cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dynamics of Hippocampal and Cortical Activation during Consolidation of a Nonspatial Memory

Observations of temporally graded retrograde amnesia after hippocampal damage suggest that the hippocampal region plays a critical, time-limited role in memory consolidation. However, these observations do not indicate where permanent memory is stored, nor do they clarify whether the hippocampus normally remains involved in a nonessential way. Evidence from multiple neural imaging studies indicate the time-limited role of the hippocampus and suggest that the anterior cingulate cortex is a critical storage site of different types of long-term memory. However, each of the previous studies examined spatial memory, leaving open the question of whether different cortical areas support long-term memory for other types of material. We characterized the course of involvement of cortical and hippocampal areas in animals trained in an explicitly nonspatial task. First, we confirmed previous findings that hippocampal damage produces temporally graded retrograde amnesia for the social transmission of a food preference (STFP) within our experimental protocol. Damage to the hippocampal region 1 d, but not 21 d, after training impaired subsequent recall of STFP. Then, we characterized the anatomical patterns of activation of the immediate early gene c-fos during retrieval of STFP immediately and 1, 2, and 21 d after training. The ventral subiculum was activated during retrieval shortly after learning, but the level of activation declined at successive times. In contrast, olfactory recipient regions including piriform, entorhinal, and orbitofrontal cortex showed the opposite pattern, increasingly greater activation in successively later retrieval tests. These findings support the view that different cortical networks support long-term memory for different types of information.
SU-FF-T-233: Clinical Implementation of An In-Vivo Dosimetry System in Conjunction with the RadCalc™ Program

Purpose: To present the clinical implementation of an in-vivo dosimetry system in conjunction with the RadCalc™ monitor unit calculation program. Method and Materials: A wireless PC-based in-vivo dosimetry system (rf-IVD, Sun Nuclear Corporation, Melbourne, FL) was acquired with n-type QED diodes for in-vivo dosimetry for photon and electron treatment verification. A series of acceptance tests to assess reliability of this system for in-vivo dosimetry applications were performed. These included post-irradiation signal stability, dose linearity and angular dependence. As a first step, the system was implemented on a Varian 600C 6 MV beam. Calibration measurements were performed in conjunction with an ADCL calibrated PTW N2333 Farmer-type ion chamber in a solid water phantom. The chamber was placed at dmax (1.5 cm) and the diode was placed at the surface of the phantom. Correction factors were determined for tray, wedges, field size and source to surface distance (SSD). The SSD correction factors were obtained for a range of distances (80–120 cm). Field size correction factors were obtained for a range of field sizes (4 × 4 – 30 × 30 cm2). The RadCalc™ software allows a simple interface to enter the collected data and computes the expected diode reading for each treatment field. Results: Preliminary results indicate that the agreement between expected and measured readings is within ±5%. Conclusion: In-vivo dosimetry system based on surface measurements using diodes can be effectively implemented in conjunction with the RadCalc™ program, facilitating implementation of this quality assurance tool. Specific action levels have been set for agreement between planned dose and dose determined using diodes for different treatment sites. Future work will include commissioning of the of the in-vivo dosimetry system in conjunction with RadCalc™ for IMRT and electron beam treatment verification.
The response of the cornea of the adult axolotl (Siredon mexicanum) to X-radiation

The anterior portion of the head was irradiated in 70 adult axolotls (Mexican salamanders of the species Siredon mexicanum), 4–5 years old, using 1000 r in 9 animals, 3000 r in 20, 6000 r in 10, 8000 r in 11, and 10,000 r in 20; 5 animals served as untreated controls. Specimens fixed at various intervals following irradiation were studied histologically. After irradiation with 1000 r, the substantia propria of the cornea was almost normal. The corneal epithelium, however, became much thicker, and melanophores and Leydig cells developed in it. After irradiation with 3000 r, the substantia propria was much thicker than normal, and underwent stratification; cavities and pigment cells developed in it. In the epithelium, melanophores and Leydig cells developed, and sometimes cavities formed between the cells, and vacuoles appeared in the cytoplasm. After irradiation with 6000–10,000 r, the substantia propria underwent thickening and stratification, and blood vessels penetrated into it. The epithelium became much thicker, giant cells developed, and melanophores and Leydig cells were formed. Sometimes the corneal epithelium disappeared and was replaced by skin epithelium. Some phenomena typical of the response of young axolotls to radiation (e.g., the formation of abnormal outgrowths on the cornea) were not observed in adult animals. On the other hand, the development of melanophores and blood vessels in the substantia propria occurred in the adults, but not in the young animals. The development of melanophores and blood vessels in areas of the irradiated cornea where they do not occur in the nonirradiated cornea may be considered a result of X-ray stimulation. Most of the histopathological changes that were observed in the irradiated cornea in axolotls are not peculiar to amphibians; they have been reported by various investigators to occur in mammals, including man.
Snares and Munc18 in synaptic vesicle fusion.

