cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Using radiology to teach physiology.

Background Radiology is well poised to play an important role in the teaching of physiology, one of the core disciplines of medicine. Physiology is an absolutely foundational medical discipline that informs every diagnostic test and therapy physicians prescribe, and radiology teaches a deep understanding. Methods Radiologic case studies using pairs of radiologic cases, one illustrating normal physiology and the second illustrating pathophysiology, are presented. The presentation uses the 2 radiologic images (normal and pathophysiology) to focus on 4 broad physiologic principles that apply across all organ systems. These principles are (1) homeostasis, (2) biologic energy use, (3) structure-function relationships, and (4) communication. Two examples are given for each of the principles. Results Radiologic case studies teach the integrating principles. A demonstration of the first integrated principle, homeostasis, is given. For example, cerebral perfusion scintigraphy measures blood flow to the brain and can determine if flow is disrupted. Normal results will demonstrate the tracer in the arteries and veins during the flow phase and accumulation of the tracer within the brain during the delayed imaging. A second clinical example of homeostasis is erythropoiesis. Two radiologic examples of each principle (normal and pathologic) support the use of radiology to teach physiology. Conclusion Radiologic case studies can illustrate physiologic principles in ways that can enhance students' grasp of both the physiology and its role in helping physicians take better care of patients. Working with actual images brings physiology to life; the learning is relevant and practical.
Liver gene expression analysis reveals endoplasmic reticulum stress and metabolic dysfunction in SCD1-deficient mice fed a very low-fat diet

We previously reported that mice deficient in stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (Scd1) and maintained on a very low-fat (VLF) diet for 10 days developed severe loss of body weight, hypoglycemia, hyperchole...
Use of behavioral economics and social psychology to improve treatment of acute respiratory infections (BEARI): rationale and design of a cluster randomized controlled trial [1RC4AG039115-01]--study protocol and baseline practice and provider characteristics.

Inappropriate antibiotic prescribing for nonbacterial infections leads to increases in the costs of care, antibiotic resistance among bacteria, and adverse drug events. Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) are the most common reason for inappropriate antibiotic use. Most prior efforts to decrease inappropriate antibiotic prescribing for ARIs (e.g., educational or informational interventions) have relied on the implicit assumption that clinicians inappropriately prescribe antibiotics because they are unaware of guideline recommendations for ARIs. If lack of guideline awareness is not the reason for inappropriate prescribing, educational interventions may have limited impact on prescribing rates. Instead, interventions that apply social psychological and behavioral economic principles may be more effective in deterring inappropriate antibiotic prescribing for ARIs by well-informed clinicians.
Finite element analysis of a piezoelectrically actuated slider for magnetic recording

The static and dynamic characteristics of a slider incorporating a piezoelectric bender are presented. The behavior of the slider is simulated by a finite-element method that is used to evaluate the sensitivity, stresses, natural frequencies, and mode shapes of the slider. The analysis reveals the optimal thickness ratio and the dominant bending mechanism of the bender as well as the effect of the epoxy bond used in the fabrication process. Experimental data are also presented and show good agreement with the simulation results. >
Histophilus somni IbpA DR2/Fic in Virulence and Immunoprotection at the Natural Host Alveolar Epithelial Barrier

Newly recognized Fic family virulence proteins may be important in many bacterial pathogens. To relate cellular mechanisms to pathogenesis and immune protection, we studied the cytotoxicity of the Histophilus somni immunoglobulin-binding protein A (IbpA) direct repeat 2 Fic domain (DR2/Fic) for natural host target cells. Live virulent IbpA-producing H. somni strain 2336, a cell-free culture supernatant (CCS) of this strain, or recombinant DR2/Fic (rDR2/Fic) caused dramatic retraction and rounding of bovine alveolar type 2 (BAT2) epithelial cells. IbpA-deficient H. somni strain 129Pt and a Fic motif His(298)Ala mutant rDR2/Fic protein were not cytotoxic. The cellular mechanism of DR2/Fic cytotoxicity was demonstrated by incubation of BAT2 cell lysates with strain 2336 CCS or rDR2/Fic in the presence of [alpha-(32)P]ATP, which resulted in adenylylation of Rho GTPases and cytoskeletal disruption. Since IbpA is not secreted by type III or type IV secretion systems, we determined whether DR2/Fic entered the host cytoplasm to access its Rho GTPase targets. Although H. somni did not invade BAT2 cells, DR2/Fic was internalized by cells treated with H. somni, CCS, or the rDR2/Fic protein, as shown by confocal immunomicroscopy. Transwell bacterial migration assays showed that large numbers of strain 2336 bacteria migrated between retracted BAT2 cells, but IbpA-deficient strain 129Pt did not cross a monolayer unless the monolayer was pretreated with strain 2336 CCS or rDR2/Fic protein. Antibody to rDR2/Fic or passively protective convalescent-phase serum blocked IbpA-mediated cytotoxicity and inhibited H. somni transmigration across BAT2 monolayers, confirming the role of DR2/Fic in pathogenesis and corresponding to the results for in vivo protection in previous animal studies.
Effects of indomethacin on furosemide-induced changes in renal blood flow.

