cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Moderate fetal alcohol exposure impairs the neurogenic response to an enriched environment in adult mice.

: Background: Prenatal ethanol exposure results in a spectrum of cognitive and behavioral deficits and affects an estimated thirteen percent of children born in the United States. The basis of prenatal ethanol-induced impairment of brain function has been widely studied in animal models, where significant changes in the physiological and structural plasticity of hippocampal function have been documented. Here, we explored the possibility that exposure to moderate levels of alcohol in utero might also result in long-lasting impairment of adult hippocampal neurogenesis, a novel form of plasticity that occurs throughout adulthood. Methods: Female mice were trained to voluntarily consume 10% EtOH throughout pregnancy using the two-bottle choice paradigm, which results in moderate blood alcohol levels of ∼121 mg/dl, as previously described (Allan et al., 2003). Offspring were exposed to standard or enriched living conditions for 8–12 weeks post-weaning. BrdU was administered at 50 mg/kg for 12 consecutive days. Mice in each housing condition were sacrificed at either 24 hrs or four weeks following the final BrdU injection, and BrdU+ cells within the dentate gyrus were evaluated using immuno-histochemical methods. Results: Neither fetal alcohol exposure (FAE) nor enriched environment affected the number of proliferating progenitors within the subgranular zone (SGZ) of the dentate gyrus. However, FAE severely impaired the neurogenic response to enriched environment. Control mice housed in enriched environment displayed a two-fold increase in hippocampal neurogenesis, whereas FAE mice responded to enriched environment with neither enhanced progenitor survival nor enhanced neuronal differentiation. Conclusions: These observations indicate that moderate FAE results in a long-term, persistent defect in neurogenic responses to behavioral challenge.
Late appearance of pneumothorax after subclavian venipuncture

Pneumothorax is a well-recognized complication of subclavian vein catheterization. Chest radiography is advised soon after the procedure. Implied here is that when pneumothorax occurs, it will do so shortly after attempted subclavian venipuncture. Two cases of late pneumothorax are reported, one of which became clinically apparent four days after the procedure. If undetected, this may present a hazard in preoperative patients.
Near-infrared dyes in biotechnology and bioanalysis: overview and future trends

Fluorescence detection is one ofthe most popular detection methods used in bioanalytical analysis. Fluorescence detection methods offer the advantages ofhigh sensitivity combined with selectivity. Generally, the chromophore is attached to the species of interest and acts as a reporter molecule. Most fluorescence detection schemes involve the use ofvisible fluorophores, fluorescein being one ofthe most common. A problem often encountered with the used of fluorescence detection in the visible region of the spectrum is sample autofluorescence. Many compounds have intrinsic fluorescence in this region. Background fluorescence is present throughout the visible and UV region ofthe spectmm (fig 1). Consequently, background noise can be very high and, as a result, the overall sensitivity of the measurement is decreased. Very few molecules exhibit intrinsic fluorescence in the near infrared region of the spectrum (650-1 100 nm). As a result, the background noise associated with fluorescence detection in the visible region is nearly eliminated. Consequently, the near infrared region offers the potential for significant improvements in sensitivity, especially in situations where matrix autofluorescence is a concern. Near infrared fluorescence detection methods are therefor well suited to bioanalytical applications. Furthermore, light scatter, another source of interference, is decreased in the near infrared region due to its ii)dependence. Detection at 820 nm offers a six-fold reduction in light scatter over detection at 500 nm. Instrumentation associated with the use of near infrared dyes also offers some advantages over traditional instrumentation. Laser induced fluorescence is one ofthe most commonly used fluorescence detection methods, due to the high intensity associated with laser light. Lasers that operate in the visible region ofthe spectrum are often bulky, expensive, and have limited operational lifetimes. The advent of solid state diode lasers do not have any of the aforementioned disadvantages. They are mgged, inexpensive, compact, and have long operational lifetimes. The typical signal transducer for fluorescence measurements is the photomultiplier tube (PMT). However, PMT's make poor choices for signal transducers in the near infrared region due to their low quantum yields at these wavelengths. Consequently, Avalanche photodiodes (APD) are used. APD's offer high quantum efficiencies in the near infrared region. Additionally, they are rugged, cheap, and have long operational lifetimes.
Surfactant Systems for Soil and Aquifer Remediation of JP4 Jet Fuel

The technology developed for surfactant enhanced oil recovery and toxic spill remediation has been applied to the clean-up of JP4 jet fuel spills on air bases. The EACN for JP4 was determined via previously established mathematical formulae and confirmed experimentally. The physical characteristics of several surfactant systems are described within.
Explicit Beliefs about Aggression, Implicit Knowledge Structures, and Teen Dating Violence

