cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Molecular characterization of methylmalonate semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency

Three patients have been reported with (putative) methylmalonic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (MMSDH) deficiency. The urine metabolic pattern was strikingly different in all, including β-alanine, 3-hydroxypropionic acid, both isomers of 3-amino- and 3-hydroxyisobutyric acids in one and 3-hydroxyisobutyric and lactic acids in a second, and mild methylmalonic aciduria in a third patient. In an effort to clarify these disparate metabolite patterns, we completed the cDNA structure, and characterized the genomic structure of human MMSDH gene in order to undertake molecular analysis. Only the first patient had alterations in the MMSDH coding region, revealing homozygosity for a 1336G>A transversion, which leads to substitution of arginine for highly conserved glycine at amino acid 446. No abnormalities of the MMSDH cDNA were detected in the other patients. These data provide the first molecular characterization of an inborn error of metabolism specific to the L-valine catabolic pathway.
Temporal response of the tiger salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum) to 3,000 years of climatic variation.

Background Amphibians are sensitive indicators of environmental conditions and show measurable responses, such as changes in phenology, abundance and range limits to local changes in precipitation and temperature regimes. Amphibians offer unique opportunities to study the important ecological and evolutionary implications of responses in life history characteristics to climatic change. We analyzed a late-Holocene fossil record of the Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum) for evidence of population-level changes in body size and paedomorphosis to climatic change over the last 3000 years.
Tibial Inlay Posterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: Advances to a New Technique

Graft instability can be a long-term concern for orthopaedic surgeons who arthroscopically reconstruct the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL). Dissatisfaction over reconstruction methods led the senior author to develop a new method that combined both a tibial inlay and the double-bundle techniques. Long-term results over 15 years were satisfactory but there were still several disadvantages—pain, the risk of wound healing issues in patients with severely injured knee dislocation, and the potential for vascular injury. Recent advances in technology have the potential to address these disadvantages and further improve clinical outcomes. The authors developed a new arthroscopic all-inside transtibial PCL double-bundle allograft reconstruction technique using cortical-button suspensory fixation of a soft tissue graft in sockets. This technique yields a tibial location identical to that of the tibial inlay and functions in a very similar manner. This article shows the PCL graft preparation and technique used in this surgery. Early results have provided clinical support for its safety and efficacy but more long-term follow-up is necessary to validate the relative efficacy of this technique.
Hyperfine Structure of 209 Bismuth in the 6p 2 (P3 0 )7s P4 12 State

The hyperfine-structure separation of the 6p2(P30)7s P412 state of 209Bi was measured in the 4722-A transition with a grating spectrograph. The measurement was carried out because a precise value was required in our studies of the spectra of radioactive bismuth isotopes. Our result is Δν(P412)=819.5±3.1 mK. It differs from the previously quoted value of 830 mK, and agrees with a recent result of Dickie and Kelly.
Comparative binding studies with cholinergic ligands and histrionicotoxin at muscarinic receptors of neural cell lines.

[3H]Scopolamine and [3H]quinuclidinyl-benzilate (QNB) have been used to study inhibitory acetylcholine receptors of neuroblastoma clone N1E-115 and excitatory acetylcholine receptors of NG108-15 neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid cells. Both [3H]ligands bind with high affinity to muscarinic acetylcholine receptors of the cells. The apparent dissociation constants are 0.4 nM (N1E-115) and 0.5 nM (NG108-15) for [3H]scopolamine, 0.06 nM (N1E-115) and 0.1 nM (NG108-15) for [3H]QNB. The receptor concentration is 25 fmol/mg in N1E-115 and 40 fmol/mg in NG108-15. Binding and release of [3H]-scopolamine are kinetically biphasic processes. [3H]QNB has a similar rate of binding but a much slower rate of release from the receptor. Binding of both [3H]ligands is competitively inhibited by compounds known to interact with muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. With 1 nM [3H]ligand a 50% inhibition is caused by nanomolar concentrations of muscarinic antagonists, by 1 to 100 micromolar concentrations of muscarinic agonists, and by >100 micromolar concentrations of nicotinic cholinergic compounds. Slopes of approximately 1 were found for receptor antagonists and approximately 0.5 for receptor agonists in logit-log plots of competition data. Antagonist binding can therefore be described as interaction with a noncooperative class of receptors, whereas agonist binding exhibits negative cooperativity or heterogeneity in binding sites. The interaction of dihydroiso-histrionicotoxin (H2-HTX) with muscarinic acetylcholine receptors of N1E-115 cells has also been studied by inhibition experiments. H2-HTX inhibits [3H]scopolamine binding in a noncompetitive manner causing a 50% inhibition at an applied concentration of 70 µM. The local anesthetic, tetracaine, shows almost identical characteristics. Dihydro-adaline, granatan-3β-ol and granatan-3α-ol are less strong inhibitors. Structural comparison of these compounds with H2-HTX suggests that the two aliphatic side chains and the proximity of the hydroxyl and amino groups may be important features for the interaction of H2-HTX with the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor.
Microcomputer‐based Access to Machine‐readable Numeric Databases