SummaryThe effects of indomethacin on furosemide induced changes in renal blood flow were determined in dogs. Furosemide alone caused an increase in total renal blood flow while indomethacin alone decreased renal blood flow. When furosemide was administered to animals pretreated with indomethacin the increase in renal blood flow was blocked. Changes in intrarenal blood flow distribution were also measured using radioactive microspheres. The pattern of blood flow distribution after furosemide was modified in some of the animals pretreated with indomethacin. Stimulation of renin secretion occurred after furosemide in indo-methacin-treated animals. The data suggest that the changes in renal blood flow produced by furosemide may be modulated by the prostaglandin system.The authors acknowledge the technical assistance of Ms. Tonie Thiel and Mr. Keith Crosslan.
Teaching the Unknown and the Unknowable in Requirements Engineering Education

A challenge in teaching students about the "realities" of requirements engineering (RE) in systems design involves managing requirements change and uncertainty, with all the associated unknowns and unknowable. This paper aims to inspire a discussion for why knowing the unknown and unknowable of RE is a critical design skill. We describe how we might go about fostering an attitude of acceptance versus resistance and fear of the unknown and unknowable in RE, and help develop an important skill in systems design students. The classroom experiences, successes and challenges are described, and suggestions offered for future work.
Porous surface modified bioactive glass stimulates tissue engineered repair of long bone defects

Massive bone loss of the proximal femur is a common problem in revision hip arthroplasties. Allograft bone is commonly used to reconstruct the site for fixation of the new prosthesis. However, the long-term function of the prosthesis can be compromised due to the delayed healing or poor remodeling of the allograft. Thus, alternative materials are needed to function not only as mechanical fillers but, to induce bone formation and ultimately, be replaced by and function as normal bone tissue. We have developed a porous, bioactive scaffold that stimulates the expression of the osteoblastic phenotype and production of bone-like matrix in vitro. In this present study, we investigate, mechanically, the incorporation of the scaffold in a long bone defect in the rat.
Recombinant PTH therapy for severe hypoparathyroidism after kidney transplantation in pre‐transplant parathyroidectomized patients: review of the literature and a case report

Although transient hypocalcemia following kidney transplantation can occur, severe refractory hypocalcemia is uncommon. We report a case of a 31-yr-old highly sensitized man with end-stage renal disease caused by reflux nephropathy, who received an expanded criteria deceased donor kidney transplant. The post-transplant course was significant for profound hypocalcemia despite treatment with large doses of calcium and vitamin D, in the setting of severe hypoparathyroidism following a subtotal parathyroidectomy three yr prior to the transplant. His course was also complicated by suboptimal allograft function with significant new vascular changes seen in the allograft biopsy by seven wk post-transplant. Teriparatide (recombinant parathyroid hormone) injections were initiated (up to three times daily) with improvement in the vascular changes and a decrease in calcium phosphate calcification in biopsy, as well as reduction in hypercalciuria, restoration of calcium phosphate homeostasis and stabilization of allograft function. We describe six other cases of post-transplant hypoparathyroidism, with five of six having decreased allograft function and three of those five demonstrating significant accelerated vascular changes on biopsy. We discuss the use of teriparatide injections for the treatment of renal transplant recipients with impaired renal function in the setting of hypoparathyroidism.
Diagnosis of transition fault clusters

When multiple defects are present in a chip, the defects may be distributed randomly, or clustered in certain areas. When a large number of defects are clustered in an area, the possibility that their effects will interact is stronger than when they are fewer and further apart. This paper demonstrates that this reduces the accuracy of fault diagnosis based on single faults. Specifically, with the same diagnosis procedure based on single faults and the same number of faults injected into a circuit, random subsets of transition faults are easier to diagnose than clusters. The paper also develops a fault diagnosis procedure based on single faults that provides more accurate results for large clusters. The procedure considers limited numbers of double transition faults in order to obtain better matches for the cluster being diagnosed.
Analysis of Ellis van Creveld Syndrome Gene Products; Implications for Cardiovascular Development and Disease

