cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Management of brain arteriovenous malformations.

Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) pose a risk of morbidity and mortality throughout an affected patient’s lifetime. Over the course of a patient’s life, the risk of hemorrhage is approximately 1–4 % per year, and after an initial hemorrhage occurs, this risk may be higher. Other causes of morbidity include seizures, headaches, or progressive neurologic deficits. Once an AVM has been discovered, the utility of attempted obliteration or surgical resection compared to the risk of intervention should be entertained. The characteristics of the malformation as well as the patient’s overall health status contribute to the decision to intervene on these lesions. For small lesions located in superficial areas without high-risk surgical characteristics (low-grade Spetzler-Martin grades), it is reasonable to consider surgical resection. In lesions that pose high-risk of complications from surgical removal, intra-arterial embolization, radiosurgery, or a combination of the two may be reasonable treatment options. Some AVMs at traditional high surgical risk may be amenable to partial embolization, allowing initially high-risk lesions to become better candidates for surgical resection. In some patients, particularly those who are older or who have multiple medical comorbidities, the risk of intervention as compared to the annual hemorrhage risk may warrant conservative management as opposed to intervention. The overall treatment strategy must be based on patient and AVM characteristics and careful risk-benefit ratio analysis.
Plasmonics-enhanced terahertz spectroscopy (Conference Presentation)

Although unique potentials of terahertz waves for chemical identification and material characterization have been recognized for quite a while, the relatively poor performance of current terahertz spectroscopy and spectrometry systems continue to impede their deployment in field settings. This talk describes some of the recent advancements in terahertz spectroscopy systems by using optically-pumped plasmonic photoconductors for terahertz wave generation and detection. Incorporating plasmonic nanostructures inside the active area of photoconductive terahertz sources and detectors offers enhanced quantum efficiencies while maintaining ultrafast operation. This enhancement is due to the unique capability of plasmonic nanostructures to significantly increase the concentration of photo-induced carriers inside the device active area, where they interact with a bias/terahertz electric field to generate/detect terahertz radiation. By the use of this powerful technique, broadband terahertz spectroscopy with record-high signal-to-noise ratio levels exceeding 140 dB and broadband terahertz spectrometry with quantum-level sensitivities are demonstrated. Such high-sensitivity terahertz spectroscopy and spectrometry systems could offer numerous opportunities for e.g., biomedical sensing, atmospheric studies, astrophysics studies, pharmaceutical quality control, and security screening applications.
Correction to: Radiofrequency wire ‘power wire’ recanalization of calcified chronically occluded inferior vena cava

‘In the published article (Salaskar et al. 2018) the statement under the subheading ‘Consent for publication’ is incorrect.
Smoking is an independent risk factor for complications following open rotator cuff repair.

Objectives: Smoking has been associated with poor cuff healing and worse long-term outcomes in patients undergoing rotator cuff repair. The effects of smoking on short-term complications following ...
Accurate Heuristic Terrain Prediction in Powered Lower-Limb Prostheses Using Onboard Sensors

Objective: This study describes the development and offline validation of a heuristic algorithm for accurate prediction of ground terrain in a lower limb prosthesis. This method is based on inference of the ground terrain geometry using estimation of prosthetic limb kinematics during gait with a single integrated inertial measurement unit. Methods: We asked five subjects with below-knee amputations to traverse level ground, stairs, and ramps using a high-range-of-motion powered prosthesis while internal sensor data were remotely logged. We used these data to develop three terrain prediction algorithms. The first two employed state-of-the-art machine learning approaches, while the third was a directly tuned heuristic using thresholds on estimated prosthetic ankle joint translations and ground slope. We compared the performance of these algorithms using resubstitution error for the machine learning algorithms and overall error for the heuristic algorithm. Results: Our optimal machine learning algorithm attained a resubstitution error of $3.4\%$ using 45 features, while our heuristic method attained an overall prediction error of $2.8\%$ using only 5 features derived from estimation of ground slope and horizontal and vertical ankle joint displacement. Compared with pattern recognition, the heuristic performed better on each individual subject, and across both level and non-level strides. Conclusion and significance: These results demonstrate a method for heuristic prediction of ground terrain in a powered prosthesis. The method is more accurate, more interpretable, and less computationally expensive than machine learning methods considered state-of-the-art for intent recognition, and relies only on integrated prosthesis sensors. Finally, the method provides intuitively tunable thresholds to improve performance for specific walking conditions.
Increase Transforming Growth Factor-Beta and its Receptors in Human Renal Tissue with Rejection

