cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Meralgia paresthetica related to pregnancy

s CATTERED throughout the literature are occasional articles on series of cases of meralgia paresthetica. Occurrence of this condition during pregnancy has not, in the past, been pointed out. Whether the cause is systemic from infection or toxin, or whether it is local, still remains controversial. During the latter half of the gestation period, the patient has a setting of local conditions considered favorable for the development of the disease. To elaborate, the intra-abdominal and intrapelvic conditions could cause trauma to the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve that arises from the dorsal divisions of the second and third lumbar nerves as it courses retroperitoneally across the iliacus muscle. Also tension on the abdominal fascia as the nerve crosses medial to the anterior superior spine of the pelvis after it has passed under the inguinal ligament is possible. Moreover as the “proudbearing,, of pregnancy is more and more accentuated, there is an increasing angulation of the nerve causing further compression. Probably a combination of these things is, in most cases, the etiological factor: tension or pressure on the nerve that is temporarily more susceptible to trauma by reasons of toxin or infection. In the majority of cases it is unilateral, but can be, rarely, bilateral. It is reported1 as occurring almost three times as often in men as in women. Schenckz feels this condition occurs much more frequently than generally believed. When the earliest sign, unilateral numbness in the area supplied by the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, is present, the diagnosis can be easily verified if the examiner is on the alert. So-called “pressure pains,’ can be blamed if care is not exercised. As Schenck stated, this condition, also known as Roth’s or Bernhardt’s syndrome, is found incidentally to more debilitating symptoms.
Abstract 3947: Radiation treatment solubilizes membrane receptors in meningioma cells

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA In our earlier studies we reported that radio-resistance was associated with soluble uPAR and uPARAP in meningioma cells. In the present study we show solubilization of a broad range of membrane-bound receptors induced by radiation treatment. Although the increase in radiation dosage beyond 10Gy increased the release of receptors, cell proliferation was adversely affected. Further, fractionated dosages (5Gy+5Gy) or a single dose (10Gy) radiation showed a significant surge in soluble receptors after 36 hours of treatment. Correspondingly, an initial lag in proliferation with G2-M arrest and subsequent recovery was seen in irradiated cells. Pretreatment of meningioma cells with N-acetyl cysteine before radiation treatment significantly quenched the solubilization of receptors. Conditioned media collected from irradiated cells promoted invasiveness and migration of meningioma cells compared to the controls. Later, screening for cell-free receptors in the brain sections of tumor-bearing mice also showed an increased incidence in irradiated groups. In conclusion, our study reveals an additional niche of receptor functioning in meningioma. Citation Format: Venkateswara Rao Gogineni, Dilip R. Maddirela, Chandramu Chetty, Jasti S. Rao. Radiation treatment solubilizes membrane receptors in meningioma cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 3947. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-3947
Determination and occurrence of endocrine disrupting compounds, pharmaceuticals and personal care products in fish (Morone saxatilis)

Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs), pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) have attracted much attention due to widespread contamination in aquatic environment. In this study, we determined 13 EDCs and PPCPs in fish blood, bile and muscle by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The limits of quantitation (LOQ) were in the ranges of 0.23–2.54, 0.22–2.36 ng·mL−1, and 0.24–2.57 ng·g−1 dry weight (dw) for fish blood, bile and muscle, respectively. Recoveries of target compounds spiked into sample matrices and passed through the entire analytical procedure ranged from 65% to 95%, from 60% to 92% and from 62% to 91% for blood, bile and muscle, respectively. The methods were applied to the analysis of fish from a lake in California. Target compounds were relatively low in bile, and only bisphenol A (BPA) and diclofenac were measurable near the LOQ. Seven of 13 compounds were detected in blood, with total concentrations up to 39 ng ·mL−1. Only BPA was frequently found in muscle, with mean concentration of 7.26 ng·g−1 dw. The estimated daily intake of BPA through fish consumption for U.S. resident was significantly lower than the tolerable daily intake recommended by the European Food Safety Authority. This study showed that the exposure to the bisphenol A from fish diet is unlikely to pose a health risk.
The effect of coronary angiography on renal function in preemptive renal transplant candidates

Lorenz EC, Stegall MD, Cosio FG, Gloor JM, Larson TS, Taler SJ. The effect of coronary angiography on renal function in preemptive renal transplant candidates. Clin Transplant 2011: 25: 594–599. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Abstract: Background: Increasing numbers of patients undergo preemptive renal transplantation. Obtaining cardiac catheterizations prior to transplantation to screen for coronary artery disease is controversial because of the perceived risk of inducing contrast nephropathy and the need for dialysis in patients with marginal renal function. We sought to examine the true impact of cardiac catheterization on time to dialysis in a cohort of preemptive renal transplant candidates. Methods: From a cohort of 376 transplant candidates evaluated preemptively at our program between 2/2001 and 4/2005, 34 patients had positive dobutamine stress echocardiograms. We reviewed the subsequent need for dialysis in these patients. Results: Among candidates undergoing angiography, 8.7% required dialysis within 14 d of contrast administration and 26% eventually needed dialysis prior to transplantation at 5.3 ± 3.7 months after their pre-transplant evaluation. Among patients who did not undergo angiography, 27% needed dialysis prior to transplantation at 2.4 ± 1.8 months after pre-transplant evaluation. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate a low risk of hastening the need for dialysis after coronary angiography in preemptive renal transplant candidates. Undergoing angiography had no effect on the ultimate need for or timing of dialysis initiation. These findings support completion of full cardiac evaluation as indicated for high-risk preemptive renal transplant candidates.
The Spider's House

