cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
REPLY TO HILBERT

We hoped that our article, "If Lions Could Speak" (The Sociological Quarterly 34: 377390), would encourage scholarship in the area of animal studies and define such work as a legitimate field of inquiry, as well as to generate discussion about how to undertake a sociological understanding of human interaction with nonhuman animals. Clearly, Richard Hilbert's thoughtful response is a wonderful example of the latter. To briefly summarize his major points, Hilbert agrees with us that research on human exchanges with animals is a relevant and interesting endeavor for sociologists. However, Hilbert maintains that there can be no acceptable evidence in the study of the animal's perspective because it all would be anthropomorphic. As mere human projections, he argues, all we can learn is more about the human mind. Even the "fact" of human mindedness is as questionable a piece of ideology as is our position that nonhuman animals engage in minded behavior, according to Hilbert. In his view, attention should be redirected at "sentience" instead of "mind," and the more appropriate resumptive function should be that humans are animals rather than that nonhuman animals behave like humans in certain circumstances.
A small molecule inhibitor, 1,2,4,5-benzenetetraamine tetrahydrochloride, targeting the y397 site of focal adhesion kinase decreases tumor growth.

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a nonreceptor kinase that is overexpressed in many types of tumors. We developed a novel cancer-therapy approach, targeting the main autophosphorylation site of FAK, Y397, by computer modeling and screening of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) small molecule compounds database. More than 140 000 small molecule compounds were docked into the N-terminal domain of the FAK crystal structure in 100 different orientations that identified 35 compounds. One compound, 14 (1,2,4,5-benzenetetraamine tetrahydrochloride), significantly decreased viability in most of the cells to the levels equal to or higher than control FAK inhibitor 1a (2-[5-chloro-2-[2-methoxy-4-(4-morpholinyl)phenylamino]pyrimidin-4-ylamino]-N-methylbenzamide, TAE226) from Novartis, Inc. Compound 14 specifically and directly blocked phosphorylation of Y397-FAK in a dose- and time-dependent manner. It increased cell detachment and inhibited cell adhesion in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, 14 effectively caused...
AlGaN/GaN field effect transistors functionalized with recognition peptides

Recognition peptides are used to modify AlGaN/GaN field effect transistors. The recognition sequence, SVSVGMKPSPRP, was compared to other biomolecules and subsequently the device stability was examined. Changes in the electrical characteristic were recorded using current-voltage measurements at a VD of 1 V and VG of −1 V. The recognition sequence coatings yielded an average increase in ID of 96.43% compared to initial values. Exposure to solution removed the peptides from the devices indicating a weak interaction between adsorbate and the semiconductor surfaces. The peptide coatings are suitable for simple device modification for short-term recognition studies.
The effect of D-Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) upon shock elicited fighting in rats

Abstract The action of different doses of LSD on shock elicited fighting was tested in rats. A biphasic dose response was found with low doses facilitating fighting whereas a high dose had no effect. The results are discussed in terms of the effects of LSD on single units of the serotonin neuronal system.
Extractives of jack pine bark: Occurrence of (+)-13-epimanoyl oxide and related labdane diterpenes☆

Abstract A new natural product, (+)-13-epimanoyl oxide, has been isolated from the benzene extract of the bark of jack pine ( Pinus banksiana ), together with the diterpenes, manoyl oxide, torulosol, 13-epitorulosol, and agathadiol; four serratenediol-related triterpenes; esters of ferulic acid; pinosylvin dimethyl ether; a series of phytosterols; waxes; fatty acids; and resin acids.
Histopathology and cell-mediated immune reactivity in halothane-associated lymphomagenesis and autoimmunity to BXSB/Mp and MRL/Mp mice.

The present study examined whether halothane anesthesia could alter immunoregulation in autoimmune disease-prone BXSBMp and MRLMp mice. This was judged by histopathological examination of lymph nodes and by studies on mitogen-induced transformation of splenic lymphocytes. The development of lymphoma-like disease in BXSB males and the appearance of lymphoproliferation and systemic lupus erythematosus-like disease in MRLMplprlpr mice were revealed by histologic examination of lymph nodes and other tissues and by identification of immune complexes in kidney sections by immunofluorescence. Splenic lymphocytes from MRLMp +/+ mice exposed to halothane showed a 44% reduction in mean stimulation indices (MSI) compared to exposure to O2. Likewise, the MSI of splenic lymphocytes from MRLMplprlpr mice exposed to halothane were reduced to 42% when compared with those from MRLMplprlpr mice subjected to O2. In accord with the MRL results, halothane induced a 38% reduction in the stimulation indices of autoimmune and lymphoma-like disease-prone BXSB mice and a 27% decline in the lymphocyte proliferative responsiveness of autoimmune disease-insusceptible control C57B16 mouse spleen cells, compared to their respective O2 control values. Results demonstrate that halothane facilitated an earlier onset in loss of immunoregulation associated with development of autoimmunity and lymphomagenesis in genetically disease-prone mice receiving halothane than in those receiving oxygen.
Fluorinated bonded stationary phases in micellar liquid chromatography.

