cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Permanent rescue of lesioned neonatal motoneurons and enhanced axonal regeneration by adenovirus‐mediated expression of glial cell‐line‐derived neurotrophic factor

Axotomy of peripheral nerves in neonatal rats induces motoneuron death that can be delayed but not arrested by the application of several neurotrophic factors (NFs) or adenoviral vectors carrying genes for NFs. We tested whether an adenoviral vector carrying the gene for glial cell-line-derived neurotrophic factor (Adv.RSV-GDNF) would prevent neonatal motoneuron death after facial nerve transection or crush. Nerve transection eliminates the pathway for axonal regeneration, while nerve crush preserves the pathway necessary for target reinnervation that may be required for the permanent rescue of motoneurons. Both types of injury cause substantial motoneuron death in neonatal animals. Adv.RSV-GDNF or a control vector carrying the beta-galactosidase gene (Adv.RSV-betagal) was injected into facial muscles 2 days before the nerve was transected, or Adv.RSV-GDNF, Adv.RSV-betagal, Adv.d1312 (a vector lacking a transgene), or vehicle was injected into facial muscles immediately after nerve crush. Four weeks after nerve transection, few motoneurons survived after Adv.RSV-GDNF and Adv.RSV-betagal treatment (6.1% and 2.4%, respectively). Four weeks after nerve crush, 40% of the motoneurons survived after Adv.RSV-GDNF treatment but only 17% survived in control groups. By 20 weeks, 39% of the motoneurons of the Adv.RSV-GDNF treatment groups survived but only 15-19% survived in controls. The numbers of myelinated axons of the buccal nerve branch of Adv.RSV-GDNF treatment groups were also higher than controls at 4 and 20 weeks (24% and 100% compared to 4.4-6.2% and 25-33% for Adv.RSV-GDNF and controls, respectively). By 20 weeks, Adv.RSV-GDNF-treated animals recovered 50% of the contralateral vibrissal function, while in controls only 5-11% of function was restored.
BEYOND COLD WAR PARADIGMS FOR SCIENCE AND DEMOCRACY

Steve Fuller has been a virtual one-man industry in the field of Science and Technology Studies for more than a decade. In Social Epistemology, he outlined an ambitious programme for remaking the emerging interdisciplinary field into a catalyst for transforming the academy, for the purpose of serving the greater good. Mixing equal measures of constructivist sociology, analytical philosophy, and post-modern theory, Fuller has tried to explain how the disciplinary structure of the field must change in order to reform the academy and society. Key to his concept of social epistemology is the idea that philosophical prescriptions are empty if they do not specify the social conditions for their implementation. Seeing most philosophical talk as empty, and most sociology as too reticent to prescribe, Fuller sought to shake up the accepted division of labour so that a vigorous, theoretically-informed science policy could be developed. He founded a journal, also called Social Epistemology, to encourage interaction among scholars who engage with these issues. Reactions to Fuller's early work generally praised it as a source of new ideas, but questioned his style and methods. To many, his approach to history was particularly off-putting. He did not rely upon detailed case studies to make palatable his theoretical musings an emerging standard for the field that he saw as misguided. He even suggested that experimental psychology should replace history as the preferred science of science.1 Many believed that his policy advice presupposed the standpoint of a benevolent but authoritarian philosopher-king. It is a credit to his willingness to engage critics that he went on to develop a more democratic
Generalized O(2, 1) expansion for asymptotically growing amplitudes☆

Abstract It is shown how the conventional O(2, 1) expansion for square integrable many-particle amplitudes may be generalized to functions which grow no faster than a power of the energy. The method is somewhat analogous to the use of the Laplace transform for O(1, 1) (Fourier) expansions. We include simple derivations of the needed properties for the O(2, 1) representations. Mathematical details are reserved for an appendix (Section 3) which comprises over half of the paper. Expansions of the type considered here may be of use in diagonalizing dynamical equations.
Du projet à la promesse. Analyse syntaxique et critique de la forme de Genèse 12,1-3 et 12,7:

Cet article vise a demontrer que la pericope de Gn 12,1-3 est non pas une promesse, comme il est generalement admis, mais un projet dont la realisation implique la participation de Dieu, d'Abraham ...
How “Pathetic” is Your Hiring Process? An Application of the Lessig “Pathetic Dot” Model to Educational Hiring Practices

Now, more than ever, the baby-boomer administrators are retiring in massive waves. Some researchers have predicted as high as 75% turnover by 2011 for education alone. For many years, not much attention has been placed upon succession planning or developing new leaders in some colleges; others have tended to create stockpiles of leadership candidates with not enough internal leadership positions to go around. In turn, in many schools this has left the talent pool of qualified individuals to be very small, and it creates a problem, not only for educational administrators but also, especially, for those in the entrepreneurial departments of community colleges. There has been much research about “getting the right person on the bus” and “moving from good to great,” yet no one, to the knowledge of the researchers, has extended industrial-organizational psychology research on “person-fit” into community college administration research. The purpose of this study was to examine the theoretical constructs of the ...
Inkjet printing techniques for the fabrication of polymer optical waveguides

