cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Neuro-endovascular optical coherence tomography imaging: clinical feasibility and applications

The authors report on the feasibility of clinical neuroendovascular optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging as well as its efficacy and safety by comparing findings with histology in animal, cadaveric and clinical studies. Catheter-based in vivo endovascular OCT imaging was carried out intracranially in four patients, three in the anterior circulation and one in the posterior circulation (vertebral artery). The neuroendovascular OCT device was delivered to the desired location using groin access and standard endovascular procedures. In vivo findings were reproduced using ex vivo OCT imaging in corresponding animal and human (cadaveric) harvested tissue segments with findings matched by histology. OCT images correlated well with the images obtained after histologic sectioning, and visualized in vivo the laminar vascular structure. Satisfactory imaging findings were obtained with no complications. Neuroendovascular OCT imaging is thus feasible for clinical use and can detect with high resolution the structure of arterial segments. Understanding OCT imaging in non-diseased arteries is important in establishing baseline findings necessary for interpreting pathologic processes. This allows neuroendovascular optical biopsies of vascular tissue to be obtained without the need for excision and processing, and potentially allows prophylactic interventions against stroke and other cerebrovascular disease before they become symptomatic.
A metrical characterization of symmetric polytopes

A family of symmetric projections of polytopes inR2n toR n was given in [10]. By determining the invariantn-vectors of the induced action of these symmetry groups on the exterior algebra Λ n R2n, we show that the symmetric projections have the greatest volume among projections with the same combinatorial type.
A comparative study of proprietary ERP and open source ERP modules on the value chain

There have been many successful outcomes from open-source software (OSS) development, such as Firefox web browser, Apache server application, Linux operating system, etc. Due to time and cost constraints, small and medium sized businesses (SMBs) cannot afford proprietary enterprise software. Therefore, there is an increased demand for open-source development of enterprise software from SMBs. Many studies have been done on implementation of large scale proprietary enterprise software, such as enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM), and supply chain management (SCM). However, open-source enterprise software implementation has not received much spotlight yet, in spite of its potentials as a disruptive innovation. In this study, we investigate types of ERP modules developed by an OSS community, SourceForge.net (SF). We classified 447 the most popular ERP projects of SF into 14 categories of proprietary ERP software used in previous studies. When we analysed (by a qualitative method) the contents of each category, we found that SMBs are using OSS for different ERP modules developed and provided by commercial vendors.
Corrosion Deterioration in Consumer Battery Litter

Recent studies have shown that the annual rates of consumer battery litter on urban pavements can be as high as 215 batteries per hectare of pavement and 0.4 batteries per meter of curb. As littered batteries deteriorate, they release components (Ag, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Li, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Ti, and Zn) that can be significant sources of storm-water contamination. Results of ambient environmental and laboratory-accelerated corrosion studies are presented to quantify the mechanisms that yield chemical deterioration of littered batteries. The analysis concentrates on AA size alkaline and zinc chloride/zinc carbon (ZnCl/ZnC) cells since these are the most commonly littered batteries. Results indicate that littered batteries exposed to ambient well-drained environmental conditions for more than two months will develop surface corrosion over most of their surface but fewer than 10% will be ruptured by corrosion within the first 6 months. This agrees well with field observations. Exposure under poorly drained conditions yields more rapid deterioration but it requires exposure to more aggressive conditions such as those produced by road salts to reproduce the high degree of deterioration observed in some battery litter.
Late neogene biostratigraphy and paleoceanography of DSDP site 310 Central North Pacific and correlation with the Southwest Pacific

Abstract Late Neogene planktonic foraminifera have been examined at Site 310 in the Central North Pacific and their stratigraphic ranges and frequencies are presented here. Blow's (1969) zonation developed for tropical regions has been applied where applicable. Where tropical index taxa are rare or absent in this temperate region, Globorotalia crassaformis , and the evolutionary bioseries G. conoidea — G. conomiozea and G. puncticula — G. inflata have been found useful for zonal subdivisions. A correlation between stratigraphic ranges and frequency distributions of these species at Site 310 in the Central North Pacific, and Site 284 in the Southwest Pacific indicates that these species are relatively consistent biostratigraphic markers in temperate regions of both the North and South Pacific Oceans. An informal zonation for temperate latitudes of the Southwest Pacific has been established by Kennett (1973) and a similar zonal subdivision can be made at Site 310. Paleoclimatic/paleoceanographic interpretations based on coiling ratios, percent abundance, and phenotypic variations of Neogloboquadrina pachyderma indicate four major cold events during early, middle, and late Pliocene, and early Pleistocene. Faunal correlations of these events with similar events elsewhere in the Northeast and Southwest Pacific which have been paleomagnetically dated indicate the following approximate ages for these cold events: 4.7 Ma, 3.0 Ma, 2.6–1.8 Ma. and 1.2 Ma. Faunal assemblages have been divided into three groups representing cool, intermediate, and warmer water assemblages. Cool water assemblages are dominated by >60% N. pachyderma ; intermediate temperature faunas are dominated by species of Globigerina and Globigerinita and contain between 20% and 30% N. pachyderma . Warmer water assemblages are dominated by species of Globorotalia and contain N. pachyderma . Frequency oscillations within these groups, in addition to paleotemperature parameters evident in N. pachyderma , afford refined paleoclimatic/paleoceanographic interpretations.
Treatment of hyperkalemia

