cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Neurofibrillary Tangles and Conversion to Mild Cognitive Impairment with Certain Antihypertensives

BACKGROUND Individuals taking renin angiotensin system (RAS) acting antihypertensives exhibit slower cognitive decline and are less likely to progress from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to Alzheimer's disease (AD), but the mechanism remains unclear. OBJECTIVE We tested the hypothesis that individuals taking RAS acting antihypertensives exhibit less AD-related neuropathology and slower disease progression than individuals taking non-RAS acting antihypertensives. METHOD Participants included 83 individuals with MCI who were taking an antihypertensive at baseline, had at least two follow-up visits, and had postmortem neuropathological data. Participants were old (M = 83.1 years), 32% male, well educated (M = 15.7 years), and 9.2% Black. RESULTS RAS medication users (N = 38) were less likely to progress to AD than non-RAS users (N = 45). RAS users exhibited fewer neurofibrillary tangles than non-RAS users in the hippocampal CA1 region (p < 0.01), entorhinal cortex (p = 0.03), and the angular gyrus, inferior temporal, mid-frontal cortex, and superior frontal (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION Prevention or clearance of neurofibrillary tangles represents a mechanism by which RAS medications may slow disease progression.
Internalization and accumulation of model lignin breakdown products in bacteria and fungi.

Valorization of lignin has the potential to significantly improve the economics of lignocellulosic biorefineries. However, its complex structure makes conversion to useful products elusive. One promising approach is depolymerization of lignin and subsequent bioconversion of breakdown products into value-added compounds. Optimizing transport of these depolymerization products into one or more organism(s) for biological conversion is important to maximize carbon utilization and minimize toxicity. Current methods assess internalization of depolymerization products indirectly—for example, growth on, or toxicity of, a substrate. Furthermore, no method has been shown to provide visualization of depolymerization products in individual cells. We applied mass spectrometry to provide direct measurements of relative internalized concentrations of several lignin depolymerization compounds and single-cell microscopy methods to visualize cell-to-cell differences in internalized amounts of two lignin depolymerization compounds. We characterized internalization of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, p-coumaric acid, syringic acid, and the model dimer guaiacylglycerol-beta-guaiacyl ether (GGE) in the lignolytic organisms Phanerochaete chrysosporium and Enterobacter lignolyticus and in the non-lignolytic but genetically tractable organisms Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Escherichia coli. The results show varying degrees of internalization in all organisms for all the tested compounds, including the model dimer, GGE. Phanerochaete chrysosporium internalizes all compounds in non-lignolytic and lignolytic conditions at comparable levels, indicating that the transporters for these compounds are not specific to the lignolytic secondary metabolic system. Single-cell microscopy shows that internalization of vanillic acid and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid analogs varies greatly among individual fungal and bacterial cells in a given population. Glucose starvation and chemical inhibition of ATP hydrolysis during internalization significantly reduced the internalized amount of vanillic acid in bacteria. Mass spectrometry and single-cell microscopy methods were developed to establish a toolset for providing direct measurement and visualization of relative internal concentrations of mono- and di-aryl compounds in microbes. Utilizing these methods, we observed broad variation in intracellular concentration between organisms and within populations and this may have important consequences for the efficiency and productivity of an industrial process for bioconversion. Subsequent application of this toolset will be useful in identifying and characterizing specific transporters for lignin-derived mono- and di-aryl compounds.
A Tribute to Abdul Ali (1957 – 2018):

Abdul Ali, a dear colleague at Babson College and a valued leader in the American Marketing Association Entrepreneurial Marketing Special Interest Group and the Global Research Symposium for Market...
Nonadiabatic Molecular Dynamics at Metal Surfaces.

Dynamics at molecule–metal interfaces are a subject of intense current interest and come in many different flavors of experiments: gas-phase scattering, chemisorption, electrochemistry, nanojunctio...
Abstract P012: Cytochrome P450 1B1 Generated 17β-Estradiol Metabolite 2-Methoxyestradiol Inhibits 12/15-Lipoxygenase To Protect Against Angiotensin II-induced Hypertension, Autonomic Dysfunction And Renal Injury In Female Mice

17β-estradiol (E2) via its cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1B1 generated metabolite 2-methoxyestradiol (2ME) protects from angiotensin (Ang) II-induced hypertension in female mice. Gene disruption of 12/15 l...
Effects of riboflavin and Bacillus subtilis on internal organ development and intestinal health of Ross 708 male broilers with or without coccidial challenge.

