cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Diffuse Signet-Ring Cell Gastric Adenocarcinoma “ Linitis Plastica ” and Pernicious Anemia: a Rare Association

The term “linitis plastica” or leather-bottle stomach was introduced by William Brinton in 1858. This Greek eponym literally translates as “linen cloth” and refers to the characteristic fibrous proliferation noted on histology. Although largely accepted as a morphologic description of diffuse infiltrative gastric adenocarcinoma, the term linitis plastica is also used in the medical literature to describe the lesions caused by lye ingestion and diffuse gastric metastasis. Although less than 30 % of individuals with gastric cancer have signet-ring cell histology, it accounts for the majority of patients who present with linitis plastica [1]. Our case highlights the diagnostic difficulties associated with linitis plastica. In addition, it describes the rare association of diffuse signet-ring cell gastric adenocarcinoma and pernicious anemia and attempts to define a pathophysiologic correlation between the two.
An Economic Comparison of Conventional and Alternative Cropping Systems for a Representative Northeast Kansas Farm

The 1990 Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act (FACTA) prescribes a vigorous agenda for environmentally-compatible farmingsystems research. This type of system has been labeled alternative agriculture and can be defined as a system of food production that includes a plan for profitable production with concern for reduction in off-farm inputs; use of natural or biological processes; and improved management and conservation of soil, water, and other biological resources (National Research Council). Alternative agriculture studies are important to producers who are developing production plans that must meet the increasing demands of agricultural and environmental soil conservation policies, water quality legislation, and uncertainty in the marketplace. Studies in Nebraska and South Dakota
The initiation and propagation of a localized instability in an inflated elastic tube

Abstract A thin elastic tube, when inflated, first expands to a cylindrical shape. after some deformation, this is interrupted by the development of a bulge somewhere along the length of the tube. For some rubber materials, the bulge initially grows with decreasing pressure, whereas the rest of the tube unloads. after growing to a certain diameter, the bulge starts spreading axially. This can occur at a well defined value of pressure which is much lower than the pressure required to initiate the bulge. the mechanisms through which the bulge is initiated, its initial growth and its eventual propagation along the length of the tube are studied experimentally and analytically. The results vividly illustrate localization and propagation types of instabilities which govern the mechanical behavior of a variety of solids and structures.
Activity and regulation of glycoPEGylated factor VIIa analogs

Summary. Background: Recombinant coagulation factor VIIa (rFVIIa) has proven to be a safe and effective drug for treatment of bleeding episodes in hemophilic patients with inhibitors. However, rFVIIa is cleared from the circulation relatively quickly. Protein modification with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) can prolong the circulatory lifetime of proteins but it could also impair protein function by molecular shielding of the protein surface. Objectives: To characterize the interaction of glycoPEGylated rFVIIa – rFVIIa-10K PEG and rFVIIa-40K PEG – with tissue factor (TF), factor X (FX) and plasma inhibitors, tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) and antithrombin (AT). Methods: The amidolytic and FX activation assays were employed to investigate the interaction of glycoPEGylated rFVIIa with its macromolecular substrate and inhibitors. Results: Both the glycoPEGylated rFVIIa analogs exhibited similar amidolytic activity as that of rFVIIa in the absence or the presence of relipidated TF. The analogs were as effective as rFVIIa in activating FX in the absence of TF. In the presence of TF, the glycoPEGylated rFVIIa variants, relative to rFVIIa, were slightly less effective at lower concentrations, but no significant differences were found among them in activating FX at saturating concentrations. Both AT/heparin and TFPI effectively inhibited the glycoPEGylated rFVIIa bound to relipidated TF or TF on stimulated endothelial cells. In contrast to their normal interaction with TF, the glycoPEGylated rFVIIa variants appeared to interact poorly with phospholipids. Conclusions: The glycoPEGylated rFVIIa variants retained their catalytic activity and interacted efficiently with TF, FX and the plasma inhibitors. Further work with appropriate in vitro and in vivo model systems is needed to determine the feasibility of using glycoPEGylated rFVIIa to improve therapeutic options for bleeding disorders.
Pulse design for broadband correlation NMR spectroscopy by multi-rotating frames

We present a method for designing radio-frequency (RF) pulses for broadband or multi-band isotropic mixing at low power, suitable for protein NMR spectroscopy. These mixing pulses are designed analytically, rather than by numerical optimization, by repeatedly constructing new rotating frames of reference. We show how pulse parameters can be chosen frame-by-frame to systematically reduce the effective chemical shift bandwidth, but maintain most of the effective J-coupling strength. The effective Hartmann-Hahn mixing condition is then satisfied in a multi-rotating frame of reference. This design method yields multi-band and broadband mixing pulses at low RF power. In particular, the ratio of RF power to mixing bandwidth for these pulses is lower than for existing mixing pulses, such as DIPSI and FLOPSY. Carbon-carbon TOCSY experiments at low RF power support our theoretical analysis.
The role of Tcfap2c in tumorigenesis and cancer growth in an activated Neu model of mammary carcinogenesis.

