cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Proteomic Analysis of the Luteal Endometrial Secretome

Endometrium attains a secretory architecture in preparation for embryo implantation, but the identity of most endometrial secretory products remains unknown. Our objective was to characterize the endometrial secretome and compare protein expression between prereceptive (luteinizing hormone [LH]+4) and receptive (LH+9) phase endometrium. Endometrial lavage was performed in 11 participants and analyzed by difference gel electrophoresis (DIGE). LH+4 and LH+9 specimens were labeled with cyanine fluorescent dyes Cy3 and Cy5 tags, respectively, and combined. Proteins were separated using 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis, isolated, trypsin-digested, and subjected to mass spectrometry. In all, 152 proteins were identified; 82 were differentially expressed. Most proteins with increased expression on LH+9 functioned in host defense, while proteins with decreased expression had many functions. A total of 14 proteins had changes suggesting altered posttranslational modification. This article describes the first application of proteomic analysis to endometrial secretions, allowing identification of novel endometrial proteins as well as those differentially secreted in prereceptive and receptive phases.
Prevalence of Clostridium difficile in Uncooked Ground Meat Products from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The prevalence of Clostridium difficile in retail meat samples has varied widely. The food supply may be a source for C. difficile infections. A total of 102 ground meat and sausage samples from 3 grocers in Pittsburgh, PA, were cultured for C. difficile. Brand A pork sausages were resampled between May 2011 and January 2012. Two out of 102 (2.0%) meat products initially sampled were positive for C. difficile; both were pork sausage from brand A from the same processing facility (facility A). On subsequent sampling of brand A products, 10/19 samples from processing facility A and 1/10 samples from 3 other facilities were positive for C. difficile. The isolates recovered were inferred ribotype 078, comprising 6 genotypes. The prevalence of C. difficile in retail meat may not be as high as previously reported in North America. When contamination occurs, it may be related to events at processing facilities.
Meta-analysis reveals evolution in invasive plant species but little support for Evolution of Increased Competitive Ability (EICA).

Ecological explanations for the success and persistence of invasive species vastly outnumber evolutionary hypotheses, yet evolution is a fundamental process in the success of any species. The Evolution of Increased Competitive Ability (EICA) hypothesis (Blossey and Notzold 1995) proposes that evolutionary change in response to release from coevolved herbivores is responsible for the success of many invasive plant species. Studies that evaluate this hypothesis have used different approaches to test whether invasive populations allocate fewer resources to defense and more to growth and competitive ability than do source populations, with mixed results. We conducted a meta-analysis of experimental tests of evolutionary change in the context of EICA. In contrast to previous reviews, there was no support across invasive species for EICA's predictions regarding defense or competitive ability, although invasive populations were more productive than conspecific native populations under noncompetitive conditions. We found broad support for genetically based changes in defense and competitive plant traits after introduction into new ranges, but not in the manner suggested by EICA. This review suggests that evolution occurs as a result of plant introduction and population expansion in invasive plant species, and may contribute to the invasiveness and persistence of some introduced species.
Detection of Leaded-Gasoline Usage in Catalyst-Equipped Vehicles: A Gamma-Ray Transmission Gauge for Measuring Catalytic Converter Lead Contamination

A gamma-ray transmission gauge has been developed for measuring the accumulation of lead inside the catalytic converters of vehicles operated on leaded gasoline. This nondestructive inspection system relates the amount of gamma radiation passing through the catalytic converter to the mass concentration of lead contained in the catalyst bed. Field studies have shown that vehicle usage of 200 L of leaded gasoline (0.34 g of Pb/L) can be detected at the 95% confidence level. Based on tests with one vehicle burning 1000 L of leaded gasoline, the accumulation rate of lead on the catalytic converter was relatively constant, accounting for 45% of the total lead consumed. Subsequent usage of unleaded gasoline resulted in no significant loss of lead from the catalytic converter.
Egg Hatch of Tribolium confusum and T. castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) in Different Carbon Dioxide and Nitrogen Atmospheres

In the various carbon dioxide atmospheres tested (5–100%), hatch of Tribolium confusum Jacquelin duVal and T. castaneum (Herbst) eggs was delayed and inhibited partially or fully. Under similar oxygen concentrations in nitrogen atmospheres there was about as much egg hatch as in controls. Interference of high carbondioxide concentration with the normal metabolic growth process of eggs or the anesthetic action of the gas on the embryo nervous system is suggested as possible explanation for delayed or inhibited egg hatch.
Is there a clustering effect on electroencephalographic seizure localization

