cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Raman spectroscopy for in situ- evaluation of high-grade malignant gliomas induced in SCID mice

Each year, more people at younger ages are diagnosed with primary brain tumors. Current histological discrimination between normal and diseased tissue occurs after tissue excision. A reliable optical biopsy for open craniotomy would optimize the amount and types of tissue removal by making an accurate evaluation before excision. The presented work is part of a study investigating the clinical diagnostic potential of Raman spectroscopy for gliomas. It has been shown that the optical properties of in vitro tissue are strongly dependent upon sample preparation. The investigation of the effects of time latency, paraformalin tissue fixation, and tissue perfusion with carbogen-bubbled cortical transport solution on their respective Raman spectra of brain tissue and tumors will be discussed, as well as their implications on the study of neurological tissue. The studies are conducted with in situ tissue samples from scid mice and 785 nm pulsed alexandrite laser excitation. Results illustrating positive qualitative and quantitative variations between Raman spectra of normal and malignant brain tissue will be presented.
Stripping and conjugation in the Steenrod algebra

Abstract Let S(k; f) = Sq(2k−1 f) · Sq(2k−2 f)…Sq(2 f) · Sq(f) in the mod-2 Steenrod algebra A ∗, and let χ denote the canonical antiautomorphism of A ∗. Given positive integers k, Λ andj with 1 ≤ j ≤ Λ, we prove that χS(k;2Λ − j) = S(Λ − (j − 1); 2j − 1(2k − 1)) · χS(k; 2j−1 − j), generalizing formulae of Davis and the author. Our proof relies on the “stripping” action of the dual Steenrod algebra A ∗ or A ∗ itself, which we identify as a special case of a general Hopf algebra phenomenon. Given a positive integer f, denote by μ(f) the minimal number of summands in any representation of f in the form ∑(2ik − 1). The antiautomorphism formula above implies that for f = 2Λ − j, 1 ≤ j ≤ Λ + 2, the excess of χS(k; f) satisfies ex(χS(k; f)) = (2k − 1)μ(f) for all k, confirming the conjecture of the author (Silverman, 1993) for such f. We also prove that ex(χS(k; f)) ≤ (2k − 1)μ(f) for all f and k.
Computed tomographic scan confirmation of paraprosthetic enteric fistula.

Abstract Aortoenteric anastomotic fistulae and paraprosthetic graft infections are rare but devastating complications following aortic graft surgery. Although the incidence of these complications is reported to be less than 2%, the difficulty in diagnosis and management has led to high mortality rates and extensive morbidity. The majority of patients present with either groin infection or significant gastrointestinal tract bleeding. There is, however, a subset of patients with nonspecific clinical findings in whom routine studies are not diagnostic. Computed tomography was a useful adjunct to the diagnosis of retroperitoneal infection in these patients by demonstrating small collections of periaortic gas or “black dots.” The presence of periaortic gas in each instance proved to be a specific sign of a paraprosthetic-enteric fistula, as opposed to a graft infection without intestinal communication.
The drift of french syntax

Abstract Recent speculation about the drift of French syntax is evaluated against data from a socially diverse corpus of modern French. While the data do not support the theory that French is becoming a VSO language, they do suggest that French is developing a ‘topic prominent’ sentence type.
Immersion Events in Residential Swimming Pools: Evidence for an Experience Effect

• Background. —Drowning and near-drowning in residential swimming pools are leading causes of morbidity and mortality for young children. We tested the hypothesis that the period immediately after a pool is acquired is a time of high risk for these events. This study was also designed to provide population-based data on swimming pool immersion events, regardless of severity. Methods. —We conducted a mail survey of a probability sample of Sacramento County, California, households with in-ground swimming pools in January 1988; 80% of eligible subjects responded. Onset of exposure to a pool was defined as the month in which (1) the responding household had a pool installed, or (2) the responding household first occupied a residence with a pool. Exposures began in 1959 through 1987. Results. —The home swimming pool immersion event rate was 11 per 1000 pool-years. The rate per 1000 pool-years was higher for the first 6 months of exposure than thereafter (0 to 6 months, 44; 7 to 24 months, 14; >24 months, seven), but 77% of events occurred outside the high-risk period. For households whose exposures began in 1984 through 1987, the immersion event rate was 51 per 1000 pool-years overall and 123 per 1000 pool-years for the first 6 months of pool exposure; these increases probably represent underreporting of earlier events. In this group, 48% of events occurred outside the high-risk period. The family swimming pool accounted for 91% of immersion events at the respondents' homes. Conclusions. —The residential swimming pool is an important hazard for pool-owning households. The first 6 months of exposure constitute a high-risk period, but many immersion events occur later. Pool drowning prevention programs may focus on newly acquired swimming pools and their owners but should be as broad as possible to maximize their effectiveness. ( AJDC . 1991;145:1200-1203)
Wetting of Compacted Nanoclay Powder by Epoxy Resin

