cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
P033 Transcranial direct current stimulation in a mouse model of traumatic brain injury

Introduction Traumatic brain injury (TBI) causes long-term neurological disability in 7% of survivors for which there is no clinically proven therapies. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a prospective treatment currently being clinically tested in TBI patients. However, due to a lack of animal studies, the mechanisms and optimal stimulation parameters for tDCS are unknown. Objectives Our objective is to evaluate mechanisms and the efficacy of tDCS in a mouse model of TBI. We hypothesized that tDCS, applied during recovery phase after TBI, improves long-term neurologic outcome involving a sustained increase in cerebral blood flow (CBF). Materials & methods TBI was induced by controlled cortical impact (CCI) with a Benchmark Controlled Cortical Stereotaxic Impactor using a 3-mm flat-tip impounder deployed at a velocity of 5 m/s and a depth of 2.0 mm from the cortical surface. Pre-trained mice were subjected to TBI and tested at 3 weeks after trauma by Rotarod for neurologic motor deficits. Anodal tDCS (0.1 mA/15 min) or sham stimulation were applied every day for 4 days, starting 2 weeks after TBI. Using in vivo 2-photon laser scanning microscopy over the parietal cortex we monitored changes in microvascular blood flow and tissue oxygenation (NADH) before and after tDCS treatment. Results Anodal tDCS improved motor function in mice after TBI compared to sham treated mice as shown by latency to fall from the rotating rod (75.4 ± 12 s. vs. 55.6 ± 16 s, n = 4, P Conclusions tDCS acutely increases brain microvascular flow and tissue oxygenation that could contribute to neurologic improvement after TBI. The vasodilation observed may be mediated by tDCS-stimulated nitric oxide release. Support NIH-NIGMS P20GM109089-01A1, Rio Grande Neurosciences.
PhenomenaAssociater: Linking Multi-domain Spatio-Temporal Datasets

This paper focuses on the demonstration of an analytics dashboard application for analyzing interesting spatio-temporal associations between anomalies across multiple spatio-temporal datasets, potentially from disparate domains, to find interesting hidden relationships. The proposed system is intended to analyze spatio-temporal data across multiple phenomena from disparate domains (for example traffic and weather) to identify interesting phenomena relationships by linking anomalies from each of these domain datasets. This web-based dashboard application developed in R Shiny [1] provides interactive visualizations to quantify the multi-domain associations. The application uses a novel framework of algorithms and quantification metrics to associate these anomalies across multiple domains using spatial and temporal proximity and influence metrics.
113-P: TCR REPERTOIRE AS A BIOMARKER FOR CHIMERIC KIDNEY RECIPIENTS BENEFITING FROM FACILITATING CELL-ENRICHED STEM CELL TRANSPLANTATION

Aim In recent publication we reported that durable chimerism and tolerance can be achieved with minimal toxicity and without GVHD in highly-mismatched transplant (Tx) recipients through low intensity conditioning and a living donor kidney Tx with a dose of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) enriched for facilitating cells (FC) (Sci. Transl. Med. 2012; 4 (124): 124re28). We herein present data evaluating TCR expression as a biomarker for chimeric immune reconstitution in patients with ⩾ 2 years of follow up. Methods Four patients were randomly selected from the study by STR analysis. Two had achieved full chimerism and the other two did not. Peripheral blood samples were freshly obtained from donors and recipients and T-cell subsets were isolated using MACs microbead system. DNA was extracted and sequenced by ImmunoSeq (Adaptive Biotech) to evaluate TCR clonal repertoires in recipients. Results Even though the clone diversity in TCR repertoire was reduced in post-Tx recipients (0.9 ± 0.05 pre-Tx vs. 0.79 ± 0.09 post-Tx), the repertoire was diverse enough to suggest recovery of immune competence. Interestingly, at least 97% of the unique sequences observed in post-Tx recipient were not present in either donor or recipient pre-Tx. Within the pool of shared sequences, full chimerism correlated with a shift towards homology with the donor, while loss of chimerism with recipient pre-Tx. In addition, the chimeric patients also exhibited reduced diversity of TCR sequences and increased clonality. Top 20 “high frequency” clones are most stably expressed. CD8+ cells had highest number of “high frequency” clones (CD8+ > PBMC > CD127-CD4+CD25- > CD127-CD4+CD25+ Tregs). Notably, the pattern of “low frequency” clones was highest in CD127-CD4+CD25+ Treg subset indicating extensive and rapidly changing TCR repertoire. Conclusions The HLA-mismatched kidney recipient benefiting from infusion of FC-containing HSC ensure a new and extensive TCR repertoire that partially resembles that of the donor. Ildstad: Regenerex LLC: Other: Chief Scientific Officer.
PACS Research and Development — A Review and Perspective