Summary Long-term video-EEG monitoring (LTM) is the gold standard for initial lateralization and localization of seizures in the workup for neurosurgical treatment of medically intractable epilepsy. Previous studies have yielded contradictory results as to whether seizures that occur in clusters tend to arise from the same brain region and may lead to the incorrect conclusion that seizures arise from a single focus. To determine whether seizure clustering affects localization in an LTM setting, the authors performed an observational study over 6 years at a large regional epilepsy center on those undergoing LTM for seizure diagnosis, characterization, or presurgical workup. Excluding repeat studies and LTMs with generalized or nonepileptic seizures resulted in 479 monitorings with 2774 focal seizures for analysis. Sequential pairs of consecutive focal seizures were classed as "concordant", "discordant," or "other," based on EEG localization. ANOVA analysis on the logarithm of the interseizure interval (LISI) among the three seizure pair groups showed no significant difference, p =0.47, nor did analysis defining concordance as lateralization to the same hemisphere ( p =0.34). Analyses on subgroups with multifocal seizures, bilateral seizures, and extratemporal seizures all failed to show a significant difference. In conclusion, seizures have the same localizing value whether occurring in a cluster over a few hours or sporadically over a few days. This could potentially lead to shorter monitoring times.
Potential Threats to the Effective Communication of Genetic Risk Information: The Case of Cystic Fibrosis

The dramatic increase in genetic knowledge engendered by the mapping of the human genome brings with it a need for greater understanding of how to effectively communicate genetic risk information. Using a combination of observational and self-report data, this study examined potential threats to effective risk communication in 17 families whose infant received a positive newborn screening test for cystic fibrosis. Five specific problems are identified: (a) copresence of interactants (or the lack thereof), (b) disruptions in the communication environment, (c) variations in parents' initial knowledge, (d) rigidity in counselors' behavioral scripts, and (e) emotional interference with information acquisition. We advance 3 proposals for research aimed at improving our understanding of these potential threats.
Mechanical behavior and damage evolution in E-glass vinyl ester and carbon composites subjected to static and blast loads

Fiber based composites have found extensive applications in various fields. In this study, two different fiber materials, namely, E-glass and carbon, with different architecture are chosen. Polymer (vinyl ester) based composites were designed using these fibers and were fabricated using VARTM process. These composites were subjected to quasi-static and high strain rates of loading utilizing different testing methodologies. In quasi-static testing, the tensile, compressive and shear properties were studied using existing ASTM standard testing procedures and the results are reported. The carbon composite showed higher tensile and compressive modulus. In-plane shear properties of both the composites were comparable and inter laminar shear properties of E-glass composites were observed to be better than the carbon composite because of the better nesting between the E-glass fabric layers. A shock tube and a controlled explosion tube were utilized in the study of dynamic damage behavior of these composite materials. Based on the experimental study, it is observed that the carbon fiber composites tend to achieve sudden destructive damage whereas E-glass fiber composites tend to sustain progressive damage, under dynamic loading.
Subsystem testing of Galileo's attitude and articulation control fault protection

This paper discusses the fault protection tesing of the Attitude and Articulation Control Subsystem (AACS) of the Galileo spacecraft. The need for an autonomous fault protection system on an interplanetary spacecraft is discussed. Galileo requirements for the detection and response of specific hardware failures is discussed along with the fault protection software design and implementation. The test beds and test methods used for fault protection testing are described. The paper concludes with a presentation of the results of this testing with an emphasis on requirement and design changes that were made as a result of these tests.
Phase i study of intravesical vaccinia virus as a vector for gene therapy of bladder cancer.

Purpose: Vaccinia virus is a DNA poxvirus previously used as a vaccine to eradicate smallpox. The virus has a high efficiency of infection, replicates in the cytoplasm without chromosomal integration and can transport a large amount of recombinant DNA without losing infectivity. Therefore, it is an excellent choice as a vector for gene delivery in vivo. Large quantities of vaccinia have been injected into dermal, subcutaneous and peripheral lymph node melanoma metastases without significant side effects, and with efficient infection of the tumor cells and recombinant gene transfection. To determine if vaccinia, when given intravesically, can effectively infect bladder mucosa and tumor with acceptable toxicity, we performed a phase I trial of intravesical vaccinia in patients with muscle invasive transitional cell carcinoma before radical cystectomy.Materials and Methods: After documenting immune competence and demonstration of a major reaction after revaccination, patients received 3 increasing doses of i...
The LIM region of a presumptive Caenorhabditis elegans transcription factor is an iron-sulfur- and zinc-containing metallodomain.

Abstract The cysteine-rich LIM motif is highly conserved between invertebrates and mammals. This motif shows similarity both to proteins that bind zinc and to ferredoxins, which contain iron-sulfur clusters. Two tandem copies of the LIM motif are found in a number of presumptive transcription factors, including the protein product of the Caenorhabditis elegans cell-lineage gene lin-11. To investigate the possible metal-binding properties of the LIM region of the lin-11 protein, we expressed and purified a 151-amino acid peptide containing the tandem LIM motifs. The purified peptide binds both zinc (two atoms per protein molecule) and iron (as a redox-active iron-sulfur cluster, with four atoms of iron and four atoms of inorganic sulfide per protein molecule). These observations suggest that the LIM motif is a metallodomain that might function in a redox-sensitive regulation of transcription.
Recent improvements in tensor scale computation and its applications to medical imaging

