cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Trichloroethylene exposure alters dimethylated histone three lysine four in protein kinase A signaling pathway chromatin of rat sperm

Histone three lysine four dimethylation (H3k4me2) in sperm is conserved across species and is linked to transgenerational epigenetic inheritance. To test whether H3K4me2 is a target for transgenerational inheritance of toxicity, a daily gavage bolus exposure of trichloroethylene (TCE) (1000 mg/kg/day) was given to rats for 14 weeks, then epididymal sperm were isolated and native chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by next generation sequencing (ChIP-seq) of H3K4me2 was performed. Differential region analysis determined there were 2608 significantly differential H3K4me2 regions after TCE exposure, 477 were significantly increased and 2131 were significantly decreased. Z-score enrichment of differential regions determined there were significantly decreased H3k4me2 in the coding and regulatory regions of genes in the PKA signaling pathway. These changes account for TCE induced spermatozoal toxicity and show H3K4me2 is a target for paternal inheritance of toxicity.
Corrections to “600 V 4H-SiC MOSFETs Fabricated in Commercial Foundry With Reduced Gate Oxide Thickness of 27 nm to Achieve IGBT-Compatible Gate Drive of 15 V”

The measured electrical characteristics of 600 V planar-gate inversion-channel 4H-SiC power MOSFETs fabricated in a 6 inch commercial foundry with 27 nm gate oxide thickness are compared with 55 nm gate oxide devices. The High-Frequency Figures-of-Merit (HF-FOMs) of the SiC MOSFETs with 27 nm gate oxide were found to surpass that of commercially available 600 V P7 Si CoolMOS products for the first time. Statistical parametric distribution data and wafer-maps for the 27 nm devices are provided to demonstrate that excellent yield and uniformity can be achieved with the reduced gate oxide thickness. These devices can be operated at 15 V gate bias compatible with IGBT gate drivers.
Non-Coherent Signal Detection and Bit Error Rate for an Ambient Backscatter Link under Fast Fading

Non-coherent detection is an important component of ambient backscatter communication due to the energy constrained nature of the backscatter devices. This paper provides the first comprehensive performance analysis of non- coherent detection under a fast-varying wireless channel for ambient backscatter communication. In particular, we evaluate the bit error rates (BERs) for two data encoding mechanisms under a new receiver architecture that is based on the direct averaging of the received signal samples. Our results concretely demonstrate the existence of BER floor for a single antenna receiver, which results in poor performance. We further show that a multi-antenna receiver can overcome this drawback by eliminating the interference created by the direct link from the ambient power source that considerably improves the BER of this receiver. This multi-antenna receiver exploits the fact that the time duration of the variation in angle of arrival (AoA) of the communication links in the fast-varying channel is much larger than the coherence period of the small-scale fading, allowing it to track the AoA of the direct link.
Mitigating File-Injection Attacks with Natural Language Processing

Searchable Encryption can bridge the gap between privacy protection and data utilization. As it leaks access pattern to attain practical search performance, it is vulnerable under advanced attacks. While these advanced attacks show significant privacy leakage, the assumptions of these attacks are often strong and the methods that can be used to mitigate these attacks are limited. In this paper, we investigate one of these advanced attacks, referred to as file-injection attacks, and examine whether this attack is viable in practice. In addition, we also propose a defense method to mitigate file-injection attacks. By leveraging natural language processing, we formulate the generation of injected files in the attack as an automated text generation problem with restrictions on word selection, and then we tackle the problem with n-grams and Recursive Neural Networks. We formulate the proposed defense as a semantic analysis problem, in which we extract linguistic features and address the problem using machine learning. Our experiential results on real-world datasets suggest two interesting observations. First, automatically generating injected files in the attack will result low semantics in files. Second, it is viable to automatically detect injected files based on semantics and mitigate file-injection attacks.
Improving Gene Therapy Efficacy Using Impella

Purpose Gene therapy is a promising option for heart failure patients, but there remains a lack of effective delivery mechanisms. The Impella device is a heart pump that can increase coronary flow and pressure, important factors that determines efficacy of gene transduction when using intracoronary delivery. Because it also lends hemodynamic support, the Impella can be coupled with balloon coronary occlusion to increase cardiac vector dwell time. We hypothesized that use of the Impella offers safe and efficient delivery of genes using intracoronary administration of adeno-associated viral (AAV)-6. Methods AAV6 encoding luciferase gene (5.0 × 10E13) was injected into the coronary artery one week after MI induction in Yorkshire pigs. A total of twelve pigs were allocated to one of the following groups: slow antegrade delivery (n=3), slow antegrade delivery with Impella (n=3), delivery during coronary artery occlusion with Impella hemodynamic support (n=3), delivery during coronary artery and sinus occlusions with Impella hemodynamic support (CA + CS, n=3), Four weeks later, tissues were harvested from various heart regions and other organs to assess luciferase expression and viral uptake. Results Impella support offered safe vector delivery during 1-2 minutes of CA and CS occlusion. Impella + coronary artery block enhanced luciferase expression globally in the heart but not in non-cardiac tissues, such as liver, as compared to injection without coronary artery block. Impella with CA + CS block even further increased luciferase expression by increasing viral uptake, as evidenced by increased vector genome in the tissues detected by PCR. At the infarct border zone, an important area for cardiac gene therapy, CA + CS occlusion led to greater than 300-fold increase in luciferase (p=0.005) compared to viral injection alone. Conclusion Impella unloading with CA + CS occlusion dramatically improves AAV gene expression in the heart without increasing off-target expression; it is thus a promising method for clinical application of cardiac gene therapy.
Turbulence profiling using pupil plane wavefront data derived Fried parameter values for a dynamically ranged Rayleigh beacon

