cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transcervical Radiofrequency Ablation for Symptomatic Adenomyosis: A Case Report

Study Objective To demonstrate the use of a transcervical radiofrequency ablation (RFA) device approved for symptomatic uterine fibroids as a possible treatment for adenomyosis. Design A case report. Setting Community hospital affiliate of a large university hospital. Patients or Participants 35-year-old gravida-2 para-0 female with uterine fibroids and infertility, presenting with heavy menstrual bleeding, dysmenorrhea, and recent 1st trimester miscarriage. Pelvic MRI showed a 12 cm uterus with a 2 cm endometrial polyp, 4.5 cm pedunculated fundal fibroid, and diffusely thickened posterior and fundal myometrium consistent with adenomyosis. Interventions The patient desired uterine-sparing surgical management and underwent a laparoscopy, hysteroscopy and transcervical RFA. Measurements and Main Results Laparoscopically, extensive posterior adenomyosis, a 4.5 cm pedunculated fibroid, and sub-centimeter exophytic fibroid were noted. Endometriosis and small left ovarian fibromas were incidentally diagnosed. Hysteroscopically, there was a 2 cm endometrial lesion with an otherwise normal endometrial cavity. The patient underwent laparoscopic myomectomy of 2 fibroids (without myometrial incision), excision of left ovarian fibromas, and excision of endometriosis in 2 areas, as well as hysteroscopic resection of the endometrial lesion. Ultrasound-guided transcervical RFA then targeted the thickened posterior myometrium with ablation of two adenomyotic regions (measuring 3.4 × 2.6 cm and 3.8 × 2.6 cm). Outgassing was visualized on intrauterine ultrasound images in these regions similar to ablated uterine fibroids and suggestive of successful adenomyosis ablation. Concomitant laparoscopy confirmed no thermal spread beyond uterine serosa. The patient was discharged home the same day. Final pathology revealed fibroids, endometriosis, ovarian spindle cell tumor, and products of conception. On follow-up evaluation, she had no postoperative complaints and no pain medication requirements beyond the immediate postoperative period. Assessment of long-term symptomatic improvement and fertility outcomes are ongoing. Conclusion Transcervical radiofrequency ablation is a promising uterine-sparing treatment for patients with adenomyosis. Additional research is warranted to assess long-term symptom improvement and pregnancy outcomes.
How the questions of prospective teachers evolve when linking research to practice

Abstract This research-to-practice study examines the dynamic characteristics of question formation when teachers begin to research problems of teaching or learning in the classroom. Prospective elementary mathematics teachers (n = 27) documented their questioning process using research logs and recorded 41 changes to their initial research-guiding questions: 22% of changes reflected a shift in language use, and 78% reflected an evolution in the topic itself. Based on study data, the 5C Stages of Questioning framework names the specific stages and changes seen in the evolution of research questions as prospective teachers find literature to address problems of practice in the classroom.
The ant genus Strumigenys Smith, 1860 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in western North America North of Mexico

Strumigenys is a globally distributed genus of mostly cryptic leaf-litter ants. In North America they are common throughout eastern deciduous forests but become increasingly rare to the west. Here I review the Strumigenys fauna of western North America north of the Mexico border including all states west of the eastern border of Texas. Six new native species with ranges entirely within this region are described: S. collinsae sp. nov., S. macgowni sp. nov., S. mendezi sp. nov., S. moreauviae sp. nov., S. lucky sp. nov., and S. subtilis sp. nov. Strumigenys ananeotes Longino & Booher 2019 is given a more thorough description, and S. alberti Forel 1893, a Neotropical species, is reported from the region for the first time. All new species bear clear morphological relationships with a native North American clade of “smithistrumiform” species. I include species accounts and provide an illustrated key for all species of this region.
EXAMINATION OF THE EFFECT OF DIFFERENT TRAINING METRICS ON PERFORMANCE OF A MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY TRANSFER TASK

EXAMINATION OF THE EFFECT OF DIFFERENT TRAINING METRICS ON PERFORMANCE OF A MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY TRANSFER TASK Cristofer Andres Madera Bachelor of Engineering Science and Mechanics Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 2009 A Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Virginia Commonwealth University 2013 Directors: Dr. Dianne T.V. Pawluk, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering Dr. Peter E. Pidcoe, PT, DPT, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Department of Physical Therapy The purpose of this experiment was to determine if there existed techniques to more efficiently train prospective surgeons the skills necessary to capably perform minimally invasive surgical procedures. Also, we wanted to know if trainees could be pushed to cognitively define a laparoscopic environment with a novel hand-eye relationship. To explore these questions, a simulation was setup wherein subjects would perform a laparoscopic transfer task and receive active feedback during training. Different subjects would receive different metrics as feedback and a comparison would be made between subjects with respect to standard metrics. Results of this experiment show that all subjects adapt to a laparoscopic environment and that they do so at different rates and to different proficiencies. The difference was shown to be statistically significant. It was concluded that the techniques we utilized were effective enough to claim as useful techniques to utilize in current training systems.
Myelination determines the caliber of dorsal root ganglion neurons in culture