This essay analyses Paul Bowles' The Spider's House and interrogates its representational strategies. While readings of Bowles' work have often prioritized interest in the existential dilemmas of his western characters in their encounter with foreign cultures, I read the text from the positionality of a native Moroccan. The essay argues that Bowles posits the native as a relic from the past whose presumed pristine state needs to be preserved to serve as a cultural commodity. Submerged in cultural anachronism and deprived of any historical consciousness, the native, represented in the character of Amar, is locked in an untenable position between localized foundational discourses and the narrative of modernity advanced by French colonial rule. The essay thus locates The Spider's House within a tradition of western discursive penetration that relegates the Other to outer rims of political, historical and cultural centres. The essay concludes that instead of opening new venues for the native that gesture towa...
Determinants of the Time Course of Facilitation at the Granule Cell to Purkinje Cell Synapse

Short-term facilitation is a widely observed form of synaptic enhancement that is not well understood. Although presynaptic calcium has long been implicated in this process, its role is unclear, particularly at synapses in the mammalian brain. We tested the role of presynaptic residual free calcium ([Ca]res) in facilitation of synapses between granule cells and Purkinje cells in rat cerebellar slices. Paired-pulse facilitation of synaptic currents resulted in an approximately 2.5-fold enhancement that decayed with a time constant of approximately 200 msec, as assessed by voltage-clamp recordings. Measurements of [Ca]res using fluorescent calcium-sensitive indicators revealed that [Ca]res decayed more rapidly than did facilitation. Manipulation of [Ca]res dynamics by introducing EGTA into presynaptic terminals sped the decays of [Ca]res and facilitation in a dose-dependent manner. When [Ca]res was reduced to a brief impulse lasting several milliseconds, facilitation was still present, although reduced in amplitude and duration. Facilitation decayed with an intrinsic time constant of approximately 40 msec. These results suggest that facilitation at this synapse is produced by a calcium-driven process with a high affinity and a slow effective off-rate. A combination of [Ca]res dynamics and the properties of a calcium-driven reaction determine the time course and amplitude of facilitation.
Structural and Mechanistic Aspects of Copper Catalyzed Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization

During the past decade, atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) has had a tremendous impact on the synthesis of macromolecules with well-defined compositions, architectures, and functionalities. Structural features of copper(I) and copper(II) complexes with bidentate, tridentate, tetradentate, and multidentate nitrogen-based ligands commonly utilized in ATRP are reviewed and discussed. Additionally, recent advances in mechanistic understanding of copper-mediated ATRP are outlined.
Facebook's Failed IPO and the Era of Insider Capitalism

The initial public offering (IPO) of Facebook is the most important failed IPO in the history of the American capital markets. Explanations for the failure largely focus on the widely publicized problems at Nasdaq, the exchange venue where the offering took place, and the role of the investment banks that helped lead the IPO. This paper argues that the problems were likely caused by a confluence of two other important factors: the pressures of what I define as “fictitious capital” and the internal culture of the company itself created by Mark Zuckerberg, the founder and dominant shareholder of the company, aided and abetted by early investors such as the libertarian Peter Thiel. These factors suggest the emergence of a new period in capitalism that I call “insider capitalism” where key investors ally with founding entrepreneurs to exploit informational advantages to appropriate value. The paper thus suggests that there is a deeper structural and ideological problem extant in modern capitalism.
Performance comparison of the multi-code fixed spreading length (MFSL) scheme and the variable spreading length (VSL) scheme for multi-rate MC-CDMA

In this paper, we compare the performance of two important multi-rate transmission schemes: the variable spreading length (VSL) scheme and the multicode fixed spreading length (MFSL) scheme for MC-CDMA systems. Minimum mean square error combining (MMSEC) is applied for both schemes to cancel the multiuser interference (MUI). It is found that by selecting orthogonal Walsh Hadamard sequences as spreading codes and properly assigning codes for each user, the intercarrier interference (ICI) caused by the nonorthogonality of subcarriers in the VSL scheme can be eliminated and the self-interference (SI) caused by employing multiple codes for each user in the MFSL scheme can also be reduced. The bit error rate (BER) performance of each scheme is obtained by analysis and simulation in a correlated Rayleigh fading channel.
Suburethral sling at the time of radical prostatectomy in patients at high risk of postoperative incontinence

