cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
View-Sharing Artifact Reduction With Retrospective Compressed Sensing Reconstruction in the Context of Contrast-Enhanced Liver MRI for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) Screening.

BACKGROUND View-sharing (VS) increases spatiotemporal resolution in dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI by sharing high-frequency k-space data across temporal phases. This temporal sharing results in respiratory motion within any phase to propagate artifacts across all shared phases. Compressed sensing (CS) eliminates the need for VS by recovering missing k-space data from pseudorandom undersampling, reducing temporal blurring while maintaining spatial resolution. PURPOSE To evaluate a CS reconstruction algorithm on undersampled DCE-MRI data for image quality and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) detection. STUDY TYPE Retrospective. SUBJECTS Fifty consecutive patients undergoing MRI for HCC screening (29 males, 21 females, 52-72 years). FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE 3.0T MRI. Multiphase 3D-SPGR T1 -weighted sequence undersampled in arterial phases with a complementary Poisson disc sampling pattern reconstructed with VS and CS algorithms. ASSESSMENT VS and CS reconstructions evaluated by blinded assessments of image quality and anatomic delineation on Likert scales (1-4 and 1-5, respectively), and HCC detection by OPTN/UNOS criteria including a diagnostic confidence score (1-5). Blinded side-by-side reconstruction comparisons for lesion depiction and overall series preference (-3-3). STATISTICAL ANALYSIS Two-tailed Wilcoxon signed rank tests for paired nonparametric analyses with Bonferroni-Holm multiple-comparison corrections. McNemar's test for differences in lesion detection frequency and transplantation eligibility. RESULTS CS compared with VS demonstrated significantly improved contrast (mean 3.6 vs. 2.9, P < 0.0001) and less motion artifact (mean 3.6 vs. 3.2, P = 0.006). CS compared with VS demonstrated significantly improved delineations of liver margin (mean 4.5 vs. 3.8, P = 0.0002), portal veins (mean 4.5 vs. 3.7, P < 0.0001), and hepatic veins (mean 4.6 vs. 3.5, P < 0.0001), but significantly decreased delineation of hepatic arteries (mean 3.2 vs. 3.7, P = 0.004). No significant differences were seen in the other assessments. DATA CONCLUSION Applying a CS reconstruction to data acquired for a VS reconstruction significantly reduces motion artifacts in a clinical DCE protocol for HCC screening. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 3 Technical Efficacy: Stage 2 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2019;49:984-993.
Sonic Hedgehog Signaling is Blue: Insights from the Patched Mutant Mice

The Hedgehog (Hh) pathway is a highly conserved signaling system regulating a range of developmental processes. A 1997 paper by Goodrich and colleagues provided major contributions to understanding the Hh pathway by mutating the gene encoding the Hh receptor, Patched, and thereby developing a mouse model for a human cancer predisposition syndrome, known as Gorlin syndrome. These studies provided one of the first genetically engineered mouse models for brain tumors.
Nonnegative $C^2(\mathbb{R}^2)$ interpolation

In this paper, we prove two improved versions of the Finiteness Principle for nonnegative $ C^2(\mathbb{R}^2) $ interpolation, previously proven by Fefferman, Israel, and Luli. The first version sharpens the finiteness constant to $ 64 $, and the second version carries better computational practicality. Along the way, we also provide detailed construction of nonnegative $ C^2 $ interpolants in one-dimension, and prove the nonexistence of a bounded linear $ C^2 $-extension operator that preserves nonnegativity.
Superdeformed bands in {sup 189}Tl

Two superdeformed bands of 10 transitions each have been found in {sup 189}Tl extending the mass 190 region of superdeformation down to neutron number N=108. The new bands can be interpreted as signature partners and are proposed to be based on a proton i{sub 13/2} ({Omega}=5/2) configuration, in analogy with the yrast superdeformed band structures in the heavier odd-mass Tl isotopes. The dynamic moments of inertia of all these bands show no noticeable differences as function of N, consistent with an essentially constant quadrupole deformation from the center of the island to its edges. {copyright} {ital 1998} {ital The American Physical Society}
Circulating Osteogenic Progenitor Cells in Mild, Moderate, and Severe Aortic Valve Stenosis

Abstract The aim of this study was to characterize endothelial progenitor cells with osteoblastic phenotype (EPC-OCNs) and their role in individuals with varying degrees of aortic stenosis (AS). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells retrieved from blood samples of individuals with mild (n=40), moderate (n=35), or severe (n=103) AS from September 16, 2008, through March 30, 2015, were analyzed by flow cytometry for the EPC surface markers CD34, CD133, and kinase insert domain receptor (KDR) and the osteoblastic cell surface marker OCN. Levels of EPC-OCNs were correlated with AS severity and calcifications. Patients with severe AS had significantly elevated numbers of total circulating EPC-OCNs, including the EPC-OCN subtypes CD133+/OCN+, CD34+/CD133+/OCN+, and CD133+/KDR+/OCN+, compared with those with mild AS. Individuals with moderate AS also had significantly increased numbers of the circulating progenitor cell CD133+/OCN+ compared with patients with mild AS. There was a significant association between total circulating EPC-OCN levels and aortic valve (AV) calcification, AV mean gradient, and AV area measured by echocardiography. In summary, this study found the presence of circulating EPC-OCNs in patients with progressive AV stenosis. These findings might support the potential role for EPC-OCNs in the progression of AV stenosis and calcification.
A pulpy story.

