cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Synaptic Impact of the Host Immune Response in a Parkinsonian Allograft Rat Model: Influence on Graft-Derived Aberrant Behaviors

Graft-induced dyskinesias (GIDs), side-effects found in clinical grafting trials for Parkinson's disease (PD), may be associated with the withdrawal of immunosuppression. The goal of this study was to determine the role of the immune response in GIDs. We examined levodopa-induced dyskinesias (LIDs), GID-like behaviors, and synaptic ultrastructure in levodopa-treated, grafted, parkinsonian rats with mild (sham), moderate (allografts) or high (allografts plus peripheral spleen cell injections) immune activation. Grafts attenuated amphetamine-induced rotations and LIDs, but two abnormal motor syndromes (tapping stereotypy, litter retrieval/chewing) emerged and increased with escalating immune activation. Immunohistochemical analyses confirmed immune activation and graft survival. Ultrastructural analyses showed increases in tyrosine hydroxylase-positive (TH+) axo-dendritic synapses, TH+ asymmetric specializations, and non-TH+ perforated synapses in grafted, compared to intact, striata. These features were exacerbated in rats with the highest immune activation and correlated statistically with GID-like behaviors, suggesting that immune-mediated aberrant synaptology may contribute to graft-induced aberrant behaviors.
Cooperative specific adsorption of ions at charged sites in an electric field

The adsorption of two cations at the anionic sites of a polymer (e.g., such as a protein) in an electric fields is discussed, taking into account cooperative interaction of the cations mediated through the backbone of the polymer. The calculation of the grand partition function explicitly considers the vacant negative sites of the polymer. As in the case without cooperative interaction, the problem reduces to the determination of the largest eigenvalue of asymmetric matrices. The weights of the different neighbor configurations are determined. Approximate formulae for the grand partition function and for those weights are derived. The formal analogy of these cooperative phenomena and those occurring in quantum (bio)chemistry is pointed out exemplifying an earlier suggestion about the basis of quantum biology.
Racial Identity and Academic Achievement in the Neighborhood Context: A Multilevel Analysis

Increasingly, researchers have found relationships between a strong, positive sense of racial identity and academic achievement among African American youth. Less attention, however, has been given to the roles and functions of racial identity among youth experiencing different social and economic contexts. Using hierarchical linear modeling, the authors examined the relationship of racial identity to academic outcomes, taking into account neighborhood-level factors. The sample consisted of 564 African American eighth-graders (56% male). The authors found that neighborhood characteristics and racial identity related positively to academic outcomes, but that some relationships were different across neighborhood types. For instance, in neighborhoods low in economic opportunity, high pride was associated with a higher GPA, but in more advantaged neighborhoods, high pride was associated with a lower GPA. The authors discuss the need to take youth’s contexts into account in order to understand how racial identity is active in the lives of African American youth.
Prevalence of Vitamin D Insufficiency in African American Children with Forearm Fractures: A Preliminary Study

Objectives Forearm fractures account for a significant proportion of childhood injuries and appear to be increasing in incidence. Poor vitamin D status increases overall fracture risk in infants with rickets and adults with osteoporosis. Children with vitamin D insufficiency (serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D level < 20 ng/mL) have decreased bone mineral density (BMD) compared to children with normal vitamin D status. The relationship between vitamin D status and childhood forearm fracture has not been investigated.
Streaming effect of wall oscillation to boundary layer separation

This paper presents a preliminary theoretical result on the time averaged streaming effect of local forcing excitation to the boundary layer separation from smooth surface. The problem is formulated as a periodic disturbance to a basic steady breakaway separating flow, for which the data are taken from a numerical triple-deck solution. The ratio of Strouhal number St and Reynolds number Re plays an important role, both being assumed sufficiently high. The analytical and numerical results show that this streaming effect is quite strong at proper values of St/Re exp 1/4, which may delay or even suppress the separation.
Substrates of hydroxyketoglutarate aldolase

Abstract The substrate specificity of the condensation reaction catalyzed by rat liver 4-hydroxy-2-ketoglutarate aldolase has been investigated. It was found that an enzyme-mediated condensation between-glyoxylate and several “activated” carbonyl compounds could be performed. Two classes of these “activated” carbonyls were tested—the first of which are pyruvate analogs differing by substitution at C-3, whereas the second include some C-1 analogs of pyruvate as well as other simple carbonyl compounds. The possible synthetic uses of such a system are discussed as well as possible insights into the structure of the active site of this enzyme.
Characterization of a Thermo Scientific D711 D-T neutron generator located in a low-scatter facility