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the insertion of a urethral sling at the time of radical prostatectomy (RP) in men at high risk of urinary incontinence after RP. PATIENTS AND METHODS Between 1998 and 2000, 49 of 871 men undergoing RP at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, were identified as at risk of urinary incontinence after RP, based on their age (>65 years), previous transurethral resection of the prostate, previous radiation therapy, clinical stage, and obesity (body mass index of ≥ 30 kg/m2). These 49 men had a suburethral sling inserted at the time of RP, and incontinence after surgery was evaluated using pad counts and patient-completed questionnaires. Retrospectively, incontinence rates and complications in these men were compared with 122 men also at high risk of urinary incontinence after RP who did not have a sling inserted at the time of RP (control group). RESULTS In all, 29 of 49 men (59%) with a suburethral sling reported using either no pad or one pad per day for urinary leakage at 6 months after RP, compared with 83 of 118 (70%) in the control group. At 12 months after RP, 34 of 46 (74%) men with a suburethral sling reported using no or one pad, compared with 75 of 89 (84%) in the control group. Seventeen (35%) men were treated for urethral stricture in the sling group and 17 (14%) in the control group (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION The urethral sling modification concurrent with RP is feasible, but does not decrease incontinence compared with a similar group of high-risk patients who did not have the sling modification. In addition, the stricture rate in the sling group was unacceptably high. Currently, we do not recommend the use of a urethral sling at the time of RP.
BOUNDS FOR THE CORRECTION TO THE BORN TERM AND APPLICATIONS TO p-p SCATTERING FOR A GENERALIZED DISPERSION MODEL

Abstract The unitarizing corrections to the Born term, as given by the Chew-Arndt, MacGregor-Arndt (j0 even), and Scotti-Wong models, are shown to be bounded above and below. The bounds follow from the mathematical forms of the models, to all of which forms a theorem (proved in this paper) applies. The correction bounds are given for several p-p amplitudes for the range 0 to 300 MeV. The results are shown to explain why the apparently different models mentioned above give similar Born terms after subtraction of the correction from the experimentally determined (p-p) amplitude. A generalization of these models for the unitarizing correction is proposed, which has properties leading to partial-wave dispersion relations, and which has a specified relationship between the asymptotic behavior and the fluctuation of the sign of the left-hand discontinuity. Upper and lower bounds are found for the correction term prescribed by this generalized model (which is not restricted, in its application, to nucleon-nucleon scattering).
Titanium Dioxide (P25) Produces Reactive Oxygen Species in Immortalized Brain Microglia (BV2): Implications for Nanoparticle Neurotoxicity†

Concerns with the environmental and health risk of widely distributed, commonly used nanoparticles are increasing. Nanosize titanium dioxide (TiO2) is used in air and water remediation and in numerous products designed for direct human use and consumption. Its effectiveness in deactivating pollutants and killing microorganisms relates to photoactivation and the resulting free radical activity. This property, coupled with its multiple potential exposure routes, indicates that nanosize TiO2 could pose a risk to biological targets that are sensitive to oxidative stress damage (e.g., brain). In this study, brain microglia (BV2) were exposed to a physicochemically characterized (i.e., dispersion stability, particle size distribution, and zeta potential) nanomaterial, Degussa P25, and cellular expressions of reactive oxygen species were measured with fluorescent probes. P25's zeta potentials, measured in cell culture media and physiological buffer were -11.6 +/- 1.2 mV and -9.25 +/- 0.73 mV, respectively. P25 aggregation was rapid in both media and buffer with the hydrodynamic diameter of stable P25 aggregates ranging from 826 nm to 2368 nm depending on the concentration. The biological response of BV2 microglia to noncytotoxic (2.5-120 ppm) concentrations of P25 was a rapid (<5 min) and sustained (120 min) release of reactive oxygen species. The time course of this release suggested that P25 not only stimulated the immediate "oxidative burst" response in microglia but also interfered with mitochondrial energy production. Transmission electron microscopy indicated that small groups of nanosized particles and micron-sized aggregates were engulfed bythe microglia and sequestered as intracytoplasmic aggregates after 6 and 18 h exposure to P25 (2.5 ppm). Cell viability was maintained at all test concentrations (2.5-120 ppm) over the 18 h exposure period. These data indicate that mouse microglia respond to Degussa P25 with cellular and morphological expressions of free radical formation.
Design and manufacturability tradeoffs in unidirectional and bidirectional standard cell layouts in 14 nm node

The 14 nm node is seeing the dominant use of three-dimensional FinFET architectures, local interconnects, multiple patterning processes and restricted design rules. With the adoption of these new process technologies and design styles, it becomes necessary to rethink the standard cell library design methodologies that proved successful in the past. In this paper, we compare the design efficiency and manufacturability of standard cell libraries that use either unidirectional or bidirectional Metal 1. In contrast to previous nodes, a 14 nm 9-track unidirectional standard cell layout results in up to 20% lower energy-delay-area product as compared to the 9-track bidirectional standard cell layout. Manufacturability assessment shows that the unidirectional standard cell layouts save one exposure on Metal 1, reduces process variability by 10% and layout construct count by 2-3X. As a result, the unidirectional standard cell layout could serve as a key enabler for affordable scaling.
The emerging role of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the management of patients with IgA nephropathy☆