Spreading behavior and advancing contact angle of a low viscosity epoxy resin on three commercially available nanoclays — Cloisite® Na+ , Cloisite® 15A and Cloisite® 25A — at 52°C is investigated. In addition, effect of temperature on spreading dynamics of epoxy on Cloisite® Na+ is analyzed at 33, 52 and 77°C. For wetting experiments, nanoclay powder is compressed into 12.7mm diameter disk shaped compacts under 20MPa pressure. The surface topologies of the compacts are analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), where as energy dispersive x-ray analysis (EDXA) is utilized to quantify the chemical composition of the surface. An epoxy drop is placed on each of the compacts and spreading is monitored via a CCD camera equipped with a high magnification lens. Temporal evolution of the advancing contact angle as well as drop penetration into the nanoclay compact is determined using the drop profiles extracted from the sessile drop images. Spreading of epoxy on Cloisite® Na+ is observed to be 12-fold faster at 77°C compared to 33°C. Analogous to its spreading speed, rate of penetration of resin into the nanoclay compact increased 20-fold in the same temperature range. Behavior of different nanoclay types are assessed by repeating the wetting experiments on Cloisite® 15A and Cloisite® 25A compacts. Unlike Cloisite® Na+ , which did not have a finite static contact angle, Cloisite® 15A and Cloisite® 25A yielded static contact angles of 59.2°and 40.1°, respectively. These differences are attributed to different surface energies as a result of different chemical compositions of the surfaces and dissimilar surface topologies.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
BIOLOGICAL DAMAGE IN DEVELOPING GERM CELLS OF DROSOPHILA VIRILIS IN OXYGEN AND NITROGEN WITH 14-MEV NEUTRONS.

Germ cells of Drosophila were exposed in spermatogenesis with 14-Mev accelerator neutrons in oxygen and nitrogen atmospheres. Biological damage was compared in sperm, spermatids, and meiotic and spermatogonial germ cells. (C.H.)
Tissue expression and subcellular localization of CLN3, the Batten disease protein.

Juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (Batten disease) is a progressive neurologic disorder which results from mutations in the CLN3 gene, which normally produces a 48-kDa polypeptide of unknown function. To help characterize the CLN3 protein, we have studied its tissue distribution and subcellular localization in human tissues using three epitope-specific polyclonal antibodies to human CLN3 by immunoblot, immunocytochemical, and immunoelectron microscopic analysis. The most abundant CLN3 protein expression was in the gray matter of the brain, where it was localized to astrocytes, capillary endothelium, and neurons. CLN3 was also evident in peripheral nerve, in pancreatic islet cells, and within the seminiferous tubules in the testis. Staining was generally diffuse within the cytoplasm with some nuclear reactivity. Subcellular localization identified the CLN3 protein within the nucleus and along cell membranes. These results were contrasted with the cellular distribution of palmitoyl-protein thioesterase (PPT), the enzyme whose deficiency is responsible for infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (CLN1). PPT was most abundant in brain and visceral macrophages where it displayed a coarse granular staining pattern typical of lysosomal distribution. Immunoelectron microscopy confirmed that PPT immunoreactivity was limited to lysosomes.
Effects of myo-inositol ingestion on human brain myo-inositol levels: a proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging study.

Abstract Background: Cerebrospinal fluid levels of myo-Inositol (m-Ino) are reported to be decreased in patients with affective disorder, and dietary supplements of m-Ino have been shown to reduce the symptoms of major depression. Myo-Inositol transport across the blood–brain barrier is mediated by a low capacity, saturable system. This study tests whether dietary m-Ino increases brain m-Ino or changes brain metabolism of m-Ino, possibly explaining the ability of this compound to alter mood. Methods: Using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging, we measured m-Ino levels in occipital gray and parietal white matter of seventeen healthy subjects. Magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging was performed twice at baseline as well as at day 4 and day 8 while subjects ingested 6 g of m-Ino twice a day. Results: Following 4 days of m-Ino, m-Ino/Cr was 20% higher than baseline levels in occipital gray matter ( p p = ns). By day 8, m-Ino/Cr ratios had returned to baseline values. Conclusions: Brain m-Ino levels initially increase during m-Ino administration and subsequently return to baseline levels. The time-limited increases observed for brain m-Ino may reflect homeostatic mechanisms, possibly associated with the role of m-Ino as a cerebral osmolyte, or with changes in brain phosphoinositide metabolism.
A tumor-suppressing function in the epithelial adhesion protein Trask

Trask/CDCP1 is a transmembrane glycoprotein widely expressed in epithelial tissues whose functions are just beginning to be understood, but include a role as an anti-adhesive effector of Src kinases. Early studies looking at RNA transcript levels seemed to suggest overexpression in some cancers, but immunostaining studies are now providing more accurate analyses of its expression. In an immuno-histochemical survey of human cancer specimens, we find that Trask expression is retained, reduced or sometimes lost in some tumors compared with their normal epithelial tissue counterparts. A survey of human cancer cell lines also show a similar wide variation in the expression of Trask, including some cell types with the loss of Trask expression, and additional cell types that have lost the physiological detachment-induced phosphorylation of Trask. Three experimental models were established to interrogate the role of Trask in tumor progression, including two gain-of-function models with tet-inducible expression of Trask in tumor cells lacking Trask expression, and one loss-of-function model to suppress Trask expression in tumor cells with abundant Trask expression. The induction of Trask expression and phosphorylation in MCF-7 cells and in 3T3v-src cells was associated with a reduction in tumor metastases while the shRNA-induced knockdown of Trask in L3.6pl cancer cells was associated with increased tumor metastases. The results from these three models are consistent with a tumor-suppressing role for Trask. These data identify Trask as one of several potential candidates for functionally relevant tumor suppressors on the 3p21.3 region of the genome frequently lost in human cancers.
Creation of chiral structures inside fused silica glass