A great deal of attention in recent years has been given to inkjet printing as an alternative to traditional lithographic techniques due to its potential for low cost and rapid turnaround fabrication. A Dimatix DMP-2831 materials printer is used to inkjet print polymer waveguides of SU-8 negative photoresist. Several obstacles must be overcome for the technology to be feasible on a large scale including the development of capable print devices, suitable materials for printing, and the ability to consistently and precisely print high-aspect-ratio geometries. We will discuss the inkjet printing fabrication process, explore some of the difficulties encountered through the method, present several of our first prototype waveguides, and report some preliminary results on waveguide characterization.
5β-Reduced Steroids and Human Δ4-3-Ketosteroid 5β-Reductase (AKR1D1)

5β-Reduced steroids are non-planar steroids that have a 90° bend in their structure to create an A/B cis-ring junction. This novel property is required for bile-acids to act as emulsifiers, but in addition 5β-reduced steroids have remarkable physiology and may act as potent tocolytic agents, endogenous cardiac glycosides, neurosteroids, and can act as ligands for orphan and membrane bound receptors. In humans there is only a single 5β-reductase gene AKR1D1, which encodes Δ(4)-3-ketosteroid-5β-reductase (AKR1D1). This enzyme is a member of the aldo-keto reductase superfamily, but possesses an altered catalytic tetrad, in which Glu120 replaces the conserved His residue. This predominant liver enzyme generates all 5β-dihydrosteroids in the C19-C27 steroid series. Mutations exist in the AKR1D1 gene, which result in loss of protein stability and are causative in bile-acid deficiency.
Cataract Extraction in an Eye with a Filtering Bleb

Abstract Seventy-two ophthalmologists with a major interest in glaucoma (glaucoma surgeons) responded to a questionnaire as to how they would remove a cataract from a hypothetical 60-year-old patient with a functioning filtering bleb in the superior nasal quadrant. The majority recommended an intracapsular cataract extraction through a lateral or inferolateral limbal incision or a superior corneal incision anterior to the bleb. Most of the glaucoma surgeons preferred to close the wound with five to nine interrupted 10—0 nylon sutures. Estimates of the percentage of blebs failing after cataract extraction ranged from zero to more than 50%, with a median of 30%. The majority of the glaucoma surgeons stated that they would never, or only under exceptional circumstances, implant an intraocular lens in an eye with a filtering bleb. Twelve ophthalmologists with a major interest in intraocular lens implantation (implant surgeons) responded to the same questionnaire. They were more likely than the glaucoma surgeons to recommend extracapsular cataract extraction and to implant an intraocular lens in an eye with a filtering bleb.
EXPERIMENTAL SUPERFECUNDITY WITH PITUITARY GONADOTROPINS11

THE DISCOVERY of pituitary and placental gonadotropins naturally led to in quiry if the reproductive performance of animals might not thereby be greatly increased. Reference is made particularly to the possibility of thus increasing the number of mammalian ova capable of fertilization and normal development. Superovulation has been reported by many observers beginning with Smith and Engle (I) in 1927. Furthermore, Engle (2, 3) reported instances of the implantation of a remarkable number of embryos (29) in mice treated with mouse pituitary irriplants. Cole (4) has extended former work in this field by the treatment of young rats with the gonadotropic principle in pregnant mare serum. It is apparent that the birth of a higher number of healthy young involves an increase in uterine as well as in ovarian function. As the present study will demonstrate, superovulation, that is, the liberation of an increased number of ova, may be followed by the implantation of many of such ova without increase.
Correspondences between afferent innervation patterns and response dynamics in the bullfrog utricle and lagena

Abstract Otoconial afferents in the bullfrog were characterized as gravity or vibratory sensitive by their resting activity and their responses to head tilt and vibration. The responses of gravity afferents to head tilt were tonic, phasic-tonic, or phasic. A few afferents, termed vibratory/gravity afferents, had gravity as well as vibratory sensitivity. Functionally identified otoconial afferents were injected with Lucifer Yellow and subsequently traced to their peripheral arborizations. Morphological maps, previously constructed with the scanning electron microscope, were used to identify microstructural features of the sensory maculae associated with the peripheral arborizations of dye-filled afferents. The utricular and lagenar macula each is composed of a specialized central band surrounded by a peripheral field. The central bands are composed of densely packed medial rows and more sparsely packed lateral rows of hair cells. Hair cells exhibit a variety of surface topographics which correspond with their macular location. The response dynamics of afferents in the utricle and lagena correspond with the macular locations of their peripheral arborizations. Tonic afferents were traced to hair cells in the peripheral field. Phasic-tonic and phasic afferents innervated hair cells in the lateral rows of the central band, the former innervating hair cells at the edges of the central band and the latter innervating hair cells located more medially. Afferents with vibratory sensitivity were traced to hair cells in the medial rows of the lagenar central band. The response dynamics of afferents corresponded with the surface topography of their innervated hair cells. Tonic and phasic-tonic gravity afferents innervated hair cells with stereociliary arrays markedly shorter than their kinocilium (Lewis and Li types B and C) while phasic gravity and vibratory afferents innervated hair cells with stereociliary arrays nearly equal to their kinocilium (Lewis and Li types E and F). Vibratory sensitivity was uniquely associated with hair cells possessing bulbed kinocilium (Lewis and Li type E) while afferents sensitive to both gravity and vibration innervated hair cells from both of the above groups. We argue that afferent response dynamics are determined, at least in part, at the level of the sensory hair bundle and that morphological variations of the kinocilium and the otoconial membrane are dictated by specialization of sensitivity. We propose that morphological variations of the kinocilium reflect variations in its viscoelastic properties and that these properties determine the nature of the mechanical couple between the stereocilliary array and the otoconial membrane.
Effect of the undisturbed pericardium on left ventricular size and performance during acute volume loading.

