cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Influence of body mass index on complications and oncologic outcomes following hepatectomy for malignancy

Following hepatectomy for malignancy, the effect of body mass index (BMI) on hepatic and oncologic outcomes is unknown. Two hundred seventy-nine post-hepatectomy patients with malignancy from our center were included in the cohort (1996–2006). BMI was categorized using World Health Organization criteria. The effect of BMI was evaluated using risk-adjusted Cox models for time to recurrence and overall survival. Seventy-nine patients (28.3%) had primary hepatobiliary cancers, 134 (48.0%) had colorectal metastases, and 66 (25.3%) had other metastases. Thirty-five percent of patients were obese (BMI > 30). Obese patients had more hepatic-specific perioperative complications (27.8% vs. 15.9%, p = 0.018), bile leaks (18.6% vs. 9.9%, p = 0.030), post-operative pneumonia (9.3% vs. 2.2%, p = 0.0074), intra-abdominal abscesses (7.2% vs. 1.7%, p = 0.017), acute renal failure (7.2% vs. 1.7%, p = 0.017), urinary tract infections (16.4% vs. 7.7%, p = 0.024), and longer lengths of stay (10.5 vs.8.6 days, p = 0.029). Obese and non-obese patients had similar perioperative mortality, time to recurrence, and overall survival on univariate analysis. However, after adjusting for demographic, tumor, and operative characteristics, and complications, increasing BMI displayed improved recurrence-free (HR 0.90, 95% CI 0.86–0.95) and overall survival (HR 0.96, 95% CI 0.92–0.99). High BMI patients may have better oncologic outcomes despite higher perioperative morbidity and hepatic complications following hepatectomy. These findings have important clinical and biological implications.
Intravascular ultrasound catheter to enhance microbubble-based drug delivery via acoustic radiation force

Previous research has demonstrated that acoustic radiation force enhances intravascular microbubble adhesion to blood vessels in the presence of flow for molecular-targeted ultrasound imaging and drug delivery. A prototype acoustic radiation force intravascular ultrasound (ARFIVUS) catheter was designed and fabricated to displace a microbubble contrast agent in flow representative of conditions encountered in the human carotid artery. The prototype ARFIVUS transducer was designed to match the resonance frequency of 1.4- to 2.6-μm-diameter microbubbles modeled by an experimentally verified 1-D microbubble acoustic radiation force translation model. The transducer element was an elongated Navy Type I (hard) lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramic designed to operate at 3 MHz. Fabricated devices operated with center frequencies of 3.3 and 3.6 MHz with -6-dB fractional bandwidths of 55% and 50%, respectively. Microbubble translation velocities as high as 0.86 m/s were measured using a high-speed streak camera when insonating with the ARFIVUS transducer. Finally, the prototype was used to displace microbubbles in a flow phantom while imaging with a commercial 45-MHz imaging IVUS transducer. A sustained increase of 31 dB in average video intensity was measured following insonation with the ARFIVUS, indicating microbubble accumulation resulting from the application of acoustic radiation force.
The recovery of soluble copper from an industrial chemical waste

Abstract A novel electrochemical device was used to recover copper metal from an inorganic chemicals process effluent. In a side-stream pilot-plant demonstration, the copper content was continuously reduced from an average of 20 mg/l to less than 2 mg/1. The basic concepts, laboratory testing, and pilot-plant demonstration are described.
A Flexible Renewal Process Simulator for Neural Spike Trains

Certain neuronal spike trains may be viewed as stochastic, nonhomogeneous point process. Neuronal information may be encoded in the time-varying mean rate of the spike train in some cases. For this purpose the simulator can be modulated by arbitrary time-varying voltage waveforms.
Knowledge and learning claims in blog conversations: a discourse analysis in social psychology (DASP) perspective

This paper explores how discourse analysis in social psychology (DASP) can provide CSCL researchers with insights regarding how students perform knowing and learning. We investigated what counted as knowledge and learning as students in a large undergraduate lecture course shared their understandings of dietary supplements through blog conversations.
Capillary adhesion model for contacting micromachined surfaces

A capillary adhesion model for contacting micromachined surfaces is presented. It is found that the effect of plasticity is small while that of surface correlations and disjoining pressure are important. By matching the model to experimental results, we extract the thickness of the disjoining layer vs. relative humidity (RH) and compare it to reported values. The extracted thickness is smaller than those in the literature, which may explain why capillarity effects occur only at relatively high RH in the experiments.
EFFECT OF INSULIN ON GLUTAMINE SYNTHETASE ACTIVITY IN RAT LIVER.