In order to understand the relationship of supporting cells to the differentiation of neurons in culture, we have used morphometry to study myelination of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons by central or peripheral supporting cells. Dissociated DRG cultures from 15-day rat embryos, free of Schwann cells and fibroblasts, were prepared, and supporting cells were added from spinal cord or DRG; myelination commenced after 2 weeks. Control cultures received no supporting cells. At 7, 14, and 24 days, a total of 22 cultures were processed for electron microscopy. Three fascicles from defined points were sampled from each culture. In cultures containing glial cells, smaller fibers (p less than 0.001) were myelinated (mean of median diameter, 1.13 +/- 0.13 (SD) micron) than in cultures containing Schwann cells (1.67 +/- 0.17 micron), although there was no difference (p greater than 0.1) in the degree of myelination expressed as number of myelin lamellae/fiber. A new finding concerned the relationship of axonal diameter to the presence or absence of myelinating cells. In control cultures without supporting cells or in areas where supporting cells were absent, the range of neurite diameter (0.05 to 1.25 micron) and the median diameter (mean of median, 0.24 +/- 0.03 micron) were similar at different times (7, 14, and 24 days), demonstrating a stable population of neurite diameters throughout the period. In myelinated fascicles, a different distribution of neurite diameters was present. Myelinated neurites had a greater median diameter (measured to inner border of myelin) and a different range of fiber diameters compared to bare neurites. For Schwann cells, this range was 0.7 to 3.4 micron, and the mean of median diameters was 1.67 +/- 0.17 micron; for glial cells, the range was 0.6 to 2.4 micron, and the mean of median diameters 1.13 +/- 0.13 micron. Differences between myelinated and bare fibers were all highly significant (p less than 0.001).
Permeability anisotropy and resistivity anisotropy of mechanically compressed mudrocks

Permeability anisotropy (the ratio of the horizontal to vertical permeability) develops in mudrocks at the macroscale due to heterogeneities such as layering and at the element scale (i.e., within ...
A possible role of inorganic phosphate as a regulator of oxidative phosphorylation in combined urea synthesis and gluconeogenesis in perfused rat liver. A phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy study.

Metabolic control of oxidative metabolism was studied in perfused rat liver by means of phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Oxygen consumption, ATP, and Pi were measured with different rates of gluconeogenesis and urea synthesis by varying concentrations of the substrates in the perfusate. Five levels of oxygen consumption (VO2) were obtained: an average control value of 1.94 +/- 0.14 and 2.93 +/- 0.25, 3.29 +/- 0.46, 3.85 +/- 0.26, and 4.18 +/- 0.56 mumol/min/g liver (mean +/- S.D., n = 6). The corresponding ATP concentrations were 2.51 +/- 0.20, 2.39 +/- 0.08, 2.24 +/- 0.09, 2.13 +/- 0.12, and 1.91 +/- 0.13 mM. Pi increased stoichiometrically with the decrease in ATP. Free Pi (Pif) was calculated as NMR-visible Pi in control plus -delta ATP (1.94 mM + (-delta ATP]. The kinetic relationship of oxidative phosphorylation as a function of Pif followed a Michaelis-Menten type of equation: VO2 = 5.55/(1 + 0.24/[( Pif] - 1.81]. The observed Km value for Pi of 0.24 mM approximates the reported Km value in isolated mitochondria of 1 mM. The free Pi concentration of 1.94 mM is in the range of the Km value, while the free ADP concentration of 200 microM exceeds the Km value of 20 microM. Therefore, it is suggested that Pi play a major role in the regulation of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in combined urea synthesis and gluconeogenesis.
Recognition and cleavage of the bacteriophage P1 packaging site (pac): I. Differential processing of the cleaved ends in vivo

The packaging of bacteriophage P1 DNA into viral capsids is initiated at a specific DNA site called pac. During packaging, that site is cleaved and at least one of the resulting ends is encapsidated into a P1 virion. We show here that pac is located on a 620 base-pair fragment of P1 DNA (EcoRI-20). When that fragment is inserted into the chromosome of cells that are then infected with P1, packaging of host DNA into phage particles is initiated at pac and proceeds down the chromosome, unidirectionally, for about five to ten P1 "headfuls" (about 5 X 10(5) to 10 X 10(5) bases of DNA). Using an assay for pac cleavage that does not depend on DNA packaging, we have identified a set of five amber mutations that are mapped adjacent to pac, and that define a gene (gene 9) essential for pac cleavage. Amber mutations that are located in genes necessary for viral capsid formation (genes 4, 8 and 23), or in a gene necessary for "late" protein synthesis (gene 10), do not affect pac cleavage. The latter result suggests that the synthesis of the pac cleavage protein is not regulated co-ordinately with other phage morphogenesis proteins. The products of pac cleavage were analyzed using two different DNA substrates. In one case, a single copy of pac was placed in the chromosome of P1-sensitive cells. When those cells were infected with P1, we could detect the cleavage of as much as 70% of the pac-containing DNA. The pac end destined to be packaged in the virion was detected five to 20 times more efficiently than was the other end. Since this result is obtained whether or not the infecting P1 phage can encapsidate the cut pac site, the differential detection of pac ends is not simply a consequence of one end being packaged and the other not. In a second case, pac was located in cells on a small (5 X 10(3) bases) multicopy plasmid. When those cells were infected with P1, neither pac end was detected efficiently after P1 infection, unless the cells carried a recBCD- mutation. In recBCD- cells, the results with plasmid-pac substrates were similar to those obtained with chromosomally integrated pac substrates. We interpret these results to mean that, following pac cleavage, the end destined to be packaged is protected from cellular nucleases while the other end is degraded by the action of at least two nucleases, one of which is the product of the host recBCD gene.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Helping ESL Writers through a Multimodal, Corpus-Based, Online Grammar Resource