TFAP2C/AP-2γ influences development of the mammary gland and regulates patterns of gene expression in luminal and HER2-amplified breast cancer. The roles of TFAP2C in mammary gland tumorigenesis and in pathways critical to cancer progression remain poorly understood. To gain greater insight into oncogenic mechanisms regulated by TFAP2C, we examined mammary tumorigenesis in MMTV-Neu transgenic female mice with or without conditional knockout (KO) of Tcfap2c, the mouse homolog of TFAP2C. Loss of Tcfap2c increased the latency of tumorigenesis and tumors that formed demonstrated reduced proliferative index and increased apoptosis. In addition, tumors formed in Tcfap2c KO animals had a significant reduction in Egfr levels without a change in the expression of the Neu oncogene. The MMneu-flAP2C cell line was established from tumor tissue derived from MMTV-Neu/Tcfap2cL/L control animals and parallel cell lines with and without expression of Tcfap2c were created by transduction with adenovirus-empty and adenovirus-Cre, respectively. KO of Tcfap2c in vitro reduced activated phosphorylated-Erk, decreased cell viability, repressed tumor growth and was associated with attenuation of Egfr expression. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and direct sequencing and expression analysis confirmed that Egfr was a Tcfap2c target gene in murine, as well as human, mammary carcinoma cells. Furthermore, decreased viability of mammary cancer cells was directly related to Egfr functional blockade. We conclude that TFAP2C regulates tumorigenesis, cell growth and survival in HER2-amplified breast cancer through transcriptional regulation of EGFR. The findings have important implications for targeting the EGFR pathway in breast cancer.
Long-term survival without clinical AIDS after CD4+ cell counts fall below 200 x 10(6)/l.

Objective: Quantify and study cofactors of long-term survival without AIDS in HIV-1-infected individuals with CD4 + cell counts <200×10 6 /l. Design: Comparison of 579 participants who could be longitudinally evaluated for at least 3 years after the earliest date of first reaching a CD4+ cell count <200×10 6 /l or an AIDS-defining illness (1987 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention definition). Setting: Ongoing 9-year cohort study with data collected at 6-month intervals. Patients: HIV-1-infected homosexual men. Measurements and main results: Of the men, 20% did not develop an AIDS illness within 3 years following a confirmed CD4+ cell count <200×10 6 /l; 29 and 28% were diagnosed with a first clinical AIDS illness from 1-3 and <1 years, respectively, beyond their first CD4+ cell count <200×10 6 /l; 23% were diagnosed with a clinical AIDS illness prior to their first CD4+ cell count <200×10 6 /l. Slower decline of CD4+ cell count (P<0.001) and presence of higher body-mass index during the period prior to the first CD4+ cell count <200×10 6 /l (P<0.001) predicted longer time to an AIDS illness once this threshold was reached. Most men had rapid loss of CD4+ cells, total T cells, and hemoglobin during the period after CD4+ cells declined below 200×10 6 /l. However, those remaining free of AIDS illnesses the longest arrested their decline in CD4+ cell counts and hemoglobin levels and increased total T cells during this period. Although antiretroviral therapy and Pneumocystis carinii prophylaxis extend AIDS-free survival, 45% of the group who were AIDS-free ≥3 years after CD4+ cells fell below 200×10 6 /l had not used these treatments. Conclusions: Significant numbers of individuals remain free of illnesses and AIDS symptoms ≥3 years after CD4+ cell counts drop below 200×10 6 /l. This occurs even in the absence of treatment. The associations seen here suggest that host and viral factors play important roles. Thus, further studies are needed to determine the biological basis of long-term survival without AIDS illnesses in HIV-1-immunosuppressed patients
Sky temperatures in the Imperial Valley of California

The cloudless sky in the Imperial Valley is shown to have possibilities as a heat sink for cooling livestock and structures. Measurements with a directional radiometer and other instruments indicated that a point in the north sky 60° above the horizon is usually as cool as, or cooler than, other parts of the sky. North sky temperatures averaged 20° to 30° lower than air temperatures near the ground. The correlation of observed sky temperatures with sky temperatures calculated by Brunt's empirical equation from ground observations was 0.58, highly significant.
Three-state mixing among 0 + states in even Cd isotopes

Ratios of (t,p) transfer intensities to 0/sup +/ states in the cadmium isotopes have been analyzed using a three-state mixing model. The data allows determination of the degree of mixing of the rotational (intruder) state into the zero-phonon and two-phonon 0/sup +/ states. The three lowest 0/sup +/ states are found to be relatively pure and the intruder state lies above the two-phonon state in the heavier isotopes.
Electronic structure of correlated electron materials from photoemission in high-quality single crystals

Much of our understanding of heavy fermion systems over the past two decades has been based on the single impurity model and its approximate solutions. We show with numerous examples of photoelectron spectra, especially with YbInCu , 4 that this model is not applicable to stoichiometric heavy fermion compounds. There is overwhelming evidence that the correct description of heavy fermions must include very narrow, hybridized bands which exist already at temperatures far above the thermodynamically determined Kondo temperature, and that these bands are relatively temperature independent. Some form of the periodic Anderson model (PAM) is needed, one which results in very narrow renormalized LDA bands. We compare our data to one form of the PAM. © 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Effect of Estrogens on Interlipid Relations in Men with Myocardial Infarction.

