cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Less efficient oculomotor performance is associated with increased incidence of head impacts in high school ice hockey.

Abstract Objectives To evaluate associations between pre-season oculomotor performance on visual tracking tasks and in-season head impact incidence during high school boys ice hockey. Design Prospective observational study design. Methods Fifteen healthy high school aged male hockey athletes (M = 16.50 ± 1.17 years) performed two 30 s blocks each of a prosaccade and self-paced saccade task, and two trials each of a slow, medium, and fast smooth pursuit task (90° s−1; 180° s−1; 360° s−1) during the pre-season. Regular season in-game collision data were collected via helmet-mounted accelerometers. Simple linear regressions were used to examine relations between oculomotor performance measures and collision incidence at various impact thresholds. Results The variability of prosaccade latency was positively related to total collisions for the 20 g force cutoff (p = 0.046, adjusted R2 = 0.28). The average self-paced saccade velocity (p = 0.020, adjusted R2 = 0.37) and variability of smooth pursuit gaze velocity (p = 0.012, adjusted R2 = 0.47) were also positively associated with total collisions for the 50 g force cutoff. Conclusions These results provide preliminary evidence that less efficient oculomotor performance on three different oculomotor tasks is associated with increased incidence of head impacts during a competitive ice hockey season. The variability of prosaccade latency, the average self-paced saccade velocity and the variability of gaze velocity during predictable smooth pursuit all related to increased head impacts. Future work is needed to further understand player initiated collisions, but this is an important first step toward understanding strategies to reduce incidence of injury risk in ice hockey, and potentially contact sports more generally.
Hybrid System Approach for Task Planning and Control of Robotic Manufacturing Workcell

Abstract This paper extends our newly developed event-based planning and control method to robotic manufacturing workcell via a hybrid system approach. The tasks of a manufacturing workcell usually consist of multiple segments of robotic actions, which involve both continuous and discrete types of actions. The Max-Plus Algebra Model has been proposed to model the system. Combining with the event-based planning and control method, both discrete and continuous actions can be planned and controlled based on the max-plus algebra system model. More importantly, the interactions between discrete and continuous actions can also be considered. A typical assembly task in a dual-robot manufacturing workcell is used to illustrate the proposed approach. The simulation and experimental results clearly demonstrate the advantages of this method.
Tetanus toxin C fragment immunization generates a robust localized tetanus-binding B cell population (LYM5P.712)

A long-term objective of our studies is to identify, isolate, and characterize rare antigen-specific B cells. Our approach for identifying B cells has been to use flourophore-conjugated multivalent B cell antigens that can bind to cognate B cells in vivo. We generated a recombinant monobiotinylated tetanus toxin C fragment (TTCF; described in Blood:118:348) and tetramerized it using fluorescently-labeled streptavidin. To generate a population of antigen-specific B cells, we immunized mice subcutaneously with TTCF, in alum; the cells were collected from the draining axial and brachial lymph nodes for flow cytometric analysis. Immunization generated a striking number of TTCF-binding B cells which were detected at frequencies of over 90 percent of the lymph node B cells on day 9 post-immunization; B cell frequency decreased to a few percent of total B cells by day 30. TTCF binding was neither detected in transgenic mice that expressed a hen egg lysozyme-specific BCR, nor in mice immunized with an irrelevant antigen. We propose three hypotheses to explain the extraordinary high frequency of TTCF-binding B cells detected after immunization: 1) the TTCF binds TTCF-specific B cells that have undergone major clonal expansion; 2) TTCF binds via a non-clonal co-receptor expressed on B cells (e.g., antibody bound to FcγRIIb); and 3) B cells in immunized mice express a TTCF receptor. We are currently addressing these hypotheses experimentally.
Proteomic biomarkers of cognitive impairment in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

There are currently no biomarkers that are associated with cognitive impairment (CI) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). This pilot study performed an exploratory plasma proteomic analysis to discover potential biomarkers and explore proteomic pathways that differentiate OSAS subjects with and without CI. Participants were selected from a cohort of women within 5 years of menopause not on hormone replacement therapy between the ages of 45–60 years. The Berlin questionnaire was used to select OSAS participants who then completed the MCFSI (Mail-In Cognitive Function Screening Instrument) to measure cognition. Six subjects with the highest MCFSI scores (≥ 5 denoting CI) were compared to six with normal scores. Proteomic analysis was done by Myriad RBM using a targeted ELISA for 254 serum proteins. Pathway analysis of differentially expressed proteins was performed using STRING (Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins) software. Distinct proteomic signatures were seen in OSAS subjects with CI as compared to those without CI. Proteins including insulin, prostasin, angiopoietin-1, plasminogen activator inhibitor 1, and interleukin-1 beta were overexpressed in OSAS subjects with CI. Proteins underexpressed in CI participants included cathepsin B, ceruloplasmin, and adiponectin. Pathway analysis revealed prominence of insulin-regulated vascular disease biomarkers. Proteomic biomarkers in participants with cognitive impairment suggest roles for insulin, and vascular signaling pathways, some of which are similar to findings in Alzheimer’s disease. A better understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms of CI in OSAS will help focus clinical trials needed in this patient population.
A position study to investigate technical debt associated with security weaknesses