Long-range optical imaging applications are typically hindered by atmospheric turbulence. The effect of turbulence on an imaging system can manifest itself as an image blur effect usually quantified by the phase distortions present in the system. The blurring effect can be understood on the basis of the measured strength of atmospheric optical turbulence along the propagation path and its impacts on phase perturbation statistics within the imaging system. One method for obtaining these measurements is by the use of a dynamically ranged Rayleigh beacon system that exploits strategically varied beacon ranges along the propagation path, effectively obtaining estimates of the aberrations affecting an optical imaging system. We developed a method for extracting tomographic turbulence strength estimations from a dynamically ranged Rayleigh beacon system that uses a Shack–Hartmann sensor as the phase measurement device. The foundation for extracting tomographic information from strategically range-varied beacon measurements obtained in rapid sequence is presented along with modeled example cases for typical turbulence scenarios. Additionally, the processing algorithm was used to simulate identification of isolated strong turbulence layers. We present the chosen processing algorithm’s foundation and provide discussion of the utility of this algorithm as an atmospheric turbulence profiling methodology.
Utilization of Percentage of Predicted Forced Vital Capacity to Stratify Rib Fracture Patients: An Updated Clinical Practice Guideline.

BackgroundRib fractures are the most common injuries diagnosed after blunt thoracic trauma and are a source of significant morbidity and mortality. Early identification of at-risk patients and init...
Extracellular Delivery of Functional Mitochondria Reverses the Dysfunction of CD4+ T Cells in Aging

Abstract Mitochondrial dysfunction alters cellular metabolism, increases oxidative stress, and may be principal to the dysregulated signaling and function of CD4+ T lymphocytes in the elderly. Mitochondria influence adaptive immune responses through glucose and fatty acid metabolism, calcium buffering, and redox signaling. By transferring young mitochondria into CD4+ T cells from old mice, we investigated whether aging-associated mitochondrial dysfunction could be abrogated and whether such transfer changed CD4+ T cell function. Our results show that mitochondrial transfer improved the redox status and function of CD4+ T cells from old mice ex vivo. These findings support the notion that mitochondria can serve as targets of therapeutic intervention in aging.
Environmental Degradation of Carbon Nanofiber Reinforced Syntactic Foams

Hollow particle filled composites known as syntactic foams presently find applications in many high temperature, high moisture environments such as undersea drilling and oil exploration because of their low density and resistance to moisture uptake. Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) hold the promise of improving the strength of such composites. Syntactic foams with 1–5 wt.% carbon nanofiber-reinforced epoxy matrix and containing 15–50 vol.% glass hollow microballoons are characterized for environmental degradation using accelerated weathering in a 90°C water bath for two weeks and for residual flexural strength and modulus. The maximum weight gain observed after moisture exposure was 3.5% for the CNF/epoxy and 10% for the CNF/syntactic foam. Strength generally decreased after weathering by up to 69%, with the exception of the composites containing 5 wt.% CNF, which showed an increase in strength. This was attributed to swelling of the matrix leading to improved traction on the fibers.
DELAY DEPENDENT STOCHASTIC STABILITY AND APPLICATION IN CONTROL WITH LIMITED COMMUNICATION

Abstract A theorem by de Souza on stochastic stability of systems with delays has been strengthened. This result provides a condition for delay-dependent stability. As in many practical applications a realistic bound on the delay may be known such a result should be useful where simple delay-independent stability conditions fail. In particular, this has ramifications in the robustness of stability of systems controlled over finite capacity communication channels.
California Women: Trying to Use Federal Taxes to Put the 'Community' in Community Property

Community property is thought to be a more equitable marital property regime than the common law because we assume that providing each spouse with an interest in fifty percent of the family’s income also provides a substantial amount of equality between spouses. Historically, however, as the regime operated in the United States, it was not especially favorable to wives. Although the concept implied a partnership between spouses, in practice wives were denied rights a partner would expect to enjoy. This article examines how women lobbied to enlarge the protection California wives enjoyed under the state’s community property regime in the early twentieth century. Women adopted a strategy that does not conform to Progressive Era stereotypes. Women’s groups argued that couples would receive a federal income tax reduction if the state’s property system gave more rights to wives. Women’s use of these anti-tax arguments helped further their goals of equalizing spouses’ rights and obligations until the tacit political alliance of women and wealthy taxpayers unwound.
Understanding Patient User Experience in Obstetric Work Systems

