cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Proximal muscle weakness.

A 38-year-old woman gave a 1-year history of difficulties climbing stairs and walking long distances, needing a wheelchair at times. More recently, she had also experienced weakness of her arms with difficulties doing her hair or lifting light weights. She reported shortness of breath on mild exertion and had lost 12 pounds in weight because of muscle loss. She had no muscle pain, episodes of dark urine, muscle twitching, visual disturbances, hearing loss, speech difficulties, dysphagia, numbness or tingling, bladder or bowel difficulties, fevers, rash or joint pain. She had met all milestones at a normal age and had normal development. Her medical history was unremarkable. She had not taken any lipid-lowering agents and there was no illicit drug use or toxic exposure. There was no relevant family history and no consanguinity. On examination, she showed bilateral and symmetric scapular winging. There was no percussion or action myotonia or paramyotonia, and no fasciculations. Her muscle bulk and tone were normal. Cranial nerves were all normal. Manual muscle strength testing showed the following Medical Research Council (MRC) grades (right/left where applicable): neck flexion 4–, neck extension 5, shoulder abduction 4/4, external rotation of elbow 4/4, elbow flexion 4/4, elbow extension 4+/4+, wrist flexion 5/5, wrist extension 5/5, finger flexion 5/5, finger extension 5/5, hip flexion 4/4, hip extension 3/3, hip abduction 3/3, knee extension 4+/4+, knee flexion 4/4, ankle dorsiflexion 5/5 and ankle plantar flexion 5/5. Deep tendon reflexes were 1+ at triceps, brachioradialis and ankles, and 2+ at biceps and knees bilaterally. She had a waddling gait. Plantar responses were flexor. Sensory and coordination exams were normal. This 38-year-old woman likely has a myopathy given the symmetrical pattern of proximal weakness involving legs and arms. The differential diagnosis includes an acquired (e.g., inflammatory or toxic myopathy) or genetic (e.g., muscular …
State-to-State and Investor-State Copyright Dispute Settlement

The starting point for an ALAI audience is easily the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, which owes its origin to the efforts of Victor Hugo and other members of the association. Article 33(1) of the Berne Convention, which was first introduced as Article 27bis at the Brussels Revision Conference in 1948, provides signatories with options to settle disputes through the International Court of Justice. Although this optional dispute settlement mechanism has existed for more than seven decades, no signatory to the Berne Convention has ever used it to resolve an international copyright dispute. Instead, multinational copyright industries and their supportive governments have turned to two alternative mechanisms: (1) state-to-state dispute settlement (SSDS), such as the WTO dispute settlement process; and (2) investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS). Commissioned for the ALAI Congress 2018 in Montreal, Canada, this chapter reviews the strengths and limitations of both SSDS and ISDS. The chapter focuses on multinational copyright dispute settlement.
Life Cycle and Lensing of a Macular Microcyst.

Introduction Microscopic details about retinal conditions can provide insight into pathological mechanisms, but these are ordinarily difficult to obtain in situ. We demonstrate how high-resolution imaging and optical modeling can be combined to reveal morphological features of a macular microcyst, offering insight into microcyst formation. Objective To use adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscopic (AOSLO) images to track a transient retinal microcyst and derive its 3-dimensional shape. Methods A series of AOSLO images were gathered before, during, and after a transient retinal microcyst developed in an otherwise normal healthy 26-year-old male subject. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) independently confirmed the location of the microcyst. Optical modeling was conducted to quantify the lensing effect of the optically uniform microcyst and to determine its 3-dimensional shape. Increment threshold sensitivity, targeted within and around the microcyst, was tested to see if cone photoreceptor function was affected. Results A transient microcyst appeared as a 50 µm diameter circle in AOSLO images, localized to the inner nuclear layer. Based on image distortion of the photoreceptor mosaic, optical modeling suggests that the microcyst had the shape of an aspherical lens, distinguishable from a spherical, cylindrical, or elliptical shape, indicative of an edematous expansion of laminar tissue. The microcyst spontaneously resolved about 30 days after first discovery. No changes to the photoreceptor mosaic ensued from the presence of the microcyst, and functional testing of the photoreceptors below the microcyst indicated no loss of light sensitivity. Conclusions Microcysts have been associated with numerous subtypes of optic nerve degeneration, including multiple sclerosis and various inherited neuropathies. This microcyst appeared in a healthy individual and resolved without intervention. Lensing effects can be used to determine microcyst shape, which cannot be resolved by OCT imaging, and to help infer etiology.
Identifying and characterizing dust point sources in the southwestern United States using remote sensing and GIS

Abstract Documenting geomorphology and land use/land cover associated with the aeolian dust sources is needed to build more robust models simulating wind erosion and dust emission. It is also important to set the base for future studies aiming to quantify the effect of anthropogenic land-use change on dust emission. In this research, dust point sources were detected in the Southern Great Plains and Chihuahuan Desert regions of the United States (U.S.) for 2001–2016, encompassing a period of extreme drought. Dust points were detected using overlay analysis of brightness temperature difference images of MODIS and MODIS true color images for the days where dust plumes were visible. This study aims to identify low emission surfaces as well as high emission surfaces in terms of geomorphology and land cover. A total of 1508 dust points were detected, where 1258 points are located in the Southern Great Plains, and 187 points are located in the Chihuahuan Desert. Point pattern analysis showed a significant cluster of these points in West Texas (Nearest Neighbor Ratio = 0.33, р
Effects of broiler genetic strain and dietary amino acid reduction on (part I) growth performance and internal organ development.