It has been demonstrated previously that glutamine synthesis is defective in alloxan-diabetic rats. Forty-eight hr after paired rats were given alloxan, one was given insulin and one saline intravenously, to ascertain the effect of insulin on glutamine synthetase activity. Tests were conducted at 2-, 4- and 6-hr intervals after the insulin injection. The animals given insulin showed a definite increase in activity compared to the controls. (Endocrinology 74: 518, 1964)
Phylogenetic Analysis Implicates Birds as a Source of Cryptosporidium spp. Oocysts in Agricultural Watersheds

Cryptosporidium parvum and C. hominis are protozoan parasites responsible for cryptosporidiosis, an acute gastrointestinal illness that can be life-threatening for immunocompromised persons. Sources and genotypes of Cryptosporidium oocysts were investigated in two agricultural areas within the Wachusett Reservoir watershed, a drinking water source for Boston, Massachusetts. Two brooks (denoted Brook SF and Brook JF, respectively), each downgradient from a dairy farm, were chosen as sample sites. For one year, Brooks SF and JF were sampled monthly; oocysts were detected in 6 (50%) out of 12 samples from Brook JF, and no oocysts were detected in Brook SF. Oocyst genotypes from agricultural surface waters were compared to oocyst genotypes from Genbank, as well as fecal samples of cattle and birds, using phylogenetic analysis of a hypervariable region of the 18S rRNA gene by both neighbor-joining and parsimony methods. Results show extensive heterogeneity among Cryptosporidium spp. 18S rRNA sequences, and also suggest that birds are an oocyst source in this watershed. Principal components analysis showed oocyst presence correlating strongly with seasonal factors, and oocysts in surface waters were only detected in the summer through late fall, co-incident with the presence of migratory birds in this watershed. If birds are confirmed to be an important source of oocysts infectious to humans, the data suggest that protection of raw drinking water supplies in some agricultural areas may depend upon management and control of resident and migratory bird populations.
An overview of regression testing

Regression testing is an important part of the software development life cycle. Many articles have been published lately detailing the different approaches. This article is an overview of regression testing in the following areas: types of regression testing; unit, integration and system level testing, regression testing of global variables, regression testing of object-oriented software, comparisons of selective regression techniques, and cost comparisons of the types of regression testing.
Angular dependence of vibrational structure in the photoelectron spectra of N2 and O2

Abstract The relative intensity of vibrational bands arising from photolonization in O2 and N2 are examined as a function of angle, and the results discussed in terms of autoionization states and a possible breakdown in the Born-Oppenhelmer approximation.
Optimising multi-task performance: opportunities for motoric neurorehabilitation

The stops walking while talking test; a dual task for motoric neurorehabilitation—further complexities of the test? In their study, Hyndman and Ashburn administered the stops walking while talking test (SWWT) to predict the occurrence of falls (see p 994, this issue) .1 Optimising multi-task cognitive and motor performance and targeting individuals who may benefit from therapeutic interventions to improve gait and reduce falls after stroke are important goals of neurorehabilitation. Dual task paradigms, such as walking while talking, can …
Clozapine in Older Patients With Psychosis and Behavioral Disruption

A retrospective chart review was conducted of 20 older patients treated with clozapine, who were hospitalized for treatment of severe behavioral disruption secondary to psychotic symptoms. The average daily dose of clozapine was 208 mg for an average of 22 hospital days. Follow-up was 12 months after hospital discharge. All patients had significant behavioral improvement; there was modest reduction in psychotic symptoms (hallucinations and delusions). Clozapine was discontinued in two patients who developed respiratory symptoms. One patient developed seizures. Three of 18 patients developed leukopenia during the posthospital period, two at 6 weeks after beginning clozapine and one within 10 weeks. Clozapine was then discontinued and white blood cell count returned to normal. These retrospective observations suggest that clozapine is possibly useful in controlling behavioral disruption in older patients. Older patients may be at greater risk for developing leukopenia because of their higher blood levels of clozapine and possibly norclozapine.
The role of neuropeptides in the sacral autonomic reflex pathways of the cat.

Abstract Immunohistochemical and pharmacological studies were conducted to examine the origin and function of peptidergic nerves in the sacral autonomic system of the cat. Leucine-enkephalin (L-Enk) immunoreactivity was identified in nerve terminals in peripheral ganglia on the surface of the urinary bladder and in the parasympathetic nucleus in the sacral spinal cord. In colchicine-treated animals L-Enk was also detected in sacral preganglionic neurons (sPGN) identified by retrograde transport of a fluorescent dye. L-Enk terminals in bladder ganglia are believed to arise from sPGN since the terminals were eliminated by transection of the sacral ventral roots. Pharmacological studies indicated that exogenous as well as endogenously released enkephalins have an inhibitory action at both ganglionic and spinal sites in the sacral outflow to the urinary bladder. Peptides were also associated with afferent nerves in the sacral autonomic system. The distribution of substance P, VIP and cholecystokinin in the sacral dorsal horn paralleled the distribution of visceral afferent projections as demonstrated with HRP techniques. Dye labeling combined with immunohistochemistry revealed that some dorsal root ganglion cells projecting to the pelvic viscera contain substance P or VIP.
An object-oriented approach to software development for parallel processing systems

An object-oriented approach to software development for parallel processing systems is presented. This approach is based on a computation model which incorporates the functional paradigm in the object-oriented paradigm and allows exploitation of massive parallelism without sacrificing the effectiveness of the object-oriented paradigm. The issues related to the development processes are discussed. >
Queuing Delay and Achievable Throughput in Random Access Wireless Ad Hoc Networks