Patient user experiences with medical technology may be important predictors of patient ratings of satisfaction with health care systems and of acceptance of technologies used in their care. The purpose of this study was to understand how patients experience medical technology during medical events as passive users. 25 women were interviewed after the birth of their child about the technologies that were used to provide them care. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and reduced to codes in the qualitative data analysis tradition. Results show that patients have user experiences with technologies as passive users.
The International Journal of Exercise Science: 2011 Year in Review

The International Journal of Exercise Science (IJES) just completed its fourth year of publication, and as we move into 2012, the journal continues to increase its standing in the scientific community. We have increased our number of manuscripts per issue, our Editorial Board now has more than thirty members with six different countries represented across five different continents, and we continue to publish high quality research. While our journal is student focused and publishes primarily student-directed research, we receive and publish an impressive amount of research submitted by professionals as well. We are quite pleased with both the volume and the quality of research that we receive, and we hope this continues to grow. We do have a number of things we still want to accomplish, however. In the next twelve months, we want to be accepted for indexing in PubMed/Medline and in Web of Science, we want to publish an estimated impact factor and make significant progress towards being assigned an official impact factor, and we want to offer some limited space on our journal site for advertising. We are currently working on each of these goals. One major step forward that we achieved in 2011 was increasing the role of our Student Managing Editor. This was important not only to spread the workload amongst the Editors a bit more and to ensure better quality control, but it was also beneficial to the graduate student who fills this role. The experience afforded to our Student Managing Editor in helping to construct each issue, as well as the exposure they receive to all research that we publish, is invaluable in their development as a scholar. We are very pleased with our current Student Managing Editor as she has been an excellent asset to our mission.
Anticipation of quarterly earnings announcements: A test of option market efficiency

Abstract This study tests Chicago Board Options Exchange efficiency by examining option price behavior in the weeks surrounding a firm's quarterly earnings announcement. The evidence presented here suggests that a first-order autoregressive seasonal process describes quarterly earnings behavior and demonstrates that the information content of an earnings announcement is fully incorporated in option prices by the end of the announcement week.
A New Long-Acting Injectable Microcapsule System for the Administration of Progesterone

A long-acting injectable microcapsule system for the controlled-release systemic administration of progesterone (P 4 ) is described. The system consists of microcapsules made of the biodegradable polymer, d,l-polylactic acid, which contain crystalline P 4 . Following injection, P 4 is released from the microcapsules by diffusion and biodegradation of the polymer matrix. The rate of P 4 release from the prototype microcapsule system in vivo is 1.3 µg of P 4 /day/mg of microcapsules, and the duration of release is 30 days. Vaginal estrous cycles in rats and cyclic ovarian function in baboons were inhibited for 1 month following a single injection of P 4 microcapsules. The effects of continuous progesterone therapy on reproductive function in both rats and baboons are dose-dependent. The utility of the system as a once-a-month injectable contraceptive is established in the baboon model.
Influenza: Propagation, Quantification, and Storage

Influenza viruses are negative-sense, single-stranded, enveloped RNA viruses belonging to the family Orthomyxoviridae. Three types exist, influenza A, B, and C. All infect humans, but only A and B are major human pathogens. Influenza type A viruses are divided into subtypes based on genetic and antigenic differences in the two surface spike proteins, hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). The appropriate cell lines to be used for isolation of influenza A or B viruses depend on the clinical information and the host of origin. MDCK cells are the preferred cell line for isolation of human influenza viruses from clinical specimens.
ID: 238: IL-15 markedly augmented the number of circulating NK cells and enhanced ADCC mediated by tumor-directed monoclonal antibodies

Interleukin-15, that activates antitumor T and natural killer cells, has potential applications in cancer immunotherapy. IL-15 administered at 20 μg/kg/day by continuous intravenous (CIV) infusion for 10 days to nonhuman primates yielded an 80–100-fold expansion of circulating CD8+ effector memory T-cells, a 15-fold increase in the number of monocytes and an 8-fold increase in NK cells. Based on these observations we performed a first-in-human phase 1 clinical trial of rhIL-15 administered by bolus infusions and a trial of IL-15 by CIV in patients with metastatic malignancy. When administered by CIV at 2 μg/kg per day IL-15 led to a 30-fold increase in the number of NK cells and over a 200-fold increase in the number of CD56+ CD16− NK cells. It was clear from these clinical trials that to be effective IL-15 would have to be administered in combination with agents with specificity directed toward the tumor. Given the capacity of IL-15 to increase NK cells an attractive strategy was to use it in conjunction with an antitumor antibody to augment ADCC. When IL-15 was administered with rituximab it markedly increased the ADCC effectiveness of this antibody in a syngeneic mouse model of human B-cell lymphoma involving EL4 leukemia cells transfected with human CD20. Activity of this combination was lost in Fc alpha-R-1- mice. Furthermore IL-15 augmented the ADCC of alemtuzumab in a xenograft model of human adult T-cell leukemia (ATL). These studies support our clinical trial involving IL-15 with alemtuzumab in patients with acute ATL.
The role of modern radiation therapy in the management of extremity sarcomas

