cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Paradoxical Relationship between Mn Superoxide Dismutase Deficiency and Radiation-Induced Cognitive Defects

Radiation therapy of the CNS, even at low doses, can lead to deficits in neurocognitive functions. Reduction in hippocampal neurogenesis is usually, but not always, associated with cognitive deficits resulting from radiation therapy. Generation of reactive oxygen species is considered the main cause of radiation-induced tissue injuries, and elevated levels of oxidative stress persist long after the initial cranial irradiation. Consequently, mutant mice with reduced levels of the mitochondrial antioxidant enzyme, Mn superoxide dismutase (MnSOD or Sod2), are expected to be more sensitive to radiation-induced changes in hippocampal neurogenesis and the related functions. In this study, we showed that MnSOD deficiency led to reduced generation of immature neurons in Sod2−/+ mice even though progenitor cell proliferation was not affected. Compared to irradiated Sod2+/+ mice, which showed cognitive defects and reduced differentiation of newborn cells towards the neuronal lineage, irradiated Sod2−/+ mice showed normal hippocampal-dependent cognitive functions and normal differentiation pattern for newborn neurons and astroglia. However, we also observed a disproportional decrease in newborn neurons in irradiated Sod2−/+ following behavioral studies, suggesting that MnSOD deficiency may render newborn neurons more sensitive to stress from behavioral trainings following cranial irradiation. A positive correlation between normal cognitive functions and normal dendritic spine densities in dentate granule cells was observed. The data suggest that maintenance of synaptic connections, via maintenance of dendritic spines, may be important for normal cognitive functions following cranial irradiation.
Ozonation Of Dissolved Manganese In The Presence Of Natural Organic Matter

Abstract Oxidation of Mn2+ by ozone was studied with respect to.the effects of natural organic matter (NOM) and initial Mn2+ concentrations on post-ozonation dissolved Mn residuals. For an initial Mn2+ concentration of 200 ug/L, dissolved Mn residuals < 10 ug/L were attainable only in die absence of NOM. The presence of NOM complicates the use of ozone for Mn2+ removal by increasing dosage requirements, thus increasing the potential for the formation of permanganate ion, MnO4. For a constant TOC concentration of 3.4 mg/L, ozonation of natural water spiked with an initial Mn2+ concentration of 1000 ug/L produced dissolved Mn residuals < 10 ug/L. At lower initial Mn2+ concentrations (60-200 ug/L), dissolved Mn residuals following ozonation were consistently 20-30 ug/L.
Otologic disease in aids patients: Ct correlation

The contrast-enhanced computed tomographic (CT) scans of the temporal bone and brain in 18 patients with otologic disease and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) were retrospectively reviewed. Seven scans revealed middle ear and mastoid disease; three scans were consistent with central nervous system (CNS) pathology; and eight scans demonstrated no abnormalities. CT scanning was found useful in localizing otopathology and diagnosing CNS toxoplasmosis, aural polyps, osteomyelitis, mastoiditis, and middle ear effusion due to hypertrophic lymphoid tissue. The authors conclude that AIDS patients with sensorineural hearing loss should undergo contrast-enhanced brain CT scans to rule out CNS pathology; AIDS status does not alter criteria for CT scanning in patients with conductive hearing loss; and that images of the nasopharynx should be included on temporal bone CT scans of patients with conductive hearing loss in order to exclude eustachian tube obstruction by hypertrophic lymphoid tissue.
In vitro antimicrobial activity of cefpirome against ceftazidime-resistant isolates from two multicenter studies

The in vitro activity of cefpirome against ceftazidime-resistant (MIC>16 mg/l) isolates from two multicenter studies was analyzed. The first investigation carried out in the USA, was an in vitro comparison of cefpirome and five third-generation cephalosporins in which more than 6,000 isolates were evaluated, including 97Enterobacteriaceae and 1,509 staphylococci resistant to ceftazidime. The second study was a multicenter international study (>5,000 strains total) in which 160 ceftazidime-resistant gram-negative bacilli and 509 staphylococci from five countries (Australia, France, Germany, Italy and UK) were tested against cefpirome. The results from the US trial indicated that only 0.8 % of enteric bacilli were resistant to cefpirome compared to 4.9 % and 4.7 % resistant to ceftazidime and cefoperazone, respectively. In the international trial, cefpirome was also active against ceftazidime-resistant, class I β-lactamase producing enteric bacilli (75 % susceptibility, MIC50 of 4 mg/l) especially againstCitrobacter spp.,Enterobacter spp. andMorganella morganii. Cefpirome was 8- to 64-fold more active than ceftazidime against seven different staphylococcal species. The antimicrobial activity of cefpirome against routine clinical isolates and those organisms resistant to third-generation cephalosporins was highly consistent within a nation (USA) and among various developed countries.
Orai1 and STIM reconstitute store-operated calcium channel function.

