cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Parkinson’s disease case ascertainment in a large prospective cohort

Background In epidemiologic studies where physician-based case adjudication is not feasible, Parkinson's disease (PD) case ascertainment is often limited to self-reports which may not be accurate. We evaluated strategies to identify PD cases in the Agricultural Health Study (AHS). Methods Doctor-diagnosed PD was self-reported on all cohort-wide surveys; potential cases were also identified from death certificates. Follow-up surveys asked about PD-related motor and non-motor symptoms. For PD confirmation, we collected additional diagnosis, symptom, and treatment data from 510 potential PD cases or their proxy (65% of those contacted) in a supplemental screener and obtained medical records for a subset (n = 65). We classified PD cases using established criteria and screener data. Results Of 510 potential PD cases, 75% were considered "probable" or "possible"; this proportion increased among participants diagnosed by a specialist (81.2%), taking PD medication (85.2%), or reporting ≥5 motor symptoms (86.8%) in a regular AHS survey. Of those with medical records, 93% (57 of 61) of probable or possible PD was confirmed. Never-smoking and non-motor and motor symptoms reported in prior AHS surveys were more common with probable/possible PD than unconfirmed PD. Conclusion In this retrospective PD case ascertainment effort, we found that PD self-report with information on motor symptoms or medications may be a reasonable alternative for identifying PD cases when physician exam is not feasible. Because of intervening mortality, screeners could not be obtained from about one-third of those contacted. Thus, findings warrant replication.
Alan Brinkley: A Life in History: edited by David Greenberg, Moshik Temkin, and Mason B. Williams, New York, Columbia University Press, 2018, xvi + 216 pp., $35.00 (cloth)

This book examines the life and work of American historian Alan Brinkley, with a focus on his areas of expertise, including the critical periods of the Great Depression and World War II and their i...
Repositioning Disability in Children’s Picture Books Through Classroom Read-Alouds

Students with disabilities represent an increasing percentage of students in general education classrooms. Yet, in early elementary grades, they may not see themselves represented in picture books....
The impact of carotid lesion calcification on outcomes of carotid artery stenting.

Abstract Objective The impact of carotid artery lesion calcification on adverse events following carotid artery stenting is not well-studied. Few reports associated heavily calcified lesions with high risk of perioperative stroke following transfemoral carotid artery stenting (TFCAS). With the advent of transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR), we aimed to compare the outcomes of these two procedures stratified by the degree of lesion calcification. Methods Our cohort was derived from the Vascular Quality Initiative database for carotid artery stenting. Patients with missing information on the degree of carotid artery calcification were excluded. Patients were stratified into two groups: >50% (heavy) calcification and ≤50% (no/mild) calcification. The Student t test and the χ2 test were used to compare patients' baseline characteristics and crude outcomes, as appropriate. Clinically relevant and statistically significantly variables on univariable analysis were added to a logistic regression model clustered by center identifier. Results A total of 11,342 patients were included. Patients with >50% calcification were older, had more comorbidities, and more contralateral occlusion. There were more patients with prior ipsilateral carotid endarterectomy in the ≤50% calcification group. In patients who underwent TCAR, there were no significant differences between those who had >50% vs ≤50% carotid calcification in the odds of in-hospital adverse outcomes. However, in patients with heavy calcification who underwent TFCAS, there was a 50% to 60% increase in the odds of stroke (odds ratio [OR], 1.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04-2.5; P = .03), stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA) (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.1-2.3; P = .013), and stroke/death (OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.02-2.08; P = .039). Compared with TFCAS in patients with heavy calcification, TCAR was associated with a 40% to 90% reduction in the odds of contralateral stroke (OR, 0.13; 95% CI, 0.04-0.4; P = .001), contralateral stroke/TIA (OR, 0.3; 95% CI, 0.1-0.87; P = .024), any stroke/TIA (OR, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.38-0.91; P = .02), death (OR, 0.3; 95% CI, 0.13-0.72; P = .006), stroke/death (OR, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.32-0.8; P = .004), and stroke/death/myocardial infarction (OR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.39-0.87; P = .008). There were no significant differences in the odds of stroke and myocardial infarction. Conclusions In this retrospective analysis of patients undergoing TFCAS vs TCAR in the Vascular Quality Initiative database, TCAR demonstrated favorable outcomes compared with TFCAS among patients with calcification greater than 50% of the carotid circumference. Advance burden of carotid artery calcification was associated with worse outcomes in patients undergoing TFCAS but not TCAR. These results are consistent with previously demonstrated superiority of flow reversal compared with distal embolic protection devices. Further research is needed to assess long-term outcomes and confirm the durability of TCAR in heavily calcified lesions.
Early childhood factors associated with obesity at age 8 in Vietnamese children: The Young Lives Cohort Study