For nearly half a decade, surgery and radiation therapy have been used in combination to achieve the goal of limb preservation in extremity soft tissue sarcoma, with success rates in excess of 90%. Common decision points in therapeutic radiation delivery for sarcoma are discussed, including preoperative versus postoperative irradiation, the postoperative boost, and when irradiation might be unnecessary. We describe specialized techniques, such as brachytherapy and intraoperative irradiation. The data driving current practice is summarized.
Interaction of Escherichia coli ribosomal protein S8 with its binding sites in ribosomal RNA and messenger RNA.

The ability of ribosomal protein S8 from Escherichia coli to interact with 12 variants of its 16 S rRNA binding site, as well as with a regulatory sequence within spc operon mRNA, has been assessed. Single-site alterations were introduced into the appropriate segment of the E. coli 16 S rRNA gene by mutagenesis in vitro. Their effects on S8-rRNA interaction were measured via a filter-binding assay, utilizing S8 binding sites transcribed in vitro from the altered 16 S rRNA gene fragments. Of the 12 rRNA mutants, six were unable to bind S8. Significantly, five of these occur within a small, phylogenetically conserved internal loop, defined by nucleotides 596–597 and 641–643, suggesting that this structure plays a major role in S8–16S rRNA recognition. The reduced affinity of S8 for its binding site in these cases was closely correlated with growth defects that resulted from expression of the same mutations in vivo. Alterations at other positions in the S8 binding site had little influence on complex formation or cell growth, as long as they did not disrupt rRNA secondary structure. The specific interaction of S8 with a segment of the spc operon mRNA containing a putative site of translational feedback regulation was demonstrated using appropriate in vitro transcripts in conjunction with the filter-binding assay. The apparent association constant for the S8-mRNA interaction was determined to be approximately 5 × 106 m−1, about five times lower than for the interaction of S8 with wild-type 16 S rRNA. The structure of the regulatory binding site, determined by sequence analysis of spc operon mRNA protected by S8 from RNase digestion, was found to contain all of the characteristic features of the 16 S rRNA binding site, demonstrating that the protein associates with structurally similar domains in both RNAs.
The City in the Country: Wilderness Gentrification and the Rent Gap:

In this paper I explore the efficacy of applying Neil Smith's theory of the rent gap to rural gentrification in New York State's Adirondack Park, making three central claims. In the first place, although the underlying impetus for both rural and urban gentrification (namely, the maximization of profit on the part of a variety of gentrifying agents from individual owner-occupants to large-scale developers) is essentially the same, some fundamental differences between the determination of what constitutes ‘undercapitalized’ ground rent in the city and the wilderness leads to subsequent differences in the geographical expression of gentrification in each area. In the second, the unique land-management practices instituted by the State of New York in this region have set up the conditions for a singular type of disinvestment not typically found in the city, rendering disinvestment a central aspect of Adirondack gentrification but in a different way than the disinvestment which anchors Smith's argument. Finall...
Dispersion behavior of heterogeneous agglomerates at supercritical stresses

Abstract The influence of structural heterogeneities on the dispersion behavior of agglomerates at stresses in excess of the minimum for breakup was investigated. The fragmentation behavior of heterogeneous structures, simulated by a variety of standard agglomeration algorithms, was analyzed for the case of simple shear flow. A power-law correlation between the average fragment size and the level of stress applied was exhibited by all the structures investigated. Similar power-law behavior has been experimentally observed for the dispersion of agglomerates of polystyrene latex spheres in water and for the breakup of carbon black agglomerates in poly(dimethyl siloxane). The power-law exponent was found to increase with the agglomerate fractal dimension. The results obtained in this work indicate that the fractal dimension is not sufficient to predict dispersion behavior for nearly dense structures.
Residential proximity to industrial sources of air pollution: interrelationships among race, poverty, and age.