Introduction: The pathophysiology of potassium imbalances has been a dynamic area of medical research over the years. Controversy exists about the effectiveness and safety of various treatment strategies for hyperkalemia. Areas covered: The following discussion reviews potassium homeostasis, highlights common etiologies responsible for hyperkalemia and describes the associated clinical manifestations. An in-depth discussion about treatment strategies focuses on: i) stabilizing myocardial cell membranes, ii) enhancing cellular uptake of potassium and iii) the removal of excess potassium. The data for safety and efficacy of various therapies are reviewed. Expert opinion: Certain aspects of treating hyperkalemia remain controversial. Serum potassium is tightly regulated within a narrow range and precisely assessing the degree of risk associated with a given degree of hyperkalemia can be difficult. For this reason, it's important to individualize treatment strategies. Concerns regarding the risks of calcium a...
Oxygen consumption of active and inactive adult tiger beetles

. Oxygen consumption (VO2) in six species of adult tiger beetles Cicindela spp. (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) was correlated with body mass and temperature during rest. In beetles forced to run and/or right themselves continuously for 5–10 min at 25°C, VO2 was approximately 7–12 times as high as in resting individuals; the difference increased with increasing mass. Resting and active VO2 were similar to previous results for other beetles, although the slope of log VO2 on log mass was lower. Detailed analysis suggests the existence of taxonomic and ecological correlates of resting metabolism. The possible ecological implications and adaptive advantages of these results for adult tiger beetles are discussed.
Type 2 Diabetes With Partial Lipodystrophy of the Limbs A new lipodystrophy phenotype

OBJECTIVE Lipodystrophies are categorized by the extent of fat loss (generalized vs. partial) and by inheritance (congenital vs. acquired). We examined whether a group of patients with partial lipodystrophy of the limbs (PLL), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and an absence of a family history of lipodystrophy constitute a new clinical subtype. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Ten women with T2DM and PLL were identified in academic diabetes clinics and were matched by age, sex, BMI, ethnicity, and diabetes status with 10 women with control T2DM without lipodystrophy. All patients were characterized by clinical evaluation and hyperinsulinemic clamp. RESULTS Patients with T2DM and PLL exhibited symmetrical loss of subcutaneous fat in forearms, or forearms plus calves, and acanthosis nigricans. Maximally stimulated glucose disposal rates were markedly reduced by 56% in the T2DM with PLL group compared with the control T2DM patients, whether normalized by body weight or surface area. Most PLL patients exhibited little or no insulin-mediated glucose uptake after subtraction of non-insulin–mediated glucose uptake. The T2DM with PLL group also had greater elevations in hepatic transaminases and triglycerides and earlier onset of diabetes compared with control T2DM. CONCLUSIONS T2DM with PLL represents a previously unrecognized phenotype of lipodystrophy and of T2DM. These T2DM patients exhibit symmetrical lipodystrophy of the distal limbs, acanthosis nigricans, marked insulin resistance with little insulin-mediated glucose uptake, hypertriglyceridemia, and hepatic transaminase elevations, which are greater in severity than observed in patients with common T2DM.
Ethical Concerns Identified by Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residents

In a classic article, “Ethics in a Short White Coat: The Ethical Dilemmas That Medical Students Confront” [1], the authors highlight issues that were identified by trainees, and they conclude that “ethics presented as moral theory or a set of principles can only go so far: personal problems, culled from the daily events of students’ lives and rooted in the complex social situation of the ward more thoroughly capture their consciences.” In this column, I would like to start an exploration of the ethical concerns that physical medicine and rehabilitation (PMR being responsive topatient needs that supersedes self-interest; being respectful of patient privacy and autonomy; and being sensitive and responsive to diverse patient populations. These responsibilities and competencies are
Development of hyperplastic polyps following laser therapy for watermelon stomach.

Abstract Background: Our goal was to evaluate the long-term sequelae of repeated thermal injury to the gastric mucosa of patients undergoing laser therapy for watermelon stomach. Methods: A retrospective review of all patients who underwent endoscopic laser therapy for watermelon stomach from 1987 to 1994 was performed to identify patients with antral polyps following laser photoablation therapy. Statistical analysis was performed using the paired t test. Results: Antral hyperplastic polyps as large as 4 cm developed in 4 of 60 patients (7%) and were associated with recurrent anemia in 3. All patients had received significantly more laser thermal energy during the course of therapy for their watermelon stomach. Conventional polypectomy was used to remove the polyps. Conclusions: Repeated thermal injury to the antral mucosa in patients with the watermelon stomach may result in the development of hyperplastic polyps. These may be large, may contribute to significant blood loss with anemia, and are amenable to conventional polypectomy. (Gastrointest Endosc 1996;43:54-6.)
Euclides of Megara: God = Phronesis = The Good

