by means of Fourier Transform techniques, adapted from those developed by Miller (1976) and Miller and Smith (1979a, b). On the one hand, gas self-gravity acts on the large scale to enhance the overall collective gravitational field driving the gaseous response and thus helps maintain the large-scale order and overall global coherence of the grand design spiral structure. On the other hand, gas self-gravity acts on local scales to aid in the formation and assembling of massive aggregations of clouds into giant cloud complexes, spurs, and feather-like features. These transient features on local scales give rise to local disorder within the global spiral structure and blur the global coherence.
Application of Differential Light Scattering to the Latex Agglutination Assay for Rheumatoid Factor

When a suspension of particles is irradiated with a collimated beam of monochromatic polarized light of a wavelength close to the particle size and the intensity of the scattered light is measured as a function of angle, the scatter intensity is characterized by a series of relative maxima and minima. The nature of the signal depends on several significant variables that are characteristic of the particles. We have constructed a differential light scatter photometer and have applied the technique to analysis of rheumatoid factor by using latex particles coated with fraction II gamma-globulin. The results suggest that such a photometer may have potential applications in antigen-antibody assays based on the use of sensitized particles.
THE ROLE OF EXPERIMENTER ATTITUDE AND CONTINGENT REINFORCEMENT IN A VIGILANCE TASK.

Experimenter attitude toward one group of monitors was democratic (expansive and permissive) and experimenter attitude toward another group was autocratic (brief and brusque). Both groups monitored under three conditions of environmental stimulation (1) control (no stimulation) (2) radio contingent on detection performance, and (3) radio non-contingent on detection performance. The group treated in a democratic manner showed significantly higher levels of detection performance on all three conditions of environmental stimulation. The performance under radio contingent and radio noncontingent conditions was significantly higher than the control condition, and the radio condition contingent showed no performance decrement.
A Legal and Policy Argument for Bail Denial and Preventative Treatment for Batterers in the United States

Historically, battering has been a culturally and legally acceptable form of social control within the United States. This article provides an examination of how this legacy of social acceptance ha...
Long-term growth dynamics of young Pacific halibut : evidence of temperature-induced variation

Abstract The first five otolith growth zones of 744 Pacific halibut from 26 year-classes (1953–1978) were analyzed to identify patterns of annual growth and the sources of temporal variation. Sexual differences in growth appeared at an early age, and size selectivity of the gear types was shown to influence the perception of past growth. We adjusted the growth record for these two effects by removing variation in annual otolith growth that was linearly related to the size of the fish at capture. Correlation patterns of the otolith zones at the youngest ages suggested a general uncoupling of individual growth from one year to the next. Temporal variation was examined by developing a linear model to partition growth at different ages into both year and year-class effects. Randomization tests indicated that both effects are significant when all five ages are included, but when subsets of the data are examined, the year effect is strongest for youngest juveniles, whereas the year-class effect is significant for older juveniles. The year effect is probably attributable to interannual temperature changes, as indicated by a strong linear relationship between sea surface temperature (SST) and otolith growth from ages 0 to 2 years. However, analysis of residuals indicated a remaining year effect, suggesting that SST is an imperfect measure of the actual environment that regulates juvenile growth. The year-class effect observed in older juveniles was not present in the data adjusted for size selectivity, suggesting that this effect could be influenced by sampling bias, though intrinsic influences cannot be ruled out. Density-dependent growth did not appear to be a factor accounting for growth variation; instead, there appeared to be a slight positive correlation between otolith growth at ages 1 and 2 years and estimated year-class abundance (at age 8 years), suggesting that early growth is a factor in determining year-class strength.
A review of stimuli-responsive nanocarriers for drug and gene delivery

Nanotechnology has shown tremendous promise in target-specific delivery of drugs and genes in the body. Although passive and active targeted-drug delivery has addressed a number of important issues, additional properties that can be included in nanocarrier systems to enhance the bioavailability of drugs at the disease site, and especially upon cellular internalization, are very important. A nanocarrier system incorporated with stimuli-responsive property (e.g., pH, temperature, or redox potential), for instance, would be amenable to address some of the systemic and intracellular delivery barriers. In this review, we discuss the role of stimuli-responsive nanocarrier systems for drug and gene delivery. The advancement in material science has led to design of a variety of materials, which are used for development of nanocarrier systems that can respond to biological stimuli. Temperature, pH, and hypoxia are examples of “triggers” at the diseased site that could be exploited with stimuli-responsive nanocarriers. With greater understanding of the difference between normal and pathological tissues and cells and parallel developments in material design, there is a highly promising role of stimuli-responsive nanocarriers for drug and gene delivery in the future.
Ethnic Minority Interest Group Attributes and U.S. Foreign Policy Influence: A Qualitative Comparative Analysis