Mutations identified in a cohort of patients with atrioventricular septal defects as a part of Ellis van Creveld syndrome (EvC syndrome) led us to study the role of two non-homologous genes, EVC and LBN, in heart development and disease pathogenesis. To address the cause of locus heterogeneity resulting in an indistinguishable heart-hand phenotype, we carried out in situ hybridization and immunofluorescence and identified co-localization of Evc and Lbn mRNA and protein. In the heart, expression was identified to be strongest in the secondary heart field, including both the outflow tract and the dorsal mesenchymal protrusion, but was also found in mesenchymal structures of the atrial septum and the atrioventricular cushions. Finally, we studied the transcriptional hierarchy of EVC and LBN but did not find any evidence of direct transcriptional interregulation between the two. Due to the locus heterogeneity of human mutations predicted to result in a loss of protein function, a bidirectional genomic organization and overlapping expression patterns, we speculate that these proteins function coordinately in cardiac development and that loss of this coordinate function results in the characteristics of EvC syndrome.
Multi Level Optimum + Added Value Encoded Archival Description EAD/Encoded Archival Context EAC Descriptions in the Absence of Describing Archives a Content Standard DACS Guidance

The UCLA Civil Rights Project (collection 0787) has been processed using localized archival description rules for court cases. These rules adhere to a micro-descriptive scheme designed to enhance and further develop new methods and tools to: - extract and assemble archival authority descriptions- enhance methods for matching and combining records describing the same case - develop methods for accommodating descriptive data- add geographic coordinates to places where court related documents circulate- develop timeline or map rendering of chronological biographies or histories- enable users to query social professional networks- develop graphical displays of complex, dense networks- develop graphical displays of organizational charts- develop sequential displays of legal organizations / actions merging or dividingThis document discusses current limitations existing archival descriptive frameworks - DACS - and the work of UCLA staff to compensate for the gaps in the professional standard. We look forward to starting a conversation within the archival community (especially those currently working with litigation records) on revisions and amendments.
Relationship of cerebellar Purkinje cell simple spike discharge to movement kinematics in the monkey.

Fu, Q.-G., D. Flament, J. D. Coltz, and T. J. Ebner. Relationship of cerebellar Purkinje cell simple spike discharge to movement kinematics in the monkey. J. Neurophysiol. 78: 478–491, 1997. The si...
Application of Search Model to Detect Urhobo Names in Niger Delta Region of Nigeria: A Preliminary Study

This paper is designed to determine the accuracy of search words or names from a database using search vector. Generally, database consists of large collection of information. By specifying the search words or names this model is able to retrieve the required information from the database relying strictly on the search vector. In this regards, the target names are assigned one if the names corresponds to the search vector and zero otherwise. This information is applied to develop the target matrix. Based on the target matrix, we can determine precisely the number of names that corresponds to the different name books. To further analyze the performance of this technique, the model is validated by post multiplying the variance by the target mean. The result revealed that the search model was able to detect accurately the required names.
Probing novel TeV physics through precision calculations of scalar and tensor charges of the nucleon

We present an update on the calculation of matrix elements of iso-vector scalar, axial and tensor charges between a neutron and a proton state. These matrix elements are needed to probe novel scalar and tensor interactions in neutron beta-decay that can arise in extensions of the Standard Model at the TeV scale. Our calculations are being done using valence clover fermions on dynamical N f = 2+ 1+ 1 HISQ configurations generated by the MILC Collaboration. We provide preliminary estimates of the dependence of these matrix elements on the light quark masses, lattice spacing, and the time separation between the source and sink of the nucleons. We also find that the renormalization constants calculated using the RI-sMOM scheme are close to unity for the HYP smeared HISQ lattices.
Protonation and Alkylation Induced Multidentate C-H•••Anion Binding to Perrhenate.

A family of pyridyl-functionalized arylacetylene C–H hydrogen bonding (HB) receptors were synthesized and binding interactions to perrhenate (ReO4–) studied in the solid state. The protonation and alkylation state of the pyridine nitrogen dictate the location and denticity of the interactions. X-ray structures of neutral 1 and singly charged 2a+·ReO4– reveal the formation of favorable self-complementary dimers, owing to the presence of nitrogen HB acceptor sites. Dismissal of these dimers upon elimination of nitrogen HB acceptors on the receptor result in an array of multidentate C–H HB receptor–guest contacts.
The effect of an atomically deposited layer of alumina on NiO in P-type dye-sensitized solar cells.

We present a systematic investigation of the fundamental effects of an atomically deposited alumina (AlOxHy) onto the NiO films in p-type dye-sensitized solar cells (p-DSCs). With P1 as the sensitizing dye and 0.1 M I2 and 1.0 M LiI in 3-methoxypropionitrile as the electrolyte, one atomic layer deposition (ALD) cycle of alumina was used to achieve a 74% increase in the overall conversion efficiency of a NiO-based DSC. The open circuit voltage of the cells increased from 0.11 to 0.15 V, and the short circuit current density increased from 0.83 to 0.95 mA/cm2. Adsorption isotherm studies were performed to show that the amount of dye adsorbed on the NiO-alumina film is slightly lower than the amount adsorbed on the nontreated NiO film. The increased Jsc was therefore assigned to the increased efficiency of carrier collection at the semiconductor–FTO interface. Our study of the photocurrent onset potentials of NiO and NiO–alumina films with the chopped light measurement technique showed no definitive differen...
Complementary, Integrative, and Holistic Medicine: Integrative Approaches to Pediatric Irritable Bowel Syndrome

