cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sepsis and septic shock: endothelial molecular pathogenesis associated with vascular microthrombotic disease

In addition to protective “immune response”, sepsis is characterized by destructive “endothelial response” of the host, leading to endotheliopathy and its molecular dysfunction. Complement activation generates membrane attack complex (MAC). MAC causes channel formation to the cell membrane of pathogen, leading to death of microorganisms. In the host, MAC also may induce channel formation to innocent bystander endothelial cells (ECs) and ECs cannot be protected. This provokes endotheliopathy, which activates two independent molecular pathways: inflammatory and microthrombotic. Activated inflammatory pathway promotes the release of inflammatory cytokines and triggers inflammation. Activated microthrombotic pathway mediates platelet activation and exocytosis of unusually large von Willebrand factor multimers (ULVWF) from ECs and initiates microthrombogenesis. Excessively released ULVWF become anchored to ECs as long elongated strings and recruit activated platelets to assemble platelet-ULVWF complexes and form “microthrombi”. These microthrombi strings trigger disseminated intravascular microthrombosis (DIT), which is the underlying pathology of endotheliopathy-associated vascular microthrombotic disease (EA-VMTD). Sepsis-induced endotheliopathy promotes inflammation and DIT. Inflammation produces inflammatory response and DIT orchestrates consumptive thrombocytopenia, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, and multiorgan dysfunction syndrome (MODS). Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) is a combined phenotype of inflammation and endotheliopathy-associated (EA)-VMTD. Successful therapeutic design for sepsis can be achieved by counteracting the pathologic microthrombogenesis.
Watercooler Democracy: Rumors and Transparency in a Cooperative Workplace:

This article examines how rumors impact democracy and transparency in a cooperative workplace. Although literature on rumors generally analyzes them as negative to workplace culture, the author arg...
Slow Down to Catch Up.

In this issue of Cell, Cassidy et al. (2019) show that, in Drosophila melanogaster, developmental abnormalities resulting from loss of repressors such as microRNAs can be suppressed by slow metabolism. They additionally provide insight into the underlying mechanism that connects metabolic state with developmental outcomes.
Supporting Elder Connectedness through Cognitively Sustainable Design Interactions with the Memory Music Box

Isolation is one of the largest contributors to a lack of wellbeing, increased anxiety and loneliness in older adults. In collaboration with elders in living facilities, we designed the Memory Music Box; a low-threshold platform to increase connectedness. The HCI community has contributed notable research in support of elders through monitoring, tracking and memory augmentation. Despite the Information and Communication Technologies field (ICT) advances in providing new opportunities for connection, challenges in accessibility increase the gap between elders and their loved ones. We approach this challenge by embedding a familiar form factor with innovative applications, performing design evaluations with our key target group to incorporate multi-iteration learnings. These findings culminate in a novel design that facilitates elders in crossing technology and communication barriers. Based on these findings, we discuss how future inclusive technologies for the older adults' can balance ease of use, subtlety and elements of Cognitively Sustainable Design.
Association Between Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome and Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension: A Report of 4 Patients

Background Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome (KTS) is associated with a wide variety of vascular and neurologic abnormalities, including venolymphatic malformations. A recent report postulated that patients with KTS may also be predisposed to spontaneous intracranial hypotension. We reviewed brain magnetic resonance imaging from 67 patients with KTS and unexpectedly noted findings of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) hypotension in 4 of them. Case Description Patients included a 39-year-old woman with episodic orthostatic headaches, a 62-year-old woman with orthostatic headaches and light-headedness, a 14-year-old girl with a history of headaches for years, and an asymptomatic 20-year-old man. All 4 patients had known KTS, and all had brain magnetic resonance imaging done during their evaluation showing evidence of CSF hypotension. The first 2 patients also had spine imaging demonstrating paraspinal and/or epidural venolymphatic malformations. The second patient had a meningeal diverticulum and underwent surgical repair with intraoperative evidence of a CSF leak. Conclusions Patients with KTS have an increased incidence of CSF hypotension. While it is possible that intrinsic dural weakness may be responsible for this association, we hypothesize that these patients are also predisposed to developing CSF venous fistulas. Paraspinal and epidural venolymphatic malformations have been described in multiple patients with CSF venous fistulas. Such malformations were present in 2 of our 4 patients who underwent spine imaging. Patients with KTS with orthostatic headaches may benefit from brain and spine magnetic resonance imaging to assess for evidence of CSF hypotension and venolymphatic malformations. Decubitus digital subtraction myelography may also have a role in these patients if CSF venous fistulas are suspected.
Measurements of Tan’s Contact in an Atomic Bose-Einstein Condensate

