cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Trigeminal structure-function relationships: A reevaluation based on long-range staining of a large sample of brainstem AP fibers

Prior studies suggest that some classes of thickly myelinated (A beta) afferents have distinct morphologies in the trigeminal (V) brainstem complex, and that single fibers have collaterals with different shapes in the four V subnuclei. However, these conclusions are based upon relatively few and incompletely stained fibers and limited statistical rigor. In the present study, 104 fibers were stained more completely with neurobiotin in rats to provide within-fiber intersubnucleus comparisons, and between-fiber intrasubnucleus comparisons, of collaterals associated with a vibrissa, guard hairs, hairy skin, glabrous skin, or oral structures. Collaterals from all functional categories had similar qualitative features and were distributed somatotopically in the transverse plane according to known maps. Fiber categories were not disproportionately represented at particular sites along the brainstem's rostrocaudal axis, although most fibers adhered to an onion-leaf topography in caudalis. Surprisingly few structure-function relationships were revealed by multivariate analysis of variance and post hoc group comparisons, as follows: Arbors were larger in caudalis than in any other subnucleus; collaterals were most numerous in interpolaris; vibrissa afferents had more collaterals than oral and guard hair afferents; and oral fibers had larger arbors than vibrissa or guard hair afferents in subnucleus oralis. Peripheral receptor association and response adaptation rate failed to predict arbor shapes and terminal bouton numbers in any V subnucleus. These data confirm that the locations of V primary afferent arbors are predicted by their receptive fields. However, collateral number and morphology are predicted only to a very limited extent by the V subnucleus and peripheral receptor affiliation--a conclusion that contrasts with those of most prior studies of somatosensory primary afferents.
Note---On the Merits of an “Approximation” to the Busy Period of the GI/G/1 Queue

An approximation suggested by D. Gross and C. M. Harris in their book Fundamentals of Queueing Theory for computing the busy period characteristics in the single server queue with renewal input and general i.i.d. service times commonly denoted by GI/G/1 is shown to be lacking in accuracy, and therefore quite undesirable for practical use. Incidentally, we also demonstrate how for a wide subclass of such queues, computations can be done exactly using practical algorithmic methods.
A novel member of the TRAF family of putative signal transducing proteins binds to the cytosolic domain of CD40

CD40 is a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNF-R) family that regulates B-lymphocyte proliferation, immunoglobulin class-switching, and apoptosis through poorly defined signal transduction mechanisms. Using a yeast two-hybrid method, cDNAs were obtained that encode a novel protein, CD40-associated protein-1 (CAP-1), which binds specifically to the cytosolic domain of CD40 but not TNF-R1, TNF-R2, or Fas. The CAP-1 protein contains a C-terminal domain that shares strong amino acid sequence homology with a unique domain found recently in two putative signal transducing proteins that bind to the TNF-R2 cytosolic tail, TRAF1 and TRAF2. This C-terminal region of CAP-1 was sufficient to mediate binding to CD40 and homodimerization of CAP-1 proteins. The N-terminal portion of CAP-1 contains a RING finger motif and three zinc finger-like domains similar to those found in several regulatory proteins that interact with DNA or RNA. CAP-1 thus represents a new member of a family of potential signal transducing proteins that contain a conserved domain (the TRAF domain), bind to the cytosolic regions of particular members of TNF-R family proteins, and that can form homo- and heterotypic dimers.
Integrity walls: finding attack surfaces from mandatory access control policies

Protecting host system integrity in the face of determined adversaries remains a major problem. Despite advances in program development and access control, attackers continue to compromise systems forcing security practitioners to regularly react to such breaches. While security practitioners may eventually learn which entry points in programs must be defended over a software's lifetime, new software and configuration options are frequently introduced, opening additional vulnerabilities to adversaries. The application developers' problem is to identify the program entry points accessible to adversaries and provide necessary defenses at these entry points before the adversaries use these to compromise the program. Unfortunately, this is a race that developers often lose. While some program vulnerable entry points are well-known (mostly network), the complexity of host systems makes it difficult to prevent local exploits should attackers gain control of any unprivileged processing. The question we explore in this paper is whether the program entry points accessible to adversaries can be found proactively, so defenses at these entry points can also be developed proactively.
Supremum versions of the log-rank and generalized wilcoxon statistics

Abstract Considerable progress has been made in generalizing to censored data hypothesis tests based on rank statistics. The most commonly used generalizations are the log-rank test statistic, which extends the Savage exponential scores statistic (Cox 1972; Mantel 1966) and the generalized Wilcoxon statistics (Gehan 1965; Peto and Peto 1972). Gill (1980) showed that in the two-sample problem the asymptotic efficiency properties of the Savage and Wilcoxon statistics are maintained in censored data by the log-rank and Peto and Peto Wilcoxon statistics, respectively, when censoring is the same in both samples. Heuristics and simulations have implied that some recently proposed supremum statistics, closely related to these two popular linear rank statistics, can be used to construct tests that provide good power against a much wider range of nonlocal alternatives (see, e.g., Fleming and Harrington 1981; Fleming, O'Brien, O'Fallon, and Harrington 1980; Gill 1980; Schumacher 1984). In this article we consider n...
HUMAN IMPACTS ON WISCONSIN STREAM CHANNELS