The release of neurotransmitters by Ca2+-triggered synaptic vesicle exocytosis is an exquisitely regulated process that is fundamental for interneuronal communication. This process involves several steps and is controlled by a protein machinery that must prevent release before Ca2+ entry into presynaptic terminals, and yet must rapidly induce release on Ca2+ influx. Extensive studies of the components of this machinery have indicated that SNAREs and Munc18-1 are central proteins for membrane fusion during exocytosis. An increasing amount of information derived from a convergence of structural, physiological and genetic studies is providing important insights into the mechanism of neurotransmitter release.
Temperature response of CO2 fixation in isolated Opuntia cells

Abstract Enzymatically isolated chlorenchyma cells from two species of Opuntia were judged largely intact based on exclusion of Evan's blue dye, high rates of CO 2 fixation and O 2 evolution, and a lack of large stimulation of CO 2 fixation upon the addition of phosphorylated substrates. Maximum rates of light dependent CO 2 fixation of 105 μmol CO 2 fixed/mg chl −1 /h −1 in Opuntia monacantha and 48 μmol CO 2 fixed/mg chl −1 /h −1 in Opuntia polyacantha were found at the temperature optima of 40 and 45°C, respectively. An apparent activation energy (Ea) for light dependent CO 2 fixation of approximately 17.5 kcal/mol −1 in both Opuntia species is similar to the reported values for C 3 and Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) plants. The optimum temperature for the Hill reaction in O. monacantha was 35°C. The temperature response of light and dark CO 2 fixation and the high temperature optimum for the Hill reaction are consistent with the effects of temperature on Crassulacean acid metabolism and are discussed in relation to the photosynthetic performance of cacti under conditions of stomatal closure and high tissue temperatures.
Natural Inhibitor of the Gypsy Moth Sex Attractant

INHIBITION or masking of sex pheromone response by natural products occurring in the pheromone producing gland has been described in the gypsy moth1, Porihetria dispar (L.), other Lepidoptera2,3 and insects in additional orders4,5 but none of the inhibitors has been identified. We report here that an olefin, 2-methyl-cis-7-octadecene, present6 in the female sex pheromone gland of the gypsy moth, inhibits male attraction to the female sex attractant pheromone, which was identified as cis-7,8-epoxy-2-methyloctadecane6.
On the accuracy of the ’’decoupled l‐dominant’’ approximation for atom–molecule scattering

Cross sections for rotational excitation and spectral pressure broadening of HD, HCl, CO, and HCN due to collisions with low energy He atoms have been computed within the ’’decoupled l‐dominant’’ (DLD) approximation recently suggested by DePristo and Alexander; these are compared with accurate close coupling results and also with two similar approximations, the effective potential of Rabitz and the coupled states of McGuire and Kouri. These collision systems are all dominated by short‐range repulsive interactions although they have varying degrees of anisotropy and inelasticity. The coupled states method is expected to be valid for such systems, but they should be a severe test to the DLD approximation which is expected to be better for long‐range interactions. Nonetheless, DLD predictions of state‐to‐state cross sections are rather good, being only slightly less accurate than coupled states results. DLD is far superior to either the coupled states or effective potential methods for pressure broadening calculations, although it may not be uniformly of the quantitative accuracy desirable for obtaining intermolecular potentials from experimental data.
Time scales for three processes in the interdiffusion across interfaces

The complete cohesion of two thin films composed of melts of C99H200 has been achieved by simulation. The simulation employs a new `mapping/reverse mapping' technique that is orders of magnitude more efficient than conventional molecular dynamics simulations of fully atomistic models. Three distinct processes, each with its own time scale, can be resolved. From fastest to slowest, these are: 1. the healing of the density profile between the two films, 2. the redistribution of chain ends, and 3. the complete intermixing of the segments from the original two films. This simulation has the capability of producing new insights into the mechanism of interdiffusion across an interface and the mechanism of the development of cohesive strength at the interface.
Seeing others through rose-colored glasses: An affiliation goal and positivity bias in implicit trait impressions

Abstract People infer traits from other people's behaviors without intention, awareness, or effort, and this spontaneous trait inference (STI) effect has been shown to be robust. The purpose of the present research was to demonstrate the flexibility of STIs despite the ubiquity. Specifically, we examined the effect of an affiliation goal on STI formation and found a positivity bias. In Experiment 1, perceivers with an affiliation goal formed more positive (versus negative) spontaneous trait inferences compared to those without this goal and those who had been primed with semantically positive, affiliation-unrelated words. Experiment 2 provided evidence that this effect was driven by a motivational state by showing that the positivity bias occurs only when a perceiver's goal to affiliate remains unfulfilled. The goal's interaction with trait valence showed focused, goal-relevant bias. These studies are the first to show that STIs form flexibly in response to perceivers' primed social goals supporting the functionality account of STIs in implicit impression formation.
Intraoperative ultrasound: determination of the presence and extent of vena caval tumor thrombus.