Over recent decades, Vietnam has experienced rapid economic growth, a nutrition transition from the traditional diet to highly-processed and calorie-dense foods and beverages, and an increasing prevalence of childhood overweight/obesity (ow/ob). The goal of this study is to describe the patterns of ow/ob in a longitudinal sample of Vietnamese children from ages 1 to 8, and the sociodemographic and behavioral factors associated with ow/ob at age 8. This study is a secondary data analysis of a geographically-representative, longitudinal cohort of 1961 Vietnamese children from the Young Lives Cohort Study from 2002 to 2009. Thirty-one communities were selected with oversampling in rural communities, and children age 1 were recruited from each community using simple random sampling. Surveys of families and measurements of children were collected at child ages 1, 5, and 8. Our specified outcome measure was childhood ow/ob at age 8, defined by the World Health Organization’s thresholds for body-mass-index (BMI) for age Z-scores. Associations between early and concurrent socio-behavioral factors, childhood nutrition and physical activity variables were analyzed using STATA 15. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were completed utilizing logistic regression models. The prevalence of ow/ob increased from 1.1% in both sexes at age 1 to 7% in females and 13% in males at age 8. Bivariate analyses show greater likelihood of ow/ob at age 8 was significantly associated with early life sociodemographic factors (at age 1), male sex (OR = 2.2, 1.6–3.1), higher wealth (OR = 1.1–1.4), and urban residence (OR = 4.3, 3–6). In adjusted analyses, ow/ob at age 8 was associated with early nutrition practices at age 5, including frequent consumption of powdered milk (OR = 2.8, 1.6–4.6), honey/sugar (OR = 2.7, 1.8–4.1), prepared restaurant/fast foods (OR = 4.6, 2.6–8.2), and packaged sweets (OR = 3.4, 2.3–4.9). In addition, breastfeeding for 6 months or longer was protective against obesity at age 8 (OR = 0.3, 0.1–0.9). We found that increased consumption of powdered milk, honey/sugar, packaged sweets, and prepared restaurants/fast foods are associated with childhood ow/ob. In contrast, breastfeeding for 6 months or longer was protective against childhood ow/ob. These findings suggest that public health programs and campaigns aimed to prevent childhood ow/ob in Vietnam should target early feeding practices.
INTERACTION OF VISCID MATERIAL OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS WITH SPECIFIC IMMUNE SERUM.

Mudd, Stuart (U.S. Veterans Administration Hospital, Philadelphia, Pa.), and Samuel J. DeCourcy, Jr. Interaction of viscid material of Staphylococcus aureus with specific immune serum. J. Bacteriol. 89:874-879. 1965.-Re-examination of the phenomenon of Price and Kneeland and of Wiley revealed the following. (i) The prototype "wound strain" of Wiley, and viscid-colony strains obtained by aging and selection of laboratory or field strains, differed in growth characteristics in liquid and solid media from the Smith encapsulated strain and from ordinary, unselected laboratory and field strains of coagulase-positive staphylococci. (ii) The wound strain and ordinary unselected strains, unlike the Smith encapsulated strain, did not exhibit capsules when examined in thin films of Pelikan Waterproof Drawing Ink. (iii) The phenomenon of Price and Kneeland and of Wiley is exhibited when the wound strain and other viscid-colony strains interact with anti-Wiley immune sera or various human sera. In our experience, this phenomenon was not exhibited by the Smith or by ordinary, unselected strains. (iv) The staphylococcal polysaccharide antigen previously characterized as the capsular substance of a Smith-like strain was completely different chemically and serologically from extracellular material prepared from the Wiley wound strain. We conclude that the viscid-colony strains are not, in fact, encapsulated, and that the phenomenon in question is a precipitation of extracellular material about the periphery of the cells.
Mechanisms of action of "lymphocyte activating factor" (LAF)--II. LAF effect is resistant to elevation of cellular cyclic AMP.

The effect of cyclic AMP on LAF-induced potentiation of DNA synthesis in PHA-stimulated rat lymphocytes (LAF effect) was investigated. LAF preparations were dialyzed 24-hr supernatants of partially purified rat macrophages and lacked mitogenic properties. Agents that increase cellular cAMP by different mechanisms (l-isoproterenol, prostaglandin E1, theophylline, and dibutyryl cAMP) were added before during, or after the period of optimal cell sensitivity to LAF. This period began approximately 16 hr after initiation of the cultures and lasted for about 8 hr. Addition of any of these reagents to the cultures during the first 8–12 hr of culture, i.e. before the period of cell sensitivity to LAF, resulted incomplete inhibition of both the PHA response and the LAF effect. Addition at 16 hr or later, though still inhibiting the PHA response markedly, gave insignificant inhibition of the LAF effect itself. Thus occurrence of a LAF effect requires effective lymphocyte triggering in order to reach the period of optimal cell sensitivity to LAF, a process which is sensitive to elevation of cellular cAMP, but the LAF effect on triggered cells is insensitive to cAMP. We conclude that the lymphocytes tested are heterogenous in their sensitivity both to LAF and to cAMP.
Assessment of Spatial Abilities

Analyzing and understanding spatial ability is a complex enterprise. By way of illustration, consider the following daily life activities that contain a spatial aspect: parallel parking an automobile, rearranging living room furniture, reading a blueprint, giving directions to a lost traveler, deciphering the instructions that accompany an item that “requires some assembly,” and fitting into the trunk of a car one more suitcase than the trunk was meant to hold. Consider further a professional quarterback about to release a forward pass who (in addition to maintaining spatial awareness of oncoming defensive linemen) must also gauge the speed and path of his intended receiver in order to aim the football so that it will arrive at its intended location at the same time as his teammate. These functions clearly do not lend themselves to precise laboratory measurement. Furthermore, performance is determined not only by whatever spatial skills are relevant, but also by other functions such as language, motor, and planning abilities.
Bumping against a gas ceiling