Abstract In a companion study, we found that inclusion of different doses of riboflavin affected growth performance of Ross 708 male broilers' responses to coccidial challenge (by 5 Eimeria spp on day 14 of age) and dietary Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) supplementation. The current study was conducted to further test whether supplementation of B. subtilis and riboflavin will reduce negative impact and inflammation caused by Eimeria spp proliferation and help proper function of internal organs. A total of 1,248 Ross × Ross 708 male broiler chicks were randomly placed in 96 floor pens (8 blocks, 12 treatments). Treatments were arranged in a 3 (riboflavin) × 2 (B. subtilis) × 2 (Coccidial challenge) factorial arrangement in a randomized complete block design. Coccidial challenge reduced the weight of sampled birds on day 27 and day 36 and increased the relative weights of the internal organs of proventriculus, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and spleen to BW on day 27, which may be because of inflammation caused by proliferation of Eimeria spp. The increased relative weights of duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and spleen on coccidial challenged birds were lost on day 36. Correlation analysis also indicated that the jejunum weight was positively related to villus height, Eimeria acervulina, and Eimeria maxima on day 27 but was not on day 36. The loss of the positive relationships may be because of recovery of the birds from coccidiosis on day 36. Even though the coccidial challenge and riboflavin interactively affected feed conversion ratio and BW gain and supplementation of dietary B. subtilis reduced mortality from day 35 to 42 in the companion study, the same response of internal organs was not observed in the current study. Coccidial challenge compromised development of internal organs of Ross 708 male broilers at an early age, but the negative effects subsided with age of birds rather than supplementation of riboflavin and B. subtilis at current tested levels under our experimental set up.
A Two-Scale Multi-Resolution Topologically Optimized Multi-Material Design of 3D Printed Craniofacial Bone Implants

Bone replacement implants for craniofacial reconstruction require to provide an adequate structural foundation to withstand the physiological loading. With recent advances in 3D printing technology in place of bone grafts using autologous tissues, patient-specific additively manufactured implants are being established as suitable alternates. Since the stress distribution of these structures is complicated, efficient design techniques, such as topology optimization, can deliver optimized designs with enhanced functionality. In this work, a two-scale topology optimization approach is proposed that provides multi-material designs for both macrostructures and microstructures. In the first stage, a multi-resolution topology optimization approach is used to produce multi-material designs with maximum stiffness. Then, a microstructure with a desired property supplants the solid domain. This is beneficial for bone implant design since, in addition to imparting the desired functional property to the design, it also introduces porosity. To show the efficacy of the technique, four different large craniofacial defects due to maxillectomy are considered, and their respective implant designs with multi-materials are shown. These designs show good potential in developing patient-specific optimized designs suitable for additive manufacturing.
Associations of parenting factors and weight related outcomes in African American adolescents with overweight and obesity

This study evaluated the associations between parenting factors and adolescent weight related outcomes in African American adolescents with overweight and obesity. Baseline heights and weights were collected from 241 African American adolescents (11–16 years) with overweight and obesity. Self-reported adolescent perceptions of caregiver’s parenting style (responsiveness, demandingness), parental feeding practices (monitoring, responsibility, weight related concerns, pressure-to-eat, and restriction), and their own dietary self-efficacy for healthy eating were assessed. Results demonstrated that greater parental responsiveness was significantly associated with lower adolescent body mass index (BMI) and higher adolescent dietary self-efficacy. In contrast, parental concern about adolescent weight was significantly associated with greater adolescent BMI, while greater parental responsibility for foods was associated with lower adolescent BMI. Although parental pressure-to-eat was significantly associated with higher dietary self-efficacy, greater parental restriction was associated with lower dietary self-efficacy. The results of this study highlight the importance of parental responsiveness and responsibility in understanding obesity related outcomes in African American adolescents with overweight and obesity.
New fluid kinematics

Fluid kinematics describes the fluid motion without consideration of any force. Classical fluid kinematics adopts Helmholtz velocity decomposition, which is equivalent to Cauchy-Stokes (CS) velocity gradient tensor decomposition. CS decomposes the velocity gradient tensor into a strain-rate (symmetric) tensor and a vorticity (anti-symmetric) tensor. However, several questions arise: (1) since vorticity cannot represent fluid rotation, the vorticity tensor is a mixture of vorticity shear and rigid rotation, (2) since the strain-rate tensor cannot represent fluid shear, the strain-rate tensor is a mixture of stretching and shear, (3) the stretching and shear in the CS decomposition are dependent on the selection of coordinate system and are therefore not Galilean invariant. On the other hand, Liutex is a new physical quantity to represent the rigid fluid rotation and a principal coordinate system can be set up based on Liutex. A principal decomposition of the velocity gradient tensor, or the rotation-stretching-shear decomposition, can be easily carried out in the principal coordinate system with a clear physical meaning, which represents the rigid rotation, stretching (compression) and shear (symmetric and anti-symmetric shear). In the principal decomposition, all elements in three sub-tensors are Galilean invariant and, therefore, the principal decomposition is unique, Galilean invariant and independent of coordinate system. The principal decomposition is then transformed back to the original xyz coordinate system. The Liutex-based principal decomposition creates the new fluid kinematics which is ready for building up new fluid dynamics. Since fluid kinematics is the foundation of the fluid dynamics, the new fluid kinematics could replace the classical fluid kinematics, Helmholtz or CS decomposition, and open a new gate to develop new fluid dynamics especially for vortex science and turbulence research.
Uptake and outcomes of sentinel lymph node mapping in women with atypical endometrial hyperplasia