Circularly polarized (CP) femtosecond laser light focused into fused silica produces a permanent recording of optical helicity. Material modification is in the form of highly ordered submicrometer chiral structures whose handedness follows the handedness of the CP light. The evolution of the ordered structures from chaotic modification is described.
PACS quality control and automatic problem notifier

One side effect of installing a clinical PACS Is that users become dependent upon the technology and in some cases it can be very difficult to revert back to a film based system if components fail. The nature of system failures range from slow deterioration of function as seen in the loss of monitor luminance through sudden catastrophic loss of the entire PACS networks. This paper describes the quality control procedures in place at the University of Florida and the automatic notification system that alerts PACS personnel when a failure has happened or is anticipated. The goal is to recover from a failure with a minimum of downtime and no data loss. Routine quality control is practiced on all aspects of PACS, from acquisition, through network routing, through display, and including archiving. Whenever possible, the system components perform self and between platform checks for active processes, file system status, errors in log files, and system uptime. When an error is detected or a exception occurs, an automatic page is sent to a pager with a diagnostic code. Documentation on each code, trouble shooting procedures, and repairs are kept on an intranet server accessible only to people involved in maintaining the PACS. In addition to the automatic paging system for error conditions, acquisition is assured by an automatic fax report sent on a daily basis to all technologists acquiring PACS images to be used as a cross check that all studies are archived prior to being removed from the acquisition systems. Daily quality control is preformed to assure that studies can be moved from each acquisition and contrast adjustment. The results of selected quality control reports will be presented. The intranet documentation server will be described with the automatic pager system. Monitor quality control reports will be described and the cost of quality control will be quantified. As PACS is accepted as a clinical tool, the same standards of quality control must be established as are expected on other equipment used in the diagnostic process.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Synthesis and structure-activity relationship of a novel series of aminoalkylindoles with potential for imaging the neuronal cannabinoid receptor by positron emission tomography.

A new series of CB1 ligands with high binding affinity (Ki = 0.7−100 nM) and moderate lipophilicity (cLogD7.4) in the range of 2.1−4.5 has been synthesized. A structure−activity relationship study demonstrated that for the studied set of aminoalkylindoles, the molecular dipole of the ground state conformation within the series was inversely related to the affinity. The racemic ligand with highest affinity (0.7 nM), 3-(4-fluoronaphthoyl)-1-(N-methylpiperidin-2-ylmethyl)indole, was radiolabeled with 18F. This radioligand specifically labeled CB1 receptors in mouse brain and accumulated in regions of high versus low CB1 receptor density in a ratio of 1.6. The displaceable radioactivity of one enantiomer in the brains of mice determined in a pretreatment study using the CB1 antagonist N-(piperidinyl)-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-methyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxamide (SR141716) was nearly double that of the racemate for the same determination; therefore, the active enantiomer is a candidate for PET s...
Layer-by-layer assembly of freestanding thin films with homogeneously distributed upconversion nanocrystals

We report a facile and highly-controlled approach to fabricating freestanding upconversion multilayer thin films containing homogeneously distributed lanthanide-doped nanocrystals. Citrate-coated NaYF4:17%Yb, 3%Er nanocrystals were synthesized using a single-phase high-boiling-point-solvent method, followed by ligand exchange. These hydrophilic upconversion nanocrystals were dispersed in freestanding multilayer polyelectrolyte thin films by layer-by-layer assembly over a sacrificial layer. We found that the nanocomposite multilayer thin films possess outstanding mechanical stability and exhibit NIR-to-visible upconversion luminescence. The effect of the hydrophilic ligand exchange on the upconversion properties of these nanocrystals was explored by characterizing the time evolution of upconversion emission following pulsed NIR excitation. It is found that the ligand-exchange process modestly reduces the intrinsic upconversion efficiency of the nanocrystals relative to the as-synthesized oleic acid coated product. Thin films with NIR-to-visible upconversion properties may be suitable for a variety of optical-device and sensing applications.
Quantifying health risk reductions from implementation of a passive net alkaline wetland

The potential effectiveness of a constructed passive net alkaline wetland in reducing human health risks from heavy metals in surface waters was evaluated by using a multimedia model. Scenarios were developed using information available from site reports, state, federal, and standard engineering sources. The scenarios replicated observed heavy metal concentrations in the waters of a volunteer wetland and estimated the concentrations after implementation of a constructed passive net alkaline wetland. The greatest reductions in risks are expected to occur soon after construction, with children benefiting more than adults.
Anatomical substrates for baroreflex sympathoinhibition in the rat.