Abstract A dosimetry experiment used to measure the neutron flux and spectrum of a D-T neutron generator is presented. The D-T generator at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is installed in the middle of a large room to minimize scatter of neutrons back to the sample. The efficacy of maintaining a pure fast neutron field for the sample is investigated. Twenty-one positions within 13 cm of the neutron source contained foils or wires of Fe, Ni, and Al with additional Au, and in monitors at some locations. Spectral adjustment of the neutron flux at each position based on the measured reaction rates and theoretical Monte Carlo calculations show that at least 99.1% of the spectrum lies above 110 keV for all measured positions, and neutrons above 14 MeV can account for as much as 91% at locations along the axis of the generator and close to the source. The 14 MeV component drops to 77% in radial positions far from the source. The largest total flux observed was 8.29E+08 n/cm 2 s (±1.4%) in the center of the cooling cap, although additional experiments have shown this value could be as high as 1.20E+09 n/cm 2 s.
Intensity properties of partially coherent beam waves

The extended Huygens-Fresnel principle is used to investigate the lateral coherence and the average on-axis intensity of partially coherent beam waves propagating in the turbulent atmosphere. A factor that determines the shift of the focal point toward the source when a beam wave propagates in turbulence is calculated. It is also shown that optimum beam wave propagation in atmospheric turbulence occurs for wavelength in the IR.
Multiple bandgap combination of thin film photovoltaic cells and a photoanode for efficient hydrogen and oxygen generation by water splitting

Abstract The objective of this research is to develop cheaper and more efficient photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells for the production of highly pure hydrogen and oxygen by water splitting. FSEC PV Materials Lab has developed PEC set up consisting of two thin film photovoltaic (PV) cells, a RuS 2 photoanode for efficient oxygen evolution and a platinum cathode for hydrogen evolution. A p-type transparent-conducting layer is prepared at the back of PV cell to transmit unabsorbed infrared photons onto the photoanode for efficient oxygen evolution. This paper presents the preparation and characterization of p- type ZnTe:Cu transparent conducting back layer and PEC cell.
A Comparison of Nonverbal Compensatory Behaviors Within Direct Face‐to‐Face and Television‐Mediated Interviews1

A study was performed to compare direct face-to-face and television-mediated interviews with regard to a hypothesized compensatory relationship between intimacy level of conversation topic and individuals' looking and smiling behaviors. Thirty-two male subjects were randomly assigned to one of two communication settings and asked a series of questions that varied according to topic intimacy. Subjects' looking, smiling, talking, and listening times were scored from videotapes made of the interviews. In support of predictions derived from Argyle and Dean's (1965) affiliative-conflict theory, it was observed that a shift in topic intimacy from low to high resulted in a decrease in the percent of time subjects spent looking at the interviewer. Further, the results of the present study replicated those reported by other investigators, indicating that a shift in topic intimacy (1) primarily affects subjects' looking while talking and not looking while listening and (2) does not affect subjects' smiling behavior. With the exception that more looking while listening occurred in the television-mediated interviews than in the direct face-to-face interviews, no differences were found in subjects' behaviors between the two communication conditions. The theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed from the perspective of affiliative-conflict theory and its application to social interactions conducted via two-way television.
Localization of CYP2D16 in the guinea pig adrenal cortex by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization

Recent reports indicate that the cytochrome P450 isozyme, CYP2D16, is expressed at high levels in the inner regions of the guinea pig adrenal cortex and may contribute to xenobiotic and/or steroid metabolism in the gland. In the present studies, immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization techniques were employed to definitively establish the localization of CYP2D16 within the adrenal cortex. In male guinea pigs of various ages, CYP2D16 protein and mRNA were highly localized to the zona reticularis (ZR); none was detectable in the zona fasciculata (ZF), zona glomerulosa (ZG) or the medulla. In contrast, the steroidogenic P450 isozyme, CYP17, was distributed throughout the ZF and ZR. From the earliest stages of development of the ZR, CYP2D16 staining was intense. As guinea pigs aged, the ZR progressively enlarged and comprised a proportionately greater amount of the cortex. At all ages, CYP2D16 was uniformly distributed throughout only the ZR. Coinciding with the age-related growth of the ZR and increase in adrenal CYP2D16 content was an increase in adrenal xenobiotic-metabolizing activity. The results establish that CYP2D16 has an intraadrenal localization that is unique among P450 isozymes, suggesting novel regulatory mechanisms and indicating that CYP2D16 may serve as a specific marker for ZR cells. The increase in CYP2D16 expression with age probably accounts for increasing levels of xenobiotic metabolism and may also contribute to an increase in intraadrenal cortisol degradation in older animals.
Restriction endonuclease mapping and cloning of Mycobacterium intracellulare plasmid pLR7.

