cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Water flows, energy demand, and market analysis of the informal water sector in Kisumu, Kenya

In rapidly growing urban areas of developing countries, infrastructure has not been able to cope with population growth. Informal water businesses fulfill unmet water supply needs, yet little is understood about this sector. This paper presents data gathered from quantitative interviews with informal water business operators (n=260) in Kisumu, Kenya, collected during the dry season. Sales volume, location, resource use, and cost were analyzed by using material flow accounting and spatial analysis tools. Estimates show that over 76% of the city's water is consumed by less than 10% of the population who have water piped into their dwellings. The remainder of the population relies on a combination of water sources, including water purchased directly from kiosks (1.5 million m3 per day) and delivered by hand-drawn water-carts (0.75 million m3 per day). Energy audits were performed to compare energy use among various water sources in the city. Water delivery by truck is the highest per cubic meter energy demand (35 MJ/m3), while the city's tap water has the highest energy use overall (21,000 MJ/day). We group kiosks by neighborhood and compare sales volume and cost with neighborhood-level population data. Contrary to popular belief, we do not find evidence of price gouging; the lowest prices are charged in the highest-demand low-income area. We also see that the informal sector is sensitive to demand, as the number of private boreholes that serve as community water collection points are much larger where demand is greatest.
The effect of temperature variation in vitro on platelet-leukocyte interactions and individual prothrombotic potential.

Background: Temperature variation within human atheromatous plaques, a finding which supports inflammatory cell-mediated thermogenesis, predicts clinical events among patients with coronary artery disease.
Infectious scleritis: report of four cases.

While systemic autoimmune diseases are the main possibilities in the differential diagnosis of scleritis, other less common etiologies such as infections must also be considered. The authors report four cases of infectious scleritis to review predisposing factors, clinical characteristics, methods of diagnostic approach, and response to therapy. Two patients had primary scleritis and two patients had secondary scleritis following extension of primary corneal infection (corneoscleritis). Diagnoses included three local infections (one each withStaphylococcus. Acanthamoeba, and herpes simplex) and one systemic infection (Lyme disease). Stains, cultures, or immunologic studies from scleral, conjunctival, and/or corneal tissues, and serologic tests were used to make the diagnosis. Medical therapy, including antimicrobial agents, was instituted in all patients, and surgical procedures were additionally required in two patients (scleral grafting in one and two penetrating keratoplasties in another); the patient who required two penetrating keratoplasties had corneoscleritis and underwent eventual enucleation. Infectious agents should be considered in the differential diagnosis of scleritis.
Growth factor requirements for survival in G0 and entry into the cell cycle of primitive human hemopoietic progenitors.

Abstract In this study we have isolated populations of dormant human hemopoietic progenitors by two different approaches. First CD34+ cells isolated by panning were further separated on the basis of absence of HLA-DR expression by using fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Second, CD34+ HLA-DR- cells were isolated by nonadherence to soybean agglutinin, negative immunomagnetic bead selection with lineage-specific antibodies, and two-color cell sorting. Progenitors in either cell population were unable to form colonies in the presence of interleukin (IL)-3 alone but yielded a substantial number of colonies, including multilineage colonies, in the presence of combinations of IL-3 and IL-6. Similarly, IL-3 plus any one of the other synergistic factors, including granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, IL-11, leukemia inhibitory factor, and steel factor, effectively supported colony formation from CD34+ HLA-DR- progenitors. Sequential observation of colony formation from single CD34+ HLA-DR- cells provided definitive evidence that the synergistic factors trigger cell divisions of dormant cells. Studies with delayed addition of factors to the cultures provided evidence that this population of cells also requires IL-3 or granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) to survive even while dormant. In contrast, none of the synergistic factors were able to replace IL-3 or GM-CSF in this function. These findings confirm and extend the model that multiple factors with overlapping functions operate both independently and in combination to regulate early stages of hemopoiesis.
STAT3 Activates miR-155 in Th17 Cells and Acts in Concert to Promote Experimental Autoimmune Uveitis

PURPOSE. MicroRNA-155 (miR-155) and STAT3 are implicated in uveitis and pathogenic mechanisms of CNS autoimmune diseases. In our study, we used miR-155 � /� mice and mice with targeted STAT3 deletion in T cells (CD4-STAT3KO) to investigate roles of miR-155 and STAT3 in the development of experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU), a mouse model of human uveitis. METHODS. We induced EAU in WT, miR-155 � /� , or CD4-STAT3KO mice by immunization with interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein/complete Freund’s adjuvant (IRBP/CFA) or adoptive transfer of T cells. EAU was assessed by funduscopy and histology. RNA expression was analyzed by quantitative PCR (qPCR), while cytokine production was assessed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). RESULTS. We used a combination of genomic and genetic tools to provide the first evidence that STAT3 binds directly to the miR-155 locus and that STAT3 is required for miR-155 expression. Furthermore, STAT3-dependent increase in miR-155 expression in vivo correlated temporally with onset of EAU, and miR-155 � /� or CD4-STAT3KO mice did not suffer EAU. CD4 þ lymph node cells from IRBP-immunized WT mice transferred EAU to na¨ ove wild-type (WT) and miR-155 � /� mice, while miR-155 � /� IRBP-specific T cells did not. CONCLUSIONS. Although miR-155 and STAT3 have been implicated in the etiology of multiple sclerosis (MS), uveitis, or rheumatoid arthritis, their exact roles in these diseases are unclear. We show here for the first time to our knowledge that STAT3 regulates miR-155 expression in Th17 cells. We show further that STAT3 and miR-155 form an axis that promotes the expansion of pathogenic Th17 cells that mediate uveitis. Thus, STAT3 and miR-155 may be therapeutic targets for treating uveitis and other Th17-mediated inflammatory disorders.
Transparent lithiated polymer films for thermal neutron detection