The fundamental neuronal substrates of the arterial baroreceptor reflex have been elucidated by combining anatomical, neurophysiological, and pharmacological approaches. A serial pathway between neurons located in the nuclei of the solitary tract (NTS), the caudal ventrolateral medulla (CVL), and the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVL) plays a critical role in inhibition of sympathetic outflow following stimulation of baroreceptor afferents. In this paper, we summarize our studies using tract-tracing and electron microscopic immunocytochemistry to define the potential functional sites for synaptic transmission within this circuitry. The results are discussed as they relate to the literature showing: (1) baroreceptor afferents excite second-order neurons in NTS through the release of glutamate; (2) these NTS neurons in turn send excitatory projections to neurons in the CVL; (3) GABAergic CVL neurons directly inhibit RVL sympathoexcitatory neurons; and (4) activation of this NTS→CVL→RVL pathway leads to disfacilitation of sympathetic preganglionic neurons by promoting withdrawal of their tonic excitatory drive, which largely arises from neurons in the RVL. Baroreceptor control may also be regulated over direct reticulospinal pathways exemplified by a newly recognized sympathoinhibitory region of the medulla, the gigantocellular depressor area. This important autonomic reflex may also be influenced by parallel, multiple, and redundant networks.
Multiuser detection using the Taguchi method for DS-CDMA systems

We study multiuser detection for direct-sequence code-division multiple-access systems in a multipath environment. Systems with unknown channel information are considered and the well-known result for maximum likelihood multiuser detector is directly used in our work. Due to the high computational cost of the maximum likelihood detector, most existing works have investigated simplified, linearized, and/or suboptimal solutions that have less computational requirements. In our approach, we use the Taguchi method that involves the use of orthogonal arrays in estimating the gradient of the likelihood function. The Taguchi method has been widely used in experimental designs for problems with multiple parameters where the optimization of a cost function is required. In this work, we choose the likelihood function as the cost function in the Taguchi method. The use of the Taguchi method for multiuser detection is a novel idea, and it leads to efficient algorithms that can find a satisfactory solution by maximizing the likelihood function in a small number of iterations. One of the advantages of the present Taguchi method is that it is blind since no channel estimation is required to detect the transmitted data, which is not the case in many existing methods. Simulation results show that the Taguchi multiuser detector significantly outperforms the conventional receivers, is insensitive to initial values of parameters, and has performance close to that of minimum mean square error detectors and decorrelating detectors. In addition, our algorithm is suitable for parallel implementations.
On Correlating Aphasic Errors With Slips-of-the-Tongue.

It has been stated that the study of aphasia tells us little or nothing about normal language. On the other hand, it is commonplace to consider that slips of the tongue do. In this paper I show that many kinds of aphasic errors demonstrate precisely what slips in normals do. Consequently, it is not unreasonable to consider that the study of aphasia can indeed shed light on normal language processes as well as aphasic processes and can be handled in a framework designed to account for slips of the tongue in normal speakers. Similar “editing” mechanisms are needed for explaining the structure of errors produced by both aphasics and normals. Finally, it is suggested that this approach can help us further understand what is not abnormal in aphasia in general, as well as highlight the ways in which distinct types of aphasic “slips” can characterize different syndromes. Consequently, we will have gained additional information regarding the nature of aphasia itself.
Digital mammography: Hybrid four-channel wavelet transform for microcalcification segmentation

Rationale and Objectives. The authors evaluated an algorithm for the automatic segmentation of microcalcification clusters (MCCs) at digital mammography. Two- and four-channel wavelet transforms were evaluated to determine whether sensitivity in the detection of MCCs can be improved and if the selective reconstruction of the higher-order M 2 subimages allows better preservation of the segmented MCCs, which is required for their classification. Materials and Methods. The hybrid method involved the use of a nonlinear filter for image noise suppression coupled with wavelet transforms for image decomposition and an adaptive method for selective subimage reconstruction as a basis for segmentation of MCCs. The two- and four-channel wavelet transforms were implemented with different filter bank structures (ie, polyphase quadrature mirror filters [QMFs], tree structure, and lattice structure) to determine if their computational efficiency can be improved while retaining properties such as near-perfect reconstruction. The hybrid wavelet transforms were applied to a common image database of biopsy-proved MCCs (100 images, 105-μm resolution, 12 bits deep; 52 cases with at least one MCC of varying subtlety [46 malignant and six benign cases] and eight normal cases). Results. The two- and four-channel wavelet transforms yielded sensitivities of 93% and 94% and false-positive (FP) detection rates of 1.58 and 1.35 MCCs per image, respectively. The lattice structure provided greater than fivefold improvement in computational speed compared to the polyphase QMF structure, particularly for the higher order of channels (M = 4). Conclusion. The four-channel wavelet transform provided better sensitivity and FP detection rates and greater image detail preservation for the segmented MCCs.
Temperature Effects on Phosphorus Release from a Biosolids-Amended Soil