Abstract Studies in instrumented dogs have suggested that the pericardium alters left ventricular diastolic pressure-volume relations and thus may influence systolic performance. However, the instrumentation used in these studies disrupts the pericardium and may have influenced the results. We therefore studied five conscious dogs by methods not traumatic to the pericardium, before and after pericardiectomy. Although heart rate and left ventricular systolic and end-diastolic pressures were not different before or after pericardiectomy, either at rest or during volume loading, end-diastolic volume measured by biplane two-dimensional echocardiography increased post pericardiectomy at rest from 38 ± 4 (SE) to 61 ± 4 ml ( p p 2 mm Hg/sec. We conclude that pericardiectomy shifts the left ventricular end-diastolic pressure-volume curve to the right and increases the systolic isovolumic index of dPdt in the basal state.
George John Romanes's defense of darwinism: The correspondence of Charles Darwin and his chief disciple

Romanes (G.J.) supporta la theorie de Darwin (C.) sur l'evolution, et chercha a demontrer le concept de la selection naturelle et son role dans l'evolution
Gamma Radiation in RaD and RaE Decay

By using chromatographically separated, carrier-free sources, the electromagnetic spectra of RaD and RaE have been investigated from 4 to 60 kev with an argon-methane gas proportional spectrometer. No gamma rays or $L$ x-rays were detected in the decay of RaE. Aside from the principal 46.5-kev transition, no gamma rays (0.2% of the 46.5-kev photons) were observed in the decay of freshly-purified RaD. However, when equilibrium mixtures of RaDEF, from spent radon seeds less than 2 years old, were examined through aluminum absorbers of thickness sufficient to eliminate pile-up peaks (20 to 26 kev) from the $L$ x-rays (10 to 16 kev), a broad peak at about 31 kev appeared; it was established conclusively that in reality this is external beta-bremsstrahlung of RaE, whose low-energy region has been attenuated selectively so as to give the appearance of a gamma-ray peak.A chromatographic column separation of millicurie quantities of carrier-free RaD and RaE from each other, as well as from RaF and macro amounts of gold and mercury impurities, is described. The time required for separation is less than 2 hours.
Efficient generation of polarization-entangled photons in a nonlinear crystal

We review the use of bidirectional pumping and collinear propagation in type-II phase-matched periodically poled KTiOPO4 to achieve efficient generation of polarization-entangled photons via spontaneous parametric downconversion. The advantages of this approach are fully exploited in our optimized polarization Sagnac interferometric source. Its measured flux of 4700 polarization-entangled photon pairs/s per milliwatt of pump power in a 1-nm bandwidth exhibited 99% quantum-interference visibility. We also present a plane-wave Gaussian state theory for continuous-wave spontaneous parametric downconversion. This formulation affords the complete description of multiple-pair emissions that is needed for quantum communication analyses while reducing to the usual biphoton-state description at low generation rates.
Separation of Eicosanoids by Reverse-Phase Thin-Layer Chromatography

Abstract A method is described for separating eicosanoids including prostaglandins, their metabolites, and HETE. This was accomplished using commercially available reverse-phase thin-layer chromatographic plates and 0.0025M phosphoric acid-acetonitrile (52:48, v/v) containing 0.2M sodium chloride as a mobile phase. The use of reverse-phase thin-layer chromatography offers an alternative means of separating eicosanoids over traditional silica gel.
Molecular cloning of sheep connexin49 and its identity with MP70.