To what extent are ethnic identity groups able to influence U.S. foreign policy toward their ancestral homelands? Existing research has resulted in the enumeration of an extensive list of criteria thought to condition ethnic minority influence. In spite of significant progress, however, the literature lacks of systematic test of any of these criteria. The result is a literature that cumulates largely though the addition of new criteria, rather than the reevaluation of existing factors. The current study represents an attempt to develop a test of existing criteria though the application of Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA). Specifically, the study uses QCA to examine six of the most widely cited criteria found in the literature. Results indicate that, of the six criteria, only organizational strength and level of political activity are necessary conditions for successful influence. No individual factors are sufficient causes of influence.
Short-term analgesic effects of intra-articular injections after knee arthroscopy.

Purpose: To study the effects of 3 different intra-articular analgesic combinations on postoperative pain, and whether the timing of the injection, either preoperative or postoperative, had an effect on postoperative analgesia. Type of Study: Prospective, randomized, double-blind clinical trial. Methods: Patients undergoing knee arthroscopy performed by a single surgeon under general anesthesia were randomized into 6 study groups. Each patient received an intra-articular injection 20 minutes before incision and at the end of the procedure. One injection contained the study medications, and the other contained normal saline solution (placebo). The patients, surgeon, and data collection personnel were blinded to the contents of the injections. Outcome measures included visual analogue pain scores at 0, 60, and 120 minutes after the procedure, and total recovery room fentanyl consumption. Results: Fifty patients successfully completed the study protocol. Patients receiving combinations of morphine, bupivacaine, and epinephrine or bupivacaine and epinephrine yielded lower pain scores and narcotics consumption than patients receiving epinephrine alone, which was statistically significant irrespective of the timing of injection ( P P = .0343). There was no statistically significant effect of timing of the treatment medication administration at either 60 or 120 minutes postoperatively. Comparison of fentanyl consumption between groups receiving the treatment medication preoperatively versus postoperatively showed no significant difference. Conclusions: The combination of morphine, bupivacaine, and epinephrine, as well as the combination of bupivacaine and epinephrine provide excellent postoperative pain control when used either preoperatively or postoperatively in knee arthroscopy. There was a trend that patients receiving preoperative analgesic injections experienced superior pain control than did those injected postoperatively. Level of Evidence: Level I, Randomized Controlled Trial.
The lateral reticular nucleus of the opossum (Didelphis virginiana). I. Conformation, cytology and synaptology

When viewed in Nissl preparations, the lateral reticular nucleus (LRN) of the opossum can be divided into three subgroups: a medial internal portion, a lateral external portion and a rostral trigeminal division. Neurons within the internal division measure 13-45 μ in their greatest dimension whereas those within the external and trigeminal portions measure 11-32 μ and 14-27 μ respectively. Golgi impregnations reveal that many neurons in all three subdivisions display a radial dendritic pattern although some of the nerve cells within the external division have dendrites which orient mainly in a ventromedial to dorsolateral direction. The cell bodies of LRN neurons are relatively spine-free. However, a small percentage of neurons exhibit clusters of sessile spines on proximal and more distal dendritic segments. No locally ramifying axons or axon collaterals were found within the LRN. Synaptic terminals within the LRN were divided into four categories: (1) small terminals measuring 2.5 μ or less containing agranular spherical vesicles; (2) small terminals (2.5 μ or less) with agranular pleomorphic synaptic vesicles, i.e., a mixture of spherical and elliptical synaptic vesicles; (3) small terminals (2.5 μ or less) containing agranular spherical or pleomorphic vesicles with a variable number (4-27) of dense core vesicles; and (4) large terminals (greater than 2.5 μ) which contain agranular spherical synaptic vesicles and a variable number of dense core vesicles (1-17). Dendritic diameters were measured from Golgi impregnations and correlated with cross-sectioned profiles in electron micrographs to help determine the post-synaptic distribution of synaptic endings. Small terminals containing agranular spherical or pleomorphic synaptic vesicles contact the soma and entire dendritic tree in each portion of the nucleus, whereas the small terminals containing dense core vesicles are usually located on distal dendrites or spines. Some large terminals make multiple synaptic contacts with a cluster of spines, others contact groups of small (distal) dendrites. In order to identify two of the major afferent systems to the LRN, 15 adult opossums were subjected to either a cervical spinal cord hemisection or a stereotaxic lesion of the red nucleus. Two days subsequent to spinal hemisection, large terminals in the caudal part of the ipsilateral LRN exhibit either an electron dense or filamentous reaction. Their postsynaptic loci are spines and shafts of proximal dendrites or a number of distal dendrites and spines. In addition, small terminals containing spherical agranular synaptic vesicles undergo an electron dense reaction in the same areas. Their postsynaptic loci are proximal or distal dendrites. Two days subsequent to rubral lesions, small terminals containing agranular spherical synaptic vesicles undergo a dark reaction in rostral portions of the contralateral nucleus. They contact intermediate or distal dendrites and occasionally spines.
Polymorphic type assignment and CPS conversion