Abstract Novel water-soluble 6Li loaded copolymer scintillation films have been designed and fabricated to detect thermal neutrons. Styrene and maleic anhydride were copolymerized to form an alternating copolymer, then the anhydride functionality was hydrolyzed using 6Li hydroxide. The resulting poly(styrene-co-lithium maleate) was mixed with salicylic acid as a fluor and cast as a thin film from water. The maximum 6Li loading obtained that resulted in a transparent film was 4.36% by mass (6Li to polymer). The optimum fluorescence output was obtained for 11.7% salicylic acid by mass, presumably in the form of lithium salicylate, resulting in an optimum film containing 3.85% by mass of 6Li. A facile and robust synthesis method, film fabrication protocol, photoluminescence results, and scintillation responses are reported herein.
Curative radiotherapy for laparotomy-staged IA, IIA, IIIA Hodgkin's disease: An evaluation of the gains achieved with radical radiotherapy

Between 1970 and 1983, 179 patients with pathologically staged IA, IIA, and IIIA Hodgkin's disease were treated with curative radiotherapy. From 1970 to 1974, patients were treated with standard extended or total nodal field irradiation (Treatment Group 1). Since 1975, because of the high prevalence of recurrences in patients with large mediastinal mass and/or hilar disease and/or splenic involvement (LMM &/or H+ &/or S+), treatment was modified to include low-dose lung irradiation within the mantle field for those patients with LMM &/or H+ and low-dose liver irradiation within the infradiaphragmatic field for patients with S+ (radical XRT). Patients who did not have those characteristics were treated with standard radiotherapy (standard XRT). A total of 122 patients were treated from 1975 to 1983 (Treatment Group 2), of whom 61 received radical XRT and 61 received standard XRT. An analysis was done to evaluate whether the progressive-improvement in outcome since 1970 at the University of Minnesota Hospital resulted from the contribution of modified treatment or from progressive improvement in treatment overall. There was a statistical improvement in recurrence-free survival (RFS) in Treatment Group 2 (Tr Gr 2) compared to Treatment Group 1 (Tr Gr 1), with 10-year RFS of 80% versus 57% (p less than 0.001 for time to event). The improvement in RFS was attributed to treatment modification consisting of radical XRT for those patients with LMM &/or S+. There was no change in RFS for those patients without LMM &/or H+ &/or S+ who were treated in Tr Gr 1 and Tr Gr 2, with 10-year RFS of 78% versus 86% (p = 0.29), respectively. However, treatment results for patients with LMM &/or H+ &/or S+ improved considerably in the radical XRT group. Comparing standard versus radical XRT, 10-year RFS was 36% versus 78% (p = 0.001), and 10-year OS was 72% versus 92% (p = 0.034). Patterns of relapse also changed for patients with LMM &/or H+ &/or S+ who were treated with radical XRT. Rather than showing a high frequency of intrathoracic recurrence as was seen in those patients with LMM &/or H+ &/or S+ after standard XRT, the relapse pattern was similar to patients without LMM &/or H+ &/or S+. Salvage treatment was well tolerated for patients who failed after radical XRT. Delayed, life-threatening effects, such as pulmonary and cardiovascular complications and SMN, were equivalent for patients in Tr Gr 1 versus 2, and for those who received standard and radical XRT.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Embedded Circuitry in Polymeric Films by Linear Energy Transfer (Let) of MeV Ions

We have developed a technique to fabricate embedded variable conductivity paths in phenolformaldehyde, PF-resin, with resistivity as high as 10 Ω-cm. The resin used for this work consists of a monomer called Phenyl Methanol (Resol) which upon setting at 150°C will form short chains of polymers with high resistivity. The conductive paths are produced at depths of 4 to 35 micrometers by changing the energy of the bombarding ions. The resistivity of each path is controlled between 109 Ω-cm to 10 Ω-cm by adjusting the ion dose. The ions used in this work are nitrogen, alphas and protons with energies between 0.5 and 6.5 MeV to form conductive paths as narrow as 0.5 mm and as wide as 4 mm.
Online Synchronous Technologies for Employee- and Client-Related Activities in Rural Communities