A powerful set of universal relations, centered on a quantity called the contact, connects the strength of short-range two-body correlations to the thermodynamics of a many-body system with zero-range interactions. We report on measurements of the contact, using rf spectroscopy, for an $^{85}\mathrm{Rb}$ atomic Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC). For bosons, the fact that contact spectroscopy can be used to probe the gas on short time scales is useful given the decreasing stability of BECs with increasing interactions. A complication is the added possibility, for bosons, of three-body interactions. In investigating this issue, we have located an Efimov resonance for $^{85}\mathrm{Rb}$ atoms with loss measurements and thus determined the three-body interaction parameter. In our contact spectroscopy, in a region of observable beyond-mean-field effects, we find no measurable contribution from three-body physics.
Preparation of Drosophila Larval and Pupal Testes for Analysis of Cell Division in Live, Intact Tissue

Experimental analysis of cells dividing in living, intact tissues and organs is essential to our understanding of how cell division integrates with development, tissue homeostasis, and disease processes. Drosophila spermatocytes undergoing meiosis are ideal for this analysis because (1) whole Drosophila testes containing spermatocytes are relatively easy to prepare for microscopy, (2) the spermatocytes' large size makes them well suited for high resolution imaging, and (3) powerful Drosophila genetic tools can be integrated with in vivo analysis. Here, we present a readily accessible protocol for the preparation of whole testes from Drosophila third instar larvae and early pupae. We describe how to identify meiotic spermatocytes in prepared whole testes and how to image them live by time-lapse microscopy. Protocols for fixation and immunostaining whole testes are also provided. The use of larval testes has several advantages over available protocols that use adult testes for spermatocyte analysis. Most importantly, larval testes are smaller and less crowded with cells than adult testes, and this greatly facilitates high resolution imaging of spermatocytes. To demonstrate these advantages and the applications of the protocols, we present results showing the redistribution of the endoplasmic reticulum with respect to spindle microtubules during cell division in a single spermatocyte imaged by time-lapse confocal microscopy. The protocols can be combined with expression of any number of fluorescently tagged proteins or organelle markers, as well as gene mutations and other genetic tools, making this approach especially powerful for analysis of cell division mechanisms in the physiological context of whole tissues and organs.
Introductory College Mathematics for the Life Sciences: Has Anything Changed?

This paper focuses on issues concerning the introductory college mathematics sequence with an emphasis on students interested in the life sciences, and concentration on the time after the publication of BIO2010 (BIO2010 in Transforming Undergraduate Education for Future Research Biologists, National Academies of Science, Medicine and Engineering, Washington, 2003). It also explores the potential uses of books targeted at introductory mathematics courses for life science majors today. As relevant background, we look at the evolution of the way that calculus has been taught over the past 50 years, including at the high school level. We also explore the implications of changes in technology and course delivery, such as online education. As we discuss different books and introductory course ideas, we focus on the needs of biology students, the inclusion of real-world problems and models, the role of technology, and the impact of data science. The paper is organized as follows: Sect. 1 provides some personal background with calculus dating back to the 1970s, and changes in calculus prior to BIO2010. Section 2 introduces goals for an introductory mathematics sequence and evaluates the calculus sequence in light of those goals. Sections 3–7 discuss various issues that will help to understand issues and challenges for introductory mathematics for the life sciences: Calculus in high school (Sect. 3), equity issues relative to calculus and other math topics (Sect. 4), the impact of online education (Sect. 5), math as a stumbling block for college students (Sect. 6), and the increasing importance and value of teaching data science (Sect. 7). Section 8 reviews the development of books in light of these issues and challenges. The last section (Sect. 9) summarizes conclusions.
Care of the Diabetic Woman Undergoing Medically Assisted Reproduction

Diabetes mellitus, whether gestational, type 1, or type 2, is associated with a myriad of long-term morbidities, especially as one progresses in age. It is estimated that more than eight million women in the United States have diabetes mellitus prior to pregnancy and that it is observed in up to 1% of all pregnancies [The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 2005]. Although gestational diabetes arises with carbohydrate intolerance only during pregnancy, its prevalence varies in direct proportion with type 2 diabetes in a given population or ethnic group, and up to 50% of women with gestational diabetes can proceed to develop type 2 diabetes later in life [The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 2013]. With increasing prevalence of diabetes in the general population and advances in biotechnology allowing older women or women with chronic health conditions or complex infertility issues to become pregnant, thought about intentional, specialized preconception and antenatal counseling and care must be undertaken. After reading this chapter, readers will be able to understand the prevalence of obesity and impaired glucose metabolism and the impacts they have on health and assisted reproduction outcomes; explain the current knowledge of pathophysiology behind abnormal glucose metabolism and adverse reproductive outcomes; and recognize recommendations for women with obesity and/or diabetes seeking assisted reproductive techniques. A brief overview of the impact of diabetes on male fertility will also be addressed.
Revisiting the Open-Domain Question Answering Pipeline

