cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effect of notchplasty in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a biomechanical study in the porcine knee

Notchplasty is frequently performed by many orthopaedic surgeons during anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. The effect of notchplasty on tunnel placement and knee biomechanics with ACL reconstruction is not known. Twelve (n = 12) porcine knees were tested using a robotic testing system. Four knee states were compared: (1) intact ACL, (2) ACL-deficient, (3) anatomic single bundle (SB) ACL reconstruction and (4) anatomic SB ACL reconstruction with a 5-mm notchplasty. The graft was fixed at 60° of flexion (full extension of porcine knee is 30°) with an 80-N tension. The knees were subjected to two loading conditions: an 89-N anterior tibial load (ATT) and 4 Nm internal (IR) and external tibial (ER) rotational torques. The kinematics and in situ force obtained from the different knee conditions were compared. There were no significant differences between pre- and post-notchplasty in the ER at 30° and 60° of knee flexion (n.s.). However, a significant difference was found between pre- and post-notchplasty in ATT at 30° and 60° of flexion (p < 0.05). The in situ force in the anatomic SB reconstruction with notchplasty was significant lower than the intact and anatomic reconstructed ACL pre-notchplasty at 30°, 60° and 90° of knee flexion (p < 0.05). In response to the IR tibial torque, there were significant differences between pre- and post-notchplasty in IR at 60° (p < 0.05) of knee flexion. Notchplasty had greater effect on anterior stability than rotational stability. This change in knee kinematics could be detrimental to a healing bone graft, ligamentization and could lead to failure of the reconstruction in early post-operative period.
An approach for applying cultural study theory to technical writing research

When the idea of culture is expanded to include institutional relationships extending beyond the walls of one organization, technical writing researchers can address relationships between our power/knowledge system and multiculturalism, postmodernism, gender, conflict, and ethics within professional communication. This article contrasts ideas of culture in social constructionist and cultural study research designs, addressing how each type of design impacts issues that can be analyzed in research studies. Implications for objectivity and validity in speculative cultural study research are also explored. Finally, since articulation of a coherent theoretical foundation is crucial to limiting a cultural study, this article suggests how technical writing can be constituted as an object of study according to five (of many possible) poststructural concepts: the object of inquiry as discursive, the object as practice within a cultural context, the object as practice within a historical context, the object as ord...
State Lotteries: Their Effect on Equal Access to Higher Education.

Many states (18 of 39) use revenue generated by lotteries to help fund higher education. The revenue is generated as a regressive tax disproportionately collected. As such, do state lotteries contr...
Dynamic verification of operating system decisions

Dynamic verification of a decision implies that every time the decision is made there is a consistency check performed on the decision using independent hardware and software. The dynamic verification of operating system decisions is used on the PRIME system being designed and constructed at the University of California, Berkeley. PRIME is an experimental time-sharing system which is to have the properties of continuous availability, data privacy, and cost effectiveness. The technique of dynamic verification allows the construction of an operating system which does not make certain decisions improperly even in the presence of a single hardware or software fault. Furthermore, multiple faults lead to unreliable operation only if the faults happen to reinforce each other. On PRIME, dynamic verification is used to ensure that one user's information cannot become available to another user gratuitously even in the presence of a single hardware or software fault. The amount of additional hardware and software required for dynamic verification can be modest.
A lateral thyristor power switch

A lateral thyristor switching circuit which carries 2 amperes and blocks 100 volts is described. High gain is achieved by utilizing the turn-off capability of the thyristor in this junctionisolated bipolar integrated circuit.
Maternal protein deprivation: sexually dimorphic programming of hypertension in the mouse

Epidemiological data in humans and experiments in laboratory animals have demonstrated that the developmental programming of hypertension may occur as a consequence of dietary manipulations during pregnancy. Surprisingly, there is a scarcity of data regarding the development of hypertension as a consequence of a maternal low-protein diet (MLPD), particularly in the mouse. Furthermore, the role of sex in developmental programming is not well understood. We used FVB/NJ mice, because of their value in genetic/mechanistic analysis, to test the hypothesis that a MLPD during gestation leads to the sexually dimorphic developmental programming of hypertension and related disorders, such as intra-uterine growth restriction (IUGR), type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity. We administered iso-caloric, normal (control), moderate protein (moderate MLPD) and severe protein (severe MLPD) diets to the mice, beginning 1 week before mating and continuing until the delivery of the pups. From 4 weeks onward, using a non-invasive tail-cuff method, we measured blood pressure and other parameters in the offspring. Our results demonstrate the following: (1) MLPD caused IUGR (low birthweight) in a dose-dependent manner; (2) Female offspring developed severe hypertension, whereas males were affected only moderately; (3) The blood glucose level was elevated only in females from the moderate MLPD group, although their insulin levels remained normal; (4) Rapid catch-up growth was observed in both sexes, with moderate MLPD females and severe MLPD males becoming overweight. Notably, blood leptin levels in the control group were significantly higher in females than in male offspring and were reduced in females from the severe MLPD group. We conclude that an antenatal MLPD during gestation leads to sexually dimorphic programming in mice.
Luteinizing hormone in the bovine pars tuberalis: Secretion in response to luteinizing hormone releasing hormone and intracellular isoforms