Objectives: The role of nodal evaluation for endometrial cancer (EmCa) remains controversial. Sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping has been introduced as an alternative to lymph node dissection (LND) and may be associated with decreased morbidity. Little is known about the uptake and outcomes of SLN mapping. We examined trends in use and perioperative morbidity, mortality and complications for SLN mapping compared to LND for endometrial cancer. Methods: Women with EmCa who underwent a laparoscopic or robotic-assisted hysterectomy from 2012-2018 in the Premier Healthcare Database were examined. Performance of lymph node dissection was classified as SLN mapping, LND or no nodal evaluation based on procedural billing codes and CPT codes. Adjusted regression models were developed to examine the association between SLN mapping and perioperative morbidity, mortality and cost. Results: Among 45,381 patients, SLN mapping was performed in 7,768 (17.1%), LND in 23,214 (51.2%) and no lymphatic evaluation in 14,399 (31.7%). Performance of SLN mapping increased from 1.8% in 2012 to 35.3% in 2018 (19.6-fold increase), while the rate of LND decreased from 63.5% to 39.1% (1.6-fold decrease) (P Conclusions: Performance of SLN mapping is increasing rapidly for women with endometrial cancer. Compared to LND, SLN mapping is associated with lower perioperative morbidity and lower cost. Download : Download high-res image (70KB) Download : Download full-size image
Fine-needle aspiration cytopathology of soft tissue myoepithelioma: an analysis of seven cases.

Introduction Soft tissue myoepithelioma (STM), a rare mesenchymal neoplasm morphologically analogous to its more common salivary gland (SG) counterpart, is the subject of single case reports regarding its fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy. To our knowledge, ours is the first case series of STM. Materials and methods A search was made of our pathology databases for cases diagnosed as STM. FNA biopsy smears and cell blocks were performed using standard techniques. Results Seven cases were retrieved from 4 men and 3 women (M:F = 1.3:1; age range: 25-79 years, x = 54 years). All but 1 presented as a primary neoplasm. Six aspirates were from the extremities, and 1 from the abdominal wall. Mean tumor size was 5.7 cm. Cytologic diagnosis of STM or suspicious for STM was made in 3 cases (43%). Remaining FNA diagnoses were spindle cell neoplasm/lesion (2), spindle cell sarcoma (1), and extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma (1). Three cases were composed primarily or solely of uniform spindle cells, 3 primarily of uniform epithelioid cells with plasmacytoid features, and 1 case a mixture of these 2 cell types. Myxoid/chondromyxoid stroma was relatively abundant except in the single hypocellular example. Immunohistochemical (IHC) testing performed in 71% was nonspecific, but positive with S-100 in 4 of 5, EMA in 3 of 3, calponin in 2 of 2, and keratin in 1 of 3 examples. Conclusion FNA biopsy smears of STM are remarkably similar cytomorphologically to their SG equivalent. However, STM can be misidentified principally as extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma, thus requiring a relatively broad IHC panel for a specific diagnosis.
Salivary Function after Radioiodine Therapy: Poor Correlation between Symptoms and Salivary Scintigraphy.

The aim of this study was to determine whether there was a correlation between salivary symptoms and salivary functioning following radioiodine therapy. Fifteen patients receiving radioactive iodine therapy for differentiated thyroid cancer completed a questionnaire assessing their salivary and nasal symptoms and underwent salivary scanning prior to therapy and 3 and 12 months after therapy. Measures of salivary gland accumulation and secretion were correlated with scores of salivary and nasal symptomatology. The mean number of salivary, nasal, and total symptoms at 3 months increased significantly over the number of symptoms at baseline by 3.7, 2.7, and 6.3 symptoms respectively (p values 0.001, 0.0046, and <0.001). The mean right parotid gland accumulation and secretion of radioisotope declined significantly at 3 months, compared with baseline. There was no association between the increase in salivary, nasal, or total symptoms and the change in scintigraphy measures. The increases in nasal and total symptoms were significant in those with co-existent Hashimoto’s disease, compared with those without this condition (p values 0.01 and 0.04). Nasal symptoms decreased (p value 0.04) in those who used sour candies, compared with those who did not. Increasing body mass index was significantly associated with increasing nasal symptoms (p value 0.05). Greater decline in salivary parameters at 3 months compared with baseline was generally associated with heavier body weight, decreased thyroid cancer stage, absence of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, and pre-menopausal status. Although salivary and nasal symptoms increased and salivary scintigraphy parameters decreased after radioiodine therapy, the variables associated with symptoms and changes in salivary scan parameters differed. A better understanding of the relationship between salivary gland symptoms and functioning, and the factors affecting susceptibility to salivary and nasal damage after radioiodine therapy is needed.
Correlated consecutive 2-out-of-n failed systems