Abstract Objectives To report and discuss five cases of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) inwhich preoperative imaging studies were equivocal with regard to the presence and extent of vena caval tumor thrombus or in which dynamic intraoperative imaging of the vena cava was advantageous. Methods We reviewed the cases of five patients who had conflicting preoperative imaging studies and reviewed the literature applying to this clinical situation. Results Two patients whose preoperative magnetic resonance imaging studies suggestedinferior vena cavai tumor thrombus were shown, on intraoperative color Doppler ultrasound, not to have tumor thrombus but rather turbulent flow within the vena cava mimicking thrombus. In two patients intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS) was used to image the position of the tumor thrombus as it was manipulated to allow for safe vena caval clamp placement. In one patient we used real-time imaging to visualize thrombus extraction from the heart. Conclusions Intraoperative ultrasound real-time imaging is beneficial in two specific situations: in those cases in which the presence of renal vein or inferior vena cava involvement is equivocal based on preoperative imaging techniques and when there is a need to identify intraoperatively the limits of a known tumor thrombus to allow subsequent safe placement of a caval clamp.
Skin breathing--primary or secondary?

Abstract Lungs, rare in fishes today, were apparently very common in early times as an adaptation to then widespread seasonal drought conditions. The development of terrestrial limbs was probably likewise an adaptation promoting aquatic life under such conditions; despite their limbs the earliest amphibians could not become land dwellers because of a dearth of suitable food on land. Skin breathing in modem amphibians is associated with an inefficient type of lung breathing and lack of a developed gill-system to aid in carbon dioxide elimination. But all early amphibians possessed a good rib basket, suggesting a more advanced breathing mechanism, and not improbably many early forms retained functional gills. Further, it is highly probable that all early amphibians were completely scalesheathed. The pedigree of the modern orders is uncertain, but they appear to be specialized forms and not primitive in any regard.
Translation Invariance and a Reduced Model for Summing Planar Diagrams in {QCD}

A reduction of degrees of freedom at large N is performed by representing space-time translations in the internal symmetry group. The reduced model for the U(∞) gauge theory is constructed in a translation invariant gauge. The rule is U(x, x+μ)→Dk(x)VμDk+(x) where Vμ belong to the coset U(N)U(1)N and Dk(x) is a diagonal plane-wave matrix representing translations. We show that at large N, the planar perturbation expansion of the gauge theory is identical to that of the reduced model.
Nigeria: "Ground Zero" for the high prevalence neglected tropical diseases.

Among all of the African nations, Nigeria has the greatest number of people infected with neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). With the right political will, the country has sufficient resources to expand its current investments for the important work of Nigeria's NTD program.
Redrawing Kant's Philosophy of Mathematics

This essay offers a strategic reinterpretation of Kant’s philosophy of mathematics in Critique of Pure Reason via a broad, empirically based reconception of Kant’s conception of drawing. It begins with a general overview of Kant’s philosophy of mathematics, observing how he differentiates mathematics in the Critique from both the dynamical and the philosophical. Second, it examines how a recent wave of critical analyses of Kant’s constructivism takes up these issues, largely inspired by Hintikka’s unorthodox conception of Kantian intuition. Third, it offers further analyses of three Kantian concepts vitally linked to that of drawing. It concludes with an etymologically based exploration of the seven clusters of meanings of the word drawing to gesture toward new possibilities for interpreting a Kantian philosophy of mathematics. South African Journal of Philosophy 2013, 32(3): 235–247
Introducing Digital Storytelling to Influence the Behavior of Children and Adolescents

Storytelling as a creative counseling tool for children is well supported in counseling literature (Bradley, Whiting, Hendricks, Parr, & Jones, 2008; Burns, 2004; Pehrsson, 2005). Storytelling, whether in the form of oral, pictorial, written, or film media, has been an essential element in the lives of mankind throughout history (McClean, 2007). Stories help in the exchange of experiences from one individual to another. Now with the growth and accessibility of multimedia tools, the practice of storytelling as a counseling tool with children can be expanded through the use of technology. The creation of the digital stories can be therapeutic for both the originator and the viewer. This article includes an introduction to digital storytelling and a description of a pilot program.
Scaling of transient wave-soil interaction problems

SUMMARY Within the framework of compressible multi-phase flow through deformable porous media, wave–soil interactions in the near-shore region during wave runup and drawdown are modeled. Critical non-dimensional parameters governing the interaction processes are identified. Within the context of wave basin and centrifuge wave tank facilities, we propose scaling relations for the experimental investigations of the transient and steady-state responses of wave–soil systems. Numerical simulations are conducted to illustrate and confirm the theoretical and scaling analyses. Based on the simulations results, the implications on the design of experiments and interpretation of results are discussed. Copyright q 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Physical Conditions in the Central Parsec Modeled from Mid-Infrared Imaging Photometry