The Data and Program Library Service (DPLS) supports the research needs of the faculty, staff, and students of the University of Wisconsin‐Madison. Although our primary charge is to the College of Letters and Science, we serve the entire university. DPLS is primarily a data archive of numerical databases for secondary analysis, but we are also the local official representative of the Inter‐university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR).
Surface morphology of Pb overlayers grown on Si(100)-(2×1)

The behavior of Pb overlayers deposited on Si(100)-(2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}1) at room temperature was investigated by scanning-tunneling microscopy and low-energy electron microscopy. Surface reconstructions of (2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}2), c(4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}8), (2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}1), and c(4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}4) were observed as Pb coverage increased from 0.5 to 1.5 monolayers. After the appearance of the c(4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}4) phase, Pb islands with threefold-symmetric (111) orientation were observed on the twofold- or fourfold-symmetric Si(100) surface. The transformation of the island shape during growth can be broadly categorized as hexagonal\ensuremath{\rightarrow}triangular\ensuremath{\rightarrow}hexagonal. An internal structure of stepped-down depression was formed on all islands. As deposition continued, the depression was gradually filled by a step-flow growth mechanism. Our observations suggest that the initial growth of the islands is dominated by diffusion of Pb atoms on the substrate to the island edges; later, when the islands become sufficiently large, growth is determined mainly by atom diffusion on the Pb(111) islands.
Characterization of MAD2B and other mitotic spindle checkpoint genes.

Aneuploidy is a characteristic of the majority of human cancers, and recent work has suggested that mitotic checkpoint defects play a role in its development. To further explore this issue, we isolated a novel human gene, MAD2B (MAD2L2), which is homologous to the spindle checkpoint gene MAD2 (MAD2L1). We determined the chromosomal localization of it and other spindle checkpoint genes, including MAD1L1, MAD2, BUB3, TTK (MPS1L1), and CDC20. In addition, we resolved the genomic intron-exon structure of the human BUB1 gene. We then searched for mutations in these genes in a panel of 19 aneuploid colorectal tumors. No new mutations were identified, suggesting that genes yet to be discovered are responsible for most of the checkpoint defects observed in aneuploid cancers.
Neuroanatomical correlates of electrodermal skin conductance responses

We studied the electrodermal skin conductance responses (SCRs) of 36 subjects with well-characterized lesions in various regions of the cerebral hemispheres. Several lesion loci were consistently associated with defective electrodermal responding: the ventromedial frontal region (right and left), the right inferior parietal region, and the anterior cingulate gyrus (right and left). Our findings provide direct information regarding neural correlates of skin conductance responses in humans.
Structural and transcriptional analysis of a human subtelomeric repeat

A human subtelomeric repeat (designated as the HST repeat) has been isolated and characterized from a yeast artificial chromosome containing one human telomere. This repeat is located immediately adjacent to the telomeric T2AG3 repeats at the extreme termini of the human chromosomes. The DNA sequence of 3.6 kb of the HST repeat has been determined. The HST repeat spans over 3.6 kb in length, and contains one evolutionarily conserved CpG-rich region. The copy number of the HST repeat varies among telomeres. Genomic hybridization experiments suggest that the HST repeat consists of two distinct segments, and the distal portions of the HST repeat are also distributed elsewhere in the genome. In HeLa cells, the HST repeat sequence appears to be transcribed into a 6 kb polyadenylated RNA and a variety of non-polyadenylated RNA species.
Estimated radiation exposure and cancer risk from CT and PET/CT scans in patients with lymphoma.

Abstract Introduction The purpose of this study was to estimate total effective dose and cancer risk related to treatment monitoring and surveillance computed tomography (CT) scans in a cohort of patients diagnosed with lymphoma. Methods 76 patients with head, neck, chest, abdomen or pelvis CT and whole-body positron emission tomography (PET)/CT were identified from an institutional lymphoma database; this included 54 (71%) patients with non-Hodgkin and 22 (29%) patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma. Average treatment and surveillance periods were 8 months (range, 3–14mo) and 23 months (range, 1–40mo), respectively. Radiation exposure was estimated from the dose-length product (DLP) for CT scans and milli-Curies and DLP for PET/CT scans. Cancer risk was estimated using the Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation model. Results During their treatment period, 45 patients had 161 CT exams and 39 patients had 73 PET/CT exams. Mean effective dose was 39.3mSv (range, 7.1–100mSv). During the surveillance period, 60 patients had 378 CT exams and 25 patients had 39 PET/CT exams. Mean effective dose was 53.2mSv (range, 2.6–154mSv). Seventeen of 76 (22.4%) patients had total cumulative doses greater than 100mSv. The mean increase in estimated cancer risk was 0.40%; the greatest estimated risk to any one patient was 1.19%. Conclusion Mean total effective dose and mean estimated cancer risk were low in patients with lymphoma undergoing serial imaging, suggesting that theoretical risks of radiation-induced cancer need not be a major consideration in radiologic follow-up.
The effect of perceptual fluency and enduring involvement on situational involvement in an online apparel shopping context