Over-expression of a transcriptional factor, Alx3, has been shown to revitalize the regenerative capacity of adult progenitor cells to promote enhanced stromal vascularization and formation of parenchymal dental pulp tissue in vivo.
Common Data Elements for National Institute of Mental Health–Funded Translational Early Psychosis Research

The National Institutes of Health has established the PhenX Toolkit as a web-based resource containing consensus measures freely available to the research community. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has introduced the Mental Health Research Core Collection as part of the PhenX Toolkit and recently convened the PhenX Early Psychosis Working Group to generate the PhenX Early Psychosis Specialty Collection. The Working Group consisted of two complementary panels for clinical and translational research. We review the process, deliberations, and products of the translational research panel. The Early Psychosis Specialty Collection rationale for measure selection as well as additional information and protocols for obtaining each measure are available on the PhenX website (https://www.phenxtoolkit.org). The NIMH strongly encourages investigators to use instruments from the PhenX Mental Health Research Collections in NIMH-funded studies and discourages use of alternative measures to collect similar data without justification. We also discuss some of the potential advances that can be achieved by collecting common data elements across large-scale longitudinal studies of early psychosis.
Animal Models of Peripheral Pain: Biology Review and Application for Drug Discovery.

Pain is a complex constellation of cognitive, unpleasant sensory, and emotional experiences that primarily serves as a survival mechanism. Pain arises in the peripheral nervous system and pain sign...
Diagnostic Tests for Latent Tuberculosis Infection.

Diagnosing latent tuberculosis (TB) infection (LTBI) is important globally for TB prevention. LTBI diagnosis requires a positive test for infection and negative evaluation for active disease. Current tests measure an immunologic response and include the tuberculin skin test (TST) and interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs), T-SPOT.TB and QuantiFERON. The IGRAs are preferred in bacille Calmette-Guerin-vaccinated populations. The TST is still used when cost or logistical advantages over the IGRAs exist. Both TST and IGRAs have low positive predictive values. Tests that differentiate the TB spectrum and better predict future TB risk are needed.
Invasive Atypical Mycobacterial Infection in Allogeneic Pediatric HSCT

Introduction Infection is a major cause of morbidity and mortality following hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). Atypical or nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections are known to occur at higher rates in patients with a compromised immune system and a study by Unal et al. reported a 6.4% incidence of NTM infections in pediatric allogeneic HSCT recipients. Disease severity with NTM infections is broad and can range from asymptomatic line infections to disseminated disease. Antimicrobial therapies for NTM infections are variable and typically multiagent. Limited data are available describing the impact of these infections and their associated therapies on HSCT outcomes in children. Methods We retrospectively reviewed outcomes for pediatric allogeneic HSCT recipients between 2014 and 2019 whose courses were complicated by symptomatic invasive NTM infection. Metrics analyzed include underlying disease, conditioning regimen, antimicrobial therapies, survival and donor engraftment. Results 5 patients were diagnosed and started on multidrug therapy for NTM surrounding HSCT. Presenting symptoms for each patient are described in Figure 1. Patient demographics and NTM details are shown in Table 1. All 5 patients received myeloablative conditioning (MAC) with busulfan and fludarabine, in addition to thiotepa (n=1), ATG (n=1) and alemtuzumab (n=1) in select patients. All patents engrafted ≤ 20 days with at least 99% donor chimerism. Patient 3 showed mixed chimerism on day 25, eventually resulting in graft loss requiring re-transplantation. Four out of five patients (80%) are alive today with median follow up time of 4.3 years (range 3.4 – 5.3 years). Conclusion Our experience suggests that children undergoing HSCT complicated by NTM infections have favorable outcomes. NTM directed multi-drug therapy was well tolerated and did not immediately appear to affect engraftment. Recurrence of symptomatic invasive NTM infection occurred in two patients post-HSCT after stopping NTM therapy, while a third patient developed a first-time symptomatic invasive NTM infection after HSCT. This observation advocates for continuation of antimicrobial therapy through immune reconstitution.
Three-dimensional histo-morphometric features from light sheet microscopy images result in improved discrimination of benign from malignant glands in prostate cancer