The use of online synchronous technology (web conferencing, text chat, and video chat) by social-service agencies for employee-related activities (recruitment, training, meetings, continuing education, and supervision), and client-related activities (visitation, case management, and education/training classes) has received minimal attention in the professional literature. This article describes these technologies, their examination in the literature, and potential barriers to their use in social-service agencies. The article also reports on a survey of social-service agency administrators in an upper Great Plains state who were asked about their use of online synchronous technology for employee- and client-related activities. Results indicate minimal use of the technologies for these purposes.
Human Keratinocytes' Response to Injury Upregulates CCL20 and Other Genes Linking Innate and Adaptive Immunity

In the early stages of wound healing, keratinocytes (KCs) become "activated" and release inflammatory molecules such as IL-1 and IL-8, which are linked to innate immune responses and neutrophil recruitment. It is unclear, however, whether KCs release molecules linked to adaptive immune responses, e.g., CCL20, in their early state of activation without signals from infiltrating T cells. This study aims to isolate the immediate alterations in protective and inflammatory gene expression that occur in epidermal KCs, with a particular focus on molecules associated with cell-mediated immunity. We used dispase-separated epidermis, followed by intercellular disassociation by trypsinization, as a model for epidermal injury. We obtained a pure population of KCs using flow cytometry. As a control for uninjured epidermis, we performed laser capture microdissection on normal human skin. Sorted KCs had an early burst of upregulated gene expression, which included CCL20, IL-15, IL-23A, IFN-κ, and several antimicrobial peptides. Our results provide insight into the potential role of KCs as contributors to cell-mediated inflammation, and expand knowledge about gene modulation that occurs during early wound healing. Our findings may be relevant to cutaneous diseases such as psoriasis, where micro-injury can trigger the formation of psoriatic plaques at the site of trauma.
Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Amygdalin Using NMR Spectroscopy

Abstract NMR analytical procedures are described for the qualitative and quantitative determination of amygdalin. The spectrum is very specific for amygdalin, particularly the sugar region. The optical nature may be conveniently ascertained from the chemical shifts of the aglycone methine hydrogens and the relative optical purity determined by comparing the corresponding peak areas. Satisfactory analyses of amygdalin-containing tablets have been carried out with a precision of 1.2% and accuracy of less than 1%.
Inhibition of gastric secretion in the rat by SC-15396

Gastric secretion was studied hourly for five hours in chronic gastric fistula male rats (300–400 g). Following a control hour collection gastric secretion was stimulated by histamine 10.0 mg base/kg, ICI-50123 40 μg/kg and insulin 0.4 unit/kg SC-15396, 2-phenyl-2-(2-pyridyl) thioacetamide, a recently introduced anti-ulcer compound significantly (P < 0.01 to < 0.001) reduced gastric juice volume, acidity and total acidity in doses of 25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg subcutaneously with all 3 secretagogues. Inhibition occurred when SC-15396 was given before or after the secretagogues, however, if it was given before the secretagogue acidity was depressed to a greater degree than volume; the reverse occurred if SC-15396 w was given after the secretagogue.
Posterior probabilities for a consensus ordering

In the situation where subjects independently rank order a fixed set of items, the idea of a consensus ordering of the items is defined and employed as a parameter in a class of probability models for rankings. In the context of such models, which generalize those of Mallows, posterior probabilities may be easily formed about the population consensus ordering. An example of rankings obtained by the Graduate Record Examination Board is presented to demonstrate the adequacy of these generalized Mallows' models for describing actual data sets of rankings and to illustrate convenient summaries of the posterior probabilities for the consensus ordering.
Reimagining the School Leadership Paradigm in a Postsocialist Context

Although Azerbaijan's education sector has experienced intermittent democratization efforts since independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, school leadership has remained untouched. This article argues that while Anglo-American models such as transformational and distributed leadership could benefit the schools, based on interview and self-assessment data from a select group of principals in Azerbaijan, such foreign models of leadership may not be readily acceptable in the cultural context of Azerbaijan. Principals in Azerbaijan are well skilled in task management and place lower priority on relationship building and developing visions or strategic plans for their schools, both unsurprising given the legacy of centralized decision making in Soviet times. The article concludes that local principals, in coordination with the Ministry of Education, will need to consider the current strengths and needs of principals in Azerbaijan and the future direction of schooling in Azerbaijan as they develop locally re...
Investigation of water displacement following large CO2 sequestration operations

The scale of CO2 injection into the subsurface required to address CO2 atmospheric concentrations is unprecedented. Multiple injection sites injecting into multiple formations will create a large excess pressure zone extending far beyond the limited volume where CO2 is present. In a closed system, additional mass is accommodated by the compressibility of system components, an increase in fluid pressure, and possibly an uplift of the land surface. In an open system, as assumed in this analysis, another coping mechanism involves fluid flux out of the boundaries of the system, in which case the fresh-water-bearing outcrop areas, corresponding to the up-dip sections of the down-dip formations into which CO2 is injected, could be impacted. A preliminary study using a MODFLOW groundwater model extending far down-dip shows that injecting a large amount of fluid does have an impact some distance away from the injection area but most likely only in localized areas. A major assumption of this preliminary work was that multiphase processes do not matter some distance away from the injection zones. In a second step, presented in this paper, to demonstrate that a simplified model can yield results as useful as those of a more sophisticated multiphase-flow compositional model, we model the same system using CMG-GEM software. Because the chosen software lacks the ability to deal easily with unconfined water flow, we compare fluxes through time, as given by MODFLOW and CMG-GEM models at the confined/unconfined interface.
Bacterial respiratory disease of poultry