Array camera images of the central 1 parsec of the Galactic Center at eight mid-infrared wavelengths between 4.8 and 20.0 microns with approximately 1 arcsec resolution are used to model the temperature, opacity and bolometric luminosity distributions of the emitting dust in the central parsec, and the extinction in the line of sight. We use the results to discriminate between two mechanisms for heating the dust: heating by radiation from a "central engine" (possibly a massive black hole associated with Sgr A*), or internal heating by luminous stars embedded in or among the dust clouds. The temperature and opacity distributions are consistent with the presence of self-luminous objects imbedded at prominent the IRS source positions. However, temperatures on the northern ann and east-west bar are highest along the inner flank of those structures surrounding the central cavity, while the dust opacity peaks further out from the central cavity. The warm inner ridge suggests heating by centrally located concentrated luminous sources, including IRS3 and IRS7. The of the model results are compared with the distributions of the various stellar populations in the central parsec. There is evidence for physical interaction between the warm emitting dust and luminous stars, including dozens of hot He1 emission line stars and B[] stars. The combined contributions of embedded stars at the IRS source positions and the luminous stars distributed throughout Sgr A West can account for the temperature enhancements and the luminosity distribution in the central parsec computed by the model.
Transport and Phagocytosis of Fresh Versus Aged Rabbit Sperm

Published research indicates that few of the sperm deposited in the female tract are recovered after insemination. Experiments were performed in rabbits to determine if sperm recovery could be improved by intensive flushing, and to examine leucocytic response as a factor affecting recovery. Freshly ejaculated and washed sperm were compared with sperm aged for 10 to 12 h in vitro prior to insemination. More aged sperm (54%) were recovered from the uterus than fresh sperm (36%) within 10 to 15 min of uterine deposition. Use of whole semen instead of washed sperm reduced recovery of both types of sperm (33 to 37% recovery). Increasing concentrations of Triton X-100 and multiple flushes increased recovery of fresh sperm, but not of aged sperm. Only 6.6% of the aged sperm and 11.5% of the fresh sperm were engulfed by neutrophils after 12 h in ligated uteri, and many sperm were unaccounted for. A breakthrough in recovery was achieved by developing a method to solubilize neutrophils, leaving sperm heads intact. This increased recovery of sperm held for 12 h in the female from 48% before to 93 to 95% after neutrophil dissolution. This technique will enhance studies involving sperm interactions in the female.
Measurement of constitutive L-pyrrolidonyl peptidase activity from Streptococcus and Enterococcus using tetrazotized 0-dianisidine

The detection of L-pyrrolidonyl peptidase activity is extremely useful for the differentiation of Enterococcus species and Streptococcus pyogenes from other members of the family Streptococaceae. This analysis has generally been performed utilizing the hydrolyzable substrate L-pyrrolidonyl beta-naphthylamine. After the substrate was hydrolyzed, free beta-naphthylamine has been detected utilizing the reagent para-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde. The cinnamaldehyde and naphthylamine reagents combine to form an orange color, much like the indole reaction. The use of the cinnamaldehyde reagent had several drawbacks however: color development was not sharp, and the reagent was difficult to produce, and it was not stable. A new indicator system employing tetrazotized 0-dianisidine was developed. An extremely deep burgundy colored complex resulted from the reaction between the new indicator and B-Naphthylamine. This diazo reagent showed excellent correlation with results obtained with para-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde and yielded more objective, distinct endpoints. This inexpensive reagent can be utilized either in a liquid form or dired on paper discs.
Learning Theory and Prosocial Behavior.

Altruism constitutes a paradox for learning theory. By definition altruism is a form of behavior which is engaged at some cost to the actor and without tangible rewards for him. Learning theory, however, implicates reinforcement both in the learning and the maintenance of all behavior. How then is altruistic behavior learned and maintained? The roles of affect, cognition, and possibly self-reinforcement are examined for their influence in establishing and maintaining altruistic behavior. The implications of these variables for theories of learning are considered.
Microdetermination of dihydroxyacetone in biological fluids.

Abstract Dihydroxyacetone is reacted with an excess of 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine. The excess reagent is removed by the addition of pyruvic acid and followed by partition between benzene and sodium bicarbonate solution. The benzene layer containing the 2,4-dinitrophenylosazone of dihydroxyacetone is evaporated, and the color developed with the addition of alcoholic sodium hydroxide is measured. Glucose, an interfering material in blood or urine, is removed by an oxidase. Other interference is corrected by the removal of dihydroxyacetone with alkali. Effective range of this method is from 5 μg dihydroxyacetone. The precision of the method has been measured.
FATTY ACID COMPOSITIONS OF HUMAN BRAIN LECITHIN AND SPHINGOMYELIN IN NORMAL INDIVIDUALS, SENILE CEREBRAL CORTICAL ATROPHY, ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE, METACHROMATIC LEUCODYSTROPHY, TAY-SACHS AND NIEMANN-PICK DISEASES.

