cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A double edge function of type 17 immunity in Streptococcus pneumoniae pathogenesis during a co-infection with Influenza A Virus

Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn) is a respiratory pathogen responsible for significant global disease burden (otitis media, pneumonia, sepsis). Despite success with current Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines, a significant proportion of humans remain colonized with Spn, rendering them at risk for developing Spn infections. Upper respiratory nasopharyngeal (NP) colonization by Spn is a precursor to disease, and viral induced inflammation is a key risk factor for the transition of commensal colonization to disease pathogenesis. We utilized a mouse co-infection model of Spn and influenza virus to determine the role of virus induced acute inflammation in the transition of Spn colonization to disease pathogenesis. We show that early Spn NP colonization is allowed by an immune quiescence state, maintained by the lack of IL-17 expression. Introduction of influenza virus in Spn colonized mice elicits a robust IL-17 driven inflammatory response, which induces robust neutrophilia and tissue damage in the NP. The IL-17 mediated inflammatory response was associated with a significant increase in Spn NP bacterial density, leading to Spn invasion and bacteremia. Antibody mediated neutralization of IL-17 suppressed NP inflammation and bacterial density and prevented bacteremia. IL-17 receptor expression was also detected in nasal myeloid cell infiltrate. RoRγt-KO mice remained protected from bacteremia, mimicking the reduced pathogenesis of IL-17 neutralized WT mice. Using RoRγt GFP mutant mice, we detected the recruitment of GFP expressing RoRγt cell population in NP lavages and nasal associated lymphoid tissues. We conclude that IL-17 blockade could contain influenza induced NP pathology and protect against Spn invasive pathogenesis.
Advances in MIC Testing

Abstract : The study of microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) has progressed from phenomenological case histories to a mature interdisciplinary science including electrochemical, metallurgical, surface analytical, microbiological, biotechnological, and biophysical techniques. With microelectrodes and gene probes it is now possible to measure interfacial dissolved oxygen, dissolved sulfide and pH, and to determine microbial species responsible for localized chemistry. Biofilms can be tailored to contain consortia of specific microorganisms and naturally-occurring biofilms can be dissected into cellular and extracellular constituents. Scanning vibrating electrodes can be used to map the distribution of anodic electrochemical activity. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and electrochemical noise analysis techniques have been developed to non-destructively evaluate localized corrosion due to MIC. The development of environmental scanning electron, atomic force, and laser confocal microscopy makes it possible to image cells on surfaces and to accurately determine the spatial relationship between optical density measurements to precisely locate the water/biofilm interface and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging to visualize flow characteristics near surfaces colonized with microorganisms. The ways in which new techniques can be used to understand fundamental mechanisms and to discriminate MIC will be discussed in this paper. (Author)
Retrospective analysis of taxane-based therapy in advanced small bowel adenocarcinoma (SBA).

e16263Background: Recent genomic data has demonstrated SBA to be a molecularly unique entity when compared to colon or gastric cancer. A recent prospective study of single-agent nab-paclitaxel demo...
Racial Disparities in the Presentation, Early Definitive Surgical Treatment, and Mortality Among Men Diagnosed with Poorly Differentiated/Undifferentiated Non-metastatic Prostate Cancer in the USA

To assess the influence of race on presentation of poorly differentiated/undifferentiated prostate cancer, use of radical prostatectomy (RP) as primary treatment and survival outcomes. Using the 2004–2014 files of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) data, we identified 244,167 black and white men diagnosed with poorly differentiated/undifferentiated prostate cancer. Demographic and tumor characteristics of study patients were compared by race. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the influence of race on receipt of RP. Cox proportional hazard models were fitted to determine the impact of RP and race on cancer-specific mortality (CSM) and all-cause mortality (ACM). Compared to white men, black men were diagnosed of prostate cancer at a younger age (64.2 years versus (vs) 67.5 years, p < 0.0001) and presented with higher median prostate-specific antigen, PSA (24.4 ng/ml vs 22.1 ng/ml, p < 0.0001) but lower disease stage. Lower proportion of black men received RP compared to white men (33.9% vs 42.6%; p < 0.0001). The odds of receipt of RP were 2 times higher in white men relative to black men. The risks of CSM and ACM were over 2 times and 3 times respectively higher in patients who did not receive RP vs patients who received RP in the study population and in each race. Despite the younger age at diagnosis of poorly differentiated/undifferentiated prostate cancer and higher PSA at diagnosis in black men, white men had significantly higher odds of receipt of RP relative to black men.
Unstable platforms: TV in the digital age:

This essay compares our current experience of technological and cultural disruption with ‘the network era’ (1946–2000), American TV’s first great age. I argue that the relative stability of the med...
Progress in the understanding and treatment of Fabry disease.