Open-domain question answering (QA) is the tasl of identifying answers to natural questions from a large corpus of documents. The typical open-domain QA system starts with information retrieval to select a subset of documents from the corpus, which are then processed by a machine reader to select the answer spans. This paper describes Mindstone, an open-domain QA system that consists of a new multi-stage pipeline that employs a traditional BM25-based information retriever, RM3-based neural relevance feedback, neural ranker, and a machine reading comprehension stage. This paper establishes a new baseline for end-to-end performance on question answering for Wikipedia/SQuAD dataset (EM=58.1, F1=65.8), with substantial gains over the previous state of the art (Yang et al., 2019b). We also show how the new pipeline enables the use of low-resolution labels, and can be easily tuned to meet various timing requirements.
Dynamic PRA Methods to Evaluate the Impact on Accident Progression of Accident Tolerant Fuels

Accident tolerant fuels (ATFs) are new nuclear fuels developed in response to the accident at the Fukushima power station in March 2011. The goal of ATFs is to withstand accident scenarios through ...
PM2.5 Concentration and Composition in Subway Systems in the Northeastern United States.

Objectives: The goals of this study were to assess the air quality in subway systems in the northeastern United States and estimate the health risks for transit workers and commuters. Methods: We r...
Research on Thermal Insulation Measures of Power Equipment Condition Monitoring Device in Cold Regions

Outdoor winter temperatures in other northern regions such as Heilongjiang Province are relatively low. As an important equipment of ensuring the safety of transmission lines, the stability of the condition monitoring devices is facing great challenges. In order to ensure that the condition monitoring device can operate reliably in winter, so as to avoid the influence of low temperature in winter on the reliability of the condition monitoring device, in this paper a device is designed that uses solar heat for heat preservation for power equipment condition monitoring device. The device uses an all-glass vacuum solar collector tube to convert solar energy into heat, and realizes instant feedback and control of temperature through a bimetallic temperature sensor. After testing, in winter, the internal temperature of the heat insulation box can be increased by about 30°C compared with the outside, which can effectively improve the winter operating environment of the device.
James M. Buchanan on “the relatively absolute absolutes” and “truth judgments” in politics

Perhaps the most important element of James Buchanan’s contribution to constitutional economics is his differentiation between pre- and post-constitutional levels of decision-making. At first glance, a tension may appear between those two levels of analysis. In one, the rules by which we live are up for debate, allowing us to exercise our creative and imaginative capabilities in constitutional construction. In the other, the rules are viewed as fixed, and we are left simply to treat them as constraints. This paper explores three key elements of Buchanan’s thought that allow him to navigate successfully between the two levels. The first is the importance of “the relatively absolute absolute”, a concept learned from his mentor, Frank Knight. The second is Buchanan’s approach to “truth judgments” in politics, and their status in our political discussions. Third, we draw on Buchanan’s insights in his 1959 paper “Positive Economics, Welfare Economics, and Political Economy” to show how political economists should participate in this decision-making process—not as expert philosopher-kings, but as co-equals with their fellow citizens. Finally, we illustrate Buchanan’s system of thought in action by presenting two case studies: Virginia education policy in the wake of Brown v. Board of Education, and the 1928 Supreme Court ruling in Miller v. Schoene.
Modeling the Acquisition of Phonological Interactions: Biases and Generalization

In this paper we computationally implement four different theories for representing opaque and transparent phonological interactions: Harmonic Serialism, Stratal OT, Two-Level Constraints, and Indexed Constraints. We then show that these theories make unique predictions on two tasks: (1) a learning-bias task, based on previous experimental work with humans and (2) a novel generalization task that no human data exists for. Our results in (1) show that serial models predict that transparent languages should be easier to acquire, while parallel models do not. Furthermore, the results for (2) show that all four of the theories we test make unique predictions for how humans should generalize to novel phonological interaction types.
Deep Reinforcement Learning Based Dynamic Reputation Policy in 5G Based Vehicular Communication Networks

Vehicular networks are vulnerable to various attacks from malicious vehicles or infrastructures within a network. The collaborative misbehavior detection system can be used to detect these internal or insider attacks. However, in a collaborative misbehavior detection system, an attacker may lower the detection accuracy by sending false feedback. A trust model can be used to stimulate vehicles to send true feedbacks. However, an attacker can take advantage of weak or strong reputation update methods. A dynamic trust or reputation update policy can be used to stimulate vehicles to send true feedbacks. In this paper, we propose a deep reinforcement learning based dynamic reputation update policy. In the proposed scheme, feedbacks from vehicles are combined in vehicular edge computing (VEC) servers using Dempster-Shafer theory and the results are used to predict the average number of true messages. VEC then uses deep reinforcement learning to determine the optimum reputation update policy to stimulate vehicles to send true feedbacks. In addition, through extensive simulations, we show that the proposed dynamic reputation-policy is better in terms of the average number of true feedbacks compared to the existing reputation update policy.
A simple gas introduction system for cryogenic powder X-ray diffraction