ABSTRACT Tensor scale (t-scale) is a local morphometric parameter desc ribing local structure shape, orientation and scale. At any image location, t-scale is the parametric representation of the largest ellipse (an ellipsoid in 3D) centered at that location and contained in the same homogeneous region. Recently, we have improved the t-scale computation algorithm by: (1) optimizing digital representations for LoG and DoG kernels for edge detection and (2) ellipse fitting by using minimization of both algebraic and geometric distance errors. Also, t-scale has been applied to computing the deformation vector field with applications to medical image registration. Currently, the method is implemented in two-dimension (2D) and the deformation vector field is directly computed from t-scale-derived normal vectors at matching locations in two images to be registered. Also, the method has been used to develop a simple algorithm for computing 2D warping from one shape onto another. Normal vector yields local structure orientation pointing to the closest edge. However, this information is less reliable along the medial axis of a shape as it may be associated with either of the two opposite edges of the local shape. Th is problem is overcome using a shape-lin earity measure estimating relative changes in scale along the orthogonal direction. Preliminary results demonstrate the method s potential in estimating deformation between two images. Keywords: tensor scale, local morphometric parameter, deform ation field, deformable re gistration, image warping
On writing fieldnotes: collection strategies and background expectancies:

Fieldnotes are a vital part of ethnographic research, yet little attention has been paid to the practical details of note-taking. Exactly how does an ethnographer decide what to write about? This article uses fieldnotes from various sources to show that, irrespective of any formal strategies for note-taking, researchers’ tacit knowledge and expectations often play a major role in determining which observations are worthy of annotation. A greater understanding of these dynamics could complement existing trends in reflexive ethnography by increasing insight into the note-taking process.
Input constrained non-equilibrium transient trajectory shaping via a three-stage control method for a class of non-linear systems

This study deals with the non-equilibrium transient trajectory shaping problem for non-linear, strict feedback, single-input–single-output systems by a three-stage switching control method. Through this control method, the non-linear system output tracking error can be constrained within a set of properly pre-designed boundaries when it is converging to the equilibrium point. In particular, the three-stage switching control method imposes a constant bound (the first stage), two exponentially converging time-varying functions (the second stage), and a smaller constant bound (the third stage) as the tracking error boundary in each of the three stages, respectively. By designing control laws separately in the corresponding stages, the trajectory of the system tracking error can be assured within the boundaries during transient period. The bound of the control input magnitude can be determined with the respective control law at each stage and consequently establish the tradeoff between system transient performance and the available control resource. Numerical examples are utilised to show the effectiveness of the technique.
Additions of colloidal silicas and silicates to portland cement pastes

Abstract Additions of colloidal silicas and silicates were added to portland cement and tricalcium silicate pastes to assess their pozzolanic reactivity. These materials show early reductions of calcium hydroxide consistent with a rapid pozzolanic reaction. High early strengths were generally observed with siliceous additions but later strengths were less affected, although somewhat variable. Colloidal silicas have very high water requirements which must be overcome.
SEED SIZE AND HABITAT EFFECTS ON THE WATER-DISPERSED PERENNIAL, CRINUM ERUBESCENS (AMARYLLIDACEAE)

Crinum erubescens (Amaryllidaceae), a water-dispersed herbaceous perennial occupying the margin between land and freshwater lakes and swamps in Panama, produces seeds of highly variable size (0.1-66.5 g). Seeds were grown under conditions mimicking natural habitat types (water; saturated, undrained soil; moist, drained soil; and drained soil, saturated every third day) to determine whether either small or large seeds perform better in some habitats. Time to germination and percent germination are not related to seed size in any habitat type. Small seeds are less likely to survive in water, but not in other habitat types. Growth is positively associated with seed size in all habitat types and is greatest in saturated soil. Unlike studies with terrestrial plants, the benefits of having a large seed are demonstrated in the absence of competition.
Zur Chemie des Schwefeltrioxyds. VII. Dichloryltrisulfat, (ClO2)2S3O10

Aus KClO3 und SO3 wird bei Zimmertemperatur ein Reaktionsgemisch erhalten, aus dem durch Destillation im Hochvakuum eine rote kristalline Substanz der Zusammensetzung Cl2O5 · 3 SO3 erhalten wird. Diese ist in SO3 unloslich und wird beim Abkuhlen mit flussiger Luft hellgelb. Beide Tatsachen und der relativ hohe Schmelzpunkt von 75,5° berechtigen, sie als Chlorylsalz der Trischwefelsaure, (ClO2)2 S3O10, zu formulieren. Die gleiche Verbindung wird unter Gasentwicklung, wahrscheinlich Cl2O, bei der Einwirkung von SO3 auf KClO2 erhalten. Verbindungen gleichen Typs aber wechselnden Chlor-Oxydationswertes entstehen beim Einleiten von ClO2 in flussiges SO3. Im Gegensatz hierzu fuhrt die Behandlung von KClO4 mit SO3 nur zur Bildung von K2S3O10 und Cl2O7.
Death and nurturance in Indian systems of healing