Context: Managing technical debt (TD) associated with potential security breaches found during design can lead to catching vulnerabilities (i.e., exploitable weaknesses) earlier in the software lifecycle; thus, anticipating TD principal and interest that can have decidedly negative impacts on businesses. Goal: To establish an approach to help assess TD associated with security weaknesses by leveraging the Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) and its scoring mechanism, the Common Weakness Scoring System (CWSS). Method: We present a position study with a five-step approach employing the Quamoco quality model to operationalize the scoring of architectural CWEs. Results: We use static analysis to detect design level CWEs, calculate their CWSS scores, and provide a relative ranking of weaknesses that help practitioners identify the highest risks in an organization with a potential to impact TD. Conclusion: CWSS is a community agreed upon method that should be leveraged to help inform the ranking of security related TD items.
Fighting Kinase Drug Resistance with Caspase Activators.

Kinase inhibitors are effective cancer therapies. Unfortunately, drug resistance emerges in response to kinase inhibition leading to loss of drug efficacy. In this issue of Cell Chemical Biology, Peh et al. (2018) demonstrate that caspase activators effectively delay onset of resistance to kinase inhibitors and are excellent co-therapeutics for a number of tumor types.
Chronotolerance for cisplatin ototoxicity in the rat.

Abstract Cisplatin is a potent chemotherapeutic compound for which ototoxicity is a significant side effect. Cisplatin has shown sensitivity to circadian time, in that cisplatin is most effective as an anti-tumor compound, and least nephrotoxic, when given in the active (dark) period of the light-dark cycle in rodents. The objective of the study was to determine the sensitivity of cisplatin ototoxicity to circadian time. Fifty-seven Fischer 344/NHsd rats were exposed to 12 mg/kg cisplatin by intra-peritoneal injection at one of six time points on a 12 h light-12 h dark cycle: 2, 6, or 10 h after light onset or 2, 6, or 10 h after light offset. Cochlear injury was evaluated using auditory brainstem response threshold shifts and postmortem outer hair cell counts. All animals experienced threshold shift in the highest frequencies tested (30 and 40 kHz). The animals exposed to cisplatin at 6 h after light onset (the inactive period) had significantly higher mid-frequency threshold shifts and outer hair cell losses than the groups exposed during the dark hours. The results indicate that cisplatin is less likely to cause ototoxicity in the Fischer 344/NHsd rat when given during the active period. This finding is consistent with the lower nephrotoxicity that has been detected in cisplatin-exposed animals treated during the dark hours, and the magnitude of differences in threshold shifts between the light and dark exposure indicates that circadian timing has a significant impact on susceptibility to cisplatin ototoxicity.
Does a transition to accountable care in Medicaid shift the modality of colorectal cancer testing

Health care reform is changing preventive services delivery. This study explored trajectories in colorectal cancer (CRC) testing over a 5-year period that included implementation of 16 Medicaid Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs, 2012) and Medicaid expansion (2014) – two provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) - within the state of Oregon, USA. Retrospective analysis of Oregon’s Medicaid claims for enrollee’s eligible for CRC screening (50–64 years) spanning January 2010 through December 2014. Our analysis was conducted and refined April 2016 through June 2018. The analysis assessed the annual probability of patients receiving CRC testing and the modality used (e.g., colonoscopy, fecal testing) relative to a baseline year (2010). We hypothesized that CRC testing would increase following Medicaid ACO formation – called Coordinated Care Organizations (CCOs). A total of 132,424 unique Medicaid enrollees (representing 255,192 person-years) met inclusion criteria over the 5-year study. Controlling for demographic and regional factors, the predicted probability of CRC testing was significantly higher in 2014 (+ 1.4 percentage points, p < 0.001) compared to the 2010 baseline but not in 2012 or 2013. Increased fecal testing using Fecal Occult Blood Tests (FOBT) or Fecal Immunochemical Tests (FIT) played a prominent role in 2014. The uptick in statewide fecal testing appears driven primarily by a subset of CCOs. Observed CRC testing did not immediately increase following the transition to CCOs in 2012. However increased testing in 2014, may reflect a delay in implementation of interventions to increase CRC screening and/or a strong desire by newly insured Medicaid CCO members to receive preventive care.
Estimating tree canopy cover using harmonic regression coefficients derived from multitemporal Landsat data