The two membrane proteins, STIM1 and Orai1, have each been shown to be essential for the activation of store-operated channels (SOC). Yet, how these proteins functionally interact is not known. Here, we reveal that STIM1 and Orai1 expressed together reconstitute functional SOCs. Expressed alone, Orai1 strongly reduces store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) in human embryonic kidney 293 cells and the Ca2+ release-activated Ca2+ current (ICRAC) in rat basophilic leukemia cells. However, expressed along with the store-sensing STIM1 protein, Orai1 causes a massive increase in SOCE, enhancing the rate of Ca2+entry by up to 103-fold. This entry is entirely store-dependent since the same coexpression causes no measurable store-independent Ca2+ entry. The entry is completely blocked by the SOC blocker, 2-aminoethoxydiphenylborate. Orai1 and STIM1 coexpression also caused a large gain in CRAC channel function in rat basophilic leukemia cells. The close STIM1 homologue, STIM2, inhibited SOCE when expressed alone but coexpressed with Orai1 caused substantial constitutive (store-independent) Ca2+ entry. STIM proteins are known to mediate Ca2+ store-sensing and endoplasmic reticulum-plasma membrane coupling with no intrinsic channel properties. Our results revealing a powerful gain in SOC function dependent on the presence of both Orai1 and STIM1 strongly suggest that Orai1 contributes the PM channel component responsible for Ca2+ entry. The suppression of SOC function by Orai1 overexpression likely reflects a required stoichiometry between STIM1 and Orai1.
Self-Irradiation Cascade Simulations in Plutonium Metal: Model Behavior at High Energy

The Modified Embedded Atom Method model for Pu metal is revised so that it more accurately captures the behavior of the Ziegler-Biersack-Littmark model of ion-ion interactions. Two revision are tested with somewhat different stiffnesses in the 2-1000 eV range. The revised models show higher damage levels at 20 KeV than an earlier model, suggesting that the behavior of the models above 100 eV is dominating damage production, at least in the earlier stages of the cascade.
3D model of vertebra for spinal surgery

The finite element method of stress analysis is a useful tool, particularly for irregularly-shaped structures such as the vertebra. It is able to identify locations of high stress and to quantify changes in stress due to surgery. Therefore, a three dimensional finite element model has been developed which simulates the in vivo spinal surgery such as (laminectomies).
The average frequency of private alleles in a partially isolated population

Abstract An analytic model is developed to explore the relationship between gene flow, selection, and genetic drift. We assume that a single copy of a mutant allele appears in a finite, partially isolated population and allow for the effects of immigration, genic selection, and mutation on the frequency of the mutant. Our concern is with the distribution of the mutant's frequency before it either is lost from the population or emigrates. Before either of these events, the allele will be a “private allele” and would be found in only one of several populations in a larger collection. Slatkin [(1985) Evolution 39, 53–65] found several simple properties of private alleles in his simulations. We use the method developed by Karlin and Tavare [(1980) Genet. Res. 37, 33–46; (1981a), Theor. Pop. Biol. 19, 187–214; (1981b) Theor. Pop. Biol. 19, 215–229] for a model similar to ours to obtain a diffusion equation with a “killing term” and obtain the mean and variance of the mutant's frequency and its expected frequency in samples of a specified size. There is only fair agreement between the analytic results from this model and those from Slatkin's (loc. cit.) simulations. The rescaling method used to obtain the results indicates that if emigration is relatively frequent, the distribution of rare alleles is governed largely by the balance between genetic drift and emigration, with selection, mutation, and immigration playing a lesser role.
Multi-Modal Calibration of Surveillance Sensor Networks

Target detection and localization is one of the key research challenges in sensor networks. In this paper we propose a heterogeneous wireless sensor network integrating imaging and non-imaging sensors to accomplish the detection and localization task in complex urban environments. The low-cost non-imaging sensors provide early detection and partial localization of potential targets and direct imaging sensors to focus on them. Accurate target location estimated by the imaging sensors is subsequently used for in-situ calibration of the non-imaging sensors so that localization error is minimized over time. We evaluate our approach through simulation and our preliminary results reveal that coordination across different sensing modalities increases localization accuracy and can reduce the amount of imaging data that must be carried by the network.
The role of postischemic recirculation in the development of ischemic neuronal injury following complete cerebral ischemia.