The objective of this study was to examine the physiological characteristics of gonadotropes in the bovine (b) pars tuberalis as assessed by their ability to release Luteinizing Hormone (LH) in response to LH-Releasing Hormone (LHRH) and the intracellular distribution of LH isoforms. At slaughter, the stalk median eminence and associated pars tuberalis as well as the anterior pituitary gland were collected from each of 7 castrate males. Each stalk median eminence and pituitary gland was mid-sagitally sectioned and weighed. One half of each tissue was immediately frozen and subsequently homogenized to determine the intracellular distribution of bLH isoforms. Tissue extracts were desalted by flow dialysis against water and chromatofocused on pH 10.5-7.0 gradients. The remaining half of the pituitary was sliced with a Staddie-Riggs slicer. The pituitary slices and the remaining half of the stalk median eminence were perifused (0.1 ml/min) for a total of 360 min with effluent samples (1.0 ml) collected every 10 min. At 130 min tissues were stimulated with 5 x 10(-8) M LHRH. Concentrations of LH in the effluent samples and the fractions collected from chromatofocusing were determined by radioimmunoassay. The release of LH in response to LHRH was 43.9% and 47.0% above basal secretion for the pars tuberalis and pituitary, respectively, suggesting similar degrees of responsiveness. Pars tuberalis and pituitary extracts resolved into nine LH isoforms during chromatofocusing and were coded with letters beginning with the most basic form. No differences (P greater than .05) were observed in distribution of LH isoforms between the pars tuberalis and the pituitary gland.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Plant breeding systems

New concepts in population genetics call for reappraisal of plant breeding procedures; this commentary evaluates certain breeding procedures according to their probable effectiveness in promoting maximum gene recombinations and achieving maximum fitness. Breeding is viewed as an accelerated evolutionary process where appropriate design and control substitute for long duration of complex interactions of genotype with environment in the wild state. Crossing selected sibs in early generations is a means of re-assembling adaptive genes capable of functioning in a balanced polygenic system. The probability that any one individual in early generations after a cross would carry all or most of the potentially co-adaptive genes is very remote; hence strict inbreeding or pure line selection from early generations will not produce the best balanced genotypes. The recombination of two or more partly balanced genotypes by sib crossing magnifies the chance that a maximum number of harmoniously functioning genes will be assembled and through subsequent inbreeding emerge as stable and widely adapted varieties. Breeding procedures are viewed in perspective as they proceed from maximum inbreeding to maximum interbreeding or from pure line selection to bulk selection with natural or enforced sib-crossing.
Clinical consult: iron overload—hereditary hemochromatosis

One of the most common genetic causes of iron overload is hereditary hemochromatosis (HHC), a condition characterized by overabsorption of dietary iron from the gastrointestinal tract. This condition can lead to excessive iron accumulation with resulting dysfunction in multiple organs, including the liver, skin, heart,joints, pancreas, and testes. The clinical consequences of HHC if undetected and untreated can be severe and include liver cirrhosis,hepatocellular carcinoma, diabetes mellitus, cardiac arrhythmias and failure, arthritis, and hypogonadism. HHC is one of the most common heritable conditions in white populations of Northern European origin. This article presents a case study of HHC, describing inheritance and genetics, disease characteristics and natural history, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and management.
Electrical Aspects of Adsorbing Colloid Flotation. XI. Surfactant Adsorption Isotherms, Particle Displacement, and Differential Capacitance

Abstract Statistical mechanics is used to calculate adsorption isotherms of ionic surfactants on charged solid-water interfaces. The effects of coulombic repulsions between the ionic heads of the surfactant species are taken into account, as are the van der Waals attractions of their hydrocarbon tails. A “squeeze-out” mechanism, by means of which viscous drag forces acting tangentially to the surface of a rising bubble may detach floc particles from it, is examined. A nonideal Poisson-Boltzmann equation is used to calculate the differential capacitance of the electric double layer at an interface.
The projective-planar signed graphs

Abstract We characterize the graphs with distinguished polygons which can be embedded in the projective plane so that the orientation-preserving polygons are just the distinguished ones. These graphs are those whose distinguished polygons are the positive ones in some edge signing of the underlying graph and which either (1) have no link minor isomorphic to any of six particular signed graphs, or equivalently (2) contain no subgraph which is homeomorphic to any of the same six or two other signed graphs. The eight obstruction graphs are, with one trivial exception, derived in simple ways from the planar obstructions K 5 and K 3.3 .
Combinatorial thin film sputtering investigation of cerium concentration in Lu2SiO5 scintillators

Abstract Lutetium oxyorthosilicate (LSO) thin films with a cerium thickness gradient were sputter deposited to investigate the optimum cerium concentration for emission intensity. Thin film cerium concentration ranged from 0.06 to 0.88 at%. To compare the thin film samples to single crystal LSO, a set of single crystal LSO samples were investigated with cerium concentrations of 0.0015, 0.0095 and 0.078 at%. The thin film samples showed peak photoluminescence emission intensity at a cerium concentration of 0.35 at%; however, the single crystal samples exhibited peak photoluminescence emission intensity at a lower cerium concentration of 0.0095 at%. The photoluminescence excitation and emission spectra as a function of concentration demonstrate the concentration quenching behavior and the mechanisms are speculated to be due to radiative (self-absorption) and non-radiative energy transfer, which may be phonon assisted.
A gas kinetic method for investigations of the ionospheric plasma and the thermosphere