The nucleotide sequence of the sheep homologue of the lens-specific mouse connexin50, chicken connexin45.6, and human connexin50 has been obtained following screening of a sheep genomic library. This connexin comprises 1323 nucleotides, coding for a protein of 440 amino acid residues and a predicted molecular weight of 49,160 daltons, so by convention is termed sheep connexin49. A connexin49 cDNA probe detected a single major band with a mobility of 6.8 kb in sheep lens RNA, but not in RNA isolated from five other sheep organs. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of sheep connexin49 is identical to that of mouse connexin50 and closely matches that of MP70, indicating the identity of sheep connexin49 with MP70. The nucleotide and translated amino acid sequences of connexin49 have 69–87% and 76%–87% identity respectively with chicken connexin45.6, human connexin50 and mouse connexin50. Like other members of this lens connexin family, sheep connexin49 coding region is completely contained within one exon, and...
Measuring Research Data Uncertainty in the 2010 NRC Assessment of Geography Graduate Education

Abstract This article characterizes and measures errors in the 2010 National Research Council (NRC) assessment of research-doctorate programs in geography. This article provides a conceptual model for data-based sources of uncertainty and reports on a quantitative assessment of NRC research data uncertainty for a particular geography doctoral program. Findings indicate that important variables, including faculty totals and allocations and publication counts, are substantially undercounted, with important and negative impacts on program research activity measures. Further, these research measures are highly sensitive to small changes in counts and are particularly problematic for interdisciplinary fields such as geography. We caution against using the 2010 NRC data or metrics for any assessment-oriented study of research productivity.
Culture, gender, and identity in cross‐cultural personals and matrimonials

: This paper demonstrates how different Englishes are employed in Indian matrimonials versus US personals ads. In addition to demonstrating how a knowledge of world Englishes is pertinent to interpretation of the advertisements in question, the study reported here illustrates how, on a functional-semantic level, the two categories of ads are not as different as they may appear to be. The cultural hybridity evident in several matrimonials is also examined, and the saliency of context discussed, as the Englishes in question are not always variable on the surface.
Fate of Fertilizer Nitrogen Applied to Corn as Estimated by the Isotopic and Difference Methods

The percentage of applied fertilizer N taken into plants is often estimated by measuring the difference in plant N uptake between treated and check plots. This method has often overestimated plant N uptake. The objectives of this study were to (i) compare the recovery of fertilizer N in corn (Zea mays L.) as calculated by the difference and isotopic methods and (ii) track fertilizer N in the plant-soil system using isotopic enrichment of N. Sixteen N plots (3 m x 3 m) were established on a Hecla fine-sandy loam (sandy, mixed, frigid Oxyaquic Hapludolls) and replicated four times in a completely random design. Corn received sidedressed band applications (15 cm from row and 5 cm deep) of 15 N-enriched and nonlabeled urea N at 135 kg N ha -1 in 1993 and 1994. Plant uptake of fertilizer N as estimated by the isotopic and difference methods was 45% and 39% in 1993 and 40% and 22% for 1994, respectively. Nearly 42% and 36% of the applied labeled N was accounted For in the soil at the end of 1993 and 1994, respectively. The difference method did not overestimate plant N uptake because of high soil N availability. Lower corn yield potential in 1993 was the consequence of a cooler, shorter growing season. This climatic difference had less effect on the results generated by the isotopic method. Reasons for the N deficit in this investigation are speculative since no attempts were made to measure gaseous emission, ; however, denitrification and/or leaching are thought to be the primary mechanisms.
Metabolic labeling of normal canine rod outer segment phospholipids in vivo and in vitro

Abstract Twenty-four hours after the intravitreal injection of [ 3 H]palmitate and [ 14 C]docosahexaenoate in dogs, the rod outer segment phospholipids are highly labeled. Palmitate is found predominantly in phosphatidylcholine (PC), with lesser amounts in phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and very little in either phosphatidylserine (PS) or phosphatidylinositol (PI). Docosahexaenoate most heavily labeled PE followed by PC, with lesser amounts in PS and very little in PI. Two-hour incubations of 3 mm trephine buttons removed from dog retinas produced very similar patterns of labeling with palmitate and docosahexaenoate. In vitro incubation of retina buttons with [ 3 H]arachidonate produced heavy labeling of PI, with much less in PC and very little in either PS or PE. [ 3 H]Glycerol labeled in PC, PI and PE in descending order but PS almost not at all, [ 3 H]Serine labeled PS predominantly, but small amounts were found in PC, PE and PI. The trephine retina buttons can be utilized for multiple-precursor incubations and studies of differential metabolism in retinal regions, particularly when studying scarce tissue from mutant animals or humans with inherited retinal degenerations.
Engineering design elements of a two-phase thermosyphon for the purpose of transferring NGNP thermal energy to a hydrogen plant