Medically, as in many other ways, India is a pluralistic society. There are numerous different modes of healing in India, which are, as a group, not subject to any form of standardization or centralized control. While such a situation has demonstrable advantages, it may also be legitimate to ask, is medicine in India as fundamentally unordered as it seems? The present paper examines four different healing traditions practiced in Tamil Nadu in southern India. These traditions appear on the surface to be quite diverse, and not to be united into a single, internally consistent medical system. Yet a study of the mythical and philosophical bases of these traditions shows them to share some common premises, and to communicate to the patient or student who attends to all of them a common message concerning the nature of life.
Propagation of a Gaussian-beam wave through a random phase screen

Abstract Tractable analytic expressions are developed for a variety of basic statistical quantities involving a Gaussian-beam wave propagating through a random medium confined to a portion of the propagation path between input and output planes, the limiting case of which defines a thin random phase screen. For a plane wave incident on a phase screen located midway between input and output planes, it is well known that the statistics in the receiver plane are in close agreement with those associated with a plane wave propagating through an extended random medium between input and output planes. For a similar comparison between a phase screen and extended turbulence in the case of a Gaussian-beam wave at the input plane, the present analysis reveals that the phase screen must be positioned between input and output planes differently from the plane-wave case, the position being dependent upon the Fresnel ratio of the Gaussian beam. The analytic results developed in this paper for the thin phase screen model...
Airport choice in a multiple airport region

Abstract This paper reports on an investigation of air traveler behavior in choosing among departure airports in a multiple airport region. Data from a 1980 survey of air passengers in the San Francisco Bay Area were used to study the characteristics of airport choice for local residents. Multinomial logit models were developed for business and nonbusiness travelers. The analysis demonstrates that ground access time and the frequency of direct air service to the chosen destination can account for a large portion of the variation in airport usage patterns, but that both access time and frequency have nonlinear effects on airport utility. It also suggests that even multi-stop direct service is strongly preferred to connecting flights. The results highlight the importance of attention to ground access in planning for multiple airport systems, and the difficulty of predicting airport use without information about market-specific airline schedules.
Hemosiderosis in cirrhosis: A study of 447 native livers

Abstract BACKGROUND & AIMS: Hemosiderosis may have a detrimental effect on some chronic liver diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and diagnostic implications of hemosiderosis in cirrhosis. METHODS: Tissue iron in 447 cirrhotic livers was studied histologically and chemically. RESULTS: Positive iron staining was found in 145 cases (32.4%), and increased chemical hepatic iron concentration was found in 91 cases (20.3%), including 38 cases (8.5%) with hepatic iron overload in the hemochromatosis range, defined by an iron index of > or=1.9 (iron index equals hepatic iron concentration in micromoles per gram divided by age). However, homozygous hemochromatosis seemed to have caused the cirrhosis in only 5 instances. Stainable iron was found in 22%-67% of the cases with nonbiliary cirrhosis but in only 7%-20% of cases with biliary cirrhosis. Most available pretransplant biopsy specimens failed to show evidence of homozygous hemochromatosis. CONCLUSIONS: Iron overload is very common in many types of nonbiliary cirrhosis but rare in biliary cirrhosis. The hemosiderosis of affected livers seems to be acquired and to occur rapidly once cirrhosis has developed; cirrhosis alone may cause iron accumulation. In the presence of cirrhosis, hepatic iron indices of >1.9 should not be interpreted as proof of homozygous hemochromatosis. (Gastroenterology 1997 Mar;112(3):882-8)
Parallel processing for a discrete element program

Abstract Reconfiguration of a discrete element code for parallel operation provided the opportunity to compare processing speeds on various hardware platforms. The program employed in this comparison, NURBM3DP, is a three dimensional, distinct element code employed to calculate dynamic response of a cavern in a jointed rock mass. On a 16 processor IBM SP2, it is capable of calculating dynamic response with 1000's of explicit time steps of jointed rock masses with up to 2,000,000 blocks. Comparison of single instruction multiple data stream (SIMD) and multiple-instruction multiple-data stream (MIMD) operation showed MIMD processing to provide the best overall parallelization. The full report of the comparisons of operation on different hardware with different data streaming configurations can be found at the research section of the Northwestern University Computational Mechanics site: http://www.tam.nwu.edu/compmech.html. In addition, a color movie of dynamic response of a million block model of a cavern responding to dynamic excitation can be seen at: http://geotech.civen.okstate.edu/ejge/ppr9801/index.htm.
An evaluation of telehealth websites for design, literacy, information and content:

We examined 62 telehealth websites using four assessment criteria: design, literacy, information and telehealth content. The websites came from the member list of the American Telemedicine Associat...
Hot oxygen atom ballistics on Pt(111): collisional desorption of noble gases

Abstract Hot oxygen atoms formed by ultraviolet photofragmentation of chemisorbed O 2 on Pt(111) at T s =20 K induced collisional desorption of coadsorbed noble gases. Angular distributions of desorbing Ar, Kr, and Xe were sharply peaked at ∼35° from the surface normal. Mean translational energies of the noble gases were in the 0.12 eV (1400 K) range. The O atom photofragments were found to chatter between the surface and the noble gases during the desorption process. The fastest O atom photofragments produced at 250 nm had an energy of at least 0.73 eV.
THE ROLE OF COSMETIC DENTISTRY IN RESTORING A YOUTHFUL APPEARANCE