The paper investigates reasons for which Euclides of Megara equates God, phronesis, and the good. The reasons include the importance of ethics in Socratic philosophy, the role of phronesis in Platonism, and absolutism of the Eleatic school.
Nitrate Reduction Catalyzed by Underpotentially Deposited Cd on Au(111): Identification of the Electroactive Surface Structure

The electrocatalysis of the nitrate reduction to nitrite by Cd underpotential deposition (upd) on Au(111) was studied. The structures of the Cd adlayer underpotentially deposited on a Au(111) surface with nitrate in acidic sodium sulfate electrolyte were investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Several ordered adlattices were observed, with the catalytically active structure being a (1 × 1) Cd adlayer. This adlayer exhibited a Moire pattern rotated by 9° from the Au(111) lattice direction. Thiocyanate and ethanethiol were used to investigate the mechanism of the catalysis by the Cd adlayer. The addition of thiocyanate did not affect the nitrate reduction activity. On the other hand, ethanethiol was a poison toward the nitrate reduction. STM images revealed surface roughening due to ethanethiol at the potential of the reduction of nitrate. We suggest that nitrate association with the (1 × 1) Cd adlattice is a requirement for electroreduction activity.
Influence of Piezo-Actuator Thickness on the Active Vibration Control of a Cantilever Beam:

The effect of piezo-actuator thickness on the active vibration control of a cantilever beam is investigated. The vibration field of the beam is theoretically estimated using the Euler-Bernoulli beam theory. Based on a static analysis, it is shown that there exists an optimal piezo-actuator thickness which maximizes the static beam deflection. Results indicate that the optimal thickness is a strong function of the Young's modulus ratio of the actuator/beam configuration, becoming thinner with stiffer piezo-actuators. For comparison, strategies for choosing piezo-actuator thickness based on a dynamic analysis are also investigated. Results suggest that the thickness choice for near-resonance excitation is similarly determined with the static analysis assuming structural damping. It is shown that lighter and stiffer piezo-actuators generally perform better. It is also shown that there exists a piezo-actuator thickness which maximizes the beam deflection for off resonance excitation with single-sided piezo-ac...
Relative Efficacy of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy and Percutaneous Nephrostolithotomy in the Management of Cystine Calculi

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL§) and percutaneous nephrostolithotomy (PCNL) have been utilized in the treatment of cystine calculi. However, it has been reported anecdotally that this stone type is resistant to fragmentation during ESWL. Therefore, the relative efficacy of ESWL and PCNL was reviewed in the treatment of 60 renal units (43 patients) with symptomatic cystine calculi.
Time-Accurate Measurement of Pressure From Particle Image Velocimetry Data (Keynote)

This paper explores the challenges associated with the determination of pressure from DPIV-measured planar velocity fields for time-dependent incompressible flows. Several methods that have been previously explored in the literature are compared, including direct integration of the pressure gradients, and solution of different forms of the pressure Poisson equations. Their dependence on grid resolution, sampling rate, and velocity measurement error levels was quantified using artificial data of two ideal sample flow fields — a decaying vortex flow and pulsatile flow between two parallel plates. The need for special attention to mitigate the velocity error propagation in the pressure estimation is also addressed using a physics-preserving method based on Proper Orthogonal Decomposition. Finally, the methods developed are applied to sample Time Resolved DPIV experimental data corresponding to separated flow over an airfoil and pulsatile flow through an artery. The results demonstrate that there is no unique or optimum method for estimating the pressure field and the resulting error will depend highly on the type of the flow. Estimated errors can vary from less than 1% to over 100% with respect to the expected value. However, the analysis offers valuable insight that allows optimizing the choice of methods and parameters based on the flow under consideration.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Studies on uptake of γ-aminobutyric acid by mouse brain particles; toward the development of a model

Abstract Several substances were studied for their effect on enhancement and/or inhibition of uptake of GABA into a mouse brain microsomal fraction (P 3 ) at pH 7.3 in the presence and absence of buffer. These were diverse: Na + , K + , NH 4 + , Hg 2+ , Cl − , and HCO 3 − ; β-guanidinopropionic and l -2,3-diaminopropionic acids and 1,2-diaminoethane; pyridine and several methylated pyridines; chlorpromazine and ketamine; and melittin. Kinetic experiments tested these substances for competition with GABA and Na + . Assuming the GABA transporter to consist of a GABA recognition entity and a Na + - and Cl − -dependent protein required for its activity, a minimal provisional model for the GABA uptake process is proposed that is consistent with all current data and with relevant observations in the literature. It accounts for the activational effects of proton removal on GABA uptake, the stoichiometry of 2 Na + and l Cl − associated with uptake of one GABA molecule, and the types of inhibition of uptake shown by the substances listed above. Factors are considered that may be necessary to maintain the transporter in a GABA-receptive configuration and that allow it the freedom of movement to undergo the structural variations necessary for the transport process to take place at rates that may be regulated by environmental factors.
Periploca nigra, a Major Cause of Dieback of Ornamental Juniper in California

