cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Studies on nasopharyngeal carcinoma in the United States: a model for international comparisons.

Abstract An American nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) registry has been established in order to obtain a more detailed understanding of the pathogenesis of NPC in the United States, and to allow a comparison of U.S. NPC with that occurring elsewhere. Because of the importance of standardized data in evaluating differences in disease patterns, we review some of our findings in the U.S. population, provide examples of related information obtained from other countries, and indicate some of the problems that need to be addressed in comparative studies of NPC. A number of reports indicate differences in the age-related incidence of NPC in various populations. In addition, several pathologists note differences in ethnic patterns and EBV titers as they relate to histopathologic subtype. These observations support the need for collaborative international studies on NPC and EBV which can be materially improved by the application of an international system for standardizing histologic classifications of NPC.
Interaction of Reduced NaCl, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate and pH on the Antimicrobial Activity of Comminuted Meat Products

Meat (beef-pork) batters were formulated with NaCl (2.3% and 4.1% brine) and with 0.5% sodium acid pyrophosphate (SAPP) in combination with 2.3% brine. The adjusted pH of raw batters resulted in cooked meat pH values of 5.7, 6.0, and 6.3. Inoculated (Clostridium sporogenes spores) and uninoculated batters in cans were cooked to 70°C and stored for abuse at 27°C. Microbial growth was delayed and the short shelf-life of low brine (2.3%) products was extended with SAPP in the formulation. The antimicrobial properties of treatments with SAPP were due to both declining pH and presence of phosphate in the formulation. Potential mechanisms of microbial inhibition by SAPP are discussed.
Synthesis and characterization of biodegradable elastomeric polyurethane scaffolds fabricated by the inkjet technique

Biodegradable polyurethanes (PUs) were synthesized from methylene di-p-phenyl-diisocyanate (MDI), polycaprolactone diol (PCL-diol) and N,N-bis (2-hydorxyethyl)-2-aminoethane-sulfonic acid (BES), serving as a hard segment, soft segment and chain extender, respectively. MDI was chosen due to its reactivity and wide application in synthesis of biomedical polyurethanes due to its reactivity; PCL-diol was chosen because of its biodegradability; and BES was chosen because it allowed the introduction sulfonic acid groups onto the polymer chains. We evaluated the polyurethanes' degradation rate, mechanical properties, hydrophilicity, antithrombogenecity, and ability to support fibroblast cell attachment and growth by comparing with polymers having a 2,2-(methylimino)diethanol (MIDE) chain extender. Mechanical testing demonstrated that the PU containing BES has tensile strengths of about 17 MPa and elongations up to 400%, about three times the strength and four times the elongation than the MIDE based PUs. The polymers showed decreased in vitro degradation rates, lower glass transition temperature (T(g)) and hydrophilicity possibly due to enhanced microphase separation. Preliminary cytocompatibility studies showed that all the PUs are non-toxic, but PU containing BES exhibited much lower cell attachment and proliferation than the MIDE chain extended polymers. An in vitro platelet adhesion assay showed lower platelet attachment on BES containing PU. Additionally, due to the existence of sulfonic acid groups, the BES extended PU became water soluble in basic condition and insoluble in acidic condition, a phenomenon that is reversible at pH value of 8.7, making this a pH sensitive polymer attractive for bioprinting applications. By adding acetic acid into an inkjet cartridge and printing it onto a PU solution with pH above 8.7, precision fabricated scaffolds can be obtained, suggesting that BES based PUs are promising candidates as synthetic inks used for customizable fabrication of tissue engineering scaffolds.
Low temperature sintering of copper biporous wicks with improved maximum capillary pressure

Abstract Copper nanoparticle films were successfully sintered at low temperatures of approximately 280 °C onto copper microporous wick substrates. Scanning electron microscopy was used to investigate the morphology of the nanoporous layer. The permeability and maximum capillary pressure measurements were carried out on the sintered biporous media before and after nanoparticle layer coating. It was found that the nanoparticle film enhanced the capillary pressure of the porous media up to two times although it also affected permeability. These materials have applications in loop heat pipes and miniature loop heat pipes systems, which are envisioned to become mainstream computer cooling technologies.
SPATIAL KNOWLEDGE REPRESENTATION

The use of spatial knowledge is necessary in a variety of artificial intelligence and expert systems applications. The need is not only in tasks with spatial goals such as image interpretation and robot motion, but also in tasks not involving spatial goals, e.g. diagnosis and language understanding. The paper discusses methods of representing spatial knowledge, with particular focus on the broad categories known as analogical and propositional representations. The problem of neurological localization is considered in some detail as an example of intelligent problem-solving that requires the use of spatial knowledge. Several solutions for the problem are presented: the first uses an analogical representation only, the second uses a propositional representation and the third uses an integrated representation. Conclusions about the different representations for building intelligent systems are drawn.
The AAPM/RSNA physics tutorial for residents. X-ray interactions.

