cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Perineural (Tarlov) cysts mimicking adnexal masses: a report of three cases

Perineural (Tarlov) cysts are usually incidental findings during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed for low back pain. However, in a tertiary women's hospital, they may present as incidental findings on gynecological ultrasound imaging. Approximately 40 000 pelvic scans are performed annually in our department. Tarlov cysts were identified in three women between August 2007 and September 2008. In two patients (Cases 1 and 3), these cysts were initially misdiagnosed as hydrosalpinges on ultrasound examination, the latter having a differential diagnosis of an ovarian cyst. Two patients (Cases 1 and 2) were symptomatic, although Case 2 had symptoms that could not entirely be accounted for by the location of the cyst. Although asymptomatic, Case 3 underwent laparoscopy with a view to salpingectomy/cystectomy. In these patients, confirmation of Tarlov cysts was subsequently made on either computed tomography (CT) or MRI. All three patients were managed conservatively. Here we describe their clinical presentation, the appearance of the cysts on ultrasound imaging and on CT or MRI, and their eventual outcomes. Copyright © 2009 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Refined Model of Viscous Coupling Between Filiform Hairs in the Cricket Cercal System

A model for the viscous interaction between filiform hairs on the cricket cercus was previously introduced by Cummins et al. [1]. This model simulates hair movement for a small group of arbitrarily positioned hairs stimulated by axial air flow along the cercus by calculating the perturbed boundary layer surrounding the hairs. In order to solve the perturbation calculation, Cummins et al. [1] introduce a simplification. However, this approximation introduces non-negligible error into the boundary conditions of the problem. A method of iterative refinement is presented in this paper that results in a more accurate approximation to the perturbed boundary layer. The changes to the predictions given in the previous paper are discussed.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Abstract 4787: GILT regulates antigen processing and CD4+ T cell recognition of melanoma cells

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC Metastatic melanoma is one of the deadliest of skin cancers and is increasing in incidence. Since current treatment regimens are ineffective at curing the disease, novel approaches, such as immunotherapy, for treating this malignant disease are being explored to elicit long-lasting antitumor immunity. We have previously shown that the majority of metastatic melanoma cells express HLA class II molecules, but lack Gamma-Interferon-inducible Lysosomal Thiol reductase (GILT), which differentially regulates HLA class II-restricted antigen processing and presentation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanisms by which GILT insertion influences CD4+ T cells recognition of human melanoma cells via the HLA class II pathway. Biochemical analysis of melanoma cells showed that GILT expression upregulated the HLA class II components such as HLA-DM and invariant chain while class II protein expression remained unchanged. An increase in endolysosomal cathepsin protein expression and activity was also observed in melanoma cells transfected with GILT. Data obtained from biochemical and functional assays suggest that GILT insertion may help melanoma cells generate more antigenic determinants that are readily accessible to class II loading and presentation to CD4+ T cells. Taken together, these data suggest that GILT-inserted melanoma cells could be used in the design of whole cell vaccines for the treatment of metastatic melanoma. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4787.
Methionine hydroxy analog treatment of bovine ketosis: effects on circulating metabolites and interrelationships

Abstract Six cases of clinical ketosis were treated with methionine hydroxy analog (MHA) orally in 40-g doses once daily for 7 days. Slow elevations of blood glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol ester, free cholesterol, and phospholipid and slow depressions of acetate were noted over the 21-day examination. Acetoacetate plus acetone, β -hydroxybutyrate, and nonesterified fatty acids were slowly falling but never returned to normal. Milk production responded slowly and failed to return to pretreatment yields in most cases. The results do not warrant recommendation of the use of MHA as the sole treatment for ketosis due to the relatively slow responses as compared to glucose, propylene glycol, or glucocorticoid treatments. Whether a combination of MHA administration with other treatments may be beneficial due to possible hepatic lipotropic effects or whether it would be beneficial for prevention was not tested.
Thy1.2 YFP-16 Transgenic Mouse Labels a Subset of Large-Diameter Sensory Neurons that Lack TRPV1 Expression

The Thy1.2 YFP-16 mouse expresses yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) in specific subsets of peripheral and central neurons. The original characterization of this model suggested that YFP was expressed in all sensory neurons, and this model has been subsequently used to study sensory nerve structure and function. Here, we have characterized the expression of YFP in the sensory ganglia (DRG, trigeminal and vagal) of the Thy1.2 YFP-16 mouse, using biochemical, functional and anatomical analyses. Despite previous reports, we found that YFP was only expressed in approximately half of DRG and trigeminal neurons and less than 10% of vagal neurons. YFP-expression was only found in medium and large-diameter neurons that expressed neurofilament but not TRPV1. YFP-expressing neurons failed to respond to selective agonists for TRPV1, P2X2/3 and TRPM8 channels in Ca2+ imaging assays. Confocal analysis of glabrous skin, hairy skin of the back and ear and skeletal muscle indicated that YFP was expressed in some peripheral terminals with structures consistent with their presumed non-nociceptive nature. In summary, the Thy1.2 YFP-16 mouse expresses robust YFP expression in only a subset of sensory neurons. But this mouse model is not suitable for the study of nociceptive nerves or the function of such nerves in pain and neuropathies.
Tris(triazolyl)borate ligands of intermediate steric bulk for the synthesis of biomimetic structures with hydrogen bonding and solubility in hydrophilic solvents.