Abstract Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN), the most common primary glomerulonephritis in the world, affects mostly young adults, and shows a widely variable clinical course with many patients developing progressive renal disease, culminating in terminal renal failure in 20% to 40% of those afflicted. Until recently, no treatment options have been available for IgAN. Although a cure for the disease remains elusive, drugs that slow disease progression are becoming available, including omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids. The largest long-term clinical trial evaluating n-3 fatty acids in high-risk patients with IgAN showed that early and prolonged treatment with n-3 fatty acids retards renal progression. The rationale for using these fats involves potential mechanisms that reduce renal inflammation and glomerulosclerosis, hallmarks of progressive disease. © 2001 by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc.
A Generalization of Cohen's Kappa Agreement Measure to Interval Measurement and Multiple Raters

Cohen's kappa statistic is frequently used to measure agreement between two observers employing categorical polytomies. In this paper, Cohen's statistic is shown to be inherently multivariate in nature; it is expanded to analyze ordinal and interval data; and it is extended to more than two observers. A nonasymptotic test of significance is provided for the generalized statistic.
Tandem Behaviour of a Telecommunication System with Repeated Calls: A Markovian Case with Buffers

The performance of a telecommunication system consisting of a set of transmitters with finite capacity buffers is modelled with a Markovian queueing network, and its tandem behaviour is approximated, in steady state. In this system, a fraction of the units which, at the instants of their arrival at each transmitter, find it busy may retry to be processed by merging with the incoming arrival units at the same transmitter after a fixed delay time. The performance of this system is approximated by a recursive algorithm, in steady state. Furthermore, the approximation outcomes are compared against those from a simulation study. In summary, our numerical results indicate that approximating the non-renewal superposition arrival, the non-renewal overflow and the non-renewal departure processes at each node of the network can be approximated with compatible Poisson processes.
Decreased incorporation of l-[U-14C]serine into phosphatidylserine by polymorphonuclear leukocytes during phagocytosis

Abstract A decreased rate of l -[U- 14 C]serine incorporation into phosphatidylserine of polymorphonuclear leukocytes exposed to starch granules was observed. l -[U- 14 C] serine uptake was also depressed under identical conditions. The degree of reduction in specific radioactivity of phosphatidylserine was parallel to that of l -[U- 14 C]serine uptake. Both uptake and efflux of 45 Ca 2+ were enhanced in cells with starch granules, but no significant change in cellular calcium levels was detected. These results suggest that the reduced l -[U- 14 C]serine incorporation into phospholipids may be attributable to decreased availability of this amino acid. The involvement of Ca 2+ fluxes in phosphatidylserine synthesis in intact leukocytes cannot, however, be excluded.
Public policies affecting ethnic minorities in China

The original hypothesis of this research was that China has developed public policies to protect the rights and interests of its ethnic minorities. Using literature and web materials from different sources, however, the authors were unable to obtain findings to test this hypothesis. Nevertheless, from an analysis of 31 articles and books, eight research and news websites, and three Chinese government websites, we found three discussion areas on the relationship between public policies and ethnic minorities in China. These three areas are the characteristics of ethnic minorities in China, the theoretical underpinnings of studies of ethnic minorities in China, and recent migration patterns that affect ethnic minority populations. Limited by using scarce resources from existing literature, including general demographic and government websites, this article analyses whether policies have been formed to help ethnic minorities to be economically and politically productive. 本研究最原先的假设是中国已发展了一系列的公共政策以保护境内少数民族的权益。但...
Chromosome behavior and cell lineage in triploid and mosaic salivary glands of species hybrids in Sciara

A study of the salivary glands of triploid hybrids between females of Sciara ocellaris and males of Sciara reynoldsi throws light on several problems concerning chromosome behavior, species relationships and embryonic development. The specimens studied possess two sets of ocellaris chromosomes and one set of reynoldsi chromosomes. Three types of conditions are represented; 2X∶3A; 3X∶3A; and a mosaic possessing cells of both kinds. Heterozygosity of chromosome band pattern in the hybrids shows that the ocellaris homologs are not true sisters and that the sperm probably united with a diploid fusion nucleus composed of two polar bodies and not with the ootid nucleus. This indicates strongly that in a previously described diploid hybrid mosaic some cells developed parthenogenetically from such a fusion nucleus, while others were biparental in origin. The evidence supports the view that the initial influences or reactions of the foreign reynoldsi sperm differ from those of the ocellaris sperm immediately after entry into the egg, but that then and later the differences are relatively slight, although numerous. This agrees with our earlier evidence from the hybrids in indicating that the two parental species are separated genetically, as well as in chromosome band pattern, by many small differences. Species-specific characteristics of chromosome behavior are described which retain their specificity in the hybrids. The 2X∶3A cells lack a reynoldsi X. The double ocellaris X in such cells (including those in the mosaic) exhibits the peculiar features manifest by the single X in ordinary diploid XO males in the pure species (and in many other Diptera). It is pale and diffuse in structural appearance, and throughout its entire length is uniformly much greater in diameter than it is in the 3X∶3A cells. The possible significance of this behavior is discussed in relation to problems of sex determination (e. g., Bridges' “ratio theory”) and those concerning time of gene action. The structural resemblance to the “puffs” and “bulbs” found in salivary gland chromosomes is striking and raises the question as to how far morphological characteristics of chromosomes can be used as criteria of gene activity. The double X in the 2X cells of the mosaic, surrounded by 3X cells, exhibits the same peculiarities as those in a pure 2X∶3A „male-type“ specimen, indicating that we are dealing with intracellular, not intercellular phenomena. Conditions in the mosaic gland support the evidence from the diploid hybrids (some described here for the first time) in indicating that the salivary gland is formed by differentiation of cells which happen to lie in the proper region, regardless of their ancestry. The triploid mosaic specimen (and also a diploid mosaic) is presumed to be a female in which the normal male-producing type of chromosome elimination occurred in one or more mitotic divisions during cleavage or later.
On the Use of a Monilia Vaccine in the Treatment of Sprue.