Abstract The usefulness of fluorinated bonded stationary phases in micellar liquid chromatography (MLC) is examined. Different selectivities and higher efficiencies were observed using a flurooctyl (FO) column as compared to that of a C18 column for both non-ionic and ionic compounds in MLC. Shortened analysis times for amino acids and small peptides and increased retention for the early eluting sulfonamides were observed on the FO column. The unique phenomenon of the simultaneous enhancement of solvent strength and selectivity that often occurs in the MLC systems with the alkyl-bonded stationary phases was also observed for the FO column. This is due to the existence of the competing partitioning equilibria in MLC and because of the interactive nature of the two eluent parameters, micelle concentration and the volume fraction of organic modifiers, both of which influence solvent strength and selectivity. Consequently, simultaneous optimization of these two parameters is the most effective strategy for the MLC systems with the fluorinated bonded stationary phases. Subsequently, the iterative regression strategy was utilized to optimize these two mobile phase parameters for a group of amino acids and small peptides. Excellent agreement was obtained between the observed optimum chromatogram and the one predicted by the iterative regression strategy using only five initial experiments. The successful application of the iterative regression optimization procedure indicates that the retention pattern in MLC with fluorinated bonded stationary phases is easily predictable. This is a similar behavior to that using hydrocarbonaceous phases and can be attributed to the linear variations in retention with the two mobile phase parameters and to the highly reproducible retention behavior in MLC.
Polybrominated biphenyls in chicken eggs vs. hatchability.

SummaryA relationship between polybrominated biphenyl, Firemaster FF-1 (FF-1), in the diet, and eggs, as monitored by hexahromobiphenyl (6-BB), and embryo toxicity, as measured by hatchability, were examined. The minimum dietary level of FF-1 for an effect on hatchability was estimated at 42 ppm, which produced an egg residue estimated at 65.9 ppm 6-BB. Generally, as FF-1 in the diet increased, egg residues increased and hatchability decreased. Regression equations were established for these relationships. After withdrawal of FF-1 in the diet, hatchability returned to normal when FF-1 treatments had been <625 ppm. Over a range of 30-85 ppm 6-BB in eggs there was poor correlation to an effect on hatchability. These latter data were discussed in terms that the 6-BB peak may not be a definitive approach to assess FF-1 toxicity.The authors express their appreciation for assistance in this project to Mr. Sulo Hulkonen, Mr. Edward Kowaleski, Mr. Dennis Dodson, and Ms. Melinda Neff.
COOLING EFFECT OF A MEMS BASED MICRO CAPILLARY PUMPED LOOP FOR CHIP-LEVEL TEMPERATURE CONTROL

Utilizing current Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) technologies, a three-port micro-capillary pumped loop (micro-CPL) was designed, fabricated and tested to provide integral cooling to electronics or MEMS type devices. The two wafer design consists of one silicon and one borofloat glass wafer. An analytical study was used in determining the geometry of the device, including the evaporator dimensions (1000 μm x 2000 μm) and the length of the liquid and vapor lines (35 mm). Using laser spot heating, the finished device was run near steady-state. It was determined that the micro-CPL resulted in a backside cooling effect of at least 7 C when a laser delivering 7.5 W (+/- 0.2 W) with a spot-size diameter of 1.0 mm was focused on the front side of the evaporator region. NOMENCLATURE
Drug-Eluting Stents vs Coronary-Artery Bypass Grafting in Multivessel Coronary Disease

In comparison with treatment with a drug-eluting stent, CABG was associated with lower 18-month rates of death and of death or myocardial infarction both for patients with three-vessel disease and for patients with two-vessel disease. Among patients with three-vessel disease who underwent CABG, as compared with those who received a stent, the adjusted hazard ratio for death was 0.80 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.65 to 0.97) and the adjusted survival rate was 94.0% versus 92.7% (P = 0.03); the adjusted hazard ratio for death or myocardial infarction was 0.75 (95% CI, 0.63 to 0.89) and the adjusted rate of survival free from myocardial infarction was 92.1% versus 89.7% (P<0.001). Among patients with two-vessel disease who underwent CABG, as compared with those who received a stent, the adjusted hazard ratio for death was 0.71 (95% CI, 0.57 to 0.89) and the adjusted survival rate was 96.0% versus 94.6% (P = 0.003); the adjusted hazard ratio for death or myocardial infarction was 0.71 (95% CI, 0.59 to 0.87) and the adjusted rate of survival free from myocardial infarction was 94.5% versus 92.5% (P<0.001). Patients undergoing CABG also had lower rates of repeat revascularization. Conclusions For patients with multivessel disease, CABG continues to be associated with lower mortality rates than does treatment with drug-eluting stents and is also associated with lower rates of death or myocardial infarction and repeat revascularization.
Analog and Hybrid Computation Approaches for Static Power Flow

Analog and hybrid computation methods are areas of continued interest, particularly in specific applications where traditional digital computation techniques cannot achieve the desired performance. One such example and the focus of this paper is steady state power flow analysis of AC power systems. Traditional iterative methods, such as Newton-Raphson, are time and computationally intensive. Significant speed and performance increases can be achieved through pure analog or hybrid (analog and digital) computation approaches. This paper presents a static mathematical model of an AC power system and methods of implementation for both an analog and a hybrid computation scheme. Increased computational performance is achieved through elimination of matrix inversion and iteration by utilizing the inherent parallelism of analog computation. PSpice simulation results verify the power system models and insight is provided on implementation for large scale systems
The FDA and 23andMe: Violating the First Amendment or Protecting the Rights of Consumers?