Current approaches to language pedagogy recognize the fact that ESL learners need explicit help to improve the grammatical accuracy of their writing. This research investigates the utility of an online resource intended to improve advanced-level ESL learners' writing by increasing their grammatical awareness and ability to correct the grammatical errors in their own writing. This classroom-based study investigated nine learners' use of the resource through the use of questionnaires, interviews, records of software use, and analysis of learners' written products.
PHARMACEUTICAL CONTAINER/CLOSURE INTEGRITY. II: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MICROBIAL INGRESS AND HELIUM LEAK RATES IN RUBBER-STOPPERED GLASS VIALS

Helium leak rate measurements were quantitatively correlated to the probability of microbial ingress for rubber-stoppered glass vials subjected to immersion challenge. Standard 10-mL tubing glass vials were modified by inserting micropipettes of various sizes (0.1 to 10 microns nominal diameter) into a side wall hole and securing them with epoxy. Butyl rubber closures and aluminum crimps were used to seal the vials. The test units were sealed in a helium-filled glove bag, then the absolute helium leak rates were determined. The test units were disassembled, filled with media, resealed, and autoclaved. The test units were thermally treated to eliminate airlocks within the micropipette lumen and establish a liquid path between microbial challenge media and the test units' contents. Microbial challenge was performed by immersing the test units in a 35 degrees C bath containing magnesium ion and 8 to 10 logs of viable P. diminuta and E. coli for 24 hours. The test units were then incubated at 35 degrees C for an additional 13 days. Microbial ingress was detected by turbidity and plating on blood agar. The elimination of airlocks was confirmed by the presence of magnesium ions in the vial contents by atomic absorption spectrometry. A total of 288 vials were subjected to microbial challenge testing. Those test units whose contents failed to show detectable magnesium ions were eliminated from further analysis. At large leak rates, the probability of microbial ingress approached 100% and at very low leak rates microbial ingress rates were 0%. A dramatic increase in microbial failure occurred in the leak rate region 10(-4.5) to 10(-3) std cc/sec, which roughly corresponded to leak diameters ranging from 0.4 to 2 microns. Below a leak rate of 10(-4.5) std cc/sec the microbial failure rate was < 10%. The critical leak rate in our studies, i.e. the value below which microbial ingress cannot occur because the leak is too small, was observed to be between 10(-5) and 10(-5.8) std cc/sec, which corresponds to an approximate leak diameter of 0.2-0.3 micron.
Hierarchical ZnO structures templated with amino acid based surfactants

Abstract Three different amino acid surfactants were prepared from a coupling reaction of lauroyl chloride with aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and alanine. The newly synthesized amino acid surfactants were used to templated zinc oxide nanostructures using a simple sol–gel reaction. The use of amino acid surfactants with different side chain functionalities produced various ZnO structures. The differences in the molecular geometry of the surfactants, along with hydrophilic head group charges are responsible for the formation of spherical and filamentous mesoporous structures of ZnO. The morphologies of ZnO structures were further explored by using different solvents to change packing parameters and micellization behaviors of surfactants. The use of amino acid based surfactants with various head group functionalities opens the potential use of amino acid-based surfactants for templating various metal oxide nanostructures.
Pyrolysis of mixed plastics used in the electronics industry

Abstract The pyrolysis of three plastics used by the electronics industry has been studied using pyrolysis/gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py/GC/MS). The materials selected for this study were acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS), polycarbonate (PC) and polyoxymethylene (POM). The selection was based upon the analysis of several pieces of electronic equipment, which had been the subject of laboratory studies. Each polymer was pyrolyzed at two pyrolysis temperatures (700 and 900°C) alone, together (side by side) with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in a 50/50 co-pyrolysis experiment, and as an intimate chemical blend with PVC (50/50). In addition the three polymers were also pyrolyzed in the presence of copper powder to determine the role of copper contamination on the pyrolysis of each polymer. The results of the study suggest that both the presence of PVC and copper can influence the extent of degradation and the pyrolysis product distribution obtained when these polymers are pyrolyzed. However, no significant changes were noted that could drastically influence the value of the pyrolysis products.
Vitamin D Metabolism, Mechanism of Action, and Clinical Applications