Tris(triazolyl)borate ligands (Ttz) of intermediate steric bulk were synthesized to investigate their potential for hydrogen bonding and improved solubility in hydrophilic solvents as applied to biomimetic chemistry. The crystal structure of 3-phenyl-5-methyl-1,2,4-triazole (HtzPh,Me) revealed hydrogen bonding and π stacking interactions. The new ligand salt, potassium tris(3-phenyl-5-methyl-1,2,4-triazolyl)borate (KTtzPh,Me) was synthesized as the first example of a Ttz ligand of intermediate steric bulk. Metathesis between KTtzPh,Me and NaCl followed by recrystallization produced [NaTtzPh,Me] · 6CH3OH in which the geometry around the sodium is octahedral with an unusual N3O3 donor set; this structure also shows that a hydrogen bonding network is formed by methanol molecules and triazole nitrogens. (TtzPh,Me)ZnCl was synthesized and characterized crystallographically as [(TtzPh,Me)ZnCl] · 0.5CH3OH in which the zinc is tetrahedral and the triazole rings are within hydrogen bonding distance of CH3OH. All of these new compounds are methanol soluble to varying degrees and HtzPh,Me and KTtzPh,Me are soluble in methanol/water mixtures.
Step-Index single-mode waveguide design study

To utilize fully the capabilities of single-mode waveguides, it is necessary to optimize total system loss. In addition to intrinsic fiber loss (Rayleigh scattering and absorption loss), the two main loss components in single-mode waveguide systems are splice and microbend loss. An understanding of the loss dependence upon variations of fiber design is essential for single-mode fiber optimization tor various applications. With this goal in mind, a systematic experimental study of these loss components has been performed over a wide range of key step-index design parameters: core diameter and fractional index difference. This has led to a rational telecommunication design which takes into account not only the effect of external perturbations but also fiber manufacturing variations.
Korea's macroeconomic prospects and policy issues for the next decade

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate Korea's macroeconomic prospects and major policy issues for the next decade. After reviewing the intial conditions, the report examines growth strategies, and prospects for growth. Then it discusses external borrowing options and the role of monetary and fiscal policy in the next decade. From the review of Korea's macroeconomic prospects for the next decade the report concludes that although the external environment will not be as favorable as in the 1983-86 period, still the Korean economy will be resilient enough to achieve a 6-7 percent annual growth rate for the next decade. Areas where new policy actions will be required are in the management of monetary policy and the provision of social welfare. Although there is an indication of some increase in the protectionist threat against Korea's exports, the report maintains that the pressures for higher consumption and investment and the less favorable external environment will result in smaller trade surpluses in the years ahead.
A study of estimator densities and performance under misspecification

Abstract The exact density functions of the OLS and 2SLS estimators when exogenous variables are wrongly excluded from the equation being estimated, where two endogenous variables appear in the equation of interest, are presented and tabulated. Misspecification does not appear to alter the relative concentrations of OLS and 2SLS — OLS is always more concentrated — but does change the relative biases with the result that under misspecification OLS may indeed be the superior estimation technique. In addition, misspecification can substantially increase the concentration of both estimators, as well as reducing their biases, therebyyielding an apparent improvement in estimator performance.
Using exercise to fight fatigue in breast cancer survivors: challenges and future directions

Over half of breast cancer survivors suffer fatigue during cancer treatment, which negatively affects quality of life and may persist for years [1]. Exercise, among other nonpharmacologic therapies...
Newton observer design in the absence of an exact discrete-time model

We study the Newton observer design, developed by P. E. Moraal and J. W. Grizzle (1995), when the exact discrete-time model is not known analytically. We eliminate the dependence on this exact model by introducing continuous-time filters that produce the numerical value of the exact model. We then implement the Newton method with finite-difference and secant approximations for the Jacobian. The proposed method offers flexibility to be implemented with nonuniform, or event-driven sampling.
What lies at the interface of regenerative medicine and developmental biology

At a recent Keystone Symposium on ‘Developmental Biology and Tissue Engineering’, new findings in areas ranging from stem cell differentiation, embryonic pattern formation and organ regeneration to engineered cell microenvironments, synthetic biomaterials and artificial tissue fabrication were described. Although these new advances were exciting, this symposium clarified that biologists and engineers often view the challenge of tissue formation from different, and sometimes conflicting, perspectives. These dichotomies raise questions regarding the definition of regenerative medicine, but offer the promise of exciting new interdisciplinary approaches to tissue and organ regeneration, if effective alliances can be established.
Efectos del ausentismo en la productividad de los maestros