One of the largest direct-to-consumer (DTC)2 genetic testing facilities, 23andMe, was ordered by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to cease marketing its Personal Genome Service (PGS) test on Nov. 22, 2013 (1). This occurred after 23andMe failed to respond to questions from the FDA about the analytical and clinical validity of this test (see Table 1 for definitions). In response to the FDA's order, 23andMe no longer provides health-related genetic risk assessments but still provides the genetic data (i.e., genotypes) and ancestry-related genetic reports. Although some support the FDA's actions because of the test's potential for harm to consumers, other personalized medicine advocates are crying foul, saying that the FDA is being overly paternalistic and impeding medical advances. Green and Farahany, in a recent commentary in Nature , argued that the FDA's actions are “unwarranted without evidence of harm” (2). They further stated that these types of FDA regulations are disallowing advertising (“commercial speech”) as well as preventing individuals from their right to receive information, both of which are protected under the First Amendment. The FDA might counter that this medical device is subject to all of the same regulations as all other medical devices. View this table: Table 1. Definitions of terms.a Part of the complaint by some has been that the FDA should not presume that consumers are unable to understand their own genomic information and therefore deny consumers access to these data. However, in its personalized medicine document, the FDA states that its “mission is to protect and promote the health of all Americans through assuring the safety, efficacy, and security of drugs, biologics …, and medical devices. … In the case of medical products, FDA determines that products are safe and effective before marketing through a careful evaluation of benefits and risks that considers the available scientific data in the context …
Age and Experiential Differences in Strategy Generation and Information Requests for Solving Everyday Problems

The role of experience in understanding age differences in strategy generation and information requests for solving everyday problems was explored in young and older adults. Participants received t...
A Wideband Kalman DOA Tracking Algorithm

In this paper, a new direction of arrival (DOA) tracking algorithm is presented. We assume that the signals exhibit cyclostationarity, which is exploited to perform signal selective DOA tracking. A least squares (LS) tracking algorithm is first presented. Then a Kalman filter is applied to this algorithm to improve the performance of DOA tracking. Simulations are carried out to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm
Advances in diagnostic tests for bacterial STDs

Because of their asymptomatic nature and nonspecific symptoms, laboratory tests are often required to diagnose a sexually transmitted infection. Over the past few years, there have been advances in technology, such as the development of nucleic acid amplification assays, which have improved our ability to diagnose infections caused by Chlamydia trachomatis. The finding that nucleic acid amplification tests can detect more infected individuals and are useful in screening low prevalence populations, has led to the development of strategies designed to reduce the cost of these assays without significantly impacting their sensitivity. The development of new tests for the diagnosis of syphilis has gained momentum from the report of a synthetic VDRL antigen, which will result in better nontreponemal antibody tests for syphilis. In spite of the completion of the genome sequence of Treponema pallidum and its annotation, we are still unable to cultivate this microorganism in vitro. However, the molecular revolution has resulted in the development of PCR assays for detecting Treponema pallidum in various types of clinical specimens, and to the production of recombinant antigens for use in tests that detect treponemal-specific antibodies. Further research will improve the availability of low cost, sensitive tests for the diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections. The English version of this paper is available too at: http://www.insp.mx/salud/index.html
Is the association of diabetes with uncontrolled blood pressure stronger in Mexican Americans and blacks than in whites among diagnosed hypertensive patients

BACKGROUND Clinical evidence shows that diabetes may provoke uncontrolled blood pressure (BP) in hypertensive patients. However, racial differences in the associations of diabetes with uncontrolled BP outcomes among diagnosed hypertensive patients have not been evaluated. METHODS A total of 6,134 diagnosed hypertensive subjects aged ≥ 20 years were collected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2008 with a stratified multistage design. Odds ratios (ORs) and relative ORs of uncontrolled BP and effect differences in continuous BP for diabetes over race/ethnicity were derived using weighted logistic regression and linear regression models. RESULTS Compared with participants who did not have diabetes, non-Hispanic black participants with diabetes had a 138% higher chance of having uncontrolled BP, Mexican participants with diabetes had a 60% higher chance of having uncontrolled BP, and non-Hispanic white participants with diabetes had a 161% higher chances of having uncontrolled BP. The association of diabetes with uncontrolled BP was lower in Mexican Americans than in non-Hispanic blacks and whites (Mexican Americans vs. non-Hispanic blacks: relative OR = 0.55, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.37-0.82; Mexican Americans vs. non-Hispanic whites: relative OR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.35-0.80) and the association of diabetes with isolated uncontrolled systolic BP was lower in Mexican Americans than in non-Hispanic whites (Mexican Americans vs. non-Hispanic whites: relative OR = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.40-0.96). Mexican Americans have a stronger association of diabetes with decreased systolic BP and diastolic BP than non-Hispanic whites, and a stronger association of diabetes with decreased diastolic BP than non-Hispanic blacks. CONCLUSIONS The association of diabetes with uncontrolled BP outcomes is lower despite higher prevalence of diabetes in Mexican Americans than in non-Hispanic whites. The stronger association of diabetes with BP outcomes in whites should be of clinical concern, considering they account for the majority of the hypertensive population in the United States.
Pathology Quiz: Small Cell Ostosarcoma