Purpose – Casual online shoppers without a strong intention to purchase items can easily leave web sites within seconds. However, there is little research examining how and why consumers are engaged momentarily when they are exposed to a target stimulus in a low involvement shopping situation. This online experiment study seeks to investigate the possibility of enhancing situational involvement with personal and stimulus factors, namely enduring involvement and perceived perceptual fluency, and to determine how enjoyment contributes to the relations among enduring involvement, perceptual fluency, cognitive effort, and situational involvement, in a low‐involvement online shopping context.Design/methodology/approach – An online experiment was conducted to test the conceptual model. Two mock web sites with different levels of perceptual fluency were developed to test effects of perceptual fluency on situational involvement, and participants completed an online survey after viewing one on the web site.Finding...
Robustness studies in adaptive control

This paper examines robustness issues in Model Reference Adaptive Control systems in the presence of unmodeled dynamics and output disturbances. We present an approximate technique, trend analysis, by which we can study the evolution of the parameter error trajectory under periodic excitation. This analysis provides new insights upon the size and spectral content of the excitation sufficient to guarantee local stability.
Progesterone synthesis in developing rabbit corpora lutea in the absence of follicular estrogens.

We have investigated the role of 17²-estradiol in the early development of therabbit corpus luteum. Ectopic corpora lutea were established in all animals by autotransplanting preovulatory follicles beneath the kidney capsule 6.5 to 8 h after mating (day 0). At this time, the rabbits were bilaterally ovariectomized and in some of these rabbits a Silastic capsule containing crystalline 17²-estradiol was implanted SC. Mean serum concentration of estradiol in rabbits with an estradiol implant was 16.4 pg/ml. In rabbits without an estradiol implant, theestradiol concentration averaged 1 pg/ml despite the presence of transplanted luteinized follicles. Daily blood samples were analyzed for progesterone by radioimmunoassay. Ectopic corporalutea developed in rabbits with or without estradiol treatment. Serum progesterone concentrations inthe two groups increased above castrate values and were not significantly different from one another through day 5.After day 5, progesterone concentrations steadily increased in r...
Moodle-integrated open source synchronous teaching

It is well understood that the two prevalent approaches to distance education, synchronous and asynchronous, can be combined to good effect. However, existing open source software generally is separated into these two categories. This paper introduces an open source capability that combines the popular Moodle asynchronous learning management system with a new synchronous online teaching/conferencing system called MIST/C. This combination is supporting online delivery of the Master's programs in our Computer Science Department effectively. This paper describes the design and implementation of MIST/C and our experience using it to support Computer Science MS programs.
Differential regulation of the ascorbic acid transporter SVCT2 during development and in response to ascorbic acid depletion

The sodium-dependent vitamin C transporter-2 (SVCT2) is the only ascorbic acid (ASC) transporter significantly expressed in brain. It is required for life and is critical during brain development to supply adequate levels of ASC. To assess SVCT2 function in the developing brain, we studied time-dependent SVCT2 mRNA and protein expression in mouse brain, using liver as a comparison tissue because it is the site of ASC synthesis. We found that SVCT2 expression followed an inverse relationship with ASC levels in the developing brain. In cortex and cerebellum, ASC levels were high throughout late embryonic stages and early post-natal stages and decreased with age, whereas SVCT2 mRNA and protein levels were low in embryos and increased with age. A different response was observed for liver, in which ASC levels and SVCT2 expression were both low throughout embryogenesis and increased post-natally. To determine whether low intracellular ASC might be capable of driving SVCT2 expression, we depleted ASC by diet in adult mice unable to synthesize ASC. We observed that SVCT2 mRNA and protein were not affected by ASC depletion in brain cortex, but SVCT2 protein expression was increased by ASC depletion in the cerebellum and liver. The results suggest that expression of the SVCT2 is differentially regulated during embryonic development and in adulthood.
Aortic Translocation and Biventricular Outflow Tract Reconstruction in an Infant

Abstract Successful surgical repair of an 8½-month-old infant weighing 8 kg with d -transposition of the great arteries associated with ventricular septal defect and left ventricular outflow tract obstruction was accomplished utilizing a recently described technique. To our knowledge, this is the first attempt to use this technique in an infant.
Contextual design for creating new design concepts

Contextual techniques--Contextual Design and other methods of field research--are recognized by the industry as critical for the development of products that work for their users. But there is still uncertainty as to how these techniques can be used to drive the development of totally new products--products that create new markets or transform their users' work in radical ways. If the work is completely changed, people say, then there is no work to study, so how can we do field research?This SIG explores answers to that question. We start with a real case from our own work as an example, then design field research approaches for cases proposed by participants.
Whiplash-like facet joint loading initiates glutamatergic responses in the DRG and spinal cord associated with behavioral hypersensitivity