The adoption of physical thresholds as a ceiling for permitted climate change sidesteps contentious issues such as: policy cost, impact valuation, discounting and equity. In this paper I offer some reflections on the concept of tolerable climate change. I also use an integrated climate assessment model (ICAM-3) to demonstrate how uncertainties in our understanding of socioeconomic and earth systems reduce the probability of success in keeping climate change within a pre-defined tolerable range. Finally, I explore the implications of socioeconomic thresholds for welfare loss in pursuit of a climate policy (e.g., tax rebellions). Crossing such regional socioeconomic thresholds will lead to local failures to pursue climate change mitigation policies — increasing the probability of straying beyond the tolerable window of global climate change. Given various uncertainties and the dynamics of the socioeconomic and the earth systems, the odds of success in staying within a climate change window of ΔT ≤ 2°C, and ΔT/yr ≤ 0.015°C are estimated to be no higher than 25% over the next century. A risk-risk tradeoff approach appears to hold promise, but while adoption of a larger window of tolerance increases the probability of success, it also opens the window specification criteria to contention.
Does Microfinance Regulation Curtail Profitability and Outreach

Regulation allows microfinance institutions to evolve more fully into banks, particularly for institutions aiming to take deposits. But there are potential trade-offs. Complying with regulation and supervision can be costly, and we examine implications for the institutions’ profitability and their outreach to small-scale borrowers and women. The tests draw on a new database that combines high-quality financial data on 245 of the world’s largest microfinance institutions with newly-constructed data on their prudential supervision. OLS regressions show that supervision is negatively associated with profitability. Controlling for the non-random assignment of supervision via treatment effects and instrumental variables regressions, we find that supervision is associated with substantially larger average loan sizes and less lending to women than in OLS regressions, though it is not significantly associated with profitability. The pattern is consistent with the notion that profit-oriented microfinance institutions absorb the cost of supervision by curtailing outreach to market segments that tend to be more costly per dollar lent.
Cell Wall Protein in Bacillus subtilis

The cell wall of Bacillus subtilis 168 contains protein that is refractory to removal by salts, detergents, and denaturants.
Atomic-level structure and structure–property relationship in metallic glasses

Abstract The structure of metallic glasses (MGs) has been a long-standing mystery. On the one hand, MGs are amorphous materials with no long-range structural order; on the other hand, topological and chemical short-to-medium range order is expected to be pronounced in these alloys, due to their high atomic packing density and the varying chemical affinity between the constituent elements. The unique internal structure of MGs underlies their interesting properties, which render MGs potentially useful for various applications. While more and more glass-forming alloys have been developed in recent years, fundamental knowledge on the structural aspect of MGs remains seriously lacking. For example, how atoms pack on the short-to-medium range, how the structure differs in different MGs and changes with composition, temperature, and processing history, and more importantly, how the structure influences the properties of MGs, are still unresolved questions. In this paper, we review the tremendous efforts over the past 50 years devoted to unraveling the atomic-level structure of MGs and the structural origin of their unique behaviors. Emphasis will be placed on the progress made in recent years, including advances in structural characterization and analysis of prototypical MGs, general structural models and fundamental principles, and the correlations of thermodynamic, kinetic, and mechanical properties with the MG structures. Some widely observed property–property correlations in MGs are also examined from the structural perspective. The insights summarized are shown to shed light on many intriguing behaviors of the MG-forming alloys and expected to impact the development of MGs. Outstanding questions in this important research area will also be outlined.
A discrete interpretation of Reid's roundabout theorem for generalized differential systems

Abstract In a series of papers starting with a 1959 paper in J. Math. & Mechanics [1], W. T. Reid presented Sturmian theory and asymptotic behavior for generalized differential systems. These systems were equivalent to “a type of linear vector Riemann-Stieltjes integral equation.” Reid's primary result was his “Roundabout Theorem” for this generalized setting. As he pointed out, if the measure is piecewise constant, then results for difference equations ensue. The objectives of this study are 1. (i)to interpret Reid's results for both Jacobi and Riccati difference equations and 2. (ii)to compare those results with subsequent studies of difference equations based on discrete variational theory.
59CO NMR STUDIES OF DIAMAGNETIC PORPHYRIN COMPLEXES IN THE SOLID PHASE

Solid state 59Co nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra were recorded on diamagnetic complexes with general structure Co(Por)L2, where Por = tetraphenylporphyrin, tetramethoxyphenylporphyrin, and octaethylporphyrin; and L = imidazole, methylimidazole, pyridine, and isoquinoline. Measurements were carried out at different magnetic field strengths (4.7, 7.1, and 11.7 T) on both static and spinning samples. Iterative fitting of these data yielded the shielding and quadrupolar parameters that characterize the various cobalt(III) sites in the complexes. These results are only in partial agreement with data inferred from previous solution NMR measurements. The values measured for the anisotropic components of the 59Co NMR tensors also deviate from traditional correlations observed for simpler nonaromatic solid cobalt complexes. Possible sources for the discrepancies observed between the solution and the solid phase parameters as well as for the anomalous behavior observed with the anisotropic 59Co coupling co...
The difficult airway in obstetric anesthesia: Techniques for airway management and the role of regional anesthesia