ABSTRACT The conversion of natural land cover to agricultural land uses in the Platte watershed of southwestern Wisconsin caused a three to fivefold increase in the magnitudes of floods that recur more frequently than once in five years in the small headwater and tributary watersheds. The impact of settlement on floods is less for larger watersheds, but the general impact of settlement has caused a major channel metamorphosis throughout the Platte River channel system. Most headwater and tributary channels have modern channel cross sections that are relatively wide and shallow when compared to their presettlement counterparts. Most channel cross sections along the downstream main channel, beyond the channel reaches where bedload sediments are a dominant factor in determining channel shape, are narrow and deep relative to their presettlement counterparts. Much of the sediment that is related to man-induced accelerated surface runoff has been transported only short distances and is presently deposited on al...
Lingual protrusion dystonia: Frequency, etiology and botulinum toxin therapy

The purpose of this study was to examine lingual protrusion dystonia (LPD); its frequency, etiology and response to botulinum toxin therapy. Previous literature suggests that LPD is more frequently the result of heredodegenerative disease and that the use of botulinum toxin therapy in LPD is associated with significant adverse effects. This is a retrospective database and record review from a movement disorder clinic. Of 421 dystonia patients, we identified 17 with LPD (4%). Of these cases, the diagnoses were: primary cranial dystonia (5), primary generalized dystonia (2), tardive dystonia (7), heredodegenerative disease (1), multifactorial (1) and post-infectious (1). All primary cases had concomitant oromandibular dystonia. In some secondary cases the LPD was the only cranial feature. Nine received botulinum toxin injections and 55.6% sustained moderate or marked improvement. Of 89 total botulinum toxin sessions, 66.3% had an excellent response, and 92.1% had some response. 97.8% of the sessions resulted in no significant adverse effects. On one occasion one patient developed severe dysphagia requiring placement of a percutaneous gastrostomy (PEG) tube. We conclude that LPD is rare, most commonly the result of tardive and primary dystonia. Botulinum toxin therapy may be very effective but needs to be utilized with care because of the possibility for the development of dysphagia.
12-L-hydroxy-5,8,10-heptadecatrienoic acid (HHT) is an excellent substrate for NAD+-dependent 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase

Abstract 12-L-hydroxy-5,8,10-heptadecatrienoic acid (HHT) was found to be an excellent substrate for NAD+-dependent 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase from porcine kidney. K cat K m value of HHT was comparable to that of prostaglandin E although HHT is not a prostanoic acid derivative. Product of enzyme catalyzed oxidation of HHT was identified as 12-keto-5,8,10-heptadecatrienoic acid by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The fact that HHT is an excellent substrate for 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase suggest that HHT may have profound unrecognized biological actions and its inactivation may be via oxidation of the hydroxyl group.
Ceratomyxa shasta genotypes cause differential mortality in their salmonid hosts.

Ceratomyxa shasta is a myxozoan parasite of salmonid fish. In natural communities, distinct genotypes of the parasite are associated with different salmonid hosts. To test the hypothesis that genotypes of C. shasta cause differential mortality, the polychaete host was experimentally infected with different parasite genotypes. Genotype I was obtained from Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, and genotype II from either coho salmon, O. kisutch, or rainbow trout, O. mykiss, We then challenged four salmonid strains: Chinook and coho salmon that occur in sympatry with the parasite and allopatric Chinook salmon and rainbow trout. Parasite genotype I caused mortality only in Chinook strains, although mortality in the allopatric strain also occurred from exposure to genotype II. A second experiment demonstrated that genotype II could be separated into two biotypes based on differential mortality in rainbow trout and coho salmon. These differential patterns of mortality as a result of infection by certain genotypes of C. shasta support field observations and suggest a co-evolutionary relationship between these parasites and their hosts.
Spatial interactions among ecosystem services in an urbanizing agricultural watershed

Understanding spatial distributions, synergies, and tradeoffs of multiple ecosystem services (benefits people derive from ecosystems) remains challenging. We analyzed the supply of 10 ecosystem services for 2006 across a large urbanizing agricultural watershed in the Upper Midwest of the United States, and asked the following: (i) Where are areas of high and low supply of individual ecosystem services, and are these areas spatially concordant across services? (ii) Where on the landscape are the strongest tradeoffs and synergies among ecosystem services located? (iii) For ecosystem service pairs that experience tradeoffs, what distinguishes locations that are “win–win” exceptions from other locations? Spatial patterns of high supply for multiple ecosystem services often were not coincident; locations where six or more services were produced at high levels (upper 20th percentile) occupied only 3.3% of the landscape. Most relationships among ecosystem services were synergies, but tradeoffs occurred between crop production and water quality. Ecosystem services related to water quality and quantity separated into three different groups, indicating that management to sustain freshwater services along with other ecosystem services will not be simple. Despite overall tradeoffs between crop production and water quality, some locations were positive for both, suggesting that tradeoffs are not inevitable everywhere and might be ameliorated in some locations. Overall, we found that different areas of the landscape supplied different suites of ecosystem services, and their lack of spatial concordance suggests the importance of managing over large areas to sustain multiple ecosystem services.
UNSTEADY AND NONLINEAR EFFECTS NEAR THE CUSP LINES OF THE KELVIN SHIP-WAVE PATTERN