The cervical facet joint and its capsule are a common source of neck pain from whiplash. Mechanical hyperalgesia elicited by painful facet joint distraction is associated with spinal neuronal hyperexcitability that can be induced by transmitter/receptor systems that potentiate the synaptic activation of neurons. This study investigated the temporal response of a glutamate receptor and transporters in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and spinal cord. Bilateral C6/C7 facet joint distractions were imposed in the rat either to produce behavioral sensitivity or without inducing any sensitivity. Neuronal metabotropic glutamate receptor-5 (mGluR5) and protein kinase C-epsilon (PKCe) expression in the DRG and spinal cord were evaluated on days 1 and 7. Spinal expression of a glutamate transporter, excitatory amino acid carrier 1 (EAAC1), was also quantified at both time points. Painful distraction produced immediate behavioral hypersensitivity that was sustained for 7 days. Increased expression of mGluR5 and PKCe in the DRG was not evident until day 7 and only following painful distraction; this increase was observed in small-diameter neurons. Only painful facet joint distraction produced a significant increase (p<0.001) in neuronal mGluR5 over time, and this increase also was significantly elevated (p ≤ 0.05) over responses in the other groups at day 7. However, there were no differences in spinal PKCe expression on either day or between groups. Spinal EAAC1 expression was significantly increased (p<0.03) only in the nonpainful groups on day 7. Results from this study suggest spinal glutamatergic plasticity is selectively modulated in association with facet-mediated pain.
Sub-, trans- and supercritical variable magnitude travelling loads on cylindrical rings

Abstract The problem of time dependent variable magnitude travelling loads in a closed symmetric structure is considered. This includes the circumferential propagation in viscoelastically supported cylindrical rings which can rotate about their axes. The main emphasis of the work is to establish the effects of time dependent load variability on the response characteristics when travelling velocities are in the sub-, trans- and supercritical speed ranges. This will enable the Doppler-like interactions among the propagating bending and in-plane waves at the various travelling load speed ranges to be evaluated. As an example simulation, the model is tuned to define the dynamic response characteristics of tires rolling on bumpy surfaces. This enables the sub-, trans- and the supercritical response characteristics to be evaluated.
In vivo reversal by cysteine of the virustatic effect of a nitrofuran.

Summary1. The virustatic effect of 5-nitro-2-furaldehyde 4 (diethylaminopropyl) semi-carbazone on meningopneumonitis virus in the allantoic sac is reversed by cysteine given as late as 96 hours after the drug and virus. Injection of 10 mg of cysteine reduces temporarily the amount of nitrofuran in the allantoic fluid. 2. Since the nitrofuran had no in vitro virucidal effect at the concentrations used, the observed virustatic effect and its reversal are probably intracellular. 3. Cysteine did not reverse the virustatic effect of chloramphenicol or aureomycin.
Refractory inclusions with unusual chemical compositions from the Vigarano carbonaceous chondrite

Neutron activation was used to test ten inclusions, nine Vigarano and one from Leoville, for major and trace elements. Six Vigarano refractory inclusions have refractory element fractionations that are rare or absent in Allende inclusions. Vig 1623-11 has Th/La and Ir/Mo ratios that are lower than those of any Allende Group I or modified Group I inclusions, and Os/La, Ir/La, and Zr/Hf ratios that are among the lowest in those inclusions. The low Os/La, Ir/La, and Ir/Mo ratios seem to require nonrepresentative sampling of condensate phase in the nebula to a degree that is usual for Allende Group I and modified group I inclusions. The nature and origins of the different inclusions are discussed.
The evolution of ICT-based learning environments: which perspectives for the school of the future?

This paper briefly outlines the evolution of ICT-based learning environments discussing some of the main aspects that have characterised such evolution (eg, technological evolution, changed cognitive and pedagogical frameworks, changed role assigned to ICT-based systems in education). The objective is to point out how the implementation of innovative learning environments, based on advanced technology, is the result of the strict interrelation between educational and cognitive theories, technological opportunities and teaching and learning needs. In this paper some indications for current and future evolution are evidenced. Reference is made to an ICT-based multi-environment system that supports teaching and learning activities in the domain of arithmetic problem solving at compulsory school level.
Gaussian kernels for affine-invariant iconic representation and object recognition by multidimensional indexing

This paper describes an approach for affine-invariant object recognition by iconic recognition of image patches that correspond to object surfaces that are roughly planar. Each surface is recognized separately invariant to its 3D pose, employing novel affine-invariant spectral signatures (AISSs). The 3D-pose invariant recognition is achieved by convolving the image with a novel configuration of Gaussian kernels and extracting local spectral signatures. The local spectral signature of each image patch is then matched against a set of iconic models using multi-dimensional indexing (MDI) in the frequency domain. Affine-invariance of the signatures is achieved by a new configuration of Gaussian kernels with modulation in two orthogonal axes. The proposed configuration of kernels is Cartesian with varying aspect ratios in two orthogonal directions. The kernels are organized in subsets where each subset has a distinct orientation. Each subset spans the entire frequency domain and provides invariance to slant, scale and limited translation. The union of differently oriented subsets is utilized to achieve invariance in two additional degrees of freedom, i.e. rotation and tilt. Hence, complete affine-invariance is achieved by the proposed set of kernels. The indexing method provides robustness in partial distortion, background clutter, noise, illumination effects and lower image resolution. The localized nature of the Gaussian kernels allows independent recognition of adjacent shapes that correspond to object parts which could have different poses. The method has yielded high recognition rates in experiments over a wide range of slant, scale, rotation, and tilt with a library of 26 gray-level and infra-red models, in the presence of noise, clutter and other degradations.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Normal and gene-corrected dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa fibroblasts alone can produce type VII collagen at the basement membrane zone.