The gas kinetic method (GKM) obtains the Maxwellian velocity distributions of ionospheric plasma and thermospheric species (e.g. O +, O +2, O and N 2) from in situ measurements of energy–angle distributions of the air stream entering an orbiting spectrometer. Referenced to the spectrometer ram axis, measurements based on the GKM yield the ion-drift or neutral wind vector , the ion or neutral temperature T, and ion or neutral number density n with sensitivities that may be implemented with present technologies for energy–angle spectrometers, i.e. the CubeSat WINCS spectrometers, designed to measure ion-drift and wind vectors together with ion and neutral temperatures, and composition.
Autoprezentacja cesarzy rzymskich w mennictwie II i III wieku po Chr.

Recenzja ksiązki: Erika Manders, Coining Images of Power. Patterns in the Representation of Roman Emperors on Imperial Coinage A.D. 193––284, Brill Academic Publishers, Leiden–Boston–Tokyo 2012 [=Impact of Empire, 15], 363 s.
Robust openings in the context of a prior distribution governing the parameters of the random set model

In the context of image restoration, optimal binary openings estimate an ideal random set from an observed random set. If we consider optimization relative to a homothetic scalar that governs structuring element sizes, then opening optimization can be placed into the context of optimal granulometric bandpass filters and solution for the optimization problem for the signal-union-noise model can be given in terms of the granulometric spectral densities (GSDs) of the signal and noise. The robustness question arises if the signal and noise GSDs are parameterized, so that the model can assume a family of states: specifically, what is the cost of applying an optimal opening designed for one pair of GSDs to a model corresponding to a different pari of GSDs. This paper addresses the robustness problem in the context of a prior distribution for the parameters governing the signal and noise GSDs. It does so by considering the mean robustness, which is defined for each state of nature to be the expected increase in error resulting from using the optimal opening for that states across all states. Moreover, it considers a global filter that is defined for all states via the expected optimal homothetic scalar. Finally, it compares Bayesian robust openings to minimix robust openings.
Object Play and Social Treatment of Prey in Bush Dogs and Crab-Eating Foxes

Object play behaviour in captive parent-raised litters of bush dogs (Speothos venaticus) and crab-eating foxes (Cerdocyon thous) is investigated. Cerdocyon, an individual hunter, shows a rich repertoire of object play patterns, defends and competes for objects, rarely plays with objects in groups, and spends less time in object play than in non-object-oriented social interactions. Speothos, a group hunter of relatively large prey, shows comparatively few object play patterns, shares rather than competes for objects, and spends as much time in object-oriented social interactions as in non-object-oriented social interactions. These results, and data from the literature on other carnivores, suggest a relationship between treatment of objects during play and later social treatment of prey.
Ultra-low-threshold optical pattern formation in a cold atomic vapor

The authors have developed a new model that accounts for Sisyphus cooling and accurately describes the obtained data. Due to yhe observed ultra-low threshold for pattern formation and the strong fifth-order nonlinear response, the system is a novel testing ground for a broad range of applications and studies of fundamental science.
Attachment-detachment trajectory for E. coli bacteria in the presence of surface forces

The deformation mechanics of a single E. coli bacterium in close proximity of a rigid quartz substrate is investigated using a two dimensional finite element model. The classical Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek potential is used to model the intersurface forces experienced by the bacterium. A coupling between deformation and adhesive properties is seen.
Diffusion-limited many-body reactions in one dimension and the method of interparticle distribuion functions

Abstract The method of interparticle distribution functions (IPDF) has yielded several exact solutions of the kinetics of diffusion-limited reaction processes in one dimension. We generalize the IPDF method to the case where lattice sites may be occupied by more than one particle and apply it to the reaction processes v A → μ A (v>μ). We briefly review the case of v = 2, for which the kinetics is anomalous, that is, does not agree with the predictions of classical rate equations. The case lf v = 3 is marginal. We compute the exact leading time behavior of the concentration decay, and the distribution of distances between nearest particles in the long time asymptotic limit. From the results of extensive simulations, we observe the previously postulated logarithmic corrections to the concentration power-law-decay. The case of v > 3 is well decribed by classical rate equations. We show how this is expressed in the IPDF approach.
THE CHROMOSOME RACES OF ZINNIA JUNIPERIFOLIA