On developpe une theorie asymptotique qui rend compte des effets d'amplitude finie et d'instationnarite a proximite des frontieres du secteur de Kelvin. On etablit l'equation qui regit l'evolution spatiale et temporelle de l'enveloppe du paquet d'onde
Lessons Learned From Recent Cardiovascular Clinical Trials: Part II

This is the first installment in a 4-part series of articles about our experiences with cardiovascular clinical research during the past 2 decades. From our vantage points as statistical and clinical researchers, we derive a series of lessons from recent clinical trials and incorporate them into principles designed to guide the practicing clinician who cares for patients with heart diseases. We are entering an era in which the imperative to understand the rational basis for diagnostic and therapeutic options has become a major force in medical care. Medical products (drugs, devices, and biologics) are proliferating simultaneously with a substantial restructuring of the delivery of health care, with a focus on evidence to support medical interventions. As the texture of evidence to support clinical practice becomes clearer, the imperative to investigate the effectiveness of behavioral interventions becomes more important. When coupled with concern about the rising cost of medical care, this proliferation of technological and behavioral intervention reinforces the view that we cannot afford to offer all possible diagnostic and therapeutic options to all patients. Recent publicity about therapies that were in widespread use and were later found to be detrimental1–3⇓⇓ has fueled this concern to extend well beyond the cost implications. The advent of genomics, proteomics, combinatorial chemistry, and advanced biomedical engineering will increase the importance of developing rational evidence about therapeutic risks and benefits. This effort to develop a rational basis for diagnostic and therapeutic decisions on the basis of quantitative assessments is a major component of evidence-based medicine. The randomized clinical trial (RCT) has emerged as the principal research tool for developing evidence to inform and influence clinical practice, particularly in the cardiovascular field. The practice of clinical trials is built on an understanding of the biology of disease, the structure of medical care delivery, …
Zones of Indeterminacy: Art, Body and Politics in Daoist Thought

This paper examines the elusive concept of Xu in Zhuangzi’s philosophy to find out how specifically Xu addresses relationality through its distinct cultivation of ambiguity in this Daoist philosoph...
Quantization effects in applying chaos theory to the detection of motion in image sequences

Recent research has demonstrated that tools from chaos theory can be applied to robustly detect motion and change in image sequences, even in the presence of spatiotemporally varying illumination. One key issue in digital imaging systems, however, is the effect of the quantization. This paper first demonstrates the effects of quantization on the phase space trajectories of pixel amplitudes and then proposes a method for addressing these effects by combining of multi-fractal measures with algebraic curve-based trajectory analysis to identify regions of the phase space with quantized chaotic trajectories. This proposed method is demonstrated in the application of object motion detection in video image sequences, but the results may prove applicable for other digitized information sources which may be produced by non-linear systems or processes.
Man's search for meaning: The case of Legos

We investigate how perceived meaning influences labor supply. In a laboratory setting, we manipulate the perceived meaning of simple, repetitive tasks and find a strong influence on subjects’ labor supply. Despite the fact that the wage and the task are identical across the conditions in each experiment, subjects in the less meaningful conditions exhibit reservation wages that are consistently much higher than the subjects in the more meaningful conditions. The result replicates across different types of tasks. Moreover, in the more meaningful conditions, subjects’ productivity influences labor supply more strongly.
Research on the Boundaries: Narrative Inquiry in the Midst of Organized School Reform

ABSTRACT The author centers on narrative inquiry as a “multilayered and many stranded” form of qualitative research (Clandinin & Connelly, 2000, p. xvii), one that unfurls in the midst of a plethora of social phenomena and other research agendas (Conle, 1999). In the article, the narrative inquiry broadly relates to organized school reform in the years leading up to and immediately following the introduction of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (2002). The work depicts the narrative inquirer as part of a human parade (Connelly & Clandinin, 1999) situated on a continuum of time, place, the personal, and the social (Clandinin & Connelly, 2000). The narrative inquirer, similar to all other researchers, is complicit not only in what stories become lived and relived but also in how stories become told and retold about experiences encountered and enacted in the field of education. In this particular instance, the author focuses on the bumping up places between narrative inquiry and other research and societa...
Platypnea-Orthodeoxia syndrome after repair of a paraesophageal hernia