Meyer and Wand established that the type of a term in the simply typed λ-calculus may be related in a straightforward manner to the type of its call-by-value CPS transform. This typing property may be extended to Scheme-like continuation-passing primitives, from which the soundness of these extensions follows. We study the extension of these results to the Damas-Milner polymorphic type assignment system under both the call-by-value and call-by-name interpretations. We obtain CPS transforms for the call-by-value interpretation, provided that the polymorphic let is restricted to values. and for the call-by-name interpretation with no restrictions. We prove that there is no call-by-value CPS transform for the full Damas-Milner language that validates the Meyer-Wand typing property and is equivalent to the standard call-by-value transform up to operational equivalence.
Viscosity modeling during epoxy resin cure

A model is presented that describes the changing melt viscosity of an epoxy laminating resin during its cure. The model incorporates chemical as well as physical factors. The predictions of the model are compared to experimental data using resin cured at several rates of heat-rise, and at a fixed heat-rise profile using resin preadvanced to different extents of reaction. Agreement is good, particularly at rapid heat-rise rates, typical of those used in production.
Relative Rotation Rates for Driven Dynamical Systems

The results presented here represent a first step in an attempt to construct a topological classification of nonlinear dynamical systems1. We consider nonlinear systems which are periodically driven at a single forcing frequency. This allows definition of a period-one Poincare section and reduction of the flow to a return map. Since nonlinear behavior is typically associated with stretching and folding, the return map undergoes formation of a horseshoe2 as a function of one or more control parameters. We characterize the topological properties of orbit pairs according to the positions of their returns in the horseshoe. The topological indices which result can then be lifted to characterize orbit pairs in the original flow.
Why so negative? Evidence aggregation and armchair philosophy

This paper aims to clarify a debate on philosophical method, and to give a probabilistic argument vindicating armchair philosophy under a wide range of plausible assumptions. The use of intuitions by so-called armchair philosophers has been criticized on empirical grounds. The debate between armchair philosophers and their empirical critics would benefit from greater clarity and precision in our understanding of what it takes for intuition-based approaches to philosophy to make sense. This paper discusses a set of rigorous, probability-based tools for determining what we can and cannot learn from intuitions in various conditions. These tools can tell us whether beliefs can be justified by armchair practices, and what empirical findings would have to show to undermine the use of intuitions in philosophy. Using these tools, the paper shows that armchair philosophy makes sense in a broad range of situations, and that it is quite plausible that we are in those situations at the moment.
PBL similarity profiles determined from a level-2 turbulence-closure model

A diagnostic model for the determination of similarity profiles of turbulence and mean-wind gradient in the planetary boundary layer is developed. Vertical profiles of a turbulence length scale and the flux Richardson number are formulated through the extension of the relationships for the constant flux layer. These profiles together with a turbulence energy equation and a similarity profile empirically determined for heat or momentum flux are used to compute the turbulence energy. Relationships previously derived from a turbulence closure model are used to compute second moments of turbulence.
Over-expression of alpha-actinin with a GFP fusion protein is sufficient to increase whole-cell stiffness in human osteoblasts.