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of temperature on the potential leachable P pool and distribution of chemical P forms in a biosolids-amended soil. A P-deficient Spodosol was incubated with seven biosolids and inorganic P fertilizer at 20 and 32°C for 90 days. Amendments were applied to provide a total P concentration of 112 mg kg−1 soil, which correspond to a field application of ~224 kg P ha−1. Cumulative P mass leached during the 90 d study for any P source was <2% of the applied P, but greater cumulative P mass was released from the biological P removal and composted biosolids than from the heat-dried materials. Increasing temperature (20 to 32°C) generally decreased cumulative P mass leached, suggesting greater soil affinity to retain P at 32°C than at 20°C. In a static incubation experiment (no leaching), soil water-extractable P concentrations were reduced over time, but no temperature effect was observed. Similarly, P distribution among the various fractions was not affected by temperature. The relatively great ability of the soil to sorb P masked differences in biosolids properties and the potential impacts of temperature on P lability. Additional work using low P-sorbing soils is warranted.
An Evaluation of Approaches to Asthma Self-Management Education for Adults: The AIR/Kaiser-Permanente Study:

The purpose of the AIR/Kaiser-Permanente asthma project is to evaluate various approaches to the education of adults with asthma, identifying those types of patients for whom particular approaches are most cost effective. Critical self-management practices for adults with asthma were identified using the critical incident technique. An individualized and a group administered educational program are being developed to teach the identified critical skills, using the instructional models previously employed in AIR WISE and AIR POWER programs for children with asthma. Three hundred patients with moderate to severe asthma from Northern California Kaiser-Permanente Medical Group clinics will participate in a trial of these programs. Patients will be randomly assigned to one of four conditions: One of two educational programs, an information/attention control, or a data-only control condition. Data will be collected on all patients for 15 months; health care utilization data covering a two-year period will be available from medical records. Program effectiveness will be evaluated in terms of pre-post changes in the patients' knowledge, attitudes, self-management practices, medical condition, daily functioning, and utilization of services. Cost effectiveness will be evaluated, paying specific attention to the cost effectiveness of different educational approaches for different types of patients.
Does precipitation susceptibility vary with increasing cloud thickness in marine stratocumulus

Abstract. The relationship between precipitation rate and accumulation mode aerosol concentration in marine stratocumulus-topped boundary layers is investigated by applying the precipitation susceptibility metric to aircraft data obtained during the VOCALS Regional Experiment. A new method to calculate the precipitation susceptibility that incorporates non-precipitating clouds is introduced. The mean precipitation rate R over a segment of the data is expressed as the product of a drizzle fraction f and a drizzle intensity I (mean rate for drizzling columns). The susceptibility Sx is then defined as the fractional decrease in precipitation variable x = {R, f, I} per fractional increase in the concentration of aerosols with dry diameter >0.1 μm, with cloud thickness h held fixed. The precipitation susceptibility SR is calculated using data from both precipitating and non-precipitating cloudy columns to quantify how aerosol concentrations affect the mean precipitation rate of all clouds of a given h range and not just the mean precipitation of clouds that are precipitating. SR systematically decreases with increasing h, and this is largely because Sf decreases with h while SI is approximately independent of h. In a general sense, Sf can be thought of as the effect of aerosols on the probability of precipitation, while SI can be thought of as the effect of aerosols on the intensity of precipitation. Since thicker clouds are likely to precipitate regardless of ambient aerosol concentration, we expect Sf to decrease with increasing h. The results are broadly insensitive to the choice of horizontal averaging scale. Similar susceptibilities are found for both cloud base and near-surface drizzle rates. The analysis is repeated with cloud liquid water path held fixed instead of cloud thickness. Simple power law relationships relating precipitation rate to aerosol concentration or cloud droplet concentration do not capture this observed behavior.
Solutions Innovation, Solutions Engineering for Industry Solutions

What is Innovation? It’s not always about inventing something entirely new. Innovation occurs at the intersection of invention and business insight. Creating industry solutions is not about doing something new for every client’s problem, it is about creatively solving business problems with reusable assets or building blocks. It is about using a systematic process to solve clients business and infrastructure problems for speed and quality.
Habitat selection by European badgers at multiple spatial scales in Portuguese Mediterranean ecosystems

Different habitat features can limit animal populations at different spatial scales. We examined habitat selection by Eurasian badger in a montado landscape in southern Portugal at four scales: core area (1 km2), home range (4 km2), social group territory (25 km2), and local population (100 km2). Our goals were to identify important habitats for conservation at each spatial scale (cell size) using candidate variables shown to be important by previous research. As expected, across all scales, badger occurrence was consistently and strongly correlated with dominance of cork oak and deciduous woodlands, and badgers seemed to avoid cultivated fields. Contrary to expectation, monocultures of conifers contributed positively to badger detection. The predictive ability of the models was poor at all scales, probably owing to our inability to include factors such as food, competitors, predators, undercover vegetation, and roads. Nonetheless, the models illustrate the importance to badgers of the montado, an ancient human-modified ecosystem that is threatened by current European Union agricultural conversion policies.
Mesodynamics in the SARS nucleocapsid measured by NMR field cycling

Protein motions on all timescales faster than molecular tumbling are encoded in the spectral density. The dissection of complex protein dynamics is typically performed using relaxation rates determined at high and ultra-high field. Here we expand this range of the spectral density to low fields through field cycling using the nucleocapsid protein of the SARS coronavirus as a model system. The field-cycling approach enables site-specific measurements of R 1 at low fields with the sensitivity and resolution of a high-field magnet. These data, together with high-field relaxation and heteronuclear NOE, provide evidence for correlated rigid-body motions of the entire β-hairpin, and corresponding motions of adjacent loops with a time constant of 0.8 ns (mesodynamics). MD simulations substantiate these findings and provide direct verification of the time scale and collective nature of these motions.
Hand carried echocardiography screening for LV systolic dysfunction in a pulmonary function laboratory.