Abstract Genetic selection in broilers has resulted in improved growth performance, meat yield, and feed conversion efficiency. However, consumers have become increasingly concerned about modern broiler welfare that is related to their rapid growth rate, which may be alleviated by nutrient dilution. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary amino acid (AA) reduction on the growth performance and internal organ development of different genetic strains of broilers. A randomized completed block design with a factorial arrangement of 10 treatments (5 strains × 2 AA levels) was used. The 5 different strains of broilers were fed either a control diet, with digestible AA (lysine, total sulfur AA, and threonine) at the highest recommended levels for the 5 strains, or an AA-reduced diet, with the digestible AA being 20% lower than the control diet. Feed conversion ratio was increased by AA reduction in all 5 strains during day 0–14, 14–28, and 28–41 but was not affected from day 41–55. Body weight and feed intake responses to AA reduction varied in the different strains and ages of birds. Liver weight relative to BW on day 40, and weights of the duodenum and jejunum relative to BW on day 60 were increased by decreasing the dietary AA concentration. These results indicate that the birds had adjusted their organ growth and metabolism in response to increases in digestion, absorption, and utilization efficiency to accommodate a decrease in dietary AA content. Surprisingly, the cost of feed required to produce the same BW was decreased in 4 of 5 strains on both day 41 and 55, which was largely because of the lower price of the diets containing reduced AA levels and the later compensatory growth experienced by the birds fed AA-reduced diets. In the future, when dietary AA levels need to be adjusted to control growth rate and improve welfare status, the genetic strain, age of the birds, and targeted goals need to be taken into consideration.
MetNet: Computer-aided segmentation of brain metastases in post-contrast T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging

Abstract Purpose Brain metastases are manually contoured during stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) treatment planning, which is time-consuming, potentially challenging, and laborious. The purpose of this study was to develop and investigate a 2-stage deep learning (DL) approach (MetNet) for brain metastasis segmentation in pre-treatment magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Materials and methods We retrospectively analyzed postcontrast 3D T1-weighted spoiled gradient echo MRIs from 934 patients who underwent SRS between August 2009 and August 2018. Neuroradiologists manually identified brain metastases in the MRIs. The treating radiation oncologist or physicist contoured the brain metastases. We constructed a 2-stage DL ensemble consisting of detection and segmentation models to segment the brain metastases on the MRIs. We evaluated the performance of MetNet by computing sensitivity, positive predictive value (PPV), and Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) with respect to metastasis size, as well as free-response receiver operating characteristics. Results The 934 patients (mean [±standard deviation] age 59 ± 13 years, 474 women) were randomly split into 80% training and 20% testing groups (748:186). For patients with metastases 1–52 mm (n = 766), 648 (85%) were detected and segmented with a mean segmentation DSC of 81% ± 15%. Patient-averaged sensitivity was 88% ± 19%, PPV was 58% ± 25%, and DSC was 85% ± 13% with 3 ± 3 false positives (FPs) per patient. When considering only metastases ≥6 mm, patient-averaged sensitivity was 99% ± 5%, PPV was 67% ± 28%, and DSC was 87% ± 13% with 1 ± 2 FPs per patient. Conclusion MetNet can segment brain metastases across a broad range of metastasis sizes with high sensitivity, low FPs, and high segmentation accuracy in postcontrast T1-weighted MRI, potentially aiding treatment planning for SRS.
Abstract P470: Heterogeneity In Prevalence Of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors Among Hispanic Ethnic Groups: Evidence From The 2010-2018 National Health Interview Survey

Introduction: Persons of Hispanic origin are a growing share of the U.S. population but include diverse ethnic groups with unique cultures, lifestyles, exposures, and countries of origin. Hispanics...
Relationships between stigma-identity constructs and psychological health outcomes among adults who stutter

Abstract Purpose In the current study, stuttering was conceptualized as a concealable stigmatized identity (CSI). The purpose of this investigation was to determine if four specific stigma-identity constructs that contribute to variability in psychological distress among people in other CSI groups also contribute among adult who stutter (AWS). Method 505 AWS completed an online survey that included measures of four stigma-identity constructs in addition to general demographics and measures of self-rated stuttering severity, distress, and adverse impact of stuttering on quality of life. Hierarchical regression was performed to determine the extent that stigma-identity constructs explained variability in psychological health outcomes among AWS. Self-rated stuttering severity was investigated as a moderator in these relationships. Results The stigma-identity constructs accounted for a significant proportion of the variability in distress (∼25 %) and adverse impact of stuttering on quality of life (∼30 %) among AWS. Further, the constructs of salience, centrality, and concealment were positively predictive of distress and adverse impact of stuttering after controlling for demographics and neuroticism. Compared to the other predictor variables (self-rated stuttering severity, demographic characteristics, neuroticism, and the three other stigma-identity constructs), concealment was the strongest predictor of adverse impact of stuttering on quality of life. Finally, self-rated stuttering severity was a moderating variable. Conclusions The results from this study suggest that there are useful applications in conceptualizing stuttering as a type of CSI. Speech-language pathologists should be aware of the relationships that stigma has with psychological health outcomes among AWS and should consider the implications for intervention.
Mitochondrial Dynamics in SARS-COV2 Spike Protein Treated Human Microglia: Implications for Neuro-COVID.