Glandular features play an important role in the evaluation of prostate cancer. There has been significant interest in the use of 2D pathomics (feature extraction) approaches for detection, diagnosis, and characterization of prostate cancer on digitized tissue slide images. With the development of 3D microscopy techniques, such as open-top light-sheet (OTLS), there is an opportunity for rapid 3D imaging of large tissue specimens such as whole biopsies. In this study, we sought to investigate whether 3D features of gland morphology, namely volume and surface curvature, from OTLS images offer superior discrimination between malignant and benign glands compared to the traditional 2D gland features, namely area and curvature, alone. In this study, a cohort of 8 de-identified fresh prostate biopsies comprehensively imaged in 3D via the OTLS platform. A total of 367 glands were segmented from these images, of which 79 were identified as benign and 288 were identified as malignant. Glands were segmented using a 3D watershed algorithm followed by post-processing steps to filter out falsepositive regions. The 2D and 3D features were compared quantitatively and qualitatively. Our experiments demonstrated that a model using 3D features outperformed one using 2D features in differentiating benign and malignant glands. In 3D, both features, gland volume (p = 1.45 × 10−3) and surface curvature (p = 3.2 × 10−3), were found to be informative whereas in 2D, only gland area (p = 9 × 10−18) was found to be discriminating (p = 0.79 for 2D curvature). Notable visual and quantitative differences between 3D benign/malignant glands encourage the development of additional more sophisticated features in the future.
The impact of institutional repositories: a systematic review

Objective: Institutional repositories are platforms for presenting and publicizing scholarly output that might not be suitable to publish in a peer-reviewed journal or that must meet open access requirements. However, there are many challenges associated with their launch and up-keep. The objective of this systematic review was to define the impacts of institutional repositories (IRs) on an academic institution, thus justifying their implementation and/or maintenance. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed in the following databases: Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE, the Cochrane Library (Wiley), ERIC (ProQuest), Web of Science (Core Collection), Scopus (Elsevier), and Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts (EBSCO). A total of 6,593 citations were screened against predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: Thirteen included studies were divided into 3 areas of impact: citation count, exposure or presence, and administrative impact. Those focusing on citation count (n=5) and exposure or presence (n=7) demonstrated positive impacts of IRs on institutions and researchers. One study focusing on administrative benefit demonstrated the utility of IRs in automated population of ORCID profiles. Conclusion: Based on the available literature, IRs appear to have a positive impact on citation count, exposure or presence, and administrative burden. To draw stronger conclusions, more and higher-quality studies are needed.
Chapter 12 – Integration and Implications

Publisher Summary This chapter highlights the key insights derived from psychoneuroimmunology and draws implications for research and health care. Psychoneuroimmunology is a higher order scientific discipline that has emerged from reductionistic approaches that isolate bodily systems or their components to characterize aspects of their operation but that consequently fall short of elucidating how the systems operate in their natural context. The immune system operates at the boundary between the organism and other life forms. It is composed of elements that protect the integrity of the organism by blocking, neutralizing, or destroying microscopic predators or aberrant cells originating within the organism. The endocrine and immune systems intercommunicate to achieve balanced activity compatible with life, given specific contexts. Growth-oriented hormones that modulate the storage and use of nutrients have effects on immune function by how available resources are allocated. Psychoneuroimmunology underscores the notion that disease begins within microenvironments. A microenvironment can be defined at different levels, such as that immediately adjacent to a segment of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) containing a single gene or that surrounding a single cell or a small volume of tissue composed of a few interacting cells.
Mycotoxicoses of the bovine with reference to fungi and toxins associated with disease

The mycotoxicoses are a group of diseases caused by toxins produced by a number of different fungi. In many instances, the toxins represent secondary metabolites produced by fungi following a growth phase of the fungus. There are approximately 50 different genera of fungi in four major toxonomic groups capable of producing over 100 different toxins. We are concerned, however, only with those that may become involved with animal health because they (1) produce toxins orally active or potentially poisonous by other exposure routes for animals and man, (2) can be isolated from food and feedstuffs or (3) (toxins) are found naturally occurring in food and feedstuffs in amounts sufficient to be responsible for disease.
Assessing Instructional Confidence of Secondary Health Educators in Illinois: Implications for Curricular and Policy Development

To assess the relationship between the training/preparation of physical education teachers and their perceived instructional confidence levels across major topic areas established by the Illinois State Board of Education as critical content areas. In total, 283 individuals participated and were included in the data analysis. The participants surveyed were currently enrolled or recently graduated from physical education or kinesiology departments at (1.) the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, (2.) Illinois State University, and (3.) Eastern Illinois University. Data were collected via in-person and email surveys using the HECS 18 item survey instrument. Analysis demonstrated a statistically significant difference exists between the perceived instructional confidence of current students and recent graduates regarding major health topic areas. Further work with this population is required to determine if the results seen in the state of Illinois are consistent. The next proposed sample area will be the state of Colorado and its three main Universities (University of Colorado, Colorado State University, Metropolitan State University of Denver) and their health and physical educators (HPE).
Studies of Intestinal Microflora VI. Effect of X Irradiation on the Fecal Microflora of the Rat

The effect of sublethal, midlethal, and lethal doses of total-body X irradiation on the fecal microbial population of the rat was studied. No changes were observed in animals receiving sublethal doses of X ray. Midlethal and lethal doses produced an increase in the numbers of fecal coliforms, staphylococci, streptococci, and fungi; these changes were transient in rats that survived, but were more marked and persisted during life in those that died. The possible role of these alterations in intestinal microflora in post-irradiation infection and in death is discussed.
Modular Trough Power Plant Cycle and Systems Analysis

This report summarizes an analysis to reduce the cost of power production from modular concentrating solar power plants through a relatively new and exciting concept that merges two mature technologies to produce distributed modular electric power in the range of 500 to 1,500 kWe. These are the organic Rankine cycle (ORC) power plant and the concentrating solar parabolic (CSP) trough technologies that have been developed independent of each other over many years.
Teoría del muestreo: particularidades del diseño muestral en estudios de la conducta social.