Conclusions1. A total of 223 men recovered from myocardial infarction were allocated to treatment groups and serum cholesterol and phospholipids determined (I) before and (II) following 6 months of uninterrupted treatment with No estrogen, Premarin, Lynoral or Anvene. 2. The abnormality in interlipid relationships characteristic of men with clinical atherosclerosis was unaltered in the subjects receiving Premarin, but this abnormality was abolished by treatment with Lynoral. 3. There is no necessary correlation between the feminizing, lipid-altering and outcome-altering effects of estrogen therapy in men with myocardial infarction.
Language Processing in Frontotemporal Dementia: A Brief Review

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a neurodegenerative condition that presents with a number of distinct behavioral phenotypes. Here we review languageprocessing deficits in three subgroups of FTD patients: progressive nonfluent aphasia (PNFA), semantic dementia (SD), and nonaphasic FTD patients with a disorder of social and executive functioning (SOC/EXEC). These three clinical subgroups have contrasting patterns of regional cortical atrophy that can be linked to their language impairments. PNFA patients’ disease includes left ventral inferior frontal cortex, resulting in impaired grammatical processing. SD patients demonstrate a profound impairment for semantic knowledge related to atrophy of the left temporal lobe. SOC/EXEC patients’ frontal atrophy tends to be more right lateralized and is associated with declines in executive functioning. SOC/EXEC patients’ limited executive resources impact language processing in a variety of ways, including slowed grammatical processing and impaired narrative discourse. FTD patients therefore provide converging evidence regarding dissociable components of language processing and their neuroanatomical bases. Understanding single words requires extensive perceptual, lexical, and semantic processing (Price 1998). Comprehending a sentence poses additional requirements of knowing the rules governing relationships between words and applying these words during processing (Friederici 2002), and engaging in a conversation also depends on the ability to plan a narrative and exchange information in an organized and interactive manner with others. These processes are subserved by a distributed network of brain regions that have been elucidated largely through studies of stroke patients and functional neuroimaging in healthy adults. More recently, converging evidence regarding the neuroanatomical bases for language processing comes from patients with focal patterns of cortical atrophy, such as those observed in frontotemporal dementia (FTD). 1 Frontotemporal dementia encompasses a spectrum of syndromes of varying etiologies that result in relatively focal damage to the frontal and temporal lobes. It occurs primarily in older adults, although its average age of onset is earlier than that of Alzheimer’s disease (Haase 1977; Brun and Gustafson
Expanding Hypertext: Does It Address Disorientation? Depends on Individuals' Adventurousness

This article investigates how individuals' adventurousness (a personality characteristic) influences their experience with different types of computer text formats and whether expanding hypertext, a new hybrid hypertext format, addresses the most frequently cited hypertext problem, disorientation. Two hundred and one college students participated in an experimental study which evaluated three variations of computer text formats. Specifically, the study investigated how individuals with different levels of adventurousness exhibited different preferences for, and disorientation with, different computer text formats. Participant adventurousness was found to interact with text format on participant feelings of disorientation. The participants prefered the paged hypertext and the expanding hypertext over the scrolling text format.
The Voice(s) of Experience on Experiential Learning

This section introduces two articles on experiential learning, sensemaking and adult learning.
AWARENESS DURING ENDOTRACHEAL INTUBATION A comparison of ketamine and thiopentone

As a result of a report suggesting an unacceptably high incidence (2%) of awareness during endotracheal intubation, two groups of patients were anaesthetized in a standard manner using a rapid induction technique. In one group of 38 patients anaesthesia was induced with thiopentone 3 mg/kg and in the other group of 39 patients anaesthesia was induced with ketamine 2 mg/kg. Suxamethonium 1 mg/kg was given immediately following the induction agent, to facilitate endotracheal intubation. The patients were interviewed after operation. A rapid induction technique did not result in unacceptable awareness with either induction agent.
Distribution modelling and statistical phylogeography: an integrative framework for generating and testing alternative biogeographical hypotheses

Statistical phylogeographic studies contribute to our understanding of the factors that influence population divergence and speciation, and that ultimately generate biogeographical patterns. The use of coalescent modelling for analyses of genetic data provides a framework for statistically testing alternative hypotheses about the timing and pattern of divergence. However, the extent to which such approaches contribute to our understanding of biogeography depends on how well the alternative hypotheses chosen capture relevant aspects of species histories. New modelling techniques, which explicitly incorporate spatio-geographic data external to the gene trees themselves, provide a means for generating realistic phylogeographic hypotheses, even for taxa without a detailed fossil record. Here we illustrate how two such techniques – species distribution modelling and its historical extension, palaeodistribution modelling – in conjunction with coalescent simulations can be used to generate and test alternative hypotheses. In doing so, we highlight a few key studies that have creatively integrated both historical geographic and genetic data and argue for the wider incorporation of such explicit integrations in biogeographical studies.
Constraining the source separation with coda wave interferometry: Theory and application to earthquake doublets in the Hayward fault, California