Resumen. Los autores estudian los efectos del ausentismo de los maestros en la instruccion, basandose en datos de tres cursos academicos que abarcan a 285 maestros y a 8.631 alumnos —la mayoria pertenecientes a familias modestas— de un distrito escolar urbano de los Estados Unidos. Comprueban la hipotesis de que las ausencias de los maestros son en gran parte injustificadas y reducen el aprovechamiento de los estudiantes. Dado que los suplentes suelen tener menos preparacion, la ensenanza pierde intensidad y coherencia: diez dias de ausencia del maestro se traducen en un descenso de las notas de los alumnos en matematicas de alrededor del 3,3 por ciento de la desviacion estandar. Para algunos estudiantes, ello supone bajar a una catego-ria de nivel academico inferior, lo cual reduce su voluntad de salir adelante.
Evaluation of the Developmental Toxicity of Methacrylamide and N,N′-Methylenebisacrylamide in Swiss Mice

Timed-pregnant CD-1 outbred albino Swiss mice received either methacrylamide (MAC; 0, 60, 120, or 180 mg/kg/day) or N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide (BAC; 0, 3, 10, or 30 mg/kg/day) p.o. in distilled water on gestational days (GD) 6 through 17. Maternal clinical status was monitored daily. At termination (GD 17), confirmed-pregnant females (27-30 per group, MAC; 24-25 per group, BAC) were evaluated for clinical status and gestational outcome; live fetuses were examined for external, visceral, and skeletal malformations. For MAC, no treatment-related maternal mortality was observed. Maternal body weight on GD 17, maternal weight gain during treatment and gestation, and corrected maternal weight gain were reduced at the high dose. Relative maternal food and water intake was not adversely affected; neurotoxicity was not observed. Relative maternal liver weight was increased at > or = 120 mg/kg/day; gravid uterine weight was decreased at 180 mg/kg/day. The maternal no-observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) was 60 mg/kg/day. The NOAEL for developmental toxicity was also 60 mg/kg/day. At > or = 120 mg/kg/day, mean fetal body weight was reduced. At 180 mg/kg/day, increased postimplantation death per litter was observed. Morphological development was not affected. The maternal NOAEL for BAC was 10 mg/kg/day. At 30 mg/kg/day, decreased maternal body weight on GD 17, maternal body weight change during treatment and gestation, corrected maternal body weight, and gravid uterine weight were observed. Relative maternal liver weight increased at 30 mg/kg/day. The developmental NOAEL was 3 mg/kg/day BAC. Mean fetal body weight was reduced at 30 mg/kg/day. At > or = 10 mg/kg/day, an increased incidence of fetal variations (extra rib) was observed, although fetal malformation rate was unaffected. MAC and BAC were not teratogenic to Swiss mice at the doses tested. BAC was more potent than MAC in causing adverse maternal and developmental effects.
Leaf expansion in Phaseolus: transient auxin-induced growth increase

Control of leaf expansion by auxin is not well understood. Evidence from short term exogenous applications and from treatment of excised tissues suggests auxin positively influences growth. Manipulations of endogenous leaf auxin content, however, suggests that, long-term, auxin suppresses leaf expansion. This study attempts to clarify the growth effects of auxin on unifoliate (primary) leaves of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) by reexamining the response to auxin treatment of both excised leaf strips and attached leaves. Leaf strips, incubated in culture conditions that promoted steady elongation for up to 48 h, treated with 10 μM NAA responded with an initial surge of elongation growth complete within 10 hours followed by insensitivity. A range of NAA concentrations from 0.1 μM to 300 μM induced increased strip elongation after 24 hours and 48 hours. Increased elongation and epinastic curvature of leaf strips was found specific to active auxins. Expanding attached unifoliates treated once with aqueous auxin α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) at 1.0 mM showed both an initial surge in growth lasting 4-6 hours followed by growth inhibition sustained at least as long as 24 hours post treatment. Auxin-induced inhibition of leaf expansion was associated with smaller epidermal cell area. Together the results suggest increasing leaf auxin first increases growth then slows growth through inhibition of cell expansion. Excised leaf strips, retain only the initial increased growth response to auxin and not the subsequent growth inhibition, either as a consequence of wounding or of isolation from the plant.
Optimal Processing Policies for an e-Commerce Web Server

The explosive growth in online shopping has provided online retailers impressive opportunities to extend revenue and profit. However, retailers may lose considerable online business from slow response times at electronic shopping sites. Although increasing server capacity may improve response time, the resources needed to do so are clearly not free. In this study, we propose a scheme that can improve a server's performance with no more than its current capacity. This scheme is based on priority processing, where the priority assigned to a customer depends on the potential revenue that is likely to be generated from the customer. The results for single-period analysis show that the benefit from priority processing increases as the server becomes more heavily utilized. We have also modeled a multiperiod version of the problem, where the demand in a period depends on the quality of service (QoS) that buyers receive in the previous period. In the multiperiod problem, both the server capacity and the processing policy in each period are determined optimally. Here, it may be optimal for the retailer to sacrifice profit and increase QoS in initial periods in order to increase demand (and revenue) in later periods. Thus, the processing policy of the server evolves from an emphasis on QoS in initial periods, to one on profit in subsequent periods.
Detection of B. subtilis spores via hybrid CARS