The fatty acid compositions of whole brain lecithin and sphingomyelin were determined. Brain specimens from normal adults, a normal infant, and several disease states were examined. Normal adult brain lecithin has a very simple fatty acid composition (palmitic, stearic, and oleic acids) and infant brain lecithin contains more palmitic acid and less oleic acid than adult brain. The whole brain lecithin fatty acid compositions from metachromatic leucodystrophy, and Tay-Sachs and Niemann-Pick diseases are intermediate between that of normal infant and normal adult brain and no characteristic features attributable to specific disease states were detected. The fatty acids of whole brain lecithin from senile cerebral cortical atrophy and Alzheimer’s disease were similar to normal adult brain except that a greater variety of fatty acids was seen in both pathological states. No characteristic features attributable specifically to either pathological state were detected. The fatty acid composition of normal adult brain sphingomyelin differs from that of the normal infant in that longer chain fatty acids are more abundant in adult brain. The fatty acid compositions of whole brain sphingomyelins from Niemann-Pick disease and metachromatic leucodystrophy differed from that of normal infant and adult brain in that C24 acids were not detected. No characteristic features attributable to a specific disease were detected. Fatty acid compositions of whole brain sphingomyelins in senile cerebral cortical atrophy and Alzheimer’s disease were found to be very similar to those of the normal adult.
Elementary excitations in the surface region of a semi-infinite solid

An exact method is described for calculating the electronic or vibrational excitations in the surface region of a semi-infinite solid, starting from an orthogonal tight-binding or linear-combination-of-atomic-orbitals model for electrons or a Born-von K\'arm\'an model for phonons. A combination of matrix continued fraction and conventional Green's function techniques is used; this separates the effects of termination or cleavage of the perfect bulk crystal from effects arising from changes in the interactions in the surface region. Many ordered overlayers and a restricted class of interfaces can be treated by the same methods.
Threshold effects of nitric oxide-induced toxicity and cellular responses in wild-type and p53-null human lymphoblastoid cells.

Toxicity induced by nitric oxide (NO•) has been extensively investigated in many in vitro and in vivo experimental models. Recently, our laboratories found that both concentration and cumulative total dose are critical determinants of cell death caused by NO•. Here, we report results of studies designed to define total dose thresholds and threshold effects for several NO•-induced toxicity and cellular responses and to determine impacts of p53 on them. We exposed human lymphoblastoid TK6 cells harboring wild-type p53 and isogenic p53-null NH32 cells to NO• delivered by a membrane delivery system. Cells were exposed at a steady state concentration of 0.6 μM for varying lengths of time to deliver increasing cumulative doses (expressed in units of μM min), and several end points of cytotoxicity and mutagenesis were quantified. Threshold doses for NO•-induced cytotoxicity were 150 μM min in TK6 cells and 300 μM min in NH32 cells, respectively. Threshold doses for NO•-induced apoptosis were identical to those f...
Using functional genomics to overcome therapeutic resistance in hematological malignancies

Despite great advances in our understanding of the driving events involved in malignant transformation, only a small number of oncogenic drivers have been targeted and translated into tangible clinical benefit. Moreover, even when a targeted therapy can be shown to effectively inhibit an oncogenic driver, leading to cancer remission, disease persistence and/or relapse is typically inevitable. Reemergence of the cancer can result from either intrinsic or acquired resistance mechanisms that result in failure to eliminate all cancer cells. Intrinsic mechanisms of resistance include tumor heterogeneity and pathways that can compensate for the inhibition of the oncogenic driver. Acquired resistance mechanisms include mutation of the oncogenic driver to directly prevent drug-mediated inhibition and the activation of compensatory survival pathways. RNA interference (RNAi)-based screening provides a powerful approach for the interrogation of both intrinsic and acquired resistance mechanisms. The availability of short interfering (si)RNA libraries targeting all human and mouse genes has made it possible to perform large-scale unbiased screens to identify pathways that are specifically required in cancer cells of particular genotypes or following particular treatments, facilitating the design of potential new therapeutic strategies that may limit resistance mechanisms. In this review, we will discuss how RNAi screens can be used to uncover critical growth and survival pathways and aid in the identification of novel therapeutic targets for improved treatment of hematological malignancies.
Supercooling phenomenon and water content independence in the overwintering beetle, Coleomegilla maculata

Abstract Insect supercooling phenomena observed during overwintering have been coupled with the seasonality of water and nucleator content and feeding behaviour. However, the strength of the conclusion has in most cases rested on presumption and model systems since nucleator content is not readily quantifiable. The ladybird, Coleomegilla maculata is an overwintering adult insect that fasts for weeks before hibernation, does not accumulate identifiable cryoprotectants during cold exposures, and is freezing intolerant. This species would be expected to overwinter with a constancy of ice nucleators subject to relative increases due to winter dehydration and decreases in supercooling ranges. However, acclimatization and laboratory acclimation experiments have demonstrated both temporal and temperature independence of water content while supercooling levels varied substantially. Supercooling ranges were narrow during warm exposures with a unimodal peak at −6·3°C (±0·2 S.E.). Progressive temperature reductions yielded phasic shifts to multimodal ranges until a low temperature peak of −18·4°C (±0·5 S.E.) was attained. Induced feedings of controlled nucleator substances resulted in predictable supercooling variations while ‘nucleator free’ diets yielded results consistent with natural populations.
Infection in Organ Transplantation: Risk Factors and Evolving Patterns of Infection