Abstract Background Fabry disease is caused by α-galactosidase A deficiency. Substrates of this lysosomal enzyme accumulate, resulting in cellular dysfunction. Patients experience neuropathic pain, kidney failure, heart disease, and strokes. Scope of review The clinical picture and molecular features of Fabry disease are described, along with updates on disease mechanisms, animal models, and therapies. Major conclusions How the accumulation of α-galactosidase A substrates, mainly glycosphingolipids, leads to organ damage is incompletely understood. Enzyme replacement and chaperone therapies are clinically available to patients, while substrate reduction, mRNA-based, and gene therapies are on the horizon. Animal models exist to optimize these therapies and elucidate disease mechanisms for novel treatments. General significance Recent newborn screening studies demonstrate that Fabry disease is the most common lysosomal storage disease. As many countries now include Fabry disease in their screening panels, the number of identified patients is expected to increase significantly. Better knowledge of disease pathogenesis is needed to improve treatment options.
A Mentoring Program: Mentoring the Mentor and Mentee

Mentoring is a concept that is essential in recruiting and retaining nursing faculty.Â While a number of nursing programs provide methods for mentoring novice faculty members, the success of such activities may often be determined by the rate of faculty attrition.Â Expectations, workload, and attrition rate of novice faculty members were the catalysts for developing a program focused on mentoring the mentor and mentee.Â Previously, mentors functioned in the roles of teacher or resource person, causing the roles of both mentor and mentees to be unclear and without specificity.Â With a focus on teaching mentors how to be more effective while mentoring the novice faculty members, a Nurse Educator Mentor was assigned to develop and implement the Faculty Mentoring Program.Â Faculty members who have experience teaching, as well as novice faculty members, are able to transition into their roles easier, thus promoting faculty attrition, productivity, and better outcomes.Â This article presents a discussion of a successful nursing faculty mentoring program.Keywords: Nurse Educator Mentor, Faculty Mentoring Program, transitionÂ Â
Load-transfer in the human vertebral body following lumbar total disc arthroplasty: Effects of implant size and stiffness in axial compression and forward flexion.

Adverse clinical outcomes for total disc arthroplasty (TDA), including subsidence, heterotopic ossification, and adjacent-level vertebral fracture, suggest problems with the underlying biomechanics. To gain insight, we investigated the role of size and stiffness of TDA implants on load-transfer within a vertebral body. Uniquely, we accounted for the realistic multi-scale geometric features of the trabecular micro-architecture and cortical shell. Using voxel-based finite element analysis derived from a micro-computed tomography scan of one human L1 vertebral body (74-μm-sized elements), a series of generic elliptically shaped implants were analyzed. We parametrically modeled three implant sizes (small, medium [a typical clinical size], and large) and three implant materials (metallic, E = 100 GPa; polymeric, E = 1 GPa; and tissue-engineered, E = 0.01 GPa). Analyses were run for two load cases: 800 N in uniform compression and flexion-induced anterior impingement. Results were compared to those of an intact model without an implant and loaded instead via a disc-like material. We found that TDA implantation increased stress in the bone tissue by over 50% in large portions of the vertebra. These changes depended more on implant size than material, and there was an interaction between implant size and loading condition. For the small implant, flexion increased the 98th-percentile of stress by 32 ± 24% relative to compression, but the overall stress distribution and trabecular-cortical load-sharing were relatively insensitive to loading mode. In contrast, for the medium and large implants, flexion increased the 98th-percentile of stress by 42 ± 9% and 87 ± 29%, respectively, and substantially re-distributed stress within the vertebra; in particular overloading the anterior trabecular centrum and cortex. We conclude that TDA implants can substantially alter stress deep within the lumbar vertebra, depending primarily on implant size. For implants of typical clinical size, bending-induced impingement can substantially increase stress in local regions and may therefore be one factor driving subsidence in vivo.
Abstract P3-02-07: Fatty acid metabolism is associated with chromatin remodeling in mammary epithelial cells