Most methods to model system reliability assume component failures are statistically independent in order to simplify analysis. In many cases, however, the components of a system can experience correlated failures. This is especially true of consecutive k-out-of-n: F systems because the failure of consecutive components can be geospatially correlated due to events such as natural disasters and power outages. A method to quantify the reliability of a consecutive k-out-of-n: F system that does not assume statistically independent component failures is needed to explicitly consider the impact of correlated failures on the reliability of such systems. This paper presents a method to model the reliability of a consecutive 2-out-of-n failed system composed of correlated components. The approach produces analytical expressions for the reliability of discrete and continuous systems in terms of the component reliabilities and the correlation between the failures of the components. We demonstrate our approach through examples, which illustrate the impact of correlated component failures on system reliability and metrics such as mean time to failure. These examples illustrate that correlated failures can negatively influence the reliability of a consecutive k-out-of-n:F system. Thus, the approach can quantify the improvements to system reliability that could be achieved by lowering the correlation between the failures of a system's components.
The inhibition of pulmonary maturation in the fetal rabbit by maternal treatment with phenobarbital

Abstract Phenobarbital was administered to pregnant rabbits, 7 to 10 days before the delivery of their fetuses at 27 to 30 days of gestation. There were no differences in body weight or wet or dry lung weights between control animals and phenobarbital-treated pups at similar gestational ages. The phospholipid content (PLC) of the alveolar wash was lower in the phenobarbital-treated group, but there was no difference in the lung tissue PLC between the treated and control groups. Phenobarbital-treated pups had higher opening pressures and fewer lamellar bodies than the control animals. These data suggest that phenobarbital may have an inhibitory effect on surfactant production and/or release.
Purification of Single- and Double-Length M13 Virions by Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis

Complete separation of single- and double-length M13 virions from each other and from still-longer phage particles was achieved by electrophoresis of phage stocks through 2.5% polyacrylamide gels.
The Schwarz function and its applications

H. A. Schwarz showed us how to extend the notion of reflection in straight lines and circles to reflection in an arbitrary analytic arc. Notable applications were made to the symmetry principle and to problems of analytic continuation. Reflection, in the hands of Schwarz, is an antianalytic mapping. By taking its complex conjugate, we arrive at an analytic function that we have called here the Schwarz Function of the analytic arc. This function is worthy of study in its own right and this essay presents such a study. In dealing with certain familiar topics, the use of the Schwarz Function lends a point of view, a clarity and elegance, and a degree of generality which might otherwise be missing. It opens up a line of inquiry which has yielded numerous interesting things in complex variables; it illuminates some functional equations and a variety of iterations which interest the numerical analyst. The perceptive reader will certainly find here some old wine in relabelled bottles. But one of the principles of mathematical growth is that the relabelling process often suggests a new generation of problems. Means become ends; the medium rapidly becomes the message. This book is not wholly self-contained. Readers will find that they should be familiar with the elementary portions of linear algebra and of the theory of functions of a complex variable.
Analysis of circulating prostate tumor cells by fluorescence in situ hybridization

PL07 Patients with metastatic prostate cancer typically shed significant numbers of tumor cells into the circulation, so blood samples provide a minimally-invasive means of assessing disease status and can be used for monitoring response to new therapies. The enumeration of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) has recently been approved as a prognostic biomarker, and changes in CTC numbers over time provide a clear indication of individual patient disease and response to therapy. These enumeration samples provide a valuable source of tumor cells for further molecular analysis. We are using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) on CTC enumeration samples collected from men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer undergoing a variety of new therapies. We will report our experience with FISH, including a 4-color probe combination comprising the Androgen Receptor locus ( AR ), X centromere, MYC , and NAT2 as an 8p copy marker. In an initial set of 25 patients analyzed with this probe combination we observed high-level chromosomal amplification of AR in 48% and gain of MYC (relative to 8p copy number) in 68% of patients. Furthermore, considerable chromosomal heterogeneity was observed, so it is possible to monitor changes evolving in successive samples over time. Overall, the isolated CTCs present a very similar molecular cytogenetic profile to that reported for late stage tumors, but the increased incidence of AR amplification reflects both the effectiveness of modern androgen ablation therapies and the critical importance of androgen signaling even in very late stage prostate cancer.
American Red Cross posters and the cultural politics of motherhood in World War I

Scholars have long held that World War I markedly impacted women's participation in the public sphere as questions of appropriate wartime participation for women arose. Posters were an important tool for communicating notions of feminine citizenship and patriotism during the US involvement in the war. In this article, I explore the influence of the US involvement in World War I on social constructions of white femininity and citizenship through their portrayal in American Red Cross posters produced between 1914 and 1919. These posters offer a distinct visual documentation of the cultural shift in the portrayal of, and the insistence on, white women's – particularly nurses’ – responsibilities during wartime. I argue that the sentiments and language of the newly splintered women's movements were co-opted into the service of the war and were further emboldened with religious sentiments. American Red Cross posters called upon women to enact their presumed innate nurturing tendencies, and by extension, their f...
Using the Vascular Quality Initiative to improve quality of care and patient outcomes for vascular surgery patients