This paper describes the preparation, planning, and scientific program of the NATO Advanced Science Institute (ASI): Picture Archiving and Communication Systems in Medicine held in Evian, France from October 14–26, 1990. The three methods of PACS research and development based on the organization are described. The basic PACS components are reviewed along with some current designed concepts. The scientific program is organized in four categories: PACS components and system integration, PACS and related research in various countries and manufacturers, clinical experience and PACS research support, and participants scientific communication and workshop.
Cost-effectiveness of intermediate or long-acting insulin versus Exenatide in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients not optimally controlled on dual oral diabetes medications

Objective: To better understand exenatide’s role in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, this analysis assessed its cost-effectiveness in comparison to an intermediate (NPH) and long-acting insulin (glargine). Exenatide is a recently approved medication for the treatment of type 2 diabetes for use in addition to frequently used oral diabetes medications.Methods: Two studies were identified by a Medline search (1996-Oct 2005) that were similar in study duration, baseline glycemic control, population size, and primary outcomes to appropriately assess the cost-effectiveness of either insulin in comparison to exenatide on both glycemic and weight control.Results: Both NPH and glargine appear to be more cost effective than exenatide with respect to glycemic control (incremental CE ratios -1,968 and -65,520 respectively). Exenatide appears to be more cost effective for reductions in body weight than either NPH (CE ratio 235) or glargine (CE ratio 128).Conclusions Compared to intermediate and long-acting insulin therapies, exenatide does not appear to be as cost effective for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
Cancer-salient messaging for Human Papillomavirus vaccine uptake: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract Background and objectives Vaccination with Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is recommended for 11–12 years-old, but uptake is suboptimal. Current messaging focuses on HPV infection transmission and prevention. Parents and providers are often uncomfortable discussing sexual practices of adolescents, contributing to the delay/refusal of vaccine. We created a cervical cancer-salient message encouraging HPV vaccination, emphasizing disease salience and disease threat, while promoting self-efficacy. We hypothesized this message would have greater effects on vaccine confidence and intent to vaccinate compared to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and non-vaccine control messages. Methods A 3-arm randomized trial was conducted. Parents of girls aged 9–17 were eligible for the study. We measured participants’ vaccine confidence and intent to vaccinate at baseline and post intervention message. Recruitment and surveys were administered online through Amazon Mechanical Turk. Results 762 participants completed both surveys. We saw modest increases in vaccine confidence when comparing cervical cancer arm and control arm, and CDC arm and control arm; estimates were not statistically significant. The odds of reporting intent to vaccinate among the cervical cancer message arm were 1.13 times the odds of reporting intent to vaccinate in the control arm (95% CI: 0.30. 4.29). Intent to vaccinate was also not statistically significantly different between CDC message arm and control arm (OR = 1.25, 95%CI: 0.66, 2.37). Conclusion Neither message had effect on intent to vaccinate, highlighting need for research to identify successful messaging strategies for HPV. Exploratory analyses suggest among parents with ‘Low’ vaccine confidence at baseline, the cervical cancer framed message may be more effective in changing intention than the CDC message or non-vaccine control. Future work should target groups with ‘Low’ or ‘Medium’ vaccine confidence at baseline - they may be more amenable to change, and more receptive to disease-salient messaging. Clinical Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov , Reference #: NCT03002324 .
Physiological Responsivity to a Socially Stressful Situation: The Effect of Level of Moral Development

The present study sought to determine whether or not a personality variable, the level of moral development, was related to the way in which individuals respond to socially taboo words. As a result of their responses to a moral judgment questionnaire based on Kohlberg’s theory of moral development, 28 participants were assigned to one of two groups: (a) the conventional level group (Stages 3 and 4), a level that is desirous of maintaining social mores for their own sake, and (b) the postconventional level group (Stage 6), a mentality that emphasizes one’s own autonomy with regard to the adherence to social rules. Participants’ galvanic skin responses were assessed while they viewed 18 socially taboo and neutral words presented sequentially via a memory drum. As expected, participants’ GSRs to taboo words were significantly greater than their responses to neutral words, p <.05. Additionally, as hypothesized, the conventional level participants demonstrated significantly greater GSRs to socially taboo words than did the more morally autonomous postconventional participants. These findings support Kohlberg’s theory. Some practical applications of the present study are also discussed.
Textual analysis: from philology to corpus linguistics

In the pre-electronic era, textual analysis was largely a matter of analyzing “static” texts, i.e., texts produced by writers at a given point in time. For instance, Otto Jespersen’s (1909–1949) seven volume A Modern English Grammar on Historical Principles is based on a large collection of written texts (e.g. novels, essays, newspaper articles) that Jespersen used for examples and as the basis of generalizations that he made about the structure of the English language. Technology, however, has greatly changed how we view the text: it is no longer an isolated entity existing only in printed form and accessible only through tedious manual analysis. Instead, when a text is encoded in computerreadable form and becomes part of an electronic corpus, it can be subjected to many different kinds of linguistic analysis. In my chapter, I will focus on how the field of corpus linguistics has greatly changed the potential for textual analysis, moving us beyond traditional philological analyses of “dead” texts to analyses that highlight the dynamic nature of language. For instance, traditional research in historical linguistics has focused mainly on structures found in a series of largely canonical written texts. However, because the Corpus of Early English Correspondence contains texts (e.g. personal letters) written between 1440–1800 that are very close to spoken language, analyses of this corpus can give us a sense of what the spoken language of this period might have been like, and additionally, can help us track changes in the language as they occurred in correspondence written by males and females belonging to different social classes. More synchronically oriented corpora permit similar kinds of analyses, primarily because they contain spoken as well as written language, and are encoded in a manner permitting easy access to the information in them. In short, current linguistic corpora are giving us unprecedented views into the structure of English used in diverse contexts at various times in its history by differing speakers and writers.
Cardiac desensitization to adenosine analogues after prolonged R-PIA infusion in vivo