The neuronal response to complete cerebral ischemia (CCI) of 5–15 min duration was evaluated at the light and electron microscopic level subsequent to postischemic recirculation periods of up to 60 min. Following postischemic reperfusion, the homogeneous neuronal changes characteristic of permanent CCI were modified into a heterogeneous pattern of selectively vulnerable neuronal responses. Four basic types of neuronal injury were represented within this heterogeneous neuronal population. The Type I neuronal response was most numerous and consisted of chromatin clumping, nucleolar condensation and a breakdown of polysomes. This response may represent a reversal of some of the neuronal changes observed after permanent CCI. In addition to the above changes, Type II neurons contained swollen mitochondria and Golgi saccules which appeared as microvacuoles under the light microscope. Type III neurons displayed varying degrees of neuronal shrinkage and numerous swollen mitochondria. Type IV neurons were markedly shrunken and electron-dense with few identifiable subcellular structures. The distribution of Type I neurons was random but the other neuronal responses occurred in “selectively vulnerable” brain regions. The number of Type II, III, and IV neurons increased with extended insult durations but were unaffected by the length of recirculation. Ten minutes of CCI represented the threshold for a significant increase in the number of severely altered neurons. These findings suggest that considerable neuronal injury may be present after 10–15 min of CCI, and the lack of a recirculation period following CCI appears to afford the brain parenchyma an extensive degree of structural protection.
Changing Times and Local Terms on the Rio Negro, Brazil: Amazonian Ways of Depolarizing Epistemology, Chronology and Cultural Change

Partway along the vast waterways of Brazil's middle Rio Negro, upstream from urban Manaus and downstream from the ethnographically famous Northwest Amazon region, is the town of Castanheiro, whose inhabitants skillfully negotiate a space between the polar extremes of ‘traditional’ and ‘acculturated.’ This paper takes an ethnographic look at the non-polarizing terms that these rural Amazonian people use for talking about cultural change. While popular and academic discourses alike have often framed cultural change in the Amazon as a linear process, Amazonian discourse provides resources for describing change as situated in shifting fields of knowledge of the social and physical environments, better capturing its non-linear complexity and ambiguity.
MESOPENAEUS MARIAE, A NEW SPECIES OF SHRIMP (PENAEOIDEA: SOLENOCERIDAE), THE FIRST RECORD OF THE GENUS IN THE INDO-WEST PACIFIC

ABSTRACT Mesopenaeusmariae, a new species of solenocerid shrimp, is described and illustrated. It differs from the only previously known species in the genus, Mesopenaeus tropicalis, in having a deeper rostrum, about 0.40 instead of 0.25 as high as long, in lacking hooks on the distomesial margin of the distal article of the mandibular palp, in having a meral spine on the first pereopod, and in other characters of the appendages, the petasma, and the thelycum. Length/weight regressions and carapace/total length relationships are presented for males and females. Mesopenaeus mariae is found SE of Saya de Malha Bank and off southern Mozambique; M. tropicalis inhabits the western Atlantic from North Carolina to southern Brazil.
HUMAN WOUND REPAIR: I. Epidermal Regeneration

A series of linearly incised superficial skin wounds was made on the forearms of young adult male volunteers. Wounds were sampled at several intervals between 3 hr and 21 days after wounding, for study by light and electron microscopy. The light microscopic observations show that regeneration of epidermis in human wounds conforms chronologically to that reported for the epidermis in superficial wound repair in laboratory animals. It is further shown that "ruffling" of cell membranes characterizes the cells of the migrating epidermis in early wound healing. This study reveals that the basement lamina and hemidesmosomes are established by epidermis in contact with the fibrin net at the base of early wounds. Epidermal cells in the wound environment are shown to be phagocytic. Analysis of the submicroscopic cytology of differentiating and maturing regenerated epidermis reveals that, in the sequence of events, the formation of filaments, basal lamina, and desmosomes is followed chronologically by evolution of keratohyalin granules and, subsequently, by keratinization of the surface epidermal elements. The entire sequence of migration, differentiation, and ultimate keratinization in the superficial wounds studied requires 3–5 days for completion.
Income distribution and poverty: An interregional comparison

Abstract This paper compares experiences in economic growth, income distribution, and poverty in different regions of the world. It examines the causes of interregional disparities in growth and distribution, assessing the nature of the link between growth and distribution. Among other results, it concludes that low inequality is most likely to be consistent with sustainable growth, and that positive growth is neither a sufficient nor a necessary condition for low inequality or poverty incidence. In the context of the new global economy, alleviation of inequality and poverty calls for an articulate strategy targeting on the marginalized population at large.
Narrowband filter using multiple photorefractive gratings

In this paper, we propose a novel high SNR tunable filter using a photorefractive single crystal fiber with multiple holographic gratings. Since the single crystal fiber which is grown by the laser heated pedestal growth (LHPG) technique can be more than 100 mm long, volume gratings with an extremely large number of period can be obtained in the fiber. Thus, the wavelength selectivity of the grating can be very high on the order of 105 so that one can achieve very narrow band filter (< 0.01 nm). To increase the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the filter, a method of using multiple holographic gratings is proposed. The SNR can be improved by more than 100 times as compared with a conventional volume grating filter. Finally, the electro-optic effect can be used to change the refractive index of the crystal fiber, which in turn changes the wavelength response of the stored volume grating. Since the response time of the electro-optic effect is on the order of 1 ns, one can very rapidly tune the central-wavelength of the filter.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
An evaluation of independent consumer assistance centers on problem resolution and user satisfaction: the consumer perspective.