Vitamin D3 is made in the skin from 7-dehydrocholesterol under the influence of UV light. Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) is derived from the plant sterol ergosterol. Vitamin D is metabolized first to 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD), then to the hormonal form 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D). CYP2R1 is the most important 25-hydroxylase; CYP27B1 is the key 1-hydroxylase. Both 25OHD and 1,25(OH)2D are catabolized by CYP24A1. 1,25(OH)2D is the ligand for the vitamin D receptor (VDR), a transcription factor, binding to sites in the DNA called vitamin D response elements (VDREs). There are thousands of these binding sites regulating hundreds of genes in a cell-specific fashion. VDR-regulated transcription is dependent on comodulators, the profile of which is also cell specific. Analogs of 1,25(OH)2D are being developed to target specific diseases with minimal side effects. This review will examine these different aspects of vitamin D metabolism, mechanism of action, and clinical application.
Bedside placement of inferior vena cava filters by using transabdominal duplex ultrasonography and intravascular ultrasound imaging

Bedside placement of inferior vena cava filters by using either transabdominal duplex ultrasonography or intravascular ultrasonography (IVUS) has been shown to be safe and effective. We review techniques for bedside filter placement with transabdominal duplex ultrasonography, IVUS with dual venous access, and IVUS with single venous access. Transabdominal duplex ultrasonography and IVUS remain our preferred techniques for filter placement when feasible, especially in critically ill and immobilized patients.
Space related research in mycology concurrent with the first decade of manned space exploration.

Fungi and Actinomycetes, aside from other microorganisms, have been placed aboard balloons, earth satellites, or high altitude sounding rockets for evaluation of environmental conditions of spaceflight missions. The incursion of harmful effects, including chromosomal breaks or elevated mutation frequencies were identified.
Effects of stimulus onset and image motion on contrast sensitivity.

Abstract Spatial sinusoidal gratings were viewed under both stabilized and unstabilized viewing conditions. They were presented either with a gradual or a sharp onset. The results indicate that contrast sensitivity to a range of frequencies centered around 2–3 deg is decreased by a maximum of 0.3 log units when high frequency temporal stimulation induced either by the sharp onset of the spatial pattern or by the motion of the retinal image is minimized. Data are presented which suggest that under conditions of minimal temporal stimulation, if fading of the stabilized image is also allowed, sensitivity may be decreased by a larger amount.
HOW EXECUTIVES PERCEIVE THE NET GENERATION

This paper reports on an exploratory study of how executives in organizations perceive the entrance of the ‘net generation’ into the workplace. We approached this question by collecting data from interviews, focus groups, and an online survey. The results show that executives perceive tensions associated with values and behaviors of the net generation workers as the younger workers enter current organizational settings as well as technology-related issues not solely associated with the younger generation. The paper discusses the different organizational mechanisms and strategies executives use to address these tensions. Particularly, we discuss executives’ preference for top-down strategies and their tendency to address the triad of technology–values–behavior as separate components instead of a unified concept.
Upper-bound anisotropic yield locus calculations assuming 〈111〉-pencil glide

Abstract Deformation by 〈111〉-pencil glide has been analyzed by an upper-bound model which combines a least-shear analysis and Piehler's maximum virtual work analysis. The least-shear analysis gives exact solutions if three 〈111〉 slip systems are active, while the maximum work analysis provides solutions for the case of four active slip systems. Independent checks are used to determine which solution method is appropriate. Computer calculations using this model have been made to determine; (1) the orientation dependence of the Taylor factor for axisymmetric deformation; (2) the yield loci for textured materials having [100], [110] and [111] sheet metals and rotational symmetry; (3) the isotropic yield locus for randomly oriented materials; and (4) flow stresses along critical loading paths for various assumed textures with rotational symmetry. The latter calculations indicate that anisotropic yield loci of textured bcc metals with rotational symmetry are much better approximated by σ x a + σ y a + R¦σ x − σ y ¦ a = (R + 1)Y a where R is the strain ratio and Y is the tensile yield strength with an exponent a = 6 rather than with a = 2 as postulated by Hill. It is not known how well upper-bound calculations like these represent actual yielding behavior.
THE CONTRIBUTION OF CLUSTERS OF BIOGRAPHICAL DATA TO PREDICTION1

Previous studies indicated that biographical items predict test scores. This study was concerned with the individual and joint predictive effectiveness of homogeneous scales of biographical data. Specifically, three questions were asked: What dimensions of personal background predict performance on aptitude and achievement measures? Do personal background cluster scores add to the level of prediction of final performance that can be obtained from initial test scores on the same test variable? Do personal background cluster scores add to the accuracy of prediction that can be obtained from a comprehensive battery of initial cognitive measures? The 169 items of the Growth Study seventh-grade BEQ were cluster analyzed, separately for boys and girls, to develop homogeneous scales to be used in prediction. A sample of 300 males and a sample of 300 females were selected from those students who entered the Growth Study as fifth graders in 1961 and who were tested again in 1963 and 1965. A stepwise multiple regression analysis was performed using their STEP, SCAT, and BEQ cluster scores. The cluster scores gave a moderately high prediction of subsequent test performance when used alone. In combination with measures of initial status, the scores added small, though statistically significant, increases to prediction. Used with a battery of earlier test measures, BEQ clusters added almost nothing to the prediction.
Mechanically induced intramolecular electron transfer in a mixed-valence molecular shuttle