Received 12 July 2004; revised 22 December 2004; accepted 14 January 2005; published 2 April 2005. [1] The relative location of seismic sources is of importance for the location of aftershocks on a fault, for the positioning of sources in repeat seismic surveys, and for monitoring induced seismicity. In this paper we show how the seismic coda can be used to infer a measure of the source separation of two identical seismic sources from the correlation of the waveforms recorded at a single receiver. The theory is applicable to an explosive source in an acoustic or elastic medium and for a point force or double couple in an elastic medium. For an explosive source the source separation is constrained to be located on a sphere, while for a point force and a double couple the source separation can be constrained to be located on an ellipsoid whose symmetry axis is determined by the point force or double couple. We validate the theory with synthetic seismograms and apply the theory to earthquake doublets on the Hayward fault, California. The distance between events obtained from the coda waves agrees with the distance obtained from the double-difference method.
Triple-staple technique for low rectal anastomoses eliminates the purse-string suture and facilitates stapled colorectal anastomosis.

R T w 7 echniques used by surgical specialists often are slow in eaching broad use in general surgery because of genuine afety concerns, ease of use, and expense. Although the riple-staple technique has been reported for ileal -pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA), it is not widely used or IPAA or low colorectal anastomoses, even though it is oth safe and effective. Our technique involves use of a inear stapler to divide the proximal colon and avoid a urse-string suture, a reticulating stapler to divide the ower third rectum, and a circular stapler to create the nastomosis. The use of stapling devices has been widely acknowldged as a significant advance in digestive surgery, paricularly for low anterior resection. Although anastooses of the upper rectum can be hand sewn or stapled, any colorectal anastomoses of the lower third of recum, particularly in men, can best be performed using ircular stapler instruments. One of the major causes of echnical failure is, in our opinion, the use of pursetring suture on the proximal colon, the distal rectal tump, or both. Even when such a suture is placed by and, it does not ensure an intact anastomosis. Failure to nclude the entire circumference of the bowel wall, particlarly in large-caliber bowel, is frequently the cause of techical failure of purse-string sutures regardless of whether anual or automatic purse-string devices are used.
Robust Investments in Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chains for Disaster Resilience and Sustainable Communities

AbstractEffective disaster preparedness and response are supported by heterogeneous investments in logistics for emergency management. Meanwhile, there may be scarce resources or misconception of humanitarian needs for emergency scenarios that are unprecedented. Resource allocations to humanitarian needs must address deep uncertainties and multiple performance criteria related to population behaviors, environmental change, innovative technologies, wear and tear, regulations, economic markets, extreme events, and others. The methods demonstrated in this paper support prioritizing among humanitarian logistics investments with an integration of scenario analysis and multicriteria decision analysis. The results will aid emergency management agencies in agility and resilience of emergency supply chains and logistics systems, particularly for needs of underrepresented populations. The methods are demonstrated for preparedness initiatives of first-responder agencies in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where favela, or sl...
Expression of plasminogen activator (PA) and a PA inhibitor in human granulosa cells from preovulatory follicles.

Studies with rat ovarian cells indicate that proteolytic enzymes, such as plasminogen activator (PA), play a role in the tissue remodeling that occurs before ovulation. In the rat, gonadotropins appear to increase granulosa cell tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) content by increasing the cellular concentration of t-PA mRNA as well as by modulating the activity of a specific PA inhibitor (PAI). We obtained granulosa cells from preovulatory follicles of women undergoing either in vitro fertilization or gamete intra-fallopian tube transfer in order to evaluate the roles of PA and PAI in human ovulation. Samples of granulosa cell total RNA were hybridized with probes for t-PA, urokinase-type PA, PAI type 1 (PAI-1), or inhibin A-chain (as a control). Northern analyses revealed that the RNA of granulosa cells from preovulatory follicles contained little or no detectable PA mRNA. In contrast, two species of PAI mRNA were detected in relative abundance. The signal intensity produced by the PAI-1 probe vari...
Modelling and system identification of an experimental apparatus for anomaly detection in mechanical systems

This paper presents design, modelling and system identification of a laboratory test apparatus that has been constructed to experimentally validate the concepts of anomaly detection in complex mechanical systems. The test apparatus is designed to be complex in itself due to partially correlated interactions amongst its individual components and functional modules. The experiments are conducted on the test apparatus to represent operations of mechanical systems where both dynamic performance and structural durability are critical.
Evidence of gray matter reduction and dysfunction in chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome

Chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS) is associated with cognitive deficits and morphometric brain abnormalities in childhood and a markedly elevated risk of schizophrenia in adolescence/early adulthood. Determining the relationship between neurocognition and neuroimaging findings would yield crucial information about childhood neurodevelopment and provide a basis for the study of the trajectory that occurs on the pathway to psychosis. We compared morphometric brain findings between non-psychotic children with 22q11DS (n = 22) and healthy controls (n = 16), and examined the association between neurocognitive functioning and morphometric brain findings. Volumetric regional gray matter differences between the 22q11DS and control subjects were measured, and correlations of the regional gray matter volumes and neurocognition were performed. Children with 22q11DS demonstrated reductions in gray matter in several brain regions, chiefly the frontal cortices, the cingulate gyrus and the cerebellum. The volumetric reductions in these salient areas were associated with poor performance in sustained attention, executive function and verbal memory; however, the relation of brain volume with cognitive performance did not differ between the patient and control groups. Thus, children with 22q11DS demonstrate gray matter reductions in multiple brain regions that are thought to be relevant to schizophrenia. The correlation of these volumetric reductions with poor neurocognition indicates that these brain regions may mediate higher neurocognitive functions implicated in schizophrenia.
Geometry of Fractional Quantum Hall Fluids

We use the field theory description of the fractional quantum Hall states to derive the universal response of these topological fluids to shear deformations and curvature of their background geometry, i.e., the Hall viscosity, and the Wen-Zee term. To account for the coupling to the background geometry, we show that the concept of flux attachment needs to be modified and use it to derive the geometric responses from Chern-Simons theories. We show that the resulting composite particles minimally couple to the spin connection of the geometry. We derive a consistent theory of geometric responses from the Chern-Simons effective field theories and from parton constructions, and apply it to both Abelian and non-Abelian states.
A symmetric O(n log n) message distributed snapshot algorithm for large-scale systems

This paper presents a O(n log n) message distributed snapshot algorithm for a system with non-FIFO channels, where n is the number of processors. The algorithm finds applications for checkpointing in large scale supercomputers and distributed systems that have a fully connected logical topology over a large number of processors. Each processor sends log n messages in the algorithm. The sizes of the messages are geometrically distributed, and the sum of the sizes of the messages sent by any processor is n. The response time of the algorithm is O(log n). The algorithm is fully distributed and the role of each processor is symmetric, unlike tree-based, ring-based, and centralized algorithms.
Development of a hematogenous implant-related infection in a rat model

Implant-related osteomyelitis is a major complication that requires immediate treatment, often involving removal of the implant, prolonging patient recovery and inflating expenses. Current research involving interventions to diminish the prevalence of such measures include investigating prophylactic and therapeutic remedies. A proper and accurate animal model is needed to thoroughly investigate such treatments. The scope of this project was to develop an animal model in which a consistent and measurable infection can be formed on an orthopedic implant when bacteria is introduced via a hematogenous source. Titanium Kirschner-wires were implanted into the intramedullary canals of both femurs. Staphylococcus aureus, ranging from104 to 109 colony forming units, was injected into a tail vessel. After a designated time (3, 7, 14, or 42 days) the femurs were harvested and bacterial numbers determined for both the femur and the implanted K-wire. In addition, histology and micro-computed tomography were used as subjective tools to further characterize the infection. Consistent infection, that is infection of ≥75 % of the femurs, wasn’t achieved until 107 CFU S. aureus was injected. At 107 CFU, the femurs contained 4.6x106 CFU/g bone tissue at day 3 and 4.8×108 CFU/g bone tissue by day 14. The wire showed comparable contamination with 4.8×104 CFU/mm2 at day 3 and 3.7×105/mm2 by day 14. After 42 days, the bacteria number decreased but was still occupying at 1.9×105 CFU/g bone tissue. There were morphological changes to the bone as well. At day 42, there were signs of osteonecrosis and active bone formation when compared to control animals that received a K-wire but were inoculated with saline. A model for hematogenous osteomyelitis, a common complication associated with implants, has been introduced. A reproducible, preclinical model is essential to evaluate future methods used to mitigate blood-borne bacteria hardware and bone infections.
Regulation of calbindin-D28K gene expression by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in chick kidney.

We report here the use of a cloned cDNA for the avian calbindin-D28K (28 kD, vitamin D-dependent calcium binding protein, CaBP) to investigate the expression of the chick calbindin gene in the kidney. All three calbindin-D28K mRNA species (2000, 2600, and 3100 nucleotide transcripts) were present in the kidney tissue of chronically vitamin D-deficient (-D) chicks; this basal constitutive level of expression was, however, enhanced by administration of the vitamin D3 metabolite, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25-(OH)2D3] in both a time- and dose-dependent manner. D-deficient chick renal calbindin-D28K protein levels (measured by ELISA) were maximally (twofold) stimulated by 6.5 nmole per animal of 1,25-(OH)2D3 when measured 48 h later; a concomitant level of augmentation of calbindin-D28K mRNA accumulation was also observed at this time. Time course experiments showed that enhanced renal calbindin-D28K mRNA accumulation (in −D chicks) was significantly stimulated as early as 8 h and were maximal 12 h after a single pharmacologic dose of 1,25-(OH)2D3; this elevated level of gene expression was maintained for at least 72 h. Renal calbindin-D28K protein levels (constitutively expressed in the −D chick) were significantly stimulated (twofold) as early as 12 h following the single dose of steroid hormone; the level of calbindin-D28K also remained elevated for a minimum of 72 h. Collectively, these data indicate that 1,25-(OH)2D3 acts upon the renal calbindin-D28K gene in a manner similar to that operable in the intestine. However, significant differences exist in the responses of these two tissues, and other (tissue-specific) vitamin D-independent factors also seem to regulate the expression of the chick renal calbindin-D28K gene.
Psychosocial Predictors of Distress in Parents of Children Undergoing Stem Cell or Bone Marrow Transplantation