The nature of infections after solid-organ transplantation has changed with increasingly potent immunosuppressive regimens, routine use of antimicrobial prophylaxis, and improved microbiologic diagnostic tools. New pathogens have been identified in this population including many with significant antimicrobial resistance. Intensification of immunosuppressive regimens, including the use of T- and B-lymphocyte depleting agents, presents an increased risk for infection and requires linkage to microbiologic monitoring and prophylaxis against opportunistic infections. The effect of these regimens is reflected in the increased recognition of viral and fungal infections beyond 1 year after transplantation. Donor-derived infections represent a challenge to organ transplantation in terms of microbiologic screening of donors and the need for communication among clinical centers, organ procurement organizations, and public health authorities. New approaches to microbiologic assessment of organ donors and recipients are needed. In the future, improved assays for microbiologic and immunologic monitoring will allow individualization of prophylactic strategies to reduce the risk of infection in this highly susceptible population.
Probabilistic branching node detection using hybrid local features

Probabilistic branching node inference is an important step for analyzing branching patterns involved in many anatomic structures. We propose combining machine learning techniques and hybrid image statistics to perform branching node inference, using a support vector machine as a probabilistic inference framework. Then, we use local image statistics at different image scales for feature representation, including the Harris cornerness, the Laplacian, and the eigenvalues of the Hessian. The proposed approach is applied to a breast imaging dataset. Despite the challenge of the task, our approach achieves very encouraging results, which are helpful for further analysis of the breast ducts and other branching structures.
Activity of the porcine gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor gene promoter is partially conferred by a distal gonadotrope specific element (GSE) within an upstream enhancing region, two proximal GSEs and a retinoid X receptor binding site

Regulation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor (GnRHR) numbers on gonadotropes within the anterior pituitary gland represents a critical point for control of reproductive function. Binding of GnRH to its receptor regulates follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) release and levels of this G-protein coupled receptor on the surface of gonadotropes determines their sensitivity to GnRH pulses. While transcriptional regulation of this gene has been studied in mice, rats, humans and sheep, little is known about its regulation in the pig, an important agricultural species and human research model. We isolated 5118 bp of 5′ flanking sequence for the porcine GnRHR gene and generated luciferase reporter vectors. Deletion and mutation constructs were evaluated in gonadotrope-derived alphaT3-1 cells to determine regions important for gene transcription. Additionally, electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) were performed to identify transcription factors binding to the GnRHR promoter. Transient transfections revealed that the GnRHR promoter was functional in alphaT3-1 cells but not in cells of non-gonadotrope origin. Mutation of the highly conserved gonadotrope specific element (GSE) located at -179/-171 of proximal promoter completely ablated luciferase activity, whereas mutation of another GSE at -315/-310 reduced activity by 34%. Consistent with this, EMSAs using alphaT3-1 nuclear extracts and a steroidogenic factor (SF)1 antibody confirmed SF1 binding to both GSEs. EMSAs also demonstrated that a retinoid X receptor (RXR) binding site at -279/-274 binds RXRalpha and RXRbeta and mutation of this site eliminated promoter activity. Transient transfection of alphaT3-1 cells with reporter vectors containing selective removal of 5′ flanking region for the porcine GnRHR gene indicated that the -1915/-1431 segment was important for promoter activity. Definition of this region via transfection assays and EMSAs revealed an upstream enhancing region located at -1779/-1667 that increases porcine GnRHR gene expression in alphaT3-1 cells and includes a SF1 binding site at -1760/-1753. Porcine GnRHR promoter activity in alphaT3-1 cells is partially conferred by a distal GSE, two proximal GSEs and a RXR binding site. Basal gonadotrope expression of the porcine GnRHR gene uniquely involves three GSEs and RXR is newly identified as a regulator of GnRHR promoter activity.
Luminescent Tris(8-hydroxyquinolates) of Bismuth(III)