Sprue has been studied for years and numerous theories as to its etiology have been advanced, but without sufficient proofs to cause their acceptance by workers in tropical medicine. Ashford has devoted much time to the study of this disease, with the result of the discovery of a monilia, which could be isolated from the tongue and feces of sprue patients and also from the tissues of persons dying of the disease. For this monilia he adopted the term Monilia psilosis. The organism and its etiologic relationship to the disease, including the production of sprue symptoms in animals, have been previously described. My studies have been serologic and I have found, using Monilia psilosis antigens, complement fixation in cases of sprue. These cases had been diagnosed and the presence of the monilia determined culturally by Ashford. During the experiments on the toxins of the Monilia psilosis evidence indicating specificity was furnished by the production of immunity in animals. This immunity was produced by the injection of killed cultures, and it was hoped from this that a vaccine might be made having a curative value.
Evaluation of Wheat Straw Wattles for Velocity Reduction in Ditch Check Installations

Linear construction typically uses drainage conveyances to convey stormwater runoff away from construction sites to neighboring water bodies. These conveyances may be unstabilized and highly susceptible to erosive shear stresses associated with high-velocity flow. In certain situations, wattle ditch checks are used to help reduce channel erosion caused by high-velocity flow by creating an impoundment. However, with new technology emerging and limited scientific data available on the in-field performance of wattles, the quantification of an installation's effectiveness for improving runoff control is difficult. The effectiveness of various configurations of wattle ditch check installations was investigated at the Auburn University Erosion and Sediment Control Testing Facility to help the Alabama Department of Transportation (DOT) improve the performance of wattle ditch checks. Results indicate that Alabama DOT's current installation practice of staking a wattle only to an unstabilized channel can be improv...
A role for glycoprotein C in pseudorabies virus entry that is independent of virus attachment to heparan sulfate and which involves the actin cytoskeleton

Glycoprotein C (gC) of pseudorabies virus, a swine herpesvirus, initiates virus attachment by binding to heparan sulfate (HS) linked to proteoglycans (HSPGs) on the cell surface. This interaction facilitates a required step in virus entry, the binding to a non-HS coreceptor, likely by another viral glycoprotein, gD. We demonstrate that gC has an even more direct role in virus entry than simply promoting adhesion strengthening. A porcine cell line expressing gC trans-complemented the penetration, but not attachment, defect of gC null mutants. In addition, gC promoted the colocalization of cell surface HSPGs and the actin cytoskeleton, suggesting a role for filamentous actin in virus entry. This was supported by results showing that both the engagement of a non-HS coreceptor and entry events subsequent to coreceptor binding were impaired if cells were first treated with an actin depolymerizing agent, cytochalasin D. Our results suggest a model in which gC-HS interactions promote not only virus attachment but also virus entry by usurping the normal properties of HSPGs.
Inability of Plasma from Patients with Neoplasia to support Macrophage Recognition of Foreignness

THE involvement of the reticuloendothelial system (RES) in various disease processes is well documented, but the role of phagocytic promoting factors, or opsonins1–4, is still not clear. Opsonic depletion in animals—the so-called “blockade”5–8—has been shown to be associated with decreased immunogenicity9–11 and impaired resistance to infection12,13. Because tumour cells which possess tumour-specific antigens14 are, effectively, “non-self” it is possible that serum opsonic depletion might occur in the neoplastic patient. Phagocytic alterations have been found in patients with neoplasia15–18, but it is not known if these are attributable to a macrophage alteration or an opsonic defect.
Denial of Risk Behavior Does Not Exclude Asymptomatic Anorectal Sexually Transmitted Infection in HIV-Infected Men