In this paper we focus on characterizing the average end-to-end delay and maximum achievable per-node throughput in random access multihop wireless ad hoc networks with stationary nodes. We present an analytical model that takes into account the number of nodes, the random packet arrival process, the extent of locality of traffic, and the back off and collision avoidance mechanisms of random access MAC. We model random access multihop wireless networks as open G/G/1 queuing networks and use diffusion approximation to evaluate closed form expressions for the average end-to-end delay. The mean service time of nodes is derived and used to obtain the maximum achievable per-node throughput. The analytical results obtained here from the queuing network analysis are discussed with regard to similarities and differences from the well established information-theoretic results on throughput and delay scaling laws in ad hoc networks. We also investigate the extent of deviation of delay and achievable throughput in a real world network from the analytical results presented in this paper. We perform extensive simulations and verify that the analytical results closely match the results obtained from simulations
Description, display and distribution: cultivating a garden identity in late nineteenth-century Lahore

If you walk through the Shalimar Bagh in Lahore during a summer evening at sunset, your senses compete for attention. The call for the Maghrib prayer bellows from the minarets of neighborhood mosqu...
Activation of Parenchymal CD47 Promotes Renal Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) contributes to decreased allograft function and allograft rejection in transplanted kidneys. Thrombospondin-1 is a stress protein typically secreted in response to hypoxia and the ligand activator for the ubiquitously expressed receptor CD47. The function of activated CD47 in IRI remains completely unknown. Here, we found that both CD47 and its ligand thrombospondin-1 were upregulated after renal IRI in mice. CD47-knockout mice were protected against renal dysfunction and tubular damage, suggesting that the development of IRI requires intact CD47 signaling. Chimeric CD47-knockout mice engrafted with wild-type hematopoietic cells had significantly lower serum creatinine and less tubular damage than wild-type controls after IRI, suggesting that CD47 signaling in parenchymal cells predominantly mediates renal damage. Treatment with a CD47-blocking antibody protected mice from renal dysfunction and tubular damage compared with an isotype control. Taken together, these data imply that CD47 on parenchymal cells promotes injury after renal ischemia and reperfusion. Therefore, CD47 blockade may have therapeutic potential to prevent or suppress ischemia-reperfusion–mediated damage.
THE WAKE DYNAMICS AND FLIGHT FORCES OF THE FRUIT FLY DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER

We have used flow visualizations and instantaneous force measurements of tethered fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) to study the dynamics of force generation during flight. During each complete stroke cycle, the flies generate one single vortex loop consisting of vorticity shed during the downstroke and ventral flip. This gross pattern of wake structure in Drosophila is similar to those described for hovering birds and some other insects. The wake structure differed from those previously described, however, in that the vortex filaments shed during ventral stroke reversal did not fuse to complete a circular ring, but rather attached temporarily to the body to complete an inverted heart-shaped vortex loop. The attached ventral filaments of the loop subsequently slide along the length of the body and eventually fuse at the tip of the abdomen. We found no evidence for the shedding of wing-tip vorticity during the upstroke, and argue that this is due to an extreme form of the Wagner effect acting at that time. The flow visualizations predicted that maximum flight forces would be generated during the downstroke and ventral reversal, with little or no force generated during the upstroke. The instantaneous force measurements using laser-interferometry verified the periodic nature of force generation. Within each stroke cycle, there was one plateau of high force generation followed by a period of low force, which roughly correlated with the upstroke and downstroke periods. However, the fluctuations in force lagged behind their expected occurrence within the wing-stroke cycle by approximately 1 ms or one-fifth of the complete stroke cycle. This temporal discrepancy exceeds the range of expected inaccuracies and artifacts in the measurements, and we tentatively discuss the potential retarding effects within the underlying fluid mechanics.
UNIVERSALITY AND INDIVIDUALITY: THE INTERACTION OF NOUN PHRASE DETERMINERS IN COPULAR CLAUSES

This paper presents an implemented theory for quantifying noun phrases in clauses containing copular verbs (e.g., 'be' and 'become'). Proceeding from recent theoretical work by Jackendoff [1983], this computational theory recognizes the dependence of the quantification decision on the definiteness, indefiniteness, or classness of both the subject and object of copular verbs in English. Jackendoffs intuition about the quantificational interdependence of subject and object has been imported from his broader cognitive theory and reformulated within a constraint propagation framework. Extensions reported here include the addition of more active determiners, the expansion of determiner categories, and the treatment of displaced objects. A further finding is that quantificational constraints may propagate across some clausal boundaries. The algorithm is used by the RELATUS Natural Language Understanding System during a phase of analysis that posts constraints to produce a 'constraint tree.' This phase comes after creation of syntactic deep structure and before sentential reference in a semantic-network model. Incorporation of the quantification algorithm in a larger system that parses sentences and builds semantic models from them makes RELATUS able to acquire taxonomic and identity information from text.
Permanent paralysis at sites of dermal exposure to chlorpyrifos.