Periploca nigra Hodges (Lepidoptera: Walshiidae) is a newly described species which is widely distributed in California. Severe twig dieback of juniper results from the girdling of the stems, beneath the bark, by the larval stage. Because of the nature of the injury, the common name—juniper twig girdler—is proposed for P. nigra . Hosts on which the insect has been collected thus far include: Juniperus chinensis L., J. horizontalis Moench., J. sabina L., and J. virginiana In the San Francisco Bay area in 1963, pupation in the twigs began in late March and reached maximum proportions in early June. Emergence of moths occurred in June and July. Eggs are laid singly on the bark of the twigs, and new larvae were first found in late July. There was no evidence of a second generation. An undescribed braconid ( Microchelonus sp.) exerts a measure of biological control of the larvae.
Citation-based auditing of academic performance

The use of citation data in evaluating the research performance of academic programs and individual faculty members is explored in the context of a 10-year analysis of a single academic unit. The study controls for possible accounting bias by comparing results obtained using three differing approaches to allocating citation credit: straight, whole, and adjusted counts. Citation scores are correlated with salary, time-in-field, and gender. The results of the study raise serious questions about the validity of research rankings derived from perception studies. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Cohorts, Collaboration, and Community: Does Contextual Teacher Education Really Work?

Abstract Improving teacher preparation at the university level was the goal when a contextual teacher education pilot program, named Project Opportunity, was created. Public school educators, university faculty and teacher education students collaborated to recommend structural changes following long term discussions and study. Elementary and secondary education majors are organized into cohorts of 30 and travel through their sophomore, junior and senior years together. The cohort students take special sections of restructured courses and participate in extended field experiences jointly planned by school educators and the university faculty. Over 300 hours of field experience are completed at the collaborative school site prior to student teaching. This study compares the readiness and success of these contextually prepared student teachers with their traditionally prepared counterparts. Public school cooperating teachers, university supervisors and student teachers are assessed.
Isolation of MutSbeta from human cells and comparison of the mismatch repair specificities of MutSbeta and MutSalpha

A human MSH2-human MSH3 (hMSH2.hMSH3) complex of approximately 1:1 stoichiometry (human MutSbeta (hMutSbeta)) has been demonstrated in several human tumor cell lines and purified to near homogeneity. In vitro, hMutSbeta supports the efficient repair of insertion/deletion (I/D) heterologies of 2-8 nucleotides, is weakly active on a single-nucleotide I/D mispair, and is not detectably active on the eight base-base mismatches. Human MutSalpha (hMutSalpha), a heterodimer of hMSH2 and hMSH6, efficiently supports the repair of single-nucleotide I/D mismatches, base-base mispairs, and all substrates tested that were repaired by hMutSbeta. Thus, the repair specificities of hMutSalpha and hMutSbeta are redundant with respect to the repair of I/D heterologies of 2-8 nucleotides. The hMutSalpha level in repair-proficient HeLa cells (1.5 microg/mg nuclear extract) is approximately 10 times that of hMutSbeta. In HCT-15 colorectal tumor cells, which do not contain hMSH6 and consequently lack hMutSalpha, the hMutSbeta level is elevated severalfold relative to that in HeLa cells and is responsible for the repair of I/D mismatches that has been observed in this cell line. LoVo tumor cells, which are genetically deficient in hMSH2, lack both hMutSalpha and hMutSbeta, and hMSH3 and hMSH6 levels are less than 4% of those found in repair-proficient cells. Coupled with previous findings (J. T. Drummond, J. Genschel, E. Wolf, and P. Modrich (1997) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 94, 10144-10149), these results suggest that hMSH2 partitions between available pools of hMSH3 and hMSH6 and indicate that hMSH2 positively modulates hMSH6 and hMSH3 levels, perhaps by stabilization of the polypeptides upon heterodimer formation.
Application of critical shape analyses to two-dimensional patterns

2D optical proximity correction is a requirement for feature patterning at 0.18 micrometers and below lithography process nodes. These corrections to semiconductor designs are intended to address the non-linearities of pattern transfer between mask making, lithography, and etch. Traditionally, IC patterns from design through etch have been characterized using critical dimension (CD) measurements. Semiconductor devices, however, are not simply made up of one-dimensional structures such as long lines and spaces. In many cases CD measurements alone are insufficient metrics of imaging performance. The fidelity of two-dimensional printed features is as important as the CD. This paper will examine the pattern fidelity of arbitrarily shaped two-dimensional patterns. Metrics such as pattern area, corner rounding, line end shorting, and the critical shape difference will be used as characterize the process. Both experimental and simulated data will be used to explore the importance of two-dimensional critical shape verses two-dimensional area on feature transfer.
The solubilization and reconstitution of bone collagen.