A 15-year-old black male presented with shortness of breath, leg weakness, and pain in his back and rib cage. Four years previously he had noticed a lump in his upper back and complained of pain when playing basketball, especially on contact to that area. Recently, the pain had become more constant and increased in intensity. This was associated with loss of control in his legs, weakness, and parasthesia. General physical examination revealed a palpable mass in the right midline upper back. Laboratory results were within normal limits. Radiographic scans demonstrated a destructive soft tissue mass at T6 vertebral body with scattered stippled calcification (Figure 1). The patient underwent a biopsy followed by excision of the mass (Figure 2) and decompressive laminectomy with reconstruction.
Impact of Asian Ethnicity and National Origin on Infant Birth Weight

To investigate the relation between Asian ethnicity/national origin and low birth weight (< 2,500 g), the authors analyzed singleton live births among 50,044 Asian and 221,866 white women who delivered in California during 1992. Ethnic and subgroup differences in prenatal characteristics and birth weight outcomes were found between Asian and white women and between Asian subgroups. In unadjusted comparisons, very low birth weight (500-1,499 g) was more likely among Filipino women and less likely among Chinese women, relative to whites. Moderately low birth weight (1,500-2,499 g) was more likely among Cambodian, Filipino, Indian, Japanese, Laotian, and Thai women and was less likely among Koreans, relative to whites. In multivariate analyses, Filipino women remained at increased risk of both very low and moderately low birth weight, while Cambodian, Indian, and Laotian women had elevated odds of moderately low birth weight. Chinese women were less likely to have very low birth weight infants than were whites. Utilization of prenatal care was also associated with low birth weight. Perinatal outcomes among Asians vary by national origin, and accepted risk factors that were studied only partially explain this variation.
A Range Scanner with a Virtual Laser

Abstract A scanner is developed that can capture range and color data from four sides of an object and combine the data into a model of the object. The scanner has four synchronous heads that scan an object from four sides in a coordinate system that is attached to the object. Data produced by the four heads automatically come together without the need for image registration. The uniqueness of the scanner is in its use of an imaginary (virtual) laser rather than a real one for scanning. Use of a virtual laser makes it possible to scan an object with detailed color and under bright lighting. Characteristics of the scanner are investigated and example images produced by the scanner are given.
Pharmacology Review: Prevention and Management of Extravasation Injuries in Neonates

Extravasation or inadvertent infiltration of fluids into subcutaneous tissue from peripheral intravenous (IV) devices is a common adverse event in newborns. (1)(2) Although fluids occasionally extravasate from central venous lines, the complication is much more common from peripheral catheters, which are used widely in sick neonates. (3) This article focuses on extravasations from peripheral IV devices. Injury to the skin, even in a very immature neonate, results in an inflammatory response and heals by scar formation. (4) Although the scars from many of these injuries appear to improve with time, (5) tissue necrosis from extravasation injury could result in partial or complete skin loss, infection, and nerve and tendon damage, with the potential risk of permanent cosmetic and functional impairment. (6)(7)(8) The incidence of extravasations from Teflon® catheters has been reported to vary from 23% to 63%. (1) A recent survey of regional neonatal intensive care units in the United Kingdom recorded the prevalence of extravasation injury resulting in skin necrosis as 38 per 1,000 neonates, with 70% of these injuries occurring in infants of 26 weeks’ gestation or less. (2) The incidence of extravasation is related closely to the type of device used, insertion site, duration of therapy, infusate administered, patient activity, and gestational age. (1)(3)(9)(10) The fragility of the skin, particularly in the first 2 weeks after birth, and the lack of subcutaneous tissue in preterm neonates makes them uniquely susceptible to injury and skin loss. Extravasation may occur from the tip of the cannula or needle piercing the vessel wall. Alternatively, distal obstruction of the vein due to thrombosis or venoconstriction from irritation of the vessel wall may lead to increased back pressure and leakage from the entry point of the needle or …
Scaling up Classifiers to Cloud Computers

As the size of available datasets has grown from Megabytes to Gigabytes and now into Terabytes, machine learning algorithms and computing infrastructures have continuously evolved in an effort to keep pace. But at large scales, mining for useful patterns still presents challenges in terms of data management as well as computation. These issues can be addressed by dividing both data and computation to build ensembles of classifiers in a distributed fashion, but trade-offs in cost, performance, and accuracy must be considered when designing or selecting an appropriate architecture. In this paper, we present an abstraction for scalable data mining that allows us to explore these trade-offs. Data and computation are distributed to a computing cloud with minimal effort from the user, and multiple models for data management are available depending on the workload and system configuration. We demonstrate the performance and scalability characteristics of our ensembles using a wide variety of datasets and algorithms on a Condor-based pool with Chirp to handle the storage.
Sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma: CT and MR imaging of an uncommon neoplasm of the nasal cavity.