Type VII collagen is synthesized and secreted by both human keratinocytes and fibroblasts. Although both cell types can secrete type VII collagen, it is thought that keratinocytes account for type VII collagen at the dermal–epidermal junction (DEJ). In this study, we examined if type VII collagen secreted solely by dermal fibroblasts could be transported to the DEJ. We established organotypic, skin-equivalent cultures composed of keratinocytes from patients with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) and normal dermal fibroblasts. Immuno-labeling of skin equivalent sections with the anti-type VII collagen antibody revealed tight linear staining at the DEJ. RDEB fibroblasts, were gene-corrected to make type VII collagen and used to regenerate human skin on immune-deficient mice. The human skin generated by gene-corrected RDEB fibroblasts or normal human fibroblasts combined with RDEB keratinocytes restored type VII collagen expression at the DEJ in vivo . Further, intradermal injection of normal human or gene-corrected RDEB fibroblasts into mouse skin resulted in the stable expression of human type VII collagen at the mouse DEJ. These data demonstrate that human dermal fibroblasts alone are capable of producing type VII collagen at the DEJ, and it is possible to restore type VII collagen gene expression in RDEB skin in vivo by direct intradermal injection of fibroblasts.
Blocking an inviscid shear flow

The upstream influence in an inviscid two-dimensional shear flow around a semicircular ‘cape’ (radius A) is computed using a piecewise uniform vorticity model of a boundary-layer current. The area of this layer upstream from the cape increases as the square root of time t when A is small, and increases as t for larger A. Complete blocking occurs when A is approximately three times the boundary-layer thickness, in which case all oncoming particles accumulate in a large upstream vortex. The numerical results obtained from the contour dynamical method also show the generation of large eddies downstream from the obstacle.
Childhood gender nonconformity, bullying victimization, and depressive symptoms across adolescence and early adulthood: an 11-year longitudinal study

Objective Childhood gender nonconformity has been associated with increased risk of caregiver abuse and bullying victimization outside the home, but it is unknown whether as a consequence children who are nonconforming are at higher risk of depressive symptoms. Method Using data from a large national cohort (N = 10,655), we examined differences in depressive symptoms from ages 12 through 30 years by gender nonconformity before age 11 years. We examined the prevalence of bullying victimization by gender nonconformity, then ascertained whether increased exposure to abuse and bullying accounted for possible increased risk of depressive symptoms. We further compared results stratified by sexual orientation. Results Participants in the top decile of childhood gender nonconformity were at elevated risk of depressive symptoms at ages 12 through 30 years (for females, 0.19 standard deviations more depressive symptoms than conforming females; for males, 0.34 standard deviations more symptoms than conforming males). By ages 23 to 30 years, 26% of participants in the top decile of childhood nonconformity had probable mild or moderate depression versus 18% of participants who were conforming ( p Conclusion Gender nonconformity was a strong predictor of depressive symptoms beginning in adolescence, particularly among males and heterosexuals. Physical and emotional bullying and abuse, both inside and outside the home, accounted for much of this increased risk.
Hydra: a platform for survivable and secure data storage systems

This paper introduces Hydra, a platform that we are developing for highly survivable and secure data storage systems that distribute information over networks and adapt timely to environment changes, enabling users to store and access critical data in a continuously available and highly trustable fashion. The Hydra platform uses MDS array codes that can be encoded and decoded efficiently for distributing and recovering user data. Novel uses of MDS array codes in Hydra are discussed, as well as Hydra's design goals, general structures and a set of basic operations on user data. We also explore Hydra's applications in survivable and secure data storage systems.
Preparation and Explosive Properties of Tetraamminebis(3,5-Dinitro-1,2,4-Triazolato-N1)Copper(II)

ABSTRACT The synthesis of tetraamminebis(3,5-dinitro-1,2,4-triazolato-N1)copper(II) is reported along with its physical and sensitivity properties as well as crystal structure. In addition, the detonation velocity and CJ pressure have been determined at 0.5 inch diameter.
Prediction of breast cancer malignancy using an artificial neural network

Background. An artificial neural network (ANN) was developed to predict breast cancer from mammographic findings. This network was evaluated in a retrospective study. Methods. For a set of patients who were scheduled for biopsy, radiologists interpreted the mammograms and provided data on eight mammographic findings as part of the standard mammographic workup. These findings were encoded as features for an ANN. Results of biopsies were taken as truth in the diagnosis of malignancy. The ANN was trained and evaluated using a jackknife sampling on a set of 260 patient records. Performance of the network was evaluated in terms of sensitivity and specificity over a range of decision thresholds and was expressed as a receiver operating characteristic curve. Results. The ANN performed more accurately than the radiologists (P < 0.08) with a relative sensitivity of 1.0 and specificity of 0.59. Conclusions. An ANN can be trained to predict malignancy from mammographic findings with a high degree of accuracy.
Salt-loading increases vasopressin and vasopressin 1b receptor mRNA in the hypothalamus and choroid plexus.