A considerable proportion of the acetic acid-insoluble collagen of chicken bone was dissolved in acetic acid after freezing the bone at −70°C and subsequently thawing the material at 2°C. Most of the protein which was solubilized was apparently undernatured, as evidenced by its relatively high denaturation temperature, and the fact that native-type fibrils could be reconstituted from solution. The marked tendency for the protein in solution to aggregate and precipitate even at low temperatures in acetic acid, and the failure to form SLS aggregates on the addition of ATP, suggest that the solution species are composed of lateral (and possibly linear) aggregates of the macromolecules in a quarter-stagger packing arrangement.
Negotiation Pedagogy: International Relations

Negotiation is less taught than might be expected in International Relations (IR) programs. Yet an upper-level university course is needed to address three audiences: future citizens, diplomats, and scholars. Since there is no single theory of negotiations, such a course needs to address the various conceptual approaches, grouped as Behavioral, Processual, Integrative, Structural, and Strategic. Conceptual presentations need to be supplemented with practitioners’ testimonies, simulations, and case studies, the latter using participants’ accounts as well as analyses. Games and a sample syllabus are presented.
Subjective Age: A Test of Five Hypotheses

This paper discusses the concept and measurement of subjective age. Five hypotheses are proposed based on earlier studies of subjective age and tested using data from 607 randomly selected adults from five states. The data supported only two of the hypotheses: (1) the agreement between chronological age and subjective age declines steadily throughout the adult decades and (2) people in their 30s are the most likely to see themselves as different, either younger or older, from their chronological age. We conclude that generalizations about subjective age may depend on the subjects providing the data.
Inhibitory and facilitatory effects of various anti-estrogens on the induction of female sexual behavior by estradiol benzoate in guinea pigs

Abstract The anti-estrogens CI-628 (CI) and enclomiphene (ENC) were used to antagonize the estrogen-induced sexual behavior of female guinea pigs. Full receptivity was activated in 96% of ovariectomized control guinea pigs given 1.6 μg estradiol benzoate (EB) and then injected with 0.5 mg progesterone (P) 39 h later. In experiment 1, the ability of EB to induce lordosis was not blocked when CI (2 mg) or ENC (5 and 20 mg) was administered either concurrently with EB or within 2 h of the EB injection. However, in experiment 2, extensive pretreatment with ENC (5 mg/injection) at 48, 24, 12, and 0 h before the start of the 39 h EB priming period significantly decreased (to 50%) the percentage of animals displaying lordosis. Similar pretreatment with CI (2 mg/injection) had no inhibitory effects on lordosis. Experiments 3 and 4 evaluated the ability of CI, ENC, and zuclomiphene (ZUC) to induce sexual behavior in ovariectomized guinea pigs. In experiment 3, guinea pigs were injected 3 times with CI (2 mg/injection), ENC or ZUC (5 mg/injection) over a 39 h interval and then injected with P. No anti-estrogen was able to induce lordosis in this situation. Experiment 4 assessed the ability of CI, ENC, or ZUC to facilitate the action of EB on sexual behavior. For this study the EB priming period was shortened from 39 h to 11 h. This resulted in a significant decrease in the percentage of animals displaying lordosis (controls= 15%of animals receptive). Administration of ENC (10 mg) 28 h prior to the 11 h of EB priming significantly facilitated the incidence of receptivity (62% of animals receptive). Similar administration of ZUC (10 mg) produced a slight but non-significant facilitation (37% of animals receptive) while CI (4 mg) had no facilitatory effects7 (0% receptive). The results obtained in these experiments using a manual stimulation technique for elicitation of lordosis were replicated by using a male. In all cases tested, treatment that induced lordosis to manual stimulation also facilitated receptivity to a male. These results indicate that CI and ENC do not as readily inhibit the action of EB priming in guinea pigs as they do in rats. Further, it appears that ENC can mimic at least some of the early effects of EB priming. However, the presence of estrogen is necessary in the later portion of the priming period for the expression of lordosis.
Diagnosis of Echinococcal (Hydatid) Disease in Man by Intradermal Reaction to Rabbit Cysticercus Antigen

SummaryAn extract of cysticerci of the common rabbit cestode, Taenia pisiformis, has been used as an antigen for skin testing in cases of echinococcal infection. An antigenic relationship between Taenia pisiformis and Taenia echinococcus is suggested by the precipitin-reaction, the alexin fixation, and the skin reaction in rabbits harboring Taenia pisiformis.Four patients known to have hydatid disease gave immediate positive skin reactions with the rabbit antigen. Twenty normal subjects used as controls exhibited at most but slight reactions, and were considered negative.
Adaptive Response of Human Lymphocytes to Low Concentrations of Radioactive Thymidine

When human lymphocytes were cultured with [3H]thymidine, which acts as a source of low-level chronic radiation, and then exposed to 150 rad of x-rays at 5, 7, 9, or 11 hours before fixation, the yield of chromatid aberrations was less than the sum of the yields of aberrations induced by [3H]thymidine and x-rays separately. Often fewer aberrations were found after exposure to radiation from both sources than were found after exposure to x-rays alone. At the same fixation times, nonradioactive thymidine did not affect the yield of x-ray-induced aberrations. The same phenomenon occurred at earlier fixation times, after exposure to 30 or 40 rad of x-rays and [3H]thymidine. This response is analogous to the adaptive response to alkylating agents whereby prior treatment with small doses for a long period reduces the damage occurring from large doses of similar agents given for a short time.
Unraveling microbe-mediated interactions between mosquito larvae in a laboratory microcosm