Individuals who wish to receive independent assistance to resolve access to care health problems have limited options. The Health Consumer Alliance (HCA) is an independent, coordinated effort of nine legal services organizations that provide free assistance to low-income health consumers in 10 California counties. The need for the HCA stems from the vast number of health consumers with unanswered questions and unresolved problems relating to access to care issues, among both insured and uninsured populations. However, little is known about the effectiveness of independent consumer assistance centers. This paper examines the effectiveness of a network of independent consumer assistance programs in resolving consumer problems and consumers’ level of satisfaction with services received. As the project evaluators, we conducted telephone surveys with 1,291 users of the HCA to assess if this independent program resolved consumer problems, and to measure the level of satisfaction among HCA users. Specifically, we asked questions about the HCA’s influence on problem resolution, consumer satisfaction, health insurance status and use of preventive care services. From 1997 to 2001, more than 46,000 consumers contacted the seven health consumer centers (HCCs). According to our sample of respondents, results show that the HCCs are an important resource for low-income Californians trying to access health care. After contacting the HCCs, 62 percent of the participants report that their problems were resolved. In addition, 87 percent of the participants said the HCCs were helpful and 95 percent said they would be likely to contact the HCC again if necessary.
Probability modeling and material microstructure applied to corrosion and fatigue of aluminum and steel alloys

Abstract Engineering prognosis and life cycle management have increasingly become dependent on probabilistic methods and material microstructure. Due to variability in microstructural properties produced by differences in alloys and processing conditions, scientifically based probability modeling for life prediction and reliability is a challenging problem. For several years, probabilistic and statistical methodologies have been available to address prognosis issues, and there has been significant progress in computational methods for engineering applications. Their utility has been greatly limited by the lack of well developed physically and mechanistically based models for many of the complex applications. Without a reasonably accurate description of the damage process at a scale that is pertinent to the desired application, probabilistic computations have minimal value for prognosis and life cycle assessment. In this paper, the major methods in computational probability are reviewed, and their efficacy is illustrated through two engineering examples. One example is corrosion and corrosion fatigue crack growth for 7075-T6 aluminum alloy, which is used commonly for structural components in commercial and military aircraft. The other example is very high cycle S–N behavior of SUJ2 bearing steel for which multiple modes of failure are manifest in the high cycle regime. Their application to other critical engineering problems is discussed.
Real gas flows over complex geometries at moderate angles of attack

N simulation of supersonic and hypersonic flows over arbitrary geometries at moderate angles of attack is presented in this paper. The different geometries considered for analysis include a sphere-cone-cylinder-flare, a blunt-nosed inlet, and a 7-deg half-angle spherically blunted cone. The three-dimensional flowfields over these geometries are analyzed by a parabolized Navier-Stokes code (HYTAC) and a new viscous shock-layer code (VSLET), and the results are compared. Both laminar and turbulent flowfield results for both perfect gas and equilibrium air are presented. In general the surface pressure distributions are in good agreement, whereas the heat-transfer results differ depending on the differencing scheme used in the calculation of gradients and turbulent modeling. Aerodynamic force and moment coefficients are presented for some typical cases.
Evidence against visual integration across saccadic eye movements

One of the classic problems in perception concerns how we perceive a stable, continuous visual world even though we view it via a temporally discontinuous series of eye movements. Previous investigators have suggested that our perception of a stable visual environment is due to anintegrative visual buffer, a special memory store capable of fusing the visual contents of successive fixations according to their environmental coordinates. In this paper, three experiments are reported that attempted to demonstrate the existence of an integrative visual buffer. The experimental procedure required subjects to mentally fuse two halves of a dot matrix presented in the same spatial region of a display, but separated by an eye movement so that each half was viewed only during one fixation. Thus, subjects had to integrate packets of visual information that had the same environmental coordinates, but different retinal coordinates. No evidence was found in any experiment for the fusion of visual information from successive fixations in memory, leaving the status of the integrative visual buffer in serious doubt.
Defensive Mobilization: Popular Movements against Economic Adjustment Policies in Latin America

In the current wave of defensive collective action across Latin America in response to neoliberal globalization, working-class groups appear most frequently in the documented protest events. The new wave of popular movement activity emerged in the region in the late 1990s and early twenty-first century and is driven by the erosion of the economic and social benefits previously available to the popular classes during the period of state-led development.
‘Can you point to where the abnormality is?’: Pelvic digit, a case report

Abstract Pelvic digit is a rare congenital anomaly that may be misinterpreted as neoplasm or a post-traumatic condition. Failure to recognize this phenomenon may lead to unnecessary investigation and potential invasive intervention. The case of an 18-year-old male with pelvic digit is presented, followed by consideration of pertinent imaging features.
Dentistry within the British National Health Service