To determine the effects of chronic in vivo stimulation of adenosine receptors, R-(-)-N6-(2-phenylisopropyl)adenosine (R-PIA), a selective A1 receptor agonist, was administered to rats as a continuous 7-day infusion (200 nmol/h). Inotropic and chronotropic responses of isolated atria to adenosine receptor agonists were markedly desensitized compared with the responses of atria from age-matched control animals. Carbachol's negative chronotropic effect was also attenuated, indicating a heterologous mode of desensitization. Antagonist radioligand binding assays indicated a 52% reduction in A1 adenosine receptor maximum binding, and competition binding assays revealed a significant loss of G protein-coupled high-affinity A1 receptors in atria from R-PIA-treated rats. Inhibitory G proteins (Gi) were significantly reduced, as quantified by immunoblot analysis, with no change in the amount of stimulatory G proteins. Ventricular membranes from R-PIA rats showed loss of Gi and uncoupling of A1 receptors, without a significant change in A1 receptor density. Thus chronic R-PIA infusion desensitized rat atrial muscle to the effects of adenosine receptor agonists via several regulatory adaptations, including downregulation of A1 adenosine receptors, uncoupling of A1 receptors from their associated G proteins, and loss of Gi proteins.
Controls on the Fate of Dissolved Organic Carbon Under Contrasting Upwelling Conditions

To understand controls on the production and remineralization of recalcitrant dissolved organic carbon produced in association with positive net community production, we simulated upwelling systems of different intensities by combining and incubating whole seawater collected from different depths in the Florida Strait (27˚N, ~79˚W). The natural microbial communities in the treatments grew under controlled light and temperature for 15 days (i.e., the autotrophic phase); they were subsequently incubated for 35 days in the dark heterotrophic phase. We analyzed the phytoplankton composition and pigment fluorescence intensity during the light phase, and dissolved organic and inorganic variables during both phases. Initial high or low availability of inorganic nutrients controlled phytoplankton growth and the magnitude of NCP. In the strong upwelling treatment, with higher initial inorganic nutrients, 25% of NCP accumulated as DOC after 15 days; however, this material was in turn fully remineralized during the dark phase. In contrast, low nutrients in the weak upwelling treatment not only limited NCP, but also the fraction of NCP accumulated as DOC (11%). Surprisingly, most of this fraction resisted microbial remineralization in the dark phase, suggesting that upwellings of different intensities affect the quality of dissolved organic matter produced, thereby affecting the timing and location of its remineralization and, hence, its prospects for export to the deep ocean.
“That’s the Point of Going”: A Qualitative Inquiry Into the Experiences of Black Males at an Early College High School:

Early college high schools are small schools designed to increase college and career readiness for groups underrepresented in higher education. While some research has focused on student experience...
Object-based world modeling in semi-static environments with dependent Dirichlet process mixtures

To accomplish tasks in human-centric indoor environments, agents need to represent and understand the world in terms of objects and their attributes. We consider how to acquire such a world model via noisy perception and maintain it over time, as objects are added, changed, and removed in the world. Previous work framed this as multiple-target tracking problem, where objects are potentially in motion at all times. Although this approach is general, it is computationally expensive. We argue that such generality is not needed in typical world modeling tasks, where objects only change state occasionally. More efficient approaches are enabled by restricting ourselves to such semi-static environments. We consider a previously-proposed clustering-based world modeling approach that assumed static environments, and extend it to semi-static domains by applying a dependent Dirichlet process (DDP) mixture model. We derive a novel MAP inference algorithm under this model, subject to data association constraints. We demonstrate our approach improves computational performance for world modeling in semi-static environments.
3.14 Molecular Simulation Methods to Investigate Protein Adsorption Behavior at the Atomic Level