Abstract The goal of this study was to evaluate whether harmonic regression coefficients derived using all available cloud-free observations in a given Landsat pixel for a three-year period can be used to estimate tree canopy cover (TCC), and whether models developed using harmonic regression coefficients as predictor variables are better than models developed using median composite predictor variables, the previous operational standard for the National Land Cover Database (NLCD). The two study areas in the conterminous USA were as follows: West (Oregon), bounded by Landsat Worldwide Reference System 2 (WRS-2) paths/rows 43/30, 44/30, and 45/30; and South (Georgia/South Carolina), bounded by WRS-2 paths/rows 16/37, 17/37, and 18/37. Plot-specific tree canopy cover (the response variable) was collected by experienced interpreters using a dot grid overlaid on 1 m spatial resolution National Agricultural Imagery Program (NAIP) images at two different times per region, circa 2010 and circa 2014. Random forest model comparisons (using 500 independent model runs for each comparison) revealed the following (1) harmonic regression coefficients (one harmonic) are better predictors for every time/region of TCC than median composite focal means and standard deviations (across times/regions, mean increase in pseudo R2 of 6.7% and mean decrease in RMSE of 1.7% TCC) and (2) harmonic regression coefficients (one harmonic, from NDVI, SWIR1, and SWIR2), when added to the full suite of median composite and terrain variables used for the NLCD 2011 product, improve the quality of TCC models for every time/region (mean increase in pseudo R2 of 3.6% and mean decrease in RMSE of 1.0% TCC). The harmonic regression NDVI constant was always one of the top four most important predictors across times/regions, and is more correlated with TCC than the NDVI median composite focal mean. Eigen analysis revealed that there is little to no additional information in the full suite of predictor variables (47 bands) when compared to the harmonic regression coefficients alone (using NDVI, SWIR1, and SWIR2; 9 bands), a finding echoed by both model fit statistics and the resulting maps. We conclude that harmonic regression coefficients derived from Landsat (or, by extension, other comparable earth resource satellite data) can be used to map TCC, either alone or in combination with other TCC-related variables.
Supplemental Radiofrequency Ablation After Acutely Unsuccessful Cryoballoon Pulmonary Vein Isolation is Associated With Increased Risk of Recurrent Atrial Fibrillation

Background Cryoballoon (CB) ablation is widely performed for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Anatomic variations in patient pulmonary vein (PV) anatomy are...
Posture, Gait, Quality of Life, and Hearing with a Vestibular Implant

Background Bilateral vestibular hypofunction is associated with chronic disequilibrium, postural instability, and unsteady gait owing to failure of vestibular reflexes that stabilize the eyes, head, and body. A vestibular implant may be effective in alleviating symptoms. Methods Persons who had had ototoxic (7 participants) or idiopathic (1 participant) bilateral vestibular hypofunction for 2 to 23 years underwent unilateral implantation of a prosthesis that electrically stimulates the three semicircular canal branches of the vestibular nerve. Clinical outcomes included the score on the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency balance subtest (range, 0 to 36, with higher scores indicating better balance), time to failure on the modified Romberg test (range, 0 to 30 seconds), score on the Dynamic Gait Index (range, 0 to 24, with higher scores indicating better gait performance), time needed to complete the Timed Up and Go test, gait speed, pure-tone auditory detection thresholds, speech discrimination scores, and quality of life. We compared participants' results at baseline (before implantation) with those at 6 months (8 participants) and at 1 year (6 participants) with the device set in its usual treatment mode (varying stimulus pulse rate and amplitude to represent rotational head motion) and in a placebo mode (holding pulse rate and amplitude constant). Results The median scores at baseline and at 6 months on the Bruininks-Oseretsky test were 17.5 and 21.0, respectively (median within-participant difference, 5.5 points; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0 to 10.0); the median times on the modified Romberg test were 3.6 seconds and 8.3 seconds (difference, 5.1; 95% CI, 1.5 to 27.6); the median scores on the Dynamic Gait Index were 12.5 and 22.5 (difference, 10.5 points; 95% CI, 1.5 to 12.0); the median times on the Timed Up and Go test were 11.0 seconds and 8.7 seconds (difference, 2.3; 95% CI, -1.7 to 5.0); and the median speeds on the gait-speed test were 1.03 m per second and 1.10 m per second (difference, 0.13; 95% CI, -0.25 to 0.30). Placebo-mode testing confirmed that improvements were due to treatment-mode stimulation. Among the 6 participants who were also assessed at 1 year, the median within-participant changes from baseline to 1 year were generally consistent with results at 6 months. Implantation caused ipsilateral hearing loss, with the air-conducted pure-tone average detection threshold at 6 months increasing by 3 to 16 dB in 5 participants and by 74 to 104 dB in 3 participants. Changes in participant-reported disability and quality of life paralleled changes in posture and gait. Conclusions Six months and 1 year after unilateral implantation of a vestibular prosthesis for bilateral vestibular hypofunction, measures of posture, gait, and quality of life were generally in the direction of improvement from baseline, but hearing was reduced in the ear with the implant in all but 1 participant. (Funded by the National Institutes of Health and others; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02725463.).
Cation competition and recruitment around the c-kit1 G-quadruplex using polarizable simulations