Sampling design for social studies have very specifics requirements, that are generally ignored in the scarce bibliography about matter. The common assumption is that mathematical statistical theory applied in the testing in industrial control quality, pharmacology, medical therapy, etc. is adequate for social populations studies. The problem of the multivariation, the bringing up to date of sampling frame, the variance estimation for sample sizing, in social studies have exigencies no solved in the Sampling Theory. We confront the un-recognized sampling paradoxes: the more used probabilistics samples make use of non aleatory procedures for random selection of units; for estimate standard deviation needed to design a probabilistic sample, you can use a non-probabilistic sample; you adapt the sample size considering only one standard deviation of only one variable; however, you denominate “probabilistic” the whole sample for all other variables and its interrelations. Reviewing the principles of sampling – trying avoid to use mathematical formules- we analyze the troubles for truly probabilistics designs, and, the basis of the validity of nonprobabilistic procedures.
Does Size Really Matter? Organizational Size and Innovations in Nonprofit Organizations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between size and innovation in a sample of nonprofit organizations. The author employed a number of size estimates (personnel and financial) and assessed different types of innovations (administrative and technological). Additionally, since the failure to take into consideration important contextual variables has been attributed to producing misleading conclusions about the relationship between size and innovation, the author controlled for those variables (formalization, centralization, specialization, leadership, board size, and organization's age) when assessing this relationship. The results of hierarchical multiple regressions showed that although the personnel size estimates were important predictors by themselves, their significance disappeared when contextual variables were introduced. Board size and organization age were significant predictors of administrative innovations. Board size was the only significant predictor of technological innovations, as well as of a total number of innovations.
Durations of bone consolidation and external fixation after distraction osteogenesis in dogs.

Objective To evaluate the influence of epidemiologic, surgical, and mechanical factors on the durations of bone consolidation and external fixation after distraction osteogenesis in dogs. Study Design Retrospective cohort study. Sample Population Dogs (n = 115) that had corrective osteotomy with circular external fixation (CEF; n = 152) Methods Medical and radiographic records (1992–2012) of dogs that had corrective osteotomies were reviewed. Putative variables included age, weight, gender, and breed. Surgery date, delay before distraction, rate and duration of distraction, mechanical complications, and frame removal date were recorded. Radiographic data included bone operated, bone length, osteotomy site, bone and limb size at osteotomy site, distraction distance, and CEF frame size and stiffness. Results Mean ± SD bone consolidation period was 56 ± 33 days. Mean duration of external fixation was 77 ± 35 days. Twelve fixation failures occurred. Radii healed faster than tibiae (P < .001). Failure of fixation (P = .002) and stiff frames (P = .033) increased duration of bone consolidation. For the tibia, durations of bone consolidation and external fixation decreased with larger bone size relative to limb size (P = .004). For the radius, bone consolidation duration decreased as distraction amount increased (P = .03). Conclusion Radii healed faster than tibiae. Wearing frames with low or moderate stiffness, the absence of mechanical complications, a larger distraction distance, and a larger bone size accelerated bone consolidation. Optimizing these factors should accelerate bone consolidation and reduce the duration of external fixation.
Separation of Mycobacterium bovis BCG from Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium bovis by using high-performance liquid chromatography of mycolic acids.

Profile analysis of mycolic acid ester patterns of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium bovis, and Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) using high-performance liquid chromatography indicated that separation of BCG from M. tuberculosis and M. bovis by elution and relative retention times is possible. Mycolic acid patterns of BCG eluted from the column 0.5 min before M. tuberculosis or M. bovis, resulting in relative retention times for two peaks not seen in the pattern of M. tuberculosis or M. bovis. Identification was confirmed by phage typing, which has been the standard procedure for confirmation of BCG strains. These results showed that high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of mycolic acid esters can be used in the mycobacterial reference laboratory for separation of BCG from M. tuberculosis and M. bovis.
Enhanced crystalline morphology of a ladder-type polymer bulk-heterojunction device by blade-coating

A blade-coating process was employed to fabricate bulk-heterojunction (BHJ) polymer solar cells based on a ladder-type polymer (PIDT-PhanQ) with low crystallinity. Compared to the devices processed by a conventional spin-coating method, an intriguing morphology with enhanced phase-separation and increased crystallinity was achieved. As a result, power conversion efficiency up to 7.25% could be achieved from the blade-coated PIDT-PhanQ:PC71BM BHJ film, surpassing the original value obtained by spin-coating (6.29%). This improved photovoltaic performance is attributed to the improved charge carrier mobilities, which correlates well with the increased crystallinity and the organized network of the donor-acceptor phases that produce efficient charge-transporting pathways.
Justice and Communitarian Identity Politics

Au-dela du debat opposant M. Walzer et J. Rawls sur la question des principes de la justice, l'A. montre qu'une conception de la raison publique internationale et de la justice minimale doit rejeter une approche sociale de la justice au profit d'un pluralisme raisonnable.
Influence of ruminal biohydrogenation on the feeding value of fat in finishing diets for feedlot cattle.