PURPOSE: To determine the computed tomographic (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging appearance of sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Findings from 11 patients with histopathologically proved sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma were retrospectively reviewed. All 11 patients had undergone CT, and six of them had undergone MR imaging. RESULTS: The tumors usually were large (larger than 4 cm in maximum dimension in eight patients), had poorly defined margins, and arose within the ethmoid sinuses and superior nasal cavity. The aggressive nature of the tumor was demonstrated by bone destruction (n = 10) and by invasion of adjacent structures, including paranasal sinuses (n = 10), anterior fossa (n = 7), orbits (n = 4), pterygopalatine fossa (n = 2), parapharyngeal space (n = 1), and cavernous sinus (n = 1). On contrast material-enhanced CT scans, all tumors were enhanced to varying degrees. They tended to be noncalcified (n = 10) and often caused sinus obstruction (n = 10). MR sig...
Tragedy & Remedy: Reparations for Disparities in Black Health

The Tragedy of American health care is the stubborn persistence of disparities in Black health, one hundred and forty years after Emancipation, and more than four decades after the passage of Title VI. Formal legal equality has not translated into actual health equality. This Tragedy is deeper and older than mere legal forms; it has been supported by powerful social institutions, including some governments, charities, market participants, religions, ideologies, and cultures. Black health disparities interact with other vestiges of slavery such as disparities in wealth, education, employment and housing. They have permeated the American health experience. Efforts to eliminate Black health disparities will require something more transformative than Title VI. One possible remedial candidate is reparations for disparities in Black health.
MDIBL in the 1980s: Doors Close, Doors Open

The death of Bill Kinter in 1978, the retirement of Bodil Schmidt-Nielsen in 1986, and unsuccessful attempts to recruit new year-round Investigators ended the first attempt at turning the MDIBL into a 12-month research laboratory. In addition, the recurring operating grants from the NSF ended in the early 1980s, and the physical plant continued to demand constant repair and renovation. Nevertheless, the research laboratories continued to be full, and in many cases the research groups in a given laboratory increased in size, largely because of necessary increases in rental charges. Director Leon Goldstein summed up the situation as “great science—poor fiscal position.” In response, the Laboratory made plans to teach a course in “methodology of epithelial transport” in 1983. And fund-raising (Development) restarted in earnest, after a 20-year hiatus that had been prompted by the MDIBL’s success at obtaining federal funding. Crucial to these efforts was the formation of what became the “Board of Overseers,” an effort to interest local, potential benefactors. The first Assistant Director was hired in the fall of 1983, and his assistance of the President and Director resulted in two large grants (from the Markey Foundation and the National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences) that brought new Investigators to the Laboratory and provided vital research and operating support for the next 10 and 25 years, respectively. Roy Forster did not return after 1984, and the Laboratory named the old Director’s Office the Forster Laboratory. A $120,000 bequest from the estate of Muriel Case Downer, who had served as the Laboratory’s collector in the 1920s, nearly doubled the small MDIBL Endowment, and facilities grants from the NSF paid for yet another renovation of the seawater system, a new research wing (named after Homer Smith) on the administration building (now named after Kingsley), and substantial renovation of Neal Laboratory, the oldest structure (1921) on site.
Dynamic contributions of the flexor-pronator mass to elbow valgus stability.

Background: Previous studies have indicated that the demands placed on the medial ulnar collateral ligament of the elbow when it is subjected to valgus torque during throwing exceed its failure strength, which suggests the necessary dynamic contribution of muscle forces. We hypothesized that the flexor-pronator mass assists the medial ulnar collateral ligament in stabilizing the elbow against valgus torque. Methods: Six cadaveric elbows were tested at 30° and 90° of flexion with no other constraints to motion. A full medial ulnar collateral ligament tear was simulated in each elbow. Muscle forces were simulated on the basis of the centroids and physiological cross-sectional areas of individual muscles. The biceps, brachialis, and triceps were simulated during flexor carpi ulnaris, flexor digitorum superficialis, flexor digitorum superficialis and flexor carpi ulnaris, and pronator teres-loading conditions. Kinematic data were obtained at each flexion angle with use of a three-dimensional digitizer. Results: Release of the medial ulnar collateral ligament caused a significant increase in valgus instability of 5.9° ± 2.4° at 30° of elbow flexion and of 4.8° ± 2.0° at 90° of elbow flexion (p < 0.05). The differences in valgus angulation between each muscle-simulation condition and the medial ulnar collateral ligament-intact condition were significantly different from each other (p < 0.05), except for the difference between the flexor carpi ulnaris contraction condition and the flexor digitorum superficialis-flexor carpi ulnaris co-contraction condition. This co-contraction provided the most correction of the valgus angle in comparison with the intact condition at both 30° and 90° of elbow flexion (1.1° ± 1.8° and 0.38° ± 2.3°, respectively). Simulation of the flexor carpi ulnaris alone provided the greatest reduction of the valgus angle among all individual flexor-pronator mass muscles tested (p < 0.05), whereas simulation of the pronator teres alone provided the least reduction of the valgus angle (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The flexor-pronator mass dynamically stabilizes the elbow against valgus torque. The flexor carpi ulnaris is the primary stabilizer, and the flexor digitorum superficialis is a secondary stabilizer. The pronator teres provides the least dynamic stability. Clinical Relevance: The flexor-pronator mass is capable of contributing valgus stability to the elbow. When considering injury prevention, surgical techniques, and rehabilitation in throwing athletes, the physician should give particular attention to optimizing the function of the flexor carpi ulnaris and flexor digitorum superficialis.
Generalizing Kruskal's theorem to pairs of cohabitating trees