“The inevitability of this process [the loss of teeth] was recognized [before the establishment of the National Health Service J and in many industrial towns in the North, people often made the pragmatic decision not to put off the evil day, and so the extracting of all teeth and the fitting of dentures became a recognized twenty-first birthday or wedding present.” 1
Hilary Koprowski (1916–2013): Vaccine pioneer, art lover, and scientific leader

Hilary Koprowski was born in Warsaw, Poland, on December 5, 1916 and obtained his medical degree from the University of Warsaw in 1939. That same year, after training in piano at the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome, Koprowski moved to the Yellow Fever Research Service of Rockefeller Foundation in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In 1944 he joined the Section of Viral and Rickettsial Research at Lederle Laboratories of the American Cyanamid Company at Pearl River, New York.
A Boltzmann Filter Improves the Prediction of RNA Folding Pathways in a Massively Parallel Genetic Algorithm

Abstract RNA folding using the massively parallel genetic algorithm (GA) has been enhanced by the addition of a Boltzmann filter. The filter uses the Boltzmann probability distribution in conjunction with Metropolis' relaxation algorithm. The combination of these two concepts within the GA's massively parallel computational environment helps guide the genetic algorithm to more accurately reflect RNA folding pathways and thus final solution structures. Helical regions (base-paired stems) now form in the structures based upon the stochastic properties of the thermodynamic parameters that have been determined from experiments. Thus, structural changes occur based upon the relative energetic impact that the change causes rather than just geometric conflicts alone. As a result, when comparing the predictions to phyloge-netically determined structures, over multiple runs, fewer false-positive stems (predicted incorrectly) and more true-positive stems (predicted correctly) are generated, and the total number of ...
High‐pressure liquid chromatographic analysis of antipyrine in small plasma samples

Abstract A high‐pressure liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method was developed for the assay of antipyrine in small (0.1‐ml) plasma samples using aminopyrine as the internal standard and a reversed‐phase microparticulate column. The assay sensitivity (1 μ/ml) permits development of a plasma level‐time curve using a single rat. The mean (± SE ) plasma elimination half‐life in rats was 1.28 ± 0.14 hr. A comparison of the spectrophotometric method with the HPLC method yielded a correlation coefficient of 0.98. The HPLC assay for antipyrine is rapid and precise and can be used for hepatic drug metabolism study in a single animal.
Antennas for Short Distance Communications in Cryogenic Environment

Sets of bow-tie antennas, used in a single emitter-receiver near-field configuration and in array configuration, have been studied to be used as wireless means to transmit 8–12 GHz microwave signals from the cold stage of a cryogenic system to a room-temperature processing unit. Indeed, the absence of heat conduction allows increasing the performance of cryogenic systems and open the way to multichannel microwave systems that are necessary for imagers. Transmission loss has been found to be lower than 3 dB over a 1.5 GHz bandwidth while crosstalk in the array configuration is kept below −20 dB when antennas are located at around 90 mm transversally from each other.
The olecranon osteotomy: a six-year experience in the treatment of intraarticular fractures of the distal humerus.

Objectives: The transolecranon exposure for distal humerus fractures is a suggested technique for improving articular visualization, allowing accurate reduction. Significant osteotomy complications such as nonunion and implant prominence have prompted recommendations for alternate exposures. The purposes of this study are to present the techniques and complications of the olecranon osteotomy for the management of distal humerus fractures, and to evaluate the adequacy of distal humeral and olecranon articular reductions. Design: Retrospective review. Setting: Urban level-1 University trauma center. Patients: One hundred fourteen skeletally mature AO/OTA type 13-C distal humerus fractures were identified from the orthopedic trauma database and formed the study group. Intervention: Seventy fractures (61%), including 42 open injuries, were managed using an intraarticular, chevron-shaped olecranon osteotomy. Osteotomy fixations were performed with an intramedullary screw and supplemental dorsal ulnar wiring, or plate stabilization. In the remaining 44 fractures (39%), soft-tissue mobilizing exposures were performed. Main Outcome Measure: Patient records and radiographs were reviewed to determine injury and operative characteristics, complications, and adequacy of articular reductions. Patient interviews were conducted by telephone to identify any subsequent surgical procedures. Results: The proportion of osteotomies performed increased as fracture complexity increased (P < 0.001). Sixty-seven of 70 patients had adequate follow-up to determine osteotomy union. All osteotomies united. There was 1 delayed union. Sixty-one of 70 patients had adequate follow-up to determine complications associated with ulnar fixations. Five of these patients (8%) underwent elective removal of symptomatic osteotomy fixations. An additional 13 patients had olecranon implants removed in conjunction with other surgical procedures (11 elbow contracture releases, 1 humeral nonunion repair, and 1 chronic draining sinus excision). Symptomatic ulnar fixations in this group could not be reliably ascertained, but may have been present. A total of 18 of 61 patients (29.5%), therefore, had proximal ulna fixations removed. All patients treated using an olecranon osteotomy exposure demonstrated satisfactory radiographic distal humeral articular reductions. Two osteotomies required early revision osteosynthesis secondary to loss of osteotomy reduction. Conclusions: In this study, no osteotomy nonunions were encountered in 67 patients, more than half of which were open injuries. Regardless of which type of fixation is used to secure the osteotomy, secure stabilization must be obtained. Isolated symptomatic olecranon fixation requiring removal occurred in approximately 8% of patients. Although not necessary for all fractures of the distal humerus, the olecranon osteotomy can be useful in the visualization of the complex articular injuries, allowing accurate articular reduction.
Ileal ureter substitution: a contemporary series.