The diagnostic information in a radiograph or fluoroscopic image is largely the result of the quantity of x rays that are not removed from the incident x-ray beam. The information content of the image is delivered by the percentage of noninteracting photons that are successfully recorded. There are four major x-ray interactions: Rayleigh (coherent) scattering. Compton scattering, photoelectric absorption, and pair production. The degree of attenuation and the predominant mechanisms involved in the interactions are influenced by the x-ray energy and tissue composition. In the diagnostic energy range, photoelectric absorption and Compton scattering are the predominant modes of attenuation. One of the challenges in diagnostic imaging is to optimize image acquisition by controlling x-ray attenuation to obtain the appropriate contrast between the tissues while minimizing patient dose and scattered radiation in the image. Imaging techniques such as use of contrast material and dedicated mammography equipment ex...
Bile Acid Regulation of Gene Expression: Roles of Nuclear Hormone Receptors

Bile acids derived from cholesterol and oxysterols derived from cholesterol and bile acid synthesis pathways are signaling molecules that regulate cholesterol homeostasis in mammals. Many nuclear receptors play pivotal roles in the regulation of bile acid and cholesterol metabolism. Bile acids activate the farnesoid X receptor (FXR) to inhibit transcription of the gene for cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase, and stimulate excretion and transport of bile acids. Therefore, FXR is a bile acid sensor that protects liver from accumulation of toxic bile acids and xenobiotics. Oxysterols activate the liver orphan receptors (LXR) to induce cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase and ATP-binding cassette family of transporters and thus promote reverse cholesterol transport from the peripheral tissues to the liver for degradation to bile acids. LXR also induces the sterol response element binding protein-1c that regulates lipogenesis. Therefore, FXR and LXR play critical roles in coordinate control of bile acid, cholesterol, and trigly...
The effects of nutrient addition and pH manipulation in bag experiments on the phytoplankton of a small acidic lake in West Virginia, USA

In situ bag experiments were performed during summer and autumn in a small acidic lake, Tibbs Run Lake, West Virginia, USA. The objective was to evaluate phytoplankton responses to pH manipulation and nutrient addition. Increasing the pH from below 4.5 to over 6.3 resulted in great declines in phytoplankton biovolume. There was also a succession from dinoflagellates (Peridinium inconspicuum to small chlorophytes. The trend was more rapid where phosphorus (P) additions were made along with pH enhancement. During summer, P limitation was indicated, while nitrogen (N) appeared to limit production in autumn. In both seasons, nutrient additions greatly altered the phytoplankton composition in high pH treatments, but had no discernable effects at (the natural) low pH. A low pH, P addition treatment in autumn was the single exception. When N was subsequently added, phytoplankton composition changed dramatically, probably because the proceeding P additions caused severe secondary N-limitation. In general, however, the results supported the view that phytoplankton compositional responses to nutrient additions are suppressed in low pH, relative to high pH lake water.
Zinc Immobilization and Magnetite Formation via Ferric Oxide Reduction by Shewanella putrefaciens 200

Long-term batch experiments in an artificial groundwater medium indicated that microbial reduction of synthetic, high-surface-area goethite and lepidocrocite by Shewanella putrefaciens 200 can act to immobilize surface-associated zinc into a new mineral phase that is not soluble in 0.5 M HCl. While Zn was incorporated in siderite grains in experiments with goethite, additional Zn immobilization may result from incorporation into as yet unidentified biogenic minerals or into a more crystalline goethite. Experiments with an oxide mixture primarily composed of lepidocrocite resulted in the production of magnetite, biphasic im mobilization of Zn, and an enhanced overall degree of Zn immobilization. When NO3- was present as an alternate electron acceptor, microbial production of Fe(II) was inhibited, and the degree of Zn immobilization was subsequently reduced. These data indicate that (i) biologically induced mineralization can play a key role in the cycling of trace elements in natural systems, (ii) the natu...
Ray tracing with polarization parameters

Incorporating polarization parameters into the lighting model can enhance the physical realism of images rendered with a ray tracer. Polarization effects can be important in certain scenes, and the difference in rendering even simple scenes with and without proper treatment of polarization can be striking. All light waves possess a state of polarization, which changes almost every time light reflects off a material surface. A single reflection partially polarizes and may even completely polarize previously unpolarized light. Polarization influences the rendering of a scene because the reflected radiant intensity depends largely on the incident light waves's polarization state. E. Wolf's (1959) coherence matrix formalism of polarization has been incorporated into the Torrance-Sparrow reflectance model. This combination allows elegant quantitative derivations of the altered polarization state of light upon reflection in a ray tracer. Comparisons of identical scenes rendered with a conventional ray tracer and the ray tracer presented incorporating a polarization model show that the present method renders specular interobject reflections more accurately with respect to reflected radiance and color. >
Damage Localization in a Stiffened Composite Panel Using a Lamb Wave Based Tomography Approach

In structural health monitoring (SHM) of aerospace components, such as stiffened panels, detection and localization of damage is an important issue. This paper presents a methodology for determining the existence and location of low velocity impact damage in a stiffened composite panel. Using a matching pursuit decomposition algorithm, converted modes due to damage were extracted in the time-frequency domain. The energy of the converted mode was then used in conjunction with a probabilistic tomography approach that was able to localize the damage with a high level of accuracy. The results obtained confirm the ability of this approach to detect and localize damage in complex composite structures.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Demonstration of 10–40-Gbaud baud-rate-tunable optical generation of 16-QAM from a QPSK signal using a variable DGD element