AbstractObjective: Poisoning with organophosphate pesticides can cause sensory and motor neuropathy with permanent paralysis. Paralysis at the site of dermal exposure has not been reported. Case report: A 61‐year‐old carpenter sprayed a nest of termites with an insecticide containing chlorpyrifos without protective equipment and with direct contact of pesticide solution to hands, lower arms, feet, and lower legs, as well as inhalation of vapors from spraying. After 30 min he became ill with nausea, abdominal cramping, arm and leg weakness, bilateral shoulder pain, chest pain, and numbness in the left hand and arm. At a hospital, he was treated with atropine 1 mg IV and pralidoxime Cl 2 g IV. There was 0/5 strength in the hands and wrists and 3/5 elsewhere, a left peritoneal palsy, and urinary retention. He was transferred to a tertiary care hospital where paralysis persisted. Electromyogram studies documented widespread peripheral neuropathy. With continued progression of neuropathy, pralidoxime was repea...
Discrete-time analysis of soft handoff in CDMA cellular networks

Proper design of soft handoff mechanisms for CDMA cellular networks is critical to overcoming propagation impairments and providing a transparent radio access service for multiple data user profiles. The connectivity of the mobile user to the core network via an active set of access points is determined dynamically by the handoff algorithm via measurements of received pilot signal strengths. Using a discrete-time framework, we derive analytical expressions and develop associated numerical procedures for evaluating the soft handoff performance of a mobile unit travelling along an arbitrary straight-line trajectory in a CDMA cellular network. In particular, we obtain expressions for the cell assignment probabilities, which can be used to compute performance measures such as outage probability, macrodiversity gain, and signaling load. Our methodology provides an accurate and efficient means of designing and dimensioning high performance soft handoff algorithms for CDMA networks, while avoiding the need for approximations or time-consuming computer simulation.
Themes From the Special Issue on Neurodegenerative Diseases: What Have We Learned, and Where Can We Go From Here?

This issue of AJOT adds to the growing and evolving understanding of the effectiveness of occupational therapy—related interventions to meet the needs of people living with neurodegenerative diseases.
Storm-generated sedimentary structures in subtidal marine facies with examples from the Middle and Upper Ordovician of southwestern Virginia

ABSTRACT The role of storms is of major importance in forming stratification in open-shelf facies. Though storm processes on modern shelves are not fully understood, enough is known to see how sediments are influenced. Storms transport sand away from coastal areas, and suspend and transport sand and mud on the open shelf when wave base is lowered. Storms generate winnowed lag deposits of shells or gravel, but coarser sediment and shells of megafauna are little transported except in very near shore environments. The Martinsburg Formation (Middle and Upper Ordovician) of southwestern Virginia was deposited on a storm-influenced open-marine platform, in contrast to the classic turbidite flysch basin of the Martinsburg in the Great Valley of Virginia to the northeast. Deposition of most Martinsburg sediments was due to storms. Sediments deposited during single storm events occur in characteristic fining-upward sequences (1 to 80 cm thick) in both carbonate and terrigenous clastic dominated areas of the platform. Individual storm deposits consist of a sharp erosional base overlain by a couplet of whole-fossil packstone and laminated calcarenite/siltite or quartzose siltstone to very fine sandstone, which is gradational to shale. Packstones are typically intraclastic, have shells aligned parallel o bedding and convex up (often with adhering or contained mud), and have abundant infiltration textures such as cement filled shelter-voids. Packstones grade abruptly to a laminated bed with horizontal plane lamination, large- and small-scale in-phase undulatory lamination, and wave-ripple cross lamination, commonly occurring in ordered vertical sequences. Laminated beds contain escape burrows, are weekly graded, and have irregularly mounded upper bed surfaces. Laminated beds grade upward to shale containing horizontal branching burrows and marine fossils. The faunal content of the fining-upward sequences matches that of the interbedded shale. Storm-generated beds vary greatly in thickness laterally, and frequently pinch-out completely. Fining-upward sequences formed by scouring, winnowing, and suspension of the sand and mud during the height of the storm to form the erosional base and autochthonous lag of whole fossils. Storms preferentially preserve whole fossils rather than fragmenting them. Infiltration of finer sediment into the lag deposit and deposition of the laminated bed occurred as the storm waned. Laminated beds are molded into a distinctive suite of sedimentary structures by wave-generated currents. The shale represents deposition of finest storm-suspended material and continued hemipelagic sedimentation. Similar sequences are widely distributed in the geologic record. Variability of storm-generated sequences can be related to changing water depth. Thus storm deposits may be useful in basin analysis to estimate relative water depths and trace transgressive and regressive events.
Unfolding the multi-length scale domain structure of silk fibroin protein

Multi-scale force spectroscopy was applied to measure unfolding properties and the internal domain structure of Bombyx mori silk fibroin. We demonstrated that the complex multi-domain sequence and block design in this protein can be directly related to multi-stage unfolding behavior of the specific regions through the use of force extension measurements. These new findings suggest relationships between polymer block chemistry and mechanical features, as origins of the remarkable mechanical properties of native silk fibers in general. We observed multiple consequential unfolding of hydrophilic and hydrophobic domains with characteristics that can be directly related to known molecular dimensions of the protein backbones. Future screening and selection approaches can be envisioned to exploit this approach to optimize specific material functional features for both biopolymers and synthetic polymers in relation to sequence chemistry, a capability not currently available.
Interfacial shear strength and failure modes of interphase-modified graphite-epoxy composites