The kinetics and thermodynamics of intramolecular electron transfer (IET) can be subjected to redox control in a bistable [2]rotaxane comprised of a dumbbell component containing an electron-rich 1,5-dioxynaphthalene (DNP) unit and an electron-poor phenylene-bridged bipyridinium (P-BIPY2+) unit and a cyclobis (paraquat-p-phenylene) (CBPQT4+) ring component. The [2]rotaxane exists in the ground-state co-conformation (GSCC) wherein the CBPQT4+ ring encircles the DNP unit. Reduction of the CBPQT4+ leads to the CBPQT2(•+) diradical dication while the P-BIPY2+ unit is reduced to its P-BIPY•+ radical cation. A radical-state co-conformation (RSCC) results from movement of the CBPQT2(•+) ring along the dumbbell to surround the P-BIPY•+ unit. This shuttling event induces IET to occur between the pyridinium redox centers of the P-BIPY•+ unit, a property which is absent between these redox centers in the free dumbbell and in the 1∶1 complex formed between the CBPQT2(•+) ring and the radical cation of methyl-phenylene-viologen (MPV•+). Using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, the process of IET was investigated by monitoring the line broadening at varying temperatures and determining the rate constant (kET = 1.33 × 107 s-1) and activation energy (ΔG‡ = 1.01 kcal mol-1) for electron transfer. These values were compared to the corresponding values predicted, using the optical absorption spectra and Marcus–Hush theory.
Prediction of Postoperative Pulmonary Function with the Lateral Position Test: A Prospective Study

Ten patients undergoing pneumonectomy were evaluated with the lateral position test (LPT) in addition to routine pulmonary function tests (PFTs). On the basis of the percentage of ventilation estimated to be contributed by each lung on LPT, predictions were made for expected values for each patient's post-pneumonectomy PFTs. One to three months after surgery patients were again evaluated with complete pulmonary function studies. Results were found to agree closely with preoperative predictions in most patients. We conclude that the easily performed LPT, previously found to yield values which correlate with those found on bronchospirometry and macroaggregate lung scanning, does indeed yield acceptable results clinically and is deserving of more widespread application, especially in the large number of institutions without nuclear medicine capabilities.
Researching the migration of the elderly: sources of statistical information.

This article examines the major sources of statistical information for conducting research on the migration of the elderly. The discussion covers government statistical programs for the analysis of both migration flows and migrant characteristics. Special attention is devoted to the two most important sources of information the Census of Population and Housing and the Current Population Survey.
Finding the maximum turnable state for mill/turn parts

Mill/Turns are a class of machine tool on which, as their name implies, both turning and milling operations can be performed. This capability results in reduced set-ups, leading to increased production rates and better part quality. On Mill/Turns it is more efficient to remove material by turning than by milling. Knowing how much material is turnable is therefore important in creating efficient process plans. In this paper computational techniques for determining the Maximum Turnable State (MTS) of a Mill/Turn part are presented. The Maximum Turnable Volume (MTV) is the (regularized boolean) difference between the initial workpiece and the MTS. The MTS is computed incrementally with respect to the chosen workpiece axis. The technique has been implemented and several examples are included.
Development and evaluation of new mask protocols for gene expression profiling in humans and chimpanzees

Cross-species gene expression analyses using oligonucleotide microarrays designed to evaluate a single species can provide spurious results due to mismatches between the interrogated transcriptome and arrayed probes. Based on the most recent human and chimpanzee genome assemblies, we developed updated and accessible probe masking methods that allow human Affymetrix oligonucleotide microarrays to be used for robust genome-wide expression analyses in both species. In this process, only data from oligonucleotide probes predicted to have robust hybridization sensitivity and specificity for both transcriptomes are retained for analysis. To characterize the utility of this resource, we applied our mask protocols to existing expression data from brains, livers, hearts, testes, and kidneys derived from both species and determined the effects probe numbers have on expression scores of specific transcripts. In all five tissues, probe sets with decreasing numbers of probes showed non-linear trends towards increased variation in expression scores. The relationships between expression variation and probe number in brain data closely matched those observed in simulated expression data sets subjected to random probe masking. However, there is evidence that additional factors affect the observed relationships between gene expression scores and probe number in tissues such as liver and kidney. In parallel, we observed that decreasing the number of probes within probe sets lead to linear increases in both gained and lost inferences of differential cross-species expression in all five tissues, which will affect the interpretation of expression data subject to masking. We introduce a readily implemented and updated resource for human and chimpanzee transcriptome analysis through a commonly used microarray platform. Based on empirical observations derived from the analysis of five distinct data sets, we provide novel guidelines for the interpretation of masked data that take the number of probes present in a given probe set into consideration. These guidelines are applicable to other customized applications that involve masking data from specific subsets of probes.
Re-engineered stromal cell-derived factor-1α and the future of translatable angiogenic polypeptide design.