Aims Dyspnea is a common indication for pulmonary evaluation but also a common symptom in heart failure. Identification of dyspneic patients with significant LV systolic dysfunction is critical because of high morbidity of untreated heart failure. We sought to determine whether screening patients referred for pulmonary function testing (PFT) using a hand carried ultrasound (HCU) device could identify LV systolic dysfunction. Methods Forty-nine subjects were recruited from a pulmonary function lab to undergo a brief echocardiographic examination by an internist using a HCU device. All subjects also received an examination with a full-featured echocardiogram machine as a gold standard. Results All subjects with normal PFT had normal LV systolic function. Among subjects with abnormal PFT, 6 (15%) had LV systolic dysfunction and the remainder had normal LV systolic function. No subjects with LV systolic dysfunction by full-featured echocardiograms were missed by the HCU (sensitivity 100%, specificity 95%, negative predictive value 100%, positive predictive value 75%). Conclusions LV systolic dysfunction is prevalent among patients with pulmonary disease and can be accurately screened for by a physician using a hand carried ultrasound device with subsequent confirmation with complete echocardiography.
ContEst: Estimating cross-contamination of human samples in next generation sequencing data

Summary: Here, we present ContEst, a tool for estimating the level of cross-individual contamination in next-generation sequencing data. We demonstrate the accuracy of ContEst across a range of contamination levels, sources and read depths using sequencing data mixed in silico at known concentrations. We applied our tool to published cancer sequencing datasets and report their estimated contamination levels. Availability and Implementation: ContEst is a GATK module, and distributed under a BSD style license at http://www.broadinstitute.org/cancer/cga/contest Contact: gro.etutitsnidaorb@lubick; gro.etutitsnidaorb@ztegdag Supplementary information: Supplementary data is available at Bioinformatics online.
Carotid Tortuosity in Patients With Prior Cervical Radiation: Increased Technical Challenge During Carotid Stenting

INTRODUCTION Anatomic distortion associated with radiation-induced tissue changes may pose challenges for patients with prior cervical irradiation undergoing carotid stenting. We sought to evaluate the effect of these changes on carotid intervention. METHODS Carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS) for high-grade stenosis was performed in 203 patients. In all, 12 consecutive patients with prior ipsilateral cervical irradiation were age-/sex-matched to 24 controls. Degree of internal carotid (IC) tortuosity was assessed by 4 methods: (a) deviation of IC from common carotid (CCA) axis, (b) number of intersections between this axis and the course of the IC, (c) total degrees of angulation along the course of the extracranial IC, and (d) the IC length to straight-line distance ratio. RESULTS Carotid angioplasty and stenting was successful in all patients. Mean age was 72.8 ± 10 years; 58.4% were male. Twenty-nine percent were symptomatic (14.4% transient ischemic attack [TIA], 8.5% cardiovascular accident [CVA], and 6.5% amaurosis). Comorbidities were similar between the entire cohort and the subgroups of irradiated/control patients. The IC revealed a higher degree of deviation from the axis of the CCA in the previously irradiated patients compared to those without radiation (29.2° ± 4.5° vs 13.0° ± 2.0°, P = .001) and was more likely to intersect this axis in those with a history of cervical irradiation (83.3% vs 14.3%, P < .05). Irradiated patients also exhibited a significantly greater degree of tortuosity versus nonirradiated patients when assessed by total angulation along the course of the carotid (171.8° ± 26.0° vs 74.2° ± 20.2°, P = .014) and by the IC length:distance ratio (1.14 ± 0.05 vs 1.04 ± 0.03, P = .020). Despite increased IC tortuosity in patients with prior irradiation, all procedures were successfully completed and there did not appear to be a predilection for a specific filter type. CONCLUSIONS A history of cervical irradiation is associated with increased tortuosity of the IC, leading to potential challenges for filter and stent deployment. However, this increased procedural complexity did not affect technical success rate or device selection in this series.
Race and Formal Volunteering: The Differential Effects of Class and Religion

Despite recent gains in educational and occupational achievement, black Americans are still worse off than whites across a broad range of quality-of-life indicators. In this article, we analyze survey data on volunteering which show that whites volunteer more than blacks. We ask how much of this difference is due to the way human capital is distributed in the population. We then develop a resource theory of volunteering that acknowledges that, besides human capital, social and cultural resources play a role in making volunteer work possible. Black Americans tend to be better endowed with these kinds of resources than whites, which partially compensates for their shortage of human capital. However, blacks are less likely than whites to be asked to volunteer and less likely to accept the invitation if it is made. In the second stage of our analysis, we ask whether there are different pathways to volunteering for blacks and whites. We find that, for all kinds of volunteering except the entirely secular, black volunteering is more influenced by church attendance than is white volunteering, a reflection of the more prominent role of the black church in its community, while socioeconomic differences have a smaller impact on black volunteering. Among volunteers for secular activities, church attendance has a negative effect on volunteering, but only for whites
The tongue-lip adhesion