Interspecies interactions have important impacts on communities and when multiple trophic levels are involved, effects can be complex and indirect. For mosquitoes, interactions experienced as larvae affect adult attributes such as survivorship, reproductive output, and longevity, factors that can affect their ability to vector disease. We examined how larvae of two ecologically distinct mosquito species, Aedes japonicus japonicus and Culex quinquefasciatus, interact at different temperatures (17 and 27 °C) and at different relative densities. We also quantified abundances of bacteria and protozoan flagellates to uncover how changes in the microbial community affect the outcome of the two mosquitoes’ interaction. At 17 °C, survival and size of both mosquito species were not affected by the other’s presence. Cx. quinquefasciatus was strongly affected by intraspecific, but not interspecific, competition at both temperatures. At 27 °C, Ae. j. japonicus larvae experienced 100 % mortality in treatments by themselves and treatments where Cx. quinquefasciatus was abundant, surviving only in the presence of low densities of Cx. quinquefasciatus. Both the total bacteria count and counts of a protozoan flagellate identified as Spumella spp. decreased with increasing numbers of Cx. quinquefasciatus. We postulate that at 27 °C, the survival of Ae. j. japonicus depends on the interaction between Cx. quinquefasciatus and the microbial community. This study demonstrates that one mosquito species may alter the microbial community in ways that indirectly influence another mosquito species’ larval survival, and by extension adult abundance and potential disease transmission.
Effects of genistein administration on cytokine induction in whole-body gamma irradiated mice.

Abstract The development of an effective pharmacological countermeasure is needed to reduce the morbidity and mortality in military and civilian populations associated with possible exposure to ionizing radiation. We previously demonstrated that a single subcutaneous (sc) administration of genistein at a non-toxic dose provided protection against acute radiation injury and that the radioprotective effects were associated with multilineage, hematopoietic progenitor cell recovery. The purpose of this study was to determine whether hematopoietic recovery was preceded by cytokine induction. In mice treated with sc genistein 24 h before irradiation (7 Gy 60 Co), we quantified serum cytokine levels by multiplex Luminex and also investigated a larger number of cytokines using cytokine arrays. Genistein administration stimulated serum granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) 4 h and 24 h after sham irradiation or γ-irradiation. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) was significantly increased in genistein-treated animals 4 h after irradiation. Because G-CSF and IL-6 are important hematopoietic factors, these results support our hypothesis that the previously observed radioprotective efficacy by genistein may be a result of early recovery of hematopoietic cells due to enhanced production of G-CSF and IL-6.
Pulse discharges preceding sparkover at low voltage gradients

Breakdown of gases between clean metallic electrodes has been studied extensively and has resulted in an acceptable explanation for sparkover where the gradient is of the order of 30 kv/cm (kv per centimeter) or more, but it does not explain the sparkovers which occasionally occur in high-voltage apparatus where the gradient appears to be nearer 5 than 30 kv/cm. A previous paper1 has shown that for negative corona, sparkover voltage is a function of the resistivity of any coating on the anode or passive electrode and can be especially low if the resistivity is high. This type of sparkover was found to be preceded by repetitive current pulses. Each pulse was found to have the same current-time characteristics and the same velocity of propagation as the single prebreakdown streamer described by Meek and Craggs2 and Parks and Cones,3 but which were produced with clean electrodes and at higher gradients.
Improving disease prediction using ICD-9 ontological features

Disease prediction has become important in a variety of applications such as health insurance, tailored health communication and public health. Disease prediction is usually performed using publically available datasets such as HCUP, NHANES or MDS that were initially designed for health reporting or health cost evaluation but not for disease prediction. In these datasets, medical diagnoses are traditionally arranged in “diagnose-related groups” (DRGs). In this paper we compare the disease prediction based on crisp DRG features with the results obtained employing a new set of features that consist of the fuzzy membership of patient diagnoses in the DRG groups. The fuzzy membership features were computed using an ICD-9 ontological similarity approach. The prediction results obtained on a subset of 9,000 patients from the 2005 HCUP data representing three diseases (diabetes, atherosclerosis and hypertension) using two classifiers (random forest and SVM trained on 21,000 samples) show significant (about 10%) improvement as measured by the area under the ROC curve (AROC).
A quasi‐biennial oscillation in the intensity of the intra‐seasonal oscillation

The interannual and annual variations in the intra-seasonal oscillation (ISO) are examined using upper air radiosonde data at Singapore. Spectral analysis of the zonal wind using the maximum entropy method (MEM) was made for each season, starting from the autumn of 1960 through to 1985. It is shown that the strongest signal of the ISO occurs during the Northern Hemisphere winter, while the weakest occurs in the Northern Hemisphere summer. The main finding of this study is a quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) in the intensity of the ISO. The cross-spectral analyses indicate that the intensity of the ISO at 150 mbar is well correlated for a time-scale of 2–3 years with the stratospheric QBO as well as with the strength of the zonal wind and the static stability of the upper troposphere. These results suggest that the stratospheric QBO may act as a trigger for the tropospheric QBO. The physical interpretation of this interaction requires further work, especially in the field of numerical modelling.
Nocturnal continuous glucose and sleep stage data in adults with type 1 diabetes in real-world conditions.