We experimentally demonstrate a tunable optical generation of up to 40-Gbaud 16-QAM from a QPSK signal using a variable DGD element based on vector addition between two polarization states. We also show the baud rate tunability and investigate the tolerance of 16-QAM generation to the DGD offset.
Characterization of Octadecylsilane Stationary Phases on Commercially Available Silica-Based Packing Materials by Raman Spectroscopy

Two commercially available solid phase extraction packing materials containing octadecylsilane stationary phases, Isolute C18MF and Isolute C18, were characterized using Raman spectroscopy. Raman spectra of excellent quality can be obtained from such systems and provide direct information about the alkyl chain conformation in the stationary phase. Data from the ν(C−C) and ν(C−H) spectral regions suggest that the alkyl chains of these stationary phases exist in a highly disordered state which is very similar to that of the neat liquid.
Expressions of c-jun and p53 proteins in human middle ear cholesteatoma: Relationship to keratinocyte proliferation, differentiation, and programmed cell death

The c-jun protein functions as a transcription factor for many genes, and the p53 protein functions as a negative regulator of cellular proliferation, which is related to the apoptosis pathway that induces DNA damage. It has recently been shown that c-jun promotes keratinocyte proliferation and p53 induces apoptosis of various cells. In this study, the presence of c-jun and p53 in cholesteatoma was demonstrated by immunoblotting assays using polyclonal rabbit anti-c-jun antibody and monoclonal anti-p53 protein antibody, respectively. The cholesteatoma tissue incubated with anti-c-jun antibody showed the staining of keratinocytes on the basal and spinous layers of epithelium. The c-jun protein was localized in the basal layer of normal skin, and the p53 protein was present in the nucleus of keratinocytes in the granular layer of cholesteatoma epithelium. The keratinocytes of normal external ear canal skins and normal human skins were slightly stained in the granular layer of the epidermis. The present findings suggest that c-jun and p53 proteins have a role in keratinocyte differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis in the cholesteatoma.
Immunohistochemical localization of protein kinase C δ during postnatal development of the cerebellum

Abstract In cerebella of neonatal rats, immunoreactivity of protein kinase C δ (PKC δ) was moderate to strong in radial glia, Bergmann fibers and astrocytes but was absent in neurons. Beginning on the 7th day, a few small clusters of Purkinje cells expressed weak PKC δ reactions in caudal lobules of the vermis. From 10 to 20 days, clusters of labeled Purkinje cells increased in number, size and intensity while astrocytes and palisades of aligned Bergmann glia gradually diminished in intensity. At 21 days, glial cells had weak reactions while Purkinje and stellate-basket cells had intensity and distribution patterns found in adults. A transient occurrence of PKC δ in glia and later appearance in selective groups of neurons strongly support a significant role for this enzyme in signal transduction.
Evaluation of bathocuproine for the spectro-photometric determination of copper(I) in copper redox studies with applications in studies of natural waters

Abstract Copper(I) is determined at submicromolar levels in the presence of copper(II) in aqueous media by spectrophotometric measurement of the copper(I) complex of bathocuproine (2,9-dimethyl-4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline). Copper(II) interference produced by reduction to copper(I) is described. Ethylenediamine can serve as a masking ligand to inhibit Cu(II) interference. The limit of detection is 1 × 10−8 mol l−1. Although this is not sensitive enough for use at natural copper concentrations, the procedure can be used in laboratory studies of copper redox processes at elevated levels in natural waters such as sea water. The dependence of results on pH and ionic strength was studied to evaluate the usefulness of the method in other aqueous systems.
Anatomy Of A Code Block

The purpose of this paper is to present a short definition of a MIL-STD-782 code block, to introduce the advantage of using a code block, to discuss the generation of a code block, and to identify two problems that have limited the wide-spread use of code block data annotation: the rate of information retrieval through-put, and the error rate associated with this information retrieval. Finally, an automatic code block reader, useful in alleviating these two problems is identified. With the introduction of the automatic reader, the use of the code block, long held in its infancy, can grow to full maturity.© (1981) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
CON: 'Therapy for a Patient with Platinum-Resistant/Refractory Ovarian Cancer Should Not Be Selected Based on Results of an In Vitro Extreme Drug Sensitivity/Resistance Assay

Introduction Ovarian cancer remains an important health problem for women in the United States. It is estimated that there will be 21,650 cases of invasive ovarian cancer resulting in 15,520 deaths in 2008.1 Ovarian cancer has the highest case-fatality rate of all gynecologic cancers, and it is the most common cause of death from cancers of the female genital track.1-3 The high case-fatality rate results from the frequent diagnosis of epithelial ovarian cancer at an advanced stage: 75% of all cases are diagnosed as stage I11 or W, in which the disease has spread throughout the abdomen.l,3,4 Patients with advanced-stage disease have a 5-year survival of only 29%. Epithelial ovarian cancer is initially a very chemoresponsive tumor with response rates of approximately 80%.1-5 Unfortunately 5 75% of patients with advanced-stage disease will develop recurrent disease, which rapidly acquires chemoresistance, leading to death from the disease.2.3 The best strategy for selection of second-line chemotherapy after relapse in chemoresistant ovarian cancer has yet to be l l l y elucidated. Most commonly, patients are treated with a series of secondand third-line drugs that have been demonstrated to produce a modest response rate in this patient population. The precise selection of drug usually depends on a number of factors, including previous therapies, toxicities, patient wishes, and physician bias. Over the past 20 years, in vitro drug assays have been proposed as a solution to the accurate selection of a chemotherapeutic agent for patients with cancer. This article will address whether this is a rational approach to this selected platinum-rehctory/resistant population.Gl3
A natural missing link between activated and downhill protein folding scenarios.