The Society for Vascular Surgery Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI) is a collaborative network of vascular specialists from various specialties that seeks to improve the quality and safety of vascular care by sharing data among physicians, medical centers, and regions. Working under a Patient Safety Organization designation by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the VQI provides a protected environment where data can be pooled and evaluated for trends that might provide opportunities to improve the care we provide our patients. Since its inception in 2011, this national organization has grown rapidly and now involves >300 medical centers that are separated into 18 active regional groups who meet twice yearly to discuss quality improvement. The structure of the VQI provides a powerful platform for data collection and analysis, and has allowed the development of a large body of literature that demonstrates the importance and benefits of participation. Here we provide a brief overview of the VQI to date.
Erratum to: Mechanisms in the relation between GABRA2 and adolescent externalizing problems.

The published version of the paper has stated the coding direction of the ancestry factor scores incorrectly. Higher levels of the ancestry factor scores actually indicate higher levels of non-Hispanic Caucasian ancestry (not higher levels of Hispanic ancestry). Therefore, under the “Participants” section, it should state that the included participants had higher levels of non-Hispanic Caucasian ancestry when compared with excluded participants. Under the “Results” section, it should state that the Hispanic ancestry predicted higher T2 alcohol problems and hyperactive–inattentive symptoms.
INFLUENCE OF SODIUM HEXAMETAPHOSPHATE ON SELECTED BACTERIA.

Sodium hexametaphosphate (HEX), the solvent of calcium alginate wool used in swabbing inanimate surfaces was studied relative to its effect on various bacterial populations, both pure cultures and wild. It was found that bacteria in wild populations were greatly inhibited, and that a percentage reduction of count was directly related to concentration of HEX. Most gram-positive bacteria were prevented from growing on a medium containing 0.1% HEX. This, or a higher concentration, occurred in the final medium when the method recommended in Standard Methods for the Examination of Dairy Products was followed. Growth of Sarcina lutea occurred on media with higher concentrations than that of inhibition (0.05%), if MgSO4·7H2O was incorporated in the medium. Gram-negative bacteria were capable of growing in higher concentrations, even up to 10% HEX. A large percentage of the cells of some strains (represented by Pseudomonas fluorescens) were lysed on contact with HEX. Lysis could be prevented by the addition of NaCl or MgSO4·7H2O. The evidence presented suggests that HEX, a phosphate-glass water-softening sequestrant, interferes with divalent cation metabolism, notably magnesium ion, and possibly others, producing cell division inhibition and loss of cell-wall integrity. The mechanism of action was not elucidated.
Donor Sperm Insemination Cycles: Are Two Inseminations Better Than One?

The objective of this study was to determine the clinical pregnancy rate with 2 inseminations compared to a single intrauterine insemination (IUI) in a given cycle using frozen-thawed donor sperm. This was a retrospective study at a university practice; patients were women using donor sperm. We conducted a comparison of single IUI, intracervical insemination (ICI) followed by an IUI on the next day, and double IUI (2 consecutive days); clinical pregnancy rate was the main outcome measure. The cycle-specific and total pregnancy rates were not significantly different between the 3 protocol groups (306 cycles). The average pregnancy rate over 3 cycles was 10.2% for IUI, 15.3% for ICI/IUI, and 13.7% for IUI/IUI (P = .47). After controlling for repeated measures per subject and age, gravidity, and use of Clomid, there was no significant difference between protocols. The ICI/IUI (odds ratio [OR] = 1.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.83-3.51) and IUI/IUI (OR = 1.5; 95% CI, 0.52-4.33) protocols appeared more likely to result in a clinical pregnancy than the single IUI protocol. Current information on the optimal number of inseminations per cycle using donor sperm is limited. Our large study using 3 protocols found an increase in pregnancy rate with the addition of either an ICI or IUI to a single IUI protocol in a natural or Clomid cycle but did not meet statistical significance. Additional prospective studies are needed to better counsel patients using donor sperm.
In situ changes in the relative abundance of human epidermal cytokine messenger RNA levels following exposure to the poison ivy/oak contact allergen urushiol.