The Platypnea-Orthodeoxia syndrome is characterised by dyspnoea and deoxygenation accompanying a change from the recumbent to the upright position. An 81-year-old woman had an elective paraesophageal hernia repair. She developed dyspnoea and hypoxemia post-operatively that was worse when upright. An agitated saline echocardiogram revealed a right-to-left shunt through a patent foramen ovale that increased when the patient was upright. Over 3 weeks the patients’ shunt, dyspnoea and hypoxemia improved and she was discharged home.
Gamma knife radiosurgery for acoustic tumors: multivariate analysis of four year results

In order to evaluate the results of radiosurgery for acoustic tumors and to identify optimum treatment parameters, an analysis of tumor control, as well as incidences of hearing loss, facial and trigeminal neuropathies was undertaken. Between August 1987 and August 1991, 134 patients with 136 acoustic tumors received stereotactic gamma knife radiosurgery at the University of Pittsburgh. Median follow-up was 24 months (range: 6-56 months). Tumor volumes ranged from 0.10 to 17.00 cm3 (median = 2.75 cm3). From one to ten isocenters were utilized per tumor treated (median = 3). Minimum tumor doses varied from 12 to 20 Gy (median = 17 Gy). The 4-year actuarial tumor control rate was 89.2 +/- 6.0%. Some degree of hearing (by pure tone audiometry) was preserved in 71.0 +/- 4.4% of patients. The actuarial rates for preservation of either pretreatment hearing level or useful hearing were 34.4 +/- 6.6% and 35.1 +/- 97% respectively. Respectively, the actuarial incidences of postradiosurgery facial and trigeminal neuropathies were 29.0 +/- 4.4% and 32.9 +/- 4.5%, respectively. No significant factors affecting tumor control were identified. Multivariate analysis identified a significantly increased risk of hearing loss in patients with neurofibromatosis (p = 0.0003) as well as decreased risks of facial and trigeminal neuropathies with both decreasing tumor diameter (p = 0.001) and increasing number of isocenters treated (p = 0.003). Radiosurgery is a safe and effective treatment for acoustic neuromas with acceptable morbidity that may be lowered by the use of multiple isocenter treatment techniques and by earlier treatment of small tumors.
Lightweight active router-queue management for multimedia networking

The Internet research community is promoting active queue management in routers as a proactive means of addressing congestion in the Internet. Active queue management mechanisms such as Random Early Detection (RED) work well for TCP flows but can fail in the presence of unresponsive UDP flows. Recent proposals extend RED to strongly favor TCP and TCP-like flows and to actively penalize `misbehaving' flows. This is problematic for multimedia flows that, although potentially well-behaved, do not, or can not, satisfy the definition of a TCP-like flow. In this paper we investigate an extension to RED active queue management called Class-Based Thresholds (CBT). The goal of CBT is to reduce congestion in routers and to protect TCP from all UDP flows while also ensuring acceptable throughput and latency for well-behaved UDP flows. CBT attempts to realize a `better than best effort' service for well-behaved multimedia flows that is comparable to that achieved by a packet or link scheduling discipline, however, CBT does this by queue management rather than by scheduling. We present results of experiments comparing our mechanisms to plain RED and to FRED, a variant of RED designed to ensure fair allocation of bandwidth amongst flows. We also compare CBT to a packet scheduling scheme. The experiments show that CBT (1) realizes protection for TCP, and (2) provides throughput and end-to-end latency for tagged UDP flows, that is better than that under FRED and RED and comparable to that achieved by packet scheduling. Moreover CBT is a lighter-weight mechanism than FRED in terms of its state requirements and implementation complexity.
Enhanced lysis and accelerated establishment of viscoelastic properties of fibrin clots are associated with pulmonary embolism

The factors that contribute to pulmonary embolism (PE), a potentially fatal complication of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), remain poorly understood. Whereas fibrin clot structure and functional properties have been implicated in the pathology of venous thromboembolism and the risk for cardiovascular complications, their significance in PE remains uncertain. Therefore, we systematically compared and quantified clot formation and lysis time, plasminogen levels, viscoelastic properties, activated factor XIII cross-linking, and fibrin clot structure in isolated DVT and PE subjects. Clots made from plasma of PE subjects showed faster clot lysis times with no differences in lag time, rate of clot formation, or maximum absorbance of turbidity compared with DVT. Differences in lysis times were not due to alterations in plasminogen levels. Compared with DVT, clots derived from PE subjects showed accelerated establishment of viscoelastic properties, documented by a decrease in lag time and an increase in the rate of viscoelastic property formation. The rate and extent of fibrin cross-linking by activated factor XIII were similar between clots from DVT and PE subjects. Electron microscopy revealed that plasma fibrin clots from PE subjects exhibited lower fiber density compared with those from DVT subjects. These data suggest that clot structure and functional properties differ between DVT and PE subjects and provide insights into mechanisms that may regulate embolization.
A mechanical comparison of gluteus medius attachment methods in a canine model