Background:Sleep plays an important role in health, and poor sleep is associated with negative impacts on diabetes management, but few studies have objectively evaluated sleep in adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Nocturnal glycemia and sleep characteristics in T1DM were evaluated using body-worn sensors in real-world conditions.Methods:Analyses were performed on data collected by the Diabetes Management Integrated Technology Research Initiative pilot study of 17 T1DM subjects: 10 male, 7 female; age 19–61 years; T1DM duration 14.9 ± 11.0 years; hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) 7.3% ± 1.3% (mean ± standard deviation). Each subject was equipped with a continuous glucose monitor and a wireless sleep monitor (WSM) for four nights. Sleep stages [rapid eye movement (REM), light, and deep sleep] were continuously recorded by the WSM. Nocturnal glycemia (mg/dl) was evaluated as hypoglycemia ( 250 mg/dl) and by seve...
The Fifth Column: How to Consult and Not Be Paid

Prologue A few years ago a nameless consultant received a phone call from the manager of a nameless coal mine that had just recently gone on stream. This manager was responsible for loading unit trains of coal from his little mine. As the unit train of gondolas passed by his coal tipple, he had an employee turning on or off the switch that opened the sliding coal-feed door in the tipple. The difficulty was that the employee was having real trouble filling the gondolas precisely. If he overfilled a gondola, which left a lot of coal on the tracks, he made the power company happy because it was getting tonnage it didn’t have to pay for. The problem was that overfilled gondolas were occasionally jumping the tracks, which was a class-one pain for the railroad. On the other hand, if he underfilled the gondolas, the power company refused to pay full price for partially filled gondolas.
Use of a five-day progesterone-based timed AI protocol to determine if flunixin meglumine improves pregnancy per timed AI in dairy heifers

Two experiments were conducted to test the hypothesis that the 5 d Co-Synch + CIDR (Controlled Internal Drug Release insert containing progesterone) protocol could be applied as an efficient timed AI (TAI) protocol in dairy heifers, and that treatment with flunixin meglumine (FM) during the period of CL maintenance would increase pregnancy per TAI (P/TAI) and late survival of embryos. Objectives were: 1) in Experiment 1, to compare P/TAI with the 5 d Co-Synch+CIDR protocol to a PGF(2alpha)/GnRH protocol; and 2) in Experiment 2, to determine if FM administered 15.5 and 16 d after first TAI would increase P/TAI, using the 5 d Co-Synch+CIDR protocol with a new or previously used (5 d) CIDR insert. In Experiment 1, 248 heifers were assigned randomly to either the PGF(2alpha)/GnRH protocol (n=120) or the 5 d Co-Synch+CIDR protocol (n=128). Pregnancy per TAI did not differ between the 5 d Co-Synch+CIDR protocol (53.1%) and the PGF(2alpha)/GnRH protocol (45.8%; P=0.22). In Experiment 2, 325 heifers synchronized with the 5 d Co-Synch+CIDR protocol were assigned randomly to receive two injections of FM (FM group; n=158) at 15.5 and 16 d after TAI, or to remain as untreated controls (n=165). Pregnancy per TAI in Experiment 2 was 59.4 and 59.5% at 45 d for control and FM groups, respectively, with no differences between groups (P=0.83). The 5 d Co-Synch+CIDR protocol resulted in an acceptable P/TAI in dairy heifers. However, FM did not improve P/TAI in dairy heifers.
Propensity scores: method for matching on multiple variables in down syndrome research.

Confounding variables can affect the results from studies of children with Down syndrome and their families. Traditional methods for addressing confounders are often limited, providing control for only a few confounding variables. This study introduces propensity score matching to control for multiple confounding variables. Using Tennessee birth data as an example, newborns with Down syndrome were compared with a group of typically developing infants on birthweight. Three approaches to matching on confounders—nonmatched, covariate matched, and propensity matched—were compared using 8 potential confounders. Fewer than half of the newborns with Down syndrome were matched using covariate matching, and the matched group was differed from the unmatched newborns. Using propensity scores, 100% of newborns with Down syndrome could be matched to a group of comparison newborns, a decreased effect size was found on newborn birthweight, and group differences were not statistically significant.
Neck mass in a premature infant