We report the first observation of endospores via a new technique, hybrid CARS, which identifies the endospore marker molecules by simultaneous measurement of several vibrational modes. The scheme holds promise for remote/stand-of detection applications.
Virtual colonoscopy for colorectal polyp detection

Summary CT colonography is a new technique that uses volumetric CT data combined with advanced imaging software to create 2D and 3D images of the colon. Our technique uses both 3D images that simulate the endoluminal perspective of the colonoscope as well as axial and reformatted 2D images. 2D and 3D images are complementary and when combined offer the most robust performance for the detection of colorectal polyps. Currently, CT examinations are performed in the fully cleansed and air-inflated colon using a slice thickness = 5 mm, reconstruction interval = 3 mm, pitch = 1.3. mA = 70. The sensitivity for the detection of polyps superior or equal to 1 cm is 75 %, and the specificity 90 %. The most commonly encountered problems include retained colonie fluid and stool, suboptimally distended colonic segments, and long interpretation times. Many of these problems can be solved by using both supine and prone imaging. It is expected that the performance of this examination will improve and a new era of colorectal screening will begin.
Optimizing Semantic Coherence in Topic Models

Latent variable models have the potential to add value to large document collections by discovering interpretable, low-dimensional subspaces. In order for people to use such models, however, they must trust them. Unfortunately, typical dimensionality reduction methods for text, such as latent Dirichlet allocation, often produce low-dimensional subspaces (topics) that are obviously flawed to human domain experts. The contributions of this paper are threefold: (1) An analysis of the ways in which topics can be flawed; (2) an automated evaluation metric for identifying such topics that does not rely on human annotators or reference collections outside the training data; (3) a novel statistical topic model based on this metric that significantly improves topic quality in a large-scale document collection from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Conifer species recognition: An exploratory analysis of in situ hyperspectral data

In situ hyperspectral data measured above sunlit and shaded sides of canopies using a high spectral resolution radiometer were analyzed for identification of six conifer tree species. An artificial neural network algorithm was assessed for the identification purpose. Linear discrimination analysis was compared with the neural network algorithm. The hyperspectral with the neural data were further processed to smoothed reflectance and first derivative spectra and were separately used in tree species identification. Tree species recognition with data collected front six study sites was tested in seven experiments. The average accuracy of species recognition was obtained at every site. The overall performance of the neural network algorithm was better than that of linear discriminant analysis for species recognition when the same number of training samples and test samples were used. The discriminant analysis produced better accuracy than neural network at one site where many samples (10) were taken from six individual trees. Use of the average spectra of all samples for a particular tree species in training may not result in higher accuracy than use of individual spectral samples in training. Use of sunlit samples alone resulted in an overall accuracy of greater than 91%. The effects of site background including illuminating conditions on tree species specra were large. Neural networks are sensitive to subtle spectral details and can be trained to separate samples front the same species at different sites. Our experiments indicate that the discriminating power of visible bands is stronger than that of near-infrared bands. Higher recognition accuracies can be obtained in the blue to green or the red-edge spectral region as compared with four other spectral regions. A smaller set of selected bands can generate more accurate identification than all spectral bands.
Constructing and reconstructing gender: Reference group effects and women's demand for entrepreneurial capital

Abstract Women's acquisition of entrepreneurial capital may be restricted by demand side identity constraints as women who pursue non-traditional entrepreneurial livelihoods may stand at odds with activity-regulating social norms. By explicitly incorporating social norms into a model of women's decision-making, this paper provides an analytical framework that helps understand the social factors that limit women's demand for capital. The model shows that because of these social effects, a credit program that relaxes supply constraints may reconstruct gender norms and have a social multiplier effect, shifting an entire group or community to a higher-income equilibrium. Using a social effects econometric framework, the paper then confirms the existence of reference group effects on women's demand for entrepreneurial capital in rural Paraguay. Identification of these as endogenous social effects relies on the separate measurement of each woman's social reference group, allowing the use of village-level fixed effects to sweep away confounding contextual influences. Results are robust to the use of a restricted reference group comprised solely of ‘inherited’ family members, and analysis of demand by male partners reveals that the social effect is gendered and hence likely to reflect social norm effects rather than endogenous social learning or exogenous social effects.
Many-Core Token-Based Adaptive Power Gating

Among power dissipation components, leakage power has become more dominant with each successive technology node. Leakage energy waste can be reduced by power gating. In this paper, we extend token-based adaptive power gating (TAP), a technique to power gate an actively executing core during memory accesses, to many-core Chip Multi-Processors (CMPs). TAP works by tracking every system memory request and its estimated time of arrival so that a core may power gate itself without performance or energy loss. Previous work on TAP [11] shows several benefits compared to earlier state-of-the-art techniques [10], including zero performance hit and 2.58 times average energy savings for out-of-order cores. We show that TAP can adapt to increasing memory contention by increasing power-gated time by 3.69 times compared to a low memory-pressure case. We also scale TAP to many-core architectures with a distributed wake-up controller that is capable of supporting staggered wake-ups and able to power gate each core for 99.07% of the time, achieved by a non-scalable centralized scheme.
Separation of Incident and Emitted Radiations in a Solar Furnace by Means of Rotating Sectors