ABSTRACT Background Dentistry is faced with a population that is getting older and keeping more of its natural teeth. Smiles show physical and esthetic signs of aging. Advances in the area of cosmetic dentistry now offer the dental profession new opportunities in conservative and esthetic restorative procedures that have the potential to reverse the signs of dental aging, thereby making patients appear younger. Case Description The physical and esthetic attributes of an aged dentition are identifiable. Tooth wear over time alters the appearance of the teeth and smile in a way that is perceptible to dentists and laypeople. Bonding and adhesive ceramic restorative procedures have the potential of reversing the esthetic manifestations of the aging process for teeth. Specific diagnostic tools, including a composite resin mock-up and construction of an incisal putty matrix, allow for previsualization of possible treatment outcomes and allow clinicians to resolve occlusal as well as esthetic treatment concerns before initiating actual treatment. Clinical Implications The ability to make patients look younger through cosmetic enhancement of teeth and smiles has tremendous implications for the future practice of dentistry. Dentists who have the training and skills to meet the increasing demand for esthetic procedures by patients seeking to restore a youthful appearance may find an expanded role within their practices for this type of treatment.
Correlation of tonography and constant pressure perfusion measurements of outflow facility in the rabbit.

The values of aqueous outflow facility, determined using tonography and constant pressure perfusion, were compared in the New Zealand white rabbit. Four-minute indentation tonography was followed by multi-level constant pressure perfusion lasting 60 minutes in one randomly chosen eye of each animal. Mean outflow facility was 0.26 ± 0.07 ul/(min)(mmHg) using tonography and 0.26 ± 0.6 ul/(min)(mmHg) using constant pressure perfusion. These values are similar (p > 0.6) and show significant correlation (r=0.914, p < 0.001). Constant pressure perfusion was associated with a time-dependent facility increase, and with increased flow and stable resistance at higher infusion pressures. These results suggest that tonography may represent a repeatable, reproducible, and valid noninvasive technique to monitor outflow facility in this animal. This may be important in the evaluation of medications which alter wound healing after glaucoma filter surgery.
Surgical Technique: A Simple Soft-tissue-only Repair of the Capsule and External Rotators in Posterior-approach THA

Background Posterior soft tissue repair after posterior THA reportedly decreases the risk of dislocation. Previously described techniques often require drill holes through the greater trochanter, do not include both the short external rotators and the capsule, or require a complex series of multiple sutures. We therefore describe a technique to address these issues.
A comprehensive diagnostic approach to upper airway disease

The diagnosis of allergic rhinitis depends primarily on a good medical history and physical examination; in some cases, allergy testing is also needed. The most important of these is the history. Epidemiologic studies have been performed to identify the prevalence of allergic rhinitis, both seasonal rhinitis and perennial rhinitis, and to identify the various symptoms of which patients complain.1-3 These studies have also obtained information regarding patients’ perceptions of factors that provoke their rhinitis. However, patients with rhinitis may react to nonallergic irritants, such as airborne particulates, chemicals, or odors, and a patient’s history of triggering factors may include allergic and nonallergic triggers. Thus the physician must be knowledgeable regarding which triggers cause an allergic reaction and which do not. The physician who takes the history should know the various allergens in the local and regional environment and their various seasonalities.4 In general, tree pollens come out in the spring, grass pollens in the spring and the early summer, and weeds in the midsummer and the fall. Mold spores vary at different times of the year, and indoor allergens are present at all times. The treating physician must have this knowledge so that history taking can be put into the proper context and the patient’s symptoms can be correlated with seasonal allergens. Not only should the pollens of trees, grasses, and weeds be considered, but mold spores can be significant triggers in patients with perennial allergic rhinitis, as can indoor animal allergens, dust mite allergen, and cockroach and other insect allergens.
Political Efficacy and Introductory Political Science Course: Findings from a Survey of a Large Public University

We conducted a survey of the student population enrolled in undergraduate introductorylevel courses in political science at a large public university. We were interested to test whether completing undergraduate introductory-level courses in political science had any effects on political efficacy, using some standard indicators (drawn from the ANES battery), at the individual level. Our findings suggest that earning a high grade (when controlling for various other factors) does seem to positively affect internal political efficacy at the individual level, but that the most important factor affecting external political efficacy is the number of courses completed. However, we found no evidence that completing any undergraduate introductory-level course in political science had any affect on whether students believed that they were capable of understanding politics.
Socioeconomic factors that affect international caries levels