Abstract The choroid plexus plays a pivotal role in the production of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Messenger RNA (mRNA) transcripts encoding arginine vasopressin (AVP) and the vasopressin 1b receptor (V1bR) are found in various structures of the central nervous system, including the choroid plexus. The present study measured AVP and V1bR mRNA production in response to plasma hyperosmolality. Compared to rats maintained on water, 2% salt-drinking rats had increased levels of AVP and V1bR mRNAs in the supraoptic (SON) and paraventricular (PVN) nuclei of the hypothalamus and in the choroid plexus. The increase in V1bR mRNA in the SON and PVN as a result of plasma hyperosmolality may reflect changes in receptor production that, in turn, have a role in AVP autoregulation of hypothalamic magnocellular neurons. The increase of AVP and V1bR mRNAs in the choroid plexus further shows the involvement of AVP in the regulation of brain water content and cerebral edema.
Determinants of growth rate on chemically heterogeneous host plants by specialist insects

Abstract Nine Passiflora species growing sympatrically in a Costa Rican rain forest were screened for the presence of alkaloids, tannins, cyanogenic compounds, saponins and cardenolides. The first three chemical classes were found to be present and the Passiflora species could be classified into five groups according to the presence/absence of each chemical class. In order to assess the effects of this chemical variability on specialist herbivores, larvae of Heliconius ismenius and H. melpomane were experimentally introduced to seven species of Passiflora host plants growing naturally in the rain forest. Survival and growth rates were subsequently monitored at 2 day intervals and were found to be independent of each other. Larval growth rate and larval survivorship were not significantly affected by cyanogenesis in the host plants, nor by the presence of alkaloids, tannins and non-tanning phenolic compounds. Larval growth rate was found to be correlated to percentage nitrogen in the host plants, but was independent of host water content and non-structural carbohydrate content. Although these insects would be classified as host-specific by most authors, the results indicate the presence of a sufficiently general detoxication apparatus to consume many different classes of potential toxins with no apparent ill effects. We conclude that Passiflora natural product diversity does not cause major deleterious effects in Heliconius growth characteristics and that these effects are not the major component maintaining the current pattern of larval feeding specialization in this plant-herbivore system.
Aseptic necrosis presenting as wrist pain in sle

Aseptic necrosis of the wrist in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is not rare. In 156 patients with SLE, aseptic necrosis occurred in 11 patients, of whom 3 (27%) had wrist involvement. Onset of pain was insidious and the symptoms were thought to be related to synovitis due to SLE. An average of 11 months elapsed before aseptic necrosis was correctly diagnosed. An awareness of this possibility is important in the management of any patient with SLE who complains of wrist pain.
Optimal production cycles, procurement schedules, and joint investment in an imperfect production system

Abstract In this paper, we consider the simultaneous determination of production cycles for the end product, procurement schedules for its input materials, and joint investment in setup reduction and process quality improvement for a production system with imperfect production processes. In the analysis, we assume that setup reduction and process quality are functions of capital expenditure and that the input materials, which are purchased from outside suppliers, are gradually converted into the product during manufacture. We derive a solution procedure to find the optimal production cycle time, procurement schedules, joint investment, and the corresponding total relevant cost. We present numerical examples to illustrate the procedure and to delineate the relationships among production cycle times for the end product, the procurement schedules for its input materials, and setup reduction and quality improvement.
Swelling and diffusion characteristics of modified poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogels

Thermo-responsive hydrogels are capable of swelling changes to external temperature. A series of modified poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPA) hydrogels was synthesized by free radical polymerization in aqueous solution. Acrylamide (AAm) was used to increase the lower critical solution temperature (LCST), while sodium alginate (SA) was used to improve the swelling performance of the hydrogels. Experiments show that 5.5% mass ratio of AAm increased the LCST by about 9 °C above that of conventional PNIPA. Also, SA significantly improved the equilibrium swelling ratio associate with temperature change. Trypan blue diffusion revealed significant differences in the fluid release obtained from hydrogels with modified LCST and swelling properties. The implications of the modified fluid release and swelling characteristics are also discussed for the device design of thermo-sensitive hydrogels for localized drug delivery.
Previous Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Postural-Control Dynamics