Electrocopolymerization of acrylonitrile/methyl acrylate/acrylic acid, acrylonitrile/methylacrylate, and glycidyl-acrylate/acrylonitrile interlayers onto Hercules AS4 graphite fibers was used to improve simultaneously the effective interfacial shear strength, τe, and the fracture toughness of graphite-epoxy composite materials. With a single-fiber fracture test, τe for these coated fibers (embedded in a diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A - 4,4′-methylenedianiline matrix) was determined at various temperatures and under various hygrothermal treatments. At room temperature, the coated samples showed slightly improved shear strength over the uncoated sample. At elevated temperatures, a plot of τe vs. temperature for the uncoated sample showed two distinctive regions: an interface-controlled plateau region at low temperatures, and a matrix-controlled region at high (>80°C) temperatures. Only one region, which was controlled by the matrix and the interlayer, was observed for the GA/AN coated sample. The τe values determined were slightly higher than the shear strength of the bulk matrix, possibly because of stronger matrix properties at the interface. Optical micrographs of the coated sample tested at temperatures less than 100°C showed no matrix crack perpendicular to the fiber axis, indicating that the interlayer has effectively blunted the crack tip and restricted its propagation. The effect of moisture in the sample was to reduce τe for the coated sample. Upon dehydration, the strength was partially recovered. The treatments did not affect the uncoated sample, however. The fragmentation length data were fitted well by both Gaussian and Weibull distributions.
Shelah's Singular Compactness Theorem

We present Shelah’s famous theorem in a version for modules, together with a self-contained proof and some examples. This exposition is based on lectures given at CRM in October 2006.
Acoustic Nearfield Characteristics of a Premixed Flame in a Longitudinal Acoustic Field

The occurrence of self excited, combustion driven oscillations pose significant problems in lean, premixed gas turbine combustors. The interactions between flames and longitudinal acoustic oscillations play a key role in many of these instabilities. This paper analyzes the acoustic field in the vicinity of a premixed flame front in order to clarify these interactions. Specifically, it describes a numerical analysis of the acoustic characteristics of a premixed flame that is excited by longitudinal disturbances. Solutions are determined from an integral formulation of the acoustic wave equation that is solved via boundary element techniques. Analyses of these results are performed to characterize the deviations of the acoustic field from one-dimensionality. First, as can be anticipated from quasi one-dimensional considerations, the flame’s reflection coefficient is lower than that predicted by purely onedimensional calculations. The results also show that the acoustic pressure is nearly one-dimensional in the vicinity of the flame. Finally, they show that the velocity oscillations are strongly multidimensional, even in acoustically compact flames. At very low frequencies, these local velocity oscillations are in phase with each other, while at higher frequencies, their phase may change significantly along the flame. The results of this study show that the multidimensional nature of the acoustic velocity oscillations in the near field of the flame must be taken into consideration in analyses of the interactions between acoustic waves and flames. NOMENCLATURE
Nitrogen-15 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy. Natural Abundance Nitrogen-15 Spectra of the cis and trans Isomers of Secondary Alkylformamides

The ^(15)NMR chemical shifts were measured of a number of N-substituted formamides and acetamides at the natural abundance level. The ratios of the cis and trans isomers for several N-alkylformamides were also determined. Substituent effects on the ^(15)N chemical shifts of formamides are compared with those of some other nitrogen-containing compounds. There is a consistent pattern of behavior of the one bond spin–spin coupling constants [^1J(^(15)NH)] wherein the trans isomers of N-alkylformamides are larger than those of the cis isomers.
INTELLIGENT MACHINE TECHNOLOGY AND PRODUCTIVITY GROWTH

This paper provides preliminary estimates of the productivity impact of intelligent machine technology (IMT) and the rate of return to IMT research and development (R&D) over the next two decades. The paper adapts economists’ traditional productivity growth model to enable the use of industrial experts’ forecasts of a few key parameters of the model to form the estimates of productivity growth and rate of return. Respondents – from a sample of firms operating in IMT development and applications in the automotive, aerospace, and capital construction industries – anticipate that IMT will generate substantial productivity growth over the next two decades, and the estimated social rates of return to IMT R&D are substantial.
Maternal Psychological Stress after Prenatal Diagnosis of Congenital Heart Disease

Objective To determine whether prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease (CHD) increases maternal stress. Study design Self-report instruments were administered to mothers carrying a fetus with CHD. Domains included: (1) traumatic stress (Impact of Events Scale-Revised); (2) depression (Beck Depression Index II); and (3) anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Index). Modifiers included: (1) coping skills (COPE Inventory); (2) partner satisfaction (Dyadic Adjustment Scale); and (3) demographics. Multivariate linear regression models were used to assess relationships between stress measures and modifiers. Results Fifty-nine mothers (gestational age 27 ± 3 weeks) completed all measures. Clinically important traumatic distress was seen in 39%, depression in 22%, and state anxiety in 31%. Lower partner satisfaction was associated with higher depression ( P P P Conclusions Posttraumatic stress, depression, and anxiety are common after prenatal diagnosis of CHD. Healthy partner relationships and positive coping mechanisms can act as buffers.
The chromatin architectural proteins HMGD1 and H1 bind reciprocally and have opposite effects on chromatin structure and gene regulation