Emerging clinical data from the current COVID-19 pandemic suggests that ~ 40% of COVID-19 patients develop neurological symptoms attributed to viral encephalitis while in COVID long haulers chronic neuro-inflammation and neuronal damage result in a syndrome described as Neuro-COVID. We hypothesize that SAR-COV2 induces mitochondrial dysfunction and activation of the mitochondrial-dependent intrinsic apoptotic pathway, resulting in microglial and neuronal apoptosis. The goal of our study was to determine the effect of SARS-COV2 on mitochondrial biogenesis and to monitor cell apoptosis in human microglia non-invasively in real time using Raman spectroscopy, providing a unique spatio-temporal information on mitochondrial function in live cells. We treated human microglia with SARS-COV2 spike protein and examined the levels of cytokines and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, determined the effect of SARS-COV2 on mitochondrial biogenesis and examined the changes in molecular composition of phospholipids. Our results show that SARS- COV2 spike protein increases the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and ROS production, increases apoptosis and increases the oxygen consumption rate (OCR) in microglial cells. Increases in OCR are indicative of increased ROS production and oxidative stress suggesting that SARS-COV2 induced cell death. Raman spectroscopy yielded significant differences in phospholipids such as Phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylserine (PS), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylcholine (PC), which account for ~ 80% of mitochondrial membrane lipids between SARS-COV2 treated and untreated microglial cells. These data provide important mechanistic insights into SARS-COV2 induced mitochondrial dysfunction which underlies neuropathology associated with Neuro-COVID.
Operator Form of Scattering Green’s Function and the Integral Equation for the Scattering Problem

So far, we have worked strictly in coordinate representation for the very limited problem of the scattering of a structureless point particle from another structureless point particle. To generalize to more complicated situations involving composite projectile and target particles, with the possibility of inelastic collision processes or rearrangement collisions, or even to iterate the Born approximation for the case of structureless point particles, it will be advantageous to recast both the scattering Green’s function and the scattering integral equation into operator form.
Using Cohort-Scheduling to Enhance Server Performance

A server application is commonly organized as a collection of concurrent threads, each of which executes the code necessary to process a request. This software architecture, which causes frequent control transfers between unrelated pieces of code, decreases instruction and data locality, and consequently reduces the effectiveness of hardware mechanisms such as caches, TLBs, and branch predictors. Numerous measurements demonstrate this effect in server applications, which often utilize only a fraction of a modern processor’s computational throughput. This paper addresses this problem through cohort scheduling, a new policy that increases code and data locality by batching the execution of similar operations arising in different server requests. Effective implementation of the policy relies on a new programming abstraction, staged computation, which replaces threads. The StagedServer library provides an efficient implementation of cohort scheduling and staged computation. Measurements of two server applications written with this library show that cohort scheduling can improve server throughput by as much as 20%, by reducing the processor cycles per instruction by 30% and L2 cache misses by 50%.
Guiding expeditions: the iterative, situated design of a learning environment for project-based science

In recent years, efforts to create learning environments that promote active engagement with science has led to a revival of interest in project-based pedagogy. The Learning Through Collaborative Visualization (CoVis) project based at Northwestern University brings this interest to high schools. CoVis includes a set of ideas and networked computer tools assembled by a group of university-based researchers, with the aid of high school teachers, and the support and funding of the National Science Foundation [Pea, 1993]. History has shown, however, that the creation of technologies and the ideas of academic researchers are inadequate to determine what happens in classrooms. Ultimately, teachers accomplish activity with their students daily in classrooms. Some critics might say that teachers do not accept ideas from the outside simply because they are stubborn or closedminded, but research has shown that teachers have good reasons for transforming outside ideas for their own classrooms. Above all, they are in a better position to understand the particular contexts in which they and their students are trying to work, and the individual personalities and needs of the students themselves.
A Brief, Telephone-Administered Food Frequency Questionnaire Can Be Useful for Surveillance of Dietary Fat Intakes

A 13-item questionnaire designed for quick telephone administration was evaluated for use in surveillance of fat intake in the United States. Study populations included 560 middle-aged and older adults from Beaver Dam, WI, 252 middle-aged and older women from Wisconsin, 73 young, low income Hispanic women from Chicago, IL, 52 older adults from Arizona and 135 younger adults from Augusta, GA. Correlations between fat scores and fat intakes measured by multiple food records or recalls or by more extensive food frequency questionnaires ranged from 0.33 to 0.60, similar to results from other published questionnaire validation studies. Correlations with percentage of energy from fat were lower (0.26 to 0.42), except for the Chicago population, for which there was no correlation (-0.02). There was no systematic variation in correlations among other subgroups defined by demographic and health-related characteristics, including race (black vs. white). Most, but not all, of the substantial differences in fat intakes among subgroups were identified by the questionnaire. The questionnaire will not capture small differences in intakes among groups and is inappropriate when the sample size is limited or for populations with diets substantially different from the typical U.S. diets, such as the Chicago population. However, with attention to its limitations, the questionnaire is useful for surveillance.
A Method for the Determination of Extracellular Space with 3H Inulin