Although protein adsorption to biomaterial surfaces is widely recognized as being an important mediator of biological response, a molecular-level understanding of protein–surface interactions is still lacking. Molecular simulation provides a means to study and understand these types of processes at the molecular level. Before this potential can be realized, however, appropriate methods must first be developed to enable protein adsorption behavior to be accurately represented in a molecular simulation. This article begins with an overview of some of the fundamentals of protein adsorption. It then introduces the field of molecular simulation and covers a series of topics regarding how molecular simulations are performed, with specific focus on three of the most important issues for the simulation of protein adsorption behavior: force field parameterization, representation of solvent effects, and sampling of the molecular system. A summary is then presented regarding how these methods have been developed and applied to simulate protein–surface interactions over the past two decades. This is followed by a discussion of the key areas for the continued development of molecular simulation methods toward the goal of providing these methods as powerful tools to guide the design of biomaterial surfaces to control protein adsorption behavior for a broad range of applications in biomedical engineering and biotechnology.
Hardly Silent: Exploring Civic Engagement and Participation among a Panel of Adults Ages 85+

The past twenty years have seen a surge of resources for and public attention devoted to civic participation opportunities for older adults in the United States. At the same time, technology has tr...
Meta-Reinforcement Learning Robust to Distributional Shift via Model Identification and Experience Relabeling

Reinforcement learning algorithms can acquire policies for complex tasks autonomously. However, the number of samples required to learn a diverse set of skills can be prohibitively large. While meta-reinforcement learning methods have enabled agents to leverage prior experience to adapt quickly to new tasks, their performance depends crucially on how close the new task is to the previously experienced tasks. Current approaches are either not able to extrapolate well, or can do so at the expense of requiring extremely large amounts of data for on-policy meta-training. In this work, we present model identification and experience relabeling (MIER), a meta-reinforcement learning algorithm that is both efficient and extrapolates well when faced with out-of-distribution tasks at test time. Our method is based on a simple insight: we recognize that dynamics models can be adapted efficiently and consistently with off-policy data, more easily than policies and value functions. These dynamics models can then be used to continue training policies and value functions for out-of-distribution tasks without using meta-reinforcement learning at all, by generating synthetic experience for the new task.
Development of the cochlea

The cochlea, a coiled structure located in the ventral region of the inner ear, acts as the primary structure for the perception of sound. Along the length of the cochlear spiral is the organ of Corti, a highly derived and rigorously patterned sensory epithelium that acts to convert auditory stimuli into neural impulses. The development of the organ of Corti requires a series of inductive events that specify unique cellular characteristics and axial identities along its three major axes. Here, we review recent studies of the cellular and molecular processes regulating several aspects of cochlear development, such as axial patterning, cochlear outgrowth and cellular differentiation. We highlight how the precise coordination of multiple signaling pathways is required for the successful formation of a complete organ of Corti.
Synthesis runs counter to the directional folding pathway of a nascent protein domain

Folding of individual domains in large proteins occurs during translation, helping to avoid otherwise prevalent inter-domain misfolding. How folding intermediates observed in vitro for the majority of proteins relate to co-translational folding remains unclear. Combining in vivo and single-molecule experiments, we followed the co-translational folding of the G-domain, encompassing the first 293 amino acids of elongation factor G. Surprisingly, the G-domain remains unfolded until it is fully synthesized, without collapsing into molten globule-like states or forming stable intermediates. Upon fully emerging from the ribosome, the G-domain transitions to its stable native structure via folding intermediates. Our results suggest a strictly sequential folding pathway that initiates from the C-terminus and thus runs counter to synthesis. The folding mechanism is likely imposed by the final structure and might have evolved to ensure efficient, timely folding of a highly abundant and essential protein.
Endoscopic epitympanic exploration in mucosal chronic otitis media: is canal wall up mastoidectomy really needed?

Objective To compare endoscopic epitympanic exploration with conventional canal wall up (cortical) mastoidectomy for mucosal chronic otitis media in terms of post-operative outcomes. Methods Seventy-six patients diagnosed with chronic otitis media (mucosal variety) were randomly assigned to two treatment groups: endoscopic epitympanic exploration and conventional canal wall up (cortical) mastoidectomy. The groups were compared in terms of: post-operative anatomical outcomes (graft uptake), middle-ear physiological outcomes (post-operative tympanometry), audiological outcomes (air–bone gap), surgical time, post-operative pain, vertigo, and long-term complications such as retraction pocket and re-perforation. Results There was a statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of mean air–bone gap at 12 months, surgical time, and median post-operative pain measured at 6 hours (p < 0.05). No statistically significant differences were noted in terms of: graft uptake at 1, 3 and 6 months, mean air–bone gap at 3 and 6 months, tympanometry at 3, 6 and 12 months, vertigo at 1 week, or long-term complications. Conclusion Endoscopic epitympanic exploration resulted in significantly better long-term audiological outcomes, shorter operating time and less pain compared with conventional canal wall up (cortical) mastoidectomy.
Understanding knowledge use for sustainability