Bacterial pathogens play an important role in causing respiratory disease in domestic poultry species. In many cases, the bacterial component of a respiratory disease colonizes the respiratory system only after a primary viral or environmental insult. Colonization of the airsacs of a chicken by Escherichia coli following an infectious bronchitis virus infection is an example of secondary bacterial invasion. In other cases, the bacterial component of the respiratory disease is the primary initiating cause of the disease. Examples of primary bacterial respiratory disease are infectious coryza in chickens and fowl cholera in chickens and turkeys.
Connecting to Internet–Search Tools

The amount of information on the Internet is growing by the nanosecond. It is no longer expeditious to "surf" site to site now that automated convenient-to-use search tools can find the information you are looking for swiftly. Unfortunately, no one tool covers the entire worldwide web (www), much less the entire Internet. The following describes the components and characteristics of popular Internet search tools.
METABOLISM OF LORAZEPAM

The metabolism of lorazepam by man and four other species is reviewed. Lorazepam and its metabolites in blood, urine and faeces were identified by thin-layer and gas chromatography and by mass spectrometry. The principal metabolite in man, dog, pig and cat is the glucuronide, but the rat produces other metabolites after small doses of lorazepam, and significant amounts of the glucuronide only after high doses. Since all metabolites, except the glucuronide, occur in small quantities only in man, most studies in man have been confined to an estimation of gree and conjugated lorazepam. Blood concentrations of unconjugated lorazepam peak at 1-4 h, significant concentrations persisting for 24 h and decreasing slowly over the next 24 h. About 95% of a dose of lorazepam was accounted for in urine and faeces over a period of 5 days; 74.5% was excreted in the urine as lorazepam glucuronide and 13.5% as minor metabolites. The excretory half-life was 12 h. The blood concentrations and excretion rates are compatible with the clinical effects of lorazepam.
Lagrangian analysis of the transport and processing of agricultural runoff in the lower Maumee River and Maumee Bay

Abstract Lagrangian analyses is used to evaluate the processing of nutrients and sediments during storm runoff events as water moved from the Maumee River loading station at Waterville, OH through the lower river, Maumee Bay and into Lake Erie's western basin. Chemical signatures of storm water at Waterville were used in combination with frequent collections of water at transects along the flow paths to evaluate processing. These signatures consisted of the contrasting chemographs of conservative parameters (chloride and sulfate), dissolved nutrients (dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) and nitrate) and particulate substances (suspended solids (SS) and particulate phosphorus (PP)). During low flow, sharp drops in concentrations of chloride and sulfate indicated that mixing zones between river water and bay/lake water occurred at the river mouth. During high flows, the location of the mixing zone between riverine and bay/lake water was indicated by the margin of storm-event sediment plumes, with larger storms extending further into the lake. Steep concentration gradients of DRP and nitrate between high storm water concentrations and low bay/lake water concentrations were also present at the plume margin. The large areas of storm water inside the plume margin contained high DRP and nitrate concentrations but relatively low SS and PP concentrations, due to SS and PP deposition along the flow paths. Because this deposition occurred in water with high DRP concentrations, little of the bioavailable PP was likely to have been released prior to deposition. This storm runoff water provides excellent media for algal growth.
Unexpected toxicity in a patient treated with 3D conformal accelerated partial breast radiotherapy.

Abstract Introduction With the publication of several trials demonstrating equivalence between partial breast irradiation and whole breast irradiation, the popularity of partial breast radiation has increased. Methods of delivery include interstitial brachytherapy, intracavitary brachytherapy, and 3D conformal irradiation, although the least amount of data exists on 3D conformal. Despite the relative paucity of data on 3D conformal, it is the most common method delivered on the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) B-39 trial. To date, minimal toxicities and good cosmetic results have been associated with accelerated partial breast irradiation. Methods and Material In this case study, we present a 64-year-old female patient, diagnosed with Grade 1 tubular carcinoma, who developed both expected and unexpected toxicities after 3D conformal accelerated partial breast irradiation. Discussion/Results/Conclusion Along with chest wall pain, she developed hyperpigmentation of the skin as well as fibrosis of the skin, pectoralis minor, and pectoralis major. The fibrosis she developed limited her comfortable range of motion in the ipsilateral arm. She also developed symptomatic fractures of the fourth and fifth ribs in the anterior axillary line. Upon fusing the treatment-planning CT with a diagnostic CT, it was evident that the rib fractures fell within the 100% isodose line of the 3D conformal plan.
Temporal trends in the leading causes of death among a large national cohort of patients with colorectal cancer from 1975 to 2009 in the United States