We investigate the extent to which structures consisting of sequences of forests on the same underlying set are well-quasi-ordered under embeddings.
Double-barrel entanglement of intracranial Enterprise stents resulting from undetected incomplete stent apposition

Objective Although intracranial stents have expanded the spectrum of aneurysms amenable to coiling, closed cell design variants can be prone to incomplete stent apposition around tightly curved arterial bends. A case is presented illustrating the technical ramifications of this phenomenon during subsequent treatment. Clinical presentation A 49-year-old woman who had previously undergone Enterprise (closed cell design) stent mediated coiling of a wide necked ophthalmic carotid artery aneurysm was noted to harbor residual central filling on follow-up imaging, and was scheduled for additional embolization. Intervention During retreatment, performed with a second concentrically placed Enterprise and further coil packing using the jailing technique, the proximal portion of the second Enterprise stent failed to expand as expected. C-arm cone beam CT (CBCT) revealed the second stent to have been navigated into and out of the orphaned lumen created by the incompletely apposed first Enterprise stent at the carotid siphon. This stent entanglement resulted in the formation of a trapped proximal double-barrel lumen in the curved segment and resolution to a single barrel lumen in the distal straight segment of the parent vessel facing the aneurysm neck. Conclusion Caution is urged when navigating around curved vessel segments through previously deployed intracranial stents, which may be incompletely apposed to the vessel wall, to avoid deleterious and potentially catastrophic entanglement. CBCT imaging may be helpful in delineating the spatial relationship of previously deployed intracranial stents during subsequent endovascular navigation.
Recent advances in stimulated radiation studies during radiowave heating the near earth space environment

ABSTRACTInvestigation of stimulated radiation, commonly known as stimulated electromagnetic emissions (SEE), produced by the interaction of high-power, high-frequency HF radiowaves with the ionospheric plasma has been a vibrant area of research since the early 1980s. Substantial diagnostic information about ionospheric plasma characteristics, dynamics, and turbulence can be obtained from the frequency spectrum of the stimulated radiation. During the past several decades, so-called wideband SEE which exists in a frequency band of ±100 kHz or so of the transmit wave frequency (which is several MHz) has been investigated relatively thoroughly. Recent upgrades both in transmitter power and diagnostic receiver frequency sensitivity at major ionosphere interaction facilities in Alaska and Norway have allowed new breakthroughs in the ability to study a plethora of processes associated with the ionospheric plasma during these experiments. A primary advance is in observations of so-called narrowband SEE (NSEE) whi...
Identification of a noncanonical transcription initiation site for transcription of a subgenomic mRNA of mouse hepatitis virus.

Subgenomic mRNA transcription of mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) involves the interaction between the leader and the intergenic (IG) sequence of the template. All mRNAs contain multiple open reading frames (ORF) with the exception of the smallest mRNA. In general, only the 5’-most ORF of each mRNA is translated into a protein via the cap-dependent ribosomal scanning mechanism, while the down-stream ORFs are not translatable. The E (envelope) protein of MHV is a structural protein (Yu et al., 1994), essential for virion assembly. It is translated from the downstream ORF of the bicistronic mRNA5 in vitro (Thiel and Siddell, 1995), suggesting that translation of the E protein is cap-independent, possibly via an internal ribosomal entry site (IRES). Subsequently, the IRES has been mapped through a series of deletion mutants in an in vitro translation assay to be located between ≈100-nt upstream and 180-nt downstream of the ORF5b (Jendrach et al., 1999). The gene encoding the E in other coronaviruses includes ORF5b in bovine Coronavirus (BCoV), ORF4 in transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) and human Coronavirus (HCoV) 229E, and ORF3c in avian infectious bronchititis virus (IBV). Interestingly, while the ORF4 of TGEV and HCoV-229E, and ORF5b of BCoV are translated via the cap-dependent mechanism from a distinct mRNA species, mRNA4 and mRNAS-1, respectively, the 0RF3C of IBV and ORF5b of MHV are translated via an IRES from a downstream ORF of mRNA3 and mRNA5, respectively (see review by Lai and Cavanagh, 1997). More intriguingly, within TGEV strains, the ORF3b of Muller strain is translated from mRNA3 via internal ribosomal entry whereas that of the Purdue strain is translated from mRNA3-l, an mRNA species differing from mRNA3, via cap-dependent mechanism (O’Connor and Brian, 2000). It is not known, however, why different strains of the same TGEV or different coronaviruses evolved such distinct mechanisms in regulating the expression of the same genes.
Aging: laboratory testing and theories.