A simple system is described for the introduction of gases into standard X-ray diffraction capillaries mounted in situ in the X-ray beam of laboratory X-ray diffraction instruments. This system retains many of the advantages of the standard Norby cell, but does not require custom machining and has less stringent space restrictions. The system has been used to study the crystallization and interaction of volatile organics at cryogenic temperatures, but gas–solid interactions could also be studied at elevated temperatures using this approach.
Economic burden of enhanced practices of duodenoscopes reprocessing and surveillance: balancing risk and cost containment

Background and study aims Recent outbreaks attributed to contaminated duodenoscopes have led to the development of enhanced surveillance and reprocessing techniques (enhanced-SRT) aimed at minimizing cross-contamination. Common enhanced-SRT include double high-level disinfection (HLD), ethylene oxide (EtO) gas sterilization, and culture-based monitoring of reprocessed scopes. Adoption of these methods adds to the operational costs and we aimed to assess its economic impact to an institution. Methods We compared the estimated costs of three enhanced-SRT versus single-HLD using data from two institutions. We examined the cost of capital measured as scope inventory and frequency of scope use per unit time, the constituent reprocessing costs required on a per-cycle basis, and labor & staffing needs. The economic impact attributable to enhanced-SRT was defined as the difference between the total cost of enhanced-SRT and single HLD. Results Compared to single HLD, adoption of double HLD increased the costs approximately by 47 % ($80 vs $118). Similarly, culture and quarantine and EtO sterilization increased costs by 160 % and 270 %, respectively ($80 vs $208 and $296). Enhanced-SRT introduced significant scope downtime due to prolonged techniques, necessitating a 3.4-fold increase in the number of scopes needed to maintain procedural volume. The additional annual budget required to implement enhanced-SRT approached $406,000 per year in high-volume centers. Conclusions While enhanced-SRT may reduce patient risk of exposure to contaminated duodenoscopes, it significantly increases the cost of performing ERCP. Future innovation should focus on approaches that can ensure patient safety while maintaining the ability to perform ERCP in a cost-effective manner.
Werner Syndrome as a Model of Human Aging

This chapter reviews clinical and basic science aspects of Werner syndrome (WS), a heritable human disease that displays features suggestive of premature aging. The resemblance of changes in WS to those observed in normal aging has long suggested WS may be a useful model in which to study the biology of aging and to identify mechanistic pathways responsible for age-associated diseases that are prevalent in WS patients and in normal aging such as atherosclerosis, neoplasia, diabetes mellitus, and osteoporosis. This chapter summarizes our understanding of the WS clinical phenotype. Current understanding of in vivo functions of the Werner syndrome protein is summarized, together with a discussion of how the loss of WRN function may promote disease pathogenesis in WS patients and in normal individuals. Subsections provide an historical overview of WS and WS research; a description of WS as a clinical disease entity, together with diagnostic criteria for WS; a discussion of the relationship of WS to normal aging; a summary of our current understanding of the WRN gene and the mutational basis for WS; a discussion of in vivo functions of the WS protein in human somatic cells, and how loss-of-function may be linked to disease pathogenesis; and an introduction to the more promising animal models of WS. A selection of the most useful additional resources on WS clinical medicine and biology are included to aid those interested in learning more about this fascinating and instructive human disease.
The Application of an Agricultural Water Balance and Erosion Model in Environmental Science a User Perspective

Studies have shown that the hydrologic erosion of soil is a major factor in the translational movement of environmental plutonium deposited on the ground surface and, as a consequence of rain splash of soil, also greatly influences transport of plutonium to plants including vegetable crops. This paper discusses the use of CREAMS (Chemicals, Runoff, and Erosion from Agricultural Management Systems), in developing environmental research programs at Los Alamos and in designing and monitoring the performance of shallow land burial (SLB) sites for low-level radioactive waste (LLW). Discussion is also presented on research needs and ongoing studies involving Los Alamos to supply some of those needs. 37 references, 7 figures, 3 tables.
The Phoenix of Counterinsurgency

For the last three decades of the twentieth century, soldiers and academics confidently proclaimed the death of counterinsurgency (COIN) as a major form of warfare. They asserted that the vast majority of COIN campaigns occurred at the end of the colonial era as nationalist insurgents ushered European powers out of Africa and Asia. The passing of empires meant the end of this most vexing form of warfare, so the reasoning went. The United States, in particular, turned its back on unconventional conflict, embittered by the experience of Vietnam and committed to the defense of Western Europe and South Korea. The end of the Cold War had little impact on this mindset, especially when the first Gulf War seemed to vindicate faith in conventional arms. The complex humanitarian missions of the 1990s bore a striking resemblance to COIN for those who wished to look beneath the surface differences. The Somalia debacle, however, reinforced the conviction that irregular operations should be avoided, not studied. Only the inescapable realities of Afghanistan and Iraq have forced the rediscovery of effective COIN methods and then only after much blood and treasure had been wasted. This article traces the evolution of COIN and argues that it will remain a prevalent form of warfare for the foreseeable future.
Chapter 24 Neurodegenerative Alzheimer-like pathology in PDAPP 717V→F transgenic mice