Abstract Purpose To assess the distribution of proportion of deaths from causes other than colorectal cancer (CRC) over time and temporal trends of cause-specific cumulative incidence of death due to six leading causes in patients with CRC. Methods Overall, 375,462 patients with CRC in nine Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registries from 1975 to 2009 were included. Competing risks proportional hazards regression was used to examine the effect of diagnostic periods on the risk of cause-specific death. Results From 1975 to 2009 by 5-year interval, the proportion of deaths from causes other than CRC increased significantly with diagnostic periods according to the lengths of follow-up (P Conclusions Deaths due to causes other than CRC increased significantly over time regardless of tumor stage and site but more sharply in those with early-stage and distal colon cancer. The increasing leading causes of death are chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer disease, which may be prevented or delayed substantially by modification or intervention in lifestyle or other factors.
Levofloxacin-Imipenem Combination Prevents the Emergence of Resistance among Clinical Isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

A 2-compartment in vitro pharmacokinetic model (IVPM) was used to assess the potential of a levofloxacin-imipenem combination to prevent the emergence of resistance during treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. Log-phase cultures (10(8) cfu/mL) of 3 clinical isolates were inoculated into the peripheral compartment of the IVPMs and were treated with simulated human doses of levofloxacin (750 mg) and imipenem (250 mg). Pharmacodynamics and the emergence of resistance were evaluated over the course of 24 h. Resistant mutants were evaluated for transcriptional expression of specific efflux pumps. Initially, rapid killing was observed in association with each regimen. However, with levofloxacin and imipenem alone, rapid regrowth was observed as a result of the selection of resistant subpopulations. Analysis of mutants selected by levofloxacin demonstrated that mexEF-oprN-overexpressing subpopulations resistant to both levofloxacin and imipenem were selected from cultures of all 3 strains. Nevertheless, the levofloxacin-imipenem combination rapidly eradicated all 3 P. aeruginosa strains. These data suggest that levofloxacin-imipenem may be an effective combination for preventing the emergence of resistance among P. aeruginosa strains, even when subpopulations resistant to both drugs are present. Further studies are warranted to evaluate the use of this combination against strains with established resistance to either or both drugs.
Phonetic Variation in the Traditional English Dialects A Computational Analysis

This article illustrates the utility of a variety of quantitative techniques by applying them to phonetic data from the traditional English dialects. The techniques yield measures of variation in phonetic usage among English localities, identify dialect regions as clusters of localities with relatively similar patterns of usage, distinguish regions of relative uniformity from transitional zones with substantially greater variation, and identify regionally coherent groups of features that can be used to distinguish some dialect regions. Complementing each other, the techniques provide a reasonably objective method for classifying at least some traditional English dialect regions on the basis of characteristic features. The results largely corroborate standard presentations in the literature but differ in the placement of regional boundaries and identification of regional features, as well as in placing those systemic elements in a broader context of largely continuous and often random variation.
Tip-Growing Cells of the Moss Ceratodon purpureus Are Gravitropic in High-Density Media

Gravity sensing in plants and algae is hypothesized to rely upon either the mass of the entire cell or that of sedimenting organelles (statoliths). Protonemata of the moss Ceratodon purpureus show upward gravitropism and contain amyloplasts that sediment. If moss sensing were whole-cell based, then media denser than the cell should prevent gravitropism or reverse its direction. Cells that were inverted or reoriented to the horizontal displayed distinct negative gravitropism in solutions of iodixanol with densities of 1.052 to 1.320 as well as in bovine serum albumin solutions with densities of 1.037 to 1.184 g cm(-3). Studies using tagged molecules of different sizes and calculations of diffusion times suggest that both types of media penetrate through the apical cell wall. Estimates of the density of the apical cell range from 1.004 to 1.085. Because protonemata grow upward when the cells have a density that is lower than the surrounding medium, gravitropic sensing probably utilizes an intracellular mass in moss protonemata. These data provide additional support for the idea that sedimenting amyloplasts function as statoliths in gravitropism.
Translational Activation of Developmental Messenger RNAs During Neonatal Mouse Testis Development

The basic tenets of germ cell development are conserved among metazoans. Following lineage commitment in the embryo, germ cells proliferate, transition into meiosis, and then differentiate into gametes capable of fertilization. In lower organisms such as Drosophila and C. elegans, germline stem cells make the decision to proliferate or enter meiosis based in large part on the regulated expression of genes by translational control. This study undertakes a direct characterization of mRNAs that experience translational control and their involvement in similar decisions in the mammalian testis. We previously showed that translation of mRNA encoding the germ cell-specific gene Rhox13 was suppressed in the fetal and neonatal testis. By investigating changes in message utilization during neonatal testis development, we found that a large number of mRNAs encoding both housekeeping and germ cell-specific proteins experience enhanced translational efficiency, rather than increase in abundance, in the testis as quiescent gonocytes transition to mitotic spermatogonia. Our results indicate that translational control is a significant regulator of the germ cell proteome during neonatal testis development.
Occupational Radiation Exposure to the Surgeon