Four Holstein steers (212 kg) with cannulas in the rumen and proximal duodenum were used in a 4 x 4 Latin square experiment to study the influence of degree of ruminal biohydrogenation (BH) on the feeding value of supplemental fat. Treatments consisted of an 88% concentrate finishing diet supplemented with 1) 2% yellow grease (control); 2) 4% formaldehyde-protected fat (Rumentek), 2% yellow grease (LBH); 3) 2% Rumentek, 4% yellow grease (MBH); or 4) 6% yellow grease (HBH). Ruminal BH of HBH, MBH, and LBH diets was 74, 68, and 54%, respectively. High-fat supplementation decreased (7%, P .10) by BH. In a 125-d finishing trial, 100 yearling steers (362 kg) were used to evaluate treatment effects on growth performance. High-fat diets did not affect (P > .10) ADG but increased (P < .10) feed efficiency (9%, P < .10), dietary NEm (7.6%, P < .05), and dressing percentage (9%, P < .05). The magnitude of the increase in dressing percentage was inversely related (linear effect, P < .10) to BH. We conclude that decreasing ruminal BH will increase postruminal digestibility of fat, and hence the NE value of dietary fat. The synergistic effect of increasing the proportion of 18:1 on intestinal digestion of fat enables higher levels of fat supplementation. Protecting fat from BH minimizes the detrimental effects of supplemental fat on fiber digestion.
Podocyte injury and targeting therapy: an update.

Purpose of review Podocyte injury is a central event in the development of glomerulosclerosis. This review highlights contributions from the past year to our understanding of mechanisms of podocyte injury and implications for potential treatment strategies of glomerular disease. Recent findings Rearrangement of the actin cytoskeleton, the backbone linking the slit diaphragm, apical domain and sole plate, serves as a common denominator during foot process effacement. Reports on the role of synaptopodin and CDK5 on actin dynamics as well as cathepsin L and B7.1 in subsequent cell migration have expanded our understanding of the podocyte response to injury. Mounting evidence supports an expanding role of the slit diaphragm in signal transduction to mediate downstream cellular responses, including prosurvival effects of the integral proteins nephrin and CD2AP. The discovery that TRPC6 localizes to the slit diaphragm and identification of specific mutations of the transport channel in kindreds of familial focal segmental glomerulosclerosis implicate a causal role for aberrant calcium signaling in podocyte injury. Disruption of the dystroglycan complex, which anchors the podocyte to the underlying basement membrane, in states of foot process effacement may have implications for the recent finding of viable podocytes in the urine in glomerular disease. Summary The resurgence of research in podocyte biology over the past decade underscores the importance of this unique cell in preserving glomerular structure and function. A greater understanding of the complex signaling mechanisms governing podocyte biology in health and disease will ultimately lead to novel therapeutic avenues for treating disorders of the podocyte.
Evidence for agonist-specific endothelial vasodilator dysfunction with ageing in healthy humans

Endothelium-dependent vasodilatation declines with advancing age in humans independently of disease. The mechanisms responsible for this decline are not clear. We determined whether the age-related reduction in endothelium-dependent vasodilatation in response to acetylcholine reflects a specific agonist-related defect or rather a more general endothelial cell vasomotor abnormality. Twenty-two young (23-35 years) and 41 older (50-76 years) healthy men were studied. Forearm blood flow (FBF) responses to intra-arterial infusions of acetylcholine, bradykinin, substance P, isoproterenol (isoprenaline) and sodium nitroprusside were measured by strain-gauge plethysmography. There were no differences in resting FBF between the young (3.9 +/- 0.2 ml (100 ml tissue)(-1) x min(-1)) and older men (4.0 +/- 0.2 ml (100 ml tissue)(-1) x min(-1)). The increase in FBF at the highest dose of acetylcholine was approximately 30 % lower (P < 0.01) in the older (from 4.0 +/- 0.2 to 12.3 +/- 0.7 ml (100 ml tissue)(-1) x min(-1)) compared with young men (from 3.9 +/- 0.2 to 17.1 +/- 1.5 ml (100 ml tissue)(-1) x min(-1)). In contrast to acetylcholine, the FBF responses to the other endothelial agonists were not impaired with age. The maximum increases in FBF in response to bradykinin (19.2 +/- 1.0 vs. 20.2 +/- 0.9 ml (100 ml tissue)(-1) x min(-1)), substance P (15.1 +/- 0.8 vs. 16.8 +/- 0.7 ml (100 ml tissue)(-1) x min(-1)) and isoproterenol (17.5 +/- 0.9 vs. 17.5 +/- 0.9 ml (100 ml tissue)(-1) x min(-1)) were not significantly different between the older and young subjects. There were no age-related differences in the FBF responses to sodium nitroprusside. These results demonstrate that, although acetylcholine-induced vasodilatation is impaired with age, forearm endothelial vasodilatation in response to bradykinin, substance P and isoproterenol are well preserved in healthy men. Moreover, these findings suggest that agonist-stimulated endothelium-dependent vasodilatation is not universally impaired with age.
Congenital malaria: rare but potentially fatal