Abstract: Epidermal keratinocytes in culture have been shown to produce many cytokines, and their proteins have been identified in skin tissue samples. It has therefore been assumed that these cytokines are transcribed in vivo by the epidermis in response to contact allergens. In this report, in situ hybridization was used to detect the messenger RNAs for interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in samples of human skin prior to and at various times after application of urushiol, the immunogenic component of poison ivy/oak. In sensitive subjects, IL-1 alpha and TNF-alpha mRNAs showed a progressive increase in transcript levels that paralleled the clinical and histological features of the inflammatory process. The time-course of the IL-1 beta response differed from that of IL-1 alpha and TNF-alpha, in that there was an early (by 6 h after urushiol administration) elevation in IL-1 beta mRNA that occurred before there was evidence of inflammation and had returned to background levels by 72 h when the reaction had reached its peak. In contrast to urushiol-sensitive subjects, urushiol-anergic individuals did not exhibit an increase in IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta or TNF-alpha mRNA levels. The data provide evidence for an in vivo role for epidermal IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha transcription in the regulation of IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha polypeptide levels in the epidermis in response to this common contact allergen.
An improved method of microdialysis

Abstract A new technique is described for the dialysis of minute volumes of sample. The samples to be dialyzed are compartmentalized in an inverted plastic microcentrifuge tube fitted with a dialysis membrane secured by a bored snap-on lid. This procedure is efficient and recovery of the sample is nearly quantitative. Samples can also be conveniently stored in the microcentrifuge tubes used in the dialysis.
Trait impulsivity and response inhibition in antisocial personality disorder.

Background Impulsive behavior is a prominent characteristic of antisocial personality disorder. Impulsivity is a complex construct, however, representing distinct domains of cognition and action. Leading models refer to impulsivity as an inability to evaluate a stimulus fully before responding to it (rapid-response impulsivity), and as an inability to delay responding despite a larger reward (reward-delay impulsivity). We investigated these models in terms of the diagnosis and severity of antisocial personality disorder.
The Genetics of Schizophrenia: A Current, Genetic-epidemiologic Perspective

In the "Special Report on Schizophrenia" published in the Schizophrenia Bulletin in 1987, the genetic basis of schizophrenia was reviewed. Here, we provide our perspective on the current status of this area of investigation, focusing largely but not exclusively on recent findings. Methodologically rigorous family studies have now clearly shown that schizophrenia substantially aggregates in families. Familial factors that predispose to schizophrenia also increase the risk for certain schizophrenia-related personality disorders and probably for some forms of non-schizophrenic nonaffective psychosis. Results from one new twin study and updates from two ongoing adoption studies continue to support the hypothesis that genetic factors play a major role in the etiology of schizophrenia. Little is known about how genetic liability to schizophrenia is transmitted, although statistical models suggest that transmission is probably not due solely to a single major gene. Schizophrenia is clearly a complex disorder in that gene carriers need not manifest the illness (incomplete penetrance), affected individuals need not have the gene (environmental forms of phenocopies), diagnostic uncertainties cannot be avoided, and different families may carry different susceptibility genes (genetic heterogeneity). Therefore, segregation or linkage analyses are far more difficult to perform with schizophrenia than with Mendelian genetic disorders. Given this complexity, it is not too surprising that no replicated positive evidence for linkage to schizophrenia has been reported to date. However, just as linkage analysis of schizophrenia should not be excessively embraced as the only form of viable genetic research in schizophrenia, it also shouldn't be prematurely spurned. If one or several genes of major effect exist for schizophrenia, large samples using new statistical and laboratory methodologies have a good chance of detecting them. The authors thus recommend a balanced research approach to the genetics of schizophrenia that includes traditional methods of family, twin, and adoption studies as well as a major effort in large-sample linkage studies.
Multi-Class Multi-Scale Series Contextual Model for Image Segmentation

Contextual information has been widely used as a rich source of information to segment multiple objects in an image. A contextual model uses the relationships between the objects in a scene to facilitate object detection and segmentation. Using contextual information from different objects in an effective way for object segmentation, however, remains a difficult problem. In this paper, we introduce a novel framework, called multiclass multiscale (MCMS) series contextual model, which uses contextual information from multiple objects and at different scales for learning discriminative models in a supervised setting. The MCMS model incorporates cross-object and inter-object information into one probabilistic framework and thus is able to capture geometrical relationships and dependencies among multiple objects in addition to local information from each single object present in an image. We demonstrate that our MCMS model improves object segmentation performance in electron microscopy images and provides a coherent segmentation of multiple objects. Through speeding up the segmentation process, the proposed method will allow neurobiologists to move beyond individual specimens and analyze populations paving the way for understanding neurodegenerative diseases at the microscopic level.
Isothermal Frontal Polymerization: Confirmation of the Mechanism and Determination of Factors Affecting the Front Velocity, Front Shape, and Propagation Distance with Comparison to Mathematical Modeling