Transforming growth factor-bate (TGF-β) is a growth-relating peptide that has been shown to enhance collagen production in vivo and in vitro. TGF-β isoforms include TGF-β 1, β2 and β3. TGF-β receptors subtypes include type I (TGFβRI) and type II (TGFβRII) receptors. Overproduction of TGF-β can lead to real damage.Renal graft rejection is major problem after kidney transplantation with severe renal damage. We hypothesized that renal tissue level of TGF-β may increase in renal rejection after kidney transplantation. Therefore, the current study was designed to determine the TGF-β 1 isoform and its receptor TGFβRI in human renal tissue with rejection by immunohistochemical staining (IHCS) and compared with normal human renal tissue. The results of IHCS was evaluated by IHCS staining density scores (0, no staining; 1, minimal staining; 2, mild staining; 3, moderate staining; and 4, strong staining). The positive staining area (+%) in entire section was also determined. The sections treated with preabsorbed blocking peptide or nonimmune rabbit serum demonstrated no immunoperoxidase activity.
Recommendations for control of gastrointestinal nematode parasites in small ruminants

Gastrointestinal nematode parasites are the single most important health problem of sheep and goats. Traditionally, parasites have been controlled by frequent administration of anthelmintic drugs. However, the emergence of multiple-drug-resistant parasites now threatens this paradigm of control and new approaches are required. Anthelmintics can no longer be thought of as a convenient and inexpensive management tool for maximizing animal productivity. Instead, anthelmintics must be thought of as extremely valuable and limited resources that should be used prudently. In response to this changing paradigm of anthelmintic use, new recommendations for parasite control now exist. A key tenet of this approach, referred to as "Smart Drenching", is to use the best available knowledge to develop strategies that maximize the effectiveness of treatments while also decreasing the development of drug resistance. Additionally, new innovative schemes using novel and sustainable approaches must be implemented. An overall strategy that integrates these approaches is referred to as "sustainable integrated parasite management" (sIPM). However, by its very nature sIPM is much more complicated and difficult to implement than casual administration of anthelmintics. Consequently, successful implementation of sIPM will only be possible with the help and active involvement of veterinarians and other animal health professionals. Because multiple-drug resistance in parasites is now the status quo, and development of further drug resistance is almost certain to outpace the development of new anthelmintics, it is critical that this new philosophy and approach to parasite control be embraced and implemented immediately.
Fluid Management in Thoracic Surgery

Lung injury after thoracic surgery is a major source of postoperative morbidity and mortality. There appears to be a link between excessive perioperative intravenous fluid administration and increased risk for lung injury in thoracic surgical patients for all types of intrathoracic procedures. Thus, a rational approach to perioperative fluid management is crucial to mitigate the risk of postoperative pulmonary injury. While a “restrictive” fluid management approach has long been advocated, there is a paucity of data related to this approach in thoracic surgical patients specifically. Several concepts regarding fluid management can be adapted from the non-cardiothoracic surgery literature, but ultimately more research will be required to define the optimal approach to perioperative fluid management in thoracic surgery.
PlantNexus: A Gene Co-expression Network Database and Visualization Tool for Barley and Sorghum

Abstract Global gene co-expression networks (GCNs) are powerful tools for functional genomics whereby putative functions and regulatory mechanisms can be inferred by gene co-expression. With the recent accumulation of RNA-seq data sets, the construction of RNA-seq-based GCNs has now become possible. Cereal crops, such as Hordeum vulgare (barley) and Sorghum bicolor (sorghum), are among the most important plants to humanity and contribute significantly to our food supply. However, co-expression network tools for these plants are outdated or lacking. In this study, we constructed global GCNs for barley and sorghum using 500 and 774 RNA-seq data sets, respectively. In addition, we curated the meta-information of these RNA-seq data sets and categorized them into four main tissue types, leaf, root, shoot, and flower/seed, and built tissue-specific GCNs. To enable GCN searching and visualization, we implemented a website and database named PlantNexus, offering an immersive environment for the exploration and visualization of gene expressions and co-expressions of barley and sorghum at the global and tissue-specific levels. PlantNexus is freely available at https://plantnexus.ohio.edu/.
Characterizing Primary Breast Cancer and Nodal Involvement with High-Resolution PET/MRI: Novel PET Configurations and Preliminary Results

High-resolution PET imaging has considerable potential to improve management of breast cancer, especially if it could be acquired simultaneously with the clinical standard of breast MRI. In this multimodal approach, PET contributes critical information on specific molecular subtypes and heterogeneity, while avoiding the challenge of reproducibly positioning the breast which confronts technologists when PET and MRI images are acquired separately. Using a compact, high-resolution and MR-compatible PET system (VersaPET) mounted into a breast MRI table, we have begun to assess the feasibility of this approach by collecting preliminary FDG data on primary tumors in breast cancer patients. In order to augment this approach to examine nodal involvement, we also performed a simulation study that incorporates novel detector geometries to expand the FOV to include axillary lymph nodes which are critical for diagnosing metastasis. We evaluated scanner geometries with limited angle sampling and features including time of flight (TOF) and depth of interaction (DOI) readouts, using GATE simulation and detection-based tasks using channelized Hotelling observer (CHO). Our simulation result indicates superior performance for detection of low-grade (3:1 lesion to tissue contrast), small (3 mm diameter) lesions using the proposed scanners compared to whole-body PET. We show that the incorporation of a DOI resolution of 2 mm substantially improves the detection tasks for the proposed scanner designs, while TOF capability is less impactful.
Case 44: A Signed Consent. Any Problem