Abstract A restriction map of Mycobacterium intracellulare plasmid pLR7 was developed. This 15.3-kb plasmid had unique sites for Bam HI, Hin dIII, and Xba I. Various large fragments of pLR7 were cloned into pBR322 or pHP34 and propagated in Escherichia coli . A hybrid pLR7:: pBR322 plasmid carrying the complete pLR7 sequence was constructed by joining the plasmids at their Hin dIII sites. The construction of these hybrids will facilitate the analysis and manipulation of pLR7 and may allow the development of this plasmid as a model system for genetic analysis in mycobacteria.
Rheological Comparison of Hemoglobin Solutions and Erythrocyte Suspensions

Hemoglobin solutions prepared from hemolyzed human erythrocyte packs have Newtonian flow properties. Diluted solutions are also Newtonian. All solutions have a viscosity lower than the apparent viscosity of erythrocyte suspensions of equal oxygen-carrying capacity. The presence of cell debris in hemoglobin solutions causes non-Newtonian (pseudoplastic or rheopectic) flow behavior.
One-dimensional scale invariant diffusions

Examples of one-dimensional scale invariant diffusions include Brownian motion and Bessel processes. After multiplication by – 1 if necessary, such a diffusion has state space or . Barring singular cases, the diffusion in is shown to be a positive multiple of a Bessel process, up to the first hit of . In it is composed of two pieces “appropriately joined”: the piece in is a positive multiple of a Bessel process and the piece in is a negative multiple of a Bessel process. The key feature here is that the multipliers need not coincide in absolute value, and the parameters of the Bessel processes associated with each piece must have common value in (0,2). In the diffusion is either a positive multiple of a Bessel process absorbed at or such without absorption. We also describe the possibilities in singular cases.
Timing optimization for multisource nets: characterization and optimal repeater insertion

This paper presents new results in the area of timing optimization for multisource nets. The augmented RC-diameter (ARD) is suggested as a natural and practical performance measure and a linear time algorithm for computing the ARD of a multisource net is presented. Building on the ARD measure, we characterize the multisource optimization problem in terms of operations on piece-wise linear functions. This characterization is then used to develop an algorithm for optimal repeater insertion: for a given multisource topology the algorithm efficiently identifies an optimal assignment of repeaters to prescribed insertion points under the "min cost timing feasible" problem formulation. The algorithm has been implemented and computational results demonstrate the viability of the approach.
Matrix Cracking and Delamination in Laminated Composite Beams Subjected to a Transverse Concentrated Line Load

An investigation was performed to study the damage mechanism and mechanics of flat and cylindrical laminated composite beams subjected to transverse con centrated loading. The major focus of the st...
Effect of Ion Exchange on the Microstructure, Strength, and Thermal Expansion Behavior of a Leucite-reinforced Porcelain

Leucite (KAlSi2O6) is used as a reinforcing agent in some porcelains for all-ceramic restorations; however, it increases their coefficients of thermal expansion, imposing constraints on the processing of the material. The potassium ions in leucite are exchangeable for rubidium or cesium ions, leading to rubidium leucite or cesium leucite (pollucite). Both rubidium leucite and pollucite exhibit a lower coefficient of thermal expansion and inversion temperature than leucite. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of rubidium and cesium leucites on thermal expansion, microstructure, crack deflection patterns, and flexural strength of a leucite-reinforced porcelain. A dental porcelain powder was mixed with rubidium or cesium nitrate and heat-treated. Porcelain bars (n = 3) and discs (n = 15) were made with the exchanged powders. X-ray diffraction analyses were performed before and after bars were fired. Controls were made of untreated Optec HSP porcelain powder, formed into bars and disks, and ...
Read range and sensitivity study of RFID temperature sensors

Read range and sensitivity are two important factors that determine the performance of a wireless sensor. In this paper, various passive RFID temperature sensor designs that integrate a water pocket into the antenna substrate as a sensing unit are investigated. For different water pockets used in sensor configurations, a common tradeoff between read range and sensitivity is observed. As a compromise, a configuration with approximately 6m read range at 20°C and sensitivity of 4MHz/10°C is successfully designed.
Damus-Kaye-Stansel procedure: Midterm follow-up and technical considerations

The Damus-Kaye-Stansel operation is useful in the management of complex congenital heart defects. We reviewed our experience with 23 patients who underwent a Damus-Kaye-Stansel procedure. The anastomotic technique was individualized depending on the anatomy. The aortic and pulmonary artery incisions were carried into the sinuses of Valsalva in 9 patients, the aorta was transected in 11 patients, and a patch was used to augment the anastomosis in 13 patients. Concurrent procedures included a Fontan operation (n = 9, mortality = 0), right ventricle-pulmonary artery conduit (n = 5, mortality = 0), bidirectional Glenn procedure (n = 6, mortality = 1), and central aortopulmonary shunt (n = 3, mortality = 2; emergency = 1). Survival is 87% with a median follow-up of 7 years (range, 2 months to 9.2 years). Four patients underwent late revision of the Damus-Kaye-Stansel connection. All survivors are asymptomatic. We conclude that the Damus-Kaye-Stansel connection provides excellent midterm results when the proximal anastomosis is adapted to the anatomy of the patient.
Ultraviolet radiation, toxic chemicals and amphibian population declines