This study examined whether explicit beliefs justifying aggression and implicit knowledge structures theorized to facilitate aggression both contributed to between-subjects differences in teen dating violence (TDV). In addition, this research examined the contribution of explicit and implicit cognitions in the prediction of within-subjects changes in TDV over a 6-month period. Participants were 147 14- to 17-year-olds (48 % female) recruited from courts and agencies providing services to adolescents in trouble because of antisocial behavior. Teens completed a measure of explicit beliefs justifying aggression, a speeded word-completion task designed to measure aggressive content in implicit knowledge structures, and a measure of TDV. Measures were completed at 3 assessments, spaced 3 months apart. Results indicated that explicit beliefs justifying aggression and implicit knowledge structures theorized to facilitate aggression both contributed independently to between-subjects differences in TDV. However, only explicit beliefs about aggression were associated with within-subjects changes in TDV over the 6-month study period. These findings highlight the importance of considering both explicit and implicit cognitions in attempting to understand the perpetration of TDV.
'What about all this writing?': Williams and alternative poetics

Linguistic self-reflectiveness; attention to the materiality of written language; the self as constructed in and by language; a cultural politics of oppositionality, including opposition to 'literature'; a Marinetti-like view of words in freedom, allied to the embrace of readerly freedom; the problematics of signification; generic hybridity enacted through various forms of disjunction and parataxis: these were central attributes of William Carlos Williams' writing and thinking about writing. Taking its examples from the Language school and from other post-Objectivist and post- New American poets, this essay examines the importance of these aspects of Williams' work for a later generation of experimental writers.
Analysis of trichothecene mycotoxins

Diagnostic toxicology requires the analysis of feeds and diagnostic specimens for the toxic principles involved in the poisoning. The trichothecene mycotoxins are both acutely irritating and very poisonous. They may be analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and thin layer chromatography (TLC) and their presence confirmed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The level of sensitivity we readily achieve is micrograms per gram of feed. T-2 toxin (T-2) and diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS) give sharp peaks by GC using 10% OV-101 at 260°C. Vomitoxin (VT) does not give a single sharp peak but rather a broad peak resulting in much lower sensitivity for VT than T 2 and DAS. Acetate derivatization can be done to provide equal sensitivity for all three compounds by GC. Group I trichothecenes, represented by DAS and T-2, may be hydrolyzed to the tetraol and triol and reacetylated. This allows for more generic analysis to be done. The group II and IV cyclic esters may be acetylated and analyzed. TLC is used for Group IV and both TLC gas liquid chromatography for Group II. The advantages of derivatization and selective detection extend the analytical sensitivity for the analysis of trichothecene mycotoxins in tissues. A cleanup procedure that uses a water extraction followed by a partition into ethyl acetate is used in the preparation, cleanup, and analysis of VT. Sep-Pak C18 cartridges are used to clean up extracts from toxicology specimens for precision chromatography. VT is eluted from the cartridge with H2O and T-2 and DAS are eluted with 75% MeOH/HOH.
Nonsymmetric entropy and maximum nonsymmetric entropy principle

Abstract Under the frame of a statistical model, the concept of nonsymmetric entropy which generalizes the concepts of Boltzmann’s entropy and Shannon’s entropy, is defined. Maximum nonsymmetric entropy principle is proved. Some important distribution laws such as power law, can be derived from this principle naturally. Especially, nonsymmetric entropy is more convenient than other entropy such as Tsallis’s entropy in deriving power laws.
Arterial hypoxemia and hyperinsulinemia in the chronically hyperglycemic fetal lamb

Sustained fetal hyperglycemia was produced in eight chronically catheterized fetal lambs (seven twins, and singleton) by means of direct fetal glucose infusion. In twin preparations, only one twin was infused, the noninfused twin serving as a simultaneous in utero control. Glucose infusions lasted 7.6 +/- 1.8 days and resulted in significant fetal hyperglycemia (from 20.3 +/- 1.1 mg/dl to 58.2 +/- 4.7 mg/dl, P less than 0.001). The magnitude of the hyperglycemia was linearly related to the glucose infusion rate. Elevations of fetal plasma glucose and glucose infusion rate were associated with a significant fall in fetal arterial oxygen content (P less than 0.001). In twin preparations studied, these relationships remained when the simultaneously sampled, noninfused twin was used as control. The fetal glucose-induced hypoxemia was not associated with fetal acidosis (tissue hypoxia) until the arterial oxygen content fell below 30% of baseline (mean base deficit in acidotic fetuses = 11.2 +/- 2.2 meq/liter). Although Pa02 fell in hypoxemic fetuses (from 13.5 +/- 1.2 mmHg to 9.7 +/- 1.2 mmHg), the difference was not significant. Fetal plasma insulin rose during hyperglycemia from 10.2 +/- 3.1 micro U/ml to a peak concentration of 26.2 +/- 3.3 micro U/ml, but this response was blunted in markedly hypoxemic fetuses. Neither fetal anemia nor hemoconcentration were evident in these preparations to account for the fall in fetal oxygen content.
Survival, growth and reproduction of non-native Nile tilapia II: fundamental niche projections and invasion potential in the northern Gulf of Mexico.