An image of the sun was formed on a sample by means of a paraboloidal mirror. The sample was heated to a desired temperature adjusting the effective aperture of the mirror. A cylindrical shutter traveling along the optical axis of the mirror was used. The temperature of the sample was measured with an optical pyrometer. Radiation incident on the sample was shut off while measuring its brightness temperature by means of sectors rotating at about 2500 revolutions per minute. One sector of special shape was located near the sample and another sector near the telescopic system. Calibration and use of the sectors for solar furnaces equipped with mirrors of maximum apertures 60 in. and 120 inches and focal lengths 26 in. and 34 in. are discussed.
Precision Teng-Man Electro-Optic Measurements Using Highly Near-Infrared Transparent Electrodes

A series of highly near-infrared (NIR) transparent In2O3 thin films has been grown by ion-assisted deposition (IAD) at room temperature, and their optical and electrical properties characterized. The NIR transparency and the plasma edge can be engineered through control of the film deposition conditions. The as-deposited In2O3 thin films were employed as transparent electrodes for direct electro-optic (EO) characterization measurements via the Teng-Man technique. Using LiNbO3 as the standard, the relationship between the degree of electrode NIR transparency and Teng-Man EO measurement accuracy was evaluated. It is found that In2O3 electrodes can be tailored to be highly NIR transparent, thus providing more accurate Teng-Man EO coefficient quantification than ITO (tin-doped indium oxide). In addition, the EO coefficients of stilbazolium-based self-assembled superlattice (SAS) thin films were directly determined for the first time by the Teng-Man technique using an optimized In2O3 electrode. EO coefficients r33 of 42.2, 13.1, and 6.4 pm/V are obtained at 633, 1064, and 1310 nm, respectively.
Incorporating software reliability engineering into the test process for an extensive GUI-based network management system

This paper describes the process used to adapt Software Reliability Engineering (SRE) to a GUI-based network management system. This system is used for the operations and maintenance of GSM mobile telephone networks. The objectives were to formally quantify customer usage of the software in the field, to increase test effectiveness, and to establish an accurate pre-release software quality indicator. It reports on a novel use of capture and playback tools to automatically generate operational profiles on a GUI system, and on the process model developed to adapt and implement SRE. It also describes the application, with minimal overhead, of the operational profiles to the existing test process and practical lessons learned as a result of this experience. Initial results show that it is not necessary to wait until the end of the SRE implementation process to see benefit This paper demonstrates that significant test effectiveness improvements can be seen during the implementation of SRE.
Increased Expression Of Gsα Enhances Activation Of The Adenylyl Cyclase Signal Transduction Cascade

Expression of the stimulatory G protein, G(S)alpha, can vary over a 3-fold range in human tissues and in rodent central nervous system. In fact, the offspring of alcoholics have higher levels of G(S)alpha expression in certain tissues compared with the offspring of nonalcoholics. The aim of this research was to test the hypothesis that a causal relationship exists between the level of expression of G(S)alpha and induction of the adenylyl cyclase (AC) cascade. The methodology employed transient transfection of HEK 293 cells with a cDNA for the 52-kDa form of G(S)alpha under regulation by inducible metallothionein promoters. Transfectants were exposed to varying concentrations (0-125 microM) of zinc sulfate that produced a 3-fold range of membrane G(S)alpha expression. The range of G(S)alpha expression produced was found to mimic a physiologically relevant spectrum of G(S)alpha expression in membranes derived from human tissues and rat brain. It was observed that induction of G(S)alpha expression increased constitutive as well as stimulated cAMP accumulation. Moreover, induction of G(S)alpha expression increased events distal to the accumulation of cAMP including the phosphorylation of the transcription factor, cAMP response element binding protein and transcriptional activation of cAMP-dependent reporter genes. In summary, these studies show that the amount of G(S)alpha expression has a marked impact on the level of activity of the AC cascade from the membrane through to the nucleus. It is hypothesized that individuals who differ in G(S)alpha expression may also differ in the expression of certain cAMP-dependent genes.
Detection of Borrelia Burgdorferi and Borrelia Lonestari in Birds in Tennessee