As part of an overall 'biodiversity crisis', many amphibian populations are in decline throughout the world. Numerous factors have contributed to these declines, including habitat destruction, pathogens, increasing ultraviolet (UV) radiation, introduced non-native species and contaminants. In this paper we review the contribution of increasing UV radiation and environmental contamination to the global decline of amphibian populations. Both UV radiation and environmental contaminants can affect amphibians at all life stages. Exposure to UV radiation and to certain contaminants can kill amphibians and induce sublethal affects in embryos, larvae and adults. Moreover, UV radi- ation and contaminants may interact with one another synergistically. Synergistic interactions of UV radiation with contaminants can enhance the detrimental effects of the contaminant and UV radiation.
Neurological manifestations of the Mendelian‐inherited autoinflammatory syndromes

Autoinflammatory syndromes include an expanding list of conditions characterized by unprovoked recurrent attacks of systemic inflammation with lack of auto-antibodies or autoreactive T cells. Many of these syndromes are genetic diseases with a Mendelian inheritance. Neurological manifestations may be one of the major clinical features and, in some cases, the presenting symptom of these syndromes. The purpose of this review is to increase the recognition among neurologists of the Mendelian-inherited autoinflammatory syndromes by highlighting the neurological manifestations in the context of other symptoms that should lead physicians to suspect these syndromes. Most important for neurologists are the cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes that include familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome, Muckle-Wells syndrome and neonatal-onset multisystem inflammatory disease (called chronic infantile neurological cutaneous and articular syndrome in Europe). We also review other syndromes with less common neurological involvement, including familial Mediterranean fever, tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated periodic syndrome, and hyperimmunoglobulinemia D syndrome. Because these syndromes are often treatable and irreversible damage is prevented if they are treated early, it is important to recognize the features that may result in these syndromes presenting to a neurologist, especially in early childhood.
The fit between Strong-Campbell Interest Inventory General Occupational Themes and Holland's hexagonal model

Abstract Using a multidimensional scaling procedure, the present study examined the fit of Holland's RIASEC hexagon model to the internal relationships among the Strong-Campbell Interest Inventory (SCII) General Occupational Theme scales. SCII intercorrelation matrices for both sexes as reported in the SCII Manual were submitted, separately for each sex, to TORSCA 9 nonmetric scaling analysis. The Wakefield and Doughtie procedure was used to compare obtained TORSCA coordinates with expectations from Holland's hexagonal model. As a comparison, identical analyses were performed on Vocational Preference Inventory (VPI) scale intercorrelation matrices, these data having originally served as the basis for advancing the utility of the hexagon model. For females, the SCII-hexagon fit was not good, with a near reversal of the Social and Enterprising scales. For males, the SCII-hexagon fit was good. For either SCII or VPI scales, the female data met expectations from Holland's model less often than the male data. A replication study on SCII data for 305 female clients of a vocational assessment clinic confirmed the previously observed sex differences. Sex differences in the structure of vocational preferences are discussed.
Maternal Obesity-Impaired Insulin Signaling in Sheep and Induced Lipid Accumulation and Fibrosis in Skeletal Muscle of Offspring

The prevalence of maternal obesity is increasing rapidly in recent decades. We previously showed that maternal obesity affected skeletal muscle development during the fetal stage. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of maternal obesity on the skeletal muscle properties of offspring. Ewes were fed a control diet (100% energy requirement, Con) or an obesogenic diet (150% energy requirement, OB) from 2 mo before pregnancy to weaning. After weaning, the offspring lambs were fed a maintenance diet until 19 mo of age and then ad libitum for 12 wk to measure feed intake. At 22 mo old, the longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle was biopsied. The downstream insulin signaling was lower in OB than Con lambs as shown by reduction in the phosphorylation of protein kinase B, mammalian target of rapamycin, and 4-E binding protein 1. On the other hand, the phosphorylation of protein kinase C and insulin receptor substrate 1 was higher in OB compared to Con lambs. More intramuscular adipocytes were observed in OB compared to Con offspring muscle, and the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, an adipocyte marker, was also higher, which was consistent with the higher intramuscular triglyceride content. Both fatty acid transport protein 1 and cluster of differentiation 36 (also known as fatty acid translocase) were increased in the OB group. In addition, higher collagen content was also detected in OB compared to Con offspring. In conclusion, our data show that offspring from obese mothers had impaired insulin signaling in muscle compared with control lambs, which correlates with increased intramuscular triglycerides and higher expression of fatty acid transporters. These data clearly show that maternal obesity impairs the function of the skeletal muscle of offspring, supporting the fetal programming of adult metabolic diseases.
Improving the accuracy of Petri net-based analysis of concurrent programs

Spurious results are an inherent problem of most static analysis methods. These methods, in an effort to produce conservative results, overestimate the executable behavior of a program. Infeasible paths and imprecise alias resolution are the two causes of such inaccuracies. In this paper we present an approach for improving the accuracy of Petri net-based analysis of concurrent programs by including additional program state information in the Petri net. We present empirical results that demonstrate the improvements in accuracy and, in some cases, the reduction in the search space that result from applying this approach to concurrent Ada programs.
A discourse-based consultant for interactive environments

The authors present their automated consultant and describe its application to a practical domain, the Berkeley Unix mail system. They take advantage of previous work on discourse-based assistants that focuses on understanding the user's question and goal, and instead concentrate on the generation of suitable advice. >
Size Comparisons among Integral Membrane Transport Protein Homologues in Bacteria, Archaea, and Eucarya