Abstract Objectives To review our contemporary experience with ileal ureter reconstruction. Despite advancements in surgical technology and technical expertise, ureteral injuries continue to occur. These injuries can be extensive, and ileal ureter reconstruction may be necessary. Methods A total of 18 ileal ureter substitutions were performed in 16 adults (10 men and 6 women) by a single surgeon during a 6-year period. The mean patient age was 49.4 years (range 25 to 72). The mean follow-up was 18.6 months (range 7 to 59). All ileal ureter substitutions were performed in an isoperistaltic, refluxing fashion. Follow-up included clinical evaluation, nuclear renography, intravenous urography, and serum chemistry testing. Results Postoperative nuclear renography demonstrated no relative loss of function of the affected renal unit and no evidence of functional obstruction. An unobstructed state was also confirmed with intravenous urography. No statistically significant metabolic changes were found in any patient, as assessed by serum chemistry testing. None of the patients had evidence of new stone formation. Two patients developed an isolated, symptomatic urinary tract infection during follow-up, and one has had recurrent urinary tract infections, a problem that was present preoperatively. Conclusions Ileal ureter substitution remains an effective treatment for patients with complex ureteral strictures or injuries. Stone activity does not appear to increase, and metabolic sequelae are uncommon in properly selected patients.
The Retreating-Stop Needle Guide as an Alternative to Variable-Angle Needle Guides

A new type of needle guide, a retreating-stop needle guide, is proposed and compared with existing variable-angle style needle guides. Compared to existing designs, this design gives the user finer control over the depth of needle insertion as well as preventing excessive needle advancement. For a subset of ultrasound guided procedures, particularly those that may benefit from out-of-plane approaches, retreating-stop needle guides could potentially improve needle placement. A prototype retreating-stop needle guide was constructed which has measurement resolution of 5 mm and a depth range of 3.0–7.5 cm, which is superior to commonly available existing needle guides. Resolutions of 2–3 mm are theoretically possible with this technique.
The stickleback–Schistocephalus host–parasite system as a model for understanding the effect of a macroparasite on host reproduction

Summary Reproductive life history traits are closely linked to fitness. Thus, changes in host reproductive traits associated with parasitic infection are of keen interest to the study of the evolutionary ecology of host‐parasite systems. Alterations of host reproductive function may reflect defensive host adaptations to mitigate the effect of parasitism, adaptive parasitic manipulations to promote pathogen reproduction and transmission, or non-adaptive side effects of infection. Parasitic infection often results in reduced host fitness through decreased reproductive performance representing parasite virulence. The pathology of Schistocephalus on reproduction in threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) classically has been viewed as largely resulting in the inability of infected host fish within a population to produce gametes and spawn. We show, however, that this model does not apply to stickleback populations world-wide. Several Alaskan populations of stickleback do not fit the classical model because a large fraction of individuals in each population may produce gametes, engage in reproductive behaviour, and spawn in the face of substantial infection. The significance of inter-population variation in reproductive performance of host stickleback is considered. Using the trophically transmitted Schistocephalus as a model, the suite of traits expressed in hosts of trophically transmitted parasites should be systematically investigated. Beyond the genetic constitutions of host and parasite, environmental conditions appear to play a major role in the manifestations of infection and must be considered more broadly in developing a complete understanding of the system.
ENERGY LOSS IN VEHICLE COLLISIONS

Reconstruction methods typically are based upon impact velocity changes computed by one of two approaches: a) damage based or crush measurement techniques; and b) impulse and momentum equation solutions. These two approaches are compared in this paper. The comparison focuses on the ability to accurately calculate energy loss. Data from some of the RICSAE experimental collisions are analysed using the crush measurement model and the impulse and momentum model. The latter gives consistently low estimates of energy loss with accuracies ranging from -33% to 0%. The crush measurement model gives energy loss estimates which range from -55% to 109% of the experimental values. Although the crush measurement technique accuracy depends directly upon the ability to estimate energy loss, the method appears to be less accurate in this respect than the impulse and momentum method.
The Concept of Pseudotolerance to Opioids

Tolerance to the analgesic effects of opioids after the first days of therapy is unusual. Several factors may result in an increased dose requirement that is not true tolerance. This phenomenon may be described as psuedotolerance. These factors include progression or exacerbation of the underlying disease, new pathology related or unrelated to the original disease, increased physical activity, lack of compliance with the physician's directions, change in the medication formulation (brand or supplier), drug interaction, addiction, and diversion
The clinical, morphologic, and molecular changes in the ileum associated with early postnatal dexamethasone administration: from the baby's bowel to the researcher's bench.