Smaller engineered analogs of angiogenic cytokines may provide translational advantages, including enhanced stability and function, ease of synthesis, lower cost, and, most important, the potential for modulated delivery via engineered biomaterials. In order to create such a peptide, computational molecular modeling and design was employed to engineer a minimized, highly efficient polypeptide analog of the stromal cell–derived factor-1α (SDF) molecule. After removal of the large, central β-sheet region, a designed diproline linker connected the native N-terminus (responsible for receptor activation and binding) and C-terminus (responsible for extracellular stabilization). This yielded energetic and conformational advantages resulting in a small, low-molecular-weight engineered SDF polypeptide analog (ESA) that was shown to have angiogenic activity comparable to or better than that of recombinant human SDF both in vitro and in a murine model of ischemic heart failure.
Exact Taylor series coefficients for variable-feedrate CNC curve interpolators

Abstract Recent papers [Yang DCH, Kong T. Computer Aided Design 1994;26:225–34; Yeh S-S, Hsu P-L. Computer Aided Design 1999;31:349–57] formulate real-time CNC interpolators for variable feedrates along parametric curves. These interpolators employ truncated Taylor series to compute successive reference-point parameter values, but in both papers an erroneous coefficient for the highest (quadratic) term is cited. The derivation of the proper coefficients is a straightforward, although somewhat convoluted, exercise in chain-rule differentiation. Compact recursive formulae are presented here to compute the correct coefficients, up to the cubic term, in cases where the feedrate depends on: (i) elapsed time; (ii) curve arc length; or (iii) local path curvature. The local and cumulative effects of truncation errors on the accuracy of such interpolator schemes are also assessed, and compared with the essentially exact interpolators for Pythagorean-hodograph curves.
How Do Faculty Evaluate Students' Case Presentations?

Background: Although the case presentation is a frequent activity, little is known about the attributes that faculty members use when assessing case presentation ability. Purpose: Define the dimensions used by faculty when assessing students' case presentation abilities. Methods: Eleven internal medicine faculty members independently assessed the same 17 videotaped student case presentations. Raters used an evaluation form assembled with 4 descriptors of content and 6 attributes of communication style. For each evaluator, correlation analyses were used to examine associations among the individual descriptors and a student's overall evaluation. Results: Despite efforts toward uniform scoring, faculty evaluators varied in their application of rating criteria. The majority of raters had significant (p <. 01) correlation between 4 of the 10 dimensions and the overall score. These 4 were history of present illness and three communication skills: economy, fluency, and precision of language. Conclusions: Faculty...
"You will eat all of that!": a retrospective analysis of forced consumption episodes.

The present research was initiated to examine the prevalence of forced consumption and its role in subsequent food rejection. A forced consumption episode was defined as a situation where Person(s) A forced or demanded Person B to consume a specific substance against Person B's will. An initial survey of 407 college students revealed that over 69% of them had experienced at least one forced consumption episode. One hundred forty individuals completed a follow-up questionnaire exploring various characteristics of their most memorable forced consumption scenario. Specifically, the most common type of forced consumption (76%) involved an authority figure (e.g. parent, teacher) forcing a child to consume a novel, disliked, or aversive food. In this authority figure scenario, respondents recalled the episode as involving interpersonal conflict and negative affect, and identified the most aversive aspects of this scenario as lack of control and feelings of helplessness. Furthermore, most respondents (72%) reported that they would not willingly eat the target food today. In sum, the forced consumption episode appears to be a unique situation in which distasteful food combines with interpersonal conflict to result in long-lasting food rejection.
Effects of ATP synthesis inhibitors, temperature, 8-bromo C-AMP, and calcium omission on release of corticotropin releasing factor from superfused rat hypothalami

Abstract The release of immunoreactive corticotropin-releasing factor (I-CRF) was studied in vitro using a hypothalamic superfusion system. Omission of calcium, or inclusion of ATP synthesis inhibitors in the medium significantly reduced the rates of basal and K+-induced I-CRF release. Reducing the incubation temperature of the hypothalami to 4°C caused a reversible inhibition of basal I-CRF release. I-CRF release was stimulated in a dose-dependent fashion by 8-bromo c-AMP. Those results suggest that the in vitro release of CRF is energy-dependent and may involved a calcium and c-AMP-mediated mechanism.
A Relationship Between Fixed Time Wiener Measures and Wiener Measures with Fixed Endpoints

Wiener measures are measures on curves that are derived from two-dimensional Brownian motion. We prove a relationship between two types of Wiener measures: measures on paths with fixed starting point (say the origin \(0\)) and fixed time duration (say \(1\)); and measures on paths with fixed endpoints (say \(0\) and \(i\)). The relationship is that if we take a curve from the first type, weight it by a suitable power of the distance to the endpoint of the curve and then apply the conformal map that takes the endpoint to \(i\), then we get the curve from the second type.
Pupil sparing incomplete third nerve palsy secondary to a cavernous sinus meningioma: challenges in management.