Chromatin architectural proteins interact with nucleosomes to modulate chromatin accessibility and higher-order chromatin structure. While these proteins are almost certainly important for gene regulation they have been studied far less than the core histone proteins. Here we describe the genomic distributions and functional roles of two chromatin architectural proteins: histone H1 and the high mobility group protein HMGD1 in Drosophila S2 cells. Using ChIP-seq, biochemical and gene specific approaches, we find that HMGD1 binds to highly accessible regulatory chromatin and active promoters. In contrast, H1 is primarily associated with heterochromatic regions marked with repressive histone marks. We find that the ratio of HMGD1 to H1 binding is a better predictor of gene activity than either protein by itself, which suggests that reciprocal binding between these proteins is important for gene regulation. Using knockdown experiments, we show that HMGD1 and H1 affect the occupancy of the other protein, change nucleosome repeat length and modulate gene expression. Collectively, our data suggest that dynamic and mutually exclusive binding of H1 and HMGD1 to nucleosomes and their linker sequences may control the fluid chromatin structure that is required for transcriptional regulation. This study provides a framework to further study the interplay between chromatin architectural proteins and epigenetics in gene regulation.
Effects of DDT and PCB's on Survival of Lake Trout Eggs and Fry in a Hatchery and in Lake Michigan, 1973–1976

Abstract To assess the role of DDT and PCB's in reproductive failure of lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) planted in Lake Michigan, I compared mortality of eggs (1.41–5.24 μg/g DDT, 3.16–9.90 μg/g PCB's) and fry from planted Lake Michigan lake trout with that of eggs (0.05–0.20 μg/g DDT, 0.20–0.28 μg/g PCB's) and fry from hatchery lake trout. In normal hatchery incubation from fertilization to 6 weeks after swim-up, mortality of Lake Michigan trout (mean ± 95% confidence limits) was 80 ± 16% as compared to 46 ± 14% for hatchery lake trout in 1973–1974 and 50 ± 9% versus 47 ± 9%, respectively, in 1974–1975. The significantly higher mortality of Lake Michigan than of hatchery lake trout in 1973–1974 was thought due to causes other than DDT or PCB's. Mortality of Lake Michigan lake trout during different stages of development usually was not linearly correlated with DDT and PCB content. During development in enclosures in Lake Michigan from fertilization or the eyed stage, mortality of Lake Michigan lake tro...
An evaluation of coarse grain dataflow code generation strategies

Presents top-down and bottom-up methods for generating coarse grain dataflow or multithreaded code, and evaluates their effectiveness. The top-down technique generates clusters directly from the intermediate data dependence graph used for compiler optimizations. Bottom-up techniques coalesce fine-grain dataflow code into clusters. We measure the resulting number of clusters executed, cluster size, and number of inputs per cluster, for Livermore and Purdue benchmarks. The top-down method executes less clusters and instructions, but incurs a higher number of matches per cluster, which exemplifies the need for efficient matching of more than two inputs per cluster.
Nanocrystalline grain structures developed in commercial purity Cu by low-temperature cold rolling

Nanocrystalline pure copper was obtained by cold rolling a commercial bulk Cu to very large extensions at subambient temperatures. The eventual formation of nanocrystalline grain structures is attributed to dynamic grain refinement (recrystallization) mechanisms activated by the low-temperature continuous plastic deformation that leads to ultrahigh densities of dislocations.
Transcriptome response of the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) to infection with Vibrio tubiashii using cDNA AFLP differential display.

Summary We used qualitative complementary DNA-amplified fragment length polymorphism (cDNAAFLP) differential display analysis and real-time, quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) to identify genes in the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas, whose transcription either changes in response to exposure to a pathogenic bacterium (Vibrio tubiashii) or varies between families known to differ in sensitivity to heat stress, before and at 12 and 36 h after bacterial exposure at a temperature of 25 � C. These conditions simulate those associated with summer mortality syndrome, a poorly understood cause of massive mortalities in cultured Pacific oysters in North America, Asia and Europe. Using 32 AFLP primer pairs, we identified 92 transcriptderived fragments that are qualitatively differentially expressed. We then cloned and sequenced 14 of these fragments, designed fragment-specific primers and quantified their transcription patterns using RT-qPCR. Most of the differences in transcription patterns between stress-tolerant and stress-sensitive families were evident before bacterial exposure, and genes that responded to bacterial exposure did so in parallel between stress-sensitive and stress-tolerant families. BLAST searches of sequence databases revealed that these fragments represent genes involved in immune response as well as genes related to metabolic processes. Our data support the hypothesis that family level differences in resistance to stress in Pacific oysters are largely attributable to constitutive differences in gene transcription or general vigour that are detectable before and maintained after infection, rather than being due to induced responses at the transcriptome level.
Airborne infections and modern building technology