This study builds on earlier work investigating statistical relationships between sociodemographic characteristics of populations and their residential proximity to industrial sources of air pollution. The analysis uses demographic data from the 1990 U.S. Census and industrial site data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s 1990 Toxics Release Inventory (TRI). The focus is on examining interactions among race (African Americans and Whites), poverty (above and below household poverty threshold), and age (children from birth to 5 years of age and elderly people 65 years old or older). Results from three different study areas (Kanawha Valley in West Virginia, the Baton Rouge-New Orleans Corridor in Louisiana, and the greater Baltimore metropolitan area in Maryland) suggest there are important interactions among race, poverty, and age that are likely to have consequential ramifications for efforts aimed at investigating issues related to environmental justice. Our results indicate that a substantial proportion of all demographic groups studied live within a mile of the nearest facility, with values ranging from 22% of Whites above poverty in the Baton Rouge-New Orleans Corridor to 60% of African Americans below poverty in Baltimore. Likewise, a substantial proportion of all demographic groups also live within 2 miles of four or more industrial facilities, with values ranging from 16% for Whites above poverty in the Corridor to 70% for African Americans below poverty in Baltimore. In all three study areas, African Americans were more likely than Whites to (1) live in households with incomes below the household poverty line, (2) have children 5 years of age or younger, (3) live closer to the nearest industrial emissions source, and (4) live within 2 miles of multiple industrial emission sources. Findings indicate that, compared with White children, a substantially higher proportion of African-American children 5 years of age or younger lived in poor households that were located in relatively close proximity to one or more industrial sources of air pollution.
Deriving Kubelka–Munk theory from radiative transport

We derive Kubelka–Munk (KM) theory systematically from the radiative transport equation (RTE) by analyzing the system of equations resulting from applying the double spherical harmonics method of order one and transforming that system into one governing the positive- and negative-going fluxes. Through this derivation, we establish the theoretical basis of KM theory, identify all parameters, and determine its range of validity. Moreover, we are able to generalize KM theory to take into account general boundary sources and nonhomogeneous terms, for example. The generalized Kubelka–Munk (gKM) equations are also much more accurate at approximating the solution of the RTE. We validate this theory through comparison with numerical solutions of the RTE.
In vivo measurements of “apparent viscosity” and microvessel hematocrit in the mesentery of the cat

Abstract The arteriovenous (A-V) distribution of microvessel hematocrit (Hmicro) was determined throughout successive microvascular divisions in cat mesentery from in vivo measurements of optical density. In vitro correlations of optical density and tube hematocrit in small-bore glass tubes permitted the computation of in vivo values of Hmicro for luminal diameters ranging from 20 to 70 μm. For smaller-size vessels, Hmicro was determined by microocclusion and red cell counting. The results demonstrate a monotonic fall in the ratio of H micro H systemic from 0.80 in the 70-μm arterioles to a minimum of 0.21 in the immediate postcapillaries (10 μm diameter) followed by a subsequent monotonic rise to 0.95 in the 70-μm venules. Conservation of red cell flux throughout the mesenteric network was partially demonstrated upon applying previously established in vitro relationships between discharge and tube hematocrits, the resulting disparity being attributed to the rheological behavior of blood and possible A-V shunting of red cells. Simultaneous measurements of pressure drop and red cell velocity in unbranched arterioles during systemic hemodilution facilitated a comparison of in vivo and in vitro (cone-plate viscometer) apparent viscosities (η). No significant differences between the two approaches were found for arteriole diameters ranging from 24 to 47 μm in the absence of leukocyte-endothelium adhesion, with 0
The Role of an E Box Binding Basic Helix Loop Helix Protein in the Cardiac Muscle-specific Expression of the Rat Cytochrome Oxidase Subunit VIII Gene

We have characterized the rat gene for muscle-specific cytochrome oxidase VIII (COX VIII(H)) and mapped the distal promoter region responsible for transcription activation in C2C12 skeletal myocytes and H9C2 cardiomyocytes. In both cell types, the promoter elements responding to the induced differentiation of myocytes map to two E boxes, designated as E1 and E2 boxes with a core sequence of CAGCTG. Gel mobility shift analysis showed that both E1 and E2 box motifs form complexes with nuclear extracts from H9C2 cardiomyocytes that were supershifted with monoclonal antibody to E2A but not with antibody to myo-D. Extracts from induced and uninduced H9C2 cardiomyocytes yielded different gel mobility patterns and also different E2A antibody supershifts suggesting a difference in the DNA-bound protein complexes cross-reacting with the E2A antibody. Transcriptional activity of the promoter construct containing intact E boxes was inhibited by coexpression with Id in differentiated H9C2 cardiomyocytes. Our results show the involvement of an E box binding basic helix loop helix protein in the cardiac muscle-specific regulation of the COX VIII(H) promoter.
SU‐E‐T‐636: Composite Planning Technique for the Staged‐Volume Gamma Knife Radiosurgery