Abstract Nucleic acid-ion interactions are fundamentally important to the physical, energetic, and conformational properties of DNA and RNA. These interactions help fold and stabilize highly ordered secondary and tertiary structures, such as G-quadruplexes (GQs), which are functionally relevant in telomeres, replication initiation sites, and promoter sequences. The c-kit proto-oncogene encodes for a receptor tyrosine kinase and is linked to gastrointestinal stromal tumors, mast cell disease, and leukemia. This gene contains three unique GQ-forming sequences that have proposed antagonistic effects on gene expression. The dominant GQ, denoted c-kit1, has been shown to decrease expression of c-kit transcripts, making the c-kit1 GQ a promising drug target. Toward disease intervention, more information is needed regarding its conformational dynamics and ion binding properties. Therefore, we performed molecular dynamics simulations of the c-kit1 GQ with K+, Na+, Li+, and mixed salt solutions using the Drude-2017 polarizable force field. We evaluated GQ structure, ion sampling, core energetics, ion dehydration and binding, and ion competition and found that each analysis supported the known GQ-ion specificity trend (K+ > Na+ > Li+). We also found that K+ ions coordinate in the tetrad core antiprismatically, whereas Na+ and Li+ align coplanar to guanine tetrads, partially because of their attraction to surrounding water. Further, we showed that K+ occupancy is higher around the c-kit1 GQ and its nucleobases than Na+ and Li+, which tend to interact with backbone and sugar moieties. Finally, we showed that K+ binding to the c-kit1 GQ is faster and more frequent than Na+ and Li+. Such descriptions of GQ-ion dynamics suggest the rate of dehydration as the dominant factor for preference of K+ by DNA GQs and provide insight into noncanonical nucleic acids for which little experimental data exist.
Quantifying aluminosilicate manganese release and dissolution rates across organic ligand treatments for rocks, minerals, and soils

Manganese is ubiquitous in terrestrial environments and most studies have focused on dissolution of Mn oxides, but aluminosilicates also release Mn. Here, we evaluated oxic Mn dissolution from six rocks and minerals (amphibolite, anorthosite, kaolinite, kyanite, muscovite, orthoclase feldspar) and soils from four Critical Zone Observatories (CZOs) under four LMWOLs treatments (catechol, citric acid, oxalic acid, control). Overall rock and mineral Mn mass-normalized release was 1.4 ± 0.5 nM µM−1 14 d−1 and dissolution rate was 2403 ± 935 nM m−2 d−1 × 103. Overall CZO soil Mn release was 16.7 ± 5.1 nM µM−1 14 d−1 and dissolution rate was 7010 ± 2570 nM m−2 d−1 × 103. Anorthosite and kyanite had the highest Mn dissolution rates but kaolinite and kyanite had the highest Mn mass-normalized release rates. We hypothesize the structural location of Mn, surface area, and potential inclusions of highly-weatherable-phases control Mn dissolution for rocks and minerals. CZO soils with the highest solid phase Mn had the highest Mn release and dissolution rates. Citric acid and catechol had higher Mn release and dissolution rates than the control while oxalic acid did not. For rocks and minerals, we found pH 4 had higher Mn release and dissolution rates than pH 6, but not for control treatments without LMWOL. Our study highlights that the abundance of Mn drove Mn release in soils but not rocks and minerals. Moreover, LMWOLs are important for Mn dissolution, even under acidic pH conditions.
Impact of transplant center volume on donor heart offer utilization rates in the United States.

BACKGROUND We tested the hypothesis that transplant centers (TCs) with higher volumes have higher donor heart (DH) offer utilization rates. METHODS Using the Annual Data reports of the US Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network and the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR) we reviewed all adult heart transplant offers between July 1, 2016 and June 29, 2019. Unadjusted donor offer utilization rates and observed to expected (O/E) DH utilization ratios adjusted using the SRTR model were calculated for each TC for all DH offers and for the following sub-categories: DH with left ventricular ejection fraction 40 years, DH >500 miles from TC, "hard-to-place hearts" (defined as those offered to >50 TCs) and DH designated as increased infectious risk. Univariable linear regression was used to identify a relationship between average yearly center volume and DH utilization. RESULTS During the study 118,841 total offers were made to 107 TCs and 8300 transplants were performed. The unadjusted utilization rate was not associated with TC volume for all donor offers (p = .517). However, among all subcategories other than DH >40 years, the unadjusted DH utilization rate was associated with TC volume (p < .05). In addition, using the adjusted SRTR O/E ratio, there was a significant impact of TC volume on utilization rate for all donor offers (for an increase TC volume of 10 transplants/year coefficient = 0.095, 95% confidence interval: 0.037-0.151, p = .001). This relationship persisted with an identifiable change for each of the subcategories (p ≤ .001). CONCLUSIONS TC volume is significantly correlated to DH offer utilization rate.
Abnormal hemoglobins in a quarter million people

Hemolysates of erythrocytes from more than a quarter million people in Alabama were electrophoresed on cellulose acetate, pH 8.4, and those samples exhibiting an abnormality were also electrophoresed in citrate agar, pH 6.0. The globin chains of mutants other than Hb S and C were electrophoresed in urea-mercaptoethanol buffers at both pH 8.9 and pH 6.0, and 60 of them were also analyzed structurally. Of about 6000 samples from whites, only three contained abnormal hemoglobins--Hb D Los Angeles, Hb J Baltimore, and one unidentified. Of 249,000 samples from blacks, about 29,000 contained electrophoretically detectable abnormalities, most of them associated with Hb S or C, present in a frequency of about 9% and 3%, respectively. About 1000 samples resolved into patterns of potential clinical significance. Twenty other mutant hemoglobins were detected, in various genetic combinations in 164 kindreds; four of these-Hb Alabama, Montgomery, Titusville, and Mobile-- were previously unknown. The methods used are rapid, economical, and well suited for large scale surveys. They provide highly specific characterizations of many mutant hemoglobins, and no discrepancies were found between the presumptive identifications based on these characterizations and the definitive identifications obtained from structural analyses.
Interactive computer aids for acquiring proficiency in mandarin