Abstract Two hydrogen production processes, both powered by Next Generation Nuclear Plant (NGNP), are currently under investigation at the Idaho National Laboratory and University of Idaho. The first is high temperature steam electrolysis utilizing both heat and electricity, and the second is thermo-chemical production through the sulfur iodine process which primarily utilizes heat. Both processes require high temperature (>850 °C) for enhanced efficiency; temperatures indicative of NGNP. Safety and licensing mandates prudently dictate that the NGNP and the hydrogen production facility be physically isolated, perhaps requiring separation of over 100 m. There are several options to transferring multi-megawatt thermal power over such a distance. One of the options is two-phase heat transfer utilizing a high temperature thermosyphon. Heat transport occurs via evaporation and condensation, and the heat transport fluid is re-circulated by gravitational force. A thermosyphon has the capability to transport heat at high rates over appreciable distances, virtually isothermally and without any requirement for external pumping devices. This paper addresses the engineering design elements of an industrial-scale (50 MW), high temperature controllable thermosyphon for NGNP process heat transfer. Although several different working fluids are under consideration, alkali metals are used herein as reference fluids to illustrate elements of design.
A signal detectability analysis of the effect of physostigmine on memory in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract —Ten patients with clinically diagnosed Alzheimer's disease were given tests of recognition memory while receiving placebo or physostigmine, a cholinesterase inhibitor, given intravenously over 30 min. Doses of 0.0, 0.125, 0.25, and 0.5 mg were given in random order on 4 separate days. All patients had their best performance following one of the doses of physostigmine rather than saline although dose-response curves varied from one patient to another. The dose associated with the best performance in each patient was compared with saline in a replication study using a double-blind cross-over design. In the replication study the total number of correct responses on the recognition memory task was significantly greater following physostigmine than following saline. To determine whether this improvement in performance was a result of an increase in the amount of information stored in memory or was secondary to a change in the patients' criteria for saying that they recognized an item, the results were subjected to a signal detectability analysis. This analysis indicated that studied items and new items were more discriminable following physostigmine, as evidenced by an increase in d', a that the criteria for saying which items had been studied also changed following physostigmine, as evidenced by an increase in C. The increase in d' indicates that physostigmine enhanced storage of information in memory while the change in C is consistent with the view that patients altered their decision criteria to maximize the number of correct responses in both conditions.
ETHNIC RESIDENTIAL PATTERNS AS PREDICTORS OF INTRA-URBAN CHILD MORTALITY INEQUALITY IN ACCRA, GHANA.

As cities of developing nations absorb an increasing fraction of the world's population increase, questions have arisen about the potential for emerging inequalities in health within places that are already suffering from inadequate infrastructure. In this paper we explore the pattern of child mortality inequalities (as a proxy for overall health levels) within a large sub-Saharan African city—Accra, Ghana—and then we examine the extent to which existing residential patterns by ethnicity may be predictive of any observed intra-urban inequalities in child mortality. We find that the spatial variability in child mortality in Accra is especially associated with the pattern of residential separation of the Ga from other ethnic groups, with the Ga having higher levels of mortality than other ethnic groups. Being of Ga ethnicity exposes a woman and her children to characteristics of the places in Accra where the Ga live, in which one-room dwellings and poor infrastructure predominate. At the individual level, w...
Application of Pediatric and Adult Guidelines for Treatment of Lipid Levels Among US Adolescents Transitioning to Young Adulthood.

Importance Health care practitioners who care for adolescents transitioning to adulthood often face incongruent recommendations from pediatric and adult guidelines for treatment of lipid levels. Objective To compare the proportion of young people aged 17 to 21 years who meet criteria for pharmacologic treatment of elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels under pediatric vs adult guidelines. Design, Setting, and Participants We performed a cross-sectional analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) population. Surveys were administered from January 1, 1999, through December 31, 2012, and the analysis was performed from June through December 2014. Participants included 6338 individuals aged 17 to 21 years in the United States. Main Outcomes and Measures To estimate the number and proportion of individuals aged 17 to 21 years in the NHANES population who were eligible for statin therapy, we applied treatment algorithms from the 2011 Integrated Guidelines for Cardiovascular Health and Risk Reduction in Children and Adolescents of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the 2013 Guideline on the Treatment of Blood Cholesterol to Reduce Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Risk in Adults from the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association. After imputing missing data and applying NHANES sampling weights, we extrapolated the results to 20.4 million noninstitutionalized young people aged 17 to 21 years living in the United States. Results Of the 6338 young people aged 17 to 21 years in the NHANES population, 2.5% (95% CI, 1.8%-3.2%) would qualify for statin treatment under the pediatric guidelines compared with 0.4% (95% CI, 0.1%-0.8%) under the adult guidelines. Participants who met pediatric criteria had lower mean (SD) LDL-C levels (167.3 [3.8] vs 210.0 [7.1] mg/dL) but higher proportions of other cardiovascular risk factors, including hypertension (10.8% vs 8.4%), smoking (55.0% vs 23.9%), and obesity (67.7% vs 18.2%) compared with those who met the adult guidelines. Extrapolating to the US population of individuals aged 17 to 21 years represented by the NHANES sample, 483 500 (95% CI, 482 100-484 800) young people would be eligible for treatment of LDL-C levels if the pediatric guidelines were applied compared with only 78 200 (95% CI, 77 600-78 700) if the adult guidelines were applied. Conclusions and Relevance Application of pediatric vs adult guidelines for lipid levels, which consider additional cardiovascular risk factors beyond age and LDL-C concentration, might result in statin treatment for more than 400 000 additional adolescents and young adults.
Language policy processes and consequences: Arizona case studies

Language Policy Processes and Consequences: Arizona Case Studies weaves historical archives, Supreme Court rulings, special legislation, language movements, and education reform – with qualitative ...
Clinical utility of electrodiagnostic consultation in suspected polyneuropathy