Introduction: Altered metabolism is a hallmark of cancer. We have reported that a set of lipid metabolism (LiMe) genes is over-expressed in the contralateral unaffected breasts (CUBs) of women with unilateral estrogen receptor negative (ER-) breast cancer, who are at high risk for future ER- tumors. We hypothesized that a potential mechanism connecting lipid metabolism to risk of ER- disease may involve epigenetic regulation of gene expression in breast cells by lipids, as shown by McDonnel et. al., Cell reports 2016 in hepatocytes. Methods: Mass spectrometry was performed to profile the composition of lipid species in the sera of patients with ER+ versus ER- disease. MCF-10A cells and mammary organoids from reduction mammoplasty patients were treated with Octanoic (OA) and Linoleic acid (LA) followed by western blot analysis of acetylated histones and sequencing of RNA with qPCR confirmation of significant findings. Partial wave spectroscopic (PWS) microscopy was employed to study change in chromatin. Epithelial RNA from microdissected benign breast samples from CUBs of 84 patients (28 ER+, 28 ER- and 28 healthy controls) were subjected to qPCR. Results: Sera from ER- patients showed higher levels of two triacylglycerides: TAG46:4-FA18:2 (1.25-fold, p=0.05) and TAG 47:2-FA18:2 (1.35-fold, p=0.07), both of which contain LA. MCF10A cells and human mammary organoids showed induction of H3 acetylation at lysine 9 & 14 after treatment with LA and OA treatment at physiological levels. This was accompanied by evidence of chromatin remodeling and 2-fold increase in DNA accessibility on PWS. RNA-Seq of OA treated MCF-10A cells revealed significant upregulation of LiMe genes together with pathways associated with breast malignancy: Notch, Wnt, EMT and adenylate cyclase. The adenylate cyclase pathway (known to be specifically associated with ER- breast cancer risk), was enriched 3.7-fold (p=0.007). In RNA from CUBs of 84 patients, we found overexpression of Notch pathway intermediates that responded to lipid exposure in MCF10A in the ER- group, specifically Notch1 (1.8-fold, p=0.02) and Hey1 (2.9-fold, p=0.05). Conclusion: Specific classes of dietary lipids are the source of acetyl-CoA which acetylates histones and remodels chromatin to modulate gene transcription in ER- MCF10A cells. Thus revved-up fatty acid oxidation may play a role in ER- breast oncogenesis via Notch signaling. Our novel findings point to potential interception strategies that target connections between lipid metabolism and histone modifications. Citation Format: Shivangi Yadav, MiRan Choi, David Van Derway, Greta Braur, Vadim Backman, Seema Ahsan Khan, Susan Clare. Fatty acid metabolism is associated with chromatin remodeling in mammary epithelial cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2019 Dec 10-14; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-02-07.
A Requirements Driven Digital Twin Framework: Specification and Opportunities

Among the tenets of Smart Manufacturing (SM) or Industry 4.0 (I4.0), digital twin (DT), which represents the capabilities of virtual representations of components and systems, has been cited as the biggest technology trend disrupting engineering and design today. DTs have been in use for years in areas such as model-based process control and predictive maintenance, however moving forward a framework is needed that will support the expected pervasiveness of DT technology in the evolution of SM or I4.0. A set of requirements for a DT framework has been derived from analysis of DT definitions, DTs in use today, expected DT applications in the near future, and longer-term DT trends and the DT vision in SM. These requirements include elements of re-usability, interoperability, interchangeability, maintainability, extensibility, and autonomy across the entire DT lifecycle. A baseline framework for DT technology has been developed that addresses many aspects of these requirements and enables the addressing of the requirements more fully through additional specification. The baseline framework includes a definition of a DT and an object-oriented (O-O) architecture for DTs that defines generalization, aggregation and instantiation of DT classes. Case studies using and extending the baseline framework illustrate its advantages in supporting DT solutions and trends in SM.
The Effect of Task Complexity on Eye Movement and Multitasking Performance in Students With and Without ADHD

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder that affects many individual’s ability to maintain and shift attention. Little is known about the connection ...
Treatment of Implant Malposition

Implant malposition is a common complication after breast augmentation mammoplasty. Improperly positioned implants are not only aesthetically unpleasing but may also adversely impact the psychological well-being and quality of life of patients. A number of patient-, operative technique-, and/or implant-related factors may predispose to implant malposition. Thorough preoperative planning, meticulous operative technique, and diligent postoperative care can prevent the occurrence of implant malposition. When malposition does occur, understanding the etiology is crucial for devising an operative plan that adequately addresses the cause(s). The corrective approach typically involves either the revision of the existing implant pocket or the creation of a new implant pocket in a different plane. In each of these approaches, a combination of techniques is often needed to reposition the implant at its intended location on the breast.
Comparative Analysis of UWB Underground Data Collected Using Step-Frequency, Short Pulse and Noise Waveforms

One of the important questions in UWB underground radar systems is the choice of waveform. Clearly one must transmit and receive an electromagnetic signal with a large bandwidth in the frequency band below approximately 800 MHz to penetrate the ground, but the choice of the waveform is often determined by other considerations than underground propagation conditions such as cost and reduction of interference from (or to) other users of this crowded frequency band.
Pain from intra-articular NGF or joint injury in the rat requires contributions from peptidergic joint afferents

Non-physiological stretch of the cervical facet joint's capsular ligament induces persistent behavioral hypersensitivity and spinal neuronal hyperexcitability via an intra-articular NGF-dependent mechanism. Although that ligament is innervated by nociceptors, it is unknown if a subpopulation is exclusively responsible for the behavioral and spinal neuronal responses to intra-articular NGF and/or facet joint injury. This study ablated joint afferents using the neurotoxin saporin targeted to neurons involved in either peptidergic ([Sar(9),Met (O2)(11)]-substance P-saporin (SSP-Sap)) or non-peptidergic (isolectin B4-saporin (IB4-Sap)) signaling to investigate the contributions of those neuronal populations to facet-mediated pain. SSP-Sap, but not IB4-Sap, injected into the bilateral C6/C7 facet joints 14 days prior to an intra- articular NGF injection prevents NGF-induced mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity in the forepaws. Similarly, only SSP- Sap prevents the increase in mechanical forepaw stimulation- induced firing of spinal neurons after intra-articular NGF. In addition, intra-articular SSP-Sap prevents both behavioral hypersensitivity and upregulation of NGF in the dorsal root ganglion after a facet joint distraction that normally induces pain. These findings collectively suggest that disruption of peptidergic signaling within the joint may be a potential treatment for facet pain, as well as other painful joint conditions associated with elevated NGF, such as osteoarthritis.
Lack of Detection of Intermediates in the Path of Phosphate Oxygen to Water in Photophosphorylation