The tongue-lip adhesion (TLA) has long been a part of the management algorithm for glossoptosis associated with the Pierre Robin sequence (PRS). Advancement of the base of the tongue has been shown to relieve airway obstruction in some infants. TLA has few complications or long-term sequelae. The procedure has also been shown to ameliorate the feeding difficulties associated with PRS and therefore, reduces hospital stay, simplifies nursing care, and makes home care less demanding.
T Cell Ig and Mucin Domain-1-Mediated T Cell Activation Requires Recruitment and Activation of Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase

Ligation of the transmembrane protein T cell Ig and mucin domain (Tim)-1 can costimulate T cell activation. Agonistic Abs to Tim-1 are also capable of inducing T cell activation without additional stimuli. However, little is known about the biochemical mechanisms underlying T cell stimulation or costimulation through Tim-1. We show that a tyrosine in Tim-1 becomes phosphorylated in a lck-dependent manner, whereupon it can directly recruit p85 adaptor subunits of PI3K. This results in PI3K activation, which is required for Tim-1 function. We also provide genetic evidence that p85 expression is required for optimal Tim-1 function. Thus, we describe a pathway from Tim-1 tyrosine phosphorylation to the PI3K signaling pathway, which appears to be a major effector of Tim-1-mediated T cell activation.
The classroom performance and behavior of sexually abused females

This study examines the relationship of child sexual abuse to classroom academic performance and behavior in a sample of 6–16-year-old girls. Half of the sample was sexually abused by a family member. The other half is a demographically similar nonabused comparison group. Measures of academic performance include school records, teacher's ratings of classroom behavior and performance, and parental reports of school performance. Possible mediators of the impact of sexual abuse on classroom performance and behavior – cognitive capability, perceived competence, and behavior problems–are also measured. Results can be summarized as follows, (a) A history of sexual abuse does predict academic performance: Abuse is directly negatively related to ratings of classroom social competence, competent learner, and overall academic performance and positively related to school avoidant behavior, but is not related to grades, (b) Sexual abuse is negatively related to cognitive ability and positively related to measures of behavior problems indicating depression, destructiveness, and dissociation, (c) Cognitive ability and perceived competence predict the more “academic” aspects of academic performance—grades, ratings as a competent learner, and overall academic performance. Behavior problems predict ratings as a competent learner, classroom social competence, school avoidant behavior, and overall academmic performance.
A new kink in an old theory of carcinogenesis.

According to Berenblum’s two-stage hypothesis, the first stage in carcinogenesis is the production of benign premalignant lesions. Between this initiation stage and the formation of a malignant tumor there is often a long lag phase. We propose that this lag is caused by the delay in the formation of a new and rare tumor-specific antigen, which induces an immune response that stimulates tumor growth. Such tumor-specific antigens could arise as a result of a mutator-like phenotype, which is supposedly present in the benign initial stage of carcinogenesis. According to this hypothesis, the first stage lesion provides a weakly mutagenic environment conducive to the formation of the new antigen(s). If no such new antigens appear so there is no consequent immune response, it is argued that carcinogenesis would seldom if ever ensue.
Hydroliquefaction of Wyodak coal using bottoms recycle

Abstract Wyodak coal has been liquefied using recycle solvents consisting of blends of Wyodak coal-derived distillates and SRC or SRC oils, asphaltenes and oils plus asphaltenes. Whilst the quality of the distillate portion of the bottoms recycle is maintained by hydrogenation and distillation in the Exxon Donor Solvent (EDS) process, no reported efforts have been made to hydrogenate the nondistillable portion of the EDS bottoms recycle solvent nor the bottoms recycle solvent in the SRC-II process. As hydrogenation of the distillate portion of the recycle solvent in the EDS process increased Wyodak coal distillate yields, this study was initiated to determine whether hydrogenation of the nondistillable portions of Wyodak coal-derived bottoms recycle solvent would show similar beneficial effects. Results suggest that distillable liquid yields in the range of 55–60 wt% of dry Wyodak coal can be obtained using mildly hydrogenated SRC or SRC oils plus asphaltenes as a bottoms recycle solvent component. This result can be compared to distillable liquid yields of 40 wt% of dry, Wyodak coal obtained from the EDS process using bottoms recycle. Further, the unhydrogenated, SRC-derived oil and asphaltene portions of the recycle solvent also appear to be effective solvent components. However, the most effective solvents were obtained using hydrogenated SRC or SRC-derived oils plus asphaltenes.
Uptake and loss of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis by Daphnia magna in laboratory exposure

We determined the ingestion and loss of the spores of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (Bti) by a nontarget organism Daphnia magna. Daphnids were either not fed or fed during the exposure to the spores. The results showed that (a) the uptake rates with unfed and fed daphnids were approximately first-order with respect to spore concentration, and the rate consents for unfed and fed daphnids were 5.5×10 -5 and 1.4×10 -7 L daphnid -1 h -1 , respectively, and (b) unfed and fed daphnids rapidly depurated the majority of the accumulated spores, and the depuration rate constants for unfed and fed daphnids were 0.13 and 0.15 h -1 , respectively
Levator ani thickness variations in symptomatic and asymptomatic women using magnetic resonance-based 3-dimensional color mapping.