Congenital malaria is rare and usually indolent but can be fatal. Mortality risk is high in newborns with Plasmodium falciparum born to nonimmune women, who typically present at birth or soon thereafter. Semi-immune women are less likely to transmit malaria, and their children often become ill weeks after delivery with less severe symptoms. Cases in the USA usually trace to semi-immune immigrant mothers whose last exposure to malaria may have preceded the pregnancy, leading to misdiagnoses. Congenital malaria may be under-recognized in malaria-endemic areas since parasitemia occurring after the first week of life is usually attributed to mosquito transmission. Malaria prophylaxis and the absence of fever during pregnancy do not preclude congenital malaria in a newborn. Quinine plus clindamycin is commonly used to treat P. falciparum congenital malaria, and chloroquine is used to treat other malaria parasites, such as Plasmodium vivax. Severe cases should be managed with intravenous quinine (available as i...
EVALUATION BY INSTRUMENTAL METHODS OF THE TEXTURAL PROPERTIES OF SOME TROPICAL FRUITS1: (A REVIEW)

Published applications to tropical fruits of instrumental methods for texture evaluation are cited and tabulated. The comparability of the results is evaluated in light of the morphological characteristics of the fruits, the types of methods used and the test procedure employed.
The application of the preconditioned biconjugate gradient algorithm to NLTE rate matrix equations

Abstract This paper reports the success of the preconditioned biconjugate gradient (PBCG) and the conjugate gradient square (CGS) algorithms in solving the matrix equations resulting from the discretization of systems of population rate equations which arise in nonequilibrium kinetics modeling. The success of the PBCG and CGS can be attributed to two main ideas: First, the singularity of the rate matrix resulting from population conservation requirement was removed through a reduction of matrix order so as to improve the condition number of the matrix. Second, an efficient preconditioner was found to reduce the reduce the eigenvalue spread of the rate matrix. The preconditioning matrix was selected on the basis of retaining the largest few rates in each column of the well conditioned rate matrix. This preconditioner, along with the reduced rate matrix, enabled the algorithms to converge very rapidly so as to make them an attractive alternative to standard direct methods.
Sirolimus plus calcineurin inhibitors and methotrexate: is more necessarily better?

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis using calcineurin inhibitors was introduced in allogeneic stem cell transplant (alloSCT) in the 1980s. Early work of Storb, Deeg and Ringden established...
Do intracranial neoplasms differ in Ollier disease and maffucci syndrome? An in-depth analysis of the literature.

Objective Ollier disease (OD) and Maffucci syndrome are closely related, very rare syndromes, that are both associated with multiple sites of chondrodysplasia. They differ primarily with the additional association of Maffucci syndrome with vascular abnormalities, including hemangiomas. Both are associated with chondrosarcomas and other nonsarcomatous neoplasms (NSN), but Maffucci syndrome is thought to have greater malignancy potential. We examined whether OD and Maffucci syndrome differ in the number, histology, in the location of intracranial malignancies, and in the demographics of such patients, as reported in the medical literature. Methods Relevant cases were identified by electronic searches on PubMed, SciSearch, Scientific Commons, Springer Link, and Google. Translate DotNet and Babelfish were used to translate non-English text. Unpaired Student's t tests were used to compare OD and Maffucci syndrome, and chondrosarcoma and NSN patients for mean age; Pearson chi analysis was used for comparisons of gender distribution, geographical distribution (by continent), site of lesion, and for OD versus Maffucci syndrome, tumor type (chondrosarcoma versus NSN). Results Forty-six patients with 47 intracranial malignancies were identified: 24 with OD, including 6 with a chondrosarcoma and 18 with an NSN; and 22 with Maffucci syndrome, including 13 with a chondrosarcoma, 8 with an NSN, and 1 with both. The 2 syndromes were statistically different in the distribution of chondrosarcomas versus NSNs (P = 0.002). All chondrosarcomas originated at the base of the cranium. All 18 NSNs in OD were of glial cell origin, but only 5 of 9 NSNs in Maffucci syndrome were glial; other tumors included pituitary adenoma, olfactory neuroblastoma, malignant chordoma, and spindle cell hemangioendothelioma. Patients with OD were more than 10 years younger than their Maffucci syndrome counterparts (24.7 versus 34.9 years; P = 0.002), as were patients with OD and chondrosarcoma versus those with Maffucci syndrome and chondrosarcoma (24.7 versus 36.2 years; P = 0.035). The 2 syndromes did not differ in overall sex distribution. OD and Maffucci syndrome differed in geographical distribution, with 10 Maffucci syndrome but no OD patients with malignancy either in Asia (7 patients) or South America (3 patients). Among NSNs, OD and Maffucci syndrome did not differ as to site of lesion within the brain. Conclusion OD and Maffucci syndrome differ with respect to the distribution of intracranial malignancies by histology, and geographical and age distribution of cases, with OD patients younger by approximately a decade, and Maffucci syndrome patients more likely to live in Asia or South America.
Frequency-domain streak camera for ultrafast imaging of evolving light-velocity objects