ABSTRACT Integral membrane proteins from over 20 ubiquitous families of channels, secondary carriers, and primary active transporters were analyzed for average size differences between homologues from the three domains of life: Bacteria, Archaea, andEucarya. The results showed that while eucaryotic homologues are consistently larger than their bacterial counterparts, archaeal homologues are significantly smaller. These size differences proved to be due primarily to variations in the sizes of hydrophilic domains localized to the N termini, the C termini, or specific loops between transmembrane α-helical spanners, depending on the family. Within the Eucarya domain, plant homologues proved to be substantially smaller than their animal and fungal counterparts. By contrast, extracytoplasmic receptors of ABC-type uptake systems inArchaea proved to be larger on average than those of their bacterial homologues, while cytoplasmic enzymes from different organisms exhibited little or no significant size differences. These observations presumably reflect evolutionary pressure and molecular mechanisms that must have been operative since these groups of organisms diverged from each other.
Candida Glabrata and Candida Tropicalis in an Immunocompetent Patient A Case Report

Objective:To report a case of Candida glabrata and tropicalis pneumonia in an immunocompetent patient.Case Summary:A 72-year-old male was transferred from an outside institution due to worsening re...
Symptom Overlap Between Laryngopharyngeal Reflux and Glottic Insufficiency in Vocal Fold Atrophy Patients

Objective:To determine in true vocal fold (TVF) atrophy patients if symptoms of throat clearing and mucus sensation, attributed to laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR), are due to glottic insufficiency. ...
Dynamic Cardiac Imaging Using A Phased-Array Transducer System

Standard one-dimensional, time-motion echocardiography has been extraordinarily useful in the assessment of certain cardiac disorders. This ultrasound technique, unfortunately, is unable to supply detailed information concerning cardiac spatial geometry. As a result, several two-dimensional ultrasound imaging systems have been developed for cardiac use over recent years.
Optimizing the DNA yield for molecular analysis from cytologic preparations.

BACKGROUND Cytology smears and cytospin preparations are increasingly being used for molecular testing. With these limited samples, optimizing tissue extraction to maximize the DNA yield is, therefore, critical. This study examined 2 common methods of tissue extraction and compared DNA yields from different types of glass slides. METHODS The H226 lung cancer cell line and 5 clinical samples of cellular effusions were used to prepare Diff-Quik–stained cytospins on 4 types of glass slides: fully frosted (FF), nonfrosted (NF), positively charged (PC), and silane-coated (SC). Tissue extraction was performed by either scalpel-blade scraping or cell lifting with the Pinpoint Slide DNA Isolation System (Zymo Research). DNA was extracted with the QIAamp DNA Mini Kit (Qiagen) and was quantified with the Quant-iT PicoGreen Kit (Life Technologies). RESULTS The DNA yield in cell-line cytospins was significantly lower from FF slides versus NF, PC, and SC slides with both scraping and cell-lifting methods. In addition, scraping yielded significantly more DNA than cell lifting (P = .005). DNA yields from 5 clinical effusion cases with FF and NF slides showed results similar to the results for cell-line samples, with scraping consistently yielding more DNA than cell lifting and with NF slides outperforming FF slides. CONCLUSIONS Optimizing the DNA yield extracted from cytology specimens maximizes the chances of successful molecular testing and is critical in cases of low or marginal cellularity. This study demonstrates the following: 1) scraping yields more DNA than cell lifting, and 2) NF slides yield more DNA than FF slides. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2015. © 2015 American Cancer Society.
Revision of the Melaloncha cingulata-Group of Bee-Killing Flies (Diptera: Phoridae)

Abstract The species of the Melaloncha cingulata-group are revised. The group consists of two described species, M. cingulata Borgmeier and M. lamellata Borgmeier, plus the following nine new to science: M. crassa, M. elviae, M. hirticula, M. nudibasalis, M. pertica, M. prosopica, M. succincta, M. thompsonae, and M. variabilis. Two monophyletic species groups are proposed: the M. lamellata-subgroup (M. lamellata, M. pertica, and M. thompsonae) and the M. cingulata-subgroup (all other species). Probable stingless bee hosts are identified for three species.
Eradication of polymerase chain reaction-detectable chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells is associated with improved outcome after bone marrow transplantation

In chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), clonal rearrangement of the immunoglobulin heavy chain locus (IgH) provides a useful marker for the detection of minimal residual disease (MRD) after treatment. At the time of initial presentation, DNA from patients with CLL was polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified using consensus Variable (VH) and Joining (JH) region primers using complementarity determining region III consensus region primers or a panel of VH family-specific framework region 1 (FR1) primers. The clonal product was directly sequenced and patient-specific probes constructed using N region nucleotide sequences. We amplified and sequenced the CDRIII region and designed patient specific oligonucleotide probes for the detection of MRD in 55 of 66 patients (84%, 90% Confidence Intervals (CI): 74% to 90%) with poor prognosis CLL referred for autologous and allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). To determine the clinical utility of this technique, PCR amplification was performed on patient samples at the time of and following autologous (21 patients) and allogeneic (10 patients) BMT in whom serial bone marrow samples obtained after BMT were available for analysis. We show that the persistence of MRD after BMT is associated with increased probability of relapse. In all cases that have relapsed to date, the IgH CDRII region was identical at the time of initial presentation and at relapse suggesting that clonal evolution of the IgH locus is unusual in this disease. The finding that a significant number of patients remain disease free and with no evidence of PCR-detectable MRD after BMT suggests that high-dose therapy may contribute to improved outcome in selected patients with CLL.
Phenotypes in insect biodiversity research

Recent advances in Web technology and information sciences, especially the development of knowledge representation systems---ontology languages (Web Ontology Language) and syntaxes (Manchester syntax)---are now infiltrating the world of insect biodiversity research. Data generated from taxonomic revisions, comparative morphology studies, and other enterprises now have the potential to be shared broadly and to be computed across---i.e., they are rendered semantic---in order to address questions relevant to multiple domains in the life sciences. In this chapter we describe the philosophy behind these new tools, the mechanisms by which they operate, and the real and future benefits of the semantic representation of phenotype data (e.g., standardization of terminology). We provide examples using real data and describe some limitations of semantic phenotype annotations.
Alteration in Amniotic Fluid Volume and Other Findings in Meclizine Hydrochloride Induced Anomalies

SummaryMeclizine, administered to pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats on the 12th, 13th and 14th days of gestation in a dosage (50 mg per day), which induced palatal clefts in almost one hundred percent of the fetuses, resulted in a significantly elevated volume of amniotic fluid on the 15th day of gestation. Thereafter, progressive decline to a normal value on the 18th gestational day and a significantly depressed amniotic fluid volume on the 19th day of gestation occurred. Fetal weights were approximately the same in experimental and control animals. The weights of the placenta and fetal membranes combined were significantly less than normal on the 16th, 17th, 18th, and 19th days of gestation. Possible mechanisms by which the alterations in amniotic fluid were effected are discussed.
Archaism or Tradition?: The Decapitation Theme in Cupisnique and Moche Iconography

The Cupisnique (ca. 1000-200 B. C.) and the Moche (ca. 100 B. C.-A. D. 800) inhabited much of the same territory of Peru's north coast in Precolumbian times, and both are noted for their extraordinary and distinct artistry. Despite the distinctiveness of the two art styles, various similarities between them have been noted. One investigation concluded that archaistic copying was the explanation for the similarities (Rowe 1971). In contrast, the present study arrives at the opposite interpretation: that the Moche knew the symbolic content of the earlier images and retained it. Decapitation is a concept that is essentially pan-Andean and, therefore, it is not surprising that both the Cupisnique and the Moche subscribed to it. What is surprising, particularly in view of the universality of the idea, is that both groups employed virtually the same cast of characters. This paper demonstrates a continuity of belief between Cupisnique and Moche societies through an investigation of the Decapitator theme.
Two-dimensional bimetallic carbonyl cluster complexes with new properties and reactivities.

The new electron-rich, anionic, planar cluster complex [IrRu6(CO)23]−, 5, isolated as a PPN salt, PPN = [Ph3PNPPh3 ]+, has been synthesized and characterized crystallographically. The complex exhibits unusual absorption and emission properties. Computational analyses have been performed to explain its metal–metal bonding and electronic properties. Anion 5 reacts with [Ph3PAu][NO3] to yield the uncharged planar complex Ru5Ir(CO)20AuPPh3, 6, by metal atom substitution.
Different Approaches to the Choice of Coordinate System for Left-Ventricular FE-Mesh Generation

The modern in-vivo evaluation of cardiac patho-physiology requires the integration of different data on cardiac function, tissue characterization, perfusion etc. and aims at the extraction of relevant physiological parameters that combine these data. For these purposes, the use of finite element (FE) models is becoming an increasingly important part of cardiac analysis [1].© 2008 ASME
Investigation and analysis on the quality control of apparatus of radio diagnosis and radiotherapy in Beijing Municipal

Objective:The basic status of quality control of apparatus of radio diagnosis and radiotherapy in Beijing were mastered to promote and guide the radiation protection work efficiently.Methods:110 devices of radio diagnosis and radiotherapy from 38 typical medical institutions were selected as the research object,and their key performances were determined and tested by using the appropriate surveying instruments,then they were evaluated according to the national related technical criterions and protection standards.Results:The initial total qualified rate of the 110 sets of radio diagnosis and radiotherapy apparatus was 79.1%,and the initial qualified rates for radio diagnosis equipment,radiotherapy equipment and nuclear medicine equipment(PET and SPECT) were 82.5%,70.8%and 66.7%respectively.The total qualified rate of all the devices was 95.5%after being debugged and rechecked.The local practical quality control conditions of radio diagnosis and radiotherapy can be reflected from the 38 medical institutions and their medical radiation equipments surveyed in Beijing.Conclusion:The initial examination of performances of the110 medical radiation devices in Beijing is not optimistic,it is very necessary to strengthen the quality control testing of radio diagnosis and radiotherapy devices.
SWOT Analysis for Development of Leisure Agriculture in Hunan Province and Its Strategies