Increased use of intraoperative fluoroscopy exposes the surgeon to significant amounts of radiation. The average yearly exposure of the public to ionizing radiation is 360 millirems (mrem), of which 300 mrem is from background radiation and 60 mrem from diagnostic radiographs. A chest radiograph exposes the patient to approximately 25 mrem and a hip radiograph to 500 mrem. A regular C-arm exposes the patient to approximately 1,200 to 4,000 mrem/min. The surgeon may receive exposure to the hands from the primary beam and to the rest of the body from scatter. Recommended yearly limits of radiation are 5,000 mrem to the torso and 50,000 mrem to the hands. Exposure to the hands may be higher than previously estimated, even from the mini C-arm. Potential decreases in radiation exposure can be accomplished by reduced exposure time; increased distance from the beam; increased shielding with gown, thyroid gland cover, gloves, and glasses; beam collimation; using the low-dose option; inverting the C-arm; and surgeon control of the C-arm.
Efficient Monte Carlo sampling by parallel marginalization

Markov chain Monte Carlo sampling methods often suffer from long correlation times. Consequently, these methods must be run for many steps to generate an independent sample. In this paper, a method is proposed to overcome this difficulty. The method utilizes information from rapidly equilibrating coarse Markov chains that sample marginal distributions of the full system. This is accomplished through exchanges between the full chain and the auxiliary coarse chains. Results of numerical tests on the bridge sampling and filtering/smoothing problems for a stochastic differential equation are presented.
Mutator and antimutator effects of the bacteriophage P1 hot gene product.

The Hot (homolog of theta) protein of bacteriophage P1 can substitute for the Escherichia coli DNA polymerase III subunit, as evidenced by its stabilizing effect on certain dnaQ mutants that carry an unstable polymerase III proofreading subunit (antimutator effect). Here, we show that Hot can also cause an increase in the mutability of various E. coli strains (mutator effect). The hot mutator effect differs from the one caused by the lack of . Experiments using chimeric /Hot proteins containing various domains of Hot and along with a series of point mutants show that both N- and C-terminal parts of each protein are important for stabilizing the subunit. In contrast, the N-terminal part of Hot appears uniquely responsible for its mutator activity. The Escherichia coli chromosome is replicated with high efficiency and fidelity by DNA polymerase (Pol) III holoenzyme (HE), a large dimeric multisubunit enzyme complex that simultaneously copies the leading and lagging strands at the replication fork (for reviews, see references 15 and 24). HE contains two core polymerase subassemblies, each composed of three separate subunits, , e, and , which are tightly bound in the linear order -e-. The subunit (dnaE gene product) (135 kDa) is the polymerase, while the e subunit (dnaQ gene product) (28.5 kDa) is the 335 exonucleolytic activity that functions as a proofreader for replication errors.
Latent Class Analysis

c ( l WHEN RADIOGRAPHS ARE normal in a young adult patient with snuffbox tenderness after a fall, we turn to more sophisticated radiological examination to rule out a fracture of the scaphoid. But each examination can miss a fracture or suggest a fracture when one is not present. There is no test that is both reliable and accurate in the diagnosis of a scaphoid fracture among patients with a suspected fracture. Both patients and health providers crave certainty, but we can only estimate the probability of a scaphoid fracture in this context. This situation is not unique. The diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome, compartment syndrome, and prosthetic joint infection, to name a few examples, are all probabilities rather than certainties. The basic issue is that there is no valid and reliable test that can make the diagnosis with certainty. Such a test is referred to as the gold or reference standard. When there is a reference standard, the value of a diagnostic test is evaluated using diagnostic performance characteristics such as sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values. In the absence of a reference standard, an increasingly used statistical method is latent class analysis (LCA), which identifies unobserved (or latent) associations of risk factors that estimate the probability of disease. For instance, in the setting of a suspected scaphoid fracture, 1 study estimated that the presence of all 4 of the identified risk factors (male sex, sports injury, anatomical snuffbox tenderness on ulnar deviation of the wrist within 72 hours, and thumb-index finger pinch) was associated with a 74% probability of scaphoid fracture. Other studies used LCA and conventional methods to calculate diagnostic performance characteristics and
Choosing between technology solutions

The factors motivating an individual's decision to choose one technology solution with a similar alternative, are discussed. It is noticed that the customers do not exhibit rational behavior in making technology choices and do not evaluate the features of the technology option or study the intricacies of the software before deciding to adopt the given technology. Certain implications necessary to improve this include, the technology companies should focus more on the weakness of the established product, while competing with established product solutions. The companies should embrace the users who try out new solutions. Recognizing the knowledge housed in the minds of the users will benefit the companies for a number of reasons. It is expected to provide the companies an avenue from which to market their product directly to customers.
Multipath phase errors in CW-FM tracking systems

High-precision, cw, missile-tracking systems are subject to multipath errors due to ground reflections and reflections from neighboring objects. To reduce the effects of ground reflection, advantage may be taken of the characteristic of frequency modulation to discriminate against a weaker interfering signal. This paper discusses the magnitude of the phase error reduction to be obtained by use of frequency modulation. It is demonstrated that the phase error can be reduced to any desired value if sufficient band width is utilized in the frequency modulation signal and significant improvement over an amplitude modulation system can be obtained with a wide-band FM system.
Characterization of spectral and geochemical variability within the Ferrar Dolerite of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica: weathering, alteration, and magmatic processes