A case is presented illustrating the use of a continuous spinal anesthetic in a parturient with a difficult airway who required urgent cesarean delivery. Options for endotracheal intubation of a parturient with a difficult airway are reviewed. The role of regional anesthesia in this setting is discussed. The most appropriate methods for intubation of the obstetric patient are direct laryngoscopy, the lighted stylet, and fiberoptic endoscopy. Available data suggest that regional anesthesia, specifically continuous spinal anesthesia, may be a safe and effective option for management of a parturient with a difficult airway. Further investigation of this technique is merited.
Four-wave-mixing parametric oscillations in dispersion-compensated high-Q silica microspheres

We demonstrate theoretically and experimentally that under suitable conditions high-$Q$ microspheres can exhibit anomalous dispersion, which permits phase and energy matching for nonlinear optical interactions. We use such dispersion control to produce either Raman or four-wave mixing parametric oscillations by changing the size of the microsphere.
Bronchodilators in Heart Failure Patients With COPD: Is It Time for a Clinical Trial?

Chronic heart failure (HF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) commonly coexist, and patients with both diseases fare worse than those with either disease alone. Several factors may contribute to worse outcomes, including an increased burden of care related to greater disease complexity, an overlap of symptoms resulting in misapplication of therapy, and the adverse effects of treatment for one disease on the symptoms and outcomes related to the other. For example, there are conflicting data about the cardiovascular risks of bronchodilators in HF patients who may experience worse outcomes with inhaled beta-2 agonists via arrhythmogenesis, ischemia, and/or attenuation of beta-blocker benefits. In contrast, the long-acting anticholinergic class of bronchodilators has a more reassuring safety profile. Anticholinergic bronchodilators may be the preferred first-line agents for COPD patients with comorbid HF, yet data supporting these recommendations are limited. Therapeutic trials in COPD patients have generally excluded patients with significant HF and vice-versa. This paper reviews bronchodilator therapy in HF and proposes a randomized trial designed to enroll patients with significant COPD and HF to determine the risks and/or benefits of adding a long-acting beta-2 agonist to patients currently taking a long-acting anticholinergic agent.
Dynamic analysis of structures with uncertain parameters using the transfer matrix method

Abstract A combination of the transfer matrix method and a first order, second moment approach is used to perform dynamic analyses of structures with uncertain parameters. This technique provides relations between the vibrational characteristics of structures with uncertain parameters and the first and second statistical moments of these parameters. The proposed methodology leads to a straightforward analysis with calculations that are much simpler than those with other methods, such as the stochastic finite element method. The effectiveness of this method is verified by a numerical example.
How entrenched managers beat earnings expectations before and after SOX

Abstract This study investigates the relationship between managerial entrenchment and how firms meet or beat earnings forecasts. It further examines whether this relationship changes before and after the Sarbanes–Oxley Act (SOX). We find that, in the pre-SOX era, entrenched managers meet or exceed analyst forecasts more often than their unentrenched counterparts when analysts’ initial forecasts are high. This is mainly due to the drop in analysts’ consensus rather than earnings management. These results nearly disappear in the post-SOX era.
Multiagent Shape Grammar Implementation: Automatically Generating Form Concepts According to a Preference Function

In new product development, quickly generating many product form concepts that a potential consumer prefers is a challenge. This paper presents the inaugural multiagent shape grammar implementation (MASGI) to automatically generate product form designs according to a preference function that can represent designer or consumer design preference. Additionally, the multiagent system creates a flexible shape grammar implementation that enables modifications to the shape grammar as the form design space changes. The method is composed of three subprocesses: a shape grammar interpreter that implements the shape grammar, an agent system that chooses which shape grammar rules to implement and the parametric design choices according to a preference function, and a preference investigator that determines the preference function, which constraints the automated form design process.
9C-5 2D Simulation of the Harmonic Motion Imaging (HMI) with Experimental Validation

Amplitude-modulated (AM) harmonic motion imaging (HMI) is one of the radiation-force-based techniques, which has the capability of imaging tissue mechanical properties during the application of the acoustic radiation force. Since only displacement images have been presented until now, the theory between tissue displacement and modulus in AM-HMI has not been validated. Here, a finite-element model (FEM) is used to accurately model the dynamic response in tissue mimicking phantoms to evaluate HMI performance. The FEM and experimental results of phantoms with the same stiffness variations are compared and used to describe the behavior of tissue during the application of the stimulus. A harmonic force was generated by a 4.68 MHz single-element focused ultrasound (FUS) transducer. Since the focus is highly localized and has a harmonic response from AM beam, the motion characteristics can be directly related to the regional tissue modulus. The resulting motion was imaged simultaneously using a diagnostic (pulse-echo) transducer at center frequency of 7.5 MHz. RF signals were acquired using a standard pulse-echo technique with a PRF of 5.4 kHz. ID cross-correlation technique was performed to estimate the resulting axial displacement. In the FEM simulation, a rectangular mesh with dimensions of 35 mm in the axial and 30 mm in the lateral directions was generated. There were a total of 2771 nodes and 5424 triangular elements in the mesh. For simplicity, the mesh was assumed to be a purely elastic medium with Young's modulus of 10 kPa. The acoustic pressure field was simulated in Field II using the same transducer parameters as in the experiment. This pressure field was used as the excitation force to generate displacements. The imaging field was simulated in Matlab 7.2 using a 2D convolutional image formation model with 128 acoustic elements, a center frequency of 7.5 MHz and 40 MHz sampling frequency. Only the displacement estimation at the center RF lines was considered in the validation with the single-element pulse-echo transducer used in the experiments. A good agreement between the results from the FEM and experiment findings was observed in phantom study. Finally, in vivo application is presented.
Nuclear calcium flux in Trypanosoma brucei can be quantified with targeted aequorin.