1. Alycia Leiby, MD*,† 2. Minal Vazirani, MD‡,¶ 1. *Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Goryeb Children’s Hospital, Atlantic Health System, Morristown, NJ. 2. †Department of Pediatrics, Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA. 3. ‡Siegler Center for Integrative Medicine, Barnabas Health ACC Barnabas Health System, Livingston, NJ. 4. ¶Rutgers – New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) occurs commonly in pediatrics, with the prevalence estimated at 6% to 14%. (1)(2) The Rome criteria define pediatric IBS as abdominal pain that improves with defecation and/or onset associated with a change in frequency or form of stool. (3) In addition, no evidence of an inflammatory, anatomic, metabolic, or neoplastic process explains the symptoms. The cause of IBS is attributed to a combination of factors, including an altered gut microbiome, low-grade mucosal inflammation, visceral hypersensitivity, abnormal motility, psychosocial stressors, and genetic predisposition. (4) Recognition of these factors serves as the foundation for the biopsychosocial approach to treating pediatric IBS. A successful treatment plan starts with a strong patient-parent-physician relationship in which the child’s pain is validated and the physician compassionately approaches the distress that IBS can cause. Multiple studies have shown that children with IBS have a lower quality of life (QOL) that is comparable to that seen with nonfunctional gastrointestinal conditions. (2)(5) Conventional treatment includes education and reassurance, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for some patients, and consideration of antispasmodic or antidepressant medications. In practice, the lack of strong evidence, potential for adverse effects, and parental concern limit the utility of conventional pharmacologic options. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use in pediatric gastroenterology is common and higher in patients with IBS than nonfunctional gastrointestinal conditions. (6) This article reviews the evidence for CAM therapy in IBS based on adult and pediatric data available in the English language. The World Health Organization defines probiotics as “live micro-organisms which, when administered …
Chemical control of cockroaches and living example on effect evaluation

Cockroaches are the important disease vectors. Cockroach control should stick to the principle of Integrated Pest Management( IPM) that means "mainly to environmental control,supplemented by physical control,emphasizing on chemical control". Chemical control of cockroaches should focus on the scientific use of various types of chemicals and chemical machines,the development and promotion of new control technologies,chemical control of special places habitated cockroaches,as well as the scientific and rational effect evaluation of control technologies.
Decision-analysis methodology for equipmentdevelopment strategy based on VFT

Based upon the characteristic analysis of VFT(value-focused thinking), the decision analysis methodology for equipment development strategy based on VFT is discussed, which consists of five logistic steps, i.e. the strategic goal determination, the value model development, the equipment identification and evaluation, the technology identification and evaluation, and the sensitivity analysis. The methodology is mainly suitable to the analysis and (identification) of the development direction and focus of weapons and equipment and the key technologies to be developed. Meanwhile, the methodology takes value as the driving force of decision-maker, and allows decision-maker to freely create or select any alternative which can meet his requirements, thus extending the decision-making scope and enhancing the validity of decision-making. Finally, the decision support system of naval equipment development strategy, which is now being developed, is briefly described.
294 LITHIUM DILUTION CARDIAC OUTPUT MONITORING IN A PREMATURE NEONATE MODEL.

Introduction Cardiac output (CO) is an important indicator of overall cardiac function and intravascular volume status. Present methods of assessing CO at the bedside in older children and adults are invasive and technically unfeasible in the neonate. In recent years, a novel method of measuring cardiac output using a lithium dilution technique and existing vascular access has been developed. The LiDCO/PulseCO system (LiDCO Ltd, Cambridge, UK) of cardiac output monitoring uses an arterial pressure waveform to measure CO on a continuous basis after lithium dilution calibration (LDC). Objective To assess (1) the feasibility of performing LDC using the LiDCO system and (2) the clinical utility of this system and its associated PulseCO software in measuring continuous CO compared to pulsed Doppler echocardiography (PDE) in an extremely preterm animal model. Methods This study used a model of premature infant chronic lung disease as simulated at the SFBR in a 125-day gestation (approximate 25-week human equivalent) baboon model. A total of 10 animals were studied. Each animal had an existing umbilical artery catheter that was connected to the LiDCO system. Initial CO measured using PDE was recorded on all study animals within the first 24 hours of life. Each animal subsequently had an attempt made at LDC according to an established protocol. For those animals in which LDC was unsuccessful, calibration was performed using echocardiography, and CO measurements were serially collected over time and compared to those values obtained using standard PDE. Results LDC/PDE value pairs were successfully obtained in 5 animals. From those animals, 40 PDE/PulseCOvalue pairs were also obtained. There was poor agreement between LDC/PDE pairs and PDE/PulseCOpairs. Lack of agreement between measurements seemed secondary to factors including recirculation of lithium indicator solution from patent ductus arteriosus, variations in flow properties of individual arterial catheters, and variations in the degree of illness of animals. Conclusions Use of LDC and the LiDCO system including continuous cardiac output monitoring is feasible in a premature neonate model. The system was not clinically useful because of a lack of agreement between LDC and PDE measurements, but this may be due to technical factors that can be overcome with more experience. This system may still be a useful tool in neonates if a lack of significant drift over time can be demonstrated after calibration with PDE.
Resistance of mosquito,fly,cockroach to seven insecticides in Zhuji city