Focal small bowel perforation (FSBP) is a life-threatening event that predominantly affects extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants. Histopathology from surgical specimens of ileum with FSBP shows a healthy mucosa overlying a thinned muscularis with segmental degeneration. Clinical data strongly support an association between early postnatal administration of dexamethasone (EPD) and FSBP. Additional risk factors, including gestational age, administration of prophylactic indomethacin, and severity of illness, may be synergistic with EPD for the pathogenesis of perforations. Animal models of dexamethasone administration show morphologic changes in the ileum, similar to those seen in ELBW infants, including increased mucosal maturation and thinning of the muscularis. These tissue-specific differences may be mediated by a perturbation in growth factor expression or accumulation. In support of this hypothesis, dexamethasone has been associated with increased IGF-I immunolocalization in the mucosa and decreased immunolocalization in the muscularis. The known growth-promoting functions of IGF-I are consistent with the observed dexamethasone-associated changes within both the mucosa and the muscularis. Ongoing studies in this animal model are exploring the potential mechanisms by which dexamethasone might affect IGF-I availability.
Ultra wideband time hopping systems: performance and throughput enhancement via frequency domain processing

In this work, the authors introduce a high performance, high throughput ultrawideband (UWB) time hopping system based on a multicarrier pulse waveform. Specifically, the authors propose the multicarrier UWB waveform referred to as the carrier interferometry (CI) waveform: the CI waveform corresponds to the superpositioning of N orthogonal subcarriers. At the receiver side, the received UWB pulse is decomposed into its subcarriers and recombined to exploit diversity in the frequency domain. The receiver's frequency domain processing also provides resistance to inter symbol interference. As a result, the proposed frequency-based time-hopping UWB system is shown to support increased throughputs and higher performances when compared to traditional time-based UWB time hopping.
Tripal v1.1: a standards-based toolkit for construction of online genetic and genomic databases

Tripal is an open-source freely available toolkit for construction of online genomic and genetic databases. It aims to facilitate development of community-driven biological websites by integrating the GMOD Chado database schema with Drupal, a popular website creation and content management software. Tripal provides a suite of tools for interaction with a Chado database and display of content therein. The tools are designed to be generic to support the various ways in which data may be stored in Chado. Previous releases of Tripal have supported organisms, genomic libraries, biological stocks, stock collections and genomic features, their alignments and annotations. Also, Tripal and its extension modules provided loaders for commonly used file formats such as FASTA, GFF, OBO, GAF, BLAST XML, KEGG heir files and InterProScan XML. Default generic templates were provided for common views of biological data, which could be customized using an open Application Programming Interface to change the way data are displayed. Here, we report additional tools and functionality that are part of release v1.1 of Tripal. These include (i) a new bulk loader that allows a site curator to import data stored in a custom tab delimited format; (ii) full support of every Chado table for Drupal Views (a powerful tool allowing site developers to construct novel displays and search pages); (iii) new modules including ‘Feature Map’, ‘Genetic’, ‘Publication’, ‘Project’, ‘Contact’ and the ‘Natural Diversity’ modules. Tutorials, mailing lists, download and set-up instructions, extension modules and other documentation can be found at the Tripal website located at http://tripal.info. Database URL: http://tripal.info/
Three‐dimensional time‐harmonic Green's functions for a triclinic full‐space using a symbolic computation system

Time-harmonic Green's functions for a triclinic anisotropic full-space are evaluated through the use of a symbolic computation system.This procedure allows evaluation of the Green's functions for the most general anisotropic materials. The proposed computational algorithms are programmed in a MATLAB environment by incorporating symbolic calculations performed using Maple Computer Algebra System. Extensive testing of the numerical results has been performed for both displacement and stress fields. The tests demonstrate the accuracy of the proposed algorithm in evaluating the Green's functions. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Racial Differences in Treatment Effect among Men in a Substance Abuse and Domestic Violence Program

Background: It isunclear whether racial differences in treatment effect exist for individuals in substance abuse and domestic violence programs. Objectives: This study examined racial differences in treatment effect among substance dependent Caucasian and African-American male intimate partner violence (IPV) offenders court mandated to an integrated substance abuse and domestic violence treatment. Methods: From baseline to completion of treatment (week 12), 75 participants (39 Caucasian; 36 African-American) were assessed on demographics, substance use, legal characteristics, and use of violence (physical, verbal, and psychological). Results: African-American men served more months incarcerated in their life than Caucasian men. Both groups showed decreases in their use of physical violence and alcohol abuse over treatment. Caucasian men also showed a decrease in their use of verbal abuse. Conclusions and Scientific Significance: At treatment completion, both groups showed a reduction in physical abuse and...
Generic immunosuppressant use in solid organ transplantation