The following study was undertaken to determine if calcium ions move from the plasma membrane to the nucleus of Trypanosoma brucei. Nuclear and cytosolic calcium flux was measured with the calcium sensitive photoprotein, aequorin which was targeted to various locations in stably transformed procyclic cells. Immunoblots revealed that the recombinant proteins, CYT-AEQ and NUC-AEQ were translated in transformants, and that CYT-AEQ was contained in a soluble fraction. Immunolocalization demonstrated that NUC-AEQ was contained within the trypanosome nucleus. To evaluate calcium movement from the plasma membrane to the nucleus in live trypanosomes, aequorin was reconstituted in vivo with coelenterazine and luminescence was recorded. The resting levels of [Ca2+]cyt and [Ca2+]nuc were similar (314 ± 43 and 287 ± 28 nM, respectively). When calcium influx across the plasma membrane was initiated with 2 μM ionomycin, [Ca2+]cyt and [Ca2+]nuc each became elevated in parallel to a new steady state which was approximately 2-fold above the resting level. Compound 4880 initiated a calcium flux across the plasma membrane by a different mechanism from ionomycin, and in a manner that was inhibited by the calcium channel antagonist, La3+. Compound 4880 (8 μg/ml) transiently elevated [Ca2+]cyt to 1.73 ± 0.3 μM over the course of 20 s, and also generated a transient rise in [Ca2+]nuc which peaked at 1.32 + 0.29 μM over the same time course. Overall, these data demonstrate that calcium moves into and out of the trypanosome nucleus in a manner which closely parallels changes in [Ca2+]cyt. A small calcium ion gradient between nucleus and cytoplasm was also observed.
Absorption and translocation of glyphosate with conventional and organosilicone adjuvants

This study was conducted to determine the effects of three organosilicone-based and six conventional organic adjuvants on the absorption and translocation of 14C-glyphosate in guineagrass and redroot pigweed. The organosilicone adjuvants produced rapid absorption of the 14C-glyphosate into the redroot pigweed leaves, reaching maximum absorption within 0.5–1.0 h after application. The conventional adjuvants produced slower absorption of the 14C-glyphosate, as the maximum absorption was not achieved until at least 24 h after application in redroot pigweed, remaining similar until 72 h. In guineagrass, the maximum absorption of the glyphosate was earlier than 24 h with the organosilicone-based adjuvants, compared with longer times for the conventional adjuvants. The organosilicone-based adjuvants also increased the glyphosate translocation in redroot pigweed, but not in guineagrass. Organosilicone adjuvants have the potential to provide greater rainfastness to glyphosate on redroot pigweed and, to a lesser extent, on guineagrass.
Adiabatic flash calculations for continuous or semicontinuous mixtures using an equation of state

Abstract This work presents a thermodynamic framework for adiabatic flash calculations for continuous or semicontinuous mixtures using an equation of state. A Gaussian quadrature method is used to solve phase-equilibrium and enthalpy-balance equations containing integrals of continuous distribution functions. First, comparisons between the quadrature method and pseudocomponent method are presented for a single-stage calculation using an assumed mixture. Second, a multistage gas absorber using a continuous solvent is considered. The results using the quadrature method compare favorably with those using the exact method where all components are considered in the calculation. By contrast, the pseudocomponent method gives different results which depend on the selection of pseudocomponents.
Chemically bonded stationary phases with variable selectivity

Abstract Polar chemically bonded phases with hydorxy, cyano and ester functional groups were prepared by the polymerization of trichloro-[3-(4-chloromethylphenyl)propyl]- and dichloromethyl-[3-(4-chloromethylphenyl)butyl]silanes on porous spherical siliceous beads and the subsequent selective modification of polymeric layers. Glycol phases were obtained by the oxidation of double bonds in bonded films of allysiloxanes. The relative selectivities of the bonded phases for the nitroaniline isomers were measured and the chromatographic properties of substrates containing the same selective groups, but prepared from different monomers, were compared. The reproductibility of the preparation of cyano and hydroxy substrates was found to be better than that with the two-step modifications.
Mössbauer effect studies following Coulomb excitation using a closed cycle helium refrigerator