Objective To investigate the resistance of mosquito,fly,cockroach to seven different insecticides and select the better methods for utilizing insecticides,and to instruct the project of preventing and control the mosquito,fly,cockroach in the future.Methods Immersion method was used in the experiment to test medium lethal concentration of the fourth-instar larva of mosquito.Spot method was used to test medium lethal quantity of Musca domestica.The medium-drop time of Blattella germanica was tested by power film in the triangular flask.Results The resistance times of natural strains to seven different insecticides were as following,Culex pipiens pallens to dichlorphos,bassa,acetofenate,high effect cypermthrin,permethrin were 7.21,1.81,1.39,3.53,5.98 respectively.Musca domestica to dichlorphos,cypermthrin,permethrin were 11.20,25.77,14.72 respectively.Blattella germanica to deltamethrin,high effect cypermthrin,permethrin were 1.68,2.40,2.18 respectively.Conclusion The present experiments show that the natural strains have the resistance to seven different insecticides above.
Optimization of Neutral Grounding Modes of 110 kV Transformer Based on PSCAD

The selection of neutral grounding modes of main transformer,in the actual operation of power grid,is a comprehensive problem that will affect the safety and stability of power grid.The reasonable selection of neutral grounding mode of main transformer could greatly reduce the damage to electrical equipment when ground faults occur to power grid.This paper uses PSCAD to model an 110 kV power grid,and then investigates probable neutral grounding modes of 220 kV and 110 kV main transformers when the single-phrase grounding fault occurs to the 110 kV side of the grid,then,gives specific optimization measures and proposals for neutral grounding modes of main transformer of 110 kV power grid.
STUDY on Engine KNOCK

This article expounds gasoline engine's detonation phenomenon and mechanism of detonation,the reason that produces the gasoline engine knock and its damage,expound abnormal phenomenon and analysis of how to eliminate knock cylinder by adjusting the parameters of the engine.
Training and Certification of Vascular Surgeons

General surgery training can provide a sound basis or even complete training in vascular surgery, but in many instances additional experience may be required. It is hoped that in the future individuals who gain competency in vascular surgery can be recognized by special certification by the American Board of Surgery.
LGN plays distinct roles in oral epithelial stratification, filiform papilla morphogenesis and hair follicle development

Oral epithelia protect against constant challenges by bacteria, viruses, toxins and injury while also contributing to the formation of ectodermal appendages such as teeth, salivary glands and lingual papillae. Despite increasing evidence that differentiation pathway genes are frequently mutated in oral cancers, comparatively little is known about the mechanisms that regulate normal oral epithelial development. Here, we characterize oral epithelial stratification and describe multiple distinct functions for the mitotic spindle orientation gene LGN (Gpsm2) in promoting differentiation and tissue patterning in the mouse oral cavity. Similar to its function in epidermis, apically localized LGN directs perpendicular divisions that promote stratification of the palatal, buccogingival and ventral tongue epithelia. Surprisingly, however, in dorsal tongue LGN is predominantly localized basally, circumferentially or bilaterally and promotes planar divisions. Loss of LGN disrupts the organization and morphogenesis of filiform papillae but appears to be dispensable for embryonic hair follicle development. Thus, LGN has crucial tissue-specific functions in patterning surface ectoderm and its appendages by controlling division orientation.
Assessing the delivery of patient critical laboratory results to primary care providers.

Approximately 60% to 70% of all health care decisions are based on laboratory test results; therefore, it is important to ensure that patient laboratory results are communicated to the physician in a timely fashion. The objective of this study was to assess the delivery of critical laboratory results in outpatient physician offices in Delaware. Contact information for physician offices was obtained using the Highmark® Blue Cross Blue Shield® physician provider directory. A survey was created using a series of questions regarding the procurement and timely communication of critical laboratory results. Of the offices surveyed, 61.4% indicated that they did not utilize a standard operating procedure specifying who is able to receive the critical laboratory test results and how they should be delivered to the physician. These findings indicate that a change may be necessary to improve the way that critical test results are managed by physician offices. ABBREVIATIONS: CAP- College of American Pathologists, DHIN- Delaware Health Information Network, EMR- Electronic Medical Record, HIPAA- Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, SOP- Standard Operating Procedure
Abstract LB-343: Shortened telomeres in serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma: An early event in ovarian high-grade serous carcinogenesis