Osteoblasts respond to shear stress by simultaneously increasing their whole-cell stiffness and up-regulating the cytoskeletal crosslinking protein α-actinin. The stiffness of reconstituted cytoskeletal networks increases following the addition of α-actinin, but the effect of α-actinin on whole-cell mechanical behavior has not been investigated. The hypothesis of this study was that increasing α-actinin in the cytoskeleton would be sufficient to increase whole-cell stiffness. hFOB osteoblasts were transfected with a plasmid for GFP-tagged α-actinin, resulting in a 150% increase in the amount of α-actinin. The GFP-α-actinin fusion protein co-fractionated with the cytoskeleton and co-localized to the same regions of the cytoskeleton as endogenous α-actinin. Whole-cell mechanical behavior was measured by atomic force microscopy using a 25 μm diameter microsphere as an indenter. The whole-cell stiffness of cells over-expressing GFP-α-actinin was 60% higher than cells expressing only endogenous α-actinin (p < 0.002), which was within the range of mechanical behavior observed in osteoblastic cells exposed to 1 and 2 Pa of fluid shear. These results indicate that the up-regulation of α-actinin synthesis in osteoblasts is sufficient to alter the whole-cell mechanical behavior and highlights the potential role of α-actinin to reinforce cells against mechanical loads.
A New Series of Reductive Amination Derivatives of Daunorubicin: Syntheses, Partition Coefficients, and DNA Binding

A series of daunorubicin derivatives were prepared by sodium cyanoborohydride reductive amination of daunorubicin with appropriate amines. All derivatives were found to bind quite strongly to DNA and viscosity increases with linear DNA indicated that each formed an intercalation complex. A range of octanol-aqueous buffer partition coefficients was obtained, around the values of daunorubicin and dauxorubicin hydrochloride, by varying the character of the starting amine. All monoamine derivatives had activity against P388 leukemia in mice which was similar to that of daunorubicin. A diamine derivative had reduced activity against P388. Several anthracyclines administered as DNA complexes had similar activity against P388 but significantly reduced toxicity compared to the uncomplexed compounds. For anthracyclines which bind strongly to DNA, optimum activity against P388 leukemia in mice seems to be centered on compounds with octanol-buffer partition coefficients in the range of 0.5–0.8.
Measurement of dimethylglycine in biological fluids

Abstract The method of quantitating N,N -dimethylglycine involves cation-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography and detection of dimethylglycine with dimethylglycine dehydrogenase. Dimethylglycine was added to plasma and urine and samples were assayed for dimethylglycine. Plasma and urine to which no dimethylglycine was added were also assayed. Recoveries of added dimethylglycine were 99 to 104% with no endogenous dimethylglycine found in rat plasma or normal human urine. The human plasma used contained a small amount of endogenous dimethylglycine. The cation-exchange chromatography separates dimethylglycine from other compounds which can serve as substrates for dimethylglycine dehydrogenase. Repeatability of the assay is ± 10%. Using this method we have identified dimethylglycine in the urine of a 1-month-old female human patient.
Outcome After Hepatectomy for Multiple (Four or More) Colorectal Metastases in the Era of Effective Chemotherapy

Hepatic resection is generally accepted as the only potential for long-term survival in patients with colorectal metastases confined to the liver. Despite an unknown benefit, hepatic resection is playing an increasing role in patients with extensive disease. A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained hepatobiliary surgical database was carried out. Outcome after hepatectomy for four or more colorectal hepatic metastases was reviewed. Between 1998 and 2002, out of a total of 584 patients, 98 (17%) with four or more colorectal hepatic metastases were resected. Actuarial 5-year survival was 33% for the entire group, with seven actual 5-year survivors. There were no perioperative deaths, and the perioperative morbidity was 28%. Positive margins and extrahepatic disease resection were independently associated with poor outcome. The median disease-free survival was 12 months, with no actuarial disease-free survivors at 5 years. Recurrence pattern, response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, time to recurrence, and resection of recurrent disease were also associated with outcome. Long-term survival can be achieved after resection of multiple colorectal metastases; however, because most patients will experience recurrence of disease, effective adjuvant therapy and close follow-up is necessary.
Social information-processing patterns as predictors of social adaptation and behavior problems among maltreated children in foster care

Abstract Objective: The goal of this investigation was to determine if social information-processing patterns were predictive of later social adaptation and behavior problems within a group of maltreated children in foster care. Method: A longitudinal design was used to address the study hypotheses. The sample consisted of 124 maltreated children ages 5 to 10 who had been placed into foster care. Twelve months following entrance into foster care, children were presented with age-relevant hypothetical vignettes to assess the quality of the way in which they process social information. Six to 8 months following this assessment, caregivers completed the Vineland Adaptive Scales and the Child Behavior Checklist. Results: Measures reflecting unbiased and competent processing were predictive of social adaptation, whereas measures reflecting biased and incompetent processing were predictive of behavior problems. In aggregate, processing measures accounted for a significant proportion of the variance in the outcome measures. Conclusions: The findings suggest that the manner in which maltreated children process social information has a bearing on their later social adaptation and behavioral adjustment. Therefore, maltreated children in foster care may benefit from interventions that target the manner in which they process social information.
Experimental investigation of unsteady aerodynamics and aeroacoustics of a thin airfoil