We propose protein PTB1∶4W as a good candidate for engineering into a downhill folder. PTB1∶4W has a probe-dependent thermal unfolding curve and sub-millisecond T-jump relaxation kinetics on more than one time scale. Its refolding rate in denaturant is a non-linear function of denaturant concentration (curved chevron plot). Yet at high denaturant concentration its unfolding is probe-independent, and the folding kinetics can be fitted to a single exponential decay. The domain appears to fold via a mechanism between downhill folding and activated folding over several small barriers, and when denaturant is added, one of these barriers greatly increases and simplifies the observed folding to apparent two-state kinetics. We predict the simplest free energy function consistent with the thermal denaturation and kinetics experiments by using the singular value Smoluchowski dynamics (SVSD) model. PTB1∶4W is a natural ‘missing link’ between downhill and activated folding. We suggest mutations that could move the protein into the downhill folding limit.
A temperature gradient cell for liquid phase epitaxial growth of GaAs

Abstract A liquid phase epitaxial growth cell designed to produce a temperature gradient normal to the substrate while maintaining a very uniform temperature in the transverse direction is described. The temperature gradient appears to increase the density of nuclei during the initial phase of growth, improving the surface smoothness of the layer. With a gradient of 10 °C/cm, the cell consistently yields high quality GaAs layers that are optically smooth, and are uniform and controllable in thickness from 0.2 μm to 20 μm.
Rhenium(I) η2-Coordinated Furan Complexes: Converting Furan into a 1,3-Carbon Dipole

TpRe(CO)(MeIm)(η2-2-methylfuran) (1; Tp = hydridotris(pyrazolyl)borate and MeIm = N-methylimidazole) and TpRe(CO)(MeIm)(η2-2,5-dimethylfuran) (9) undergo Lewis acid promoted cyclopentannulation reactions with enones and enals to generate 3-acetylcyclopentene complexes. During the reaction, a rearrangement occurs such that the α- and β-carbons of the enone or enal are incorporated into the new carbocycle. The reactions are completely regioselective. Yields vary from 26 to 78%, depending on reaction conditions. Diastereomer ratios vary from 50:50 to >95:5. In a similar fashion, these furan complexes undergo reactions with aldehydes to form acetyldihydrofuran complexes, where a new dihydrofuran ring is generated from the aldehyde and C3−C5 of the original furan. These dihydrofuran complexes are readily converted into the corresponding trisubstituted furans via oxidative demetalation. Attempts to synthesize TpRe(CO)(MeIm)(η2-2-methoxyfuran) for the synthesis of cyclopentene esters resulted in the formation of...
Point-of-Care International Normalized Ratio Measurements to Assess Eligibility for Thrombolysis in Acute Ischemic Stroke: Some Thoughts

To the Editor: We read with interest the recent article by Rivos et al.1 The comparison of point-of-care international normalized ratio (INR) and central laboratory INR tends to be device dependent.2,3 This precludes the universal application and interfacility comparison of point-of-care INR values. This study, as well as other studies, has shown that 41% to 72% of patients who are on oral anticoagulants and present with acute ischemic stroke have …
Moore's law is killed by classical physics: can quantum information save it?

In a recent study (Physics Letters A 305 (2002) 144-149) the forthcoming end of Moore's Law was predicted. The study was based on the assumption that the power dissipation was dominated by the energy dissipated during charging/discharging the CMOS gate capacitance during bit flips. In the present paper the fundamental lower limit of power dissipation during the operation of a CMOS gate is obtained. The results indicate that the energy efficiency of today"s microprocessors is extremely low. Thus, a significant improvement of the energy efficiency of microprocessors may be able to prolong the lifetime of Moore's Law. We compare the results with published data on the lower limit of power dissipation of quantum gates. Interestingly, "Classical" beats "Quantum," if we give the same chance to them. Finally, we evaluate the energy cost of Shannon-information transfer. This measure, which cannot be improved by error correcting algorithms, is the ultimate one, the real characteristic of performance versus power dissipation. In the most ideal case, the CMOS gate performs by at least an order of magnitude better than the quantum gate. It is shown that, at the same complexity of hardware, same speed and same temperature, quantum computing means more noise, less information channel capacity and greater power dissipation than the same measures in classical computers.© (2003) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Low-Temperature Reactions in Single Crystals of Two Polymorphs of the Polycyclic Nitramine 15N-HNIW