You have been working in a mission hospital in Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, for about 6 months. This is a landlocked country in southeastern Africa. It is a busy little hospital with several operating rooms. There is only one entrance and exit to the operating room suite. Most days, at the entrance, a matron makes sure that all patients’ consent forms for the operation are properly signed. The content of the form is explained to the patient by the nurse in the ward or at the surgical clinic prior to the procedure. The consent form incorporates both surgery and anesthesia. Today, the matron is not there. You know that the consent forms are not being thoroughly vetted.
Representing Fluid-Phase Behavior

The key to the attractiveness of miscible gas flooding compared with immiscible flood technologies is interphase mass transfer. Under the right conditions of pressure, temperature, and composition, the exchange of species across the phase boundary in a miscible gas flood leads to the formation of a zone in which the displacing fluid and the displaced fluid are very similar. As described in Section 1.1, the rock swept by such a zone has very low residual oil saturation, implying more efficient oil recovery overall.
William M. Bass and the development of forensic anthropology in Tennessee

Twenty-two years of human identification cases have been analyzed with respect to the development of a forensic anthropology curriculum at the University of Tennessee under William M. Bass. Relationships forged with the State Medical Examiner and lecture programs for national, state and local law enforcement agencies and arson investigators have provided the necessary exposure that ensured the growth of Dr. Bass's caseload and program. Postmortem indicators for assessing time-since-death have been Bass's target research domain. The development of a donated body program with curation of those skeletons promises to keep his research perspective fueled. Finally, the formal establishment of the Forensic Anthropology Center at the University of Tennessee ensures the continued academic commitment to forensic anthropology.
Eine kritische Analyse von Vernetzungsmaßen in sozialen Netzwerken

Durch das immense Wachstum von Web-basierten Diensten wie z. B. facebook.com gewinnt das Thema soziale Netzwerke gegenwartig zunehmend an Bedeutung. Eine zentrale Herausforderung – u. a. fur die erfolgreiche Umsetzung zahlreicher betriebswirtschaftlicher Masnahmen wie z. B. Virales Marketing – stellt dabei die Identifikation derjenigen Schlusselpersonen dar, die strukturell besonders gut in ein soziales Netzwerk eingebunden sind. Hierfur wurde in der Social Network Analysis eine Vielzahl von Masen zur Quantifizierung der Vernetzung der einzelnen Akteure eines sozialen Netzwerks entwickelt. Vor diesem Hintergrund wird im vorliegenden Beitrag der aktuelle Stand der Forschung im Hinblick auf Vernetzungsmase in sozialen Netzwerken aufgezeigt. Angesichts stark variierender Erkenntnisse zur Gute verschiedener Vernetzungsmase verfolgt der Beitrag zudem das Ziel, die enorme Relevanz einer reflektierten Anwendung der existierenden Vernetzungsmase zu illustrieren. Hierfur werden funf der in der Social Network Analysis am haufigsten diskutierten Vernetzungsmase anhand von drei einfachen allgemeinen Eigenschaften im Hinblick auf das Verhalten von Vernetzungsmasen analysiert.
Improved polynomial arithmetic algorithm implementations

Polynomial, as one of the most basic mathematical forms, is widely applied to theories and practical engineering. And the effective machinery calculation of polynomial can greatly contribute to the practical uses. Hence, a new approach of polynomial storage, coefficients and index number stored in an array, has been put forward for study. In this article, different methods of three vital calculations have been theoretically deduced, partially verified and realized in program via the new approach previously mentioned, and its detailed steps have been proposed as well to show the advantages of the new storage method.
The nucleases of yeast. I. Properties and variability of ribonucleases.

Abstract 1. 1.Nucleases are located in both ribosomes and supernatant of the yeast, Saccharomyces fragilis X Saccharomyces dodzhanskii. Ribosomes prepared from either exponentially growing cells or stationary cells exhibit nuclease activity with a pH optimum of around 7 which is not inhibited by 0.02 M EDTA, Polyvinylsulfate inhibits only at high concentrations. Nuclease activity in the 105 000 × g supernatant from exponentially growing cells has a pH optimum of around 8 and is severely inhibited by EDTA and polyvinylsulfate. In contrast, supernant nuclease from stationary cells has a pH optimum of around 6 and is only partially inhibited by EDTA. 2. 2.Supernant nuclear I and II from logarithmic cells have been partially purified. Their pH optimums are 7.4 and 7.6, respectively. Both nucleases are inhibited by EDTA, Zn2+, polyvinylsulfate and phosphate. The inhibition of EDTA is reversed by the addition of Mg2+. Polyribonucleotides are hydrolysed to di- and trioligonucleotides with 5′-phosphomonoester end groups by both nucleases.
Characteristic earthquakes and long-term earthquake forecasts: Implications of central california seismicity