Publisher Summary This chapter shows that PDAPP mice over expressing a mutation associated with some cases of familial early onset AD express several of the major pathological hallmarks associated with AD. Amyloid plaques in PDAPP mice appear quite similiar to A/3 deposits in AD as shown by a variety of different antibodies and stains, and are of both the diffuse and compacted varieties. Additionally, a subset of these amyloid plaques appears to be neuritic plaques. Neurodegenerative changes, including the loss of synaptic and dendritic proteins, abnormal phosphorylation of cytoskeletal elements, subcellular degenerative changes, and the deposition of lysosoma1 and acute phase proteins has also been seen in PDAPP mouse brains. Reactive astrocytosis and microgliosis have also been observed in association with the amyloid plaques in the PDAPP mice. No neurofibrillary tangles or paired helical filaments have been found in the mice to date. It remains unknown whether mice are capable of generating these in a manner comparable to AD in less than two years. Extensive behavioral analyses are currently being performed in these mice, and preliminary results indicate that the PDAPP mice are significantly impaired on a variety of different learning and memory tests. In conclusion, the PDAPP mouse model doesn't display all the pathological hallmarks of AD, but it does display most of them in a robust manner that increases with age and gene dosage. Therefore, this transgenic model provides evidence that alterations in APP processing and AB production can result in AD-like neuropathology, can contribute to a mechanistic understanding of AD, as well as providing a useful animal model for the testing of various therapeutic interventions directed toward specific aspects of the neurodegenerative process.
Direct Concern in Regional Policy: the European Court of Justice and the Southern Question

For a few years, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has declared inadmissible, for lack of direct concern, a number of annulment actions initiated by sub‐state actors in the context of regional policy. This article compares the ECJ's holdings with the General Court's more generous application of the ‘direct concern’ standard in some of the same disputes, and argues in favour of the General Court's approach. The cases hereby analysed pertain to the implementation of structural funds in Southern Italy. Relating regional policy to the historical unfolding of the ‘Southern Question’, this article examines the unexpected opportunity for civic and administrative renewal brought by regional policy to Italy's South in the late 1990s, and links standing for sub‐state actors to the long‐term realisation of that opportunity. It further argues that a more direct judicial involvement with territorial policies would prompt taxonomic renewal in EU law as a discipline.
Information Technology Project Management

From the Publisher: "Information Technology Project Management" is the first project management title with a focus solely on Information Technology projects. The book combines the best of both worlds: an academic text that treats project management from a research point of view, providing running cases and other strong pedagogical elements; and a practical text that provides hands-on projects at the end of each chapter using Microsoft Project, the tool of choice in this market. It also provides excellent preparation for the PMI (Project Management Institute) certification exam.
Multiclass, Multiresidue Analysis of Pesticides, Strategies for

Strategies for multiclass, multiresidue analysis of pesticides depend on several factors that all derive from three fundamental considerations: (1) the need for the results; (2) the form and composition of the matrix; and (3) the time, resources, and technology available to the analyst. First, the need for the data dictates the quality assurance (QA)/quality control (QC) guidelines and the desired analytical figures of merit, such as limits of detection (LOD) and the accuracy and precision of the results. These needs also contribute to the choice of pesticide analytes, which sets the polarity range for the analysis. No single method can determine all pesticides in diverse matrices, so an overall strategy is often used to compartmentalize a series of approaches in order best to detect the targeted pesticides in an effective and efficient process. Second, the various types of matrices that are commonly analyzed for pesticide residues may affect the sample preparation approach employed in the analytical strategy. Common matrices for pesticide analysis consist of solids, liquids, and gases in applications associated with food, agricultural, environmental, and other sample types. Varying degrees of pesticide–matrix interactions in different materials require more or less stringent extraction procedures to separate the pesticides from the sample. Sample preparation in multiclass, multiresidue strategies frequently utilizes liquid–solid, liquid–liquid and other partitioning processes including those, such as pressurized fluid extraction (PFE), in which pressure and temperature of different fluids are controlled. Extracts often require cleanup to remove interfering co-extracted matrix components prior to analysis. A variety of cleanup techniques based on a number of partitioning processes, such as liquid chromatography (LC), may be employed in an on-line or off-line fashion. Lastly, the sample extract is usually further separated and analyzed using one or more techniques. The majority of pesticides are analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) with mass spectrometry (MS) and/or element-selective GC detectors. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is often used in the analysis of thermally labile pesticides that are not amenable to GC analysis. Other alternatives for analysis of certain pesticide include capillary electrophoresis (CE) and immunoassays. Fundamentally, a high degree of selectivity helps in generating excellent analytical results, but the wide polarity range of analytes in multiclass, multiresidue methods (MRMs) for pesticides necessitates a great deal of effort to attain a high degree of selectivity. Trade-offs and compromises are omnipresent in multiclass, multiresidue analysis of pesticides, and a host of strategies are available depending on how the analytical chemist prioritizes the analytical and practical considerations.
The invisible wounds of war: Caring for women veterans who have experienced military sexual trauma