Abstract An improved apparatus based on a closed cycle helium refrigerator has been developed to cool targets and absorbers for Mossbauer effect studies following Coulomb excitation. The system is capable of maintaining the target at a temperature of 15 K with no heat input. There is a temperature increase of 1.5 K/W. The major problem of vibrations has been reduced to an acceptable level.
Chemical Reactions in Monolayer Aromatic Films on Silicon Surfaces

The formation of thin films on solid surfaces can be limited by the structures of the molecules and protocols used to form the films. These limitations can be mitigated by performing additional che...
Image-based biomedical modeling, simulation and visualization

Increasingly, biomedical researchers need to build functional computer models from images (MRI, CT, EM, etc.). The "pipeline" for building such computer models includes image analysis (segmentation, registration, filtering), geometric modeling (surface and volume mesh generation), large-scale simulation (parallel computing, GPUs), large-scale visualization and evaluation (uncertainty, error). In my presentation, I will present research challenges and software tools for image-based biomedical modeling, simulation and visualization and discuss their application for solving important research and clinical problems in neuroscience, cardiology, and genetics.
Evolution in Surgical Management of Esophageal Cancer

Esophageal resection remains the primary treatment for local regional esophageal cancer, although its role in superficial (T1A) cancers and squamous cell cancer is in evolution. Mortality associated w
Real Artificial: Tissue-cultured Meat, Genetically Modified Farm Animals, and Fictions

Although touted by promoters as the cutting edge of food science, meat produced in vitro (rather than from a whole animal) is emerging more directly from developments in fine art—more specifically, from the aesthetic experiments of Australian-based artists Oron Catts and Ionat Zurr, who ask: What language do we have to describe the agency of tissue-cultured life? This essay begins to answer this question by tracing a tradition whereby bioengineered meat mediates complex environmental critiques in literary fiction over the past century, including Margaret Atwood's exemplary novel Oryx and Crake (2003), which depicts biotech industries producing three distinct kinds of "real artificial meat," all sourced in genetically modified animals.
Fine structure of the monkey epididymis.

The monkey epididymis was subdivided into four regions: initial segment (continous with the ductuli efferentes), head, body and tail. The initial segment possesses a very tall columnar epithelium (108 ± 4 μm). Epithelial height in the head, body and tail is diminished to 81 ± 5 μm, 69 ± 2 μm, and 50 ± 5 μm, respectively. The pseudostratified epithelium is composed of four main cell types: principal, apical and basal epithelial cells, and intraepithelial lymphocytes. Occasional macrophages are also found in the epithelium. The tall, narrow, columnar principal cells demonstrate morphological features characteristic of absorption and secretion. An unusual feature, apparently unique to the primate, is the presence of deep invaginations of the apical cytoplasm which contain membrane-bounded vacuoles. Similar, but larger vacuoles are present among the stereocilia and in the tubular lumen. Large clusters of mitochondria and electron-dense membrane-bounded granules characterize the infranuclear region of the cytoplasm. Principal cells are studded with closely aligned stereocilia. Their nuclei are spindle-shaped in the initial segment and first portion of the head region, but become highly infolded in the distal head, body and tail portions. The apical or mitochondrion-rich cells possess a cytoplasm which extends from the base of the epithelium to the tubular lumen. Basal cells contain few organelles and are found throughout the length of the duct. Arterioles and capillaries appear to penetrate directly into the epithelium from the underlying connective tissue; however, the basal lamina of the epididymal duct always intervenes between the endothelium of the blood vessels and the epithelial cells. Several of the above observations have not been noted in rodents and other mammalian species and may be unique to the primate.
Use of D-T-produced fast neutrons for in vivo body composition analysis: a reference method for nutritional assessment in the elderly.

Body composition has become the main outcome of many nutritional intervention studies including osteoporosis, malnutrition, obesity, AIDS, and aging. Traditional indirect body composition methods developed with healthy young adults do not apply to the elderly or diseased. Fast neutron activation (for N and P) and neutron inelastic scattering (for C and O) are used to assess in vivo elements characteristic of specific body compartments. Non-bone phosphorus for muscle is measured by the 31P(n,α)28Al reaction, and nitrogen for protein via the 14N(n,2n)13N fast neutron reaction. Inelastic neutron scattering is used to measure total body carbon and oxygen. Body fat is derived from carbon after correcting for contributions from protein, bone, and glycogen. Carbon-to-oxygen ratio (C/O) is used to measure the distribution of fat and lean tissue in the body and to monitor small changes of lean mass. A sealed, D–T neutron generator is used for the production of fast neutrons. Carbon and oxygen mass and their ratio are measured in vivo at a radiation exposure of less than 0.06 mSv. Gamma-ray spectra are collected using large BGO detectors and analyzed for the 4.43 MeV state of carbon and 6.13 MeV state of oxygen, simultaneously with the irradiation. P and N analysis by delayed fast neutron activation is performed by transferring the patient to a shielded room equipped with an array of NaI(Tl) detectors. A combination of measurements makes possible the assessment of the “quality” of fat-free mass. The neutron generator system is used to evaluate the efficacy of new treatments, to study mechanisms of lean tissue depletion with aging, and to investigate methods for preserving function and quality of life in the elderly. It is also used as a reference method for the validation of portable instruments of nutritional assessment.
Electrooxidation of ethylene glycol and glycerol by platinum-based binary and ternary nano-structured catalysts