Purpose: Large anterior‐venous malformations (AVM) with average diameter of the lesion larger than 3 cm are often treated with staged‐volume or spatially fractionated radiosurgery to decrease the incidence of radiation necrosis. However, even a most recent release of the Gamma Plan version 9.0 only can project the previous treatments but doesn't support the composite plans of adding dose distributions that were delivered to the same patient in more than one session. Methods: The procedure was retrospectively implemented in 10 patients with large AVM and prescription range of 10 — 14 Gy. MR MPRAGE image sets with the dose distributions and drawn volumes of the target and critical organs were exported from Gamma Plan to the third party software. The workflow was created to fuse both sets and DVH's of the imported structures were cross‐checked against Gamma Plan calculations. The fusion was done in two ways: rigid and deformable modes using box‐based assisted alignment. Addition dose distributions were analyzed using different dose indexes and compared with actual treated plans. Results: In all 10 cases the dose distribution and corresponding conformality and gradient indexes were improved in the 10 — 30 % range decreasing the amount of irradiated health tissue and removing cold spots in the target. 10‐Gy non‐AVM volumes were decreased on composite plans in the range of 10 – 20%. In 40% of the cases it was shown that the traditional planning gave excessive dose to the critical organs. Conclusions: A method was developed to create composite planning for the Gamma Knife patients which was shown can improve the treatment planning for the staged‐volume large AVM radiosurgery patients. That technique can be especially useful for the lesions that are positioned in close vicinity to the critical organs like brain stem and optical apparatus.
Medical Management of a High Bleb Phase after Trabeculectomies

In the first 2 months after trabeculectomy, elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) associated with a high bleb develops in some patients. This has been referred to as an encysted bleb, and some have recommended surgical techniques to repair it and to restore controlled IOP. This clinical picture occurred in 18 of 181 eyes (10%) undergoing simple trabeculectomy with a limbus-based conjunctival flap and tenonectomy. It did not occur among 69 eyes in which trabeculectomy with a fornix-based flap was combined with extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE). Its occurrence may, therefore, be related to surgical technique. In eyes with this syndrome, the authors used IOP-lowering eyedrops and/or pills, along with continued corticosteroid eyedrops. None required surgical manipulation. All 18 eyes achieved long-term IOP control, and in 14 all medications were ultimately discontinued. An hypothesis is suggested to explain the occurrence of this event and the rationale for this therapy. A trial of IOP-lowering treatment is indicated in the management of a high bleb phase after filtering surgery.
EFFECTS OF PETROLEUM POLLUTANTS ON ARCTIC MICROBIAL POPULATIONS

Abstract Microorganisms encounter oil in the Arctic from natural seepages and accidental spillages. Incubation of Prudhoe crude oil with water from coastal ponds along Prudhoe Bay resulted in several changes in the microbial communities. Bacterial populations increased by several orders of magnitude; ameoboid protozoa were replaced by flagellated protozoa; coccoid green algae completely disappeared; diatoms increased and blue-green and green filamentous algae appeared to be unaffected. The microbial populations associated with a natural oil seepage at Cape Simpson were markedly different from those of the adjacent areas. The seep was devoid of vascular plant cover and, in some areas, of bacteria. Fungi were found to be abundant in the bacteria-free regions. Lichens flourished in the older sections. Underlying oil slicks experimentally floated in Prudhoe Bay, the bacterial population increased, in large part attributable to oil degrading Pseudomonads, but species diversity appeared to be unaffected.
Why Some Clinicians Use Outcome Measures and Others Do Not

Due to their potential as helpful clinical tools, it is necessary to understand the reasons why certain practitioners are currently using outcome measures and certain others are not. This study investigated the reasons why clinicians use outcome measures based upon factors such as work setting, theoretical orientation and source of payment. Similar analyses were conducted for reasons that clinicians do not use outcome measures. Findings suggest that several practical barriers are the primary reasons for not using outcome measures, although a subset of clinicians have additional concerns. Results also emphasized the need for clinicians to be trained on how to maximize the clinical benefits of formalized outcome assessment.
Advanced TV in the USA

The Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) is the forum which has proposed the new television standards for North America. The ATSC is convened by the US National Association of Broadcasters, and has members from all organisations concerned with television broadcasting in the North American continent. Besides recommending new technical standards for studio production, considerable efforts have been applied to the transmission aspects of new and advanced TV systems, particularly because of the lack of available spectrum for terrestrial broadcasting. The ATSC has now formally submitted its digital television standard to the FCC for ratification. The ATSC TV standard uses MPEG-2 Main Profile for video bit rate reduction, AC-3 for audio bit rate reduction, MPEG-2 Transport Stream specification, 8-level VSB for RF emission, and 16-level VSB for cable TV transmissions. The plans for introducing ATV in the USA are based on supplementary analogue NTSC television services broadcast at VHF, with HDTV programmes simulcast at UHF.
Regeneration in insects.