Understanding the fundamental niche of invasive species facilitates our ability to predict both dispersal patterns and invasion success and therefore provides the basis for better-informed conservation and management policies. Here we focus on Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus Linnaeus, 1758), one of the most widely cultured fish worldwide and a species that has escaped local aquaculture facilities to become established in a coastal-draining river in Mississippi (northern Gulf of Mexico). Using empirical physiological data, logistic regression models were developed to predict the probabilities of Nile tilapia survival, growth, and reproduction at different combinations of temperature (14 and 30°C) and salinity (0–60, by increments of 10). These predictive models were combined with kriged seasonal salinity data derived from multiple long-term data sets to project the species' fundamental niche in Mississippi coastal waters during normal salinity years (averaged across all years) and salinity patterns in extremely wet and dry years (which might emerge more frequently under scenarios of climate change). The derived fundamental niche projections showed that during the summer, Nile tilapia is capable of surviving throughout Mississippi's coastal waters but growth and reproduction were limited to river mouths (or upriver). Overwinter survival was also limited to river mouths. The areas where Nile tilapia could survive, grow, and reproduce increased during extremely wet years (2–368%) and decreased during extremely dry years (86–92%) in the summer with a similar pattern holding for overwinter survival. These results indicate that Nile tilapia is capable of 1) using saline waters to gain access to other watersheds throughout the region and 2) establishing populations in nearshore, low-salinity waters, particularly in the western portion of coastal Mississippi.
Water vapor in the venus middle atmosphere

Abstract It is proposed that recent observations of water vapor abundances near 95 km altitude support the hypothesis that the aerosol particles in the upper haze layer of the Venus atmosphere are primarily concentrated sulfuric acid. Encrenaz et al. (1995) assumed the aerosol particles near 95 km altitude were water ice and inferred the temperature at that altitude was 140 ± 10 K. Their observations, however, may also be consistent with saturated water vapor over 70 – 75 wt% sulfuric acid for temperatures near the nominal 160 – 170 K. These two interpretations lead to significantly different predictions regarding the escape rate for hydrogen.
Representation of American blacks in clinical trials of new drugs.

Investigations that have revealed racial differences in drug response and disposition indicate the need for adequate representation of racial minorities in clinical drug trials. There is concern, however, that there may be a disproportionate use of racial and ethnic minorities in clinical research due to the inner city location of most university hospitals. To examine this issue, we reviewed the representation of American blacks in 50 recently published clinical trials of new drugs. This survey revealed that investigators do not seem to adequately take into account racial differences as a potential source of variability. It also was found that in the majority of studies, the proportion of black subjects is less than their proportion in the general population. This underrepresentation in clinical trials suggests that insufficient data exist to accurately assess the safety and efficacy of many new drugs in American blacks. ( JAMA 1989;261:263-265)
Experiment and FEM Analysis of Tensile Behavior of Bimodal Nanocrystalline Al-Mg Alloys

The tensile behavior of bimodal nanocrystalline Al-7.5Mg alloys was investigated using experiments and two-dimensional axisymmetric elastic-plastic finite element method (FEM). Cryomilled nanocrystalline powders blended with 15% and 30% unmilled coarse-grained powders were consolidated by hot isostatic pressing followed by extrusion to produce bulk bimodal nanocrystalline Al-7.5Mg alloys, which were comprised of nanocrystalline grains separated by coarse-grain regions. The calculated stress-strain curves have acceptable agreement with experimental curves of the bimodal structures. The bimodal Al-7.5Mg alloys show reasonable ductility while retaining enhanced strength compared to conventional alloys and nanocrystalline metals.
A Review on Spider Silk Adhesion

Spiders employ clever behavioral strategies combined with almost invisible custom-made adhesive silk fibers to spin prey capture webs. The adhesives used in these webs evolved over millions of years into a class of natural materials with outstanding properties. Here, we review how spiders use different adhesives to capture prey. We show how spiders take advantage of the elasticity of both the capture silk and the glue to enhance adhesive forces, thereby providing important insights in designing new synthetic adhesives.
Circuit and module challenges for 60 GHz Gb/s radio

The recent advances of CMOS and SiGe process technologies have now made the design of low-cost highly integrated millimeter-wave radios possible in silicon. In combination with an optimum packaging approach, this represents a unique opportunity to develop Gb/s radio that could address the increasing demand in term of data rate throughput of the emerging broadband wireless communication systems. In this paper, we discuss the circuit and module challenges that enables a successful deployment of 60 GHz gigabits wireless systems.
A defined system to allow skeletal muscle differentiation and subsequent integration with silicon microstructures