Abstract The incorporation of both 18O and 32P from labeled inorganic phosphate into ATP during steady state phosphorylation catalyzed by high concentrations of chloroplast fragments at low light intensities was linear with time to at least 3 min. This linearity was maintained from 2 to over 200 µmoles of ATP synthesized per µmole of cytochrome f present. If the pathway of oxygen to HOH is the same in the ATP ⇄ HOH exchange and in net ATP synthesis catalyzed by chloroplasts and if it involves an oxygen-containing intermediate, a detectable lag in incorporation of 18O as compared with 32P from Pi into ATP would be expected to occur. The sensitivity of the experiments was such that an intermediate pool of about 3 oxygen atoms per mole of cytochrome f might have been detected, but uncertainties are such that a larger pool could exist. The experiments make unlikely participation of a phosphorylated intermediate at the same level. The results warrant additional consideration of the possibility that the path of oxygen from Pi to HOH in photophosphorylation is direct.
Discontinuity: a dilemma for adolescents.

The physical health of children has improved markedly throughout the years. Adolescent health problems, however, have eluded prevention and cure. As we develop strategies to deal with the complex problems of contemporary adolescents and their families, we need to consider constructs broader than the biomedical model with which we may be more familiar. Continuity is striking in nature and in the principles of growth and development, whereas discontinuity is striking in the lives of contemporary adolescents and their families. The theme of this commentary is that the discontinuity experienced by some adolescents and their families, which is often reflected in violence, substance abuse, teenage pregnancy, and divorce, may contribute to adolescent morbidity.
On channel capacity of parallel interference cancellation with outage probability in coded DS-CDMA systems

The channel capacity of DS-CDMA systems using parallel interference cancellation (PIC) is considered. It is shown that in non-fading channels, PIC does not improve channel capacity. In frequency flat fading channels without power control and with outage probability, the capacity improvement and spectral efficiencies of different PIC schemes are analyzed. The optimal capacity of such fading channels is given and shown numerically to be achieved by a PIC+minimum-mean-square-error scheme in most cases.
Cardiac disease in pregnancy

Abstract In conclusion, we may state that pregnant patients suffering from heart disease may in general be divided into three groups, although these groups are not definite and often overlap one another. In Group I we may place those who have some history of heart disease, who show a heart lesion, either congenital or acquired, but who have not had any sign or symptom of cardiac decompensation and who are able to withstand the usual strain of everyday life without any signs of decompensation. These patients are able to climb stairs, one or two flights without undue dyspnea, they are not conscious of cardiac embarrassment, except, perhaps, on extreme muscular effort. In Group II we may place those patients who have a cardiac lesion, have no history of cardiac decompensation, but who are forced to limit their activities. A specific instance of such a patient would be a woman who is unable to climb a flight of stairs without resting at the completion of it and yet does not show any definite sign or symptom of a break in cardiac compensation. The patient in this class is conscious of the fact that her activities must be limited in order to live comfortably. In Group III we place those patients who have a definite history of cardiac decompensation. These patients have been incapacitated at some time or other during their life because of that heart disease. The treatment in this class of patient should undoubetdly be radical. In general, a pregnancy should not be allowed to continue, and a subsequent pregnancy should be prevented by sterilization. The treatment in the first class of patient usually consists in careful antenatal examinations and observation, admission to the hospital a week or two before term, with spontaneous delivery under ether anesthesia. The treatment in the second class of patient is an even closer vigilance, admission to the hospital a month or more before term is reached, and avoidance of the second stage of labor by forceps application on full dilatation of the cervix.
Fc gamma receptor signal transduction in natural killer cells. Coupling to phospholipase C via a G protein-independent, but tyrosine kinase-dependent pathway.

Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity is initiated when low affinity Fc receptors (Fc gamma R type III/CD16) on NK cells bind to sensitized (i.e., antibody coated) target cells. Fc gamma R cross-linkage induces the activation of phospholipase C (PLC), which hydrolyses membrane phosphoinositides, generating inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate and sn-1,2-diacylglycerol as second messengers. However, the mechanism that couples Fc gamma R stimulation to PLC activation remains unknown. In this study, we investigated whether the Fc gamma R is coupled to PLC via a guanine nucleotide-binding (G) protein or an alternative pathway. Stimulation of electropermeabilized human NK cells with GTP gamma S induced inositol phosphate (IP) release, indicating the presence of a G protein-linked PLC activity in these cells. However, stimulation with both anti-Fc gamma R mAb and GTP gamma S provoked additive rather than synergistic increases in IP formation. Furthermore, exogenous GDP strongly inhibited GTP gamma S-stimulated IP release, but failed to inhibit the response to anti-Fc gamma R mAb stimulation. These results suggested GTP gamma S and anti-Fc gamma R mAb activated PLC through distinct regulatory mechanisms, and that Fc gamma R was not linked to PLC via a G protein. Hence, an alternative transduction mechanism for Fc gamma R-PLC coupling was considered. Antibody-mediated Fc gamma R cross-linkage was shown to rapidly stimulate tyrosine phosphorylation of multiple proteins in NK cells. Pretreatment with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor, herbimycin A, inhibited these phosphorylation events and disrupted the coupling between Fc gamma R ligation and PLC activation. These observations suggest that Fc gamma R in NK cell is coupled to PLC via a G protein-independent, but tyrosine kinase-dependent pathway.
Written Testimony of David K. Min Before the United States House of Representatives Committee on Financial Services, 'Beyond GSEs: Examples of Successful Housing Finance Models Without Explicit Government Guarantees'

Written testimony on the topic of alternative housing finance models. This paper makes the following seven points: 1. Government guarantees are universal. 2. European covered bonds are best thought of as government-sponsored obligations. 3. Government guarantees are prevalent because they address key market failures in housing finance. 4. There is no perfect housing finance model. 5. The common thread in global housing bubbles was financial deregulation. 6. Explicit, ex ante guarantees are preferable to implicit, ex post guarantees. 7. Given U.S. political priorities, improving the status quo may be preferable to importing other models.
Decentralized Control of Street Traffic

Future control systems for the traffic in city streets are expected to be less binding on the driver than those used at present. It is accordingly of interest to inquire into how such systems might operate. The paper describes a formulation of the control problem under such conditions and outlines a method for its solution. The method has two desirable features, namely that of being "dynamic" and that of being capable of decentralization.
The evaluation of two key leadership development program components: Leadership skills assessment and leadership mentoring

Abstract This study evaluated two key components in leadership development programs: a 360-degree assessment of leadership skills and leadership mentoring. The participants in this study include 303 individuals in a leadership development program and 41 leadership mentors. The methodology and underlying rationale for using the two methods selected to evaluate the program are described. The results illustrate the degree to which mentees open up when mentors focus more on coaching and less on compliance and when mentors initiate personal contact with the mentees more often. The results also indicate that self-reports and observer-reports are statistically significantly different from one another. Implications and limitations are discussed.
Traceable radius of curvature measurements on a micro-interferometer

Radius of curvature is a critical parameter to measure in the manufacturing of micro-refractive elements. It defines the power of the surface and provides important information about the stability and uniformity of the manufacturing process. The radius of curvature of an optical surface can be measured using an interferometer and radius slide where the distance is measured as the surface is moved between the confocal and cat’s eye positions. However, the radius of curvature for micro-refractive elements can be on the order of a few hundred microns and the uncertainty in the measurement due to stage error motions can become a significant portion of the tolerance. Typically the radius slide is calibrated using an artifact, but the radius of the artifact must be traceable to the base unit of length and the calibration is subject to misalignment errors. Alternatively, the stage error motions can be measured with standard machine tool metrology techniques and used to correct the errors in the radius of curvature measurement. This paper details the implementation of a directly traceable radius of curvature measurement on a micro-interferometer, including alignment procedures, measurement of stage error motions, displacement gauge calibration, and data analysis strategies.
Application of the M Technique in hospitalized very preterm infants: a feasibility study.

PURPOSE To explore the application of a novel relaxation method (the M Technique) in hospitalized very preterm infants in a level IIIC neonatal intensive care unit. DESIGN A feasibility, observational intervention study. SUBJECTS Ten very preterm infants were enrolled to receive the treatment intervention. Eligible infants born less than 30 weeks' gestation received the intervention at 30 weeks' postmenstrual age. METHODS Based on infant readiness, each infant received the M Technique for 5 minutes. Physiologic parameters (heart rate, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturations), behavioral variables (stress and relaxation cues), and infant behavioral state were measured 5 minutes before, during, and up to 10 minutes after the intervention, continuously. RESULTS Descriptive analysis revealed that baseline physiologic, behavioral state, and behavioral cue parameters changed during and after the application of the M Technique. A decrease in heart rate and respiratory rate occurred during the M Technique (P = .006, P > .001 respectively) and a decrease in heart rate occurred at the end of the M Technique session (P = .02). In addition, an increase in SaO2 occurred during and at 5 minutes following the M Technique session (P = .04, P = .02, respectively). State scores decreased from baseline (mean = 5.1; range, 3-9) to after the intervention (mean = 2.0, range 1-4). As the intervention was delivered, more positive than negative behavioral cues were observed throughout, at the end, and after the M Technique session. CONCLUSION In this feasibility study, the M Technique can be delivered without adverse effects to very preterm infants who are 30 weeks' postmenstrual age. Additional research is needed with a larger, randomized design to determine short- and long-term effects specifically related to neurologic outcomes.
Residential attributes, park use, and perceived benefits: An exploration of individual and neighbourhood characteristics