@9cIntroduction@21T issues exhibit an impressive ability to respond to a myriad of insults by repairing and regenerating complex structures. The elegant and orderly process of regeneration provides clues to the mechanisms of pattern formation but also offers the hope that the process might one day be manipulated to replace damaged body parts. To manipulate the process, it will be necessary to understand the genetic basis of the process. In the case of the insect leg, we are coming close to such a level of understanding and many of the lessons learned are relevant to vertebrate systems. A dynamic web of gene regulatory networks appears to create a robust self-organizing system that is at once extremely intricate but also perhaps simple in its reliance on a few key signaling pathways and a few simple processes, e.g. autoactivation and lateral inhibition. Here we will summarize what has been learned about the networks of gene regulation present in the Drosophila leg discs and then we will explore how the regenerative responses to different insults can be understood as predictable responses to these networks. Each of the regulatory networks could themselves serve as the subject of a detailed review and that is beyond the scope of this discussion. Here we will focus on the interplay between the regulatory networks in patterning the tissue.
A procedure for the quantitative separation of viable and non-viable P815X2 mastocytoma cells

Abstract A method for the separation of viable and non-viable P815X2 mastocytoma cells is described using Ficoll discontinuous density gradients. Non-viable P815X2 cells are more dense than viable P815X2 cells and reach a bouyant density equilibrium at a higher Ficoll concentration than the viable cells. This technique allows the separation of viable P815X2 cells from cells that had been killed by antiserum and complement, or by non-growth supporting medium or by cytotoxic lymphocytes. This method is a new assay to determine cytotoxic lymphocyte killing of P815X2 cells.
Black bear femoral porosity decreases and mechanical properties increase with age despite annual periods of disuse (hibernation)

Abstract Inactivity causes bone loss, and a remobilization period that is 2–3 times longer than the disuse period is required to recover lost bone. Black bears (Ursus americanus), however, experience annual disuse (hibernation) and active periods that are approximately equal in length, but maintain bone material properties with age. Here, the effects of annual hibernation periods on whole bone properties were investigated. This study shows that mineral, geometrical and whole bone mechanical properties increase with age in black bear femurs, whereas porosity decreases with age. These results provide further support that black bears possess a biological mechanism to avoid disuse osteoporosis.
Two-Scale Homogenization of Non-Linear Degenerate Evolution Equations☆

Using the notion of two-scale convergence developed by Allaire, the homogenization of a degenerate non-linear evolution equation with periodically oscillating coefficients is presented. A two-scale homogenized system is obtained as the limit of the periodic problem. Monotone operator methods and two-scale convergence are employed to show that the solutions of the periodic problem converge to the unique solution of the homogenized system. Homogenized initial conditions are also obtained and the sense in which they hold for the homogenized initial value problem is made specific.
The Genus Prolixandromyces (Laboulbeniales) in the Old World Prolixandromyces (Laboulbeniales)

Two new species of Prolixandromyces (Laboulbeniales) parasitic on Rhagovelia (Heteroptera: Veliidae) are described and illustrated: Prolixandromyces benjaminii from the Philippine Islands and P. lanceolatus from Africa (Madagascar, Malawi, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and South Africa) and Asia (Indonesia: Sulawesi, Sumba, Timor; Malaysia: Selangor; and Sri Lanka). In order to accommodate these species the circumscription of Prolixandromyces is emended. The new taxa are compared with the one known species from the Old World, P. triandrus from Spain, and with the five known New World taxa.
Lasers in dental implantology

The parallels in the expansion of implant dentistry and laser dentistry in clinical practice are apparent. As advocates for laser dentistry continue to seek new ways to use the technology and as more practitioners become involved in implant dentistry, it is logical to see the concurrent use of both technologies in clinical practice. This article provides data that clearly support the value of dental lasers in the practice of implant dentistry. The challenge for the practitioner is the same as for any other area of dentistry: knowing when, where, and what armamentarium to use in any given situation. Not all dental laser wavelengths are necessarily useful in every dental implant situation. After clinicians know the characteristics of the wavelengths available to them, the application of the technology to the specific situation certainly is warranted.
Herbaceous layer response to 17 years of controlled deer hunting in forested natural areas

Abstract Deleterious effects of overabundant deer populations within natural areas have been well documented and hunting programs have been initiated to control populations and facilitate the recovery of vegetation communities. However, few studies have examined whether recovery has occurred following sustained hunting. Hunting was initiated during the 1990s to reduce overabundant deer populations in Indiana state parks. In 2010, we resampled 108 plots established in 1996/97 across 15 state parks and five historically-hunted reference areas to quantify changes in herbaceous-layer vegetation. Species cover was measured along three, 10 m line transects nested within each plot. Data were pooled for all parks and reference areas. We calculated species richness (S), evenness (E), and Shannon-Weiner diversity (H′) in 1996/97 and 2010. Compositional changes between sample intervals and contemporary composition across environmental gradients were examined using nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMS). We observed greater increases in herbaceous-layer cover in parks than in reference areas. S and H′ increased significantly in parks, but not reference areas. NMS ordinations revealed unidirectional changes in species composition between parks and their respective reference areas with the composition of parks becoming more similar to that of reference areas through time. Park size, cumulative deer harvest, initial deer abundance, and recent average of harvest/hunter effort were significantly correlated ( p r | > 0.5 for at least one axis). Browse-sensitive functional groups increased in cover while that of exotic species decreased. Changes were most pronounced for tree seedlings, which displayed a sixfold increase in cover within parks between sample intervals. These results suggest that hunting has allowed recovery of degraded vegetation communities.
Model-augmented methods for estimation of contact pressure distribution