Luminescent homoleptic bismuth(III) complexes have been synthesized by adding several functionalized 8-hydroxyquinolate ligands to bismuth(III) chloride in a 3:1 mole ratio in either ethanol or tetrahydrofuran (THF) solvent. These complexes have been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, UV-vis spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations to determine their structures and photophysical properties. Reversible dimerization of the mononuclear tris(hydroxyquinolate) complexes was observed in solution and quantified using UV-vis spectroscopy. The fluorescence spectra show a blue shift for the monomer compared with homoleptic aluminum(III) hydroxyquinolate compounds. Four dimeric compounds and one monomeric isomer were characterized structurally. The bismuth(III) centers in the dimers are bridged by two oxygen atoms from the substituted hydroxyquinolate ligands. The more sterically hindered quinolate complex, tris(2-(diethoxymethyl)-8-quinolinato)bismuth, crystallizes as a monomer. The complexes all exhibit low-lying absorption and emission spectral features attributable to transitions between the HOMO (π orbital localized on the quinolate phenoxide ring) and LUMO (π* orbital localized on the quinolate pyridyl ring). Excitation and emission spectra show a concentration dependence in solution that suggests that a monomer-dimer equilibrium occurs. Electronic structure DFT calculations support trends seen in the experimental results with a HOMO-LUMO gap of 2.156 eV calculated for the monomer that is significantly larger than those for the dimers (1.772 and 1.915 eV). The close face to face approach of two quinolate rings in the dimer destabilizes the uppermost occupied quinolate π orbitals, which reduces the HOMO-LUMO gap and results in longer wavelength absorption and emission spectral features than in the monomer form.
Strengthening national health laboratories in sub-Saharan Africa: a decade of remarkable progress.

objectives Efforts to combat the HIV/AIDS pandemic have underscored the fragile and neglected nature of some national health laboratories in Africa. In response, national and international partners and various governments have worked collaboratively over the last several years to build sustainable laboratory capacities within the continent. Key accomplishments reflecting this successful partnership include the establishment of the African-based World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa (WHO-AFRO) Stepwise Laboratory Quality Improvement Process Towards Accreditation (SLIPTA); development of the Strengthening Laboratory Management Toward Accreditation (SLMTA) training programme; and launching of a Pan African-based institution, the African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM). These platforms continue to serve as the foundations for national health laboratory infrastructure enhancement, capacity development and overall quality system improvement. Further targeted interventions should encourage countries to aim at integrated tiered referral networks, promote quality system improvement and accreditation, develop laboratory policies and strategic plans, enhance training and laboratory workforce development and a retention strategy, create career paths for laboratory professionals and establish public–private partnerships. Maintaining the gains and ensuring sustainability will require concerted action by all stakeholders with strong leadership and funding from African governments and from the African Union.
What Matters is Mutual Investment and Evidence-Based Dialogue: Designing Meaningful Contexts for Teacher Learning

How might teachers be supported as professional learners, in activities and conversations that assist, rather than distract from, the complex work they do each day? In this article we describe a public school/university partnership model designed to support practice-oriented communication among educators– where professionals from various roles, institutional affiliations, and experience levels, communicate together about the details of their teaching. We outline the principles behind our approach and describe the specific practices we use to promote communication that engages teachers’ pedagogical thinking. We share how teachers’ own practice can become a centerpiece of professional development, and how authentic questions and evidence help educators develop insights into the relationship between their own assumptions, curriculum materials, and student understanding.
Default Risk Under Different Colors of Noise

In this study we theoretically simulate default risk scenarios under various economic noises. We find that firms default more quickly with stronger economic shocks but simultaneously expose higher default probabilities during their deterioration, offering traders better visibility. When the macroeconomic environment exhibits positive autocorrelation, the volatility of assets’ value increases with corporate creditworthiness, and vice versa. While positive autocorrelation forces liquidation more swiftly even for firms with higher risk tolerance, counter-cyclical economic movements reduces default risk for firms with greater sustainability. When a series of economic noises exhibits higher autocorrelation, although average default probabilities decline, firms tend to default more rapidly, making it tougher for traders to predict corporate failure.
Exploring semantic groups through visual approaches

Objectives. We investigate several visual approaches for exploring semantic groups, a grouping of semantic types from the Unified Medical Language System (UMLS) semantic network. We are particularly interested in the semantic coherence of the groups, and we use the semantic relationships as important indicators of that coherence.Methods. First, we create a radial representation of the number of relationships among the groups, generating a profile for each semantic group. Second, we show that, in our partition, the relationships are organized around a limited number of pivot groups and that partitions created at random do not exhibit this property. Finally, we use correspondence analysis to visualize groupings resulting from the association between semantic types and the relationships.Results. The three approaches provide different views on the semantic groups and help detect potential inconsistencies. They make outliers immediately apparent, and, thus, serve as a tool for auditing and validating both the semantic network and the semantic groups.
Influences of travertine dam formation on leaf litter decomposition and algal accrual

At the time of this study Fossil Creek was being considered as a site for the restoration of a native fish assemblage, however there was concern amongst fisheries managers about the stream being food limited due to calcium carbonate (travertine) deposition. To evaluate the effects of travertine deposition on the aquatic food base we used leaf litterbags to compare decomposition rates and nutrient diffusing artificial substrates to compare algal accrual rates and nutrient limitation between two distinct reaches in Fossil creek: a travertine dam forming reach and a reach without travertine dam formation (riffle-pool reach). Decomposition was significantly faster in the travertine dam forming reach than in the riffle-pool reach. Macroinvertebrates in the leaf packs were more diverse in the travertine reach but more abundant in the riffle-pool reach. Algae accrued more quickly in the travertine reach than in the riffle-pool reach and only responded to nutrient enrichment in the travertine reach. This study was conducted prior to a hydroelectric dam decommissioning project in Fossil Creek where full flows were reintroduced back into the stream after a century of diversion. Our results suggest concurrent increases in algal productivity, decomposition, and macroinvertebrate diversity in the next decade as travertine dams rebuild, providing a richer food base for fish and other aquatic organisms.
Size and shape of transverse tubule openings in frog twitch muscle fibers