Lyme disease in the United States is caused by the bacterial spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi s.s. (Johnson, Schmid, Hyde, Steigerwalt, and Brenner), which is transmitted by tick vectors Ixodes scapularis (Say) and I. pacificus (Cooley and Kohls). Borrelia lonestari, transmitted by the tick Amblyomma americanum L., may be associated with a related syndrome, southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI). Borrelia lonestari sequences, reported primarily in the southeastern states, have also been detected in ticks in northern states. It has been suggested that migratory birds may have a role in the spread of Lyme disease spirochetes. This study evaluated both migratory waterfowl and nonmigratory wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris, Eastern wild turkey) for B. burgdorferi and B. lonestari DNA sequences. A total of 389 avian blood samples (163 migratory birds representing six species, 125 wild turkeys harvested in habitats shared with migratory birds, 101 wild turkeys residing more distant from migratory flyways) were extracted, amplified, and probed to determine Borrelia presence and species identity. Ninety-one samples were positive for Borrelia spp. Among migratory birds and turkeys collected near migration routes, B. burgdorferi predominated. Among turkeys residing further away from flyways, detection of B. lonestari was more common. All A. americanum ticks collected from these areas were negative for Borrelia DNA; no I. scapularis were found. To our knowledge, this represents the first documentation of B. lonestari among any birds.
Effect of bradykinin on membrane properties of guinea pig bronchial parasympathetic ganglion neurons

The effect of bradykinin on membrane properties of parasympathetic ganglion neurons in isolated guinea pig bronchial tissue was studied using intracellular recording techniques. Bradykinin (1–100 n...
ENHANCEMENT OF THYROID ALLOGRAFT SURVIVAL FOLLOWING ORGAN CULTURE : II. INDUCTION OF RECIPIENT PERIPHERAL TOLERANCE

Hyperbaric oxygen culture (HOC) prolongs endocrine graft survival and decreases major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I surface expression. If graft prolongation were the result of passenger cell inactivation and decreased class I expression, then simultaneous transplantation of both a nontreated and a HOC-treated graft should result in rejection of the nontreated graft and acceptance of the HOC-treated graft. Simultaneous transplant of a nontreated and a HOC-treated thyroid allograft beneath the kidney capsule of recipient mice resulted in prolonged survival of both grafts in three strain combinations differing at class I (K(K), D(d), D(b)). In vitro analysis of the recipient splenic population revealed the presence of primed donor-specific cytotoxic T cells. These results suggest that recipient tolerance was not because of anergy or clonal deletion. Splenectomy at the time of transplant, revealed that both graft prolongation and the induction of recipient tolerance were dependent on the spleen. Finally, analysis of graft infiltrating cells reveals the presence of CD8+ cells but no CD4+ cells in tolerant recipients, whereas graft infiltrating cells from rejecting recipients contained both populations. The results suggest that active peripheral tolerance can be generated following transplantation of a HOC-treated allograft and that tolerance results from redirection of the recipients immune response.
Matrix Remodeling in Pulmonary Fibrosis and Emphysema

Pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema are chronic lung diseases characterized by a progressive decline in lung function, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. A hallmark of these diseases is recurrent or persistent alveolar epithelial injury, typically caused by common environmental exposures such as cigarette smoke. We propose that critical determinants of the outcome of the injury-repair processes that result in fibrosis versus emphysema are mesenchymal cell fate and associated extracellular matrix dynamics. In this review, we explore the concept that regulation of mesenchymal cells under the influence of soluble factors, in particular transforming growth factor-β1, and the extracellular matrix determine the divergent tissue remodeling responses seen in pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema.
A new species of Eupenicillium from soil.

described Lophodermium species require only 10 min; on the other hand, at least 20 min are needed in the case of R. salicinum (FIG. 2), because here the apothecia are larger, their tissues more massive and compact. (8) Remove from dry ice; quickly pry off the coverslip with a razor blade; dehydrate for a few seconds in 100% ethanol (contained in a petri dish); blot off excess ethanol; add Euparol mounting medium and apply a fresh coverslip.
Fragility and extractable collagen in the lathyritic chick embryo. An assay for lathyrogenic agents.

SummaryA quantitative assay for lathyrogenic agents utilizing induced fragility and extractability of collagen from bones of the chick embryo is reported. Both parameters are dosage dependent and parallel each other. The method has merits of ease, rapidity, reproducibility, and single dose requirement. Fifteen compounds consisting of 5 known lathyrogens and a number of analogues were assayed. Iproniazid phosphate had no enhancing effect on lathyrogenic activity. No correlation between dose and extractable hexosamine and tyrosine were found.
Long wavelength perfect fluidity from short distance jet transport in quark-gluon plasmas

We build a new phenomenological framework that bridges the long wavelength bulk viscous transport properties of the strongly-coupled quark-gluon plasma (sQGP) and short distance hard jet transport properties in the QGP. The full nonperturbative chromo-electric (E) and chromo-magnetic (M) structure of the near “perfect fluid” like sQGP in the critical transition region are integrated into a semi-Quark-Gluon-Monopole Plasma (sQGMP) model lattice-compatibly and implemented into the new CUJET3.0 jet quenching framework. All observables computed from CUJET3.0 are found to be consistent with available data at RHIC and LHC simultaneously. A quantitative connection between the shear viscosity and jet transport parameter is rigorously established within this framework. We deduce the T = 160 600 MeV dependence of the QGP’s = s: its near vanishing value in the near Tc regime is determined by the composition of E and M charges, it increases as T rises, and its high T limit is fixed by color screening scales.
Intelligent Forecasting Using Dead Reckoning With Dynamic Errors