Development of leisure agriculture plays an important role in promoting development of rural production and enhancing the living standards of farmers.The strength,weakness,opportunity and threat of development of leisure agriculture in Hunan Province were analyzed by SWOT method,and according to the factors which restricted the development of leisure agriculture in Hunan Province,some strategies were proposed as follows: strengthening government guidance,scientifically planning layout,enhancing operation level,perfecting communal infrastructure,mining local cultural resources,and reinforcing market popularization.
Polymers with tertiary amine groups for drug delivery and bioimaging

Over the past decade, biopolymers have gained great interests especially in biomedicine due to their physical properties and/or chemical structures changes in response to external stimuli in a certain time frame or at a specific location. Among them, poly(β-amino ester)s, methacrylate-based block copolymers and polypeptide with tertiary amine groups have been extensively studied and exhibit pH sensitive properties due to the protonation of tertiary amine groups. The pH values in normal organs, tissues, and subcellular compartments are always different from those in pathological tissues. These interesting properties allow their applications in a variety of fields ranging from diagnosis and therapeutics of diseases. Here, we review the recent progress of poly(β-amino ester)s, methacrylate-based block copolymers and polypeptide with tertiary amine groups and their applications in drug delivery and bioimaging.
Quickies: Six Pieces of Debugging Advice

Some aspects of debugging can be learned by reading Microsoft’s product documentation. Study http://msdn.microsoft.com closely enough and you’ll learn all about the latest technological advances in debugging. But some aspects of debugging can be learned only through experience, or at least by listening to an experienced colleague. That’s where you learn the principles that help you approach debugging problems more efficiently from the very start.
What We Know and What We Have Left to Learn

When John Penney and I went to join the faculty in the Neurology Department at the University of Michigan in 1978, we started a movement disorders clinic and established a laboratory to study the neurotransmitter pathways involved in the control of movements. At the time, there existed a disconnect between neurophysiologists and neuropharmacologists. For the most part, the motor physiologists paid little attention to the transmitters used at various synapses but focused instead on the electrical responses of individual neurons (with intracellular recording) and populations of neurons (with extracellular recordings). Other neuroscientists focused on the classical methods of neuropathology and anatomy. Many of these individuals were basic scientists and neurologists. The classic physiologists and anatomists emphasized the cortico-striatal-pallido-thalamo-cortical circuits (Kemp and Powell, 1971) but paid little attention to the dopamine nigrostriatal pathway. Conversely, the neuropharmacologists paid only rudimentary attention to the anatomy and physiology but rather examined the effects of drugs on various biochemical and behavioral responses. This group was composed primarily of basic scientists and psychiatrists. They focused on the nigrostriatal-nigral circuit (McGeer and McGeer, 1976). Jack and I saw an opportunity, by combining experimental neuropathologic and neuropharmacologic viewpoints, to lend a new approach to studying the functional neuroanatomy of motor pathways.
The Fossil Record and the History of Life

The fossil record is an amazing testimony to the power of evolution, with documentation of evolutionary transitions that Darwin could have only dreamed about.
Cold Comfort: Empathy and Memory in an Archaic Funerary Monument from Akraiphia

Focusing on a single funerary monument of the late archaic period, this paper shows how such a monument could be used by a bereaved individual to externalize and communalize the cognitive, perceptual, and emotional effects of loss. Through a close examination of the monument’s sculpted relief and inscribed epigram, I identify a structural framework underlying both that is built around a disjunction between perception and cognition embedded in the self-identified function of the monument as a mnema or memory-object. Through the analysis of other epigrams and literary passages, this disjunctive framework is shown to be derived, in turn, from broader conceptualizations in archaic Greece about how both mental images, including memories, and works of art allowed continued visual, but not cognitive-affective, access to the deceased. From this perspective, the monument’s relief opens up to us the experience of the bereaved individual who is only able to connect with the deceased through a remembered mental image.
Cost-Effectiveness of Left Ventricular Assist Devices in Ambulatory Patients With Advanced Heart Failure

Abstract Objectives This study assessed the cost-effectiveness of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) as destination therapy in ambulatory patients with advanced heart failure. Background LVADs improve survival and quality of life in inotrope-dependent heart failure, but data are limited as to their value in less severely ill patients. Methods We determined costs of care among Medicare beneficiaries before and after LVAD implantation from 2009 to 2010. We used these costs and efficacy data from published studies in a Markov model to project the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of destination LVAD therapy compared with that of medical management. We discounted costs and benefits at 3% annually and report costs as 2016 U.S. dollars. Results The mean cost of LVAD implantation was $175,420. The mean cost of readmission was lower before LVAD than after ($12,377 vs. $19,465, respectively; p Conclusions LVADs in non–inotrope-dependent heart failure patients improved quality of life but substantially increased lifetime costs because of frequent readmissions and costly follow-up care. LVADs may provide good value if outpatient costs and adverse events can be reduced.
Moderators of the relationship between frequent family demands and inflammation among adolescents.