Abstract On-line measurement of the contact pressure distribution (CPD) at the tool–workpiece interface during sheet metal stamping is critical to advancing the state-of-art in tool wear and product quality monitoring. Since the number of sensors that can be integrated into a tool structure is limited by concerns of structural integrity and cost, estimation of CPD through a small number of sparsely located sensors has created unique challenges in information acquisition and representation. Specifically, the problem of determining continuous CPD from discrete sensor measurements is under-constrained and thus ill-posed. A mathematical framework is needed for treating such a problem. This paper presents three mathematical approaches Regularization, Kriging, and Spatial Blending to address this problem and discusses their relative merits and limitations.
Qualitative economic reasoning: a disequilibrium perspective

Extending a qualitative simulation of a market-based equilibrium model, this paper demonstrates the technical applicability of partial simulation from a more realistic disequilibrium viewpoint, where a market cannot be cleared promptly and it is subject to quantity constraints of spillover from other imbalanced markets. Some well-known observations of disequilibrium economics such as the effectiveness of policy change in relation with disequilibrium regime are proven to be correct in qualitative reasoning and simulation.
Centralized ordering and allocation policies in a two-echelon system with non-identical warehouses

We consider a depot-warehouse distribution system in which demand occurs at the warehouse level. At the beginning of every period the depot places an order from an external supplier which arrives after a fixed lead time. The received order is then shipped to the warehouses. The depot itself does not hold any inventory. There are non-zero shipment lead times from the depot to the warehouses. Linear holding costs are incurred at the warehouses and unsatisfied demands are backlogged at a linear penalty cost. Our work is a generalization of earlier work by Eppen and Schrage, to allow for non-identical warehouses. We present a simple and easy-to-implement allocation policy and derive an explicit expression for the optimal order quantity under the inventory balance allocation assumption used earlier by other researchers. A computional study is presented to evaluate the accuracy of the proposed solution.
Effect of stimulation and suppression of the thyroid gland upon production of iodoprotein in man

Abstract Iodinated components of serum were studied in 6 normal subjects and 10 patients with nontoxic goiter. After administration of I125, serum specimens were analyzed by column chromatography using anion exchange resin (Dowex 1 × 2) and radioactivity was measured in 4 fractions: iodoprotein, iodotyrosine, iodothyronine and iodide. After 2 weeks, about 25 per cent of the radioactivity was found in the iodoprotein fraction of serum of normal subjects and 44 per cent in that of goitrous patients. Butanol-insoluble iodine (BII) was determined in 36 normal subjects and 26 patients with nontoxic goiter; the mean BII was 26 per cent of the total protein-bound iodine in the normal group, and 45 per cent in that of the goitrous group. The authors suggest that butanol-insoluble iodoprotein is present in serum of normal subjects but is in much larger amounts in that of goitrous patients. Production of iodoprotein could be suppressed by administration of thyroxin. Administration of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) to normal subjects doubled production of iodoprotein and iodothyronine, but caused a more irregular response in patients with goiter. Gel filtration through Sephadex G-100 and salting-out in potassium phosphate showed that iodoprotein from goitrous subjects resembles iodoalbumin. Iodoprotein synthesis is a major pathway of iodine metabolism in patients with nontoxic goiter. This pathway is regulated by thyrotropin as it can be suppressed by thyroxin and activated by TSH.
The anatomy and blood supply of the urogenital system of lepidosteus platystomus rafinesque

A description of the urogenital system in both sexes of Lepidosteus platystomus Rafinesque, and new observations on the blood supply to this system as well as to the rest of the viscera is given. The testes resemble the true piscine type. The sperm are carried by numerous vasa efferentia to the kidney tubules, through the mesonephros to the wolffian duct, and to the exterior as in the elasmobranchs and amphibians. The most anterior of the vasa efferentia are non-functional. The ovaries are simple sac-like structures continuous with their ducts. The oviducts transverse the ventro-lateral surface of the mesonephros, and enter into the dilated portions of the wolffian ducts, where they join, directly anterior to the urogenital aperture. There are no ducts in the male homologous with the oviducts of the female. The kidneys fused posteriorly, appear to extend the entire length of the body cavity, but the anterior third is non-urinary. By injection methods, the celiaco-mesenteric artery is shown to be crowded to the posterior end of the body cavity by the complicated swim-bladder, and runs anteriorly to supply the entire viscera. Its anterior portion is incorporated in the liver.