Background: The Centers for Disease Control recommend screening for asymptomatic sexually transmitted infection (STI) among HIV-infected men when there is self-report of unprotected anal-receptive exposure. The study goals were: (1) to estimate the validity and usefulness for screening policies of self-reported unprotected anal-receptive exposure as a risk indicator for asymptomatic anorectal infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) and/or Chlamydia trachomatis (CT). (2) to estimate the number of infections that would be missed if anal diagnostic assays were not performed among patients who denied unprotected anorectal exposure in the preceding month. Methods and Findings: Retrospective analysis in HIV primary care and high resolution anoscopy (HRA) clinics. HIV-infected adult men were screened for self-reported exposure during the previous month at all primary care and HRA appointments. Four sub-cohorts were defined based on microbiology methodology (GC culture and CT direct fluorescent antibody vs. GC/ CT nucleic acid amplification test) and clinical setting (primary care vs. HRA). Screening question operating characteristics were estimated using contingency table methods and then pooled across subcohorts. Among 803 patients, the prevalence of anorectal GC/CT varied from 3.5–20.1% in the 4 sub-cohorts. The sensitivity of the screening question for self-reported exposure to predict anorectal STI was higher in the primary care than in the HRA clinic, 86–100% vs. 12–35%, respectively. The negative predictive value of the screening question to predict asymptomatic anorectal STI was $90% in all sub-cohorts. In sensitivity analyses, the probability of being an unidentified case among those denying exposure increased from 0.4– 8.1% in the primary care setting, and from 0.9–18.8% in the HRA setting as the prevalence varied from 1–20%. Conclusion: As STI prevalence increases, denial of unprotected anal-receptive exposure leads to an increasingly unacceptable proportion of unidentified asymptomatic anorectal STI if used as a criterion not to obtain microbiologic assays.
A joint scheme for secure and reliable communication in wireless sensor networks

Two of the design criteria in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are the security and reliability of information flow, especially in critical applications. In this research, we propose combining a Crypto-System with Embedded Error Control (CSEEC) with multi-path routing for secure and reliable communication in WSNs. CSEEC is a joint encryption and error correction scheme based on erasure coding. When combined with multi-path routing, the system provides a fault-intrusion tolerant mechanism. The goal is to provide security and reliability for data transmission in multi-path routing by using a single process. The proposed system protects the confidentiality and ensures the delivery of the transmitted information when a number of communication paths fail or get compromised.
E-Service Delivery in Higher Education: Meeting MBA Student Expectations

This study explores graduate studentsâ€™ expectations regarding website design in higher education. Focus group discussions and the Kano method are used to improve the college website experience of Master of Business Administration students. Student survey results (n = 110) suggest 23 features describing an ideal college website. Results guide college website design according to three need-based groups; basic, performance, and excitement to improve website value to students and ultimately student loyalty.
Immediate inflammatory response and scar formation in wounded vocal folds.

Objectives:Vocal fold scarring is the major cause of voice disorders after voice surgery or laryngeal trauma. The role of inflammatory factors in vocal fold wound healing and fibrosis has not been adequately investigated. Scarless wound healing has been associated with decreased inflammatory responses. To understand scar formation and develop reliable treatments, it is necessary to control extracellular matrix production and inflammation. Thus, we examined the inflammation profile and extracellular matrix production in wounded vocal folds in the acute phase of wound healing.Methods:Vocal fold stripping was performed on 30 Sprague-Dawley rats. Vocal fold tissue was collected at 5 time points (4, 8, 16, 24, and 72 hours). We examined the in vivo messenger RNA expression profile of inflammatory factors interleukin 1β, interferon γ, tumor necrosis factor a, nuclear factor Kβ, transforming growth factor β, and cyclooxygenase 2, as well as hyaluronic acid synthases 1 and 2, procollagen subtypes I and III, and e...
Framework for Validation of Computer Models Applied to a Resistance Spot Weld Model

We view the most important question in evaluation of a computer model to be: Does the computer model provide predictions that are accurate enough for the intended use of the model? The purpose of this presentation is to discuss a systematic six-step model validation process intended to help answer that question. This will be done by presenting a Bayesian statistical strategy for developing error bounds on model predictions with the interpretation that there is a specified confidence (e.g. 80%) that the corresponding true process value will lie within the range of these error bounds. Although seldom done in practice, such error bounds and confidence estimates should be provided whenever model predictions are made. A Caveat: The process of model validation is inherently a hard statistical problem. The statistical problem is so hard that one rarely sees model validation approaches that actually produce error bounds and confidence estimates on computer model predictions. The intent of this presentation is essentially to provide a ‘proof of concept’, that it is possible to provide such bounds and estimates for predictions of computer models, while taking into account all of the uncertainties present in the problem. However, the computations required in the methodology we propose can be intensive, especially when there are large numbers of model inputs, large numbers of unknown parameters, or a large amount of data (model-run or field). The test bed application we consider in this presentation (a resistance spot weld model) is relatively modest in these dimensions. Finally, we call the reader’s attention to the reference, Bayarri et. al. (2002). This reference provides a down-loadable PDF file that contains a technical report presenting all of the technical details associated with our proposed validation strategy as well as practical application of the strategy to the spot weld model described in this presentation as well as to an automobile crash model.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Mean Effective Optical Constants of Cotton Leaves

Field cotton leaves reflectance and transmittance measurement, predicting linear dimension related to cellular structure
Structural basis for certain naturally occurring bioflavonoids to function as reducing co-substrates of cyclooxygenase I and II.