Although economics may be the driving force for generic development, these forces must be tempered by consumer safety and efficacy. Studies to date imply that we are gaining balance in attempts to reconcile these issues. With the development of more generic immunosuppressants imminent, the transplant community must continue to enforce their high standards of a research driven discipline where the transition from research to clinical practice is often seamless. Higher academic demands will continue to be expected for any generic developed for use in transplantation. Whether or not generic availability will subsequently impact other areas of transplantation such as legislative policies for reimbursement, compliance, and long-term graft survival has not been quantified and requires further study.
Proposed changes in living conditions for broilers under the National Organic Program will have limited economic effects

Abstract In the current paper, we estimate the costs and benefits of implementing the proposed rule for changes in living conditions for organic broilers. In contrast to the effects of the proposed rule for changes in living conditions for laying hens, the effects of the rule on organic broilers is anticipated to be relatively limited. All producers are already in compliance with option 2 of the rule, and changes required under option 3 are minimal for most producers. Using the per-farm estimated regulatory costs and the estimates of production volumes and actual prices, the total estimated annual industry cost under option 3 is $2.4 million, which represents 0.1% of total industry revenue. The estimated benefits associated with this type of perceived animal welfare improvement are high enough to cover the anticipated cost, and the proposed option easily passes the benefit-to-cost ratio test.
Morphometry of stallion spermatozoa by computer-assisted image analysis

Metric measurements of stallion spermatozoal heads were determined for live, unfixed spermatozoa and for Feulgen-stained spermatozoa by videomicroscopy and computerized image analysis. Two ejaculates were collected from each of five stallions of normal fertility. Air-dried semen smears were Feulgen-stained, and live, unfixed spermatozoa were examined as wet-mount preparations. For Feulgen-stained spermatozoa, videoimages (x3850) were captured, and sperm heads were detected via image segmentation and particle analysis. For live, unfixed spermatozoa, phase contrast videoimages (x3850) were measured to determine width and length of the sperm head. For Feulgen-stained spermatozoa, there were significant effects (P < 0.001) of stallion and ejaculate on measured parameters of area, circumference, and the length and width of the sperm head. For live, unfixed spermatozoa, there were significant effects of stallion on length and width and of ejaculate on length of the sperm heads. There was a very poor correlation between length and width of sperm heads between Feulgen-stained and live, unfixed spermatozoa. Two indices of sperm shape (oval factor and aspect ratio) were also determined. Both aspect ratio and oval factor were significantly affected by stallion (P < 0.001); however, oval factor was not affected by ejaculate and therefore may represent a less variable determination of sperm head shape across stallions. Overall, length and width of stallion sperm heads were larger (P < 0.01) for live, unfixed spermatozoa than for Feulgen-stained spermatozoa (length: 6.3 +/- 0.4 vs 5.08 +/- 0.44; width: 3.08 +/- 0.34 vs 2.71 +/- 0.28 mum, respectively). Computerized image analysis may be useful as a means to objectively measure sperm head dimensions in the stallion and could be useful in future studies to determine associations with stallion fertility.
Salmonella Exploits Caspase-1 to Colonize Peyer's Patches in a Murine Typhoid Model

Salmonella typhimurium invades host macrophages and induces apoptosis and the release of mature proinflammatory cytokines. SipB, a protein translocated by Salmonella into the cytoplasm of macrophages, is required for activation of Caspase-1 (Casp-1, an interleukin [IL]-1β–converting enzyme), which is a member of a family of cysteine proteases that induce apoptosis in mammalian cells. Casp-1 is unique among caspases because it also directly cleaves the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18 to produce bioactive cytokines. We show here that mice lacking Casp-1 (casp-1−/− mice) had an oral S. typhimurium 50% lethal dose (LD50) that was 1,000-fold higher than that of wild-type mice. Salmonella breached the M cell barrier of casp-1−/− mice efficiently; however, there was a decrease in the number of apoptotic cells, intracellular bacteria, and the recruitment of polymorphonuclear lymphocytes in the Peyer's patches (PP) as compared with wild-type mice. Furthermore, Salmonella did not disseminate systemically in the majority of casp-1−/− mice, as demonstrated by significantly less colonization in the PP, mesenteric lymph nodes, and spleens of casp-1−/− mice after an oral dose of S. typhimurium that was 100-fold higher than the LD50. The increased resistance in casp-1−/− animals appears specific for Salmonella infection since these mice were susceptible to colonization by another enteric pathogen, Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, which normally invades the PP. These results show that Casp-1, which is both proapoptotic and proinflammatory, is essential for S. typhimurium to efficiently colonize the cecum and PP and subsequently cause systemic typhoid-like disease in mice.