A method for the extraction and quantitation of 3H inulin from tissues is described. This method does not require either combustion technics or time-consuming acid extraction procedures. Inulin is as soluble in the liquid scintillation medium as it is in water. Therefore, hot-water tissue extracts without further treatment were employed to quantitate 3H inulin. Nearly 100% recovery was obtained when different 3H inulin internal standards were added either to water or to tissue homogenates. The values obtained with this method for the extracellular space of different tissues of the rat agree with those reported in the literature.
A visual odometer for autonomous helicopter flight

This paper presents a visual odometer for autonomous helicopter flight. The odometer estimates helicopter position by visually locking on to and tracking ground objects. The paper describes the philosophy behind the odometer as well as its tracking algorithm and implementation. The paper concludes by presenting test flight data of the odometer's performance on-board indoor and outdoor prototype autonomous helicopters.
A Title IX Dialogue

Abstract Gender-segregated classes are still found in many schools. But as I told my former student-turned-physical education teacher, “Coed classes are one of the specific provisions mandated by Title IX, and teachers who ignore this are breaking the law.”
Behavioral imaging technology for modeling, analyzing, and visualizing social and communicative behavior

Computational sensing and modeling can play a key role in the measurement, analysis, and understanding of human behavior. We refer to this research area as Behavioral Imaging, by analogy to the medical imaging technologies that revolutionized internal medicine in the 20th century. We believe that a similar opportunity exists to create new capabilities for the quantitative understanding of behavior.
Rickettsiostasis in fertile eggs from use of antibiotic residues in poultry feeds.

ConclusionsThe introduction of antibiotic mash containing aureomycin and terramycin, into the diet of a flock of laying hens resulted in progressively increasing resistance of the eggs to rickettsial growth, the resistance becoming almost complete at the end of 3 weeks. Similar dietary factors had no appreciable effect on the growth of Influenza A virus in eggs. These results, with other data submitted, indicate that fertile eggs obtained from commercial hatcheries may, under present conditions, be unsatisfactory for controlled microbiological studies.
“Everyone Deserves Services No Matter What”: Defining Success in Harm-Reduction-Based Substance User Treatment

This article reports qualitative interview data from a study of participant-generated outcomes of two harm reduction programs in the United States. We address the question:"What does success in harm-reduction-based substance user treatment look like?" Providers in this study understood harm reduction to adhere to notions of "any positive change," client centeredness, and low-threshold services. Participants reported changes in demarginalization, engagement in the program, quality of life, social functioning, changes in substance use, and changes in future goals and plans. The nature of these changes is difficult to articulate within traditional notions of success (i.e., abstinence, program completion, etc.). We conclude that participants in harm reduction programs experience tangible positive changes but that legitimation of these changes calls for a reconceptualization of "outcomes" and "success" in the current context of substance user treatment and research.
Pure dysgerminoma of the ovary with elevated serum human chorionic gonadotropin: diagnostic and therapeutic considerations.

Abstract Pure ovarian dysgerminomas with associated elevation of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) are rare, and their optimum management is unclear. We report here a 24-year-old woman with stage III dysgerminoma of the ovaries, with bulky intrapelvic disease, paraaortic adenopathy, and elevated pre- and postsurgical serum β-hCG titers. Following administration of whole abdominal-pelvic and mediastinal irradiation therapy, the patient's adenopathy regressed, her serial β-hCG titers returned to normal, and she has remained free of disease for the past 30 months. Histopathological studies revealed a pure dysgerminoma with scattered giant cells which were negative for hCG by immunoperoxidase staining. The literature is reviewed with reference to the significance of elevated hCG levels, the presence of giant cells in association with dysgerminoma of the ovary, and therapeutic implications. Serial determinations of β-hCG titers may prove to be as valuable in the management of these patients as they are in patients with testicular tumors.
Seasonal patterns of juglone in soil beneath Juglans nigra (black walnut) and influence of J. nigra on understory vegetation

The allelopathic nature ofJ. nigra L. was investigated in several planted mixed hardwood stands located near Syracuse, New York. Concentrations of chloroform-extracted juglone from soil collected beneathJ. nigra was determined by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Soil juglone concentrations were corrected based on recovery of synthetic juglone added to soil. Soil juglone levels were high in the spring, decreased during the summer, and were high again in the fall. The quantification of juglone from soil by HPLC was found to be more accurate than by TLC. Regression analysis indicated that individual tree variation in soil juglone levels could not be explained by differences in soil moisture, pH, organic matter content, and texture. The results of juglone recovery experiments suggest that chloroform-extractable juglone does not persist in soil. Juglone degradation by microorganisms could only explain a portion of the juglone decline. Ordinations revealed that the herbaceous and woody vegetation beneathJ. nigra, in comparison to vegetation beneathAcer saccharum andQuercus rubra, is distinct in only one of the four stands studied. This vegetational difference did not appear to be a consequence of any strong allelopathic influences ofJ. nigra (Scheffe's method of contrast, chi-square analysis). The allelopathic nature of juglone under these field conditions is questionable.
Subcellular shifts in cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase and its calcium-dependent regulator in liver: Role of diabetes