Publisher Summary Earthquake systematics in central California support the concept of characteristic earthquake behavior over a wide range of earthquake magnitude. Waveform analysis of seismicity in central California reveals the routine occurrence of families of repeating earthquakes, i.e., the events that rupture the same fault area in events of similar magnitude. These repeating earthquakes share many of the attributes proposed under the characteristic of earthquake hypothesis for recurrence of large earthquakes, including a probability distribution for recurrence intervals with a central mean and long-tail, proportionality between length of recurrence interval and mean rate of strain accumulation, and absence of evidence for repetition before the recovery of released elastic strain energy. This chapter suggests two approaches: numerical simulation of earthquakes and analysis of more frequent small-magnitude earthquakes. Simple statistical models capture the essence of recurrence interval distribution. However, such models, as embedded in the characteristic earthquake hypothesis, do not address all the significant aspects of seismicity for hazard estimation. Temporal clustering, the principal non-Poisson component of seismicity, represents another pervasive process that is amenable to study with the same waveform-based methods used to elucidate earthquake recurrence. Temporal clustering appears to involve successive failure of adjoining or nearby parts of the fault, without re-rupture of the already broken fault areas.
Modeling Rossby Wave Breaking in the Southern Spring Stratosphere

AbstractRossby wave breaking (RWB) plays a central role in the evolution of stratospheric flows. The generation and evolution of RWB is examined in the simple dynamical framework of a one-layer shallow-water system on a sphere. The initial condition represents a realistic, zonally symmetric velocity profile corresponding to the springtime southern stratosphere. Single zonal wavenumber Rossby waves, which are either stationary or traveling zonally with realistic speeds, are superimposed on the initial velocity profile. Particular attention is placed on the Lagrangian structures associated with RWB. The Lagrangian analysis is based on the calculation of trajectories and the application of a diagnostic tool known as the “M” function. Hyperbolic trajectories (HTs), produced by the transverse intersections of stable and unstable invariant manifolds, may yield chaotic saddles in M. Previous studies associated HTs with “cat’s eyes” generated by planetary wave breaking at the critical levels. HTs, and hence RWB, ...
Mutations in the cadherin superfamily member gene dachsous cause a tissue polarity phenotype by altering frizzled signaling

The adult cuticular wing of Drosophila is covered by an array of distally pointing hairs that reveals the planar polarity of the wing. We report here that mutations in dachsous disrupt this regular pattern, and do so by affecting frizzled signaling. dachsous encodes a large membrane protein that contains many cadherin domains and dachsous mutations cause deformed body parts. We found that mutations in dachsous also result in a tissue polarity phenotype that at the cellular level is similar to frizzled, dishevelled and prickle, as many cells form a single hair of abnormal polarity. Although their cellular phenotype is similar to frizzled, dishevelled and prickle, dachsous mutant wings display a unique and distinctive abnormal hair polarity pattern including regions of reversed polarity. The development of this pattern requires the function of frizzled pathway genes suggesting that in a dachsous mutant the frizzled pathway is functioning - but in an abnormal way. Genetic experiments indicated that dachsous was not required for the intracellular transduction of the frizzled signal. However, we found that dachsous clones disrupted the polarity of neighboring wild-type cells suggesting the possibility that dachsous affected the intercellular signaling function of frizzled. Consistent with this hypothesis we found that frizzled clones in a dachsous mutant background displayed enhanced domineering non-autonomy, and that the anatomical direction of this domineering non-autonomy was altered in regions of dachsous wings that have abnormal hair polarity. The direction of this domineering nonautonomy was coincident with the direction of the abnormal hair polarity. We conclude that dachsous causes a tissue polarity phenotype because it alters the direction of frizzled signaling.
Collaborating on global priorities: science education for everyone—any time and everywhere

Building on the key ideas from Dana Zeidler’s paper I expand the conversation from the standpoint that the challenges facing humanity and the capacity of Earth to support life suggest that changes in human lifestyles are a priority. Accordingly, there is an urgent need to educate all humans about some of the science-related grand challenges, such as global warming and wellness. The key is to enact programs that have relevance to all citizens, irrespective of: age, location, language proficiency, economic resources, religion, gender, sexual preference, and level of prior education. Since significant changes are needed in human lifestyles the current emphasis on preK-12 science education needs to be expanded to cover all humans and the places in which education occurs should be everywhere. I explore the use of a multilogical framework to conceptualize science and thereby transform science education in ways that better relate to priorities of wellness and harmony in the ecosystems that sustain life on Earth. I illustrate the potential of multilogicality in a context of complementary medicine, using three frameworks: Jin Shin Jyutsu, an ancient system of medicine; a diet to reduce inflammation; and iridology. Use of a multilogical framework to conceptualize science provides opportunities for science education to focus on education for literate citizenry (birth–death) and responsible action, connect to the massive challenges of the present, and select content that has high relevance to sustainability, wellness, and well-being at local, national, and global levels.
Horne and the Normalization of Takings Litigation: A Response to Professor Echeverria