The openings of transverse tubules in frog twitch fibers are described. The tubules open to the extracellular space by a narrow neck, with an inner diameter of 20 nm. The most peripheral portion of the tubules is tortuous and has a variable diameter. The similarity in size of the openings of T tubules and caveolae and the meandering path of the tubules are sufficient to account for the paucity of observed openings.
Statistical Analysis of DNA Sequences

Developments in the statistical analysis of DNA sequence data since 1984 are reviewed. Mathematical methods employing dynamic programming or incorporating Markov chain theory have been developed to search sequences for regions of similarity and to align sequences. When the biological forces of mutation and genetic drift are included in models, distances between aligned sequences allow the construction of evolutionary trees. Theory based on models may lead to estimates of variation of parameter estimates and so give a means of assessing the statistical significance of observed patterns and relationships. The complexity of DNA sequences, however, suggests that most statistical inferences will rest on random permutations of sequences.
What Have Surveys Taught Us about the Teaching and Practice of Vocational Assessment

In an effort to answer the "what have surveys taught us" question, the author reviewed survey articles about vocational assessment that have appeared from 1935 through 1991. Based on that review, nine points which summarize what surveys have told us about the teaching and practice of vocational assessment were identified. The survey studies show, among othter findings, that (a) most counseling psychology programs offer required or elective coursework in vocational assessment, but the emphasis now given to such courses far outweighs students' interests in the area, (b) about half or more doctoral-level counseling psychologists provide vocational assessment services, (c) university/college counseling centers and Veterans Administration medical centers provide comparatively more vocational assessment services than do other settings, and (d) the Strong Interest Inventory dominates the field as the most frequently used and recommended vocational assessment procedure.
Human motion segmentation and object recognition using fuzzy rules

Our goal is to develop an object recognition and motion tracking system to assist in the analysis of data for a project in the psychology and human development department. Fuzzy membership rules provide a viable solution for creating this system. We describe our development of the feature vector, rule extraction, and image segmentation. The usefulness of the system is demonstrated via an analysis of videos of human action collected as part of an on-going collaboration with researchers in the Vanderbilt Psychology and Human Development department. Results are given to show the current progress, and future goals are presented.
Identifying and tracking proteins through the marine water column: insights into the inputs and preservation mechanisms of protein in sediments.

Abstract Proteins generated during primary production represent an important fraction of marine organic nitrogen and carbon, and have the potential to provide organism-specific information in the environment. The Bering Sea is a highly productive system dominated by seasonal blooms and was used as a model system for algal proteins to be tracked through the water column and incorporated into detrital sedimentary material. Samples of suspended and sinking particles were collected at multiple depths along with surface sediments on the continental shelf and deeper basin of the Bering Sea. Modified standard proteomic preparations were used in conjunction with high pressure liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry to identify the suite of proteins present and monitor changes in their distribution. In surface waters 207 proteins were identified, decreasing through the water column to 52 proteins identified in post-bloom shelf surface sediments and 24 proteins in deeper (3490 m) basin sediments. The vast majority of identified proteins in all samples were diatom in origin, reflecting their dominant contribution of biomass during the spring bloom. Identified proteins were predominantly from metabolic, binding/structural, and transport-related protein groups. Significant linear correlations were observed between the number of proteins identified and the concentration of total hydrolysable amino acids normalized to carbon and nitrogen. Organelle-bound, transmembrane, photosynthetic, and other proteins involved in light harvesting were preferentially retained during recycling. These findings suggest that organelle and membrane protection represent important mechanisms that enhance the preservation of protein during transport and incorporation into sediments.
Environmental risk perception among race and ethnic groups in the United States

We examine varying levels of perceived environmental risks among nine U.S. race and ethnic group categories using the 2010 General Social Survey. Three interrelated questions motivate our analysis. First, how does the environmental risk perception of air pollution, water pollution, agricultural chemicals, climate change and nuclear power generation vary among specific categories of race and ethnicity? Second, to what degree are higher levels of perceived risk among immigrant-origin groups subject to change as a result of cultural assimilation over generations? And third, to what degree are race and ethnic differences in environmental risk perception a reflection of other possibly more significant factors such as education, income, gender and conservative political views? Though we find some evidence for attitude assimilation among generations of Mexican-origin people, the dominant pattern is greater perceived risks among non-whites than whites across generations in the U.S. Additionally, not only did race...