Seven techniques of gluteus medius attachment were compared in vitro in a canine model. Four methods were used for tendon to tendon attachment: (a) two modified Bunnell-Mayer stutures, (b) two Kessler locking loop sutures, (c) two horizontal mattress sutures, and (d) two sutures with a looped suture technique. The two methods of tendon to bone attachment were repair with a 1 cm spiked staple and repair with a spiked washer and screw, and the method of bone to bone attachment involved two figure-eight cerclage wires. The colitralateral limb served as a control. Compared with the bone to bone attachment, the four tendon to tendon attachments and the two tendon to bone attachments had significantly less strength (31 and 30% of the ultimate load for bone to bone repair, respectively) and tensile stiffness (24 and 39% of the tensile stiffness for bone to bone attachment, respectively) (p ≤ 0.0001). The control specimens were significantly stronger and stiffer than all specimens (p ≤ 0.05) except those that had bone to bone fixation. There were no significant differences among the four tendon to tendon suture repairs with regard to either strength or stiffness; the values ranged from 28–45% of those of the controls. Among the tendon to bone repairs, fixation with a spiked washer and screw was significantly stronger than that with a spiked staple (p = 0.032), but there was no difference between these two techniques with regard to stiffness.
Comparative analysis of surface charges on luminal epithelial membranes of urinary bladders from toad, frog, turtle, and tortoise.

Cationized ferritin was used to analyze the surface charges on the luminal epithelial cell membranes of urinary bladders from toad (Bufo marinus), bullfrog (Rana catesbiana), turtle (Pseudemys scripta and Clemmys caspica), and tortoise (Geochelone carbonaria and Testudo graeca). The labeling, done at a physiological pH on fixed or unfixed bladders, revealed differences in the distribution and density of negative charges along the luminal membrane surfaces. The epithelial surface of toad bladder did not label with cationized ferritin. Frog bladder labeled lightly and the labeling pattern varied between cell types. The epithelial membrane surfaces of reptile bladders were heavily labeled, in contrast to amphibian bladders. Luminal surfaces from fresh water turtles were not as heavily labeled as those from land tortoises. The degree of labeling varied from cell type to cell type in all reptile bladders except Pseudemys scripta. An analysis of the degree and pattern of labeling by cationized ferritin in bladders of all species studied might reflect a difference in the nature of the glycocalyx of a particular membrane, the presence or absence of negative surface charges or their availability (i.e., interference by mucus), and/or the nature of the chemical groups comprising the surface structure of the membrane.
N-type Calcium Channel Blocker for Pain Treatment

Chronic pain, including cancer-related pain and neuropathic pain, remains difficult to treat despite many years of extensive preclinical research. Currently, there is a rather short list of medications that can be effectively used to treat chronic pain. One of the clinical issues related to drug therapy is that side effects often develop at or below a drug's therapeutic level. For example, the n-type calcium channel blocker ziconotide was approved for the treatment of severe pain, but its side effects …
The effect of comorbidity on care seeking for back problems in the United States.

Abstract PURPOSE: We assess the effect of comorbidity on self-reported use of health care for back problems in the United States. METHODS: Data from the 1989 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) were used to perform cross-sectional analyses of adults who reported a back-related condition. The presence of one or more nonback-related conditions (and associated disability and health care) were the primary predictor variables. Weighted logistic regression modeling was performed to estimate odds ratios (ORs) adjusted for the effects of covariates. RESULTS: The 1989 NHIS included 84,572 adults, of which 4790 (5.7%) reported at least one back-related condition. Of these, 931 (19.6%) sought health care for their back condition during the 2-week reference period. Among all adults with reported back problems, those with disabling comorbidities and those who sought care for their comorbidities during the reference period were less likely to have sought back care than were those with no comorbidities. Subjects with back-related disabilities who reported nondisabling comorbidities without associated health care were much more likely to have sought back care than were similar subjects without any comorbidities. CONCLUSIONS: The decision to seek care for a back problem is a complex process that depends upon the presence and impact of other conditions and the use of care for these conditions. Comorbid back problem sufferers may not seek back care when afflicted with other disabling conditions or conditions that may be perceived to be more amenable to care.
498: Characterization of 20α reductases and 5α reductase enzyme expression in human fetal membranes