ASEN, S., AND R. E. LARSON. 1951. Artificial culturing of rose embryos. Penn. State Coll. Progr. Rept. No. 40. CROCKER, V., AND L. V. BARTON. 1931. After-ripening, germination, and storage of certain rosaceous seeds. Contrib. Boyce Thompson Inst. 39: 385-404. LAMMERTS, W. E. 1946. Use of embryo culture in rose breeding. Plants and Gard. 2: 111. ROWLEY, G. D. 1956. Germination in Rosa canina. Am. Rose Ann. 41: 70-73. SEMENIUK, P., AND R. N. STEWART. 1962. Temperature reversal of after-ripening of rose seeds. Proc. Am. Soc. Hort. Sci. 80: 615-621. ,) , AND J. UHRING. 1963. Induced secondary dormancy of rose embryos. Proc. Am. Soc. Hort. Sci. 83: 825-828. VON ABRAMS, G. J., AND N. E. HAND. 1956. Seed dormancy in Rosa as a function of climate. Am. Jour. Bot. 43: 7-12.
Reactions of Group 3 Metal Alkyls in the Gas Phase. Part 10: The addition of olefins to the monomeric diisobutylaluminiumhydride†

The relative rate constants for adding ethylene (k1), propylene (k2) and 2-methyl-but-1-ene (k3) to gaseous diisobutylaluminium hydride produced in situ from AliBu3 have been measured in the temperature range 104–169° in the presence of an excess of equimolar olefin mixtures. The following temperature dependences of the relative rate constants have been obtained: Two compensating factors determine the rate of addition of olefins to AlH and AlC bonds: (a) the steric effect, reflected in the differences in the preexponential factors and (b) the polar effects, reflected in differences in the activation energies. In the addition of olefins to R2AlH bonds in contrast to R2AlC bonds, the steric effect (a) does not always overrule the opposing energy effect. At temperatures below 125° e.g., isobutene adds slightly faster to HAliBu2, than ethylene. These results are in perfect agreement with expectations based on a reaction mechanism involving a tight asymmetric quadrupolar 4-centre transition state similar to that postulated earlier for the addition of olefins to AlC bonds.
A human single-chain Fv intrabody blocks aberrant cellular effects of overexpressed α-synuclein

alpha-Synuclein (alpha-syn) has been identified as the major component of Lewy bodies that characterize neurodegenerative synucleinopathies, including Parkinson's disease. Overexpression of alpha-syn, and prefibrillar alpha-syn oligomers, has been implicated in these pathologies; therefore, prevention of prefibril accumulation, and inhibition of other aberrant effects of overexpressed alpha-syn, could provide novel treatments. Here, we have selected a human single-chan Fv (scFv) antibody, D10, that binds human monomeric wild-type alpha-syn. We demonstrate, by retargeting assays and coimmunoprecipitation, that the D10 scFv is a specific and efficient intracellular antibody (intrabody). By transfecting the D10 scFv gene into an HEK 293 cell line that overexpresses wild-type alpha-syn, we show that the D10 intrabody stabilizes detergent-soluble monomeric alpha-syn and inhibits the formation of detergent-insoluble high-molecular-weight alpha-syn species. In addition, the D10 intrabody ameliorates the decreased cell adhesion that characterizes the alpha-syn-overexpressing cells. Given the important role of alpha-syn pathology, and the facility with which intrabodies can be further engineered in vitro, anti-alpha-syn intrabodies may represent novel molecular therapeutics for synucleinopathies, with implications for other neurodegenerative disorders caused by misfolded accumulated proteins.
Haplotype Inference in Complex Pedigrees

Despite the desirable information contained in complex pedigree datasets, analysis methods struggle to efficiently process these datasets. The attractiveness of pedigree data sets is their power for detecting rare variants, particularly in comparison with studies of unrelated individuals. In addition, rather than assuming individuals in a study are unrelated, knowledge of their relationships can avoid spurious results due to confounding population structure effects. However, a major challenge for the applicability of pedigree methods is the ability handle complex pedigrees, having multiple founding lineages, inbreeding, and half-sibling relationships. A key ingredient in association studies is imputation and inference of haplotypes from genotype data. Existing haplotype inference methods either do not efficiently scales to complex pedigrees or their accuracy is limited. In this paper, we present algorithms for efficient haplotype inference and imputation in complex pedigrees. Our method, PhyloPed, leverages the perfect phylogeny model, resulting in an efficient method with high accuracy. In addition, PhyloPed effectively combines the founder haplotype information from different lineages and is immune to inaccuracies in prior information about the founders.
Measurement of ammonia in human breath with a liquid-film conductivity sensor.

Measurement of breath NH3 is of interest in clinical applications as it can be used as a measure of kidney/liver functions as well as halitosis. We have developed a liquid-film conductivity sensor to measure NH3 in human breath. A film of dilute H2SO4 is formed on the top of two metal capillary tubes placed in a concentric annular arrangement. The tube exterior has been specially treated to render it hydrophilic. As breath passes over the sensor tip, the film collects NH3 and the solution conductivity (measured by the concentric capillaries functioning as electrodes) decreases accordingly. This initial rate of conductivity decrease was determined to be the best metric (most rapid and least dependent on breath pCO2) for ammonia, relative to time to attain complete neutralization (conductivity minimum) or the final rate of conductivity increase as more ammonia dissolves after neutralization. The absorbing solution composition was optimized so that CO2 does not interfere. Both dynamic measurement using mask ...
Exploring the Impact of Financial Incentives on Stereotype Threat: Evidence from a Pilot Study