This work documents the development of an in vitro cell culture model consisting of a novel serum-free medium and a non-biological growth substrate, N-1[3 (trimethoxysilyl) propyl] diethylenetriamine (DETA), to enable functional myotube integration with cantilevers fabricated using MEMS technology. This newly developed, defined in vitro model was used to study the differentiation of fetal rat skeletal muscle and it promoted the formation of myotubes from the dissociated rat fetal muscle cells. The myotubes were characterized by morphological analysis, immunocytochemistry and electrophysiology. Further, it was demonstrated that when the dissociated muscle cells were plated on fabricated microcantilevers, the muscle cells aligned along the major axis of the cantilever and formed robust myotubes. This novel system could not only find applications in skeletal muscle differentiation and biocompatibility studies but also in bioartificial muscle engineering, hybrid actuation system development, biorobotics and for a better understanding of myopathies and neuromuscular disorders.
Matrix Strains Induced by Cells: Computing How Far Cells Can Feel

Many tissue cells exert contractile forces that mechanically couples them to elastic matrices and that influence cell adhesion, cytoskeletal organization, and even cell differentiation. However, strains within the depths of matrices are often unclear and are likely relevant not only to the fact that some matrices such as so-called basement membranes are thin relative to cell dimensions but also to defining how far cells can ‘feel’. Here we briefly present experimental results for cell spreading on thin, ligand-coated gels and for prestress in stem cells in relation to gel stiffness. We then introduce a finite element computation in which a cell is placed on an elastic matrix, while matrix elasticity and thickness are varied in order to compute and compare elastostatic deformations within the matrix. We focus on the response at the cell-matrix interface because this is the proximal location of likely tactile sensors, including focal adhesions and membrane channels. Average interfacial strains between cell and matrix show large deviations only when soft matrices are a fraction of the height and width of a cell, proving consistent with experiments. Three-dimensional (3D) cell morphologies that model stem cell-derived neurons, myoblasts, and osteoblasts show that a cylinder-shaped myoblast induces the highest strains, consistent with the prominent contractility of muscle. Groups of such cells show a weak crosstalk in matrix strains, but the cells must be much closer than a cell-width. Cells thus feel on length scales closer to that of adhesions than on cellular scales or higher.
EFFECT OF TESTOSTERONE PROPIONATE ON MYOSIN, COLLAGEN AND OTHER PROTEIN FRACTIONS IN STRIATED MUSCLE OF GONADECTOMIZED RATS

GONADECTOMY decreased the rate of formation of collagen and alkali soluble stroma in the rectus femoris muscle of the male guinea pig but had no effect on the formation of myosin, “water soluble” (sarcoplasmic) proteins and non-protein nitrogen (1). However, in the temporal muscle the formation of all fractions was retarded markedly by gonadectomy. The rates of formation of all fractions in both muscles were normal in gonadectomized male guinea pigs treated with testosterone propionate. The present experiments were conducted in order to determine if a similar effect on muscle protein fractions occurs in the thigh muscle of the male rat following gonadectomy.
Chaos and Graphics: Recursive turtle programs and iterated affine transformations

We provide a formal proof of equivalence between the class of fractals created by recursive-turtle programs (RTP) and iterated affine transformations (IAT). We begin by reviewing RTP (a geometric interpretation of non-bracketed L-systems with a single production rule) and IAT (iterated function systems restricted to affine transformations). Next, we provide a simple extension to RTP that generalizes RTP from conformal transformations to arbitrary affine transformations. We then present constructive proofs of equivalence between the fractal geometry generated by RTP and IAT that yield conversion algorithms between these two methods. We conclude with possible extensions and a few open questions for future research.
Stability and convergence of nonconforming hp finite-element methods☆

The stability and convergence of nonconforming hp finite-element methods, in par- ticular, the mortar finite-element method and its variants, are established based on a new stability measure for these methods. Using a generalized eigenvalue analysis, estimates for this measure are computed numerically. Our numerical results demonstrate that these nonconforming methods prove to be good candidates for hp,implementation and also behave ss well as conforming finite-element methods. The discussion here ls primarily in two dimensions, but some extensions to three dimensions
The characterization of SAW coupling factor from paired IDT insertion loss measurements

The extent to which the measured transmission insertion loss between paired identical unapodized IDTs can be correlated to the coupling factor of a piezoelectric substrate or piezo-film layer is considered in this paper. The paired transducer insertion loss of standard and rotated cuts of commonly used piezoelectric substrates with coupling factors in the range from 0.000 1 to 0.1 were measured using a harmonic rich split finger IDT. The network analyzer measurements were made in a test fixture having a 50-ohm connection in close proximity to the transducer electrodes. The reported coupling factors were compared with the measured insertion loss values for fundamental and harmonic modes over a frequency range from 30 MHz to above 1.0 GHz. On the average a 20-dB increase in insertion loss represented a factor of 10 decrease in coupling factor. Graphical data was developed and applied to estimate the coupling factor values for AlN film layers on silicon substrates under various deposition conditions.
Airhead: intraparenchymal pneumocephalus after commercial air travel