enzyme expression in human fetal membranes Jennifer McIntosh, Eric Knudtson, Daniel Jackson, Kimberly Pecinosky, Dean Myers University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Oklahoma City, OK OBJECTIVE: Progesterone is essential for maintaining pregnancy. In the fetal membranes, progesterone limits prostaglandin (PG) production during pregnancy. One potential mechanism for a local progesterone withdrawal in fetal membranes is a local progesterone metabolism to inactive metabolites via 20 reductases (aldoketo reductase (AKR) 1C1, C2 and C3) and 5 reductase (5 RDT). However, the expression of these enzymes in the fetal membranes has not been described. We hypothesized that members of the AKR1C and/or 5 RDT enzymes are expressed in one or more components of the fetal membranes. STUDY DESIGN: Placentas from were obtained under sterile conditions from consented subjects (n 3) undergoing term, scheduled cesarean delivery without having undergone labor. For each, the fetal membranes were then separated into the amnion, chorion and decidua and snap frozen at -80. The presence of messenger RNA (mRNA) for AKR1C1, AKR1C2, AKR1C3 and 5 RDT-type II was assessed by using reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) in triplicate followed by agarose gel electrophoresis with ethidium staining. Human cervical fibroblasts were used for comparison, as presence of all of these enzymes have previously been found and described. Cyclophilin was used as a housekeeping gene. RESULTS: AKR1C2, AKR1C3 as well as 5 RDT-II were expressed in amnion, chorion and decidua. AKR1C1 was not expressed in these tissues. The relative mRNA levels of AKR1C1, 2 and 5 RDT-type II were similar in amnion, chorion and decidua (Figure). CONCLUSION: AKR1C2, AKR1C3 and 5 RDT-II were expressed in the amnion, chorion and decidua of normal term pregnancies. This may imply that a local progesterone withdrawal facilitates removal of progesterone action in these tissues facilitating PG production at term. Future studies examining progesterone metabolism via these pathways and expression of these enzymes in non-laboring vs. laboring membranes may provide another avenue of local progesterone withdrawal in the final common parturition pathway.
The Relationship of Some Personality and Individual Characteristics with an Individual's Commitment to an Ideal Vision for Performance Improvement

This study examined the relationships among specified personality and individual characteristics of university students with their level of commitment to a measurable, results-focused statement of an Ideal Vision. The study examined variables (including locus of control, generativity, self-efficacy, values, and risk taking) to determine their relationship with an individual's commitment to an Ideal Vision. Concurrent assessments of individual differences and commitment were utilized to investigate the relationship these variables may have with an individual's commitment to the pragmatic leadership and management practice of using an Ideal Vision as the starting place for strategic planning, needs assessment, performance improvement, and decision making.
Regulation of juvenile hormone esterase gene transcription by juvenile hormone

Juvenile hormone (JH) is a major hormone regulating insect development. We have obtained a cDNA and a genomic clone for juvenile hormone esterase (JHE), the enzyme that is involved in the degradation of juvenile hormone and which is critical for insect development. Analysis of the regulation of JHE during the final larval stadium in the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni, showed that the JHE mRNA levels are maximal on days 2 and 4 of the final stadium. Nuclear run-on analyses demonstrated that changes in JHE mRNA levels are primarily due to changes in the transcription rate of the gene, which may be a single copy in the genome. Treatment with a JH analog resulted in induction of JHE gene transcription, which could be detected within three hours after treatment. Salient features present in the 5′ flanking region of this JH-sensitive gene are presented, including the presence of sequences closely resembling binding sites for members of the family of nuclear receptors. This report is the first direct demonstration, by nuclear run-on analysis, of JH induction of gene transcription. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Measurement of VLSI power supply current by electron-beam probing

The measurement of power supply noise and current by electron-beam probing is described. Noise measurements can be made on the chip under test, and current measurements can be made on the circuit board. It is noted that power supply voltages are obtained simultaneously. This measurement method is particularly useful when combined with a larger program of circuit characterization, or design verification, by electron-beam probing. >
Capsule Commentary on Vyas et al., Diet Drink Consumption and the Risk of Cardiovascular Events: A Report from the Women’s Health Initiative

This study by Vyas et al. is a retrospective report on data from the Women’s Health Initiative assessing the relationship between the amount of diet soda consumed and incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD).1 Nearly 60,000 postmenopausal women without known CVD were evaluated and followed for 6–10 years. Diet soda intake was categorized into four groups: 0–3 drinks per month, 1–4 drinks per week, 5–7 drinks per week, and 2 or more drinks per day. After adjusting for a multitude of factors, including CVD risk and demographic characteristics, women who consumed≥ 2 drinks/day had a higher risk of CVD events and mortality compared to women who drank 0–3 drinks/month. The authors also found an interesting interaction between BMI and diet drink intake, which could be further explored. All observational epidemiological studies are prone to a number of important confounding variables that could produce biased results. In this study, there were differences between participants who were included in the study and those who were excluded, and the study’s main focus relied on participants’ responses to questionnaires. In addition, dietary data was obtained at baseline and three years after enrollment, and it is reasonable to assume that dietary behavior, including the number of diet drinks consumed, would vary over the years. While diet soda is often considered a better alternative to regular soda, past studies have suggested that its consumption is tied to increased obesity,2 metabolic syndrome,2 and diabetes.3 This study offers further support that diet soda should not be considered a healthier substitute. However, the number of potential confounders in the relationship between diet soda and CVD is considerable. At most, such data should be cautiously interpreted to mean that there “might” be an association between the two. Medical history is rife with examples of putative relationships based on epidemiologic data, such as the benefit of estrogen for postmenopausal women or the importance of magnesium for heart attack survival, both of which proved to be unsubstantiated when studied more rigorously. Further research regarding the possible association between diet soda and CVD certainly remains an area of interest.
Cross-Reactive Antigens: Their Potential for Immunization-Induced Immunity to Gram-Negative Bacteria