Objective This study was undertaken to develop and test a 3-dimensional (3D) color thickness mapping technique on levator ani imaged with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods Supine MRI datasets from 30 women were studied: 10 asymptomatic, 10 with urodynamic stress incontinence, and 10 with pelvic organ prolapse. Levators were manually outlined, and thickness mapping applied. Three-dimensional models were colored topographically, reflecting levator thickness. Thickness and occurrences of absent levator substance (gaps) were compared across the 3 groups, using nonparametric statistical tests. Results Color thickness mapping was successful in all subjects. There were statistically significant differences in thickness and gap percentages among the 3 groups of women, with thicker, bulkier levators in asymptomatic women, compared with women with prolapse or urodynamic stress incontinence. Conclusion Color thickness mapping is feasible. It may be used to compare levators in symptomatic and asymptomatic women, to study relationships between levator thickness and pelvic floor dysfunction. This technique can be used in larger studies for hypothesis testing.
Why Do States (Bother to) Deceive? Managing Trust at Home and Abroad

This chapter asks why do democratic states even bother try to deceive their own citizens as to certain foreign policies they practice, their motives and their consequences. Surely, a population schooled in realpolitik , or just garden variety cynicism , would not need to be gulled in any way, except authorities always believe that they do. This question presupposes not only that states craft ‘stories’ to disguise activities abroad but that they do so because they are more constrained than they will admit by an audience of non-elite actors. Theories derived from realpolitik make little allowance for such domestic ‘interference.’ Yet there is evidence that in democracies the role of mass publics in driving, curbing or modifying the conduct of foreign policy is a force, and explanatory factor, to reckon with.
Egg Intake and Dietary Quality among Overweight and Obese Mexican-American Postpartum Women

Despite their low cost and high nutrient density, the contribution of eggs to nutrient intake and dietary quality among Mexican-American postpartum women has not been evaluated. Nutrient intake and dietary quality, as assessed by the Healthy Eating Index 2010 (HEI-2010), were measured in habitually sedentary overweight/obese (body mass index (BMI) = 29.7 ± 3.5 kg/m2) Mexican-American postpartum women (28 ± 6 years) and compared between egg consumers (n = 82; any egg intake reported in at least one of three 24-h dietary recalls) and non-consumers (n = 57). Egg consumers had greater intake of energy (+808 kJ (193 kcal) or 14%; p = 0.033), protein (+9 g or 17%; p = 0.031), total fat (+9 g or 19%; p = 0.039), monounsaturated fat (+4 g or 24%; p = 0.020), and several micronutrients than non-consumers. Regarding HEI-2010 scores, egg consumers had a greater total protein foods score than non-consumers (4.7 ± 0.7 vs. 4.3 ± 1.0; p = 0.004), and trends for greater total fruit (2.4 ± 1.8 vs. 1.9 ± 1.7; p = 0.070) and the total composite HEI-2010 score (56.4 ± 12.6 vs. 52.3 ± 14.4; p = 0.082). Findings suggest that egg intake could contribute to greater nutrient intake and improved dietary quality among postpartum Mexican-American women. Because of greater energy intake among egg consumers, recommendations for overweight/obese individuals should include avoiding excessive energy intake and incorporating eggs to a nutrient-dense, fiber-rich dietary pattern.
Role of Rpn11 Metalloprotease in Deubiquitination and Degradation by the 26S Proteasome

The 26S proteasome mediates degradation of ubiquitin-conjugated proteins. Although ubiquitin is recycled from proteasome substrates, the molecular basis of deubiquitination at the proteasome and its relation to substrate degradation remain unknown. The Rpn11 subunit of the proteasome lid subcomplex contains a highly conserved Jab1/MPN domain–associated metalloisopeptidase (JAMM) motif—EX_(n)HXHX_(10)D. Mutation of the predicted active-site histidines to alanine (rpn11AXA) was lethal and stabilized ubiquitin pathway substrates in yeast. Rpn11^(AXA) mutant proteasomes assembled normally but failed to either deubiquitinate or degrade ubiquitinated Sic1 in vitro. Our findings reveal an unexpected coupling between substrate deubiquitination and degradation and suggest a unifying rationale for the presence of the lid in eukaryotic proteasomes.
On a heuristic treatment of the ‘Indices of dispersion’

An elementary presentation of the ‘indices of dispersion’ tests used in detection of possible lack of homogeneity in successive samples from Poisson or binomial distributions is given. Various limiting distributions with an approximate form of the index are shown, in supplementing some empirical results obtained by ‘Monte Carlo’ methods on the I.B.M. 709 electronic computer.