We demonstrate a frequency-domain streak camera (FDSC) that captures the picosecond time evolution of luminal-velocity refractive index structures in a single shot. In our prototype FDSC, a probe-reference pulse pair propagates obliquely to a subpicosecond pump pulse that creates an evolving nonlinear index structure in glass, supplementing a conventional frequency-domain holographic probe-reference pair that copropagates with the pump. A single spectrometer acquires data from both pairs via spatial or temporal multiplexing, demonstrating the feasibility of a compact frequency-domain tomographic system in which a single spectrometer processes data from multiple probing angles.
Protective mechanisms for pupae of Psyllaephagus bliteus Riek (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), a parasitoid of the red-gum lerp psyllid, Glycaspis brimblecombei Moore (Hemiptera: Psylloidea)

Psyllaephagus bliteus was imported from Australia in 1999 and released in California in 2000 as part of a classical biological control program targeting the red-gum lerp psyllid, Glycaspis brimblecombei, which in California feeds mainly on red gum, Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. Psyllaephagus bliteus is an internal parasitoid that delays development until the psyllid host reaches the late fourth or fifth instar. It pupates within the remains of the host, enclosed in three distinct layers. First, parasitised G. brimblecombei produce lerps with basal walls that are significantly thicker than those of unpara- sitised psyllids. Second, the parasitised psyllid mummifies soon after P. bliteus begins to pupate. Third, a highly melanised pupal sheath is produced that completely envelops the pupal P. bliteus. Photographs are provided and observations on the pupal sheath, which has seldom been described for any parasitoid, are compared with earlier descriptions. We discuss the function of each of the three layers with respect to the protection of the immobile P. bliteus pupa from the environment or natural enemies.
The loop-less tmCdc34 E2 mutant defective in polyubiquitination in vitro and in vivo supports yeast growth in a manner dependent on Ubp14 and Cka2.

The S73/S97/loop motif is a hallmark of the Cdc34 family of E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes that together with the SCF E3 ubiquitin ligases promote degradation of proteins involved in cell cycle and growth regulation. The inability of the loop-less Δ12Cdc34 mutant to support growth was linked to its inability to catalyze polyubiquitination. However, the loop-less t riple m utant (tm) Cdc34, which not only lacks the loop but also contains the S73K and S97D substitutions typical of the K73/D97/no loop motif present in other E2s, supports growth. Whether tmCdc34 supports growth despite defective polyubiquitination, or the S73K and S97D substitutions, directly or indirectly, correct the defect caused by the loop absence, are unknown. tmCdc34 supports yeast viability with normal cell size and cell cycle profile despite producing fewer polyubiquitin conjugates in vivo and in vitro. The in vitro defect in Sic1 substrate polyubiquitination is similar to the defect observed in reactions with Δ12Cdc34 that cannot support growth. The synthesis of free polyubiquitin by tmCdc34 is activated only modestly and in a manner dependent on substrate recruitment to SCFCdc4. Phosphorylation of C-terminal serines in tmCdc34 by Cka2 kinase prevents the synthesis of free polyubiquitin chains, likely by promoting their attachment to substrate. Nevertheless, tm CDC34 yeast are sensitive to loss of the Ubp14 C-terminal ubiquitin hydrolase and DUBs other than Ubp14 inefficiently disassemble polyubiquitin chains produced in tm CDC34 yeast extracts, suggesting that the free chains, either synthesized de novo or recycled from substrates, have an altered structure. The catalytic motif replacement compromises polyubiquitination activity of Cdc34 and alters its regulation in vitro and in vivo, but either motif can support Cdc34 function in yeast viability. Robust polyubiquitination mediated by the S73/S97/loop motif is thus not necessary for Cdc34 role in yeast viability, at least under typical laboratory conditions.
The Effects of Shear Stress on Endothelial Cells at Hypothermic Temperatures

Hypothermic machine perfusion preservation (MPP) has proven to be a successful technique for hypothermic kidney storage, however this technology has not successfully been applied to the liver. Recent research has indicated that the endothelial cells lining the liver sinusoids display rounding phenomena during MPP that is not fully understood. In order to gain a better understanding of endothelial cell shear stress response and the factors that induce rounding, a temperature-controlled micro-shear chamber has been designed and fabricated. The micro-shear chamber has been used to apply shear stresses, corresponding to those imposed during MPP, to rat liver primary endothelial cell cultures in order to form an understanding of how these stresses affect endothelial cell morphology. The chamber allows for the application of shear stresses ranging from 0.2 ± .01 dynes/cm2 to 2.3 ± 0.3 dynes/cm2 , corresponding to what occurs during MPP.] Twenty-four hour in vitro experiments with shear stresses ranging from 0 to 1.49 dynes/cm2 at 4 °C were conducted in order to replicate in vivo conditions of the liver during hypothermic MPP. It has been demonstrated that endothelial cell rounding increases with increasing shear and can be prevented by utilizing low flow rates.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Office of Emergency Transportation: mission and function