Abstract Context: Postural control and cognitive function are adversely affected by acute mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Whether postural-control deficits persist beyond the acute stage in individuals with a history of mTBI is unclear. Objective: To determine if postural-control deficits persist in individuals with a history of mTBI. Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study. Setting: University research laboratory. Patients or Other Participants: As part of an ongoing investigation examining cognitive and motor deficits associated with mTBI, 224 individuals participated in the study. Of these, 62 participants self-reported at least 1 previous physician-diagnosed mTBI. Intervention(s): Postural control was assessed using the NeuroCom Sensory Organization Test (SOT) postural-assessment battery. Main Outcome Measure(s): The SOT postural assessment yields 4 indices of postural control: a composite balance score, a visual ratio score, a somatosensory score, and a vestibular score. Postural dynamics wer...
Threshold functions for Extension Statements

Let H be a graph with vertices labelled x 1 , ..., x r , y 1 , ..., y s , where R={x 1 , ..., x r } is a specified subset, called the roots. The pair (R, H) will be dubbed a rooted graph. A graph G is said to satisfy the extension statement Ext(R, H) if for every choice of distinct x 1 , ..., x r ∈V(G) there exist distinct y 1 , ..., y s ∈V(G) such that {x i , y j }∈E(G) whenever {x i , y j }∈E(H) and {y i , y j }∈E(G) whenever {y i , y j }∈E(H). Let G=G(n, p) denote the random graph with n vertices and edge probability p. Our concern will be to find the threshold functions for the statements Ext(R, H). A basic tool used throughout the paper is a correlation inequality
Analysis of solid uranium samples using a small mass spectrometer

Abstract A mass spectrometer for isotopic analysis of solid uranium samples has been constructed and evaluated. This system employs the fluorinating agent chlorine trifluoride (ClF 3 ) to convert solid uranium samples into their volatile uranium hexafluorides (UF 6 ). The majority of unwanted gaseous byproducts and remaining ClF 3 are removed from the sample vessel by condensing the UF 6 and then pumping away the unwanted gases. The UF 6 gas is then introduced into a quadrupole mass spectrometer and ionized by electron impact ionization. The doubly charged bare metal uranium ion (U 2+ ) is used to determine the U 235 /U 238 isotopic ratio. Precision and accuracy for several isotopic standards were found to be better than 12%, without further calibration of the system. The analysis can be completed in 25 min from sample loading, to UF 6 reaction, to mass spectral analysis. The method is amenable to uranium solid matrices, and other actinides.
Optimizing a network layer moving target defense for specific system architectures

Complex defenses, such as moving target defenses, exist to help protect against threats. While these new forms of defense offer increased security, they are resource intensive and cannot be run on many new classes of network connected mobile systems. To provide security for these systems, a highly efficient defense must be used. Moving Target Defense for IPv6 (MT6D) is a network layer moving target defense that was originally designed using Python for portability to a variety of system architectures. Optimizing a moving target defense (MTD) for a specific system architecture increases performance to allow for these new defenses to be deployed in resource constrained environments. By transitioning from Python to C, and by using system specific networking features, MT6D can be successfully deployed to resource constrained network systems.
The centralization phenomenon in chiropractic spinal manipulation of discogenic low back pain and sciatica.

Abstract Objective: To describe 3 cases of discogenic low back pain and leg pain in which the centralization phenomenon was used in determining chiropractic treatment and prognosis. Clinical Features: Three men with low back pain and sciatica, positive straight leg raise, mild neurologic deficits, and evidence of discogenic disease requested chiropractic treatment. Two of the patients exhibited centralization of pain on provocation testing; the third did not. Intervention and Outcome: All patients were treated with chiropractic side-posture manipulation, ancillary therapies, and pain medications. The 2 subjects whose pain centralized had excellent outcomes to treatment. The one whose pain did not centralize had a poor outcome and eventually required surgery. Conclusion: Assessment of the centralization phenomenon provided valuable diagnostic and prognostic information regarding chiropractic side-posture manipulation in this case series. (J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2001;24:596-602)
Intrathoracic Lymphadenopathy: A Rare Manifestation of Rheumatoid Pulmonary Disease

This is the first antemortem report of a patient with long-standing RA and interstitial lung disease who developed reactive mediastinal adenopathy coincident with increases in the activity of his interstitial process. Mediastinal adenopathy was discovered by means of CT of the chest as part of an evaluation of interstitial lung disease. The increasing use of better imaging techniques for this purpose will undoubtedly reveal more patients with this finding. Mediastinal lymphadenopathy complicating rheumatoid lung is clinically relevant speculation is provided regarding the mechanism of the lymph node enlargement in this setting.
Transfection of a rat hepatoma cell line with a construct expressing human liver annexin V confers susceptibility to hepatitis B virus infection