PURPOSE: The purpose of this case study is to raise awareness about military sexual trauma (MST) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and the physical and psychological comorbidities associated with MST. DATA SOURCES: Health Science Data Sources-PubMed and authors' experiences. CONCLUSIONS: Women veterans are the fastest growing segment of the veteran population. Approximately 200,000 of the 2.6 million veterans who have deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn (OEF/OIF/OND) are women. Many are seeking care in both the Veteran Administration and the civilian sector. It is estimated that upwards of 26,000 women have experienced some form of sexual assault in the military. MST can lead to multiple deleterious physical and psychological comorbidities. It is imperative that nurse practitioners (NPs) ask women about military service and utilize the Military Health History Pocket Card for Clinicians to ascertain service-connected health risks, primarily MST and PTSD. Prompt identification and intervention is key to reducing physical and psychological comorbidities. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: This case study emphasizes the need for NPs to ask all women about military service and potential exposure to sexual trauma. It provides guidance on how to incorporate the Military Health History Pocket Card for Clinicians into practice. Language: en
A randomized attempt to increase the efficacy of cytotoxic chemotherapy in metastatic breast cancer by hormonal synchronization.

Human breast cancer cells in tissue culture can be growth inhibited by tamoxifen, an inhibition that can be reversed by estrogen. The question of whether tamoxifen inhibition of breast cancer followed by estradiol reversal would increase the efficacy of chemotherapy was asked. One hundred ten patients were prospectively randomized to chemotherapy consisting of cytoxan (750 mg/m2) and Adriamycin (30 mg/m2) on day 1 plus 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) (500 mg/m2) and methotrexate (MTX, 40 mg/m2) on day 8 versus the same chemotherapy plus tamoxifen (20 mg/m2) on days 2-6 and premarin (0.625 mg every 12 hours for three days) on day 7. Chemotherapy was given in 21-day cycles. The first 55 patients were randomized to a regimen in which 5-FU preceded MTX by 24 hours; thereafter, all patients received MTX followed in one hour by 5-FU. No difference in any response parameter was seen between these two 5-FU/MTX schedules. A limited number of patients with inflammatory breast cancer had a significantly higher response rate (...
Immunomapping of desmosomal and nondesmosomal adhesion molecules in healthy canine footpad, haired skin and buccal mucosal epithelia: comparison with canine pemphigus foliaceus serum immunoglobulin G staining patterns

Pemphigus foliaceus (PF) is the most common canine autoimmune skin disease. In contrast to human PF (hPF), desmoglein-1 is a minor autoantigen in the canine disease. The major autoantigen(s) of canine PF (cPF) remain(s) unknown, which limits the ability to perform mechanistic studies of lesion formation and the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for this disease. The immunofluorescence patterns of selected desmosomal (desmoglein-1, desmoglein-3, desmocollin-1, desmocollin-3, desmoplakin-1/2, plakoglobin and plakophilin-1) and nondesmosomal adhesion proteins (E-cadherin, claudin-1, zona occludens-1 and occludin) in healthy canine footpad, haired skin and buccal mucosal epithelia were determined using hPF and pemphigus vulgaris sera and specific antibodies. The immunostaining patterns were then compared with that of indirect immunofluorescence staining with 66 cPF sera. Most cPF sera (58 of 66; 88%) exhibited positive staining along keratinocyte margins in the stratum spinosum and stratum granulosum of canine footpad. One serum contained autoantibodies binding solely to stratum granulosum keratinocytes. Concurrent intercellular fluorescence in the stratum basale was limited to seven of 66 cPF sera (11%). Only 12 of 66 cPF sera (18%) also exhibited positive IF staining of the buccal mucosa. This study confirms the immunological heterogeneity of cPF immunoglobulin G autoantibodies. Moreover, the major indirect immunofluorescence staining pattern and the inability of most cPF sera to label the buccal mucosa closely matched that of desmocollin-1. These observations warrant further investigation of desmocollin-1 as a potential major cPF autoantigen.
Paper diagnostic device for quantitative electrochemical detection of ricin at picomolar levels