Low-temperature photolysis of HNIW single crystals was investigated by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. Crystals of the α and β polymorphs, with either fully or selectively 15N-labeled nitro groups, were photolyzed at 15 K, and various species involving paramagnetic oxides of nitrogen (NO, NO2) were observed after annealing between 15 and 300 K. The orientation of NO trapped in the lattice of β-HNIW was inferred from the orientation of its g- and 15N-hfs tensors. Regioselectivity of photodecomposition within the two crystal lattices, monitored by the ratio of 15N and 14N isotopes in the NO and NO2 radicals, showed that no single reaction pathway produced these products and that concerted three-bond fragmention was not a dominant pathway. Analysis of packing similarities and reaction differences between the α and β polymorphs of HNIW confirmed that the cavities that accommodate water in the α hydrate play an important role in its solid-state reactivity.
MEMS scanner based handheld imaging guided Mohs surgery system

We demonstrate a handheld Mohs surgical probe coupling confocal imaging with projection for guided skin cancer removing. The probe consists of a miniaturized confocal microscope for in-vivo imaging, and a display system to track the real-time movement of tissue for the accurate determination of the projection area. Fast lissajous pattern laser scanning for confocal imaging was provided by a CMOS compatible 2-axis MEMS mirror. Lateral resolution of 6um with large field-of-view (FOV) of 1mm×0.5mm was achieved for the microscopic imaging at a speed of 2 frames-per-second (fps). Mosaic image with FOV of 4.8mm×6.2mm with high resolution demonstrates the system's functionality for surgeon to diagnose interested disease. The system's clinical imaging performance was further verified on histological human benign oral tissue, and compared with a commercial microscope. Effective projection performance was demonstrated with a close overlapping (over 87%) between the imaging & diagnosing area.
Palateless dentures: help for the gagging patient.

distance, a lower over-denture covering the posterior teeth may be necessary to provide the correct occlusal plane and a satisfactory occlusion. Whatever method of treatment is carried out, it is essential that patients maintain meticulous oral hygiene and motivation so that the few teeth they have can be retained. In no situation is this more important than with overdentures, where neglect can lead to rapid destruction of the crowns by caries or loss of periodontal support. Patient selection is critical; otherwise excellent results may end in disaster. Regular recall visits with scaling, polishing, fluoride application, and consolidation of oral hyg.iene instruction are essential. Patients are instructed to leave overdentures out at night to allow the soft tissues to recover and to thoroughly rinse the dentures and the mouth in water after meals if full oral hygiene is not feasible. Coating the tissue surface of an overdenture with a fluoride gel each day will reduce the tendency of the teeth to decalcify. Some patients find the taste unpleasant, and an alternative is to place a thin coat of a fluoride tooth cream on the tissue surface each day. The esthetic and psychologic improvement in the patient illustrated in Figs. 1) 2, and 6 was so great that it was later decided to extract the deciduous lower incisor and make a complete lower overdenture, because the lower anterior teeth had become the esthetic problem.
Expression, Glycoform Characterization, and Antibody-binding of HIV-1 V3 Glycopeptide Domain Fused with Human IgG1-Fc

The third variable (V3) domain of HIV-1 gp120 envelope glycoprotein is critical for HIV-1 entry and represents an attractive target for vaccine design. There are three conserved N-glycans within or around the V3 loop. The N295 and N332 glycans at the base of V3 are usually characterized as high-mannose type in gp120, and the N301 glycan is a complex type. We report in this paper the expression and characterization of glycosylated, full-size V3 domain derived from HIV-1(Bal) strain as an IgG1-Fc fusion protein, including its binding to two broadly HIV-neutralizing antibodies 2G12 and 447-52D. It was found that expressing the V3-Fc fusion protein in the HEK293T cells resulted in the production of a glycoform in which all the N-glycans were complex type, in contrast to the glycosylation pattern of V3 in the context of gp120, where the N295 and N332 glycans are high-mannose type. Controlling the glycosylation to restore an epitope of antibody 2G12 was achieved by using an inhibitor of glycan processing enzymes. Mutational studies indicate that the glycan at N301 slightly decreases the binding of V3-Fc to antibody 447-52D, but it can significantly enhance the binding of the V3-Fc to antibody 2G12 when it is changed to a high-mannose type N-glycan. The high-mannose type V3-Fc fusion protein that includes both the 2G12 and 447-52D epitopes represents an interesting immunogen that may be able to raise anti-HIV neutralizing antibodies.
A clinical approach to the diagnosis and treatment of retained fetal membranes with an emphasis placed on the critically ill mare

Abstract Retained fetal membranes (RFMs) in mares can be defined as the failure of partial or complete release of the allantochorion by 3 hours after parturition. The incidence of RFM ranges from 2% to 10% of foalings in light breed-type mares, and it has been reported to be as high as 30%-54% in Friesian mares. This peripartum problem occurs specially after dystocia, prolonged gestation, cesarean section, fetotomy, hydropsy, and induced delivery. Uncomplicated abortion, stillbirth, and twinning are not necessarily associated with RFM, unless dystocia also occurs. Occasionally, RFM can occur after an apparent normal foaling for unknown reasons. Many predisposing factors have been postulated: uterine inertia and fatigue, calcium/phosphorus imbalance, selenium deficiency, abnormal hormonal environment, physical mechanical intervention, fescue toxicosis, aging, individual predisposition, and placentitis. This condition can lead to severe problems in mares, including metritis, laminitis, and death. The treatment for this condition can be addressed at three different major levels: uterine clearance, control of shock and endotoxemia, and treatment and prevention of laminitis. This manuscript reviews some of the most relevant articles addressing this reproductive problem and offers the authors' clinical experience on dealing with RFM.
Insulin Receptor Substrate-2 in β-Cells Decreases Diabetes in Nonobese Diabetic Mice