It is widely recognized that one of the best ways to learn a foreign language is through spoken dialogue with a native speaker. However, this is not a practical method in the classroom due to the one-to-one student/teacher ratio it implies. A potential solution to this problem is to rely on computer spoken dialogue systems to role play a conversational partner. This paper describes several multilingual dialogue systems specifically designed to address this need. Students can engage in dialogue with the computer either over the telephone or through audio/typed input at a Web page. Several different domains are being developed, in which a student’s conversational interaction is assisted by a software agent functioning as a “tutor” which can provide them with translation assistance at any time. Thus, two recognizers are running in parallel, one for English and one for Chinese. Some of the research issues surrounding high-quality spoken language translation and dialogue interaction with a non-native speaker are discussed.
The Audience as Product, Consumer, and Producer in the Contemporary Media Marketplace

One of the most distinctive characteristics of the media marketplace is the role and function of the audience. In the dual-product marketplace that characterizes media, in which content is sold (or given) to audiences and audiences are, in turn, sold to advertisers, audiences occupy the unique position of being the customer in one market and the product in the other market. This dynamic is further complicated by the ways that digital, interactive media are increasingly providing audiences with the opportunity to also serve as content producers, capable of producing content of significant value to other media consumers and to advertisers. This chapter will outline the key distinctive characteristics of audiences as product in the media marketplace and the implications of these distinctive characteristics for media management. This chapter will also examine audiences as both consumers and (increasingly) producers or creators of media products, with an emphasis on the unique management challenges and opportunities associated with the contemporary media audience.
Soil moisture effects on temporal subsidence estimates using InSAR

The reflectance of geological materials to radar waves is used to estimate earth structure in Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) and Ground Penetrating Radar. Repeat use over a time window has great potential use in appraising the dynamic behaviour of geological, geotechnical or mining-related structures, such as subsidence profiles. Temporal changes in structure can be masked by temporal changes in physical properties due to changes in vegetative cover or in soil moisture of the reflecting surface overlying the structure of concern. The effect on reflectance of radar waves by seasonal soil moisture variations is demonstrated by numerical modelling using parametric models of soil conductivity and by dielectric/analytic modelling of the plane wave response of a half-space. More elaborate modelling using layered earth or periodic earth is also possible. This study demonstrates that the use of InSAR for subsidence studies is proscribed if soil moisture varies markedly between passes unless the ...
Detection of spindle pushing forces in vivo during anaphase B in the fungus Nectria haematococca

Forces that elongate the spindle during anaphase B of mitosis might be generated in the asteis, in the spindle, or in both. In the fungus Nectria haematococca, it has already been shown that the asters pull on the spindle pole bodies (SPBs) through-out anaphase B. In this study, we used computerized video motion analysis to characterize brief episodes of spindle bending and straightening to find out if such bending is caused by spindle pushing forces. In three episodes there were two distinct components of spindle bending and straightening: one spanning the entire episode and comprising spindle elongation and another, superimposed on the first, involving a shortening of the distance between the SPBs. In a fourth episode, only spindle elongation was involved. All four spindles elongated rapidly while bending and underwent net growth during the overall bending-straightening episode at an average rate of 4.2 μm/min. The path of one aster of a fifth mitotic apparatus was blocked by a large, occluding vacuole. This obstacle caused the migration of the mitotic apparatus to stop, resulting in a long (25 sec) episode of spindle curving and bending, usually without any substantial reduction in the distance between the SPBs as well as a marked reduction (from 4.7 to 0.65 μm/min) in the rate of spindle elongation. The results provide evidence that spindle pushing forces are active in vivo during anaphase B in N. haematococca and that they, along with astral pulling forces, help to elongate the spindle at a mostly constant rate. This is the first demonstration of both kinds of spindle elongation forces in the same organism.
Second-Trimester Diagnosis of Triploidy: A Series of Four Cases

Triploidy occurs in 2 to 3% of conceptuses and accounts for approximately 20% of chromosomally abnormal first-trimester miscarriages. As such, triploidy is estimated to occur in 1 of 3,500 pregnancies at 12 weeks', 1 in 30,000 at 16 weeks', and 1 in 250,000 at 20 weeks' gestation. We present a series of four cases of second-trimester triploidy diagnosed at our center within a 1-year timeframe. This is remarkable, as the delivery volume at our institution is roughly 2,500/y. All patients were at least 19 weeks' gestation, with multiple abnormalities identified on prenatal ultrasound at 18 to 20 weeks' gestation; all fetuses had lethal anomalies, but anomalies were not consistent between cases. All patients elected for induction of labor before 24 weeks' gestational age. Two of the four cases had amniocentesis and chromosome analysis prior to delivery, and two cases had chromosome analysis performed on fetal tissue after delivery. All fetuses were examined following delivery. This case series demonstrates that the diagnosis of triploidy may not be obvious based on ultrasound and physical examination findings and highlights the importance of routine chromosome analysis on all prenatal diagnoses of multiple congenital anomalies prior to consideration of more complex genetic testing.
The Impact of Aqueous Impregnation on the Properties of Prereduced vs Precalcined Co/SiO2