We report a paper-based assay platform for detection of ricin a chain. The paper platform is assembled by simple origami paper folding. The sensor is based on quantitative, electrochemical detection of silver nanoparticle labels linked to a magnetic microbead support via a ricin immunosandwich. Importantly, ricin was detected at concentrations as low as 34 pM. Additionally, the assay is robust, even in the presence of 100-fold excess hoax materials. Finally, the device is easily remediated after use by incineration. The cost of the device, not including reagents, is just $0.30. The total assay time, including formation of the immunosandwich, is 9.5 min.
Effects of susceptibility variations on NMR measurements of diffusion

Abstract A pulsed-gradient spin-echo method has been used to measure the water self-diffusion coefficient in various media containing susceptibility variations arising from the presence of superparamagnetic iron oxide particles. These include aqueous suspensions, polyacrylamide gels, and rat livers. The results for each medium indicate that, contrary to intuition, the apparent diffusion coefficient decreases as the iron particle concentration increases. A simple theoretical model has been developed to interpret the data. This model relates the changes in apparent diffusion to the variance of the internal gradient distribution generated by the iron particles. A computer simulation of nuclei undergoing a random walk in an inhomogeneous medium was performed and the results provide qualitative confirmation of the experimental observations. The relevance of these phenomena to measurements of molecular diffusion in heterogeneous systems and their use to estimate internal gradient strengths are discussed.
Binocular depth mixture with non-symmetric disparities

Abstract If two thin binocular vertical lines which have the same binocular direction but different disparities with respect to a fixation point are flashed simultaneously, they interact in the determination of perceived depth (binocular depth mixture). Perceived depth depends on both disparities and their relative luminances. Previously this phenomenon has been studied in a situation where the disparities were symmetric with respect to the fixation point. Here the non-symmetric case is described. The results are similar to those in the symmetric case and are consistent with the hypothesis that stereo depth channels are broadly tuned to disparity.
Combinatorial strategies for cancer eradication by silibinin and cytotoxic agents: efficacy and mechanisms.

In an effort to develop effective alternative strategies that increase the therapeutic efficacy and minimize the systemic toxicity of chemotherapeutic agents, more efforts are being directed towards the investigation of dietary supplements and other phytotherapeutic agents for their synergistic efficacy in combination with anticancer drugs. One such agent is silibinin, which has shown promising chemopreventive and anticancer effects in various in vitro and in vivo studies. The present review summarizes the effects of the combination of silibinin and chemotherapeutic drugs on the growth inhibition, cell cycle regulation, and apoptosis induction in prostate, breast, and lung cancer systems. Together, the results indicate a synergistic effect of silibinin on growth inhibition, reversal of chemoresistance, apoptosis induction, and a strong increase in G2–M checkpoint arrest when given in combination with these drugs. These results are highly significant with respect to the combined chemotherapy approach, wherein the criteria for combination is that the response has to be synergistic and that the drugs should not share common mechanisms of resistance and not overlap in their major side-effects.
Characterization of a hybrid laser-assisted mechanical micromachining (LAMM) process for a difficult-to-machine material

Abstract Mechanical micro-cutting is emerging as a viable alternative to lithography based micromachining techniques for applications in optics, semiconductors and micro-mold/dies. However, certain factors limit the types of workpiece materials that can be processed using mechanical micromachining methods. For difficult-to-machine materials such as mold and die steels or ceramics, limited cutting tool/machine stiffness and strength are major impediments to the efficient use of mechanical micromachining methods. In addition, at micron length scales of cutting, the effect of tool/machine deflection on the dimensional accuracy of the machined feature can be significant. This paper presents experimental characterization of a novel hybrid laser assisted mechanical micromachining (LAMM) process designed for 3D micro-grooving that involves highly localized thermal softening of the hard material by focusing a solid-state continuous wave laser beam in front of a miniature cutting tool. Micro-scale grooving experiments are conducted on H-13 mold steel (42 HRc) in order to understand the influence of laser variables and cutting parameters on the cutting forces, groove depth and surface finish. The results show that the laser variables significantly influence the process response. Specifically, the mean thrust force is found to decrease by 17% and the 3D average surface roughness increases by 36% when the laser power is increased from 0 to 10 W. The groove depths are found to be influenced by the machine (stage) deflection and tool thermal expansion, which affect the actual depth of cut, in the presence of laser heating. In particular, it is found that the accuracy of groove depth improves with laser heating. Explanations for the observed trends are given.
Proximal peroneal nerve conduction velocity: Recording from anterior tibial and peroneus brevis muscles

Difficulties in calculating the motor nerve conduction velocity of the peroneal nerve arise when the extensor digitorum brevis is completely atrophied and does not respond to stimulation. In these patients, conduction velocity in the proximal fibers of the peroneal nerve can still be calculated by recording from proximal muscles such as the anterior tibial and peroneus brevis. We established normal values by a simple standardized method using 34 subjects.
Event-related brain potentials and human language