Insulin receptor substrate-2 (Irs2) integrates insulin-like signals with glucose and cAMP agonists to regulate β-cell growth, function, and survival. This study investigated whether increased Irs2 concentration in β-cells could reduce β-cell destruction and the incidence of type 1 diabetes in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice. NOD mice were intercrossed with C57BL/6 mice overexpressing Irs2 specifically in β-cells to create NODIrs2 mice. After backcrossing NODIrs2 mice for 12 generations, glucose homeostasis and diabetes incidence were compared against NOD littermates. Compared with 12-wk-old NOD mice, the progression of severe insulitis was reduced and islet mass was increased in NODIrs2 mice. Moreover, the risk of diabetes decreased 50% in NODIrs2 mice until the experiment was terminated at 40 wk of age. Nondiabetic NODIrs2 mice displayed better glucose tolerance than nondiabetic NOD mice throughout the duration of the study and up to the age of 18 months. The effect of Irs2 to increase islet mass and improv...
Internalization: A metaphor we can live without

Shepard has supposed that the mind is stocked with innate knowledge of the world and that this knowledge figures prominently in the way we see the world. According to him, this internal knowledge is the legacy of a process of internalization; a process of natural selection over the evolutionary history of the species. Shepard has developed his proposal most fully in his analysis of the relation between kinematic geometry and the shape of the motion path in apparent motion displays. We argue that Shepard has made a case for applying the principles of kinematic geometry to the perception of motion, but that he has not made the case for injecting these principles into the mind of the percipient. We offer a more modest interpretation of his important findings: that kinematic geometry may be a model of apparent motion. Inasmuch as our recommended interpretation does not lodge geometry in the mind of the percipient, the motivation of positing internalization, a process that moves kinematic geometry into the mind, is obviated. In our conclusion, we suggest that cognitive psychologists, in their embrace of internal mental universals and internalization may have been seduced by the siren call of metaphor.
Ouabain binding to preimplantation rabbit blastocysts.

Fluid accumulation which accompanies blastocyst development is an important prerequisite for implantation. Little is known concerning the underlying epithelial transport processes responsible for this swelling, although net Na transport mediated by ouabain-sensitive, Na−K pumps has been implicated. The total number of ouabain binding sites as well as the ouabain-sensitive component of Na influx have been determined for different-aged, preimplantation rabbit blastocysts. In addition, the appearance of an amiloride-sensitive Na transport system between Day 6 and Day 7 post coitus (p.c.) was observed. The results of this work demonstrated that (1) the total number of ouabain binding sites per trophoblast cell increased between 4 and 5 days p.c. (1.2 to 9×105 sites/cell), but thereafter remained relatively constant; (2) the ouabain-inhibited Na influx increased from 0.20 μmole·cm−2·hr−1 on Day 5 p.c. to 0.33 μmole·cm−2·hr−1 on Day 6 p.c.; and (3) both 22Na influx as well as the rate of ouabain binding were inhibited by the diuretic drug amiloride in 7-day p.c. blastocysts but not in 6-day p.c. embryos.
Amino acid neurotransmitter candidates in rat cerebellum: Selective effects of kainic acid lesions

Kainic acid injections directly into the cerebellum destroy Purkinje, stellate, basket and Golgi II cells selectively with much less damage to granule cells. We have utilized such kainic acid lesions to evaluate the disposition of amino acid transmitter candidates in different neuronal populations of the cerebellum. Kainic acid lesions produce a 65-70% decrease in high affinity [3H]GABA uptake into synaptosomal fractions and a similar decrease in glutamic acid decarboxylase with a 50% reduction in endogenous GABA. Synaptosomal accumulation of [3H]glutamate and [3H]-aspartate is reduced 25-30% following such lesions while no decline in uptake of numerous other amino acids is observed. No significant changes are found in endogenous levels of glycine and serine are elevated following such lesions. These findings are consistent with the possibility that glutamate is the transmitter of granule cells and that GABA is the transmitter of the other cell types in the cerebellum.
Gifted pollution allowances: recognizing a liability to society☆

Abstract The US Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 created a system of tradable pollution permits under which electric utilities are annually gifted a fixed number of allowances that permit them to emit sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere or to sell unneeded permits in a free market setting. While the accounting for purchased permits is relatively clear, the accounting for gifted permits is an important, but currently controversial and unresolved issue. This paper examines the financial statement issues related to gifted pollution allowances within the context of the Financial Accounting Standard Board’s Conceptual Framework and finds that it provides a clear rationale for recording gifted permits as assets and liabilities (to society). We then examine alternative means by which a utility could extinguish its liability and present an illustration of the actual accounting entries under various regulatory and market scenarios. We conclude that if we realistically expect management and stakeholder decisions to be influenced by environmental externalities, electric utility companies must be required to explicitly account for gifted pollution allowances as liabilities.
Inhibitors in childhood hemophilia A: Genetic and treatment-related risk factors for development and eradication†‡