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC Telomere shortening is one of the main genetic manifestations in human cancer which can contribute to initial chromosomal instability and ultimately tumor progression. The purpose of this study was to determine if changes in telomere length occur in serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma (STIC), a putative precursor of “ovarian” high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC). 22 STICs from 15 patients with concurrent HGSCs were analyzed by performing telomere-specific FISH and p53 immunofluorescence, to assist in identifying STICs. Telomere length in STICs was compared to HGSCs using normal fallopian tube epithelium (NFT), and stromal cells as controls. Telomeres length of these HGSCs was compared to 134 HGSCs, serving as a validation set. Immunostaining for Ki67, a proliferation index, and H2AX, a marker of DNA damage, was also performed. We found that STICs had the shortest telomeres, as 18 (82%) STICs had short telomeres, while 2 (9%) showed no change, and 2 (9%) had long telomeres compared to the NFT (Table 1). The majority of HGSCs also displayed shorter telomeres than the associated NFT. However, among 12 paired HGSCs and STICs, 7 HGSCs showed a significant increase in telomere length, 1 showed a decrease in length and 4 did not show any change when compared to their matched STICs. These differences between NFT and STICs, and between STICs and HGSCs were significant (p< 0.05). Finally, we found a weak correlation between telomere length in STICs and the percentage of H2AX positive cells (R2= 0.1021). In conclusion, the finding of shortened telomeres, which have been shown to be one of the earliest molecular changes in carcinogenesis, in the vast majority of STICs provides further support to the proposal that STICs are precursors of HGSC and opens new areas of research in elucidating the early events of ovarian high-grade serous carcinogenesis. View this table: Table 1: The relative telomere length in NFT, STIC, and HGSC in the same patients (SD, Standard Deviation; NA, Not Available). Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-343.
“High Attainments”: The Artisan Exhibition Tours and the Campaign for Technical Education, 1867–1889

At the Fourth Ordinary Meeting of the Society of Arts in December 1867, the Chairman of the Council, William Hawes, remarked that the recent artisan exhibition tours had been so successful that the SA intended to repeat the “experiment” in the years ahead. The object would be to “send workmen to other seats of industry abroad, so as to bring them into contact with foreign workmen, [and] to give them additional opportunities to ascertain in what particular points they excelled.”1 As good as their word, the following year the SA sent artisans to Brussels to study “foreign industry” and the educational and social conditions of Belgian workers.2 In addition, Hawes also specified that the selection of artisan reporters would be based on clearly verifiable credentials. With these measures, Hawes hoped “to select such men from among those who have either taken prizes at our examinations or from among those art-workmen who receive prizes at our annual competition.”3
Applications of Euclidean Geometry to Various Optimization Problems

The method of least squares is a way of “solving” an overdetermined system of linear equations $$ Ax = b, $$ i.e., a system in which A is a rectangular m × n matrix with more equations than unknowns (when m > n). Historically, the method of least squares was used by Gauss and Legendre to solve problems in astronomy and geodesy. The method was first published by Legendre in 1805 in a paper on methods for determining the orbits of comets. However, Gauss had already used the method of least squares as early as 1801 to determine the orbit of the asteroid Ceres, and he published a paper about it in 1810 after the discovery of the asteroid Pallas. Incidentally, it is in that same paper that Gaussian elimination using pivots is introduced.
Fungal Aflatoxins Reduce Respiratory Mucosal Ciliary Function

Aflatoxins are mycotoxins secreted by Aspergillus flavus, which can colonize the respiratory tract and cause fungal rhinosinusitis or bronchopulmonary aspergillosis. A. flavus is the second leading cause of invasive aspergillosis worldwide. Because many respiratory pathogens secrete toxins to impair mucociliary immunity, we examined the effects of acute exposure to aflatoxins on airway cell physiology. Using air-liquid interface cultures of primary human sinonasal and bronchial cells, we imaged ciliary beat frequency (CBF), intracellular calcium, and nitric oxide (NO). Exposure to aflatoxins (0.1 to 10 μM; 5 to 10 minutes) reduced baseline (~6–12%) and agonist-stimulated CBF. Conditioned media (CM) from A. fumigatus, A. niger, and A. flavus cultures also reduced CBF by ~10% after 60 min exposure, but effects were blocked by an anti-aflatoxin antibody only with A. flavus CM. CBF reduction required protein kinase C but was not associated with changes in calcium or NO. However, AFB2 reduced NO production by ~50% during stimulation of the ciliary-localized T2R38 receptor. Using a fluorescent reporter construct expressed in A549 cells, we directly observed activation of PKC activity by AFB2. Aflatoxins secreted by respiratory A. flavus may impair motile and chemosensory functions of airway cilia, contributing to pathogenesis of fungal airway diseases.
A Large-Scale Computational Analysis of Corneal Structural Response and Ectasia Risk in Myopic Laser Refractive Surgery