The involvement of multiple species and serologic types in gram-negative bacteremia prompted evaluation of immunization with shared, cross-reactive antigens of gram negative bacilli. Active and passive immunization with Re chemotype mutants of Salmonella minnesota afforded significant protection against heterologous gram-negative bacilli and were considerably more effective than immunization with smooth S. minnesota or its Ra, Rb, Rc, Rd1 and Rd2 mutants. Since the lipopolysaccharide of the Re mutant is composed solely of 2-keto-3-deoxycotonate (KDO) and lipid A, the protective activity of antibody to the Re mutant and lipid A was evaluated. Immunization with Re mutant protected granulocytopenic rabbits against lethal bacteremia and protected mice against lethal challenge with heterologous endotoxins, whereas antibody to lipid A had no protective activity. In concomitant clinical studies, high titers of antibody to the Re mutant at the onset of bacteremia were associated with a significant diminution in the frequency of shock and death, which was independent of any effect of O-specific antibody.
Reparations Reconsidered with a Vengeance

In “Reparations Reconsidered: A Reminder,” in the issue of December 1969, Sally Marks argued that the reparation issue was misunderstood and deserved new thought. I agree, but for diametrically opposed reasons. Miss Marks believes that the German hardship was exaggerated. I suggest that the destrucive effect of reparations has never been appreciated. Not even the Germans, however much they complained, realized just how bad reparations were.
HEMOGLOBIN AND PLASMA PROTEIN : SIMULTANEOUS PRODUCTION DURING CONTINUED BLEEDING AS INFLUENCED BY DIET PROTEIN AND OTHER FACTORS

Given healthy dogs, fed abundant iron and a limited protein diet, with sustained anemia due to simple bleeding, we can study the capacity of each animal to produce new hemoglobin and plasma protein. Some dogs can produce much hemoglobin and enough new plasma protein to maintain the plasma protein concentration at approximately a low normal level. It is probable that their plasma protein producing capacity is not fully extended (Table 2). Other dogs (Table 5) can produce the same amount of hemoglobin but a hypoproteinemia develops and continues which should mean a maximal stimulus to produce new plasma protein. In such dogs we have strong stimuli to produce simultaneously new hemoglobin and new plasma protein. The ratio of plasma protein to hemoglobin varies from 40 to 60 per cent. The total new formed blood protein may amount to 30 to 40 per cent of the total diet protein intake which shows that some dogs have remarkable capacity to conserve and use diet protein. In this emergency of simultaneous depletion of hemoglobin and plasma protein levels, the dog gives preference to hemoglobin manufacture no matter what one of the listed food proteins is tested.
High-fat diet determines the composition of the murine gut microbiome independently of obesity.

Background & Aims The composition of the gut microbiome is affected by host phenotype, genotype, immune function, and diet. Here, we used the phenotype of RELMβ knockout (KO) mice to assess the influence of these factors. Methods Both wild-type and RELMβ KO mice were lean on a standard chow diet, but, upon switching to a high-fat diet, wild-type mice became obese, whereas RELMβ KO mice remained comparatively lean. To investigate the influence of diet, genotype, and obesity on microbiome composition, we used deep sequencing to characterize 25,790 16S rDNA sequences from uncultured bacterial communities from both genotypes on both diets. Results We found large alterations associated with switching to the high-fat diet, including a decrease in Bacteroidetes and an increase in both Firmicutes and Proteobacteria . This was seen for both genotypes (ie, in the presence and absence of obesity), indicating that the high-fat diet itself, and not the obese state, mainly accounted for the observed changes in the gut microbiota. The RELMβ genotype also modestly influenced microbiome composition independently of diet. Metagenomic analysis of 537,604 sequence reads documented extensive changes in gene content because of a high-fat diet, including an increase in transporters and 2-component sensor responders as well as a general decrease in metabolic genes. Unexpectedly, we found a substantial amount of murine DNA in our samples that increased in proportion on a high-fat diet. Conclusions These results demonstrate the importance of diet as a determinant of gut microbiome composition and suggest the need to control for dietary variation when evaluating the composition of the human gut microbiome.
Synthesis of chain-end functionalized PP and applications in exfoliated PP/clay nanocomposites