Background Recent studies showed that some of the dietary bioflavonoids can strongly stimulate the catalytic activity of cyclooxygenase (COX) I and II in vitro and in vivo, presumably by facilitating enzyme re-activation. In this study, we sought to understand the structural basis of COX activation by these dietary compounds.
Modulation of angiogenesis in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome.

Current investigations have revealed that angiogenesis plays a role in the pathogenesis of high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia, and in the mechanisms of disease progression. Secretion of cytokines and growth factors modulates angiogenesis in the marrow leading to increased vascularity and sustenance of the clonal population. For high-risk MDS patients older than 60 years who are not eligible for aggressive chemotherapy or stem cell transplant, there are few therapeutic options other than supportive treatment. Recent delineation of the pathobiology of MDS has resulted in the development of new agents and treatment modalities that impact on these mechanisms. One of the features of bone marrow pathology is the presence of new vessels, which appear to sustain growth and the hypercellularity of the marrow. Blocking angiogenesis may reduce the microvessel density of the marrow, cellularity, and disease progression. Angiogenesis can be targeted by inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which modulates new vessel growth, by the use of antibodies aimed at VEGF and its receptors, as well as receptor tyrosine kinases that block VEGF signaling. Other agents include inhibitors of farnesyl transferase and protein kinase C, which affect upstream modulators of growth factors and their receptor interactions; matrix metalloproteinases, which disrupt matrices and adhesion function promoting vessel growth; and other inhibitors with broader function, such as endostatin, thalidomide, and related analogues
Tumor induction by immunologically activated murine leukemia virus.

A graft-vs.-host reaction (GVHR) was induced in young male CAFI and CB6F1 mice by the administration of BALB/cJ spleen cells. A proportion of such mice subsequently developed lymphoreticular rumors. Cell-free extracts (CFEs) prepared from the reticular tissues of CAF1 mice killed at intervals after the induction of the GVHR were tested for their capacity to produce the same tumors in a litter of syngeneic mice inoculated at birth. 12 of 29 (41.4%) such extracts were positive, causing lymphoreticular tumors in one or more littermate recipients. The positive CFEs came from donors killed at all stages of the GVHR, from tumor-bearing mice as well as from non-tumor-bearing mice. However, whereas less than 30% of CFEs from mice killed within 12 mo of GVHR induction were oncogenic, the incidence of oncogenic extracts from mice killed 12–15 mo after GVHR induction rose to 75%. None of the CFEs prepared from nine normal uninjected male CAF1 mice killed between the ages of 8 and 18 mo transmitted tumors to recipients. CFEs prepared from CAF1 mice with the GVHR were tested for infectious murine leukemia virus (MuLV) using the XC assay and also for complement-fixing (CF) group-specific MuLV antigen. Substantial titers of B-tropic MuLV and CF antigen were detected in at least half the extracts from mice killed 11–14 mo after GVHR induction. During the first few months of GVHR induction, MuLV titers were low and CF antigen was absent. Neither infectious MuLV nor CF antigen were detected in CFEs prepared from normal control mice. Serially passed CFEs originating from a CB6F1 GVHR-induced RCN caused similar tumors in successive generations of syngeneic recipient mice. These lymphoreticular tumors were shown to contain infectious MuLV, CF MuLV antigen, and C-type particles. These data together provide evidence that MuLV is activated during the GVHR and that it is responsible for the eventual development of lymphoreticular tumors.
Signature optimization for CDMA with limited feedback

We study the performance of joint signature-receiver optimization for direct-sequence code-division multiple access (DS-CDMA) with limited feedback. The receiver for a particular user selects the signature from a signature codebook, and relays the corresponding B index bits to the transmitter over a noiseless channel. We study the performance of a random vector quantization (RVQ) scheme in which the codebook entries are independent and isotropically distributed. Assuming the interfering signatures are independent, and have independent and identically distributed (i.i.d.) elements, we evaluate the received signal-to-interference plus noise ratio (SINR) in the large system limit as the number of users, processing gain, and feedback bits B all tend to infinity with fixed ratios. This SINR is evaluated for both the matched filter and linear minimum mean-squared error (MMSE) receivers. Furthermore, we show that this large system SINR is the maximum that can be achieved over any sequence of codebooks. Numerical results show that with the MMSE receiver, one feedback bit per signature coefficient achieves close to single-user performance. We also consider a less complex and suboptimal reduced-rank signature optimization scheme in which the user's signature is constrained to lie in a lower dimensional subspace. The optimal subspace coefficients are scalar-quantized and relayed to the transmitter. The large system performance of the quantized reduced-rank scheme can be approximated, and numerical results show that it performs in the vicinity of the RVQ bound. Finally, we extend our analysis to the scenario in which a subset of users optimize their signatures in the presence of random interference.
TRANSIENT PHENOMENA IN THE PULSE RADIOLYSIS OF RETINYL POLYENES—7. RADICAL ANIONS OF VITAMIN A AND ITS DERIVATIVES