Motivated in part by large and persistent gender gaps in labor market outcomes (e.g., Claudia Goldin 1994; Joseph G. Altonji and Rebecca M. Blank 1998), a large body of experimental research has been devoted to understanding gender differences in behavior and responses to stimuli. An influential finding in experimental psychology is the presence of stereotype threat: making gender salient induces large gender gaps in performance on math tests (Steven J. Spencer, Claude M. Steele, and Diane M. Quinn 1999). For instance, when Spencer et al. (1999) informed subjects that women tended to underperform men on the math test they were about to take, women’s test scores dropped by 50 percent or more compared to a similar math test in which subjects were not informed of previous gender differences. In this latter treatment, men and women perform similarly. Stereotype threat research typically is carried out in the absence of financial rewards for performance. In this paper, we report the results of a pilot experimental study examining gender differences
Baroreceptor response to modeled aortic pressure

The authors have developed, using pressure data from rat, a hemodynamic model of the left ventricle and systemic arteries, which produces realistic representations of aortic pressure. These model-generated pressures are applied to a previously-developed model of a rat aortic baroreceptor (BR) (K.D. Alfrey, Master's thesis, Rice Univ., 1997) in order to predict the response of individual BR fibers with varying threshold characteristics. The authors find that the majority of fibers respond to normal physiological pressure inputs by producing a bursting pattern of firing. It has been demonstrated previously that such patterns are preferentially propagated by the mNTS, the brain center most involved with processing afferent BR information (J.H. Schild et al., 1995).
Disruption of base pairing between the 5′ splice site and the 5′ end of U1 snRNA is required for spliceosome assembly

A short RNA oligonucleotide comprising the 5' splice site consensus sequence (5'SS RNA) is sufficient to bind U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle (snRNP) or to induce the association of U2 snRNP and U4-U5-U6 triple snRNP. Analysis of the requirements of these interactions demonstrates that the 5'SS RNA is recognized independently by at least two different elements during spliceosome assembly: the 5' end of U1 snRNA and a component(s) of the U2-U4-U5-U6 snRNP complex. Since stable 5'SS RNA-U1 snRNA base pairing prevents interaction of the 5'SS RNA with U2-U4-U5-U6 snRNP complex, we conclude that disruption of the initial base pairing between the 5'SS RNA and the 5' end of U1 snRNA is required for subsequent spliceosome assembly.
Technological Innovation and Integrated University Research Centers: Coping with Management Complexities

ABSTRACTAlthough universities have developed a proficiency in basic research, they must expand their capabilities in applied research and technological innovation to be effective resources in meeting the needs of today's competitive global economy. Integrated university labs and research centers are advocated as the best means to accomplish this objective. Some lessons in corporate technology management can also be applied at universities. This paper outlines productivity, management, motivational, structural, and planning factors that must be addressed to make university labs and research centers major contributors to technological growth.
Habitat selection and ecological speciation in Galápagos warbler finches (Certhidea olivacea and Certhidea fusca)

We investigated phylogeographic divergence among populations of Galapagos warbler finches. Their broad distribution, lack of phenotypic differentiation and low levels of genetic divergence make warbler finches an appropriate model to study speciation in allopatry. A positive relationship between genetic and geographical distances is expected for island taxa. Warbler finches actually showed a negative isolation by distance relationship, causing us to reject the hypothesis of distance‐limited dispersal. An alternative hypothesis, that dispersal is limited by habitat similarity, was supported. We found a positive correlation between genetic distances and differences in maximum elevation among islands, which is an indicator of ecological similarity. MtDNA sequence variation revealed monophyletic support for two distinct species. Certhidea olivacea have recently dispersed among larger central islands, while some Certhidea fusca have recently dispersed to small islands at opposite ends of the archipelago. We conclude that females have chosen to breed on islands with habitats similar to their natal environment. Habitat selection is implicated as an important component of speciation of warbler finches, which is the earliest known divergence of the adaptive radiation of Darwin's finches. These results suggest that small populations can harbour cryptic but biologically meaningful variation that may affect longer term evolutionary processes.
Correction for Gain Variation in Microchannel Plate Intensified Multichannel Detectors

Microchannel plate image intensifier tubes read out by a linear photodiode array are becoming increasingly popular for the detection of weak sources of optical emission in the range 200 to 900 nm. Examples include fluorescence, Raman, plasma emission, and time-resolved spectroscopy. In many cases the spectroscopist may be looking for weak lines in the presence of a large continuum black body or fluorescence background. In such cases weak lines may be lost in the baseline noise due to channel-to-channel gain variation in the micro-channel plate image intensifier tube. The following is a technique for normalizing the intensifier gain and correcting spectra for gain variation.
Process integration in CASE environments

Research in CASE environments has focused on two kinds of integration: tool and object. A higher level of integration, process integration, which represents development activities explicitly in a software process model to guide and coordinate development and to integrate tools and objects, is proposed. Process integration uses software process models (SPMs) a process driver, a tool set, and interfaces for both developers and managers to form the backbone of a process-driven CASE environment. The developer's interface, a working environment that lets developers enact an SPM, and the manager's interface which gives managers and analysts the tools to define, monitor, and control the SPMs that developers are working on concurrently are discussed. The Softman environment experiment, an implementation of process-driven CASE environments with existing CASE environments, is reviewed. >
Components of the "central" blood volume in the dog.