Background: Commercial air travel either in the postoperative setting or after open skull fracture has the potential to place patients at unnecessary risk. Although the timing is not clearly known, it should be established that there is no persistent fistulous tract that could introduce additional intraparenchymal air. Case Description: We present a case of a gentleman with dramatic pneumocephalus after commercial air travel. Conclusion: Because of the potential for serious and permanent injury that can result from a dramatic and sustained increase in intracranial pressure, air travel should be delayed until there is no evidence of a fistulous tract. We discuss some basic in-flight options and precautions should change in timing of travel not be possible.
NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZING AND URBAN REVITALIZATION: AN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

Neighborhood organizing as a means of urban and even national revitalization is currently experiencing a revival. What this contemporary interest in neighborhood organizing lacks, however, is a sense of its past. Neighborhood organizing is not a recent phenomenon: it has a long and instructive history. But few neighborhood organizers or members of neighborhood groups seem to know this. This paper, based on a larger study, seeks to remedy this situation by presenting a typology of the three dominant approaches to neighborhood organizing in the United Slates since the 1880s—social work, political activist, and neighborhood maintenance—and concludes with six prescriptions for current neighborhood organizing projects based on the successes and failures of past efforts.
A process model of posthypnotic amnesia.

Abstract The existing empirical evidence on the locus of the “posthypnotic amnesia” effect within the human information processing system is reviewed. Two new experiments are introduced to clarify the locus and the mechanism producing the effect. On the basis of the review and these experiments, an information-processing model is constructed that emphasizes the inhibition of verbal output as the central process. According to this model, hypnotically susceptible subjects fail to report “forbidden” material because it has been tagged as “forbidden” in response to the hypnotic suggestion for forgetting. This material is retrieved by these subjects and can play an active role in information processing, but it cannot be reported. The implications of this theory for related hypnotic effects on memory are discussed.
Adolescents' Communication Styles for Learning About Birth Control from Mass Media

This article is an exploratory study to identify discrete factors which predict the way in which adolescents are likely to communicate about birth control after receiving information from a mass medium is described. First, we discuss styles of interacting with others regarding information from mass media which have been described in previous research. Five styles are identified: media-oriented, peer-oriented, home-oriented, professionally-oriented, and multi-source oriented. Next, we discuss categories of factors which theoretically should distinguish among the five communication styles. These factors are drawn from theories and previous research in communication and social learning. Using data collected from a random sample of 100 adolescents, we then test the predictive ability of categories of factors. Discriminant analysis is used to determine which factors within categories are most predictive of style and which best discriminate between styles. Eight factors are identified which predict 75% of all communication styles. The factors are sex, race, giving advice about sex, seeking information about birth control, dating rules regarding where one can go, dating rules regarding behavior on dates, feelings of pride, and feelings of popularity. Finally, we discuss the significance for practitioners of study findings and of predicting adolescents' communication styles.
Studies of Abscisic Acid Perception Finally Flower

The classical plant hormones (auxins, ethylene, gibberellins, cytokinins, and abscisic acid [ABA]) were discovered between 40 and 100 years ago, but it is only within the last ∼10 years that their receptors have been identified. The first two classes of receptors to be identified, those for
A Force Field Driven SOM for boundary detection

We will introduce a method to extract object boundaries from an image. This method utilizes a deformable curve based on the Self Organizing Map algorithm. The proposed SOM has some unique properties such as batch update and neuron insertion/deletion. These properties can make the SOM converge to object concavities as well as maintain a uniform distribution of neurons along the SOM. In comparison with other traditional active contour methods, this algorithm is less sensitive to initialization more flexible in noisy conditions. It outperforms the Gradient Vector Flow method.
Conformational Specificity in Allosteric Signaling: High-throughput Measurement of Modular Secondary Structural Changes within Human Eg5 Kinesin

Communication within allosteric enzymes requires long-range interactions. The ATPase activity of human Eg5 kinesin (HsEg5) is allosterically inhibited upon noncovalent binding of monastrol or S-trityl-L-cysteine (STC) with the L5 loop and subsequent distal conformation changes. Our hypothesis is that the E116 and E118 carboxylates, flanking an isolated β-bridge in the L5 loop, are required for allosteric signaling during small chemical inhibition. Surprisingly, assessment by molecular and biochemical methods revealed that substitution of these carboxylates, irrespective of its nature, has a positional dependence on HsEg5 ATPase rates. Single-site substitution of E118 increased basal ATP hydrolysis rates of Eg5, whereas substitution of E116 resulted in lower ATPase rates. Thus, sequence variation at residues 116 and 118 of the L5 loop can drive upregulation and downregulation of ATP hydrolysis in vitro, respectively. We conducted high-throughput infrared measurements of the secondary structure composition of the upregulated and downregulated proteins in solution. Vibrational signatures from upregulated proteins were distinct from the net changes measured from downregulated proteins. Compared to control samples, in HsEg5 motors with E118 substitutions, amide I′ components between 1642-1620 cm−1 decreased in normalized area, whereas proteins with alterations of E116 exhibited an increased contribution in the amide I′ area for modes between 1684 and 1646 cm−1. Moreover, the spectral changes exhibited by E116 variants were similar to those of wildtype HsEg5 during allosteric inhibition by monastrol or STC. We conclude that allosteric inhibition by amino acid substitution or by small molecules both result in convergent steady-state changes to the secondary structure of the HsEg5 motor domain in solution, and these rapid methods will provide insight into how long-range structural changes impact motor function.
Complexities of gender assignment in 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 3 deficiency: is there a role for early orchiectomy?