The last three Takings Clause decisions in the U.S. Supreme Court have shared a common theme. In each of them, the Court has cut through the morass of arbitrary, clause-specific rules, complications, and obstacles to relief that have accrued over the past few decades. I call this process “normalization” — treating Takings Clause claims as normal constitutional claims, subject to the same procedural, jurisdictional, and remedial principles that apply to other constitutional rights.
Whole arm obstacle avoidance for teleoperated robots

This paper describes a collision avoidance system using Whole Arm Proximity (WHAP) sensors on a PUMA 560 robot arm. The capacitance-based sensors generate electric fields which can completely encompass the robot arm and detect obstacles as they approach from any direction. The directional obstacle information, gathered by the WHAP sensors together with the sensor geometry and robot configuration is used to scale the commanded joint velocities of the robot. A linearized relationship between the WHAP sensor reading and the distance from the obstacle allows direct transformation of perturbations in WHAP readings to perturbations in joint velocities. The WHAP reading is used to directly reduce the component of the command input velocity along the normal axis of the sensor, allowing graceful reductions in speed as the arm approaches the obstacle. By scaling only the component of the velocity vector in the direction of the nearest obstacles, the control system restricts motion in the direction of obstacles while permitting unconstrained motion in other directions. >
EXPERIMENTAL PRODUCTION OF PERFECT CYCLOPIA IN THE CHICK BY MEANS OF LICL, WITH A SURVEY OF THE LITERATURE ON CYCLOPIA PRODUCED EXPERIMENTALLY BY VARIOUS MEANS.

Abstract Attempts to induce cyclopia in the chick by placing LiCl or LiCl + NaCl directly on the embryo through a shell window failed. Attempts to induce cyclopia in the chick explanted to a modified Spratt culture with 11.8 m M LiCl replacing the equivalent of NaCl produced many embryos with unbilateralized forebrains. Cyclopean eyes, if present, did not develop far enough to induce an overlying lens palisading or invagination, nor to develop pigmentation of their own—alternative criteria imposed for the certain demonstration of cyclopia. Early somite stage explants (1–7 somites) often showed inhibited bilateralization of optic vesicles during the first day and then an actual regression of bilateralization and sometimes a degeneration of lateral optic vesicles during the second day of culture. Seven perfect cyclopean embryos were produced by New technique cultures with added LiCl, explantation being at primitive streak (Hamburger-Hamilton stage 4). One case was obtained on 11.8 m M LiCl and 6 cases on 15.7 m M LiCl. Heavy lens ectodermal palisading over the optic vesicle (5 cases) and actual lens invagination (2 cases) were the identifying criteria for cyclopean eyes. The literature on production of cyclopia by all experimental means is summarized and evaluated in an appendix.
Inversion of Fabry-Perot CCD images: use in Doppler shift measurements

We consider how to use a charge-coupled device (CCD) as an imaging device for a Fabry-Perot interferometer. When the CCD is used in a conventional manner (pixel by pixel readout), the read noise limits its usefulness. Instead, we propose using the CCD in an operational mode so that the 2-D circular symmetric Fabry-Perot interference pattern is read as a 1-D array. The recovery of the signal is effected by carrying out an Abel inversion of the 1-D array. We show how by carrying out this operation it is possible to reduce greatly the effect of read noise. Finally, we consider how this image technique reflects on the accuracy of a Doppler shift measurement.
Crystal size dependent emission from mobile exciton-polaritons in sodium cryptand sodide

We present space- and time-resolved photoluminescence experiments which yield evidence for mobile optical excitation in sodium cryptand sodide. Small crystals show an emission line shape peak at higher energy than that from large crystals. An exciton-polariton dynamics model is used to obtain the rate equations which establish the polariton populations. These rate equations, which involve the Fokker-Planck equation, are shown to explain the crystal size effect and the time and energy dependence of the emission spectrum.
The growth of treatment research in alcohol and drug use disorders: a computerized literature search

Index Medicus was searched to compare the number of articles on treatment trials for alcohol and for non-alcohol drug use disorders (abuse, dependence, withdrawal, intoxication, etc.) to that of two control conditions--anxiety and obesity--for the period 1967-1988. Over the entire 22 years, the number of articles for alcohol use disorders increased an average of 2.7 articles every 2 years and 5.8/2 years for drug use disorders compared to 5.7/2 years for obesity and 5.8/2 years for anxiety disorders. Over the most recent 8 years, articles for alcohol use disorders increased 7.7/2 years and for drug use disorders 7.9/2 years compared to--2.9/2 years and 12.0/2 years for obesity and anxiety disorders. The proportion of articles that cited using only pharmacotherapy decreased over time; however, studies of alcohol and drug withdrawal continue to almost exclusively use pharmacological therapies. We conclude that treatment research in alcohol and drug use disorders is growing as rapidly as that in similar psychological and psychiatric conditions and that such growth is not due to a focus on pharmacological treatments.
RENAL ANGIOTENSIN CONVERTING ENZYME PROMOTES RENAL DAMAGE DURING URETERAL OBSTRUCTION