Previously, we have found that human liver annexin V (hA-V; in earlier reports referred as Endonexin 11) is a specific hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) binding protein. In this study, we demonstrate that transfection of rat hepatoma FTO 2B cells, a cell line that is not infectable by hepatitis B virus (HBV) and does not express hA-V, with a construct containing the hA-V gene, resulted in hA-V expressing cells susceptible to HBV infection. After in vitro infection, transfected FTO cells (assigned as FTO 9.1 cells) expressing hA-V in cultures were shown to contain HBV-precore/core, X mRNAs, and covalently closed circular (ccc) DNA as detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The presence of HBV ccc and replicative intermediate DNA was also demonstrated by Southern blot hybridization assay. HBV DNA secreted in the culture medium was also evident as determined by quantitative branched DNA (bDNA) assay. HBsAg and hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) could also be detected by an immunocytochemical method in 10% to 15% of the cells at day 3 and day 5 after infection. Infectivity of in vitro-propagated HBV was demonstrated by infection of the naive FTO 9.1 cells with the culture supernatant from HBV-carrier cultures. In contrast to primary cultures of human hepatocytes and FTO 9.1 cells, primary rat and mouse hepatocytes, as well as rat hepatoma cell lines that do not express hA-V, are not susceptible to HBV infection. These findings suggest that hA-V plays a key role in the initial step of HBV infection and that the species-specific susceptibility to HBV infection and replication in hepatocytes is associated with the expression of hA-V.
Production of interferon gamma, interleukin 2, interleukin 4, and interleukin 10 by CD4+ lymphocytes in vivo during healing and progressive murine leishmaniasis.

Abstract The expression of interleukin (IL) 2, IL-4, IL-10, and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) by lymphocyte subsets was examined during infection of resistant C57BL/6 and susceptible BALB/c mice with the protozoan parasite Leishmania major. CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes were isolated from the lymph nodes draining infectious lesions, and their RNA was examined for lymphokine transcripts. Distinct patterns of CD4+ cell cytokine expression were apparent: C57BL/6 CD4+ cells contained IFN-gamma and IL-2 mRNA, whereas BALB/c CD4+ cells expressed IL-4 and IL-10 message. CD8+ cells contributed little lymphokine expression during disease, but B cells were a major source of IL-2 mRNA in both strains of mice. BALB/c mice made resistant by treatment with anti-CD4 antibody at the time of infection repopulated lymph nodes with CD4+ cells that expressed IL-2 and IFN-gamma. Protective treatment with anti-IL-4 antibody in vivo also resulted in the appearance of CD4+ cells with increased IFN-gamma and diminished IL-4 and IL-10 expression. These data establish CD4+ cells as the primary source of IFN-gamma in healing mice and of IL-4 and IL-10 during progressive infection and confirm that the spectral extremes of this disease are characterized by the presence of CD4+ cells expressing Th1 or Th2 phenotypes in vivo.
Reduced sensorimotor reactivity following traumatic brain injury in rats

The present study examined sensorimotor reactivity in rats following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Moderate injury was induced with midline fluid percussion in some of the rats. Others received identical surgery, but were not injured (sham-injured rats), or received neither surgery nor injury (naive rats). All rats were evaluated in acoustic and/or tactile startle procedures. At 8 days post-injury, the sensorimotor reactivity of TBI rats to acoustic stimuli was severely reduced compared to that of sham-injured rats. This TBI-induced deficit was enduring (> 30 days). In a separate experiment, greater sensorimotor reactivity was observed with tactile (vs. acoustic) stimulation in both TBI and naive rats, although startle amplitudes for the TBI rats were lower than control levels for both types of stimuli. These results suggest that sensorimotor reactivity is altered by TBI and that the startle procedure is a promising method for investigation of information processing alterations following TBI.
Serum pancreastatin levels predict response to hepatic artery chemoembolization and somatostatin analogue therapy in metastatic neuroendocrine tumors

Abstract Introduction: Neuroendocrine tumors often metastasize to the liver and present with disabling hormonal symptoms. Hepatic artery chemoembolization (HACE) combined with somatostatin therapy, pre-embolization, peri-embolization and post-embolization, at doses to control symptoms, is an aggressive approach that can relieve hormonal symptoms with minimal morbidity and mortality. Methods: Chemoembolization was performed using 30 mg of adriamycin, 50 mg of mitomycin, 12 ml of hexabrix, 10 ml of ethiodol, and 360–500-μm particles. Pancreastatin, a split product of chromogranin A, was measured pre-HACE and post-HACE in all patients. Results: Forty-three chemoebolization procedures were performed in 34 symptomatic patients from December 1995 to August 1999. Seventeen patients had intestinal primaries (50%), seven had pancreatic primaries (20%), five had bronchial primaries (15%), and five had unknown primaries (15%). Systemic pancreastatin levels were improved or stable in 31 patients (78%). Symptoms were improved in these 31 patients (78%). Systemic serotonin levels were improved or stable in 24 patients (60%). Radiographic improvement or stability was seen in 18 patients (45%). Procedural related morbidity included pain, fevers, nausea, vomiting, and transient elevations of liver function studies in 75–100% of patients. There was one procedural related mortality (2%). Less than 20% improvement in pancreastatin levels from baseline was associated with death in five of five patients (100%). This was not observed with serotonin levels. Conclusion: Measurement of serum pancreastatin levels is an easy and useful method to predict success in patients who undergo HACE plus somatostatin therapy for metastatic neuroendocrine tumors to the liver. This therapeutic approach is effective in relieving symptoms in 78% of patients, with minimal major morbidity or mortality.