Background: 17β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type-3 (17βHSD-3) deficiency is a rare cause of 46,XY disorders of sex development. The enzyme converts androstenedione to testosterone, necessary for masculinization of male genitalia in utero. 17βHSD-3 deficiency is frequently diagnosed late, at puberty, following virilization, with consequent female-to-male gender reassignment in 39-64%. The decision for sex of rearing is difficult, especially if diagnosed in early childhood. Consensus guidelines are equivocal or support male gender assignment. Long-term outcomes data to guide decisions are also lacking; however, in the few cases of early diagnosis and orchiectomy, female gender retention appears more likely. We report two patients with 17βHSD-3 deficiency, who presented at unusual ages, in whom female gender was chosen. We performed a focused literature review and summary of gender outcomes in 17βHSD-3 deficiency following early orchiectomy. Cases: Patient A was a phenotypic female who presented at one year of age with bilateral inguinal hernias and external female genitalia. Testes were identified at surgery. The karyotype was 46,XY. She was initially diagnosed with complete androgen insensitivity syndrome; however, androgen receptor mutation analysis was negative. Human chorionic gonadotropin stimulation yielded a low testosterone: androstenedione ratio (0.6, normal >0.8). Genetic testing demonstrated compound heterozygosity for two known mutations of the HSD17B3 gene. She underwent bilateral orchiectomy at two years of age. Patient B was born with female genitalia and virilized at 13 years of age. She did not seek evaluation until 22 years of age. Her karyotype was 46,XY. She had bilateral inguinal testes and low testosterone: androstenedione ratio (0.3). HSD17B3 gene sequencing showed her to be a compound heterozygote for two known mutations. She identified herself as female and underwent bilateral orchiectomy and estrogen replacement therapy. Conclusions: These two patients highlight the complexities of diagnosis and management in 17βHSD-3 deficiency. Although existing data are limited, early orchiectomy is likely to result in retention of female gender identity, avoiding the complications related to virilization in adolescence. As such, it is important to pursue a definitive diagnosis to guide clinical decisions, and to have the support and long term follow up with an inter-disciplinary disorders of sex development team.
Preoperative Sonographic and Clinical Characteristics as Predictors of Ovarian Torsion

of abdominal pain. Thirty-three (85%) reported vomiting; 22 (56%) had leukocytosis; and 7 (18%) had a documented elevated temperature. All affected ovaries and ovary/mass complexes were enlarged. Twenty-one (54%) had arterial flow on Doppler interrogation, and 18 (46%) had no arterial flow. Thirteen (33%) had venous flow, and 26 (67%) had no venous flow. Differences in the arterial and venous flow patterns between the premenarchal and reproductive age groups were not statistically significant. Conclusions. Abdominal pain, vomiting, ovarian enlargement, and absence of ovarian venous Doppler flow are the most frequently shown clinical and sonographic indicators of ovarian torsion. However, ovarian enlargement, even in the presence of arterial and venous Doppler flow, is the most commonly associated sonographic finding. Suspicion of ovarian torsion should be high in the setting of clinical symptoms and ovarian enlargement regardless of the presence or absence of an ovarian
Latest Cretaceous forearc basin development along an accretionary convergent margin: South-central Alaska