One of the methods of preparing model supported metal catalysts for fundamental studies of promoter effects is by sequential impregnation of reduced catalysts. In general, such promotion has been found not to alter the metal particle size distribution. However, the promotion process itself may possibly result in chemical and/or structural modifications of certain catalysts. In order to better understand how the process of promotion may itself modify a Co catalyst, the effect of water impregnation and drying at various temperatures (25-110{degrees}C) of reduced or calcined 20% Co/SiO{sub 2} was investigated. The results show that water impregnation and subsequent drying had a significant effect on the structure of the reduced and passivated Co catalysts. The Co oxide phase declined in favor of a Co silicate/hydrosilicate phase which reduced completely only above 800{degrees}C. Steady-state isotopic transient kinetic studies of ethane hydrogenolysis revealed that the surface concentration of reaction intermediates declined following water impregnation, which suggests that the Co silicate/hydrosilicate formed was inactive. Aqueous impregnation and drying of calcined Co/SiO{sub 2}, on the other hand, did not appear to modify the catalyst in any significant way. 32 refs., 5 figs., 4 tabs.
Prey stage preference and functional response of the predatory mite Galendromus flumenis to Oligonychus pratensis

The Banks grass mite, Oligonychus pratensis (Banks) (Acari: Tetranychidae), is a serious pest in dates (Phoenix dactylifera L.) in the New World. Currently O. pratensis is managed using the miticide, Savey, and alternative strategies are necessary to remove pressure from a single control method due to the risk of resistance evolution. For this purpose, studies are underway to develop biological control strategies using the predatory mite, Galendromus flumenis (Chant) (Acari: Phytoseiidae). The current study determined the consumption rate of G. flumenis at constant densities of O. pratensis eggs, larvae, protonymphs and deutonymphs, and defined the functional response of predator females. The predator consumed significantly more eggs than other prey stages, and displayed a type II functional response on all prey stages. The highest attack rate and shortest handling time were obtained for predators feeding on prey larvae and eggs, respectively. The proportions of prey consumed by G. flumenis were higher at lower densities for all stages of Banks grass mite, implying that G. flumenis should be more effective at suppressing Banks grass mite populations at lower densities. Therefore, in an augmentative release program, G. flumenis would need to be released early in the infestation.
Diffusion in mixed solvents. III - The heat of mixing parameter and the Soret coefficient

New evidence is presented that for aqueous glycerol solutions, the Soret coefficient of glycerol, sigma sub 1 = D sub 1 T/D sub 1 (where D sub 1 T and D sub 1 are the thermal and self-diffusion coefficients, respectively, of glycerol in aqueous solutions), is an integral part of the heat of mixing parameter. Expressions are presented indicating the importance of the Soret coefficients to correlations for diffusion processes in glycerol water solvents.
A study of shear factors in reduced-selective integration mindlin beam elements

Abstract The influence of the shear correction factor on the convergence of a reduced-selective integration Mindlin beam element is investigated for structural dynamics problems. This is accomplished through a frequency analysis of an infinite mesh and a single element, which shows that reduction of the shear factor lowers the maximum frequency of the mesh without affecting its spectral fidelity in low and moderate frequencies. This enables larger critical time steps to be used for explicit integration without disturbing convergence of the element.
K-Ras4A splice variant is widely expressed in cancer and uses a hybrid membrane-targeting motif

The two products of the KRAS locus, K-Ras4A and K-Ras4B, are encoded by alternative fourth exons and therefore, possess distinct membrane-targeting sequences. The common activating mutations occur in exons 1 or 2 and therefore, render both splice variants oncogenic. K-Ras4A has been understudied, because it has been considered a minor splice variant. By priming off of the splice junction, we developed a quantitative RT-PCR assay for K-Ras4A and K-Ras4B message capable of measuring absolute amounts of the two transcripts. We found that K-Ras4A was widely expressed in 30 of 30 human cancer cell lines and amounts equal to K-Ras4B in 17 human colorectal tumors. Using splice variant-specific antibodies, we detected K-Ras4A protein in several tumor cell lines at a level equal to or greater than that of K-Ras4B. In addition to the CAAX motif, the C terminus of K-Ras4A contains a site of palmitoylation as well as a bipartite polybasic region. Although both were required for maximal efficiency, each of these could independently deliver K-Ras4A to the plasma membrane. Thus, among four Ras proteins, K-Ras4A is unique in possessing a dual membrane-targeting motif. We also found that, unlike K-Ras4B, K-Ras4A does not bind to the cytosolic chaperone δ-subunit of cGMP phosphodiesterase type 6 (PDE6δ). We conclude that efforts to develop anti–K-Ras drugs that interfere with membrane trafficking will have to take into account the distinct modes of targeting of the two K-Ras splice variants.
Comparison of clinical semi-quantitative assessment of muscle fat infiltration with quantitative assessment using chemical shift-based water/fat separation in MR studies of the calf of post-menopausal women