PURPOSE To investigate biomechanical strain as a structural susceptibility metric for corneal ectasia in a large-scale computational trial. METHODS A finite element modeling study was performed using retrospective Scheimpflug tomography data from 40 eyes of 40 patients. LASIK and PRK were simulated with varied myopic ablation profiles and flap thickness parameters across eyes from LASIK candidates, patients disqualified for LASIK, subjects with atypical topography, and keratoconus subjects in 280 simulations. Finite element analysis output was then interrogated to extract several risk and outcome variables. We tested the hypothesis that strain is greater in known at-risk eyes than in normal eyes, evaluated the ability of a candidate strain variable to differentiate eyes that were empirically disqualified as LASIK candidates, and compared the performance of common risk variables as predictors of this novel susceptibility marker across multiple virtual subjects and surgeries. RESULTS A candidate susceptibility metric that expressed mean strains across the anterior residual stromal bed was significantly higher in eyes with confirmed ectatic predisposition in preoperative and all postoperative cases (P≤.003). The strain metric was effective at differentiating normal and at-risk eyes (area under receiver operating characteristic curve ≥ 0.83, P≤.002), was highly correlated to thickness-based risk metrics (as high as R(2) = 95%, P<.001 for the percent of stromal tissue altered (PSTA)), and predicted large portions of the variance in predicted refractive response to surgery (R(2) = 57%, P<.001). CONCLUSIONS This study represents the first large-scale 3-dimensional structural analysis of ectasia risk and provides a novel biomechanical construct for expressing structural risk in refractive surgery. Mechanical strain is an effective marker of known ectasia risk and correlates to predicted refractive error after myopic photoablative surgery.
A high frequency missense SULT1B1 allelic variant (L145V) selectively expressed in African descendants exhibits altered kinetic properties.

Abstract1. Human cytosolic sulfotransferase 1B1 (SULT1B1) sulfates small phenolic compounds and bioactivates polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. To date, no SULT1B1 allelic variants have been well-characterized.2. While cloning SULT1B1 from human endometrial specimens, an allelic variant resulting in valine instead of leucine at the 145th amino acid position (L145V) was detected. NCBI reported this alteration as the highest frequency SULT1B1 allelic variant.3. L145V frequency comprised 9% of 37 mixed-population human patients and was specific to African Americans with an allelic frequency of 25%. Structurally, replacement of leucine with valine potentially destabilizes a conserved helix (α8) that forms the “floor” of both the substrate and PAPS binding domains. This destabilization results in altered kinetic properties including a four-fold decrease in affinity for PAP (3′, 5′-diphosphoadenosine). Kms for 3′-phosphoadenosine- 5′-phosphosulfate (PAPS) are similar; however, maximal turnover rate of the varian...
Anterior and Lateral Meningoceles

Spinal meningoceles are protrusions or expansions of one or more layers of the thecal sac through a canal or foramen of the spinal column in which there is a defect. They are frequently found in a posterior location with the dysraphic vertebrae over the thoracolumbar region. Spinal meningoceles are most commonly observed at birth and constitute approximately 10% of all patients with spina bifida [1, 2]. Although non-dysraphic anterior, lateral, and anterolateral meningoceles in the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine are very rare and frequently characterized by the absence of a congenital defect of the vertebrae, they are usually associated with neurofibromatosis 1 (NF-1) or Marfan’s syndrome [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]. However, anterior lumbosacral meningoceles are a rare form of spinal dysraphism because of a bony defect. Their embryologic origin remains unclear, although there are several hypotheses [2]. Thoracic and/or lumbosacral spinal levels are the most common, with cervical localization being very rare [5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11].
Abstract P079: Cardiac Contractility in Response to Isoproterenol from Gravin Knockout (AKAP12) Mice