Abstract – Health policy makers have examined the impact of economic policies and a nation’s social development on the health of its population. Objectives: The purpose of this research was to investigate the association between health care expenditures, socioeconomic factors, and caries levels in 109 countries representing an array of social and economic conditions, and to determine how such factors are related to caries experience at different levels of economic development. Methods: Countries were divided into established market economies and three groups of developing nations, based on their GNP (high, medium, low income). Total health expenditures as percent GDP and as US dollars per capita, public expenditures and aid flow as percent of total health expenditures, dentists per 100 000 population, per capita sugar consumption, and urbanization of the population were compared among these countries. Correlations between these variables, and decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) of 12-year-olds in these countries were assessed. Results: The highest correlations were found between DMFT and public expenditures, sugar consumption, and urbanization. Highly significant differences emerged across nation groups by stages of development on several variables. Conclusions: The findings suggest that it is important to consider the stage of development of a given country when planning caries prevention policies and programs. Such a contextual approach is more likely to be successful in reducing caries levels.
Sevier-age ramp-style thrust faults at Cedar Mountain, northwestern San Rafael swell (Colorado Plateau), Emery County, Utah

Field evidence, combined with published and unpublished seismic data, supports a new, inferred, easternmost limit of Sevier thrusting during Late Cretaceous foreland deformation in east-central Utah. Imbricate thrust faults are exposed along the western margin of Cedar Mountain in the northern part of the San Rafael swell within the western bounds of the Colorado Plateau. The faults offset Jurassic Entrada, Curtis, Summerville, and Morrison formations and the Lower Cretaceous Cedar Mountain Formation. Strike separations ranging from a few metres to 564 m and stratigraphic separations of as much as 76 m are accommodated by bedding-parallel slippage along less competent shales and siltstones and by oblique ramping across more competent sandstones. Fault zones exhibit breccias, drag folds, chatter marks, and imbricate splay-faulted slivers. The kinematic mechanism appears to have been a layer-parallel shortening accomplished along nearly horizontal, nearly east-directed compression.
Stability and accuracy of adapted finite element methods for singularly perturbed problems

The stability and accuracy of a standard finite element method (FEM) and a new streamline diffusion finite element method (SDFEM) are studied in this paper for a one dimensional singularly perturbed connvection-diffusion problem discretized on arbitrary grids. Both schemes are proven to produce stable and accurate approximations provided that the underlying grid is properly adapted to capture the singularity (often in the form of boundary layers) of the solution. Surprisingly the accuracy of the standard FEM is shown to depend crucially on the uniformity of the grid away from the singularity. In other words, the accuracy of the adapted approximation is very sensitive to the perturbation of grid points in the region where the solution is smooth but, in contrast, it is robust with respect to perturbation of properly adapted grid inside the boundary layer. Motivated by this discovery, a new SDFEM is developed based on a special choice of the stabilization bubble function. The new method is shown to have an optimal maximum norm stability and approximation property in the sense that $$\|u-u_{N}\|_{\infty}\leq C\inf_{v_{N}\in V^{N}}\|u-v_{N}\|_{\infty},$$ where uN is the SDFEM approximation in linear finite element space VN of the exact solution u. Finally several optimal convergence results for the standard FEM and the new SDFEM are obtained and an open question about the optimal choice of the monitor function for the moving grid method is answered.
Cell Transformation by RNA Tumor Viruses

Along with other carcinogens of physical or chemical origin, viruses are known to be associated with and to cause tumors in a variety of experimental animals. RNA tumor viruses in particular are widespread in many species of animals, and frequently cause sarcomas or leukemia. The isolation of fowl sarcoma-leukemia virus in the early 1910s by a number of investigators marked the first successful identification of such tumor viruses (Ellermann and Bang, 1909; Rous, 1911; Fujinami and Inamoto, 1914). The cell-virus systems used for the studies of basic aspects of the pathogenesis of avian tumor viruses illustrate the progress in methodology for studying animal viruses in general. Early work in animal hosts was gradually replaced by a system using the chorioallantoic membrane of eggs (Keogh, 1938), then by tissue culture cells (Manaker and Groupe, 1956). The establishment of an assay system for Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) in tissue culture cells (Temin and Rubin, 1958) eventually led to an era of quantitative studies on the mechanism of cellular alteration by viruses.
Altered balance of interleukin-13/interferon-gamma contributes to lacrimal gland destruction and secretory dysfunction in CD25 knockout model of Sjögren’s syndrome