Objective The goal of this study was to compare the semi-quantitative Goutallier classification for fat infiltration with quantitative fat-fraction derived from a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) chemical shift-based water/fat separation technique.
Characterization of antisense RNA-mediated inhibition of SIV replication

Antisense RNA-mediated inhibition of HIV showed mixed success in previous experiments. In order to elucidate the parameters influencing the efficacy of an antisense RNA approach, retroviral vectors encoding 4.5 kb, 3.5 kb, or 2.5 kb antisense RNA of the gag-pol region of SIV (simian immunodeficiency virus) were constructed and used to transduce a CD4-positive CEM174 cell line. The growth rate of transduced cells was measured, and results showed that antisense RNAs have no detrimental effect on cell growth. Similar levels of antisense RNA expression were observed in all transduced cells by Northern analysis. The transduced cells were challenged with uncloned SIVmac239 at a m.o.i. (multiplicity of infection) of 1.0, 0.1, or 0.01. At a m.o.i. of 1.0 or 0.1, no significant inhibition of viral replication was observed in any antisense construct transduced cells up to 9 days postinfection. At a lower m.o.i. (0.01), viral replication was effectively inhibited in 3.5 kb antisense transduced cells as compared to 4.5 kb and 2.5 kb antisense transduced cells at 15 days postinfection. These data suggest that the size of antisense RNA and the challenge dose play a significant role in achieving effective inhibition.
Effect of Amplification on Distribution of Conductance in Disordered Waveguide

Introduction of optical gain in disordered waveguide results in enhanced fluctuations [var(g)/‹g›2] of dimensionless conductance, similar to the effect of Anderson localization. Using numerical simulations we demonstrate important differences/similarities between these two effects.
Synthetic approaches to nuclease-resistant, nonnatural dinucleotides of anti-HIV integrase interest.

New, nonnatural dinucleotide 5′-monophosphates with a surrogate isonucleoside component of L-related stereochemistry, have been synthesized. Structures of the target compounds were confirmed by multinuclear NMR spectra (1H, 13C, 31P, COSY), UV hypochromicity, FAB HRMS data and X-ray crystallography. These compounds are totally resistant to cleavage by 3′- and 5′-exonucleases. Dinucleotides of this study with a terminal L-isonucleoside component showed remarkable selectivity for inhibition of the strand transfer step of HIV-1 integrase. To the best of our knowledge, these compounds represent only the second example of this type of selectivity of inhibition of the strand transfer step.
Planning and Design as Theological and Religious Activities

Planning and design, especially in urban planning and architecture, are technical and transformative activities. Models drawn from the natural and social sciences are used to articulate the technical aspects, and those drawn from politics are used to articulate the transformative. Religion and theology provide a set of useful models, regularly employed by practicing planners and designers, for both kinds of activities.Decisionmaking may be viewed as conversion; environmental planning is often about the creation of sacred places of Nature; and social planning may aim to transform the society leading it to a promised land. Designs are presented as provisions of order and gracefulness, their evaluation a matter of judgment, and their inauguration a process of creation. Plans are treated as authoritative documents subject to interpretation, and error in making and implementing plans is treated as a matter of the failure of a sinful human nature.The models are described in this paper and it is shown how they i...
Comparison of the effects of losulazine and reserpine on central aminergic neurons.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of both acute and chronic administration of the peripheral sympatholytic antihypertensive agent losulazine on central dopaminergic, noradrenergic, and 5-hydroxytryptaminergic neurons in the rat. For comparison, the acute effects of reserpine were also examined. Acute systemic administration of losulazine produced marked dose- and time-dependent decreases in dopamine and norepinephrine concentrations in regions outside the blood-brain barrier (i.e., the median eminence, intermediate lobe, and neural lobe), that were accompanied by an increase in plasma concentrations of prolactin and α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. By comparison, losulazine caused a relatively modest, transient depletion of dopamine and norepinephrine (but not 5-hydroxytryptamine) in regions of the brain protected by the blood-brain barrier (i.e., the striatum, nucleus accumbens, and dorsomedial nucleus of the hypothalamus). In contrast to losulazine, acute systemic administration of reserpine caused a prolonged depletion of dopamine, norepinephrine, and 5-hydroxytryptamine in all brain and pituitary regions examined. These results suggest that regional differences in the response of aminergic neurons to acute administration of losulazine and reserpine reflect differences in the ability of these drugs to penetrate the blood-brain barrier. Chronic systemic administration of losulazine produced a similar decrease in dopamine and norepinephrine in the median eminence, intermediate lobe, and neural lobe, suggesting that tolerance does not develop to the ability of losulazine to deplete catecholamines in these regions. Chronic losulazine administration also decreased dopamine concentrations in the striatum, and norepinephrine concentrations in the dorsomedial nucleus, suggesting that losulazine may have cumulative effects on central catecholamine neurons terminating in these brain regions.
Acute desaturation in intubated patients

The purpose of the study was to record the incidence, the etiology and management of acute desaturation (AD) in intubated critically ill ICU patients.
Evidence for electron transfer in reactions of nucleophiles with optically active alkyl halides. A challenge to the SN2 transition state.