Objective To examine psychosocial predictors of distress (mood disturbance, perceived stress, caregiver burden) in parents of children undergoing stem cell or bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Method Measures of prior illness experiences, premorbid child behavior problems, family environment, social support, and parental coping behavior were obtained from the resident parents of 151 children prior to the children's admission for BMT. Parents subsequently completed assessments of their mood disturbance, perceived stress, and caregiving burden on a weekly basis through week +6 post-BMT, and then monthly through month +6 post-BMT. Results Significant changes were observed in parental distress across the course of BMT. After correcting for demographic and medical factors, several significant predictors of parental distress trajectories were identified, including prior parent and patient illness-related distress, premorbid child internalizing behavior problems, the family relationship dimensions of the family environment, and parental avoidant coping behaviors. Multivariable models were developed using a hierarchical modeling approach. The best-fit model accounted for approximately 50% of the variance in parental global distress. Conclusions Subgroups of parents at higher risk for increased distress during the acute phase of transplant have been identified. These findings can help target parents who may be in greater need of intervention aimed at reducing transplant-related distress.
A Comparison of Heart Rate Changes Associated with Levalbuterol and Racemic Albuterol in Pediatric Cardiology Patients

BACKGROUNDTo our knowledge, no data exist regarding the effect of levalbuterol and racemic albuterol on heart rate in pediatric cardiology patients.OBJECTIVETo compare heart rate change in pediatric cardiology patients receiving levalbuterol and/or racemic albuterol. The secondary objective was to identify characteristics associated with heart rate changes observed with these drugs.METHODSA review of electronic medical records at a pediatric academic hospital was conducted to determine the equivalence of heart rate change in patients receiving levalbuterol or racemic albuterol. Patients receiving at least 3 doses of levalbuterol and/or racemic albuterol during the study period were included if they were younger than 18 years and had a diagnosis of congenital heart disease (CHD), cardiomyopathy, or supraventricular tachycardia. Patients were excluded if they received a β-blocker or continuous racemic albuterol or did not have documented pre- and postdose heart rates.RESULTSOne hundred ninety-two patients w...
Adult oligodendrocyte progenitor cells - Multifaceted regulators of the CNS in health and disease

Oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) are the often-overlooked fourth glial cell type in the central nervous system (CNS), comprising about 5% of the CNS. For a long time, our vision of OPC function was limited to the generation of mature oligodendrocytes. However, new studies have highlighted the multifaceted nature of OPCs. During homeostatic and pathological conditions, OPCs are the most proliferative cell type in the CNS, a property not consistent with the need to generate new oligodendrocytes. Indeed, OPCs modulate neuronal activity and OPC depletion in the brain can trigger depressive-like behavior. More importantly, OPCs are actively recruited to injury sites, where they orchestrate glial scar formation and contribute to the immune response. The following is a comprehensive analysis of the literature on OPC function beyond myelination, in the context of the healthy and diseased adult CNS.
Vortical flow prediction of a diamond wing with rounded leading edges

Abstract The objective of this work is to assess the potential and limitations of current practice in computational fluid dynamic modeling in predicting vortical flowfields over a generic 53-degree swept diamond wing with rounded leading edges. This wing was designed under STO AVT Task Group 183 and has a constant NACA 64A-006 airfoil section with a leading edge radius of 0.264 percent chord. CFD simulations were run for different angles of attack at a Mach number of 0.15 and a Reynolds number of 2.7 × 10 6 based on the mean aerodynamic chord to match experiments. The wind tunnel experiments of the diamond wing were carried out in the Institute of Aerodynamics and Fluid Mechanics of the Technische Universitat Munchen, Germany and include aerodynamic lift, drag, and pitch moment measurements as well as span-wise pressure distributions at different chord-wise locations. This data set is used to validate the CFD results. The results presented demonstrate that the CFD compare well with the experiments at small angles of attack; the pitch moments predicted by the SARC turbulence model provide a better match to experimental results than the SA model at moderate angles of attack; and at high angles of attack, CFD predictions are not as good. The flow visualization results show that a leading-edge vortex is formed above the upper surface of the wing at an angle of attack of about eight degrees. This vortex becomes larger and stronger when the angle of attack is increased. With increasing angle of attack, the vortex formation point moves upstream and the vortex core moves inboard towards the wing center. Finally, the computational results show that the flow over the diamond wing is relatively steady throughout the range of angles of attack.
Heat stress enhances adipogenic differentiation of subcutaneous fat depot–derived porcine stromovascular cells