The authors explore the recreation pattern of Puerto Ricans in Southbridge, Massachusetts; to date, a relatively understudied Latino ethnic group in the field of recreation and leisure studies. The...
Providing activities for students to apply data structures concepts

This paper will describe possible types of activities that can be used in a data structures course to give students experience applying the concepts being taught. It is suggested that problems be presented within a real context and in situations where there is more than one reasonable solution. Having students develop possible data structure solutions for a problem, determine appropriate criteria for comparison of the solutions, evaluate the solutions, and select a solution for a particular problem will provide them with valuable experience. In order to successfully do this, students need to have some experience using their analysis and synthesis skills to solve problems involving data structures. Many real life problems require not just one data structure but a combination of several data structures. Students will benefit from designing data structures for both simple and complex problems. They will not only have learned what each data structure is and how to manipulate it, but also when to use each particular data structure.
Angiographic embolization of intractable puerperal hematomas.

Summary Puerperal hematomas may not respond to conventional therapy, including vaginal packing, drainage, and hypogastric artery ligation. Two cases are presented in which selective angiographic arterial embolization was used to manage this potentially lethal complication. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1989;160:434-8.)
Nonlinear least squares analysis of catalytic rate models

Conventional data generation and analysis procedures used to select a descriptive Hougen-Watson reaction rate model have been reviewed and some statistical objections to these conventional procedures have been presented. In an attempt to assess the practical importance of these objections, a recently published example was analyzed with both conventional techniques and nonlinear least squares procedures, which more closely conform to theoretical weighting requirements. Comparisons were made between the results of the conventional linear least squares analysis of isothermal data and those of nonlinear least squares analyses of both isothermal and nonisothermal data. It was found that the nonlinear least squares procedures were useful for a rational selection of an acceptable model and estimation of its parameters. General observations were made concerning good regions for further experimentation if a discrimination among rival models is desired. Additional well-designed experiments were found to be necessary to allow a reduction of the confidence region of the parameters of the Hougen-Watson models to an acceptable size.
Cell swelling exacerbates hypoxic neuronal damage in rat hippocampal slices.

Abstract In the present study we investigated the effect of acute cell swelling on the sensitivity of rat hippocampal slices to hypoxia. Hippocampal slices were exposed to different degrees of hypo- or hyperosmolality 15 min prior to and during a 15-min hypoxia followed by reoxygenation under isosmotic (293 mosm) conditions. Recovery of neuronal function (an electrically evoked population spike) after hypoxia was significantly diminished in slices exposed to hyposmotic conditions as 57% of control (isosmotic) slices showed recovery compared with 51%, 35%, and 13% recovery rate in slices made hyposmotic (273, 253, and 233 mOsm, respectively). Of slices exposed to a medium made hyperosmotic by the addition of 20, 40, 60, and 80 mM mannitol, only those exposed to the most hyperosmotic treatment (373 mOsm) exhibited a recovery rate significantly greater than control (70% vs. 57%). The competitive NMDA antagonist CGS-19755 (50 μM) completely protected both isosmotic and hyposmotic (233 mOsm) slices against hypoxic damage. However, a threshold dose (15 μM) of the antagonist provided no protection to isosmotic slices (51% vs. 57% recovery rate) while affording substantial protection to hyposmotic slices (233 mOsm), as 54% of the treated slices recovered their neuronal function after hypoxia compared to 13% recovery rate of the untreated slices. These results suggest an increase in activation of the NMDA receptor under hyposmotic conditions. We conclude that acute osmotic swelling of neuronal tissue predisposes it to hypoxic damage, possibly by activation of NMDA receptors that are not usually activated by hypoxia alone.
Readiness for HIV Testing among Young People in Northern Nigeria: The Roles of Social Norm and Perceived Stigma

This study examined the predictors of readiness for HIV testing among young people in northern Nigeria, paying special attention to the role of stigma. Stigma is measured at two levels: individual and community (social norm). There are commonalities and differences in the correlates of readiness among men and women. For men and women, knowledge about HIV prevention, knowledge about a source for VCT, discussion about condom use for HIV prevention and perceived risk are strong predictors. Knowledge that an apparently healthy person can be HIV-infected is only significant for women. Perceived stigma is a significant predictor for both men and women although the specific dimension of note differs between the sexes. Social norm is strongly and directly associated with readiness among men but has no apparent influence among women. For both sexes, social norm appears to have strong mediating influence on the relationship between personal perceived stigma and readiness. The results strongly suggest that to eliminate HIV-related stigma, it is not enough to target individual cognitive processes; strategic efforts should target social structures in order to change negative social norms.
QuickSet: Multimodal Interaction for Simulation Set-up and Control

This paper presents a novel multimodal system applied to the setup and control of distributed interactive simulations. We have developed the QuickSet prototype, a pen/voice system running on a hand-held PC, communicating through a distributed agent architecture to NRaD's1 LeatherNet system, a distributed interactive training simulator built for the US Marine Corps (USMC). The paper briefly describes the system and illustrates its use in multimodal simulation setup.
The T4 phage UvsW protein contains both DNA unwinding and strand annealing activities.