The indicator-dilution method was used in the dog in an attempt to define the proportion of the "central" blood volume contained in the lung vessels. When injections were made into the pulmonary artery with sampling from the femoral artery only half or even less of the calculated blood volume could be accounted for by the lungs. When a venous injection site was used, the proportion in the lungs was reduced to a third or less. Thus when peripheral sites are used for the inscription of indicator-dilution curves few deductions can be made about either the actual volume or even relative changes in the volume of blood in the lungs.
Fatigue resistance during a voluntary performance task is associated with lower levels of mobility in cerebral palsy.

Abstract Moreau NG, Li L, Geaghan JP, Damiano DL. Fatigue resistance during a voluntary performance task is associated with lower levels of mobility in cerebral palsy. Objectives To investigate muscle fatigue of the knee flexors and extensors in people with cerebral palsy (CP) compared with those without motor disability during performance of a voluntary fatigue protocol and to investigate the relationship with functional mobility. Design A case-control study. Setting A biomechanics laboratory. Participants Ambulatory subjects with CP (n=18; mean age, 17.5y) in Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels I, II, and III and a comparison group of age-matched subjects (n=16) without motor disability (mean age, 16.6y). Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures The voluntary muscle fatigue protocol consisted of concentric knee flexion and extension at 60° a second for 35 repetitions on an isokinetic dynamometer. Peak torque for each repetition was normalized by the maximum peak torque value. Muscle fatigue was calculated as the rate of decline in normalized peak torque across all repetitions, represented by the slope of the linear regression. Self-selected and fast gait velocities were measured as well as the Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument (PODCI). Results Greater fatigability (slope) was observed in the comparison group for both knee flexors and extensors than in the group with CP. Within CP, lower knee extensor fatigue (slope) was associated with lower functioning GMFCS levels and lower levels of activity and participation as measured by the PODCI transfers and basic mobility. Conclusions Even after adjusting for maximum peak torque, the knee flexors and extensors of participants with CP were observed to be less fatigable than age-matched peers without motor disability. The lower rate of muscle fatigue was also associated with lower functional mobility in CP. These results may be related to strength or activation differences and/or muscle property alterations. Future investigations are warranted.
Viscoelastic‐Elastic Composites: III, Bead Seal

The viscoelastic analysis of bead seals is compared with experimental results. Good agreement is demonstrated for cooling, heating, and isothermal holds. Different setting temperatures, Tsz and Tso, are shown to pertain to the axial and radial stresses, respectively. Simple formulas are presented with which the change of setting temperature with stiffness ratio, n, can be predicted. The Hull-Burger equations with Ts=Ts(n) incorporated are shown to describe adequately the variation of stresses with the glass-to-metal diameter ratio in a bead seal.
Inflammation and neurodegenerative diseases

The decline in mental fitness associated with Alzheimer disease is accompanied by physical changes in the brain, including the development of characteristic plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, but the pathogenesis of those changes is not clear. Recent work suggests that the activation of microglia in response to injury, illness, aging, or other causes begins a cascade of events that can best be characterized as an inflammatory process. This cascade is mediated at first by the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin 1, which is overexpressed by the activated microglia. Through various pathways, interleukin 1 causes neuronal death, which activates more microglia, which in turn release more interleukin 1 in a self-sustaining and self-amplifying fashion. Over a period of years, this slow, smoldering inflammation in the brain destroys sufficient neurons to cause the clinical signs of Alzheimer disease.
The ACGME Residency Review Committee for Diagnostic Radiology: a resident's perspective.

he mission of the ACGME is to improve the uality of health care in the United States by nsuring and improving the quality of gradute medical education experiences for physiians in training. The ACGME establishes ational standards for graduate medical eduation by which it approves and continually ssesses educational programs under its aegis. t uses the most effective methods available to valuate the quality of graduate medical eduation programs. It strives to improve evaluaion methods and processes that are valid, fair, pen and ethical. In carrying out these activties, the ACGME is responsive to change and nnovation in education and current practice, romotes the use of effective measurement ools to assess resident competency and enourages educational improvement.
A phase‐variable mechanism controlling the Campylobacter jejuni FlgR response regulator influences commensalism

Summary Phase variation of genes in bacteria enables phenotypic alteration to modulate interactions within a host as conditions change. To promote commensalism in animals and disease in humans, Campylobacter jejuni produces a flagellar organelle for motility. In addition to tight transcriptional regulation of flagellar genes, C. jejuni also controls flagellar biosynthesis by phase variation. In this study, an unusual phasevariable mechanism controlling production of FlgR, the response regulator of the FlgSR two-component system required for transcription of s 54 -dependent
Isolation and characterization of the Drosophila ubiquilin ortholog dUbqln: in vivo interaction with early-onset Alzheimer disease genes