Abstract Spray pyrolysis of metal precursors was used to synthesize binary and ternary nano-structured Pt-based catalysts. Characterization of the catalysts was performed using SEM, TEM, and EDS to determine morphology, purity and composition. The electrochemical performance of synthesized Pt 84 Ru 16 , Pt 96 Sn 4 , and Pt 88 Ru 6 Sn 6 was evaluated via cyclic voltammetry and steady state polarization for oxidation of ethylene glycol and glycerol. The binary Pt 84 Ru 16 and Pt 96 Sn 4 catalysts had higher maximum currents and better stability than a templated Pt catalyst and templated ternary Pt 88 Ru 6 Sn 6 catalyst. All binary and ternary catalysts had less adsorbed reaction products during potential cycling than the templated platinum electrocatalyst. In situ infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS) analysis showed complete oxidation of ethylene glycol and glycerol with the binary and ternary catalysts by CO 2 generation. This work emphasizes the benefits provided by adding Ru and Sn to Pt catalysts for oxidation of complex alcohols.
Chronic corticosterone treatment alters sensory gating in C3H mice

Two methods of evaluating inhibitory sensory processing are prepulse inhibition of acoustic startle (PPI) and gating of auditory evoked potentials. Studies using both methods suggest nicotinic acetylcholinergic receptor modulation of gating, specifically the alpha-bungarotoxin (alpha-BTX) binding site (alpha7 receptor subtype). However, recent assessment of alpha7 null mutant mice failed to demonstrate any effect of the loss of this receptor in either gating paradigm. An alternate approach to assessing the effects of the alpha7 receptor is to reduce its numbers in mature inbred mice, thus, avoiding the twin problems of background and developmental compensation inherent in null mutant mouse studies. Numerous studies have shown that chronic corticosterone (CCS) treatment selectively reduces alpha-BTX binding sites. C3H mice were adrenalectomized and implanted with corticosterone or cholesterol (control) pellets. After 8 days, they were tested in one of the gating paradigms. PPI and auditory gating were significantly diminished in corticosterone-treated mice concomitant with a reduction in alpha-BTX binding in several brain regions. Cholesterol-treated mice had no change in either paradigm. Nicotine treatment (1 mg/kg) produced significant improvement in both paradigms in corticosterone-treated mice. These data agree with previous pharmacological studies suggesting modulation of gating occurs through a nicotinic receptor.
Induction of nitric oxide production by bovine alveolar macrophages in response to Pasteurella haemolytica A1

Abstract We assessed the kinetics of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA expression and production of nitric oxide (NO) in bovine alveolar macrophages (AMs) stimulated with purified lipopolysaccharide (LPS) fromPasteurella haemolyticastrain 12296. The effect of LPS on iNOS gene expression was dose-dependent and was expressed maximally at 24 h after stimulation with 10 μg/ml of LPS. Production of NO measured as secreted nitrite in supernatants took place in a time and dose-dependent manner with peak production at 24 h after LPS stimulation. Recombinant bovine gamma interferon (rbγIFN) augmented the LPS-induced iNOS gene expression and production of NO. The ability of LPS to induce iNOS gene expression and NO production either alone or in combination with rbγIFN was significantly abrogated by polymyxin B. In addition, the iNOS inhibitor NG-monomethyl-Larginine (L-NMMA) significantly inhibited LPS and rbγIFN+LPS induced NO production. Our results also demonstrated that NO produced from an exogenous NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP), and NO generated from LPS-stimulated AMs (endogenous) caused cytotoxic injury to bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells in a dose-dependent manner. The cytotoxic injury caused by NO generated from LPS stimulated AMs was inhibited by polymyxin B or L-NMMA. There was a markedly increased concentration of nitrite in the lung lavage fluids of calves followingP. haemolyticainfection. These findings support a role for NO in the pathogenesis of lung injury in bovine pneumonic pasteurellosis.
Efficient traffic loss evaluation for transport backbone networks

The resilience and survivability of transport backbone networks are vital for the economy and security. Modern backbone networks use a mesh of fiber optic cables, which are, due to their ubiquitous deployment, prone to failures. The goal of this paper is to develop efficient computational methods for assessing the expected traffic loss in such networks. We present both analytical and simulation approaches for this problem. Our analytical approach is based on the cut set enumeration technique, while our simulation approach is based on Monte Carlo sampling techniques. To facilitate the computational process, we employ artificial intelligence methods based on genetic algorithms.
Apolipoprotein B (apo B) signal peptide length polymorphisms are associated with apo B, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, and glucose levels in Mexican Americans