The lacrimal gland (LG) of the CD25-/- model of Sjogren’s syndrome (SS) has high interleukin (IL)-17, IL-13 and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) cytokines. The specific contribution of these cytokines to the onset and severity of dacryoadenitis in the CD25-/- mice has not been evaluated. CD25−/−IL-17A−/−, CD25−/−IL-17−/−IFN-γ−/− and CD25−/−IFN-γ−/− were used at 4, 8, 12, 16 weeks (W). Total lymphocytic infiltration was evaluated by histology and characterized by flow cytometry. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) concentration was measured in tears. Immunofluorescent staining evaluated expression of IFN-γ receptor (IFN-γR) and apoptosis. Real-time PCR evaluated inflammatory and T cell-related cytokines expression in LG. Caspase-3, -8, -9 activities was assayed in LG lysates. T helper cytokines were measured in serum by Luminex assay. The greatest total LG infiltration at 8 W was seen in CD25−/−IL-17A−/− (95%), followed by CD25−/− (71%) and IL-17−/− (12%). Tear EGF concentration was in normal range in CD25−/− at 4 W and in very low levels in both CD25−/− and CD25−/−IL-17A−/−. CD25−/− had high levels of inflammatory cytokines transcripts in LG compared to IL-17−/− mice; however, CD25−/−IL-17A−/− had even higher IL-1β, IFN-γR, caspase-3, -8, -9 mRNA levels, greater immunoreactivity to IFN-γR in LG acini, greater number of apoptotic+ cells and greater caspases activities in the LG at 8 W. CD25−/−IL-17A−/− had lower IL-13 concentration and lower IL-13/IFN-γ ratio compared to CD25−/− in serum. CD25−/−IFN-γ−/− had lower number of apoptotic+ cells and decreased caspase-3 expression in LG. CD25−/−IL-17−/−IFN-γ−/− had lower total lymphocytic cell infiltration at 8 W (48%), CD4+T cell infiltration and expression of IFN-γR and apoptotic+ cells in the LG and increased tear EGF concentration in tears. IFN-γ is critical for LG destruction and secretory dysfunction in the CD25−/− model of SS. Altered balance between IFN-γ and IL-13 in the CD25−/−IL-17A−/− mice accelerates LG destruction by increasing glandular apoptosis and facilitating apoptosis through increased expression of IFN-γR by glandular epithelium and activation of caspases. Targeting both IFN-γ and IL-17 may be beneficial for treating the LG inflammation in SS.
Effect of epidermal growth factor on clonogenic growth of primary human tumor cells

The effect of EGF on the soft agar colony-forming ability of fresh human tumor cells was assessed in 40 specimens obtained from various types of carcinoma including those of the breast, endometrium ovary, and other sites. Cells from four established human tumor cell lines (three breast and one endometrial) were also included in this study. The results showed that addition of EGF at a concentration of 50 ng/ml resulted in a 50% higher cloning efficiency in soft agar in 40% of the samples of fresh human tumors. When cells from tumor cell lines were plated in semi-solid medium containing EGF, the number of colonies formed was at least twice as high as controls. Cells from fresh tumor biopsies were assayed for EGF receptors to determine whether the correlation between the proliferative response in EGF-supplemented semi-solid medium as compared to control could be related to the number of EGF receptors present on the cells. Specific receptors for EGF were detected by using radioiodinated EGF in early-passage cell cultures from some of the tumors tested for clonogenicity. The number of receptors ranged from 0.3 to 3.27 X 10(5) per cell. Cells from two melanoma specimens possessed less than 0.3 X 10(3) EGF receptors per cell. We found no correlation between the number of EGF receptor on a cell surface and the mitogenic effect of EGF on the same tumor cells grown in semi-solid medium.
The Acute Effects of Smokeless Tobacco on Transport and Barrier Function of Buccal Mucosa

The acute effects of smokeless tobacco (ST) on buccal mucosal transport and barrier function were studied by means of in vivo and in vitro techniques. In humans, in vivo exposure to 0.5 g ST transiently increased the transmural electrical potential difference (PD). However, despite continued exposure, PD returned to baseline within 20 min. The mechanisms for these changes were explored by use of dog buccal mucosa mounted in Ussing chambers. Luminal exposure to a Ringer-extract of ST (EOST) increased PD and short-circuit current (Isc) and decreased electrical resistance (R), with changes reversible upon removal of EOST from the bath. Further, radioisotopic fluxes showed that the increase in Isc in EOST-exposed tissues was accompanied by increased absorption of electrolytes (Na, Cl, and other ions), and the decrease in R was accompanied by increased permeability to mannitol. Light microscopy of tissues exposed to EOST showed no morphological changes after exposure to 0.5 g of ST, but after exposure to 1.5-2...
Positive and Negative Regulation of FcεRI-Mediated Signaling by the Adaptor Protein LAB/NTAL

Linker for activation of B cells (LAB, also called NTAL; a product of wbscr5 gene) is a newly identified transmembrane adaptor protein that is expressed in B cells, NK cells, and mast cells. Upon BCR activation, LAB is phosphorylated and interacts with Grb2. LAB is capable of rescuing thymocyte development in LAT-deficient mice. To study the in vivo function of LAB, LAB-deficient mice were generated. Although disruption of the Lab gene did not affect lymphocyte development, it caused mast cells to be hyperresponsive to stimulation via the FceRI, evidenced by enhanced Erk activation, calcium mobilization, degranulation, and cytokine production. These data suggested that LAB negatively regulates mast cell function. However, mast cells that lacked both linker for activation of T cells (LAT) and LAB proteins had a more severe block in FceRI-mediated signaling than LAT−/− mast cells, demonstrating that LAB also shares a redundant function with LAT to play a positive role in FceRI-mediated signaling.
An Analysis of Gender and Major Differences upon Undergraduate Student Attitudes about Community Service Learning.