Heat stress (HS) results from excessive heat load on animals such that all adaptive mechanisms used to dissipate the heat do not return the body to normal body temperature. In pigs, HS results in increased fat deposition compared with pair-fed animals in a thermoneutral environment. Although there is evidence that HS increases activity of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) in adipose tissue of heat stressed pigs, the fundamental causes of the increased adiposity are still unknown. It remains unclear whether HS directly alters metabolism in adipocytes. Therefore, to understand the mechanism of HS effects on porcine adipocytes, we used an in vitro adipocyte differentiation model to characterize cellular responses that occur during differentiation of pig adipocytes. Preadipocytes (stromovascular cells) were differentiated for 9 d at a normal (37°C) or HS (41.5°C) temperature under 5% CO. Expressions of HS genes such as heat shock proteins (HSP; HSP27, HSP60, HSP70, and HSP90), adipogenic markers peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), CCAAT/enhancer binding proteins α (C/EBPα), fatty acid synthase (FAS), adipocyte protein 2 (aP2), fatty acid translocase 36 (CD36), fatty acid transport protein 4 (FATP4), fatty acid transport protein 6 (FATP6), LPL, glucose transporter protein type 4 (GLUT4), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1 (PCK1 or PEPCK-C), and glycerol kinase (GK) and adipokines (adiponectin and leptin) were determined by real-time-PCR and immunoblotting or ELISA. Cellular triglyceride (TAG) and ATP concentrations were also determined. As expected, HS increased ( < 0.05) the expressions of HSP genes. There was no HS treatment effect on the level of PPARγ, although C/EBPα was induced ( < 0.05) in HS. So it remains unclear whether HS affects adipocyte differentiation. However, HS leads to increased expressions of genes involved in fatty acid uptake and TAG synthesis (FAS, aP2, CD36, FATP4, FATP6, LPL, GLUT4, PCK1, and GK). This is supported by increased cellular TAG under HS. Therefore, HS promotes increased adipocyte TAG storage, perhaps through upregulation of genes involved in fatty acid uptake and TAG synthesis.
The dimensional model of driver demand: extension to auditory-vocal and mixed-mode tasks

The Dimensional Model of Driver Demand is extended to include Auditory-Vocal (i.e., pure "voice" tasks), and Mixed-Mode tasks (i.e., a combination of Auditory-Vocal mode with visual-only, or with Visual-Manual modes). The extended model was validated with data from 24 participants using the 2014 Toyota Corolla infotainment system in a video-based surrogate driving venue. Twenty-two driver performance metrics were collected, including total eyes-off-road time (TEORT), mean single glance duration (MSGD), and proportion of long single glances (LGP). Other key metrics included response time (RT) and miss rate to a Tactile Detection Response Task (TDRT). The 22 metrics were simplified using Principal Component Analysis to two dimensions. The major dimension, explaining 60% of total variance, we interpret as the attentional effects of cognitive demand. The minor dimension, explaining 20% of total variance, we interpret as physical demand. The 22 metrics were well segmented into three groups, using cluster analysis, which independently agreed with the metric groups that were visually evident in the 2-D loadings plot. One cluster was associated with cognitive demand, and the other with physical demand. An additional cluster was discovered which loaded in an opposing fashion to cognitive demand along the cognitive demand dimension, and was called cognitive facilitation. The Dimensional Model, by eliminating the correlation between the task scores on the dimensions, also minimizes the biasing effects arising from interactions between metrics. The extended Dimensional Model allows for a simplified understanding of the effects of all modes of secondary tasks on driver performance. Language: en
Spatial Variations in the Mechanical Properties of the Porcine Thoracic Aorta

Characterization of the mechanical properties of a blood vessel is essential in understanding the progression of a vascular disease and for computational studies of vascular adaptation. For example, stiffness of vascular tissue is one of the major indicators to diagnose the vascular disease and make a clinical decision. Although previous studies reported the heterogeneity of the mechanical properties of arterial wall along the arterial tree [2], little was taken account for its circumferential variations. With the lack of experimental studies for investigating the circumferential variation, the aortic wall is typically assumed to have uniform deformation. Our previous study, however, has observed that there are circumferential variations in aortic wall stress and stiffness [1]. In addition to our previous study, we investigate further regional variations of the porcine thoracic aorta in both circumferential and longitudinal directions during the inflation test. Hence, we additionally test the distal thoracic aorta at each anterior and posterior side, respectively, and compare with the proximal thoracic aorta.© 2011 ASME
Interfacial Activity of Poly[oligo(ethylene oxide)–monomethyl ether methacrylate]-Grafted Silica Nanoparticles