Abstract The Department of Transportation's Office of Emergency Transportation (OET) provides emergency resource management planning for civil transportation in crisis situations. Crises, including the worst-case emergency, war, require management of the department's operating elements: the U.S. Coast Guard, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Urban Mass Transportation Administration, and the Maritime Administration, and coordination with outside transportation agencies. The latter include the Interstate Commerce Commission, the Civil Aeronautics Board, the Corps of Engineers, the Civil Works Rivers and Harbors Division, and the Tennessee Valley Authority. During the 1979 energy crisis, OET served as a communications center to facilitate the national movement of fuel for all transportation modes.
A new streaming potential apparatus and study of temperature effects using it

Abstract A new automated streaming potential apparatus has been made for conducting measurements as a function of temperature as well as aging time. Unlike the conventional cells, a new streaming cell used here has no glass joints that are prone to leakage and can be immersed in constant temperature baths for prolonged studies as a function of temperature. The entire sequence of the streaming and the recording of results is accomplished with the help of a series of solenoid valves and timers. This made unattended continuous measurements for studying aging effects possible. The arrangement also permits more accurate measurements under high ionic strength condition since errors due to polarization and rest potential problems are minimized. The performance of the new setup was checked to be satisfactory by comparing the results obtained with it with those obtained with the conventional cell. Results obtained using this setup for temperature effects on the electrokinetic properties of quartz, alumina, and hematite are discussed. It was found that once the mineral has been in contact with a hot solution, the original value at room temperature was not attained for several days. The implication of this on the effect of the usual procedure of cleaning minerals by leaching them in hot acid solutions should be noted.
STRESS INDUCED STIMULATION OF LIVER PROTEIN SYNTHESIS INDEPENDENT OF ADRENAL OR PITUITARY ACTION.

Protein synthesis in liver of adrenalectomized and hypophysectomized rats exposed to centrifugation stress
Driving into the Future with ITS

Intelligent transportation systems have integrated a broad range of AI-based technologies into both the transportation infrastructure and vehicles themselves. Although the future of ITS is promising, the field is anything but futuristic. Various ITS products and services are already at work throughout the world, significantly improving transportation safety, mobility, and productivity
Electrostatic modeling of ion pores: Multipolar sources

Abstract We present calculations of the polarization energy required when a multipolar source enters a transmembrane ion channel. The polarization energy for polar, but uncharged, sources is nearly independent of channel length if the length/diameter ratio is greater than 1.25; however, it is strongly dependent on channel radius. All significant changes in the polarization energy occur within a distance of ±one channel radius of the entrance to the channel. Our calculational method also provides a means of estimating the change in polarization energy that occurs when an ion is not located axially; this contribution can be significant for smaller ions, for which the binding sites may be far from the axis.
The IBM personal computer APL system

In 1973, we decided to enhance the software of our System/7 computer with one interactive time sharing system, and chose APL as the target language. System/7 is a sixteen bit minicomputer embodying a disk unit and multiple sensor based facilities, including analog and digital input/output as well as process interrupts. It was our purpose to support all those facilities within our system, in such a way that APL could become the main program development language for those projects in the Scientific Center using this minicomputer.
Yield modeling and assessment for nanocrossbar systems

Crossbar architectures are promising in the emerging nanoelectronic environment, yet suffer from massive defects. Defect-tolerant logic mapping emerges as a new challenging process in constructing nanocrossbar-based architectures. New yield models and metrics need to be developed to evaluate the logic mapping process, due to the complexity involved in searching for a valid mapping. We show the traditional concept of yield becomes unrealistic due to the lack of consideration for runtime cost, and present a new mapping-aware yield model. Furthermore, we provide assessment of defect-tolerant logic mapping from the perspective of mismatch number distribution. It turns out that such mismatch number distribution serves as a solid basis on understanding the various new factors involved in the logic mapping process.
Stimulation of Homology-Directed Repair at I-SceI-Induced DNA Breaks during the Permissive Life Cycle of Human Cytomegalovirus

ABSTRACT Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) selectively relocalizes many DNA repair proteins, thereby avoiding a potentially detrimental damage response. In the present study, we evaluated interactions between HCMV and the homology-directed repair (HDR) pathway. In permissive human foreskin fibroblasts, a fluorescence-based double-stranded break repair assay was used to determine that HCMV stimulated HDR. Repair of both stably integrated and extrachromosomal reporter substrates was observed to increase. HDR was also stimulated through individual expression of the viral immediate-early protein IE1-72, mimicking full virus infection. These experiments further demonstrate HCMV9s role in modulating critical cellular processes during a permissive infection.
A NEW ROUTE TO TRIARYLSULFONIUM SALTS VIA THE DOUBLE ARYLATION OF THIOPHENOLS

Abstract Although the literature contains a number of synthetic procedures for the preparation of triarylsulfonium salts, 1−10 there existed no single general method capable of giving a wide variety of substituted symmetrical and unsymmetrical triarylsulfonium salts in high yields. Recently, we reported that the copper catalyzed diaryliodonium salt arylation of diarylsulfides (equation 1) proceeds smoothly at moderate temperatures to give good to excellent yields of triarylsulfonium salts.11