UvsW protein belongs to the SF2 helicase family and is one of three helicases found in T4 phage. UvsW governs the transition from origin-dependent to origin-independent replication through the dissociation of R-loops located at the T4 origins of replication. Additionally, in vivo evidence indicates that UvsW plays a role in recombination-dependent replication and/or DNA repair. Here, the biochemical properties of UvsW helicase are described. UvsW is a 3′ to 5′ helicase that unwinds a wide variety of substrates, including those resembling stalled replication forks and recombination intermediates. UvsW also contains a potent single-strand DNA annealing activity that is enhanced by ATP hydrolysis but does not require it. The annealing activity is inhibited by the non-hydrolysable ATP analog (adenosine 5′-O-(thiotriphosphate)), T4 single-stranded DNA-binding protein (gp32), or a small 8.8-kDa polypeptide (UvsW.1). Fluorescence resonance energy transfer experiments indicate that UvsW and UvsW.1 form a complex, suggesting that the UvsW helicase may exist as a heterodimer in vivo. Fusion of UvsW and UvsW.1 results in a 68-kDa protein having nearly identical properties as the UvsW-UvsW.1 complex, indicating that the binding locus of UvsW.1 is close to the C terminus of UvsW. The biochemical properties of UvsW are similar to the RecQ protein family and suggest that the annealing activity of these helicases may also be modulated by protein-protein interactions. The dual activities of UvsW are well suited for the DNA repair pathways described for leading strand lesion bypass and synthesis-dependent strand annealing.
Dynamics of H2O and Na+ in nafion membranes.

We investigate the transport properties of a model of a hydrated Na-Nafion membrane using molecular dynamics simulations. The system consists of several Nafion chains forming a pore with the water ...
Proximal colon distension induces Fos expression in oxytocin-, vasopressin-, CRF- and catecholamines-containing neurons in rat brain

Little is known about the chemical coding of the brain neuronal circuitry activated by nociceptive signals of visceral origin. We characterized brain nuclei activated during isovolumetric phasic distension of the proximal colon (10 ml, 30 s on/off for 10 min) in conscious male rats, using Fos as a marker of neuronal activation and dual immunohistochemistry to visualize co-localization of Fos expression and oxytocin (OT), arginine-vasopressin (AVP), corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) or tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). Proximal colon distension, compared with sham distension, induced a robust increase in Fos-like immunoreactive (IR) neurons in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), supraoptic nucleus (SON) and accessory neurosecretory nuclei of the hypothalamus, nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) and ventrolateral medulla (VLM), and to a lower extent, in the locus coeruleus (LC) and Barrington nucleus. Fos-IR neurons in the PVN after colon distension were identified in 81% of OT-IR, 18% AVP-IR and 16% CRF-IR neurons, while in the SON it represented 36% of OT-IR and 16% AVP-IR. Catecholaminergic cell groups in the pons (LC) and medulla (VLM, NTS) were also activated by proximal colon distension. Of the TH-IR neurons in VLM and NTS, 74% and 42% respectively were double labeled. These results indicate that colon distension stimulates OT-, AVP- and CRF-containing hypothalamic neurons, likely involved in the integration of colonic sensory information to modulate autonomic outflow and pain-related responses. Activation of medullary catecholaminergic centers might reflect the afferent and efferent limbs of the functional responses associated to visceral pain.
A study of pore geometry effects on anisotropy in hydraulic permeability using the lattice-Boltzmann method

We hypothesize that anisotropy in soil properties arises from pore-scale heterogeneity caused by the alignment of aspherical soil particles. We developed a method to predict the permeability tensor from particle shape and packing structure. Digital geometry maps were created for the pore space in regular cubic and random packs of particles with various aspect ratios using a numerical packing algorithm. The lattice-Boltzmann method was used to simulate saturated flow through these packs, and the effect of particle shape and degree of alignment on the permeability tensor was characterized. Results show that the degree of anisotropy in permeability depends not only upon particle shape and alignment, but also on the three-dimensional structure of the pack. In random packs, more oblate particles and higher degrees of particle alignment lead to reduced permeability perpendicular to the direction of particle alignment compared to the direction parallel to particle alignment.
A DISCRIMINANT ANALYSIS OF DEVELOPMENT IN TEXAS