A method for integrating, processing, and analyzing sensing data from vehicle-mounted sensors for intelligent forecasting and decision-making is introduced. This dead reckoning with dynamic errors (DRWDEs) is for a large-scale integration of distributed resources and sensing data intervehicle collision avoidance system. This sensor fusion algorithm is introduced to predict the future trajectory of a vehicle. Current systems that predict a vehicle’s future trajectory, necessary in a network of collision avoidance systems, tend to have a lot of errors when the vehicles are moving in a nonstraight path. Our system has been designed with the objective of improving the estimations during curves. To evaluate this system, our research uses a Garmin 16HVS GPS sensor, an AutoEnginuity OBDII ScanTool, and a Crossbow three-axis accelerometer. Using Kalman filters (KFs), a dynamic noise covariance matrix merged together with an interacting multiple models (IMMs) system, our DRWDE produces the future position estimation of where the vehicle will be 3 s later in time. The ability to handle the change in noise, depending on unavailable sensor measurements, permits a flexibility to use any type of sensor and still have the system run at the fastest frequency available. Compared with a more common KF implementation that runs at the rate of its slowest sensor (1 Hz in our setup), our experimental results showed that our DRWDE (running at 10 Hz) yielded more accurate predictions (25%–50% improvement) during abrupt changes in the heading of the vehicle.
Biomechanics of Lower Extremity of Football Players during Stop Jumping and Cutting Movement Related to Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury

Objective:The purposes of this study were to identify the differences in kinematics and kinetics of lower extremity of football male and female players between cutting and stop jump tasks,and between genders.In addition,the influences of football training on kinematics and kinetics of lower extremity in the two athletic tasks were evaluated.Method:College students regularly participating in football training and no training background of the general college students are recruited into study.Their biomechanical data of lower extremity during stop jumping and cutting movement were collected and analyzed.Results and conclusion:Significant differences were found in kinematic and kinetic between genders,tasks,and populations.Compared to male football players,female football players had significantly smaller knee flexion angle and shorter distance between center of pressure and ankle joint center.Football players had significantly higher ground reaction forces and knee moment in the cutting task than in the stop jump task.These results indicate that poor landing techniques may be responsible to the elevated risk for ACL injury in female football players in comparison to their male counterpart,and that increased ground reaction forces due to increased movement speed may be responsible for the elevated risk for ACL injury in football players in comparison to ordinary populations.
ON PERIODIC SOLUTIONS FOR SEVERAL KINDS OF SECOND ORDER LINEAR DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS WITH PERIODIC COEFFICIENTS

In this paper the problems on periodic solutions for several kinds of second order differential equation with periodic coefficients are investigated. We obtain that these equations (i.e. equations ( 1 ) , (4 ) , (5 ) ( 6 ) , and (7), (8).) possess the necessary conditions or sufficient conditins of periodic solutions
Distinct CD55 Isoform Synthesis and Inhibition of Complement-Dependent Cytolysis by Hepatitis C Virus

CD55/DAF, one of the regulators of complement activation, is known to limit excess complement activation on the host cell surface by accelerating the decay of C3 convertase. We reported previously that hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection or virus core protein expression upregulates CD55 expression. CD55 associates with HCV particles, potentially protecting HCV from lysis in circulation. An increase in CD55 on the surface of HCV-infected cells may inhibit complement-mediated cell killing. In this study, we show that Abs against cancer cell surface proteins induce complement-dependent cytolysis or Ab-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity of immortalized human hepatocytes in the presence of CD55-blocking Ab. CD55 has a secreted isoform (sCD55) that is generated by alternative splicing. We observed that sCD55 is induced in HCV-infected or HCV replicon-harboring cells, as well as in liver biopsy samples from chronically HCV-infected patients. Conditioned medium from HCV-infected hepatoma cells (Huh7.5 cells) or immortalized human hepatocytes inhibited C3 convertase activity and complement-dependent cytolysis of sheep blood erythrocytes. Chronically HCV-infected patient sera inhibited C3 convertase activity, further implicating HCV-specific impairment of complement function in infected humans. CD55-blocking Ab inhibited erythrocyte lysis by conditioned medium, suggesting that CD55/sCD55 impairs convertase activity. Together, our data show that HCV infection induces sCD55 expression in HCV-infected cell culture-conditioned medium and inhibits C3 convertase activity. This may have implications for modulating complement-mediated immune function in the microenvironment and on HCV-harboring cells.
High strain rate testing of natural fiber composites

Abstract: The constitutive behavior of composites of polymer resins reinforced by various natural fibers and containing microcellular voids is considered. Tensile and compressive tests are conducted at strain rates up to 2500/s to study the rate dependence and energy dissipation of the various material formulations. It is found that, in compression, the natural fiber composites with microcellular voids show reduced rate hardening of yield stress and possess enhanced energy dissipation, but these benefits are diminished in tension. In some cases of solid natural fiber composites, the fibers themselves play a role in reducing rate dependence.
Reduced Resident Work Hours in Urology: The History and Impact of Duty Hour Restrictions