UBQLN1 variants have been associated with increased risk for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We produced transgenic Drosophila models that either silence (by RNAi) or overexpress the Drosophila ortholog of human UBQLN1, dUbqln. Silencing of dUbqln in the central nervous system led to age-dependent neurodegeneration and shortened lifespan. Silencing of dUbqln in the wing led to wing vein loss that could be partially rescued by mutant rhomboid (rho), a known component of epidermal growth factor receptor signaling pathway. Conversely, overexpression of dUbqln promoted ecotopic wing veins. Overexpression of dUbqln in the eye rescued a small, rough eye phenotype induced by overexpression of Drosophila presenilin (dPsn), and also rescuing dPsn-induced malformations in bristles. In contrast, RNAi silencing of dUbqln enhanced the retinal degenerative defect induced by overexpression of dPsn. Finally, co-overexpression of dUbqln and the human amyloid precursor protein (APP) in the eye significantly reduced the levels of full-length APP and its C-terminal fragment. Collectively, these data support in vivo functional interaction between UBQLN1 and the AD-associated genes, presenilin and APP, and provide further clues regarding the potential role of UBQLN1 in AD pathogenesis.
Renal Transplantation in a Child With Burkitt's Lymphoma

An 11-year-old child who was given radiation to the abdomen for Burkitt's lymphoma of the cecum had irreversible renal failure requiring hemodialysis. Because renal transplantation is associated with a greater risk of lymphoma (35 times) even in patients without prior history of cancer, it was feared that the risk of recurrence of lymphoma was considerably greater in this child. However, a cadaver renal transplant given after one year of hemodialysis has functioned exceedingly well for more than five years. There has been no recurrence of the tumor, and the patient is fully rehabilitated and is a normal healthy teenager in all respects. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a successful renal transplant in a patient with preexisting Burkitt's lymphoma. ( Arch Intern Med 140:278-279, 1980)
Macroscopic and histopathologic analysis of human knee menisci in aging and osteoarthritis

Summary Objective Meniscus lesions following trauma or associated with osteoarthritis (OA) have been described, yet meniscus aging has not been systematically analyzed. The objectives of this study were to (1) establish standardized protocols for representative macroscopic and microscopic analysis, (2) improve existing scoring systems, and (3) apply these techniques to a large number of human menisci. Design Medial and lateral menisci from 107 human knees were obtained and cut in two different planes (triangle/cross section and transverse/horizontal section as well) in three separate locations (middle portion, anterior and posterior horns). All sections included vascular and avascular regions and were graded for (1) surface integrity, (2) cellularity, (3) matrix/fiber organization and collagen alignment, and (4) Safranin-O staining intensity. The cartilage in all knee compartments was also scored. Results The new macroscopic and microscopic grading systems showed high inter-reader and intra-reader intraclass correlation coefficients. The major age-related changes in menisci in joints with no or minimal OA included increased Safranin-O staining intensity, decreased cell density, the appearance of acellular zones, and evidence of mucoid degeneration with some loss of collagen fiber organization. The earliest meniscus changes occurred predominantly along the inner rim. Menisci from OA joints showed severe fibrocartilaginous separation of the matrix, extensive fraying, tears and calcification. Abnormal cell arrangements included decreased cellularity, diffuse hypercellularity along with cellular hypertrophy and abnormal cell clusters. In general, the anterior horns of both medial and lateral menisci were less affected by age and OA. Conclusions New standardized protocols and new validated grading systems allowed us to conduct a more systematic evaluation of changes in aging and OA menisci at a macroscopic and microscopic level. Several meniscus abnormalities appear to be specific to aging in the absence of significant OA. With aging the meniscal surface can be intact but abnormal matrix organization and cellularity were observed within the meniscal substance. The increased Safranin-O staining appears to represent a shift from fibroblastic to chondrocytic phenotype during aging and early degeneration.
Percutaneous placement and management of the Denver shunt for portal hypertensive ascites.

OBJECTIVE. Many patients with cirrhotic effusions in the peritoneal and pleural spaces lead a difficult existence. In addition to their decreased mobility and physical discomfort, they spend hours in the hospital or an outpatient facility undergoing peritoneal and pleural drainage. Liver transplantation is the ultimate solution for those with cirrhotic effusions refractory to medical management; however, most are on a long waiting list, forcing them to undergo a year or more of percutaneous centesis. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts offer relief to those with cirrhotic ascites but at the cost of accelerated hepatic failure and hepatic encephalopathy. This article will review the development of the peritoneovenous and pleurovenous shunt, discuss reasons for its loss of favor, and suggest its current role in the armamentarium of the interventional radiologist. CONCLUSION. Peritoneovenous and pleurovenous shunt creation is a procedure that has the potential to significantly improve the quality ...
Nature of [Ca2+]i transients during ventricular fibrillation and quinidine treatment in perfused rat hearts