Abstract Scientific research is increasingly motivated to produce knowledge for sustainability decision-making and action. This is driving some funders, academic institutions, and researchers to pursue research approaches that are more interactive with potential users of the knowledge created. Yet despite compelling evidence that these more collaborative approaches lead to increased use, it remains unclear what constitutes use and how to evaluate its societal impact. To understand knowledge utilization better, we use data from in-depth interviews of research project team leaders funded through an applied coastal research program in the United States. We show that, empirically, what constitutes ‘use’ remains elusive: researchers believe that their efforts yield usable knowledge that is impactful but find it difficult to provide clear descriptions about specific uses, user identities, attribution, and evidence of broader outcomes. We argue that rather than an impediment to understanding knowledge utilization, these findings may suggest the inherent messiness of knowledge production and use. These results build on prior findings about the methodological obstacles to studying or explaining knowledge utilization and offer new insight into factors that shape the linking of sustainability knowledge and action.
THE APPLICATION OF DIAKOPTICS TO THE SOLUTION OF LARGE NETWORKS

It is the objective of this paper to summarize the theory of Diakoptics or tearing as applied to electric networks and to review applications in the realm of this author's experience.
Charles W. Dohner, PhD: an evaluator and mentor in medical education.

As one of the first generation medical education pioneers, Charles W. Dohner, PhD established the ninth office of medical education at the University of Washington (UW) where he served as chairman from 1967–1996. With a background in education and measurement, he focused his work on evaluation of educational programs and faculty development. The Department of Medical Education went through three distinct stages of development: path finding 1967–1972 focused on developing working relationships with the faculty and clarifying identity, integration into academic affairs 1972–1980, and direct leadership by department faculty 1980–1996. Dohner helped to create and evaluate the WAMI program, a regional medical education program for the states of Washington, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho. He served as a consultant to aspecialty board, the founding president of the Society of Directors of Research in Medical Education, and a frequent consultant in international medical education. Dohner identified three important innovations in medical education: educators in academic medicine, simulations and performance assessment, and community-based medical education. Success factors for professional education include technical competence in education, interpersonal communication and collaboration skills, a plan for personal growth, and use of mentors. Future trends in medical education will involve information technology, professionalism, wellness and complementary medicine, and performance assessment. He has been a passionate spokesman for excellence in medical education and most noted for his roles as an evaluator, program developer, and mentor of academic leaders.
Microcosm for assessing survival of genetically engineered microorganisms in aquatic environments

Laboratory-contained microcosms are important for studying the fate and survival of genetically engineered microorganisms. In this study, we describe a simple aquatic microcosm that utilizes survival chambers in a flowthrough or static renewal system. The model was used to study the survival of genetically engineered and wild-type strains of Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas putida in the lake water environment. Temperature-dependent studies indicated that the genetically engineered microorganisms survived better or at least as well as their wild-type counterparts at 15, 25, and 30 degrees C. The genetic determinants of the genetically engineered microorganisms also remained fairly stable within the host cell under the tested conditions. In the presence of organisms indigenous to lake water, E. coli was eliminated after 20 days, whereas P. putida showed an initial decline but was able to stabilize its population after 5 days. A herbicide, Hydrothol-191, caused a significant decline in numbers of P. putida, but no significant difference was observed between the genetically engineered microorganisms and the wild-type strain. The microcosm described is simple, can be easily adapted to study a variety of environmental variables, and has the advantage that the organisms tested are constantly exposed to test waters that are continuously renewed.
Set-membership filtering strategies for multipulse coding

This paper describes a new class of multi-pulse coders based on bounded-error identification. Multi-pulse coders provide effective representations of speech signals by extracting linear prediction parameters and approximating the effect of excitation signals with strategic sparse impulse sequences. These sparse impulses can be derived according to a set-membership optimization set volume reduction strategy. The proposed method offers the added benefit of improved scalar quantization through the choice of coder parameters from a feasibility set.
FPGA design space exploration of IDEA cryptography IP core

Securing data in machine to machine scenario is of paramount importance. With the evolving of Internet of Things (IoT) market, data should be protected from eavesdropper. Of the available cryptographic algorithms, International Data Encryption Algorithm (IDEA) is one of the most secured and highly accepted algorithm to a broad range of applications. This paper presents implementation of IDEA cryptographic IP core in two different application needs, and explores the tradeoffs of a RTL looping (least area, latency) implementation and a pipelined implementation. All the designs are implemented on Xilinx Virtex6 XC6VLX240T FPGA evaluation board and obtained the throughputs of 764.59 Mbps and 73.45 Mbps for pipelined designs and RTL looping, respectively.
Spiritual Emotions: A Psychology of Christian Virtues

The reader of Spiritual emotions quickly realizes that Roberts is steeped in classical theism that confines his arguments to a prerational mythological stage of the evolution of human consciousness. Besides questionable Biblical references, Roberts uses personal anecdotes and often refers to Leo Tolstoy and Feodor Dostoyevsky as support for his arguments about Christian emotions. The book is divided into three sections : I. A Christian psychology of emotions, II. The Christian passion, III. Christian emotion-virtues. He dedicates chapters to contrition, joy, gratitude, hope, peace and compassion to guide his readers through the emotional maze. Roberts refers to the three recent revolutions in psychology and ethics to showcase his understanding of Christian emotions : 1. Ethics has turned psychological. In 1958 the Christian philosopher Elizabeth Anscombe "pointed out that the only legitimate basis for the ought-rules was God." (p 6) She proposed that ethicists should think about virtues as human traits like justice, generosity, truthfulness and compassion. 2. Psychology has turned ethical. 3. Both psychology and ethics have turned emotional.
Electrical impedance myography correlates with standard measures of ALS severity.