Although paresthesias of the distal lower limbs are characteristic features of polyneuropathy, they may also herald the presence of a focal neuropathy, polyradiculopathy, or myelopathy. Electromyography and nerve conduction studies (EMG/NCS) are widely used in the evaluation of such symptoms, but their utility has not been subjected to vigorous scrutiny. We investigated the clinical impact of the electrodiagnostic consultation in assessing suspected polyneuropathy. When compared with the clinical impression, the result of the electrodiagnostic consultation was confirmatory in only 39% of all patients, and changed the diagnosis or uncovered an additional diagnosis in 43%. An alternative diagnosis was likely when either weakness was present (75%) or the Achilles stretch reflex was preserved (48%). These data support the use of EMG/NCS in the diagnostic evaluation of patients presenting with distal paresthesias, especially in those with preserved Achilles reflexes or motor deficits.
Efficient routing and sorting schemes for de Bruijn networks

We consider the problems of routing and sorting on a de Bruijn network. First, we show that any deterministic oblivious routing scheme for permutation routing on a d-ary de Bruijn network with N=d/sup n/ nodes, in the worst case, will take /spl Omega/(/spl radic/N) steps under the single-port model. This improves the existing lower bounds provided d is not a constant. We also show that the lower bound is indeed a tight one. Second, we present a deterministic nonoblivious permutation routing algorithm which runs in O(d.n/sup 2/) time on a d-ary de Bruijn network with N=d/sup n/ nodes. This algorithm is currently the fastest known nonoblivious deterministic routing algorithm for de Bruijn networks of arbitrary degree. Finally, we present an efficient general sorting algorithm for the de Bruijn networks of arbitrary degree. This algorithm is the best sorting algorithm known so far. It runs in O((log d).d.n/sup 2/) time for directed de Bruijn network with d/sup n/ nodes, degree d, and diameter n. As a corollary, we show that on a binary de Bruijn network of Nnodes, our sorting scheme requires at most 2 log/sup 2/ Nsteps.
Delayed-Onset Neutropenia with Divalproex Sodium

Objective:To report the development of neutropenia in a patient after almost 8 years of being stabilized on delayed-release divalproex sodium (DVPX).Case Summary:A 45-year-old man had been maintained on DVPX for nearly 8 years, with serum valproic acid concentrations of 85-120 mg/L and normal white blood cell (WBC) counts and absolute neutrophil counts (ANCs). Five months prior to the development of neutropenia (defined as ANC <1800 cells/μL), the patient's DVPX dosage was decreased by 250 mg to 1250 mg every morning and 1500 mg every evening. After 2 months of that regimen, the DVPX dosage was increased back to 1500 mg twice daily. Three months alter that increase, the patient's WBC count dropped to 3.7 × 103/μL and ANC was 1199 cells/μL Although the ANC was below 1800 cells/μL, he showed no physical manifestations consistent with neutropenia. DVPX was discontinued, and 2 weeks later the patient's WBC count was 7.2 x 103/μL and ANC was 2290 cells/μL.Discussion:Although a complete blood cell count with di...
Intratubular germ cell neoplasia of the testis and its associated cancers: the use of novel biomarkers

Recent advances in the understanding of the molecular pathology of testicular tumours have led to the identification of several new immunohistochemical markers for invasive and in situ germ cell neoplasms. OCT3/4 and NANOG are nuclear stains that have high sensitivity and specificity for the identification of intratubular germ cell neoplasia as well as seminoma and embryonal carcinoma. A potential pitfall in their application to the detection of intratubular germ cell neoplasia, as in other markers that represent oncofetal antigens, is their expression in non-neoplastic germ cells with 'delayed maturation'. SALL4, another nuclear stain, is positive for most germ cell tumours as a group and may be especially helpful in the distinction of these tumours from somatic carcinomas in non-testicular sites. Glypican 3 is a more sensitive marker for yolk sac tumour than alpha-fetoprotein. SOX2 and SOX17 may be useful for differentiating seminoma and embryonal carcinoma, especially following chemotherapy as embryonal carcinoma may lose CD30 expression in this setting. This article reviews the application of these immunohistochemical markers and others to the diagnosis of germ cell neoplasia with reference to older immunohistochemical stains when appropriate. Suggested immunohistochemical panels are described for individual tumour types.
Sources of phosphorus exported from an agricultural watershed in Pennsylvania