— Upon e--pulse irradiation in nonprotic solvents, all-trans retinol (ROH) and retinylmethyl ether (ROMe) form transient species (τ= 0.5–7μs, λmax=575–590 nm) identifiable as radical anions. Similar species are also formed upon laser pulse photoexcitation of these retinyl derivatives in the presence of N,N-dimethylaniline in acetonitrile. In contrast, electron transfer or attachment to all-trans retinyl acetate (ROAc) and palmitate (ROPa) results in ‘instantaneous’ loss of carboxylate anions from electron adducts giving the retinylmethyl radical (R-, λmax= 395 nm, τk > 100 μ,s); the radical anions in these cases are too short-lived to be detected by nanosecond pulse radiolysis. The lifetimes of radical anions of ROH and ROMe are very sensitive to water and alcohols (e.g. kq= 107M-1 s-1 with methanol as quencher for ROH- in tetrahydrofuran). Based on these findings, the spectral dissimilarity of the one-electron reduction products from ROH and ROAc in alcohols and aqueous micelles becomes explainable in terms of fast formation of protonated radical anions (RH(OH), τ1/2, > 100 μs, λmax=370–375 nm) in the case of ROH and of retinylmethyl radical via loss of AcO- from radical anion in the case of ROAc. In tetrahydrofuran, the complexation of ROH- with cations such as Na+ and Bu4N+ affects the relative importance of its major decay modes, namely, protonation and dehydroxylation, the latter process being significantly enhanced by the presence of Na+.
Effect of postnatal steroid administration on serum vitamin A concentrations in newborn infants with respiratory compromise

Antenatal administration of glucocorticoids accelerates the fetal maturation of the lung, liver, and gastrointestinal tract. ~-3 w e previously demonstrated a significant elevation of.serum retinol, retinol-binding protein, and transthyretin concentrations in the cord blood of newborn infants whose mothers received betamethasone antenatally. 4 It was unclear from that study, however, whether this represented an effect primarily on the mother, the placenta, or the fetus. Mammel et al. 5 and others 6 demonstrated that postnatal steroid administration decreases alveolar-arterial oxygen gradients and improves lung mechanics in bronchopulmonary dysplasia, The mechanism of action remains unknown. Vitamin A has also been implicated in the prevention and treatment of bronchopulmonary dysplasia by promoting normal lung development and healing. 78 On the basis of these studies, we investigated the effect of postnatal dexamethasone administration on the vitamin A status of 13 infants who were treated with steroids because of significant respiratory compromise.
Modeling thermal and stress behavior of the fuel–clad interface in monolithic fuel mini-plates

A fuel development and qualification program is in process with the objective of qualifying very high density monolithic low enriched uranium–molybdenum fuel for high-performance research reactors. The monolithic fuel foil creates differences in the mechanical and structural characteristics of the fuel plate because of the planar interface created by the fuel foil and cladding. An initial finite element analysis model has been developed to investigate worst-case scenarios for the basic monolithic fuel plate structure using typical mini-plate irradiation conditions in the Advanced Test Reactor. Initial analysis shows that the stress normal to the fuel–clad interface dominates during irradiation and that the presence of small, rounded delaminations at the interface is not of great concern. However, larger and/or fuel–clad delaminations with sharp corners can create areas of concern, as maximum principal cladding stress, strain, displacement, and peak fuel temperature are all significantly increased. Furthermore, stresses resulting from temperature gradients that cause the plate to bow or buckle in an unconstrained fuel plate configuration is greatly enhanced in a constrained fuel plate configuration. The sensitivities of the model and input parameters are discussed, along with some overlap of initial experimental observations using as-fabricated plate characterization and post-irradiation examination.
Ovarian germinal epithelium and folliculogenesis in the common snook, Centropomus undecimalis (Teleostei: centropomidae).

The ovarian germinal epithelium in the common snook, Centropomus undecimalis, is described. It consists of epithelial and prefollicle cells that surround germ cells, either oogonia or oocytes, respectively. The germinal epithelium borders a body cavity, the ovarian lumen, and is supported by a basement membrane that also separates the epithelial compartment of the ovarian lamellae from the stromal compartment. During folliculogenesis, the epithelial cells, whose cytoplasmic processes encompass meiotic oocytes, transform into prefollicle cells, which become follicle cells at the completion of folliculogenesis. The follicle is a derivative of the germinal epithelium and is composed of the oocyte and surrounding follicle cells. It is separated from the encompassing theca by a basement membrane. The cells that form the theca interna are derived from prethecal cells within the extravascular space of the ovarian stroma. The theca externa differentiates from undifferentiated cells within the stromal compartment of the ovary, from within the extravascular space. The theca interna and the theca externa are not considered to be part of the follicle and are derived from a different ovarian compartment than the follicle. Meiosis commences while oocytes are still within the germinal epithelium and proceeds as far as arrested diplotene of the first meiotic prophase. The primary growth phase of oocyte development also begins while oocytes are still within the germinal epithelium or attached to it in a cell nest. The definitions used herein are consistent between sexes and with the mammalian literature.