Abstract The distribution of the low Km cAMP phosphodiesterase shifted from the particulate to the soluble fractions of isolated liver cells of streptozotocin diabetic rats. The content of calcium-dependent regulator of phosphodiesterase was significantly depressed in cells from diabetic rats. Hence, streptozotocin diabetes is associated with both a decrease in calcium-dependent regulator and phosphodiesterase activity as well as an apparent subcellular redistribution of these components. Redistribution of these components from the sites of physiological regulation probably play a major role in the distortion of cAMP metabolism observed during diabetes.
Learning counting functions with queries

Abstract We investigate the problem of learning disjunctions of counting functions, which are general cases of parity and modulo functions, with equivalence and membership queries. We prove that, for any prime number p, the class of disjunctions of integer-weighted counting functions with modulus p over the domain Zqn (or Zn) for any given integer q ⩾ 2 is polynomial time learnable using at most n + 1 equivalence queries, where the hypotheses issued by the learner are disjunctions of at most n counting functions with weights from Zp. In general, a counting function may have a composite modulus. We prove that, for any given integer q ⩾ 2, over the domain Z2n, the class of read-once disjunctions of Boolean-weighted counting functions with modulus q is polynomial-time learnable with only one equivalence query and O(nq) membership queries.
Current drug use and lack of HIV virologic suppression: point-of-care urine drug screen versus self-report

There have been inconsistent findings on the association between current drug use and HIV disease progression and virologic suppression. Drug use was often measured using self-report of historical use. Objective measurement of current drug use is preferred. In this cross-sectional study, we assessed drug use through Computer-Assisted Self Interviews (CASI) and point-of-care urine drug screen (UDS) among 225 HIV-infected patients, and evaluated the association between current drug use and virologic suppression. About half (54%) of participants had a positive UDS, with a lower self-reported rate by CASI (42%) (Kappa score = 0.59). By UDS, 36.0% were positive for marijuana, 25.8% for cocaine, 7.6% for opiates, and 2.2% for methamphetamine or amphetamine. Factors associated with virologic suppression (plasma HIV RNA <50 copies/mL) were Caucasian race (P = 0.03), higher CD4 count (P < 0.01), current use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) (P < 0.01), and a negative UDS (P < 0.01). Among 178 current ART users, a positive UDS remained significantly associated with lower likelihood of virologic suppression (P = 0.04). UDS had good agreement with CASI in detecting frequently used drugs such as marijuana and cocaine. UDS at routine clinic visits may provide “real-time” prognostic information to optimize management.
Risk of abnormal pregnancy outcome in carriers of balanced reciprocal translocations involving the Miller-Dieker syndrome (MDS) critical region in chromosome 17p13.3.

We studied the pedigrees of 14 families segregating a reciprocal translocation with one breakpoint in chromosome 17p13 and the other in the distal region of another autosome. All 14 were ascertained on the basis of an affected index case: 13 had Miller-Dieker syndrome (MDS) and one had dup(17p). In these 14 families, 38 balanced translocation carriers had 127 pregnancies, corrected for ascertainment bias by the exclusion of all index cases and carriers in the line of descent to the index cases. An abnormal phentotype, unbalanced chromosome constitution, or both, were found in 33 of 127 (26%) pregnancies: 15 of 127 (12%) had MDS and an unbalanced karyotype with del (17p); 9 of 127 (7%) had a less severe phenotype with dup(17p); and 9 were unstudied, although MDS with der(17) was usually suspected based on early death and multiple congenital anomalies. When unexplained pregnancy losses, including miscarriages and stillbirths, were excluded from the total, 33 of 99 (33%) pregnancies were phenotypically or genotypically abnormal. The overall risk of abnormal pregnancy outcome of 26% is in the upper range of the reported risk for unbalanced offspring of carrier parents assessed through liveborn aneuploid offspring [Gardner and Sutherland (1996), Oxford Univ. Press]. The risk increases to 33% when unexplained pregnancy losses are excluded from the total. These results are consistent with Daniel's model of risk based on the size of the unbalanced fragments [Daniel (1985) Clin Genet 28:216-224, Daniel et al. (1989) Am J Med Genet 31:14-53]. Pregnancy losses included 26 miscarriages (20%) and two stillbirths (2%) among the 127 pregnancies, similar to the respective population frequencies of 10-20% and 1%.
Model-Based Flaw Reconstruction and Flaw Parameter Estimation Using a Limited Set of Radiographic Projections