AbstractPurpose: We and others have shown that angiotensin II has a pivotal role in renal damage in various renal injuries. Although most angiotensin II actions are associated with the angiotensin type 1 receptor, there is increasing evidence that the angiotensin type 2 receptor also transduces some important effects of angiotensin II. In this regard we recently observed that mice with genetically engineered disruption of the angiotensin type 2 receptor, termed Agtr2 mutants, are more susceptible to structural renal damage after ureteral obstruction. Recent evidence suggests that a genetically determined increase in angiotensin converting enzyme activity in humans promotes end organ damage. Therefore, we determined whether renal damage in Agtr2 mutants is associated with heightened angiotensin converting enzyme activity.Materials and Methods: We studied 28 wild type and 19 Agtr2 mutant mice with unilateral ureteral obstruction. Seven days after obstruction was created serum samples were obtained to evalua...
Protest and Human Rights Networks: The Case of the Zapatista Movement

The Zapatistas gained political access due in part to Mexico's efforts to participate and sustain its position in the world economy. This goal demanded greater sensitivity to the call for democratic openness by the human rights community, anti–North American Free Trade Agreement groups, and indigenous rights organizations. Mexico's effort to bolster its record on human rights internationally created a political opening for the Zapatista protest. The Zapatistas’ network of support created a situation where it was able to force the government to constrain their traditional military policy towards popular movements. This is in part due to the need to placate financial and human rights interests in Mexico and internationally. However, the tactics used by paramilitary groups and low-intensity measures taken by the military to deal with the Zapatistas were not under similar constraints, leaving space for their liberal application.
Production of aflatoxins by strains of the Aspergillus flavus group maintained in ATCC.

A total of 169 strains of the Aspergillus reference cultures in the Aspergillus flavus group maintained in the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) were studied for their aflatoxin-producing abilities in rice, peanut and semisynthetic medium, utilizing high pressure liquid chromatography. Fifty-nine of the strains examined were positive for aflatoxin formation. No strains of the food fungi A. oryzae or A. sojae produced detectable levels of aflatoxins, while 33–85% of the strains of A. flavus and A. parasiticus were toxigenic.
Molecular Dynamics Simulations of the Impact of Energetic Cu Clusters on Cu and Ni Substrates

The interaction between energetic clusters of atoms and solid surfaces has been investigated by molecular-dynamics computer simulation. In this model, the impact of Cu clusters containing 4, 13 or 92 atoms and energies of 326 eV with Cu or Ni substrates is investigated. Either embedded-atom-method (EAM) potentials or a combination of Moliere and EAM potentials were employed for the calculations. The simulations reveal that different physical processes occur depending on cluster size and energy, and the cohesive properties of the substrate.
Learning in Fish with Transplanted Brain Tissue

Material taken from fish embryos during gastrulation was implanted at prospective tectal sites in host embryos of the same age and species. When mature, the hosts were trained in a series of habit reversals. Two of six animals showed progressive improvement in reversal (a phenomenon not typically found in fish, but characteristic of higher animals), two showed unusually few errors, and two behaved normally. Differences in performance were correlated with differences brain structure.
Symposium part 4: Should pathologists diagnose endocervical preneoplastic lesions "less than" adenocarcinoma in situ?: Counterpoint.

Summary:Adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) is the acknowledged precursor to most cases of invasive adenocarcinoma of the cervix. However, diagnostic terminology for lesions that do not fulfill all of the published criteria for AIS has not been standardized. Some have used the terms “glandular dysplasia” o
Effect of imposed strain and moisture content on some viscoelastic characteristics of cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata)

Abstract Cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata) were equilibrated at relative humidities of 33, 57, 64·5, 67, 75, 79 and 86% over saturated salt solutions at 25°C. Uniaxial compressive loading and relaxation tests were done on a Universal testing machine at these relative humidities. The modified Hertz equation was employed to calculate the modulus of elasticity and the viscoelastic parameters. The modulus of elasticity of cowpeas was found to be independent of the imposed strain levels up to 2%. It was also found that the viscoelastic behaviour of the cowpea samples tested can be represented by two Maxwell models in parallel.
Mutation proximal to the tRNA binding region of the Nicotiana plastid 16S rRNA confers resistance to spectinomycin.

Nicotiana tabacum lines carrying maternally inherited resistance to spectinomycin were obtained by selection for green callus in cultures bleached by spectinomycin. Two levels of resistance was found. SPC1 and SPC2 seedlings are resistant to high levels (500 μg/ml), SPC23 seedlings are resistant to low levels (50 μg/ml) of spectinomycin. Lines SPC2 and SPC23 are derivatives of the SR1 streptomycin-resistant plastome mutant. Spectinomycin resistance is due to mutations in the plastid 16S ribosomal RNA: SPC1, an A to C change at position 1138; SPC2, a C to U change at position 1139; SPC23, a G to A change at position 1333. Mutations similar to those in the SPC1 and SPC2 lines have been previously described, and disrupt a conserved 16S ribosomal RNA stem structure. The mutation in the SPC23 line is the first reported case of a mutation close to the region of the 16S rRNA involved in the formation of the initiation complex. The new mutants provide markers for selecting plastid transformants.
Ocean tidal cooling effect on summer sea fog over the Okhotsk Sea