OBJECTIVE To review theories of aging and the changes in laboratory test results that occur because of physical changes in the normal elderly patient. DATA SOURCES Books on aging, laboratory test interpretation, and nutrition as well as published articles on aging, vitamins, and nutrition. STUDY SELECTION Elderly people. DATA EXTRACTION Survey of the literature. DATA SYNTHESIS Aging theories may present possible aspects of the effects of aging on health in the elderly. Normal aging may lead to physical changes that alter laboratory test results without causing disease. Treatment of these "abnormal" results in the elderly may be detrimental to their health. CONCLUSION As the elderly population increases, laboratorians will encounter an increasing number of elderly patients. Discriminating between truly abnormal test results and those caused by aging will require laboratory reevaluation of adult reference ranges.
Transient Expression of Epitope-Tagged Proteins in Mammalian Cells

Before the advent of molecular methods to tag proteins, the visualization of proteins within cells by immunoelectron microscopy required the use of highly specific antibodies directed against the protein of interest. Thus, only proteins for which antibodies were available could be visualized. Current technologies allow the detection of proteins for which specific antibodies are not available. This procedure involves the generation of DNA constructs that express the protein of interest tagged with an epitope that is recognized by a well-characterized commercially available antibody. Proteins can be tagged with a wide variety of epitopes, small and large, using commercially available vectors that allow expression in mammalian cells. Epitope-tagged proteins are easily transfected into many mammalian cell lines and, in most cases, tightly mimic the distribution of the endogenous protein. Prior to immunoelectron microscopy, expression and localization of tagged proteins can be assessed by Western blotting and immunofluorescence. Furthermore, specialized fluorescent tags, such as the green fluorescent protein (GFP), can be used to rapidly screen for transfection efficiency and localization. The use of epitope-tagged protein expression has increased the versatility of immunoelectron microscopy to explore the function of uncharacterized proteins for which highly specific antibodies are not available.
Flexible association modelling and prediction with semi-competing risks data

Semi-competing risks data involve a non-terminal event time, such as time to disease progression, and a terminal event time such as time to death. Existing methods for handling semi-competing risks data often assume that the underlying association between the two event times follows a pre-specified copula with unknown association parameters, which often correspond to the strength of association. In this article we propose a flexible association model that does not require pre-specifying a copula. Therefore our methods facilitate a convenient and robust evaluation of the underlying association pattern, as well as the association strength. Furthermore the proposed association model leads to a robust estimator for the conditional survival probability of the terminal event given the non-terminal event. The methods were also extended to handle left-truncation. Both the association and survival estimators were shown to feature desirable asymptotic properties and satisfactory numerical performance. Our methods were successfully applied to a diabetes data set to study the association between time to diabetic nephropathy and time to death, and to predict the mortality rate given the onset time of nephropathy. The Canadian Journal of Statistics xx: 1–14; 2016 © 2016 Statistical Society of Canada Resume Les donnees avec risques semi-concurrents comportent des evenements non terminaux tels qu'une etape de progression de la maladie et des risques terminaux comme la mort. Les modeles pour risques semi-concurrents existants supposent habituellement que l'association entre le temps aux deux evenements suit une copule pre-specifiee avec un parametre inconnu qui represente souvent la force de la dependance. Les auteures proposent un modele flexible pour l'association qui ne necessite pas de preciser une copule, offrant une approche pratique et robuste pour evaluer la structure de l'association et sa force. Ce modele conduit egalement a un estimateur robuste de la probabilite conditionnelle de survie a l’evenement terminal sachant les evenements non terminaux. Les auteures generalisent leur approche aux donnees tronquees a gauche. Elles etablissent aussi que les estimateurs de l'association et de la survie possedent tous deux des proprietes asymptotiques desirables et de bonnes performances numeriques. Elles appliquent finalement leurs methodes a un jeu de donnees sur le diabete qui etudie l'association entre les temps d'apparition d'une nephropathie diabetique et la mort, puis predisent le taux de mortalite sachant la date de debut de la nephropathie. La revue canadienne de statistique xx: 1–14; 2016 © 2016 Societe statistique du Canada
Untersuchungen von Hochtemperaturkorrosionsschäden an Gasturbinenschaufeln mit der Elektronenstrahl-Mikrosonde

In industriellen Gasturbinen stellen hohe Betriebstemperaturen besondere Anforderungen an Warmfestigkeit und Korrosionsbestandigkeit metallischer Turbinenschaufelwerkstoffe. Es kommt vor, das Turbinenschaufeln der ersten und zweiten Stufe, die besonders hohen Betriebstemperaturen ausgesetzt sind, infolge von Korrosionsschaden auszuwechseln sind, bevor deren Zeitstandfestigkeit erschopft ist. Grundlegende Untersuchungen an korrosionsgeschadigten Schaufeln nach Langzeitbetriebsversuchen sollten deshalb Aufschlusse uber den Ablauf des Korrosionsvorganges sowie Hinweise zur Werkstoffverbesserung geben.
Fumarate modulates the immune/inflammatory response and rescues nerve cells and neurological function after stroke in rats.