Introduction: Electrical impedance myography (EIM) can be used to assess amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) progression. The relationship between EIM values and standard assessment measures, however, is unknown. Methods: EIM 50 kHz phase data from 60 subjects who participated in a longitudinal natural history study of ALS were correlated with handheld dynamometry (HHD), the ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R) score, and motor unit number estimation (MUNE). Results: Moderate strength correlations between EIM parameters and HHD were observed for both whole-body and individual upper and lower extremity values. Similarly, moderate strength correlations were observed between EIM and ALSFRS-R upper and lower extremity subscores, but not total ALSFRS-R scores. MUNE correlated significantly with single muscle EIM data but not with whole body or upper or lower extremity values. Conclusions: These results support the concept that EIM can serve as a meaningful measure of disease severity in ALS. Muscle Nerve 49:441–443, 2014
Clinicopathologic features of the syndrome of primary sclerosing cholangitis

Abstract We reviewed the histories of 50 patients diagnosed surgically and/or radiographically as having primary sclerosing cholangitis seen from 1970 through 1977. Patients were generally young males who presented with jaundice, pruritus, and hepatomegaly. Inflammatory bowel disease, usually chronic ulcerative colitis, was common (54%). A cholestatic biochemical profile was ordinarily present, and serologic markers were conspicuously absent. Initiation of endoscopic retrograde cholangiography in 1974 was associated with a doubling of the annual frequency of diagnosis. Radiologic evidence of both extra- and intrahepatic duct involvement was usually found (81%). Abnormal liver biopsies from 34/36 patients showed cholestasis, portal or periportal hepatitis, and/or cirrhosis. Hepatic copper levels were elevated in 12/12, and the mean level (244 ± 71 μg/g dry weight liver, mean ± SEM) was comparable to that in primary biliary cirrhosis. Adequate follow-up data in 39 patients showed that 13 died from 5 to 108 mo after diagnosis, usually from liver failure. Many patients (42%) received steroid therapy, generally without apparent benefit. In summary, the diagnosis of primary sclerosing cholangitis at our institution, particularly since the advent of endoscopic retrograde cholangiography, is not rare. The disease is characterized by male predominance, progressive cholestasis, cirrhosis, hepatic copper overload, apparent steroid failure, and premature death from liver failure.
Chillida y Ullán re-escriben el libro (en) blanco: "Adoración"

The aim of this article is to release Adoracion (Libro Blanco), an Artist´s Book conceived by Jose-Miguel Ullan in collaboration with Eduardo Chillida 1977. The study of the personal and creative life circumstances of each of the co-authors in the period when the Book was published, along with the analysis of its context, format and content, lead us to the texts: i Adentro ! by Unamuno and Haschisch by Benjamin, and sheds some light on this complex project whose meaning still holds many questions. In addition, the artwork offers a new perspective on some key concepts of Chillida´s creative universe –and on the graphic one in particular– such as the idea of Artist’s Book, the value of white color in the work on paper, the symbolism of the hand and the relevance of religion.
DIFFRACTION QUALITY CRYSTALS OF PROTEIN X FROM AZOTOBACTER VINELANDII

Abstract Protein X from Azotobacter vinelandii has recently been shown to be either a NADPH oxidase or a NADP + reductase that interacts specifically with ferredoxin I. Single crystals have been obtained by vapor diffusion from polyethylene glycol 4000 solutions containing 100 mM citrate buffer (pH 5·5). The crystals belong to space group P 2 1 2 1 2 with unit cell constants a = 68·9 A; b = 76·9 A, c = 52·8 A and one molecule ( M r 29,000) per asymmetric unit. The crystals diffract to 2·5 A resolution.
Everolimus for Tumor Recurrence After Surgical Resection for Subependymal Giant Cell Astrocytoma Associated With Tuberous Sclerosis Complex

A recent phase 1/2 study demonstrated that treatment with the mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor everolimus reduced subependymal giant cell astrocytoma volume by 30% in 75% of the patients, all of whom were poor candidates for surgical resection. Of the enrolled patients, 4 had had previous surgery to remove subependymal giant cell astrocytoma, and the outcomes for these patients were retrospectively analyzed and are presented here. All 4 experienced over 50% initial reduction in the volume of their subependymal giant cell astrocytoma after 2 to 3 years of therapy with everolimus. Although the volume of 1 patient's subependymal giant cell astrocytoma returned to baseline volume 36 months after initiating everolimus, they have remained asymptomatic with no recurrent hydrocephalus. Further surgery has been avoided in all cases to date. This course of treatment offers a new and welcome option for these difficult-to-treat patients.
Recall in preschool children