Abstract Freshwater eutrophication is usually controlled by inputs of phosphorus (P). As point source controls have decreased P inputs, the relative contributions of nonpoint inputs from agriculture have increased. Thus, remedial strategies are now being directed towards minimizing P export from agriculture. To identify critical sources of P, we investigated chemical and hydrologic factors controlling P export from a mixed land use (30% wooded, 40% cultivated, 30% pasture) 39.5 ha watershed in east-central Pennsylvania. The watershed was divided into four hydrologically distinct segments and streamflow and P concentration from each segment measured since June 1996. Mehlich-3 extractable soil P, determined on a 30-m grid over the watershed, ranged from 7 to 788 mg kg −1 . Generally, soils in wooded areas had low Mehlich-3 P ( −1 ), grazed pasture had Mehlich-3 P values between 100 and 200 mg kg −1 , and cropped fields receiving manure and fertilizer applications were in most cases above 200 mg kg −1 . Average flow-weighted P concentrations for ten storms during August–November 1996 decreased 60% downstream from segments 4–1 (watershed outlet). Streamflow P concentrations were more closely related to the near-stream (within 60 m) than whole watershed distribution of high-P soils in each watershed segment. This suggests that near-stream surface runoff and soil P, control P export form the watershed. Thus, managing P application in the primary surface runoff-producing areas near the stream has a greater potential to decrease P export in streamflow than for areas further from the channel. Clearly, the integration of areas of high soil P with areas of surface runoff production must be considered when guidelines are developed for P applications. Considering the distribution of high P soils alone may unnecessarily restrict farm management options without providing the desired reduction in P export from watersheds.
Analysis of Shiga Toxin Subunit Association by Using Hybrid A Polypeptides and Site-Specific Mutagenesis

Shiga toxin (STX), a bacterial toxin produced by Shigella dysenteriae type 1, is a hexamer composed of five receptor-binding B subunits which encircle an alpha-helix at the carboxyl terminus of the enzymatic A polypeptide. Hybrid toxins constructed by fusing the A polypeptide sequences of STX and Shiga-like toxin type II were used to confirm that the carboxyl terminus of the A subunits governs association with the B pentamers. The alpha-helix of the 293-amino-acid STX A subunit contains nine residues (serine 279 to methionine 287) which penetrate the nonpolar pore of the B-subunit pentamer. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to establish the involvement of two residues bordering this alpha-helix, aspartic acid 278 and arginine 288, in coupling the C terminus of StxA to the B pentamer. Amino acid substitutions at StxB residues arginine 33 and tryptophan 34, which are on the membrane-contacting surface of the pentamer, reduced cytotoxicity without affecting holotoxin formation. Although these B-subunit mutations did not involve receptor-binding residues, they may have induced an electrostatic repulsion between the holotoxin and the mammalian cell membrane or disrupted cytoplasmic translocation.
A new fast electrophysiological response measured extracellularly in a mouse hippocampal brain slice

In a hippocampal mouse brain slice the CA1 stratum radiatum field potential evoked by electrical stimulation of the Schaffer collaterals was used to analyze the very early responses. Parallel bipolar electrodes were utilized to lower the voltage induced by the stimulating current in the recording electrode, and to keep the induced voltage within the linear range of the headstage preamplifier and the recording amplifiers. When the stimulating and recording electrodes are in saline in the same plane and same depth, the shapes of the recorded voltage and stimulating current are similar. The shape of the recorded voltage significantly changes when the recording electrode is in the stratum radiatum of CA1. The signal recorded in the first 2 ms, before the presynaptic volley, indicates the existence of a fast response shown as a positive deflection. For times slightly longer than the stimulating pulse width, the fast response overlaps with the voltage induced by the discharging of the polarization charge accumulated in the double layer capacitance at the interface between metal and saline. For times longer than about 1.4 ms the fast response and presynaptic volley are superimposed. The fast response is about 0.5 mV when the stimulating charge is 15-25 nC. The demonstration that the fast response disappears upon bath perfusion of tetrodotoxin is convincing support for its axonal origin. We postulate that this fast response represents the current source corresponding to the Schaffer collaterals excitatory sink. An undistorted recording of the first 2 ms of the sweep gives useful information about the fast neuronal activity measured extracellularly, and cannot be regarded as a simple stimulus artifact.
Critical pulmonary valve stenosis in the neonate: A technique to facilitate balloon dilation

Critical pulmonary valve stenosis associated with ductal dependent pulmonary blood flow is rare, accounting for a small proportion of all infants undergoing balloon dilatation.1 Valvuloplasty in these infants may be technically difficult and at times impossible due to inability to traverse the critically stenotic valve. Previous investigators have described a gradational approach whereby balloon catheters of increasing diameter (2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 mm) are sequentially advanced and inflated across the valve relieving the obstruction.2 This approach, however, is time consuming and subjects the infant to prolonged fluoroscopy exposure. We have developed a valvuloplasty technique in the neonate with critical pulmonary valve stenosis which shortens fluoroscopy time and facilitates catheter advancement across the critically stenotic valve.
Adipose-derived Stem Cells as Therapeutic Delivery Vehicles of an Oncolytic Virus for Glioblastoma