The human capacity to produce and comprehend language is one of the most distinctive characteristics of our species. However, understanding the cognitive and neural underpinnings of human language has proved difficult, in part because these processes are rapid, complex and (for the most part) inaccessible to conscious reflection. Methodologies are needed that provide continuous measurement during language processing and that do not rely on a conscious response. One such method involves the recording of event-related brain potentials (ERPs) elicited during language comprehension or production. ERPs are continuous, multidimensional records of the electrical activity that occurs in the brain during the process of interest. We review recent work demonstrating that ERPs are quite sensitive to (at least some of) the psychological and neural events underlying human language. Indeed, researchers have used ERPs to investigate the separability of syntactic and semantic processes, the on-line analysis of sentence constituent structure and the lexical processing capacities of language-disordered populations.
The immunoglobulin allotypes (Gm and Km) of twelve Indian tribes of Central and South America.

The Gm and Km immunoglobulin allotypes are presented, for the first time, for six South American Indian tribes (Baniwa, Kanamari, Kraho, Makiritare, Panoa, and Ticuna) and one Central American tribe (Guaymi). Additional allotype information is presented for five previously reported South American tribes (Cayapo, Piaroa, Trio, Xavante and Yanomama). The distribu- tions of the Gm and Km allotypes among all the tribal populations tested to date are reviewed and evidence is presented for the presence of a north(high1- south(1ow) cline in Km frequency. The wave theory of the populating of the South American continent was tested by an examination of the distribution of six alleles (Gmax;g, Gma,b0.3,t, Di", R', TFD Chi, and 6PGDc), absent in some popu- lations but with polymorphic proportions in others. The present, limited, data failed to confirm the theory.
The toxicity of mercuric chloride and methylmercuric chloride to Fundulus heteroclitus embryos in relation to exposure conditions

Embryos in specific stage of the estuarine teleost, Fundulus heteroclitus, were exposed to mercuric chloride (MC) and methylmercuric chloride (MMC) under several distinct treatment conditions. Four-eight cell stage eggs (0-day old) were exposed for 4 days (continuous), 2 days and one day to each mercury compound. One-day old (mid-blastula), 2-day old (mid-neurula) and 5-day old (beating heart) embryos were exposed 4 days to MC and MMC. Mortality for the four days immediately following the initiation of exposure was the embryonic response measured. Under most exposure conditions to the 4–8 cell eggs, progressive and significant reductions in survival were observed at all concentrations above 40 and 30 μgHg++l−1 as MC and MMC, respectively. Reducing the duration of exposure to 1 day most significantly increased the survival potential of the 4–8 cell eggs. For all exposure treatments to the 4–8 cell eggs, significant differences in survival, between eggs exposed to MC and MMC, were determined at 40, 60 and 80 μgHg++l−1, indicating the presence of compound-dependent response differences. In all cases demonstrating response differences between MC and MMC exposed embryos, survival was significantly lower following exposure to MMC. Survival of embryos was progressively increased when the initiation of continuous exposure (4 days) was delayed 1, 2 and 5 days after fertilization. As a result, compound-dependent response differences were progressively shifted to higher He++ concentrations. For both MC and MMC, survival of 1-day old embryos exposed for 4 days was greater than that of 0-day old eggs exposed for 1 day. Of the embryonic stages examined, it appears that the earlier cleavage stages are the most sensitive to mercury intoxication.
Role of chelation and water binding of calcium in dormancy and heat resistance of bacterial endospores.

Abstract The possible relationship between the water binding by bacterial endospores and their dormancy and heat resistances has been examined in terms of the coordination characteristics of the spore-bound calcium. Stabilities of the calcium complexes of typical cytoplasmic and structural spore components were determined by potentiometric equilibrium pH measurements in model systems consisting of DPA, glycine, alanine, glutamic acid, alanyl-glutamic acid, triglycine, and tetraglycine. The Ca ++ -form and H + -form spores of Clostridium botulinum 33A were investigated in vivo with respect to their water sorption and heat-resistance characteristics. The results suggest that the complexing of calcium and Ca(II)-DPA may be biologically significant for spore resistance and dormancy at the following three levels: (1) complexing with spore cytoplasmic pool constituents consistent with the idea of a metal-chelate cross-linked cytoplasm or spore cement stabilizing the essential biological macromolecules, (2) complexing with structural components of the spore as indicated by the interaction with model peptides, and (3) coordination with water to produce an apparently dehydrated environment in the spore as evident from the much greater watersorption capacity of the Ca ++ -form spores vs the much smaller water sorption of the H + -form spores. Interestingly enough, DPA itself, in the absence of metal ion, showed some interaction with di-, tri-, and tetrapeptides and a weak but detectable interaction with amino acids. Although the exact mode of the DPA-peptide interaction is not clear, it is attractive to speculate about its possible involvement in the control of spore dormancy and resistance.