Dimethyl fumarate (DMF), working via its metabolite monomethylfumarate (MMF), acts as a potent antioxidant and immunomodulator in animal models of neurologic disease and in patients with multiple sclerosis. These properties and their translational potential led us to investigate whether DMF/MMF could also protect at-risk and/or dying neurons in models of ischemic stroke in vitro and in vivo. Although the antioxidant effects have been partially addressed, the benefits of DMF immunomodulation after ischemic stroke still need to be explored. In vitro neuronal culture with oxygen-glucose deprivation and rats with middle cerebral artery occlusion were subjected to DMF/MMF treatment. Live/dead cell counting and LDH assay, as well as behavioral deficits, plasma cytokine assay, western blots, real-time PCR (Q-PCR) and immunofluorescence staining, were used to evaluate the mechanisms and neurological outcomes. We found that MMF significantly rescued cortical neurons from oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) in culture and suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokines produced by primary mixed neuron/glia cultures subjected to OGD. In rats, DMF treatment significantly decreased infarction volume by nearly 40 % and significantly improved neurobehavioral deficits after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). In the acute early phase (72 h after MCAO), DMF induced the expression of transcription factor Nrf2 and its downstream mediator HO-1, important for the protection of infarcted cells against oxidative stress. In addition to its antioxidant role, DMF also acted as a potent immunomodulator, reducing the infiltration of neutrophils and T cells and the number of activated microglia/macrophages in the infarct region by more than 50 % by 7–14 days after MCAO. Concomitantly, the levels of potentially harmful pro-inflammatory cytokines were greatly reduced in the plasma and brain and in OGD neuron/glia cultures. We conclude that DMF is neuroprotective in experimental stroke because of its potent immunomodulatory and antioxidant effects and thus may be useful as a novel therapeutic agent to treat stroke in patients.
AUnAsSb separate absorption, charge, and multiplication avalanche photodiodes

We report Al x In 1−x Asj, Sb 1−y -based separate absorption, charge, and multiplication avalanche photodiodes (APDs) that operate in the short-wavelength infrared spectrum. These APDs exhibit low excess noise factor, corresponding to k = 0.01, and low dark current.
Statin Treatment Inhibits FLT3 Signaling by Preventing Glycosylation of the Mature Receptor and Leads to Cell Death In Mutant FLT3 Expressing Cells

Abstract Abstract 779 FLT3 is a tyrosine kinase receptor expressed on the surface of hematopoietic stem cells/progenitors and contributes to leukemogenesis as evidenced by its frequent mutation in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). FLT3 normally undergoes N-linked glycosylation to produce an immature 130 Kd protein in the endoplasmic reticulum followed by further processing in the Golgi to form the final 160 Kd mature glycoprotein that translocates to the surface. At the surface, FLT3 binds to FLT3 ligand (FL) resulting in phosphorylation and activation of multiple signaling cascades. FLT3 activating mutations primarily occur as internal tandem duplications (ITD) within the juxtamembrane domain or as point mutations in the kinase domain and have become the target of numerous small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI), several of which have entered clinical trials for AML. However, clinical trials to date have shown limited success due to a variety of reasons including the emergence of resistance mediated by alternative pathway activation, the acquisition of point mutations, expression of increased FLT3 ligand levels and poor inhibition of FLT3 kinase activity for a number of reasons. Statins are a well-defined class of drugs that have been safely used for treatment of hypercholesterolemia. Here, we show for the first time that statins can inhibit constitutive activation of both kinase domain and ITD mutants. Western blotting demonstrates that fluvastatin inhibits FLT3 phosphorylation by preventing receptor glycosylation, initially leading to loss of the mature receptor followed by instability of the receptor and subsequent degradation of FLT3 protein and ultimately, cell death. MTT analysis indicates that BaF3 cells transfected with FLT3/ITD are killed in a dose-dependent fashion by fluvastatin with an IC50 of Disclosures: Levis: Ambit Biosciences, Inc: Consultancy.
Relationship between Future Time Orientation and Item Nonresponse on Subjective Probability Questions: A Cross-Cultural Analysis.

Time orientation is an unconscious yet fundamental cognitive process that provides a framework for organizing personal experiences in temporal categories of past, present, and future, reflecting the relative emphasis given to these categories. Culture lies central to individuals’ time orientation, leading to cultural variations in time orientation. For example, people from future-oriented cultures tend to emphasize the future and store information relevant for the future more than those from present- or past-oriented cultures. For survey questions that ask respondents to report expected probabilities of future events, this may translate into culture-specific question difficulties, manifested through systematically varying “I don’t know” item nonresponse rates. This study drew on the time orientation theory and examined culture-specific nonresponse patterns on subjective probability questions using methodologically comparable population-based surveys from multiple countries. The results supported our hypot...