Gravin (AKAP12), one of the A-Kinase-Binding-Proteins (AKAPs), serves as a scaffold protein linking β 2 -adrenergic receptor (β 2 -AR), phosphatase 2B and several kinases including Protein Kinase A (PKA) and Protein Kinase C (PKC). The presence of gravin facilitates signal transduction of β 2 -AR and thus affects cardiac excitation-contraction coupling. We previously showed decreased cardiac hypertrophy, increased contractility and decreased arrhythmias in gravin-KO mice, following chronic β-AR stimulation. This response was associated with enhanced [Ca 2+ ] i homeostasis. Here, we test whether cardiac contraction is also affected in gravin knock-out (gravin-KO) mice. Trabeculae or small papillary muscles from the right ventricles were mounted between a force transducer and a motor arm, and superfused with K-H solution (pH 7.4) at room temperature. Developed force increased as external Ca 2+ ([Ca 2+ ] o ) was raised from 1 to 10 mM in both gravin-KO and wide-type (WT) muscles. Developed force and intracellular Ca 2+ transient (Ca 2+ i ) increased in a dose dependent manner as [Ca 2+ ] o was raised. Gravin-KO muscles had lower Ca 2+ i at any given [Ca 2+ ] o , but had similar force at [Ca 2+ ] o >4.0 mM; at higher [Ca 2+ ] o s, developed forces was significantly lower. Isoproterenol (ISO, 0.05-200nM) increased force and Ca 2+ i in both groups of muscles. However, force and Ca 2+ i started to blunt in gravin-KO muscle at higher ISO doses and became significantly lower at ISO does >50 nM. Both force and Ca 2+ i were lower at a given rest interval in gravin-KO muscles with no changes in recirculation fraction (RF). These results show that gravin-KO muscles maintain their response to both Ca 2+ and ISO with reduced capacity at higher doses, and to rest potentiations with lower magnitudes, but with no changes in recirculation fraction of Ca 2+ through the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). These findings suggest: (1) gravin-KO muscles may likely have smaller Ca 2+ content in the SR; (2) gravin plays an important modulatory role in the argumentation of force by Ca 2+ and β 2 -AR stimulation; (3) at physiological [Ca 2+ ] o , gravin-KO increases myofilament Ca 2+ responsiveness. Ongoing experiments are focused on changes myofilament Ca 2+ responsiveness in gravin-KO mice.
Associations of Gross Motor Delay, Behavior, and Quality of Life in Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Background Young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often have gross motor delays that may accentuate problem daytime behavior and health-related quality of life (QoL). Objective The objective of this study was to describe the degree of gross motor delays in young children with ASD and associations of gross motor delays with problem daytime behavior and QoL. The primary hypothesis was that Gross motor delays significantly modifies the associations between internalizing or externalizing problem daytime behavior and QoL. Design This study used a cross-sectional, retrospective analysis. Methods Data from 3253 children who were 2 to 6 years old and who had ASD were obtained from the Autism Speaks Autism Treatment Network and analyzed using unadjusted and adjusted linear regression. Measures included the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, 2nd edition, gross motor v-scale score (VABS-GM) (for Gross motor delays), the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) (for Problem daytime behavior), and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) (for QoL). Results The mean VABS-GM was 12.12 (SD = 2.2), representing performance at or below the 16th percentile. After adjustment for covariates, the internalizing CBCL t score decreased with increasing VABS-GM (β = - 0.64 SE = 0.12). Total and subscale PedsQL scores increased with increasing VABS-GM (for total score: β = 1.79 SE = 0.17; for subscale score: β = 0.9-2.66 SE = 0.17-0.25). CBCL internalizing and externalizing t scores decreased with increasing PedsQL total score (β = - 0.39 SE = 0.01; β = - 0.36 SE = 0.01). The associations between CBCL internalizing or externalizing t scores and PedsQL were significantly modified by VABSGM (β = - 0.026 SE = 0.005]; β = - 0.019 SE = 0.007). Limitations The study lacked ethnic and socioeconomic diversity. Measures were collected via parent report without accompanying clinical assessment. Conclusions Cross motor delay was independently associated with Problem daytime behavior and QoL in children with ASD. Gross motor delay modified the association between Problem daytime behavior and QoL. Children with ASD and co-occurring internalizing Problem daytime behavior had greater Gross motor delays than children without internalizing Problem daytime behavior; therefore, these children may be most appropriate for early physical therapist evaluation.
Information and communication technology use, social support, and life satisfaction among Korean immigrant elders /

This study recruited 150 community dwelling Korean immigrant elders to understand the role of information and communication technology (ICT) use on social support and life satisfaction by utilizing...
An Examination Regarding the Role of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) within Financial Institutions: A Literature Review

The specific literature review is to demonstrate the evidence showing that CSR is related to improved brand trust and consumer loyalty, two variables that have been found to improve the public image of financial institutions. In line with the topic of the literature review, the purpose is to examine the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of organizations to gain insights into the relationship between CSR and the creation of brand trust and consumer loyalty based on the scores on the instruments used to measure the applied relationships.
Lower extremity amputation in hemophilia. Case report and review of surgical principles.

A case of lower-extremity amputation in a hemophiliac patient is presented and the literature is reviewed with specific analysis of twelve cases in which there was infection on potential infection in the stump. It is pointed out that most hemophiliac patients who require amputation have infection or potential infection. In every case reported primary closure of the amputation stump was performed. Postoperative infection and bleeding occurred in most cases. Significant delay in wound healing for from three to six months, with as much as twelve months required for complete healing in some cases, was the rule. It is suggested that with Factor VIII available the basic surgical principle of open amputation in the presence of infection on potential infection should be applied to hemophiliac patients as it is to normal patients in order to prevent the catastrophic results which have been reported to date.