[1] Ocean tide is a periodic phenomenon of the rise and fall of the sea level that depends on the bathymetry and positions of the moon and sun relative to the earth. In the Okhotsk Sea, the ocean tide causes strong vertical mixing in the upper ocean, generating rich structures in summer SST with extraordinarily cold patches on Kashevarov Bank, along the Kuril Islands, northeast of the Terpeniya Peninsula, and inside Shelikhov Bay. The present study analyzes and synthesizes a suite of ship-board and satellite observations, and numerical simulations to investigate the ocean tidal cooling effect on summer sea fog over the Okhotsk Sea. Over the tide-induced cold patches, atmospheric stability increases, and surface wind weakens markedly possibly through suppressed atmospheric vertical mixing. Our analysis of ship-board observations reveals frequent sea-fog occurrence over the cold patches with a maximum exceeding 70% along the Kuril Islands in July–August. Numerical simulations with the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model support that the cold patches cool air temperature, decelerate surface wind, and form a strong surface inversion layer up to 0.5 km high, creating favorable conditions for sea-fog occurrence. The WRF simulation without the tidal cooling effect reduces sea-fog occurrence by more than 20% over cold patches, illustrating the importance of SST products for climate models.
Molecular Markers Distinguish Coastal Cutthroat Trout from Coastal Rainbow Trout/Steelhead and Their Hybrids

Abstract A major cause of population declines among interior cutthroat trout subspecies Oncorhynchus clarki ssp.is hybridization with introduced rainbow trout O. mykiss ssp. Coastal cutthroat trout O. c. clarki have also experienced population declines in recent decades and are known to hybridize with coastal rainbow trout/steelhead O. m. irideus. However, unlike interior cutthroat trout, coastal cutthroat trout are naturally sympatric with coastal rainbow trout/steelhead, and the role of hybridization in their population declines remains unclear. Further, little is known about the spatial and temporal distributions of hybridization in these coastal subspecies. As a step toward better characterization of this hybridization, we developed a suite of species-specific DNA markers for coastal cutthroat trout and coastal rainbow trout/steelhead. Of 11 loci presented here, 8 exhibit fixed differences between coastal cutthroat trout and coastal rainbow trout/steelhead. The other three loci revealed frequency diff...
A study of the teratogenic potential of caffeine given by oral intubation to rats

Abstract A study was made to resolve questions about the fetotoxic and teratogenic potential of the alkaloid caffeine, 1,3,7-trimethylxanthine. Caffeine in aqueous solution was orally intubated to Osborne-Mendel rats as dose levels of 6, 12, 40, 80, or 125 mg/kg during Days 0–19 of gestation; 61 rats were randomly assigned to each dose level. Concurrent control rats were intubated with distilled water on the same days. Six females died at the highest caffeine dose level. The experimental animals gained less weight during gestation than did the controls. Food consumption decreased primarily during the first week of gestation. Two litters were totally resorbed at 80 mg/kg and four litters at 125 mg/kg. Resorptions increased at the dose levels 80 and 125 mg/kg. These were significant decreases in fetal weight and crown-rump lengths in both males and females at 80 and 125 mg/kg, and in female weight and crownrump length at 40 mg/kg. Ectrodactyly was seen only at the dose levels 80 and 125 mg/kg, along with assorted skeletal ossification problems such as misshapen centra, missing centra, reduced dorsal arch, reduced pubis, missing hind phalanges, reduced metacarpals, and reduced metatarsals. In addition, delayed ossification of the sternebrae was seen at all dose levels. No soft tissue variations appeared related to caffeine intake.
Literacy as social reproduction and social transformation: The challenge of diasporic communities in the contemporary period

Abstract This article reviews literature on social reproduction in education, discusses the decline of the paradigm, and argues for its continuing relevance. It examines reproductive and transformative aspects of cross-linguistic literacy practices involving young people from three diasporic communities in the United States, presenting multi-leveled analyses that investigate what is reproduced or transformed by situated literacy practices and how institution-level processes shape such practices. It argues that such scale-sensitive analysis provides insight into new reproductive processes, involving conflicts over language in education, that are themselves rooted in new forms of class conflict rooted in global system dynamics of social polarization.
Elastic Wave Propagation In Variable Media Using a Discontinuous Galerkin Method