Isothermal frontal polymerization (IFP) is a directional polymerization that uses the Trommsdorff, or gel, effect to produce gradient materials for optical applications. When a solution of methyl methacrylate and a thermal initiator contacts a polymer seed (a small piece of polymer), a viscous region is formed in which the polymerization rate is faster because of the Trommsdorff effect. Using the optical techniques of laser line deflection (Weiner's method) and shadowgraphy along with controls, we obtained definitive experimental evidence of IFP. Moreover, we were able to measure accurately and precisely the front position and front concentration profile as a function of time by monitoring IFP systems and controls of various initiator concentrations and cure temperatures. The experimental data were compared with theoretical predictions from a model using mass-diffusion and radical polymerization kinetics. The model reproduced the decrease of the propagation time and showed an increase in the propagation velocity for an increase in the initiator concentration and/or cure temperature. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 5774–5786, 2005
Effect of meat curing agents and phosphates on thiobarbituric acid (TBA) numbers of ground beef determined by the aqueous acid extraction TBA-C18 method

The effects of ascorbic acid (0–0·06%), sodium nitrite (0–0·03%), and phosphates (0·5%) on thiobarbituric acid (TBA) numbers obtained by a new aqueous acid extraction TBA-C18 method were evaluated both in malonaldehyde containing aqueous systems and in ground beef samples. Sodium nitrite significantly (P < 0·05) decreased the formation of red coloured malonaldehyde-TBA complex and addition of sulphanilamide or ascorbic acid did not successfully overcome this problem. All the phosphates tested in this study did not interfere with the formation of the malonaldehyde-TBA complex in both aqueous solutions and ground beef. Therefore, the aqueous acid extraction TBA-C18 method can be used for malonaldehyde measurement in meat products containing phosphates, but interference with the malonaldehyde-TBA reaction by nitrite remained a problem.
Towards optimal design of avionics networking infrastructures

In this work, we address the problem of transforming the process of making design decisions for networking infrastructures in avionics systems from an ad-hoc approach to a systematic, structured approach. Given a set of data communications needs, the goal is to show how a variety of candidate network topologies (e.g. multi-drop bus vs. hub-and-spoke) and avionics protocols such as ARINC 664, MIL-STD-1553B, ARINC 429 and ARINC 825 (CAN), would perform over a continuum of values, and select the best configuration for a given target platform. We have developed a simulation tool based on OPNET which (a) emulates each of the above standards (b) identifies strengths and limitations of each one in handling a given load and characterizes their behavior over a continuum of values, and (c) provides guidelines for the optimal choice to meet the given requirements.
Pentecostal Theologies of Healing, HIV/AIDS, and Women’s Agency in South Africa

This article examines the gendered implications of healing theologies in black South African pentecostal churches dealing with the HIV/AIDS crisis. Lived theologies of healing enhance women’s flourishing by providing or encouraging medical, social, and psychological support. However, pentecostal theologies of healing can impede women’s flourishing by creating a burdensome sense of responsibility in which women blame themselves for not being healed. More disturbingly, many women consider prayer as the most faithful or most feasible strategy for HIV prevention. This article identifies women’s constrained choices as a theological imperative for Pentecostalism to address gender inequality.
Sources of work-family conflict among two-career couples

Abstract This study examined different types of work domain pressures as sources of work-family conflict among two-career couples. Data gathered from a matched sample of 119 men and 119 women who were partners in a two-career relationship provided strong support for the influence of work role stressors on two forms of work-family conflict, time-based conflict and strain-based conflict. The impact of task characteristics and work salience on work-family conflict was somewhat stronger for women than for men. In addition, there were significant interactions between partners' job involvement on men's level of time-based conflict and between partners career priority on men's level of strain-based conflict. The implications of the findings for additional research on work-family conflict were discussed.
Generalized vortex methods for free surface flow problems. part II: radiating waves

Generalized vortex methods are applied to the study of free surface motion in incompressible, irrotational, inviscid, layered flows in which waves are generated by external means, such as the motion of submerged bodies. Radiation conditions are developed that allow outward-traveling waves to escape the computational domain without significant reflection. Numerical sponge layers are used to absorb outward-traveling waves. Applications are given to wave generation by surface pressure distributions and by translating submerged bodies.
Identifying Information Assets for Open Data: The Role of Business Architecture and Information Quality

The past few years have seen a growing interest in Open Data, a movement that encourages the sharing of public sector information for better governance, greater services and more vibrant economy. While data in government agencies are in abundance, their value and quality vary significantly. Without a structured approach, low-value and poor-quality information assets may be chosen, limiting the positive impact of Open Data. In recognizing the research gap, we propose a five-phase process of data selection, drawing insights from the domains of business architecture and information quality. The process is described and illustrated with an example of local government at the city level. It can be applied to other government agencies as they embark on Open Data initiatives.
Religion on Campus

Religion on Campus is a valuable and unique resource for all who are interested in what is actually happening in the religious life of students and faculty on college campuses today. Are you intere...
Hydrocarbons and eddy mixing in Neptune's atmosphere