Increases in urbanization and mobility, as well as local government fiscal crises have altered the financing of local government expenditures. Intergovernmental transfer of funds has evolved as a major source of revenue for local government units. Intergovernmental transfers to subordinate governments are enacted by various fsical instruments: (1) direct transfer of funds through loans, categorical grants, and unrestricted grants; (2) sharing of the tax base through tax supplements, tax deducations, and tax credits; and (3) intergovernmental coordination of activities. Federal grants to state and local governments have rapidly increased: federal aid as a percentage of state and local sources of general revenue was 8 percent in 1942, 11 percent in 1948, 15 percent in 1965, and 20 percent in 1967. During this same period, the amount of annual state payments to local governments increased from 3.2 billion dollars to 19.1 billion dollars (although throughout the period the payments were a consistent fraction of the national total of states' expenditures). Local government finances for 1972–73 substantiate the importance of intergovernmental funding directed to the local public sector. The total intergovernmental revenue received by all local governments in the United States was 28.6 billion in 1972–73 with 23.3 billion emanating from state governments and 5.3 billion from the federal government. In 1972 Texas state government expenditure in transfers totaled 1.2 billion dollars.
Use of a low‐profile, compliant balloon for percutaneous aortic valvuloplasty

Objectives: To determine the safety and immediate efficacy after balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) with a new, low-profile balloon. Background: BAV has a continuing role in the management of high-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS). BAV with traditional noncompliant balloons requires a large femoral arteriotomy and is associated with high rates of access site complications. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 20 consecutive patients undergoing BAV for severe AS. Retrograde transfemoral BAV was performed with a low-profile, compliant valvuloplasty balloon. Before and after BAV, transaortic gradients were measured invasively and by echocardiography, and aortic valve area (AVA) calculated. Access site complications, functional class and survival were recorded. Results: Patients were 79 ± 12 years old and had an estimated mortality from open aortic valve replacement of (12.5 ± 9.6)%. By catheterization, mean aortic gradient fell from 44 ± 15 to 29 ± 10 mm Hg (P < 0.001) and AVA increased from 0.63 ± 0.22 to 0.89 ± 0.33 cm2 (P < 0.001). New York Heart Association functional class improved from 3.5 ± 0.7 to 2.7 ± 0.8. Procedural mortality was 0%. There were no vascular complications or significant worsening of aortic regurgitation. Conclusion: Transfemoral BAV using a low-profile compliant balloon is feasible with acceptable immediate results and safety. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Effects of Instructions, Option Keying, and Knowledge of Test Material on Seven Methods of Scoring Two-Option Items

Seven formulas for scoring two-option test items are considered. Five of the formulas take into account variations in the number of items on which each of the two options is keyed as correct. The results of an experiment involving the seven scoring formulas are then presented. The dependent variables in the experiment were the scores obtained by applying the seven formulas to the responses of 180 students to a 100-item general psychology examination. The four independent variables were: proportion of total number of items on which option "a" was keyed as correct (P); whether or not examinees were told the proportion of "a" options keyed as correct (T); whether or not examinees were instructed to guess when in doubt about the correct answer (G); level of examinee's knowledge of the subject-matter of the test (K). Statistical analysis revealed that variable P had a significant effect with some formulas but not with others, and that the effects of variables T and G were greater in the low-knowledge than in t...
Adrenergic and calcium-mediated subcellular redistribution of protein kinase C in primary neuronal cultures.

Abstract Incubation of primary neuronal cultures prepared from the brains of neonatal rats with 50 μM epinephrine resulted in the transient redistribution of protein kinase C from the cytosol to the particulate fraction. This effect occurred after 1 and 5 min of incubation and resulted in a decrease in cytosolic protein kinase C activity with a corresponding increase in particulate protein kinase C of approximately 30% and 15%, respectively. The epinephrine-stimulated translocation of protein kinase C was blocked by 1 μM prazosin indicating the involvement of α1-adrenergic receptors. Further, inclusion of 0.1 μM Ca2+ in the homogenization buffer was found to significantly enhance the binding of protein kinase C to cellular membranes prepared from neuronal cultures. These results indicate that α1-adrenergic receptors in neuronal brain cell cultures are linked to the activation of protein kinase C and that the mobilization of Ca2+ may enhance this effect.
E2F-MEDIATED GROWTH REGULATION REQUIRES TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR COOPERATION

Previous studies have indicated that the presence of an E2F site is not sufficient for G1/S phase transcriptional regulation. For example, the E2F sites in the E2F1 promoter are necessary, but not sufficient, to mediate differential promoter activity in G0 and S phase. We have now utilized the E2F1 minimal promoter to test several hypotheses that could account for these observations. To test the hypothesis that G1/S phase regulation is achieved via E2F-mediated repression of a strong promoter, a variety of transactivation domains were brought to the E2F1 minimal promoter. Although many of these factors caused increased promoter activity, growth regulation was not observed, suggesting that a general repression model is incorrect. However, constructs having CCAAT or YY1 sites or certain GC boxes cloned upstream of the E2F1 minimal promoter displayed E2F site-dependent regulation. Further analysis of the promoter activity suggested that E2F requires cooperation with another factor to activate transcription in S phase. However, we found that the requirement for E2F to cooperate with additional factors to achieve growth regulation could be relieved by bringing the E2F1 activation domain to the promoter via a Gal4 DNA binding domain. Our results suggest a model that explains why some, but not all, promoters that contain E2F sites display growth regulation.