We studied intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) and the electrocardiographic signals during pacing-induced ventricular fibrillation (VF) and quinidine treatment (0.4 mg/min) using surface fluorometry in indo 1-acetoxymethyl ester (AM)-loaded perfused rat hearts. [Ca2+]i was evaluated as the indo 1 fluorescence ratio (F400/F510) and expressed as a percentage of the control amplitude of F400/F510 transients. F400/F510 increased to approximately 250% during 2- (n = 14) or 20-min (n = 9) VF. Quinidine significantly decreased F400/F510 by 60% after 2-min VF; however, this effect was blunted after 20-min VF. After 2-min VF, F400/F510 and left ventricular pressure recovered almost to the control level. However, recovery of F400/F510 and ventricular function was poor after 20-min VF. The relationship between [Ca2+]i and the electrocardiogram (ECG) during VF was evaluated by power spectrum analysis of F400/F510 and ECG signals. During VF (25 +/- 3 Hz) with high irregularity, there were no clear [Ca2+]i transients (n = 110). When the cardiac rhythm (22 +/- 3 Hz) was regular, including ventricular tachycardia, there were recognizable [Ca2+]i signals with dominant frequencies that were the same (n = 2), one-half (n = 12), or one-third (n = 1) of the ECG frequencies. The highest frequency of the [Ca2+]i transients was 19 Hz. During quinidine treatment, the VF rate decreased significantly, and clear [Ca2+]i transients were noted in all records responding to every one or two ECG signals. The conclusions were the following: 1) [Ca2+]i responds to electrical signals rapidly (up to 19 Hz) during VF. This fast [Ca2+]i response is a probable cause of high [Ca2+]i during VF. 2) Quinidine decreased [Ca2+]i after 2-min VF possibly in part by slowing the VF and [Ca2+]i transients rates. 3) 20-min VF caused [Ca2+]i overload and poor functional recovery after defibrillation.
Interactive Image Segmentation Using Elastic Interpolation

Elastic body splines (EBS) belong to a family of splines introduced for biomedical image registration. EBS models the elastic deformation of a homogeneous isotropic elastic body subjected to external forces. The task of interactive image segmentation is framed as a semi-supervised interpolation where the basis functions are learned using the user provided seed points to model and predict the labels for the unlabeled pixels. Seed points are sparse compared to other methods that may require scribbles and regions. The spline for interpolating labels is the EBS which we compare to our previous work using Gaussian Elastic Body splines (GEBS) [1] for the task of interactive image segmentation. Experimental results show that the EBS is about 14 percent better, in terms of accuracy, than GEBS and significantly better than random walk and graph cut based segmentation. EBS is also 2.5 times faster than GEBS.
The crystal structure of UO2Cl2(OH2)(MeCN)2·2MeCN

The crystal structure of UO2Cl2(OH2)(MeCN)2·2MeCN has been determined at 123 K. The crystal is orthorhombic, space group Pnma, witha=14.891(8),b=6.733(6),c=15.931(9) A, andDcalc=2.18 g cm−3 forZ=4. The finalR value for 951 unique observed [F0≥5σ(F0)] reflections is 0.064. The U atom is seven-coordinate, pentagonal bipyramidal. The two axial positions are occupied by the uranyl oxygen atoms. Within the equatorial plane lie two acetonitrile groups, two chlorine atoms and a water molecule, the latter positioned between the two chlorine atoms. All of the atoms except the uranyl oxygen atoms lie in crystallographic mirror planes. The water molecule is hydrogen bonded to the two uncoordinated solvent molecules. Several close contacts between the solvent methyl groups and chlorine atoms suggest weak C-H acidic interactions of the type C-H⋯Cl.
Carbon monoxide releasing molecule-2 enhances coagulation and diminishes fibrinolytic vulnerability in plasma exposed to heparin or argatroban.

BACKGROUND: It has been recently demonstrated that a carbon monoxide releasing molecule (tricarbonyldichlororuthenium [II] dimer; CORM-2) enhances coagulation and attenuates vulnerability to fibrinolysis in normal and hemophiliac human plasma. We tested the hypothesis that plasma anticoagulated with heparin or argatroban would demonstrate improved coagulation and decreased fibrinolytic vulnerability after exposure to CORM-2. METHODS: Normal plasma was anticoagulated with 0 to 0.1 U/mL unfractionated heparin or 0 to 1 μg/mL argatroban. Samples were subsequently exposed to 0 or 100 μM CORM-2 and activated with tissue factor. Additional samples with the same anticoagulant and CORM-2 exposure schema were incubated with 100 U/mL tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) to assess fibrinolytic vulnerability. Thrombelastographic data were collected until either clot strength stabilized or clot lysis occurred as appropriate. RESULTS: In the absence of tPA, CORM-2 significantly increased the velocity of clot growth in heparin (75%) and argatroban-exposed (40%) samples. Clot strength was also significantly increased in heparin (69%) and argatroban-exposed (72%) samples. In the presence of tPA, CORM-2-treated samples had even greater (94%-731%) increases in velocity of growth and strength after exposure to either anticoagulant and significantly increased clot lysis time (103%-200%). CONCLUSIONS: CORM-2 exposure resulted in faster-growing, stronger, longer-lived thrombi after anticoagulation with heparin or argatroban. Additional preclinical investigation is warranted to determine whether CORM-2 administration will be useful in attenuating bleeding complications associated with thromboprophylaxis.