Upper Cretaceous sedimentary strata exposed in south-central Alaska provide insight on tectonic processes that shaped the northern Pacific margin following accretion of the Wrangellia composite terrane, the largest addition of crust to North America over the past 100 m.y. Sedimentologic, geochronologic, biostratigraphic, and petrographic data from the Matanuska Formation permit reconstruction of the tectono-sedimentary history of strata in a forearc basin constructed upon accreted oceanic-arc crust. The Matanuska Formation consists of >3 km of sedimentary strata exposed in the northern Chugach Mountains, Matanuska Valley, and southern Talkeetna Mountains of interior south-central Alaska. Measured stratigraphic sections and lithofacies analyses demonstrate that mass slumps and slides, debris flows, and turbidity currents deposited Campanian–Maastrichtian sandstone, conglomerate, and mudstone on a gullied, trenchward-dipping submarine ramp. Benthic foraminifera, inoceramid bivalves, and Nereites ichnogenera indicate deposition mainly at bathyal water depths. Sandstone and conglomerate petrofacies are characterized by monocrystalline quartz, plagioclase feldspar, and volcanic lithic fragments (Q39F40L21, Qm29F40Lt32, Lm25Lv42Ls32, and Qm42P54K4). Jurassic–Cretaceous arc plutons exposed north of the basin were an important sediment source, based on U-Pb zircon ages of granitoid clasts from conglomerate and detrital zircons from sandstone. Coeval arc plutons were unroofed relatively quickly, judging by the presence of 77–71 Ma detrital zircons in sandstone and 79–77 Ma granitic clasts in conglomerate, together with Maastrichtian (71–65 Ma) ammonite and foraminifera fossils. Sparse Paleozoic–Triassic detrital zircons indicate minor sediment contribution from inboard sources, including the Yukon-Tanana composite terrane and recycled Jurassic–Cretaceous sedimentary strata (Kahiltna assemblage). New data from the upper Matanuska Formation, together with recent studies from age-equivalent strata exposed in the Alaska Range and Wrangell Mountains, provide an exceptional example of basin development along a subduction margin shortly following accretion of an oceanic arc. Forearc basin development was dominated by subsidence and sediment gravity flow deposits enriched in plutonic and volcanic clasts eroded from both remnant- and coeval-arc plutons. Within the arc, newly recognized conglomerate in the northern Talkeetna Mountains records erosion of coeval- and remnant-arc source terranes to the south and Precambrian–Paleozoic sources to the north. Farther inboard, syndepositional shortening prompted thrust-top basin development and accumulation of alluvial-lacustrine strata derived from both the former continental margin to the north and accreted oceanic rocks to the south. Regional subsidence and basin development terminated during late Maastrichtian–early Paleocene time, coincident with subduction of progressively younger oceanic lithosphere inboard of an oceanic spreading center.
Gay Skinheads: Negotiating a Gay Identity in a Culture of Traditional Masculinity

Through case studies, the strategies used by six men to negotiate between their gay and skinhead identities were examined. Skinheads are defined by traditional masculine values and culture, primarily fashion and music. These men differed in their definitions of skinheads and the centrality of their gay identity to their overall identity. Four of the men, when interacting with other skinheads, strove to minimize their homosexuality. Two of these four relied heavily on fashion and music to validate their skinhead identity. The other two accentuated their masculinity and aggressed against effeminate men. For one, being gay was always central to his identity. For another, his gay identity was balanced with his skinhead and occupational identities.
Comparison of the radiometric signatures of ore boats and their wakes at 35 GHz with model calculations

Vertically polarized antenna temperatures of ore boats and their wakes were measured with a 35-GHz radiometer from a helicopter platform. The signatures of the boats appear to be independent of viewing angle at a temperature which is about 40 K cooler than the surrounding water. The signatures of the wakes show a dependence on viewing angle. Models for the antenna temperature are presented which fit the measured data to within the accuracy of the measurement and model parameters. These models are useful in themselves for predicting the antenna temperatures of targets in terms of parameters such as viewing angle, beam fill factor (BFF), antenna main beam efficiency, and target emissivity.
Rational design of Raman-labeled nanoparticles for a dual-modality, light scattering immunoassay on a polystyrene substrate.

Background Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a powerful light scattering technique that can be used for sensitive immunoassay development and cell labeling. A major obstacle to using SERS is the complexity of fabricating SERS probes since they require nanoscale characterization and optical uniformity. The light scattering response of SERS probes may also be modulated by the substrate used for SERS analysis. A typical SERS substrate such as quartz can be expensive. Polystyrene is a cheaper substrate option but can decrease the SERS response due to interfering Raman emission peaks and high background fluorescence. The goal of this research is to develop an optimized process for fabricating Raman-labeled nanoparticles for a SERS-based immunoassay on a polystyrene substrate.
Development of the Help-Seeker Stereotype Scale

The factor structure, reliability, and validity of the Help-Seeker Stereotype Scale (HSSS), an instrument measuring the strength of respondents’ endorsement of negative stereotypes about people who seek help from a psychologist, was explored over the course of three studies. In Study 1, 50 items designed to capture negative, self-esteem harming stereotypes of help seekers were generated. Pilot testing and expert feedback led to a revised item pool of 30 items, which were administered to 587 college students enrolled at a large Midwestern University. A series of initial Exploratory Factor Analyses (EFAs) led to the identification of a two-factor structure and selection of six items for each of the two subscales, entitled Deficient and Unstable. Study 2 used follow-up EFAs on one half (n = 297) of a large, randomly split college student sample to provide further support for the anticipated two-factor structure and allow the trimming of problematic items, which resulted in the establishment of the final version of the HSSS. The factor structure of this final version was then explored via Confirmatory Factor Analysis in the other half (n = 297) of the sample, leading to the identification of a model that best captured the covariance of the HSSS items: a bifactor model. The HSSS total score demonstrated sufficient reliability (ωH = .70) to warrant its calculation and interpretation; the Deficient (ωS = .36) and Unstable subscales (ωS = .30) failed to demonstrate sufficient reliability, suggesting that only the HSSS total score should be used in future research. In Study 3, analysis of the responses of 225 college students provided support for the convergent validity of the HSSS via theoreticallyexpected correlations with self-stigma of seeking help, public stigma of seeking help, attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help, and mental illness stereotype endorsement. In support of its incremental validity, the HSSS explained additional variance in the self-stigma of
Social class and the treatment of alcoholic patients.