The development of neutralizing antibodies remains a serious complication of hemophilia replacement therapy. Factor VIII inhibiting antibodies (inhibitors) occur commonly following replacement therapy in hemophilia A, creating a significant burden of clinical disease. This article will review our current understanding of risk factors and their known impact on inhibitor development in previously untreated or minimally treated children with severe and mild hemophilia A. It will also explore how the most recently elucidated immunology of inhibitor development might hold important clues to more effective inhibitor eradication and prevention in this heavily impacted patient population. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2012; 60: S30–S33. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Clinical approach to nonmotor sensory fluctuations in Parkinson's disease

Abstract Many nonmotor fluctuations (NMFs) may occur in addition to the classic motor fluctuations (MFs) in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) within several years of initiation of dopaminergic treatment. Patients can experience these NMFs in the “on” and/or “off” periods. NMFs can be divided into three groups: Autonomic, cognitive/psychiatric, and sensory. Nonmotor sensory fluctuations (NMSFs) occurring in association with “on” period are more frequently recognized than those in the “off” state. NMSFs commonly reported include pain, numbness, paresthesia/dysesthesia, akathisia, rest-legs syndrome (RLS), dyspnea, and internal tremor (IT). Proposed treatments of NMSFs are based on whether they occur during “off” or “on” state. These include reduction of dopaminergic medication, use of long-acting dopamine agonists or controlled released levodopa (LD), surgical intervention, and/or targeted pharmacological intervention to minimize dopaminergic side effects. NMSFs might be related to dopaminergic mechanisms although difficulty in managing these symptoms with dopaminergic therapy suggests a different pathway. Conclusion: Recognition of NMSFs is important in the care of patients with Parkinson disease to prevent unnecessary interventions and for appropriate medication regimen adjustments.
Iterative Bayesian method for segmenting images that have undergone a gray-level degradation

We extend the MRF image model commonly employed in the Bayesian development of image segmentation procedures to include a degradation channel resulting in a 2D hidden Markov model as the basis for the segmentation problem. We solve the segmentation problem by deriving the expectation-maximization algorithm for the case where the 'hidden' Markov source is the 2-D MRF that generates a true scene and the degradation channel is an additive, memoryless, grey-level degradation process that produces the observed scene.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Design and Validation of a Component Head Injury Criteria Tester for Aerospace Applications

The compliance with Head Injury Criteria (HIC) specified in 14 CFR 23.562 [1] and CFR 25.562 [2] poses a significant problem for many segments of the aerospace industry. The airlines and the manufacturers of jet transports have made claims of high costs and significant schedule overruns during the development and certification of 16G seats because of the difficulties encountered in meeting this requirement. The current practice is to conduct Full Scale Sled Tests (FSST) on impact sleds. This approach can be expensive, since a new seat may be needed for each test. Moreover, some consider the HIC sensitive to changes in the test conditions, such as sled pulse, seat belt elongation, etc., resulting in HIC results from FSSTs showing poor repeatability. These difficulties make it desirable to devise a cheaper, faster, and more repeatable alternative to FSSTs. This paper describes an attempt to address these issues by designing a device, the National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) HIC Component Tester (NHCT) using various multibody tools. This device was then fabricated and its performance evaluated against FSSTs conducted under similar test conditions for some typical impact events that occur in an aircraft cabins e.g. impact with bulkheads. The factors compared for this evaluation are the head impact angle, head impact velocity, HIC, HIC window, peak head C.G. resultant acceleration, average head C.G. resultant acceleration, and head C.G. resultant acceleration profiles. The results of these evaluations show that the NHCT already produces test results that correlate significantly with FSST results for impact targets such as bulkheads and its target envelope is expected eventually to include objects such as seat backs.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Effects of Intimate Partner Violence and Maternal Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms on Children's Emotional and Behavioral Functioning

Research has documented the detrimental effects of intimate partner violence (IPV) on children's emotional and behavioral functioning. This study examines the hypothesis that a child's response to witnessing IPV is most influenced by the mother's psychological health. We examined the relationships among IPV (as witnessed by children), mother's posttraumatic stress symptomatology (PTSS), and children's emotional and behavioral problems. Analyses revealed that mothers' PTSS, and not amount of violence witnessed, predicted children's emotion dysregulation.
Inhibition of Transforming Growth Factor β-enhanced Serum Response Factor-dependent Transcription by SMAD7

Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β is present in large amounts in the airways of patients with asthma and with other diseases of the lung. We show here that TGFβ treatment increased transcriptional activation of SM22α, a smooth muscle-specific promoter, in airway smooth muscle cells, and we demonstrate that this effect stems in part from TGFβ-induced enhancement of serum response factor (SRF) DNA binding and transcription promoting activity. Overexpression of Smad7 inhibited TGFβ-induced stimulation of SRF-dependent promoter function, and chromatin immunoprecipitation as well as co-immunoprecipitation assays established that endogenous or recombinant SRF interacts with Smad7 within the nucleus. The SRF binding domain of Smad7 mapped to the C-terminal half of the Smad7 molecule. TGFβ treatment weakened Smad7 association with SRF, and conversely the Smad7-SRF interaction was increased by inhibition of the TGFβ pathway through overexpression of a dominant negative mutant of TGFβ receptor I or of Smad3 phosphorylation-deficient mutant. Our findings thus reveal that SRF-Smad7 interactions in part mediate TGFβ regulation of gene transcription in airway smooth muscle. This offers potential targets for interventions in treating lung inflammation and asthma.
Chaotic dynamics of a slender beam rotating about its longitudinal axis

The transverse vibrations of a slender beam which is free to rotate about its longitudinal axis are considered. The beam is assumed to be flexible in one transverse derection only and a model is considered which accounts for non-linear stiffness due to mid-line stretching and non-linear inertia effects due to the rotation. Of interest here is the case when the spin rates are sufficiently large so that the straight position of the beam is unstable and the beam buckles due to centrifugal effects. The equations of motion for the individual modes are used to show, by using a verion of Melnikov's method, that chaotic motions exist for the first mode dynamic equations. Furthermore, it is shown by using the invariance of the modal subspaces that this chaos exists for the full beam equation: i.e., the partial differential equation of motion.
Synthesis, crystal structure and redox properties of bis-imidazolyl-containing copper(II) complexes

Abstract Two copper(II) complexes, [Cu(L1)Cl]Cl and [Cu(L2)Cl]Cl, with tetradentate ligands L1=N,N′-bis[(1-methylimidazol-2-yl)methyl]-1,3-diaminopropan-2-ol and L2=N,N′-bis[(1-methylimidazol-2-yl)methyl]-1,3-diaminopropane were prepared and characterized. Ligands L1 and L2 were synthesized by NaBH4 hydrogenation of the corresponding Schiff bases obtained from condensation of 1-methyl-2-imidazolecarboxaldehyde with 1,3-diaminopropan-2-ol and 1,3-diaminopropane, respectively. The crystal structures of the complexes are determined by X-ray diffraction. The complexes display a square-pyramidal geometry about the copper centers coordinating with Cl− and N4 donor set of the ligands. Electrochemical studies indicate that the complexes undergo quasi-reversible one-electron reduction in both acetonitrile and aqueous solutions.
Coupling small computers for performance enhancement

The advent of the microprocessor has opened up new avenues for the system designer to provide more powerful, more reliable and more user oriented computer systems to the user community for the same or lower costs. The problem confronting the designer is: How to achieve these goals? This paper describes one such method called Distributed Function Multiple Processor (DFMP).The system described uses several micro processors each with its own memory to form a cluster. These processors are differentiated by the functions they perform such as file managing, intelligent terminal, etc. and communicate via a Restricted Cross Bar Switch (RCBS). Further, several clusters or nodes can be linked to form a local network. Interprocessor and internode communications are controlled by a special processor called the Interprocessor Controller (PC) located in each node. The IPC's use an adaptive technique to determine traffic flows.
Collision strengths for inner-shell excitation of Li-like ions from levels of the 1s22s and 1s22p configurations to levels of the 1s2l2l′ configurations*

Coulomb-Born-Exchange data for collision strengths for inner-shell excitation from the levels of the 1s/sup 2/2s and 1s/sup 2/2p configurations to all fine-structure levels of the 1s2l2l' configurations in Li-like ions with 8< or =Z< or =74 have been fitted by simple functions of the impact electron energy epsilon in threshold units. To obtain collision rates, these functions can be readily integrated over a Maxwellian energy distribution for the electrons. Fits to the data for transitions between energy terms are also given. In addition, results are given for the transition energies and electric-dipole radiative line strengths. The basic collision-strength data to which the fits have been made are included for a sample of values for Z. These data cover the range of energies 1< or =epsilon< or =15 and include the effects of configuration mixing, parentage mixing, and intermediate coupling.
Distribution Theory of Resistance of Neurogenic Vasoconstriction to Alpha-Receptor Blockade in the Rabbit

The effects of α-receptor-blocking agents on the contractile responses of isolated rabbit arteries to sympathetic nerve stimulation and exogenous l -norepinephrine ( l -NE) were compared. In the pulmonary artery and aorta, yohimbine, phentolamine, and phenoxybenzamine blocked the response to nerve stimulation less than that to an equipotent dose of l -NE. This resistance of neurogenic response was independent of the frequency and number of stimuli and persisted after inhibition of the nerve l -NE uptake by cocaine. The neurogenically released transmitter l -NE probably forms a high concentration near the adventitia-media junction, whereas the exogenous NE is distributed evenly throughout the thickness of media. Thus higher concentrations of α-receptor-blocking agents would be needed to block the effect of neurogenic l -NE than to block that of exogenous l -NE. This explanation of the resistance was thought to be more appropriate to the large vessels tested than that based on neuroeffector proximity.