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) accounts for the majority of primary malignant brain tumors and remains virtually incurable despite extensive surgical resection, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Treatment difficulty is due to its exceptional infiltrative nature and proclivity to integrate into normal brain tissue. Long-term survivors are rare, and median survival for patients is about 1 year. Use of adult stem cells as cellular delivery vehicles for anticancer agents is a novel attractive therapeutic strategy. We hypothesized that adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) possess the ability to home and deliver myxoma virus to glioma cells and experimental gliomas. We infected ADSCs with vMyxgfp and found them to be permissive for myxoma virus replication. ADSCs supported single and multiple rounds of replication leading to productive infection. Further, we observed no significant impact on ADSC viability. We cocultured fluorescently labeled GBM cells with myxoma virus–infected ADSCs in three-dimensional assay and observed successful cross infection and concomitant cell death almost exclusively in GBM cells. In vivo orthotopic studies injected with vMyxgfp-ADSCs intracranially away from the tumor demonstrated that myxoma virus was delivered by ADSCs resulting in significant survival increase. Our data suggest that ADSCs are promising new carriers of oncolytic viruses, specifically myxoma virus, to brain tumors.
Grain‐Size Dependence of Fracture Energy in Ceramics: I, Experiment

Evaluation of literature data combined with new experimental measurements shows that crystal structure is a basic factor in the grain-size dependence of the critical fracture energy of ceramics. Notch beam (NB), double cantilever beam (DCB), and work-of-fracture (WOF) tests of materials having a cubic crystal structure generally agree and show, at most, a limited variation of fracture energy with grain size. However, maxima of the order of 25% in γ at intermediate grain size and 25% decreases in γ at larger grain size may occur. Materials of noncubic crystal structure show broader variations in γ with G. Both DCB and WOF tests show γ passing through maxima that are typically 100 to >400% of values at fine or large grain size. Limited DT data are consistent with this trend but various results of NB tests are mixed. Some NB test data agree with the DCB and WOF trends, whereas others taken from the same materials show no change or only a limited continuous decrease of γ as G increases.
An empirical Bayes approach to contextual region classification

This paper presents a nonparametric approach to labeling of local image regions that is inspired by recent developments in information-theoretic denoising. The chief novelty of this approach rests in its ability to derive an unsupervised contextual prior over image classes from unlabeled test data. Labeled training data is needed only to learn a local appearance model for image patches (although additional supervisory information can optionally be incorporated when it is available). Instead of assuming a parametric prior such as a Markov random field for the class labels, the proposed approach uses the empirical Bayes technique of statistical inversion to recover a contextual model directly from the test data, either as a spatially varying or as a globally constant prior distribution over the classes in the image. Results on two challenging datasets convincingly demonstrate that useful contextual information can indeed be learned from unlabeled data.
Effects of Parental Rejection and Relationship Quality on Depression among Older Rural Adults

Research suggests that families have development histories which influence their responses to situations across the life course. The present study examined the effects of family relationship histories on intergenerational affection and conflict between adult children and their parents and how this affects parents' depressive symptoms. Path analysis based on matched reports of adult children and their parents revealed that parental behavior early in life affects contemporary relationships between family members, which ultimately impacts parents' depressive symptoms. Parental rejection is negatively associated with intergenerational affection, which in turn is negatively associated with depressive symptoms.
QTL analysis and genomewide mutagenesis in mice: complementary genetic approaches to the dissection of complex traits.

Quantitative genetics and quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping have undergone a revolution in the last decade. Progress in the next decade promises to be at least as rapid, and strategies for fine-mapping QTLs and identifying underlying genes will be radically revised. In this Commentary we address several key issues: first, we revisit a perennial challenge—how to identify individual genes and allelic variants underlying QTLs. We compare current practice and procedures in QTL analysis with novel methods and resources that are just now being introduced. We argue that there is no one standard of proof for showing QTL = gene; rather, evidence from several sources must be carefully assembled until there is only one reasonable conclusion. Second, we compare QTL analysis with whole-genome mutagenesis in mice and point out some of the strengths and weakness of both of these phenotype-driven methods. Finally, we explore the advantages and disadvantages of naturally occurring vs mutagen-induced polymorphisms. We argue that these two complementary genetic methods have much to offer in efforts to highlight genes and pathways most likely to influence the susceptibility and progression of common diseases in human populations.
Radiofrequency volumetric reduction for hypertrophic turbinate

Inferior turbinate hypertrophy is a common cause of nasal obstruction. Although topical corticosteroid sprays, antihistamines, and allergic desensitization are usually the first-line treatments of inferior turbinate hypertrophy, these therapies often are ineffective. This article describes the authors' treatment philosophy and technique of radiofrequency volumetric reduction for hypertrophic inferior turbinate.
Optimal and Efficient Crossover Designs Under Different Assumptions About the Carryover Effects

In certain studies it is desirable or necessary that a subject, such as a patient in a medical trial, receive a treatment in each period. This facilitates a within-subject comparison of the treatments. Designs for studies of this type are called crossover designs or repeated measurements designs. If there are ssubjects in pperiods, the design should specify which of the ttreatments is assigned to subject jin period i, i=1,…,p, j=1,…,s. Equivalently we may think of a design as assigning each subject to one of the t p possible treatment sequences. The choice of a design will clearly depend on the values of p, s, and t, to which we will refer as the design parameters. But for any set of design parameters, we will typically still have many design choices. To distinguish between different designs for the same design parameters, we will compare the designs under criteria that are related to the objective of the study. Often the objective is a comparison of the treatments, and we would choose a design that, in s...