Abstract Free recall, cued recall, color recall, organization in recall, and sorting of 3- and 4-year-olds was assessed on 9-item lists of objects that were orthogonally varied on color and category dimensions. Half of the children in each age group were presented items successively, and the other half simultaneously. Older children recalled more items than younger children in both free and cued recall, and also organized their recall more. Moreover, simultaneous presentation benefited the older, but not younger children. Clustering and sorting data suggested a decreasing reliance on perceptual information, and increasing utilization of conceptual information, over the preschool years. The results were discussed in terms of the importance of concrete, external stimulus support at both time of encoding and retrieval.
IN VITRO STUDIES ON SAPONIN—VITAMIN COMPLEXATION

The possibility that certain saponins produce growth depression by complexing fat soluble vitamins with a mechanism similar to saponin-cholesterol complexation was studied. An in vitro procedure was developed to quantitate the formation of addition complexes in aqueous solutions. Saponins studied included digitonin, ammoniated glycyrrhizin, quillaja bark saponin, and saponin-containing extracts from alfalfa leaves and roots and soybeans. Vitamins tested included provitamin D3 and vitamins E, A and D3. The study demonstrated that the saponins did not complex fat soluble vitamins in a manner similar to the complexation of cholesterol.
ACCEPTABILITY OF BEEF PATTIES EXTENDED WITH PORK AND/OR TEXTURED SOY PROTEIN

Four beef or beef/pork ground meat blends were extended with textured soy protein (TSP) at 0, 10, 20 and 30% levels. Ground beef/pork/textured soy protein (TSP) patties with 30% TSP were rated lowest by consumers for raw color and appearance and overall cooked appearance. A beef (50%) and pork (30%) blend containing no TSP was rated highest by consumers for tenderness, flavor and overall desirability and higher by a trained sensory panel for flavor and overall desirability than blends containing TSP. Overall desirability ratings for visual and palatability characteristics of beef/pork meat patties were higher than for beef/pork/TSP blends. Results indicated a distinct advantage for palatability of the beef/pork blend as compared to beef/pork/TSP combinations.
Effects of Nonvolatile Organic Contamination on the Surface Areas and Adsorption Energetics of Porous Media

Surface areas and pore-size distributions of natural and model porous media were measured before and after contamination by naphthalene, a nonvolatile organic compound (NVOC). The contaminant was a...
Computer-automated clinical technique for tinnitus quantification.

This study addresses the need for uniformity in techniques for clinical quantification of tinnitus. Because automation can be an effective means to achieve standardization, this laboratory is devel...
Exploring Seasonality in Escherichia coli and Fecal Coliform Ratios in Urban Watersheds

AbstractAs regulators in the United States develop plans to mitigate microbial pollution via the design of total maximum daily load (TMDL) plans, historical data sets are often used to establish existing conditions for watersheds. Due to the revision of guidance recommending Escherichia coli (E. coli) as the preferred target indicator species in surface-water quality-monitoring programs, historical fecal-coliform concentration data are often used to estimate E. coli concentrations and loadings. Data from Raleigh and Durham, North Carolina, suggest the ratio of E. coli to fecal coliform (EC/FC) varies significantly by season throughout the year (p<0.05). These seasonal differences are not accounted for in most translator equations, which assume a single linear relationship between E. coli and fecal coliform regardless of season. These observations imply that seasonal translator equations may more accurately reflect the relationship between fecal coliforms and E. coli, and would thus result in the developme...
Using stable isotopes to investigate individual diet specialization in California sea otters (Enhydra lutris nereis)

Differences in diet composition among conspecifics (dietary specialization) have been documented across a broad range of taxonomic groups and habitats, and such variation at the individual level is increasingly recognized as an important component of diversity in trophic interactions. Accurate identification of individual dietary specialization, however, requires longitudinal dietary records that are labor-intensive and cost-prohibitive to obtain for many species. Here we explore the use of stable isotopes (d 13 C and d 15 N) as a promising technique for detecting and quantifying patterns of individual dietary specialization. Southern sea otters (Enhydra lutris nereis) offer a unique opportunity for testing this approach because (1) they consume a wide variety of prey that span multiple trophic levels, habitats, and ecologically defined functional groups; and (2) individual diet specialization can be validated with existing observational data. We analyzed the isotopic composition of sea otter vibrissae (n ¼ 31) in order to characterize inter- and intra-individual variation in sea otter diets at Monterey Bay, California, USA. At the population level, sea otters showed substantial variation in both d 13 C and d 15 N values, occupying nearly all of the ''isotopic space'' created by the diversity of isotopic signatures of potential prey taxa. Most of the variation in sea otter vibrissae was accounted for by differences between individuals, with much less contributed by within-individual variation. A majority of sea otters (;80%) showed relatively little temporal variability in isotopic composition, suggesting that the proportional composition of most individuals' diets is relatively constant over time; a few individuals (;20%) exhibited a high degree of intra-vibrissa isotopic variability, suggesting seasonal shifts in diet composition. These results and our interpretation of them were supported by long-term observational data on the diets of radio-tagged sea otters from the same population (n ¼ 23). Our results demonstrate that stable isotopes can provide an efficient tool for measuring individual- and population-level dietary breadth and may be useful for studying populations where longitudinal data on individuals would otherwise be impossible to acquire. This will be critical for examining the causes and consequences of dietary variation within and among consumer populations, thereby improving our understanding of these important ecological and evolutionary processes at the community level.
Beyond Routine HIV Testing: Beliefs, Perceptions, and Experiences of Low-Income Women of Color