An experimental investigation of the unsteady problem for a thin, symmetric airfoil exposed to periodic gusting was performed in a free-jet anechoic wind-tunnel fadlity. The gusting events were created upstream such that there was a small longitudinal, i.e., spanwise, wave number and the gust could be approximated as two dimensional. Measurements of the unsteady velocity field, the unsteady pressure at the airfoil surface, and the acoustic field were made for two values of axial and normal reduced frequency. The unsteady pressure distribution along the airfoil was computed using the Sears method and unsteady velocity data. In addition, the pressure distribution was computed using acoustic data as input to a numerical inversion technique. The results of each technique were compared with the experimentally obtained unsteady pressure distribution. The inversion technique showed good agreement with the Sears method. However, comparison with experimental results illustrated that the theoretical estimates, although exhibiting trends similar to the experimental data, consistently underestimated the experimental unsteady pressure distribution at the lower reduced frequency, indicating the presence of viscous effects. Better agreement between experimental and theoretical results was obtained at the higher reduced frequency where viscous effects were less prominent.
Evaluation of Resistance Change as a Predictor of Thermal Actuator Displacement

The required voltage and current to produce a desired displacement with a MEMS electrothermal actuator can vary considerably between devices due to manufacturing process variation. This article presents a case for using resistance change divided by the ambient temperature resistance (ΔR/R0 ) as the quantity sensed in a feedback system to control the displacement, and avoid either melting the actuator with over drive, or not producing the desired actuation with under drive. The electrical resistance of a MEMS thermal actuator was calculated using a resistivity model that includes both the extrinsic and intrinsic conduction mechanisms in silicon. The model also accounts for the change in resistivity due to the strain in the silicon resulting from the confinement of the actuator by the two mounting posts. Using the model, it was shown that ΔR/R0 is a unique function of the effective temperature over the operating temperature range. The displacement of the actuator was calculated from a simple model, and was used to generate plots of the resistance change versus displacement. These plots were compared with the nearly universal plot of ΔR/R0 versus displacement found experimentally for thermal actuators with a range of dimensions. The calculated and measured curves were in reasonable agreement.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Biomedical imaging using hyperpolarized noble gas MRI: Pulse sequence considerations

Hyperpolarized noble gas MRI is a new technique for imaging of gas spaces and tissues that have been hitherto difficult to image, making it a promising diagnostic tool. The unique properties of hyperpolarized species, particularly the non-renewability of the large non-equilibrium spin polarization, raises questions about the feasibility of hyperpolarized noble gas MRI methods. In this paper, the critical issue of T1 relaxation is discussed and it is shown that a substantial amount of polarization should reach the targets of interest for imaging. We analyse various pulse sequence designs, and point out that total scan times can be decreased so that they are comparable or shorter than tissue T1 values. Pulse sequences can be optimized to effectively utilize the non-renewable hyperpolarization, to enhance the SNR, and to eliminate image artifacts. Hyperpolarized noble gas MRI is concluded to be quite feasible.
Lack of response of serotonergic neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus of freely moving cats to stressful stimuli.

Changes in brain serotonin (5-HT) neurotransmission have been implicated in the mammalian response to stressful stimuli. The purpose of this study was to examine the extracellular single-unit activity of 5-HT neurons in cats exposed to three stressors: loud (100 dB) white noise, restraint, and confrontation with a dog. Serotonergic neurons were recorded in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) and were identified by (i) slow and regular spontaneous activity, (ii) long duration (approximately 2 ms) waveform, (iii) complete suppression of activity during REM sleep and after systemic administration of 5-methoxy-N-N-dimethyltryptamine (250 micrograms/kg i.m.), and (iv) histological localization in the DRN. Despite behavioral and physiological evidence that all three manipulations induced a stress response, the maximal firing rate of 5-HT neurons was not significantly different from that observed under unstressed conditions. These data are consistent with previous studies from our laboratory which have indicated that very few manipulations are able to perturb the slow and regular activity of these neurons. In contrast, previous work has shown that the firing rate of noradrenergic neurons in the locus ceruleus is dramatically increased by these stressors. The relative imbalance in the activity of these two neuronal groups observed during stress may affect postsynaptic neuronal processing patterns and have adaptive significance during stressful conditions.