In contrast with the results of earlier studies in other locations, no significant social-class differences were found in the quality or quantity of treatment given to 1061 White male voluntary fir...
Breathing Life into the Funeral Market

Are state regulations impeding innovation and harming consumers in this very meaningful sector of the economy? Regulatory protection of rents and the status quo can happen in almost any market, including ones that are not often discussed but that are very important to us as human beings. One such example is the market for funeral-related goods and services. Important changes are occurring in funeral markets, including the emergence of online sales of caskets and the growing popularity of cremation.
Enhanced Thermopower via Carrier Energy Filtering in Solution-Processable Pt–Sb2Te3 Nanocomposites

This work demonstrates the first solution-processable metal–semiconductor nanocomposites with enhanced thermoelectric properties via carrier energy filtering. Platinum nanocrystals are embedded in a p-type antimony(III) telluride (Sb2Te3) semiconductor matrix, thus introducing band-bending potentials for holes. By scattering low energy holes, an increase in thermopower is observed. Introduction of Pt nanocrystals also increases carrier concentration thereby partially compensating for reduced electrical conductivity due to the decreased mobility. At room temperature, an improvement in thermoelectric power factor was achieved compared to that of the Sb2Te3 films. This work highlights the possibility of combining a diverse set of n- and p-type semiconductor matrices with nanocrystals to engineer and optimize energy-dependent carrier scattering with the ease of materials processing.
The Bilirubin Controversy

At what bilirubin level should exchange transfusion be performed? No matter what cutoff point is set, says Dr. Lucey, the decision requires careful evaluation of other factors affecting the baby's condition. New approaches that may reduce the need for the procedure include a treatment that keeps serum bilirubin to innocuous levels in the nonerythroblastotic premature.
Laboratory management: lessons from the Japanese.

The laboratory director needs numerous technical and management skills to perform effectively. However, the study of management is often neglected in residency training programs. R.T. Pascale and A.G. Athos, in the Art of Japanese Management, offer seven parameters that can be used to evaluate the management of an organization. Here, the author discusses these corporate concepts as they relate to the laboratory.
Size Distribution Analysis in Continuous Crystallization

In the analysis of crystallization systems, an important consideration in studying the factors influencing size distribution is the method of characterizing the distribution. In most design procedures currently in use, the size distribution is characterized by the mass of crystals in a given size range. This type of distribution is obtained easily from a screen analysis of the crystals. It is of little use, however, when the influence of nucleation rate on size distribution is under study. As it turns out, the nucleation kinetics is the primary factor limiting crystal size obtainable in any continuous crystallization process. It is, therefore, of considerable interest to have, an analytical approach which provides a method for characterizing the crystal distribution and which will, at the same time, facilitate the determination of nucleation effects on size distribution.
Metagenomic applications in environmental monitoring and bioremediation

With the rapid advances in sequencing technology, the cost of sequencing has dramatically dropped and the scale of sequencing projects has increased accordingly. This has provided the opportunity for the routine use of sequencing techniques in the monitoring of environmental microbes. While metagenomic applications have been routinely applied to better understand the ecology and diversity of microbes, their use in environmental monitoring and bioremediation is increasingly common. In this review we seek to provide an overview of some of the metagenomic techniques used in environmental systems biology, addressing their application and limitation. We will also provide several recent examples of the application of metagenomics to bioremediation. We discuss examples where microbial communities have been used to predict the presence and extent of contamination, examples of how metagenomics can be used to characterize the process of natural attenuation by unculturable microbes, as well as examples detailing the use of metagenomics to understand the impact of biostimulation on microbial communities.
Musings: The Guild

The dictionary defines a guild as “an association of craftsmen in a particular trade.” Let’s extend this term a bit and apply it to the community of microbiologists. I make this point because I am intensely aware that I belong to a group of people united by their particular professional interests. Whenever I meet another microbiologist for the first time, I feel a high degree of affinity with him or her. We can immediately converse about common interests, and especially about people we both know. There is usually only one “degree of separation,” two at most, depending in part on generational differences. How different this is from my encounters with members of other guilds, e.g., lawyers, carpenters, policemen, engineers.
Automated design and optimization of integrated inductors and transformers

This paper describes a closed-loop design and optimization algorithm for integrated inductors and transformers, which are critical components for realizing high-performance radio-frequency integrated circuits (RFICs). The proposed algorithm combines the advantages of fast calculation and accurate electromagnetic simulation. We demonstrate the performance of the algorithm by synthesizing 50 square and octagonal transformers with exponentially-increasing inductances in 65 nm CMOS for a broadband spectrum analyzer. Typical errors in the synthesized inductance values are less than 0.5%, which is sufficiently accurate for this application.