The interfacial behavior of water-soluble poly[oligo(ethylene oxide) monomethyl ether methacrylate], grafted from 15-nm-diameter silica nanoparticles using a living atom-transfer radical polymerization technique, was examined for hexane and water interfaces. The polymer-grafted nanoparticles reduced the hexane–water interfacial tension from ∼50 to ∼20 mN/m at concentrations of silica in the range of 1–10 ppm. The hydrodynamic size of the dispersed hybrid nanoparticle, a function of the molecular weight of the polymer and grafting density, was the dominant variable in determining the critical particle concentration and efficacy of the hybrid nanoparticles in reducing the hexane–water interfacial tension. A simple phenomenological model is used to explain the strong dependence of the critical particle concentration on the effective hydrodynamic size of the nanoparticles. Water–hexane and water–squalene emulsions formed using 1000 ppm of hybrid nanoparticles were stable for more than 60 days.
Eculizumab therapy in adults with allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy

Eculizumab therapy in adults with allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy
Biomechanical Analysis of Humeral and Femoral Structural Variation in the Great Plains

Variation in humeral and femoral structural morphology of Great Plains populations is examined for differences due to subsistence practice and geographical location. The sample consists of Archaic hunter-gatherers, early and middle Woodland hunter-gatherers, late Woodland incipient horticulturalists, Plains Village horticulturalists, and equestrian nomads from the northern, central, and southern Plains. In general, skeletal morphology on the Plains is relatively homogeneous throughout time and space. There are few significant univariate differences in same sex comparisons or in sexual dimorphism due to either subsistence practice or geographical region. However, males tend to cluster partially by subsistence practice, while females cluster by geographical region. Subsistence differences are generally associated with long bone size and activity related robusticily. Geographical variation between groups is most likely associated with climatically-induced differences in body build and not terrain relief.
Tip-Enhanced Laser Ablation Sample Transfer for Mass Spectrometry

Mass spectrometry is one of the primary analysis techniques for biological analysis but there are technological barriers in sampling scale that must be overcome for it to be used to its full potential on the size scale of single cells. Current mass spectrometry imaging methods are limited in spatial resolution when analyzing large biomolecules. The goal of this project is to use atomic force microscope (AFM) tip enhanced laser ablation to remove material from cells and tissue and capture it for subsequent mass spectrometry analysis. The laser ablation sample transfer system uses an AFM stage to hold the metal-coated tip at a distance of approximately 10 nm from a sample surface. The metal tip acts as an antenna for the electromagnetic radiation and enables the ablation of the sample with a spot size much smaller than a laser focused with a conventional lens system. A pulsed nanosecond UV or visible wavelength laser is focused onto the gold-coated silicon tip at an angle nearly parallel with the surface, which results in the removal of material from a spot between 500 nm and 1 µm in diameter and 200 and 500 nm deep. This corresponds to a few picograms of ablated material, which can be captured on a metal surface for MALDI analysis. We have used this approach to transfer small peptides and proteins from a thin film for analysis by mass spectrometry as a first step toward high spatial resolution imaging.
International Media and Latvian Sovereignty: From Liberation to Today’s Vexation

This report examines the significance of international news in Latvian politics. Today, in light of coverage stemming from the crisis in Ukraine, news from Russia is a prominent concern, but a generation ago Latvian politicians working for independence from the USSR devoted their primary attention to news from the West. This study examines the relationship between press and politics in the twilight of the Soviet era and contrasts it with today’s “information war” between the small Baltic state and its neighbor Russia. In the process, it suggests directions for future research based on the case of Latvia in conjunction with insights derived from research on the “CNN effect.”
A cortical circuit for voluntary laryngeal control: Implications for the evolution language

The development of voluntary laryngeal control has been argued to be a key innovation in the evolution of language. Part of the evidence for this hypothesis comes from neuroscience. For example, comparative research has shown that humans have direct cortical innervation of motor neurons controlling the larynx, whereas nonhuman primates do not. Research on cortical motor control circuits has shown that the frontal lobe cortical motor system does not work alone; it is dependent on sensory feedback control circuits. Thus, the human brain must have evolved not only the required efferent motor pathway but also the cortical circuit for controlling those efferent signals. To fill this gap, I propose a link between the evolution of laryngeal control and neuroscience research on the human dorsal auditory-motor speech stream. Specifically, I argue that the dorsal stream Spt (Sylvian parietal-temporal) circuit evolved in step with the direct cortico-laryngeal control pathway and together represented a key advance in the evolution of speech. I suggest that a cortical laryngeal control circuit may play an important role in language by providing a prosodic frame for speech planning.
Further investigation of wheel climb initiation: Three-point contact:

In previous research, a set of nonlinear algebraic kinematic constraint equations were developed that describe the configuration of a wheelset in contact with a track at two distinct points. In suc...
Self-Portrait on a Timeless Background: Transformations of the Autobiographical Mode in Russian Postmodernism

(1996). Self-Portrait on a Timeless Background: Transformations of the Autobiographical Mode in Russian Postmodernism. a/b: Auto/Biography Studies: Vol. 11, RETHINKING RUSSIAN AUTOBIOGRAPHY, pp. 140-162.