Community Service Learning (CSL) believes that university and colleges should incorporate community based service projects into courses. There are faculty and administrator supporters who argue for such proposals to require community service learning components into classes, but there are also faculty and administrator critics of such proposals. The focus of this study was to examine the attitudes of undergraduate students on community service learning. A questionnaire was given to students at a private university in Southern California to see if statistically significant differences in attitudes could be found based upon: gender, class level, major, and any prior high school community service experience. In particular, the study focuses upon the differences in attitudes between business and non-business majors as there is a perception by some non-business faculty that business students are more focused upon self-interest rather than concern for social problems. The paper reports the findings of this study and offers policy implications/recommendations for faculty and administrators.
Cytoskeletal Mechanics and Cellular Mechanotransduction: A Molecular Perspective

Cells are highly complex structures with unique physiology and biomechanical properties. A multiscale multiphysics methodology is required to properly understand the intrinsically coupled mechanobiology of the cell and describe its macroscopic response to externally applied stresses. This indeed is both a challenge and an excellent research opportunity. This chapter reviews the latest advancements in this field by bringing together the recent experimental and theoretical studies on the cytoskeletal rheology and mechanics as well as the dynamic response of the cell to environmental stimuli. The experimental observations along with computational approaches used to study the mechanical properties of the individual constituents of the cytoskeleton are first presented. Various computational models are then discussed ranging from discrete filamentous models to continuum level models developed to capture the highly dynamic and constantly changing properties of the cells to external and internal stimuli. Finally, the concept of cellular mechanotransduction is discussed as an essential function of the cell wherein the cytoskeleton plays a key role.
Formal verification of genetic circuits

Researchers are beginning to be able to engineer synthetic genetic circuits for a range of applications in the environmental, medical, and energy domains [1]. Crucial to the success of these efforts is the development of methods and tools to verify the correctness of these designs. This verification though is complicated by the fact that genetic circuit components are inherently noisy making their behavior asynchronous, analog, and stochastic in nature [2]. Therefore, rather than definite results, researchers are often interested in the probability of the system reaching a given state within a certain amount of time. Usually, this involves simulating the system to produce some time series data and analyzing this data to discern the state probabilities. However, as the complexity of models of genetic circuits grow, it becomes more difficult for researchers to reason about the different states by looking only at time series simulation results of the models. To address this problem, techniques from the formal verification community, such as stochastic model checking, can be leveraged [3,4]. This tutorial will introduce the basic biology concepts needed to understand genetic circuits, as well as, the modeling and analysis techniques currently being employed. Finally, it will give insight into how formal verification techniques can be applied to genetic circuits.
Evaluation of First Feeds for Larval Lost River Suckers

AbstractThe Lost River Sucker Deltistes luxatus is endemic to the Klamath Basin in southern Oregon and northern California. Population declines led to listing this species as endangered in 1988. Its native habitat has been greatly reduced and degraded putting their future in question. If this species is to be reared in captivity to prevent extinction, the development of culture methodologies is necessary. Successful initial feeding methods are one of the first areas of culture that need to be developed. Lost River Suckers begin feeding during the larval life stage. Larval fish often require live prey at the onset of feeding; however, it may be possible to start larvae on formulated microdiets. We investigated the use of live Artemia and two commercial microdiets (Hikari and Otohime brands) as first feeds over the course of a 41-d feeding trial. Starting on day 21 of the trial, feed sizes were increased, and the Artemia-fed fish were offered a commercial microdiet (Otohime) while being co-fed Artemia throu...
Once Daily Dosing of Aminoglycosides in Pediatric Cystic Fibrosis Patients: A Review of the Literature

Patients with cystic fibrosis receive many courses of antibiotic therapy throughout their lifetime. Dosing aminoglycosides once daily has become common practice in many of these individuals. Due to ease of home administration, decreased nursing time, and improved quality of life, this regimen is being increasingly explored in the cystic fibrosis population. Because patients with cystic fibrosis have increased aminoglycoside clearance, once daily dosing may result in a prolonged time during the dosing interval when concentrations of the drug may be undetectable. This makes the use of once daily dosing of these antibiotics in patients with cystic fibrosis controversial. Although aminoglycosides exhibit a post antibiotic effect, the duration of this effect is unknown in humans; therefore, the development of resistance to the aminoglycoside is a concern. This manuscript will review the organisms most commonly associated with a pulmonary exacerbation of cystic fibrosis, the properties of the aminoglycoside that make once daily dosing feasible, the concept of once daily dosing in those with cystic fibrosis and the current literature regarding efficacy, monitoring, toxicity and concerns of resistance with once daily dosing in this population.
Electrically Evoked Fictive Swimming in the Low-Spinal Immobilized Turtle

Fictive swimming was elicited in low-spinal immobilized turtles by electrically stimulating the contralateral dorsolateral funiculus (cDLF) at the level of the third postcervical segment (D3). Fict...
Endoscopic resection of maxillary sinus keratocystic odontogenic tumors.

Keywords: Maxillary sinus keratocystic odontogenic tumors; endoscopic resection; Carnoy's solution; maxillary sinus