Abstract Fibromatosis colli is the most common cause of neck mass in the neonatal period, occurring in 0.4% of live births worldwide. The pathophysiology of fibromatosis colli is unclear. The most accepted causes involve fetal malpositioning, such as breech presentation, and birth trauma with subsequent ischemia of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. We present an infant with fibromatosis colli born at the earliest gestational age and with the lowest birth weight of any case previously documented. His only risk factor for fibromatosis colli was breech presentation, a common condition at his gestational age. This case suggests alternative mechanisms may lead to fibromatosis colli.
Dynamic rank correlation computing for financial risk analysis

A critical challenge in quantitative financial risk analysis is the effective computation of volatility and correlation. However, the dynamic nature of financial data environments create the challenges for robust correlation computing, particularly when the number of financial instruments and the volume of transactions grow dramatically. To this end, in this paper, we present an organized study of rank correlation computing for financial risk analysis in dynamic environments. Specifically, we focus on Kendall's τ, which is widely recognized as a robust correlation measure for evaluating financial risk. Kendall's τ is not widely used in practice partially because its computation complexity is O(n2), making it difficult to frequently recompute in dynamic environments. After carefully studying the computational properties of Kendall's τ, we reveal that Kendall's τ is very computation-friendly for incremental computing of correlations, since the relativity of existing observations will not change as new observations come in. Based on this finding, we develop a τGrow algorithm for dynamically computing Kendall's τ. Also, even for one-time static Kendall's τ computation, we observe that the Kendall's τ correlations on smaller time pieces can provide concise summaries of how Kendall's τ evolves over the whole period. Finally, the effectiveness and the efficiency of the proposed methods have been demonstrated through the experiments on real-world financial data.
Extended Households and the Life Course of Young Mothers: Understanding the Associations Using a Sample of Mothers With Premature, Low Birth Weight Babies.

This paper examined whether the greater average schooling and employment, and lower parenting competence, of young mothers who reside with adult relatives reflect preexisting differences versus potential causal mechanisms. The sample included 554 young mothers (ages 13 to 25; nearly two thirds African American) from the Infant Health and Development Program (IHDP) a random-assignment intervention study of premature, low birth weight babies followed 8 times from birth to age 3. Ordinary least squares, fixed-effects, and random-effects models indicated that young mothers of low birth weight babies sorted into extended households based on preexisting characteristics that were correlated with their lower parenting skills and knowledge. In contrast, coresidence predicted greater schooling or employment across models, with some variations for different subgroups.
Optimization of extraction chromatography separations of trace levels of actinides with ICP-MS detection.

The separation of trace level actinides has been evaluated on extraction chromatography columns. Detection of the actinides was achieved through the use of an inductively coupled plasma MS (ICP-MS). The columns that we tested were prepared from a commercial TRU resin. The separation of the actinides was optimized for several parameters including particle size, column length, packing pressure, and eluent flow rate. We also examined the possibility of reducing or eliminating oxalic acid in the eluents in order to improve the performance of the mass spectrometer. We were able to separate a mixture of five actinides ( 232 Th, 238 U, 237 Np, 239 Pu, 243 Am) in less than 4 min. This work has application to rapid bioassay as well as for automated separations of actinide materials.
The growth rate of early DWI lesions is highly variable and associated with penumbral salvage and clinical outcomes following endovascular reperfusion.

Background The degree of variability in the rate of early diffusion-weighted imaging expansion in acute stroke has not been well characterized. Aim We hypothesized that patients with slowly expanding diffusion-weighted imaging lesions would have more penumbral salvage and better clinical outcomes following endovascular reperfusion than patients with rapidly expanding diffusion-weighted imaging lesions. Methods In the first part of this substudy of DEFUSE 2, growth curves were constructed for patients with >90% reperfusion and 50% reduction in perfusion-weighted imaging after endovascular therapy) were categorized into tertiles according to their initial diffusion-weighted imaging growth rates. For each tertile, penumbral salvage [comparison of final volume to the volume of perfusion-weighted imaging (Tmax > 6 s)/diffusion-weighted imaging mismatch prior to endovascular therapy], favorable clinical response (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale improvement of ≥8 points or 0–1 at 30 days), and good functional outcome (90-day modified Rankin score of ≤2) were calculated. A multivariate model assessed whether infarct growth rates were an independent predictor of clinical outcomes. Results Sixty-five patients were eligible for this study; the median initial growth rate was 3·1 ml/h (interquartile range 0·7–10·7). Target mismatch patients (n = 42) had initial growth rates that were significantly slower than the growth rates in malignant profile (n = 9 patients, P < 0·001). In patients who achieved reperfusion (n = 38), slower early diffusion-weighted imaging growth rates were associated with better clinical outcomes (P < 0·05) and a trend toward more penumbral salvage (n = 31, P = 0·103). A multivariate model demonstrated that initial diffusion-weighted imaging growth rate was an independent predictor of achieving a 90-day modified Rankin score of ≤2. Conclusions The growth rate of early diffusion-weighted imaging lesions in acute stroke patients is highly variable; malignant profile patients have higher growth rates than patients with target mismatch. A slower rate of early diffusion-weighted imaging growth is associated with a greater degree of penumbral salvage and improved clinical outcomes following endovascular reperfusion.