Abstract Over the last 30 yr an increased appreciation of the importance of airborne infection has evolved. The concept of droplet nuclein, infectious particles from 0.5 to 3 μ which stay suspended in air for long periods of time, has been accepted as an important determinant of infectivity. Important airborne pathogens in modern buildings include Legionella pneumophila , Aspergillus sp., thermophilic actinomycetes, Mycobacterium tuberculosis , measles, varicella and rubella. Perhaps, the most important microbiologic threat to most buildings is L. pneumophila . This organism can multiply in water cooling systems and contaminate effluent air which can be drawn into a building and efficiently circulated throughout by existing ventilation systems. Hospitals are a special problem because of the concentration of immunosuppressed patients who are uniquely susceptible to airborne diseases such as aspergillosis, and the likelihood that patients ill from diseases than can be spread via the airborne route will be concentrated. Humidifiers are yet another problem and have been shown to be important in several outbreaks of allergic alveolitis and legionellosis. Control of airborne infections is largely an effort at identifying and controlling reservoirs of infection. This includes regular biocide treatment of cooling towers and evaporative condensers and identification and isolation of patients with diseases that may be spread via the airborne route.
The State-Society Relationship and Political Conflicts in Nepal (1768-2005)

For nearly a decade, from the declaration of Maoist ‘people's war’ in January 1996 to the formation of new alliance for the restoration of democracy in December 2005, Nepal has experienced a three-...
Dynamic Ad Hoc Network Localization Using Online Least Squares Kernel Subspace Methods

In this paper we apply complex least squares kernel subspace methods to the problem of ad hoc network localization. We use Gaussian kernels and a neighborhood kernel to estimate the locations of mobile nodes. Our algorithms do not require preprocessing of raw data like other statistical methods. Further-more they use one-step regression directly, instead of existing two-stage classification methods, and work on a fairly small subset of training data. These salient features allow our algorithms to successfully solve the the dynamic localization problem with low communication and computational costs. Simulation of ad hoc networks with random node movement demonstrates the success of the algorithms. The methods and algorithms can also be applied in other applications like target tracking and sensor data representation.
Creation of a simple distal femur morphology classification system

The purpose of this study is to propose a binary classification system based on simple measurements that summarizes individual, race, and sex-specific differences in distal femur shape. Surface models of 165 distal femurs (79 female, 86 male; 85 African-American, 80 Caucasian, 28.8 ± 7.6 years) were created with a 3-dimensional laser scanner. Surface area, width, length, curvature, and angulation were measured. Knees were classified as either type A or B within five distinct categories: (i) aspect ratio, (ii) trochlear-intercondylar width ratio, (iii) trochlear tilt, (iv) medial-lateral trochlear width ratio, and (v) trochlear sulcus shape. Correlations between these measures and surface area were calculated, and receiver-operator curves were used to select cutoff values between type A and B knees to improve differentiation of femur shapes by sex or race. The cutoff values between type A and B knees for the five categories are as follows: Category I: 0.90, Category II: 0.51, Category III: 1.02, Category IV: 0.67, and Category V: 128.7°. Other than category IV (medial-lateral trochlear width ratio) (p = 0.004, R = 0.22), no categories were correlated with surface area (p > 0.25). Category I (aspect ratio, cutoff = 0.90) best differentiated femurs by sex (p < 0.001, AUC = 0.80), and Category V (sulcus shape) best differentiated femurs by race (p < 0.001, AUC = 0.73). This system uses simple measurements to summarize important individual, race, and sex-specific differences in distal femur shape. It can be used in a clinical setting to provide insight into the relationship between sex or race differences in knee shape and mechanically influenced knee disorders. © 2015 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 34:924-931, 2016.
Complex martingale convergence

We investigate martingales appropriate for use in complex Banach spaces in connection with the complex uniform convexity popularized by Davis, Garling and Tomczak. This brings us into contact with diverse concepts, such as: pseudo-convex sets, plurisubharmonic functions, conformal martingales, the Radon-Nikodym property, and the analytic Randon-Nikodym property.
MODELING DENDRITIC ARBORIZATION BASED ON 3D-RECONSTRUCTIONS OF ADULT RAT PHRENIC MOTONEURONS - Modeling dendritic arborization based on 3D-reconstructions of adult rat phrenic motoneurons

Stereological techniques that rely on morphological assumptions and direct three-dimensional (3D) confocal measurements have been previously used to estimate the dendritic surface areas of phrenic motoneurons (PhrMNs). Given that 97% of a motoneuron’s receptive area is provided by dendrites, dendritic branching and overall extension are physiologically important in determining the output of their synaptic receptive fields. However, limitations intrinsic to shape-based estimations and incomplete labeling of dendritic trees by retrograde techniques have hindered systematic approaches to examine dendritic morphology of PhrMNs. In this study, a novel method that improves dendritic filling of PhrMNs in lightly-fixed samples was used. Confocal microscopy allowed accurate 3D reconstruction of dendritic arbors from adult rat PhrMNs. Following pre-processing, segmentation was semi-automatically performed in 3D, and direct measurements of dendritic surface area were obtained. A quadratic model for estimating dendritic tree surface area based on measurements of primary dendrite diameter was derived (r2 = 0.932; p<0.0001). This method may enhance interpretation of motoneuron plasticity in response to injury or disease by permitting estimations of dendritic arborization of PhrMNs since measurements of primary dendrite diameter can be reliably obtained from a number of retrograde labeling techniques.
Abstract 16201: Combined Treatment of the PI3k/mTOR Inhibitor BEZ235 With Doxorubicin Does Not Increase Cardiotoxicity While Improving Efficacy in Breast Cancer Cells