This paper presents an approach to the reconstruction and parameter estimation of flaw models in NDE radiography. The reconstruction of flaw models rather than the flaw distribution itself reduces the required number of projections as well as the complexity of the measurement system [1,2]. In this approach, crack-like flaws are modeled as piecewise linear curves, and volumetric flaws are modeled as ellipsoids. Our emphasis here is on a method for estimating the model parameters for crack-like flaws using a linear model with more than the minimal number of required projections. Extra projections reduce the effects of measurement errors and film noise. We also present the development of the volumetric flaw model and outline a method for its inversion.
Gain saturation of a picosecond dye laser amplifier chain

Abstract A three stage Nd:YAG pumped dye laser amplifier chain has been constructed using longitudinal pumping in all three stages. Contrary to common practice, longitudinal pumping is employed to provide high small signal gains (⪆ 10 5 in a single stage) with better beam homogeneity and easier alignment than transversely pumped systems. A simple mathematical model is described for the gain saturation of picosecond amplifiers which includes the effect of angular hole burning. Experimental results are in good agreement with the model. The theory represents a substantial improvement relative to sampler two level saturation models.
Insanity Plea: Relationship To Victim and Defendents

The results of this analogue study clearly indicate that subjects' attitudes toward defendants, as measured by the type of disposition selected are influenced by their relationship to either the victim or the defendant with the most liberal alternatives occurring when the defendant is a relative and the most harsh alternatives chose when the victim of the crime is a relative. Although the present study was concermed with the insanity plea, it seems probables that similar findings might also transpire when other controversial matters in the criminal justice system as investigated, such as probation, parole, and mandatory jail sentences for persons convicted of driving under the influence.
Discriminative stimulus effects of (−)-ephedrine in rats: analysis with catecholamine transporter and receptor ligands

Abstract A drug discrimination procedure was used to examine the neuropharmacology of (−)-ephedrine (5 mg/kg), a sympathomimetic amine found in a variety of dietary supplements. (−)-Ephedrine has caused concern because of its use as a precursor in the manufacture of street drugs (e.g. methamphetamine) and its potential for abuse and toxicity. In the present study, the catecholamine reuptake inhibitors mazindol and nomifensine, the norepinephrine (NE) reuptake inhibitor desipramine, and the dopamine D2-like (e.g. D2, D3 and D4) agonist quinpirole substituted for (−)-ephedrine (⩾80% (−)-ephedrine-lever responding). The NE reuptake inhibitor nisoxetine, the D1-like (e.g. D1 and D5) agonists (±)-SKF 38393 and SKF 82958, and the mixed D1-/D2-like agonist apomorphine occasioned intermediate levels of responding (50–79% (−)-ephedrine-lever responding). The (−)-ephedrine cue was antagonized by the D1-like antagonist SCH 23390 and the α1-adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin as well as the D2-like antagonists (−)-eticlopride and haloperidol, although only at doses that disrupted responding in some rats. The discriminative stimulus effects of a small dose of (−)-ephedrine (1.25 mg/kg) were enhanced by the α2-adrenoceptor antagonist idazoxan and to a lesser extent by the β-adrenoceptor antagonist (−)-propranolol. However, the α2-adrenoceptor agonist clonidine (0.04 mg/kg) did not attenuate the (−)-ephedrine stimulus. These results suggest that D1-, D2-like, and α1-adrenergic receptors mediate the discriminative stimulus effects of (−)-ephedrine. Substitution of desipramine for (−)-ephedrine and not for some other stimulants suggests that NE transmission is a prominent feature of the (−)-ephedrine discriminative stimulus, and that NE underlies therapeutic and abuse-related effects of (−)-ephedrine that diverge from those of other stimulants.
Low pressure MOCVD growth of InSb

Low pressure (200 Torr) metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) of InSb has been examined through variation of the Column III (TMIn) and Column V (TMSb or TESb) precursor partial pressures. The use of lower growth pressure significantly enhanced the range of allowable Column III and Column V partial pressures in which specular morphology InSb could be obtained without the formation of In droplets or Sb crystals. In addition, a 70% improvement in the average hole mobility was obtained, compared to InSb grown in the same reactor at atmospheric pressure. SIMS analysis revealed that Si at the substrate/epitaxial layer interface is an important impurity that may contribute to degradation of the mobility. Substitution of TESb for TMSb did not result in any improvement in the purity of the InSb.
High-dose methotrexate with or without rituximab in newly diagnosed primary CNS lymphoma

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of rituximab (R) when added to high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) in patients with newly diagnosed immunocompetent primary CNS lymphomas (PCNSLs). Methods Immunocompetent adults with newly diagnosed PCNSL treated at The Johns Hopkins Hospital between 1995 and 2012 were investigated. From 1995 to 2008, patients received HD-MTX monotherapy (8 g/m2 initially every 2 weeks and after complete response [CR] monthly to complete 12 months of therapy). From 2008 to 2012, patients received the same HD-MTX with rituximab (375 mg/m2) with each HD-MTX treatment. CR rates and median overall and progression-free survival were analyzed for each patient cohort in this single-institution, retrospective study. Results A total of 81 patients were identified: 54 received HD-MTX (median age 66 years) while 27 received HD-MTX/R (median age 65 years). CR rates were 36% in the HD-MTX cohort and 73% in the HD-MTX/R cohort (p = 0.0145). Median progression-free survival was 4.5 months in the HD-MTX cohort and 26.7 months in the HD-MTX/R cohort (p = 0.003). Median overall survival was 16.3 months in the HD-MTX cohort and has not yet been reached in the HD-MTX/R cohort (p = 0.01). Conclusions The addition of rituximab to HD-MTX appears to improve CR rates as well as overall and progression-free survival in patients with newly diagnosed PCNSL. Comparisons of long-term survival in the 2 cohorts await further maturation of the data. Classification of evidence This study provides Class III evidence that in immunocompetent patients with PCNSL, HD-MTX plus rituximab compared with HD-MTX alone improves CR and overall survival rates.
Poisson analysis of commuter flexibility in changing routes and departure times