Abstract We investigated the effects of apolipoprotein (apo) B signal peptide length polymorphisms on low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), apo B, and post-challenge (2 h) glucose levels in 686 Mexican Americans from 34 families. The most common allele encoded an apo B signal peptide of 27 amino acids ( ins ; SP-27), the next most frequent allele encoded a 24 amino acid signal peptide ( del ; SP-24), and the rarest allele encoded a 29 amino acid signal peptide ( ins ∗ ; SP-29) that has been found only in Mexican Americans. Homozygotes for the SP-24 allele had significantly higher mean levels of apo B, LDL-C, and 2-h glucose than SP-27 homozygotes, and SP-27/SP-24 heterozygotes had intermediate levels ( P = 0.01 for apo B, P P = 0.04 for 2-h glucose). Heterozygotes for the SP-29 allele had higher apo B and LDL-C levels compared to homozygotes for the SP-27 or SP-24 alleles. Apo B signal peptide length polymorphism accounted for 4.2%, 3.5%, and 3.0% of the residual variation in LDL-C, apo B, and 2-h glucose levels, respectively, among the Mexican American families.
The Use of Biological Adjuncts

Abstract Osteochondral lesions of the talus present unique anatomical and technical considerations to orthopaedic surgeons. Central to this clinical challenge is the current inability to restore cartilage to its native state following injury. The utilization of biological adjuncts for cartilage repair is under increased investigation across the orthopaedic surgical arena. At the core of cartilage bioengineering are 3 essential elements: chondrocytes and the application of cell sources capable of undergoing chondrogenic proliferation and differentiation; the application of biological growth factors optimal for cartilage repair; and the utilization of scaffolds optimal for cell and growth factor delivery and maturation. This review aims to highlight current basic science and clinical evidence on the use of cell sources and biological growth factors for the treatment of osteochondral lesions of the talus.
Dental pathology and alcohol‐related indicators in an outpatient clinic sample

A relationship between alcoholism and dental pathology (particularly missing teeth), has been reported in studies of male, inpatient alcoholics. The present exploratory study was undertaken to assess how readily these findings can be generalized to an unselected sample of male and female dental patients. Data on drinking behavior, alcohol-related problems, and risk factors for alcoholism were obtained through an interview and questionnaire. A dental chart review provided measures of dental pathology. The results showed that measures of dental pathology (including tooth loss, carious teeth, and periodontal disease) correlated significantly with alcohol-related indicators. The associations were more evident for males than for females, which is consistent with some studies of alcohol-related medical consequences. The results suggest that further analytic studies of alcohol consumption and dental pathology are warranted. Because the relationship between tooth loss and harmful drinking was clearest among males with a history of conduct problems, subsequent research would benefit from a focus on this high-risk group.
Brief motivational interviewing interventions targeting substance abuse in the acute care medical setting.

Nearly half of injured trauma survivors suffer from substance use disorders, particularly alcohol and stimulants. Substance abuse screenings and brief interventions are essential components of collaborative care for trauma patients. If provided by trauma centers, brief interventions can reduce drinking and injury recidivism for up to 1 year after hospital discharge. First, this report explains the rationale for such a service as well as the theoretical underpinnings of brief behavior change interventions. Next, a literature review is presented regarding the outcomes of brief interventions for substance abuse, both in general medical settings and in trauma centers. Finally, a description is provided of a level 1 trauma center's screening and brief intervention service that uses motivational interviewing, has developed over a decade, and has been evaluated in a randomized trial. The inpatient and outpatient intervention protocols for this service are detailed, as well as the specific clinical challenges encountered.
Effects of perinatal exposure to specific PCB congeners on thyroid hormone concentrations and thyroid histology in the rat.

Abstract Time-mated Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to PCB 28 (2,4,4′-trichlorobiphenyl), 8 or 32 mg/kg/day; PCB 118 (2,3′,4,4′,5-pentachlorobiphenyl), 4 or 16 mg/kg/day; or PCB 153 (2,2′,4,4′,5,5′-hexachlorobiphenyl), 16 or 64 mg/kg/day. At weaning, serum thyroxine (T4) was markedly depressed in pups, but not dams, exposed to PCB 118 or 153. Triiodothyronine (T3) was unchanged in pups and dams. In a histological evaluation of thyroids, the PCB 118 pups revealed changes suggestive of sustained TSH stimulation, including increased follicular cell vacuolization and height, increased nuclear vesiculation, and decreased colloid area. Decreases in body and brain weights and increases in liver weights were observed in some groups, with the high dose PCB 118 pups showing the greatest effect.
Mating Behavior: Facilitation in the Female Rat after Cortical Application of Potassium Chloride

Mating behavior in ovariectomized female rats treated with estrogen can be greatly enhanced by subcutaneous injections of progesterone. Application of potassium chloride to the cortex of females previously treated with estrogen can also induce greatly increased sexual receptivity as indicated by the lordosis response. This facilitation of mating behavior by a treatment known to cause functional decortication suggests that mechanisms mediating female mating behavior are under tonic inhibition by an inhibitory system which involves the cerebral cortex.
The Link between Western Boundary Currents and Equatorial Undercurrents

Abstract A constant potential vorticity model is used to investigate the relation between the properties of an equatorward-directed western boundary current and the formation of the Equatorial Undercurrent (EUC) in the western equatorial oceans. It is shown that the value of the Bernoulli function at the equator, undetermined in earlier purely inertial EUC models, is fixed by the bifurcation latitude of the western boundary current that feeds the EUC. This is an additional example of the nonlocal forcing of the EUC by the subtropical gyre. The constant potential vorticity model yields reasonable values for the initial EUC core velocities for a bifurcation latitude on the order of 6° from the equator.