This paper summarizes our research to the preparation of chain-end functionalized isotactic polypropylene (i-PP) having a terminal functional group, such as an OH and an NH 2 . The chemistry involves metallocene-mediated propylene polymerization using the rac-Me 2 Si[2-Me-4-Ph(Ind)] 2 ZrCl 2 /MAO complex in the presence of styrene derivatives (St-f) and hydrogen, which serve as the chain transfer agents. The molecular weight of the resulting i-PP polymers with terminal OH or NH 2 groups (i.e., PP-t-OH and PP-t-NH 2 ) are inversely proportional to the molar ratio of [St-f]/[propylene]. Despite the extremely low concentration of functional groups, the high molecular weight NH 3 + -terminated PP (PP-t-NH 3 + ) exhibits a distinctive advantage over other functional PP polymers containing side chain functional groups or long functional blocks. The terminal hydrophilic NH 3 + cation, with good mobility and reactivity, effectively ion-exchanges the cations (Li + , Na + , etc.) located between the clay interlayers, and anchors the PP chain to the clay surfaces. On the other hand, the remaining rest of the unperturbed, endtethered, high molecular weight PP tail exfoliates the clay layers. This exfoliated structure is maintained even after further mixing of the PP-bearing platelets with pure, neat PP polymers.
Ontogeny of Pituitary and Serum Growth Hormone in Growing Turkeys as Measured by Radioimmunoassay and Radioreceptor Assay

Some mammalian studies have revealed a wide discrepancy in pituitary and circulating growth hormone (GH) measurements determined by immunological and biological assay methods. Recent studies demonstrating that avian GH exists in numerous isoforms raise concerns that immunological measurement of GH may not accurately reflect the amount of biologically active hormone present. We sampled eight different male turkeys of a commercial strain weekly until 6 wk of age, and then biweekly until 20 wk. Total pituitary GH content and serum GH concentration were measured by avian GH RIA and radioreceptor assay (RRA). The highest mean serum GH concentration occurred at 3 wk, and the ontogeny of serum GH content from 1 to 8 wk was similar whether measured by RIA or RRA. Pituitary GH content was highest at 6 wk, but RIA and RRA estimates differed markedly throughout the study. Pituitary content of biologically active GH, as estimated by RRA, exceeded that of immunologically active GH from 2 to 10 wk, whereas the reverse was true at 14, 18, and 20 wk. We conclude that this avian GH RIA accurately measures bioactive circulating turkey GH, but that the pituitary of the young turkey may contain bioactive GH isoforms that have poor immunological activity in our RIA.
Visual field changes after laser in situ keratomileusis.

Purpose To determine whether laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) affects the central 30-degree visual field. Setting University-based ophthalmology practice. Methods This nonrandomized clinical trial comprised 14 normal patients (27 eyes) scheduled to have LASIK for myopia or myopic astigmatism. Automated static perimetry was performed before and 6 months after surgery using the Octopus 1-2-3 perimeter and the Dynamic-32 test strategy. Patient data included sex, age, preoperative and postoperative refractive errors, preoperative and postoperative best corrected visual acuity, preoperative corneal thickness, programmed optical zone, programmed total ablation diameter, and duration of microkeratome suction. All surgery was performed using the same Alcon LADARVision 4000 excimer laser. The main outcome measures were the mean sensitivity (MS) change in the central 15-degree visual field and the MS change in the 15- to 30-degree visual field. A multivariate analysis of the MS change as a function of preoperative clinical parameters was performed. Results There was no significant change in the MS in the central 15-degree visual field; between 15 and 30 degrees, there was a statistically significant decrease of −0.82 dB ± 1.40 (SD) ( P =.01, 2-tailed t test). The decline in MS was positively correlated with refractive error and corneal thickness; it was negatively correlated with the programmed optical zone diameter. Conclusions Automatic static perimetry can detect decreased sensitivity in the midperipheral visual field after myopic LASIK. It may be a useful quantitative subjective test for measuring the effects of future improvements in surgical technique on vision quality.
An introduction to Technology Forecasting with a TFDEA Excel add-in

This paper describes an Excel add-in program that can run TFDEA (Technology Forecasting using Data Envelopment Anlaysis) within the spreadsheet. It utilizes freely available statistical software R and its packages developed by Statconn. This add-in allows access to both user-friendly tools for data manipulation in spreadsheet available and the power and precision of the results via R.
Ensuring Academic Standards in US Higher Education

The most recent research on college-student learning in the US by respected scholars such as Richard Arum, Josipa Roksa, and Ernest Pascarella suggests that our means of ensuring academic standards...
Intermittent steroid inhalation for the treatment of childhood asthma

Inhaled corticosteroids have long been considered a mainstay of therapy for asthma in children. However, concerns over long-term side effects of chronic steroid administration have led providers to turn to intermittent dosing of these medications in an attempt to treat exacerbations while limiting total corticosteroid received. The data have been somewhat mixed in this area, likely at least partially due to the difficulty providers have in classifying asthma phenotypes in young children. This review will analyze the evidence for chronic daily inhaled corticosteroid use, intermittent inhaled corticosteroid use, and dynamic dosing approaches utilizing inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting beta agonist combination therapy.