This paper investigates the determinants of commuter flexibility in changing routes and departure times for the morning trip to work. A sample of commuters in a congested metropolitan area is used to estimate Poisson regressions of how often commuters change routes and departure times per month. The estimation results provide valuable insight into the effects of traffic system and socioeconomic conditions on the frequency of route and departure time changes. The results also have significant implications for real-time traffic information systems and future research on the route and departure time choice decision-making process.
Sodium intake markedly alters renal interstitial fluid adenosine

Adenosine is produced locally in the kidney. Accumulating data suggest that adenosine plays a role in regulating renal functions. Using a microdialysis technique, we monitored adenosine levels in cortical and medullary renal interstitial fluid and urine after 5 days of diets containing low (0.15%), normal (0.28%), and high (4.0%) sodium. Samples were collected from anesthetized rats (n=5 for each diet). Microdialysis fluid was infused at a rate of 1 microL/min. Adenosine, measured by radioimmunoassay, was stable in the dialysate. During normal sodium intake, renal interstitial fluid adenosine estimated from the concentration in dialysate leaving the cortex was 63 +/- 6 nmol/L, which was significantly lower than in dialysate leaving the medulla (157 +/- 6 nmol/L, P<.01). The concentration of interstitial medullary adenosine was estimated to be 190 nmol/L. In rats consuming a low sodium diet, renal cortical and medullary dialysate adenosine concentrations were significantly decreased (P<.01) by 62.6% and 64.9%, respectively. Rats consuming a high sodium diet had renal cortical and medullary dialysate adenosine concentrations that were increased 18.2- and 18.9-fold, respectively (P<.01), compared with levels in rats on a low sodium diet. Similar to changes in dialysate adenosine, urinary adenosine concentration decreased during low sodium intake (P<.01) and increased during high sodium intake (P<.01). The higher adenosine levels in renal medullary than in cortical interstitial fluid may reflect its major renal site of generation. The changes in renal adenosine generation with sodium intake may reflect renal energy expenditure.
Tolazoline and dopamine therapy in neonatal hypoxia and pulmonary vasospasm.

. Hegyi, T. and Hiatt, I. M. (Division of Perinatology, Monmouth Medical Center and Department of Pediatrics, the Hahnemann Medical College, Philadelphia, USA). Tolazoline and dopamine therapy in neonatal hypoxia and pulmonary vasospasm. Acta Paediatr Scand, 69: 101, 1980.—Severe hypoxia unresponsive to maximum ventilatory support occurs both in idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome and meconium aspiration. We recently encountered a 980 g female infant with respiratory distress syndrome and 3300 g female infant with meconium aspiration and persistant fetal circulation whose clinical course necessitated the use of tolazoline and dopamine to reduce pulmonary and to stabilize systemic pressures. The infant with respiratory distress syndrome responded with a PaO2 increase of 2.7 kPa while the infant with persistant fetal circulation and meconium aspiration showed a 51.6 kPa rise. Combined pharmacologic therapy may have a role in improving oxygenation status in severely hypoxemic infants receiving maximum support
A prolonged outbreak of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a neonatal intensive care unit: did staff fingernails play a role in disease transmission?

OBJECTIVES: To describe an outbreak of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bloodstream infection (BSI) and endotracheal tube (ETT) colonization in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), determine risk factors for infection, and make preventive recommendations. DESIGN: A 15-month cohort study followed by a case-control study with an environmental survey and molecular typing of available isolates using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. SETTING AND PATIENTS: Neonates in the NICU of a university-affiliated children's hospital. INTERVENTIONS: Improved hand washing and restriction of use of long or artificial fingernails. RESULTS: Of 439 neonates admitted during the study period, 46 (10.5%) acquired P aeruginosa; 16 (35%) of those died. Fifteen (75%) of 20 patients for whom isolates were genotyped had genotype A, and 3 (15%) had genotype B. Of 104 healthcare workers (HCWs) from whom hand cultures were obtained, P aeruginosa was isolated from three nurses. Cultures from nurses A-1 and A-2 grew genotype A, and cultures from nurse B grew genotype B. Nurse A-1 had long natural fingernails, nurse B had long artificial fingernails, and nurse A-2 had short natural fingernails. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, exposure to nurse A-1 and exposure to nurse B were each independently associated with acquiring a BSI or ETT colonization with P aeruginosa, but other variables, including exposure to nurse A-2, were not. CONCLUSION: Epidemiological evidence demonstrated an association between acquiring P aeruginosa and exposure to two nurses. Genetic and environmental evidence supported that association and suggested, but did not prove, a possible role for long or artificial fingernails in the colonization of HCWs' hands with P aeruginosa. Requiring short natural fingernails in NICUs is a reasonable policy that might reduce the incidence of hospital-acquired infections.
A study on the user navigation path of a web-based intervention program -- aftertheinjury.org