Orbital spectroscopy and laboratory analyses are utilized to identify major geochemical variations throughout the Ferrar Dolerite exposed in the McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDV) of Antarctica. Our laboratory results highlight the range of primary and secondary chemical and spectral variations observed throughout the dolerite, and provide the necessary calibration for detailed orbital investigations. Pure dolerite units are identified and analysed throughout the MDV using Advanced Land Imager (ALI) and Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) orbital datasets. In conjunction with our laboratory analyses, orbital analyses indicate that the dolerite sills are dominated by MgO concentrations of c. 6-7 wt% except where influenced by orthopyroxene-laden magmatic injections, where MgO concentrations can reach as high as 32.5 wt%. ASTER analyses also indicate that spectrally significant alteration is limited primarily to surfaces dominated by fine-grained dolerites, which form and preserve well developed alteration rinds due to their resistance to physical erosion. The archetype of these secondary signatures is Beacon Valley, where a combination of cold, dry, and stable environmental conditions and the presence of fine-grained dolerites results in strong alteration signatures. This work provides unprecedented spatial coverage of meso- and macro-scale geochemical features that, until now, have only been identified in field and laboratory investigations.
Sites of neuronal excitation by epiretinal electrical stimulation

Action potentials arising from retinal ganglion cells ultimately create visual percepts. In persons blind from retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration, viable retinal ganglion cells remain, and the retina can be stimulated electrically to restore partial sight. However, it is unclear what neuronal elements in the retina are activated by epiretinal electrical stimulation. This study investigated the effects of cellular geometry, electrode to neuron distance, stimulus duration, and stimulus polarity on excitation of a retinal ganglion cell with an epiretinal electrode. Computer-based compartmental models representing simplified retinal ganglion cell morphology provided evidence that the threshold for excitation was lower when an electrode was located in proximity to the characteristic 90/spl deg/ bend in the axon of the retinal ganglion cell than when it was located over a passing axon of the nerve fiber layer. This electrode-position-dependent difference in threshold occurred with both cathodic and anodic monophasic stimuli, with point source and disk electrodes, at multiple electrode-to-neuron distances, and was robust to changes in the electrical properties of the model. This finding reveals that the physical geometry of the retinal ganglion cells produces stimulation thresholds that depend strongly on electrode position. The low excitation thresholds near the bend in the axon will result in activation of cells local to the electrode at lower currents than required to excite passing axons. This pattern of activation provides a potential explanation of how epiretinal electrical stimulation results in the production of punctuate, rather than diffuse or streaky phosphenes.
Genetic Causes of Clopidogrel Nonresponsiveness: Which Ones Really Count?

Clopidogrel decreases the morbidity and mortality associated with several cardiovascular diseases. However, clopidogrel is a prodrug that needs to be metabolized to the active thiol metabolite by the cytochrome P450 (CYP) system. This activation is a source of significant interindividual variability in clopidogrel responsiveness. Drug interactions with and genetic variation in CYP3A4, CYP3A5, and CYP2C19 enzymes have been implicated in decreasing active metabolite production. In addition, polymorphisms in the genes encoding P-glycoprotein (an efflux transporter) and purinergic receptor P2Y 12 (the active site for clopidogrel) have been studied for their role in clopidogrel responsiveness. Several large studies have recently assessed the role of genetic variation in clopidogrel responsiveness as characterized by clinical outcomes. In this review, we summarize the genetic causes of clopidogrel nonresponsiveness, with a focus on larger outcomes-based studies. A MEDLINE search of the English-language literature (1990–2008) was conducted to identify studies that examined these relationships; additional citations were obtained from the articles retrieved from the literature search. Polymorphisms in CYP2C19 and, to a lesser extent, the adenosine 5´-triphosphate–binding cassette gene, ABCB1 , contribute to variability in clopidogrel responsiveness. Specifically, patients possessing at least one variant CYP2C19 allele ( CYP2C19 *2, *3) have impaired clopidogrel responsiveness due to decreased formation of the active metabolite. In addition, one study found that considering ABCB1 genotype in addition to CYP2C19 allowed better prediction of clopidogrel nonresponsiveness. However, routine genotyping for CYP2C19 or ABCB1 polymorphisms in order to predict clopidogrel responsiveness cannot be recommended at this time because of logistic and cost considerations. Key Words: clopidogrel, pharmacogenetics, cytochrome P450, CYP2C19 , ABCB1 . (Pharmacotherapy 2010;30(3):265‐274)
Folding and assembly of β-barrel membrane proteins