Abstract Introduction The ACGME first mandated duty hour restrictions for resident physicians in 2003, setting a limit of 80 hours per week. While the goals of this and later reforms were to improve patient care and safety, the outcomes have been mixed. In this review we report on the history of duty hour regulations and how these changes have impacted resident and patient outcomes. Methods A literature search was performed, and articles discussing surgical training, resident duty hours, resident wellness and patient outcomes were reviewed. Results After implementation of duty hour restrictions in 2003, the Harvard Work Hours Health and Safety Group published 3 hallmark studies that suggested duty hour restrictions were associated with improved outcomes. A recently published systematic review reported mixed results from the growing body of research. While 71% of the reviewed studies reported improvement in resident wellness, only 4% illustrated an improvement in resident education, 19% reported improved patient safety outcomes and 13% demonstrated improved patient morbidity. Conclusions Resident duty hour restrictions were based on a body of evidence illustrating that fatigue and sleeplessness negatively impact decision making, resident wellness and patient care. While initial outcomes suggested that these regulations resulted in better resident and patient outcomes, more recent evidence suggests otherwise. There is very little urology specific evidence addressing these matters.
Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 amplification limited to the circulation does not protect mice from development of diabetic nephropathy

Blockers of the renin-angiotensin system are effective in the treatment of experimental and clinical diabetic nephropathy. An approach different from blocking the formation or action of angiotensin II (1-8) that could also be effective involves fostering its degradation. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a monocarboxypeptidase that cleaves angiotensin II (1-8) to form angiotensin (1-7). Therefore, we examined the renal effects of murine recombinant ACE2 in mice with streptozotocin-induced diabetic nephropathy as well as that of amplification of circulating ACE2 using minicircle DNA delivery prior to induction of experimental diabetes. This delivery resulted in a long-term sustained and profound increase in serum ACE2 activity and enhanced ability to metabolize an acute angiotensin II (1-8) load. In mice with streptozotocin-induced diabetes pretreated with minicircle ACE2, ACE2 protein in plasma increased markedly and this was associated with a more than 100-fold increase in serum ACE2 activity. However, minicircle ACE2 did not result in changes in urinary ACE2 activity as compared to untreated diabetic mice. In both diabetic groups, glomerular filtration rate increased significantly and to the same extent as compared to non-diabetic controls. Albuminuria, glomerular mesangial expansion, glomerular cellularity, and glomerular size were all increased to a similar extent in minicircle ACE2-treated and untreated diabetic mice, as compared to non-diabetic controls. Recombinant mouse ACE2 given for 4 weeks by intraperitoneal daily injections in mice with streptozotocin-induced diabetic nephropathy also failed to improve albuminuria or kidney pathology. Thus, a profound augmentation of ACE2 confined to the circulation failed to ameliorate the glomerular lesions and hyperfiltration characteristic of early diabetic nephropathy. These findings emphasize the importance of targeting the kidney rather than the circulatory renin angiotensin system to combat diabetic nephropathy.
Swallowing Exercises in Head and Neck Cancer

Radiation therapy is a principal treatment strategy for head and neck cancer (HNCA) and is associated with acute, chronic, and late-onset dysphagia. With the rising incidence of oropharyngeal squam...
A reconstructed discontinuous Galerkin method for the compressible Navier-Stokes equations on three-dimensional hybrid grids

Abstract A reconstructed discontinuous Galerkin (rDG(P1P2)) method, originally introduced for the compressible Euler equations, is developed for the solution of the compressible Navier–Stokes equations on 3D hybrid grids. In this method, a piecewise quadratic polynomial solution is obtained from the underlying piecewise linear DG solution using a hierarchical Weighted Essentially Non-Oscillatory (WENO) reconstruction. The reconstructed quadratic polynomial solution is then used for the computation of the inviscid fluxes and the viscous fluxes using the second formulation of Bassi and Reay (Bassi–Rebay II). The developed rDG(P1P2) method is used to compute a variety of flow problems to assess its accuracy, efficiency, and robustness. The numerical results demonstrate that the rDG(P1P2) method is able to achieve the designed third-order of accuracy at a cost slightly higher than its underlying second-order DG method, outperform the third order DG method in terms of both computing costs and storage requirements, and obtain reliable and accurate solutions to the direct numerical simulation (DNS) of compressible turbulent flows.
The ‘Deconversion’ of Arthur Koestler: A Study in Cognitive Dissonance

This article examines how the journalist and novelist Arthur Koestler (1905–1983), Hungarian-born Jew and a convert to Communism, became disillusioned by his messianic beliefs and decided to exit, resigning from the party in 1938. In order to review Koestler’s narrative, based mostly on his autobiography, the research behind this article uses psychological theories on the consequences of prophetic failure and the influence of cognitive dissonance on disillusionment and the abandonment of a belief system. Reflecting on the biography of Koestler, the research can offer some understanding of circumstances that can push a prophetic believer to renounce his faith.