AfterTheInjury.org, hosted by an academic medical center and launched in 2009, is an empirically-grounded Web-based intervention program. It provides information and psycho-educational interventional content for parents of injured children. This study analyzes the user navigational patterns and compares with the design of the intervention program. The web pages of the AfterTheInjury web sites were classified into four categories, namely Learn, Rate, Act, and Admin. Using the Google Analytics tools, we had collected the traffic data from January 1 to December 31 of 2009. We employed the Markov chain model to conduct the analysis. It was found that most users came to AfterTheInjury to learn followed by act and rate. Most users learned by visiting to a Learn page after another Learn page. Users were also learning about injury and finding out how to cope with injury alternatively. There was relatively lower probability of rating. It was not clear whether it was because there were only 3 Rate pages. We did not observe the pattern of Learn → Rate → Act as it was designed in the web site. However, we could not draw any conclusion yet because this preliminary study was limited by the navigation path length of 4. The navigation path analysis is useful to understand the user behavior patterns and determine if the hyperlink structure or graphical user interface design need to be enhanced. When certain desired patterns are missing in the analysis, we can decide how to create additional hyperlinks from specific content on the web page or modify the graphical user interface to guide users to specific information.
Tricuspid Valve Repair with Papillary Muscle Shortening for Severe Tricuspid Regurgitation in Children

We describe tricuspid valve repair using papillary muscle shortening for severe tricuspid regurgitation due to leaflet prolapse in children combined with De Vega annuloplasty. The papillary muscle was shortened until the prolapsed leaflet was at the same height as the other nonprolapsed leaflets. Although echocardiographic tricuspid regurgitation tends to increase over time, it rarely requires long-term intervention.
Modulation of growth and differentiation of eosinophils from human peripheral blood CD34+ cells by IL5 and other growth factors

Small numbers of CD34+ primitive hematopoietic progenitors are found in normal human peripheral blood. These cells differentiate to myeloid or lymphoid lineage under the influence of different growth factors. We investigated the effects of IL5 and other growth factors on the production of eosinophils from peripheral blood CD34+ cells. CD34+ cells were enriched from normal donors by apheresis and positive selection using an affinity column and plated in agarose with different combinations of cytokines. At 14 days of growth a triple stain technique was used to identify eosinophil, monocyte, and neutrophil colonies. IL5 alone did not support colony growth from CD34+ cells. In contrast, GM-CSF and IL3 alone or together without added IL5 supported the generation of more than 50% pure eosinophil colonies. Addition of IL5 did not change the total number of colonies, but increased the fraction of pure eosinophil colonies to over 70%. Addition of G-CSF reduced the percentage of eosinophil colonies and increased the percentage of neutrophil colonies. Under the best conditions for eosinophil colony growth (IL3+GM-CSF+IL5), the addition of interferon-alpha or bacterial lipopolysaccharide inhibited colony growth by 51 and 58%, respectively. Addition of interferon-gamma, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, or dexamethasone had no effect on eosinophil colonies. Since IL5 alone did not support colony growth from CD34+ cells, we determined when IL5-responsive cells appeared in culture. Cells were grown initially with IL3 + GM-CSF in suspension, washed, and plated in agarose with IL5 alone. Only when progenitors were grown at least 3 days could IL5 serve as the single growth factor supporting pure eosinophil colony growth (47 colonies/10(4) cells plated at Day 3 and 134 colonies/10(4) cells at Day 7). We used neutralizing anti-IL5 antibodies to demonstrate that this late acting IL5 growth effect was specific, and that differentiation of eosinophils in the presence of IL3 + GM-CSF was IL5 independent. Using reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, the mRNA encoding the eosinophil-specific protein eosinophil peroxidase (EPO) was not detected in Day 0 CD34+ cells, but was demonstrated by Day 3 of culture. We conclude that within 3 days of culture, peripheral blood CD34+ cells can become committed to the eosinophil lineage as demonstrated by responsiveness to IL5 and production of EPO transcripts.
Salivary proteins may be useful for determining caries susceptibility.

Article Title and Bibliographic Information Salivary proteins as a biomarker for dental caries-A systematic review. Martins C, Buczynski AK, Maia LC, Siqueira WL, Castro GF. J Dent 2013; 41(1): 2-8. Reviewer Martin Levine, BDS, BSc, PhD Purpose/Question What is the evidence for an association between individual salivary protein composition or content and dental caries experience? Source of Funding Canadian Government Institutes of Health Research Type of Study/Design Systematic review Level of Evidence Level 2: Limited-quality, patient-oriented evidence Strength of Recommendation Grade Grade B: Inconsistent or limited-quality patient-oriented evidence