Background: The diagnosis of incomplete third nerve palsy can be clinically challenging because the aetiologies, as well as presentations, can be variable and subtle. The optometric clinician should be familiar with the association of third nerve palsy with compressive lesions, including the clinical presentations and management of these patients. Case report :W e present a 68-year-old hypertensive male complaining of intermittent diplopia for the previous six months. Neurological examination revealed a mild deficit in adduction, reduced range of vertical motility and questionable ptosis, all limited to the OD. No pupillary involvement was noted. MRI revealed a cavernous sinus meningioma. The patient elected against surgery, choosing MRI every six months. Conclusion: Due to the subtle clinical presentation of incomplete pupil sparing third nerve palsy, this ophthalmoplegia may be easily overlooked. The associated aetiologies of palsy of cranial nerve three (CN3) carry increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Management should include evaluation for mass lesions and/or vascular aetiologies, regardless of pupillary involvement.
The Stoichiometry of Host PrPC Glycoforms Modulates the Efficiency of PrPSc Formation in Vitro

A central event in the formation of infectious prions is the conformational change of a host-encoded glycoprotein, PrPC, into a pathogenic isoform, PrPSc. However, the molecular requirements for efficient PrP conversion remain unknown. In this study, we employed the recently developed protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA) and scrapie cell assay (SCA) techniques to study the role of N-linked glycosylation on prion formation in vitro. The results show that unglycosylated PrPC molecules are required to propagate mouse RML prions, whereas diglycosylated PrPC molecules are required to propagate hamster Sc237 prions. Furthermore, the formation of Sc237 prions is inhibited by substoichiometric levels of hamster unglycosylated PrPC molecules. Thus, interactions between different PrPC glycoforms appear to control the efficiency of prion formation in a species-specific manner.
Application of Virtual Globes in Education

The advent of virtual globes and online mapping has generated interest in spatial representations of data among many non-geographic communities, including educators and researchers who have very little to no expertise in geospatial technologies. In this article, we give a state-of-the-art survey of existing virtual globes and review the existing teaching applications related to them. We focus on the four most popular virtual globes (Google Earth; NASA World Wind; Microsoft Virtual Earth Earth; and Skyline Globe), illustrating their various applications and comparing their capabilities, with a particular emphasis on educational aspects. We also explain the distinction between the virtual globes and various online mapping applications, such as Google Maps mash-ups.
Thermal Properties of Starch from Selected Maize (Zea mays L.) Mutants During Development

ABSTRACT The changes in thermal properties of maize starches during five stages of kernel maturity, (12, 18, 24, 30, and 36 days after pollination [DAP]), from three mutant genotypes, amylose extender (ae), sugary-2 (su2), and waxy (wx) in an OH43 background, and the OH43 genotype were studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Within a genotype, DSC values of starches at 24, 30, and 36 DAP were similar to each other and often were significantly different (P < 0.05) from the values at 12 DAP, indicating possible differences in the fine structure of starch during endosperm development. For su2 starches, the gelatinization onset temperature (ToG) significantly decreased after 12 DAP and remained low throughout the study. The gelatinization range (RG) had a similar pattern. For wx starches, ToG at 18 DAP was significantly lower than at 12 DAP but tended to increase after 18 DAP. The RG increased significantly after 12 DAP and significantly decreased after 30 DAP. Thus, thermal properties of starc...
Applied physics: On a roll.

Populations of rolling particles have been shown to display unidirectional collective motion in a racetrack enclosure. Theoretical modelling suggests that hydrodynamic and electrostatic effects promote such behaviour. See Letter p.95 Collective motion can be observed in the natural world at all scales, from flocking birds to schooling fish and swarming bacteria, but it is difficult to capture such behaviour in simple physical models. Artificial 'active matter' systems that show collective behaviour usually rely on collisions, making the description of interactions complex. Denis Bartolo and colleagues have now developed a unique experimental system consisting of self-propelled rolling spheres that self-organize and move in one direction in a crowd of millions. The spheres 'sense' each other via straightforward hydrodynamic interactions so that all parameters can be easily calculated and tuned. This work demonstrates that genuine physical interactions at the individual level are sufficient to set homogeneous active populations into stable directed motion. The system could be used to model natural collective motion and to design new self-organized materials and swarming microrobots.
Will the North Atlantic Ocean thermohaline circulation weaken during the 21st century

The North Atlantic Ocean thermohaline circulation is examined in three experiments using the Climate System Model. They are a control integration for 1870 conditions, and particular emission scenarios for the 20th and 21st centuries. It is found that the strength of the thermohaline circulation does not change significantly over the 21st century. This is in contrast to several other recent studies, which have projected a significant reduction over the 21st century. The reason for the difference is that the Northwest Atlantic becomes warmer and more saline in the Climate System Model. These changes combine to make little change to the surface ocean density in this region, and hence to the rate of deep water formation. Caveats about the Climate System Model and other coupled climate models are then discussed.
Inhibition of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C by phosphonate substrate analogues

Non-hydrolysable analogues of phosphatidylinositol were synthesized and tested as inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C from Bacillus cereus. In these molecules, the phosphodiester bond of phosphatidylinositol hydrolyzed by the phospholipase was replaced by a phosphonate linkage and a simpler hydrophobic group replaced the diacylglycerol moiety. One of the phosphonates also contained a carboxylate functional group suitable for matrix attachment. All three synthetic phosphonates inhibited the phospholipase C activity in a concentration-dependent manner, with the analogue most closely resembling the structure of the natural substrate, phosphatidylinositol, being the most potent inhibitor. The data indicate that phosphonate analogues of phosphatidylinositol may be useful for study of phospholipase C and other proteins interacting with myo-inositol phospholipids.
Broadband rotor noise predictions using a time domain approach