Abstract A variety of nucleophiles have been used in a study of reactions with optically active 2-halooctanes in DMF in order to detect the occurrence of an electron transfer pathway.
ON THE FORMATION OF THE MANGANESE MAXIMUM IN THE OXYGEN MINIMUM

Abstract A simple model that accounts for the formation of the Mn maximum in the oxygen minimum is presented here. In this model, Mn is proposed to cycle in a constant proportion to carbon, as do nitrogen and phosphorous. Superimposed on the Mn-carbon cycle is the removal of Mn(II) via scavenging onto sinking particles and transport by vertical diffusion. Scavenging is assumed to follow the rate law observed in the laboratory for Mn(II) oxidation. Manganese (II) concentrations were calculated with the model at stations in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and compared with measurements of dissolved Mn. All parameters in the model were based on laboratory measurements or field observations. The model reproduced Mn(II) maxima of the correct concentration and at the correct depth. This agreement was observed at a range of oxygen concentrations. The calculations demonstrate that the Mn maximum can form because of a reduction in the pseudo-first order scavenging rate constant ( k ′) within the oxygen minimum. The value of k ′ will decrease in regions of the water column with low oxygen and pH ( k ′ = k 0 [O 2 ] OH − 2 ). These regions will accumulate higher dissolved Mn(II) concentrations before the rate of Mn(II) removal, k ′ [Mn(II)], equals the input from remineralization of POC and a steady state is reached. An additional source of Mn, such as flux from continental margin sediments or dissolution of Mn oxides, is not necessary to account for formation of the Mn maximum.
Separation of acetic and propionic acid analogs of L-thyroxine and L-triiodothyronine by thin-layer chromatography.

Abstract A thin-layer chromatographic method is described for the separation of the acetic and propionic acid analogs of thyroxine and triiodothyronine, which are inseparable by currently available methods. The separation is achieved on silica gel H in a solvent system consisting of methylacetate-2.5% ammonia ( w v ) (95:5 v v ). The complete analysis takes 2 h.
Chronic use of the immunomodulating tripeptide feG-COOH in experimental feline asthma.

Abstract We have previously documented that a single dose of feG–COOH prior to allergen challenge significantly decreased eosinophilic airway inflammation in cats with experimental asthma, but did not result in complete resolution of airway inflammation. This study was undertaken to determine if a chronic (2 weeks) course of feG–COOH in experimentally asthmatic cats would induce complete remission of airway inflammation and clinical signs of asthma. Experimental asthma was induced using Bermuda grass allergen (BGA) and cats were randomly selected to receive either feG–COOH (1 mg/kg, PO) or saline for 2 weeks, followed by a 2-week washout period. Cats then received the alternate treatment. Aerosol challenge with BGA was performed weekly throughout the study and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and blood were collected prior to and after each of the 2-week treatment periods. Regular use of feG–COOH had no significant effect on airway inflammation, BALF and plasma TNF bioactivity or a clinical sign compared to placebo. Regular use of feG–COOH can thus not be recommended as the sole therapy for feline allergic asthma.
Applied Anthropology and the Application of Anthropological Knowledge

The case of an anthropologist working in a Department of Health and Hospitals is used to explore the relationship between social science research and the process of policy formation. It is argued that policy is not generally influenced by the nature of research conducted by an applied social scientist because the general definition of the problem and the solution has normally been defined by the client organization before the social scientist enters the situation. A distinction is made between the assumptions and generalizations going into the formulation of the problem, the relationship of these assumptions and generalizations to social science theory, and the specific information collected by a researcher.It is contended that behind most social reform and planning programs lies a theory of human behavior. It is the job of the applied researchers to go beyond the limited task which an institution has assigned him/her and look into the adequacy of the assumptions underlying the plan of action which the in...
Structure and Dynamics of the Bacterial Chromosome in E. Coli Monitored by Gfp-Fis

The bacterial cell's ability to control the topology of the 1.5 mm-long DNA in the confined environment of the cell is quite remarkable. Despite a great number of studies on bacteria, and especially E coli, our understanding of the spatio-temporal organization of bacterial chromosomes is minimal, partly because their dynamics have been difficult to observe directly. Using fluorescent-protein techniques we can visualize bacterial chromosome conformation during cell growth and division through fluorescent microscopy. We have developed a bacterial strain containing fluorescent gfp-fusion versions of a chromosome folding protein, Fis, under inducible control. Bacterial chromosomes have been studied in cells and removed from cells, in order to establish their spatial organization and mechanical properties, and to study how those properties are changed by varied external conditions. Space-time studies of the nucleoid in live E coli cells shows how domain structure and overall conformation of chromosomes vary during rapid and slow growth, and it also shows a relation between chromosome segregation and cell division under these different growth conditions. In order to study the bacterial chromosome outside of the cell, we have developed methods for isolation of single bacterial chromosomes and our further objective will be to directly examine nucleoid mechanical properties as a function of protein levels using micromanipulation methods.