In this qualitative study, a social constructivist lens is used to examine the themes and meanings of HIV testing and prevention that emerge for 56 heterosexual African American and Latina women as shaped by their beliefs, perceptions, and experiences. The findings suggests a community and government multisystemic approach that increases gender equality to talk about sexual health; information, education, and prevention programs with a gendered approach for their children; environmental safety—protection from drugs, crime, and violence; and taking action by macro-level interventions that decrease the likelihood of the spread of HIV in communities of color.
SU-FF-T-129: Comprehensive Monte Carlo Evaluation of Absorbed Dose in Computed Tomography Using Water and Polymethyl Methacrylate Cylinders From 1 Cm to 50 Cm in Diameter

Computed tomography utilization has increased markedly in recent years, as the performance of modern scanners improves. The increased utility of CT also brings with it concerns about the radiation dose associated with these procedures. Additionally, computed tomography systems are being deployed for research investigations involving small animals, and other specialized systems such as breast CT are also being evaluated for efficacy. Given these uses of CT technology, patient (mice and humans) size span a considerable range of diameters. In this investigation, Monte Carlo simulations were used to evaluate the radiation dose to long cylinders of water and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) over a comprehensive range of cylinders from 1 cm to 50 cm in diameter. In addition, monoenergetic x‐ray beams were studied ranging from 5 keV to 150 keV. Radiation dose was assessed at three different locations, including the Center, periphery, and over the entire volume of the cylinder. The geometry of a commercial CTscanner was simulated, and the influence of both the body and head bow tie filters as well as no bowtie filter was studied. The results of this investigation demonstrates the continuum of radiation dose across a wide range of patient diameters. In addition to demonstrating specific trends in CTdosimetry, a spreadsheet is available which allows the computation of radiation dose over a wide range of object diameters, for water and PMMA, for a large number of x‐ray spectra.
Probes for Narcotic Receptor-Mediated Phenomena. 27.1 Synthesis and Pharmacological Evaluation of Selective δ-Opioid Receptor Agonists from 4-[(αR)-α-(2S,5R)-4-Substituted-2,5-dimethyl-1-piperazinyl-3-methoxybenzyl]- N,N-diethylbenzamides and Their Enantiomers

Potent, selective, and efficacious δ-opioid receptor agonists such as (+)-4-[(αR)-α-(2S,5R)-4-allyl-2,5-dimethyl-1-piperazinyl-3-methoxybenzyl]-N,N-diethylbenzamide [SNC80, (+)-2] have been found to be useful tools for exploring the structural requirements which are necessary for ligands which interact with the δ-receptor. To determine the necessity for the 4-allyl moiety in (+)-2, this substituent was replaced with a variety of 4-alkyl, 4-arylalkyl, and 4-alkenyl substituents. The corresponding enantiomers of these compounds were also synthesized. The binding affinities for the μ-, δ-, and κ-opioid receptors and efficacies in the functional GTPγS binding assay were determined for the (+)-2 related compounds and their enantiomers. The 4-crotyl analogue was found to have similar δ-receptor affinity and efficacy as (+)-2, but the 4-cyclopropylmethyl analogue, in the functional assay, appeared to be a partial agonist with little antagonist activity.
External carotid revascularization: review of a ten-year experience.

Abstract In the presence of ipsilateral internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion, external carotid artery (ECA) revascularization can improve cerebral perfusion or eliminate an embolic source. From 1974 through 1984, 37 patients at The Cleveland Clinic underwent 42 ECA reconstructions; autologous patch angioplasty and intraluminal shunting were used when feasible. Thirty procedures were limited to primary ECA revascularization, whereas 12 extended procedures were performed as reoperations after previous ECA endarterectomy or required complementary subclavian or intracranial bypass. There were no early postoperative deaths nor neurologic morbidity in the limited group, but one death, four ipsilateral hemispheric strokes, and one retinal embolism occurred in the extended group. Ten patients have died during a follow-up interval of 1 to 72 months (mean 27 months). Five late deaths were caused by myocardial infarction, only one of which was complicated by a contralateral stroke. Two additional strokes have occurred; one involved the ipsilateral and one the contralateral cerebral hemisphere. Five other patients experienced recurrent cerebral or ocular ischemic symptoms. In conclusion, extended ECA reconstruction is associated with a higher operative risk than limited revascularization. Late follow-up is necessary to detect those patients who may eventually require additional management of recurrent cerebrovascular symptoms or incidental coronary artery disease. (J VASC SURG 1985;2:709-14.)