Motivated by the needs of seismic inversion and building on our prior experience for fluid-dynamics systems, we present a high-order discontinuous Galerkin (DG) Runge-Kutta method applied to isotropic, linearized elasto-dynamics. Unlike other DG methods recently presented in the literature, our method allows for inhomogeneous material variations within each element that enables representation of realistic earth models - a feature critical for future use in seismic inversion. Likewise, our method supports curved elements and hybrid meshes that include both simplicial and nonsimplicial elements. We demonstrate the capabilities of this method through a series of numerical experiments including hybrid mesh discretizations of the Marmousi2 model as well as a modified Marmousi2 model with a oscillatory ocean bottom that is exactly captured by our discretization. A discontinuous Galerkin method for solving the equations of linear isotropic elasticity has been presented. The formulation is designed to accommodate variation of media parameters within elements, curved elements and unstructured heterogeneous meshes. We have demonstrated that each of these important features of the formulation can produce results that are significantly different from formulations that do not possess these capabilities suggesting that each of these capabilities may be important for effective full waveform inversion of elastic medium.
Effect of a falls quality improvement program on serious fall-related injuries.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether a program that improves the quality of care for falls reduces the number of episodes of care for serious fall-related injuries. DESIGN: Nonrandomized controlled trial. SETTING: Four community-based primary care practices. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals aged 75 and older who screened positive for fall risk. INTERVENTION: A multicomponent quality improvement program (Assessing Care of Vulnerable Elders Practice Redesign for Improved Medical Care for Elders) involving face-to-face clinician education about falls and decision support to prompt primary care providers to implement appropriate care, including referral to appropriate community resources, in response to individuals screening positive for fall risk. MEASUREMENTS: Episodes of care for selected fall-related injuries, based on healthcare claims. RESULTS: Of 1,791 individuals with data available for analysis, 1,187 were in the intervention group, and 604 were in the control group. Mean age was 83, and more than two-thirds of the sample were women. After adjusting for potential confounders, there were no statistically significant differences between intervention and control groups in episodes of care for fall-related injuries during the 12-month (incidence rate ratio (IRR) 1.27, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.93-1.73) or 24-month (IRR 1.18, 95% CI = 0.93-1.49) period after initiation of the intervention. CONCLUSION: Despite improving the care of falls, this quality improvement initiative did not result in a change in the number of episodes of care for serious fall-related injuries. Future work in community-based settings should test higher-intensity interventions to reduce fall-related injuries. Language: en
Advancing an ethical framework for long-term care

This article represents an effort to formulate an ethical framework for long-term care with the explicit purpose of providing a catalyst to promote further discourse and expand consideration of what an ethic of long-term care might entail. Grounding the discussion, an introduction to traditional ethical philosophy is presented, focusing mainly on the fundamentals of deontological and teleological ethical theories. Attention then shifts to a review of the more frequently cited principles found in the long-term care ethics literature, followed by a critique of the current reliance upon principlism to resolve ethical dilemmas in long-term care. In response to this criticism, an agent-driven ethical framework stressing dignity and respect for personhood, drawn from the philosophy of Immanuel Kant, is advanced.
Cocaine alters glutamic acid decarboxvlase differentiallv in the nucleus accumbens core and shell

The effects of acute and repeated daily cocaine on the levels of mRNA coding for glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), preproenkephalin (PPE), preprotachykinin (PPT), and the dopamine D2 receptor were determined in the striatum, nucleus accumbens core and shell areas (NAcore, NAshell), and medial prefrontal cortex. Rats were given repeated saline or cocaine for 6 days. A cocaine challenge administered 24 h later resulted in an augmented locomotor response in daily cocaine-pretreated rats. Six h after the challenge, rats were sacrificed and Northern blot analysis revealed that acute cocaine increased GAD mRNA levels by 44% in the NAshell, while repeated cocaine prevented the acute cocaine-induced increase. These data suggest that cocaine may differentially regulate GABA release at NA core and shell projection fields.
Hermetically encapsulated differential resonant accelerometer

We demonstrate the first accelerometer with a resonant strain gauge displacement transducer fabricated in a wafer-scale encapsulation process. Co-fabrication of this device with ultra-stable resonators enables detection of acceleration, and measurement of temperature (for compensation), along with generation of the timing reference for acceleration measurement.
Patents, Travel, Space: Ethnographic Encounters with Objects in Transit

In this paper, an ethnographical take on objects in motion, I follow the travel of patents from their places of origin in the Western world of technoscience to newly developing worlds. I argue that not only does the influx of patents and patent systems change the sociotechnical configurations in which they emerge; the patent itself—or so I claim—changes with its travel as well, and so it is a different thing in different places. I thus link the nature of things with the places in which they operate, and frame the patent as both a changeable object and an agent of change.
Retinal Pigment Epithelial Transplantation in the Management of Subfoveal Choroidal Neovascularization

Clinical and laboratory evidence suggests that transplantation of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) may prove beneficial in the treatment of patients with subfoveal choroidal neovascularization. In this report, we review the clinical results of surgical excision of subfoveal choroidal neovascularization in the presumed ocular histoplasmosis syndrome (POHS), age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and other disorders. We show that postoperative atrophy of the subfoveal choriocapillaris, which is present in 90% of AMD eyes and 37% of POHS eyes, is an important prognostic factor in visual recovery after subfoveal surgery. Because the RPE is frequently removed with the choroidal neovascular membrane, atrophy of the subfoveal choriocapillaris may be caused by absence of the RPE. In view of these considerations, we developed an animal model to understand the effects of RPE removal on the overlying retina and underlying choriocapillaris. These experiments show that atrophy of the choriocapillaris develops in ...