Abstract This paper describes how broadband rotor noise can be predicted directly from measurements of turbulent velocity correlation functions upstream of a rotor without the need for turbulence modeling. The method is based on a time domain formulation and uses the turbulence velocity correlation function in the plane of the rotor to describe the inflow velocity statistics. The application of this theory to a rotor mounted near a hard wall is described. It is shown that rotor noise measurements are well predicted using this approach. It is also shown that to calculate the blade response correctly the time step of the numerical computation must be less than the time it takes for an acoustic wave to travel from the leading edge to the trailing edge of the blade section.
3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate-dependent transcription of the CYP11A (cholesterol side chain cleavage cytochrome P450) gene involves a DNA response element containing a putative binding site for transcription factor Sp1

The product of the CYP11A gene, cholesterol side chain cleavage cytochrome P450, catalyzes the initial step of steroidogenesis. A major mechanism whereby steroid hydroxylase gene transcription is regulated in the adrenal cortex requires the pituitary peptide hormone, ACTH, which acts via cAMP. We have previously identified a transcriptional enhancer in the 5'-flanking sequence [-183 to -83 base pairs (bp)] of the bovine CYP11A gene, which activates transcription of a beta-globin promoter/reporter gene in transiently transfected mouse Y1 adrenocortical tumor cells in response to the activator of adenylate cyclase, forskolin. Further deletion analysis has located the minimal cAMP-responsive sequence (CRS) to -118 to -100 bp. Analysis of DNA-protein interactions using nuclear extracts from Y1 cells revealed two protein binding sites, which were shown by competition analysis to be closely related to the two protein binding sites identified previously in the CRS of the human CYP21 gene. Namely, within the cAMP responsive fragment -118 to -100 bp, a sequence with a high degree of similarity to the consensus binding sequence for the ubiquitous transcription factor Sp1 is present, and binding of protein to this site was abolished by competition with excess GC box oligonucleotide. The second partially overlapping site is located 3' of the putative Sp1-binding site and binds to a protein identical or closely related to a putative adrenal-specific protein. Whereas the adrenal-specific protein binding site of the CYP21 CRS was previously shown to be sufficient to confer cAMP-responsive activation of transcription, the homologous site within the CYP11A CRS appears to have an attenuating effect on transcription.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Feed efficiency, growth rates, carcass evaluation, cholesterol level and sensory evaluation of lambs of various hair and wool sheep and their crosses

Abstract Feed efficiency, growth rates, carcass evaluation, cholesterol level and sensory evaluation were compared in six lambs from each of the following breeding groups: St. Croix (hair sheep), St. Croix×wool sheep, Callipyge wool×St. Croix, Dorper ( hair sheep )× St. Croix, Dorper×wool, Callipyge wool×wool, and wool×wool. Feeding efficiency varied from 5.20 to 6.87, with the highest efficiency in St. Croix lambs. Standardized daily live weight gain ranged from 0.34 to 0.55 kg, with the highest rate of gain in the Callipyge wool×St. Croix lambs. Weight of wholesale cuts (kg) was the highest in the Callipyge wool×wool (19.3) and lowest in the St. Croix (15.4). Quality grade among the seven breeding groups of lambs ranged from 5.5 to 7.6, with the St. Croix and St. Croix×wool lambs having the higher values. The highest value for the percent wholesale body weight was observed in the Callipyge wool×wool lambs (64.1), while the value for St. Croix was the lowest (55.6). Percent loin eye depth of carcass weight was the highest in the Callipyge wool×wool (4.5) and the lowest is the St. Croix (3.0). Cholesterol levels were the highest in the hair sheep and lowest in the Callipyge crosses. The overall sensory acceptance rating was the highest in the St. Croix (6.8) and the lowest in the Callipyge wool×wool (5.0). In conclusion, the value of hair sheep is its overall meat quality and may be used in terminal cross breeding programs to compete with standard breed for market lamb production.
Mean Reversions in GNMA Returns

The random-walk hypothesis is tested in the prices of mortgage-backed securities traded in the secondary market. Using the variance ratio test, the random-walk hypothesis is rejected for the daily GNMA bond return. We identify two components in the return series: a systematic component reflecting the market pricing on the expected information, and a noise term that represents the pricing on the unexpected information. After adjusting for the impact of bid-ask spread and thin trading on the price quotations, the evidence suggests that the short-horizon, weekly realized return, being dominated by the negative serial correlation of the random component, exhibits a mean-reverting process. However, it is also found that the noise term demonstrates significant positive serial correlation for holding periods of over two weeks. Thus, for longer-term returns, the realized return exhibits positive dependence. The implication is that the price of GNMA bonds did not react to unexpected information in a rational fashion in that the adjustment process is not instantaneous.