Background: Cardiotoxicity is a major clinical limitation with doxorubicin (DOX). Also, the PI3K/Akt survival pathway is one of the most commonly mutated pathways in cancer. Therefore, the combination of kinase inhibitors and chemotherapy, such as DOX, are necessary for achieving cancer control. The PI3K pathway is also critical for protecting the heart from stress. Therefore, we examined the combined effect of BEZ235 (BEZ), a dual PI3k/mTOR inhibitor, with DOX on cardiac function and killing of breast cancer cells. Methods and results: c57 mice were treated with BEZ (40 mg/kg daily oral gavage) and DOX (3 IV injections of 5 mg/kg) either alone or in combination. Systolic function was assessed 12 weeks after initial treatment using echocardiography. Decreased ejection fraction was observed after DOX treatment. Interestingly, the combined treatment with BEZ and DOX did not exacerbate DOX cardiotoxicity (Fig. A). Western blot analysis showed significant increase in AKT (thr 308) and ERK phosphorylation with...
Effects of the constitutive expression of a medium chain acyl-ACP thioesterase from California Bay on leaf lipid composition of transformed Brassica plants

Constitutive expression of California bay medium chain acyl-ACP thioesterase in Brassica napus resulted in medium chain acyl-ACP thioesterase activity in transformed leaf tissue without alteration of leaf fatty acid composition. [14C] Labelling studies of intact leaf discs, chloroplasts and protoplasts were used to evaluate if medium chain acyl moieties are produced in transformed leaves. The possible metabolism of medium chain fatty acids in leaf via β-oxidation is discussed.
The State of State Policies for Principal Preparation Program Approval and Candidate Licensure

Policies for principal preparation and licensure are important levers for improving school leadership. By developing a rubric of research-based practices, this University Council of Educational Adm...
Adrenergic function restoration in the transplanted heart: a role for neural crest-derived cells.

This editorial refers to ‘Neural crest-derived resident cardiac cells contribute to the restoration of adrenergic function of transplanted heart in rodent’ by Y. Tamura et al. , pp. 350–357. Cardiac transplantation is currently the best therapeutic approach for some end-stage heart failure patients.1 One consequence following cardiac transplantation is cardiac denervation due to the severance of post-ganglionic sympathetic nerve fibres.2 Interestingly, sympathetic reinnervation takes place within a year or more following transplantation.3 This is accompanied by a significant improvement of heart rate and function in response to exercise, as well as improvement of coronary blood flow.3,4 This recovery of adrenergic function in the transplanted heart has been attributed in part to the activation of the intrinsic cardiac adrenergic system, which can stimulate adrenergic function independent of sympathetic innervation.5,6 Identifying the origin and the mechanisms of activation of the intrinsic cardiac adrenergic system could shed light on sympathetic-related events such as ventricular arrhythmias.7 In this issue, Tamura et al. 8 aimed to identify …
Optimum Design of Prestressed Concrete Members

Spandrel beams and drop panels, or both, often existed in monolithic continuous structures. The analysis of this type of structural member is entirely different from that of a member having a uniform section. An optimum design method for a prestressed concrete member with prismatic haunches under a uniformly distributed load is developed without calculating the secondary moment caused by the prestressing force. This reduces the analysis to that of a nonprestressed member and gives a direct design procedure and desired stresses in the control section of the member for practical application.
Consonance and Dissonance of Musical Chords: Neural Correlates in Auditory Cortex of Monkeys and Humans

Some musical chords sound pleasant, or consonant, while others sound unpleasant, or dissonant. Helmholtz's psychoacoustic theory of consonance and dissonance attributes the perception of dissonance...
CIDER: enhancing the performance of computational eyeglasses

The human eye offers a fascinating window into an individual's health, cognitive attention, and decision making, but we lack the ability to continually measure these parameters in the natural environment. We demonstrate CIDER, a system that operates in a highly optimized low-power mode under indoor settings by using a fast Search-Refine controller to track the eye, but detects when the environment switches to more challenging outdoor sunlight and switches models to operate robustly under this condition. Our design is holistic and tackles a) power consumption in digitizing pixels, estimating pupillary parameters, and illuminating the eye via near-infrared and b) error in estimating pupil center and pupil dilation. We demonstrate that CIDER can estimate pupil center with error less than two pixels (0.6°), and pupil diameter with error of one pixel (0.22mm). Our end-to-end results show that we can operate at power levels of roughly 7mW at a 4Hz eye tracking rate, or roughly 32mW at rates upwards of 250Hz.