Abstract The most recent analysis of the Voyager ultraviolet solar occultation observations at Neptune indicates a methane mixing ratio 1–10 times above saturation in the lower stratosphere, unlike the value of 500–1000 times saturation which was suggested just before the encounter of Voyager with Neptune. The acetylene mixing ratio in the 0.1 mb region is found to be (6–8) × 10 −8 , which is approximately a factor of 3 lower than the value reported in our Voyager/Science paper. The eddy diffusion coefficient at the homopause, (1–3) × 10 7 cm 2 s −1 , is found to be more like that on Saturn than Uranus. The new results on CH 4 , C 2 H 2 and K have strong implications for the stratospheric temperatures, now warmer, and the source of heating. Furthermore, the pre-Voyager models of the hydrocarbon hazes need to be revised in view of the new model atmosphere.
A generational explanation for surges in managerial rhetorics

Purpose – Previous research has shown that eras of managerial rhetorics have alternated between normative and rational ideologies. The purpose of this study is to test the influence of generational membership on this phenomenon.Design/methodology/approach – Examining data for the past 130 years, eras of managerial rhetorics are matched with recurring generational archetypes.Findings – Empirical evidence is analyzed and found to be generally supportive of the hypotheses: generational membership is associated with the timing of the alternation in managerial rhetorics.Research limitations/implications – The findings of association suggest generational change could be a causal driver of long‐term change in managerial rhetorics.Practical implications – The model tested implies a predictive ability to anticipate the movement from the current normative rhetoric to a new rational rhetoric in the near future.Originality/value – This study is the first to find evidence that the alternation between rational and norm...
Acute, idiopathic blind spot enlargement syndrome.

ABSTRACT: An otherwise healthy 12-year-old boy was evaluated for an enlarged blind spot in his left eye. Neither optic nerve edema/neuritis nor a retrobulbar mass explained this finding. Consultation with a neuro-ophthalmologist over a period of 14 months resulted in a diagnosis of acute, idiopathic blind spot enlargement syndrome, a rare and poorly understood ocular condition. To the author’s knowledge, this is the youngest case ever reported.
An Analysis of the Cost Effectiveness of an Adaptable Computing Cluster

With a focus on commodity PC systems, Beowulf clusters traditionally lack the cutting edge network architectures, memory subsystems, and processor technologies found in their more expensive supercomputer counterparts. What Beowulf clusters lack in technology, they more than make up for with their significant cost advantage over traditional supercomputers. This paper presents the cost implications of an architectural extension that adds reconfigurable computing to the network interface of Beowulf clusters. This extension is called an intelligent network interface card (INIC). A quantitative description of cost-effectiveness is formulated to compare alternatives. Cost-effectiveness is considered in the context of three applications: the 2D Fast Fourier Transform (2D-FFT), integer sorting, and PNN image classification. It is shown that, for these three representative applications, there is a range of basic hardware costs and cluster sizes for which the INIC is more efficient than a purely serial solution or an ordinary cluster. Furthermore, the cost model has proven useful for designing the next generation INIC.
Optical observations of OV - 236

Dent and Balonek1 recently reported a large outburst in the radio source OV – 236 (=1921 – 293). We have made optical observations of the associated optical object, and report here that it has a high degre of linear polarization, optically variability of ∼1 mag in 25 days, and an emission-line spectrum at a redshift z = 0.3525. It thus belongs to the small class of extragalactic objects whose properties are intermediate between those of ‘classical’ QSOs and BL Lac objects.
Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentration is Associated with Functional Capacity in Older Adults with Heart Failure

Background Vitamin D is a fat-soluble hormone necessary for calcium homeostasis. Recently, studies have demonstrated that vitamin D may be important to the health of the cardiovascular system. Methods Adults ≥50 years of age with heart failure were recruited for assessment of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) concentrations. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing was used to assess functional capacity. Proximal muscle strength was evaluated with a Biodex leg press (Biodex, Shirley, NY), and health status was assessed with the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire. Univariate associations between physical performance and health status measures and 25OHD followed by a linear regression model were used to study associations, adjusting for other potential explanatory variables. Results Forty adults 67.8 ± 10.9 years of age (55% women and 57.5% African American) with mean ejection fraction 40% were analyzed (New York Heart Association class II in 70% and class III in 30%). Comorbidities included 77.5% hypertension and 47.5% diabetes. The mean 25OHD concentration was 18.5 ± 9.1 ng/mL, and mean peak Vo 2 , 14 ± 4 mL/kg/min. In univariate regression analysis, 25OHD was positively associated with peak Vo 2 ( P = .045). Multivariable regression analysis sustained positive association between 25OHD and peak Vo 2 ( P = .044) after adjusting for age, race, and respiratory exchange ratio (adjusted R 2 = 0.32). Association between proximal muscle strength with the 25OHD concentration was not significant. The Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire physical limitation domain score was negatively associated with 25OHD ( P = .04) but was not sustained in multivariable analysis. Conclusions 25-Hydroxyvitamin D may be an important marker or modulator of functional capacity in patients with heart failure. Randomized controlled trials are needed to assess the effect of vitamin D repletion on functional performance.