Objective Frequent demands from others in relationships are associated with worse physiological and health outcomes. The present research investigated 2 potential moderators of the relationship between frequency of demands from one's family and inflammatory profiles among adolescents: (a) closeness of adolescents' relationships with their families, and (b) the frequency with which adolescents provided help to their families. Method Two hundred thirty-four adolescents, ages 13-16 (Mage = 14.53; 47.83% male), completed a daily dairy in which they reported on the frequency of demands made by family members. They were also interviewed about the closeness of their family relationships and reported in the daily diary on how frequently they provided help to their families. Adolescents also underwent a blood draw to assess low-grade inflammation and proinflammatory cytokine production in response to bacterial stimulation. Results More frequent demands from family predicted higher levels of low-grade inflammation and cytokine production in response to bacterial stimulation in adolescents. Family closeness moderated the relationship between frequent demands and stimulated cytokine production such that more frequent demands predicted higher cytokine production among adolescents who were closer to their families. Furthermore, frequency of providing help moderated the relationship between frequent demands and both low-grade inflammation and stimulated cytokine production, such that more frequent demands predicted worse inflammatory profiles among adolescents who provided more help to their families. Conclusions These findings build on previous work on family demands and health to show under what circumstances family demands might have a physiological cost. (PsycINFO Database Record
The Impact of Teacher Language and Growth Mindset Feedback on Writing Motivation

In recent years, many students have developed a fixed mindset as a result of the national focus on raising test scores. The present study aims to investigate the effects of teacher language and the...
The genome—seeing it clearly now

It is a curious fact that in many fields of science, central questions that one might assume to have been answered decades ago remain perennially unresolved. In genome biology, one such cornerstone problem has been how DNA is organized in an intact cell nucleus. This conundrum is an important and intriguing one because the human genome is over 2 m in length and yet it is packed into a cellular compartment that is merely about 10 µm in diameter. On page 370 of this issue, Ou et al. ( 1 ) now take a major step toward answering this foundational question.
Learning from Refusal

A 62-year-old man was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis caused by hepatitis C, and hepatocellular cancer. He received intra-arterial cytotoxic therapy. At the follow-up visit, 2 months later, he was offered a liver transplant. He informed the transplant coordinator that he accepts transplantation, but that he would not accept blood transfusions. He explained that his refusal of blood products was based on religious beliefs.
Effects of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals on Penile Tissue Development, Histoarchitecture, and Erectile Physiology

Abstract The penis is a hydromechanical pump with unique and complex structural elements that are required for maintaining its physiological function. Penile erection is a complex neurophysiological process that depends on integration of signaling from hormones, neurotransmittersand vascular factors. The endocrine system produces a host of hormones critical for cellular differentiation during penile development in the young and maintaining cellular homeostasis and erectile physiology during adulthood. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) produce lasting and significant impact on penile development in the young and alter penile physiology in adulthood, with a negative impact on erectile function. EDCs are known to interrupt hormone biosynthesis and also interact with members of the steroid/thyroid hormone receptor superfamily. Disruption of hormone biosynthesis and interfering with hormone receptor interactions and signaling likely contribute to penile malformation during development and abnormal physiological function in the adult. Penile erection depends on release of neurotransmitters, such as neural and endothelial nitric oxide, and the function of the vascular endothelium, the trabecular smooth muscle, and adequate tissue elasticity to ensure compliance and maintain erection. EDCs produce a host of alterations in penile histoarchitecture and produce deformities in penile structural elements and negatively impact erectile physiology resulting in venoocclusive dysfunction and erectile dysfunction. In this chapter we reviewed the available data in the contemporary literature pertaining to endocrine disruption of tissue development, resulting in penile malformation in the young and the effects of endocrine disruption on erectile physiology in the adult male. A body of evidence exists indicating that EDCs exert a negative impact on erectile tissue development as well as erectile physiology.
Finite Position Synthesis of 5-SS Platform Linkages Including Partially Specified Joint Locations

A 5-SS platform linkage generates a one-degree-of-freedom motion of a moving platform such that each of five moving points on the platform is constrained on a sphere, or in its degenerated case, on a plane. It has been well established a 5-SS platform linkage can be made to guide though seven positions exactly. This paper investigates the cases when the number of given positions are less than seven that allows for partial specification of locations of the moving points. A recently developed novel algorithm with linear structure in the design equations has been extended for the solution of the problem. The formulation of this expanded motion generation problem unifies the treatment of the input positions and constraints on the moving and fixed joints associated with the 5-SS platform linkage. Numerical examples are provided to show the effectiveness of the unified algorithm.Copyright © 2017 by ASME