Beta-barrel membrane proteins occur in the outer membranes of Gram-negative bacteria, mitochondria and chloroplasts. The membrane-spanning sequences of β-barrel membrane proteins are less hydrophobic than those of α-helical membrane proteins, which is probably the main reason why completely different folding and membrane assembly pathways have evolved for these two classes of membrane proteins. Some β-barrel membrane proteins can be spontaneously refolded into lipid bilayer model membranes in vitro. They may also have this ability in vivo although lipid and protein chaperones likely assist with their assembly in appropriate target membranes. This review summarizes recent work on the thermodynamic stability and the mechanism of membrane insertion of β-barrel membrane proteins in lipid model and biological membranes. How lipid compositions affect folding and assembly of β-barrel membrane proteins is also reviewed. The stability of these proteins in membranes is not as large as previously thought (<10 kcal/mol) and is modulated by elastic forces of the lipid bilayer. Detailed kinetic studies indicate that β-barrel membrane proteins fold in distinct steps with several intermediates that can be characterized in vitro. Formation of the barrel is synchronized with membrane insertion and all β-hairpins insert simultaneously in a concerted pathway.
Observations of Bed Roughness of a Coral Reef

Abstract Seabed roughness was measured over an area of the south shore of O'ahu, Hawaii, with a boat-mounted acoustic altimetry system. The study site is characterized by a highly inhomogeneous rough seabed. Roughness was resolved in the 40–200-cm range over an area extending from the wave breaking zone to a depth of 20 m. Theory suggests that roughness length scales and distribution both play an important role in wave energy dissipation mechanisms. In this paper, we investigate methods for quantifying bed roughness within this range of scales. Various methods for quantifying roughness are examined, including spectral and statistically derived variables. These methods are compared qualitatively with sidescan imagery and quantitatively via in situ diver-based roughness surveys. Results show that wavenumber spectra can effectively differentiate smooth from rough areas. Results also suggest that the bed roughness in the study site exhibit a high spatial variability within the examined range, with no dominant...
Multimodality optical imaging of embryonic heart microstructure.

Study of developmental heart defects requires the visualiza- tion of the microstructure and function of the embryonic myocardium, ideally with minimal alterations to the specimen. We demonstrate multiple endogenous contrast optical techniques for imaging the Xe- nopus laevis tadpole heart. Each technique provides distinct and complementary imaging capabilities, including: 1. 3-D coherence mi- croscopy with subcellular 1t o 2m resolution in fixed embryos, 2. real-time reflectance confocal microscopy with large penetration depth in vivo, and 3. ultra-high speed up to 900 frames per second that enables real-time 4-D high resolution imaging in vivo. These im- aging modalities can provide a comprehensive picture of the morpho- logic and dynamic phenotype of the embryonic heart. The potential of endogenous-contrast optical microscopy is demonstrated for investi- gation of the teratogenic effects of ethanol. Microstructural abnormali- ties associated with high levels of ethanol exposure are observed, including compromised heart looping and loss of ventricular trabecu- lar mass. © 2007 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers.
Erythropoietin protects sensory axons against paclitaxel-induced distal degeneration

Paclitaxel causes a sensory polyneuropathy with characteristic features of distal axonal degeneration. Although the exact mechanisms underlying distal axonal degeneration are unknown, paclitaxel-induced axonal degeneration has been shown to be associated with an increase in detyrosinated tubulin. Here we show that recombinant human erythropoietin prevents axonal degeneration in sensory neurons in vitro and this effect is associated with downregulation of detyrosinated tubulin. Furthermore, in an animal model of paclitaxel-induced distal sensory polyneuropathy, recombinant human erythropoietin protects against distal axonal degeneration. These findings suggest that recombinant human erythropoietin may be useful as a therapy to prevent paclitaxel-induced sensory polyneuropathy in patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Further studies on the mechanism of marrow granulocytic hyperplasia in mice chronically injected with endotoxin.

Marrow granulocytic hyperplasia occurs regularly in mice injected with endotoxin for 7--30 d, despite minimal elevations of serum colony-stimulating activity (CSA). Alterations in marrow granulocyte-monocyte progenitor (CFU-C) number of changes in marrow cell cycle status do not explain this hyperplasia. We have studied other mechanisms which may explain this increased granulopoiesis. CF1, BDF1 or C57bl/6J mice were infected with 10 micrograms of S. typhosa endotoxin i.p. daily for 7--20 d. Control and endotoxin injected (tolerant) sera, each with identical levels of CSA, were assayed against control marrow cells stimulated with supramaximal amounts to CSA to assess the role of serum potentiators in augmenting granulopoiesis. In six separate experiments, tolerant sera, over a 30-fold concentration range, produced a 1.7--4.0-fold potentiation of colony growth compared to control sera (P less than 0.001). No increased tolerant sera potentiation was seen over a similar concentration range when assayed against tolerant marrow. Tolerant and control splenic conditioned media, both dialysed and non-dialysed, failed to potentiate control marrow colony growth. Tolerant marrow stem cells did not show changes in CSA sensitivity, colony size distribution or differentiation, and tolerant bone or bone marrow cells did not produce increased amounts of CSA. We conclude that serum factors separate from CSA may in part explain the increased granulopoiesis seen in endotoxin injected mice. The failure of tolerant sera to potentiate tolerant marrow growth in vitro may reflect prior in vivo exposure of marrow to these potentiating factor(s).