cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Increased sensitivity to ischemic interval of donor hearts with diminished left ventricular function.

BACKGROUND Previous studies have demonstrated that carefully selected donor hearts (DHs) with poor left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) may be transplanted with long-term survival equivalent to hearts with normal function. The purpose of this study is to facilitate their selection. METHODS Using the United Network for Organ Sharing database, we reviewed all adult heart transplants between January 2000 and March 2016. Regression models were developed to estimate hazard ratios with 95% confidence intervals of post-transplant 1-year mortality and failure of EF to recover at 1 year for DHs with EF ≥50%, EF 40%-49.9%, and EF 30%-30.9%. RESULTS During the study period, 31,979 DHs were transplanted. Compared with DHs with left ventricular ejection fraction ≥50%, DHs with reduced EF were younger and had slightly lower body mass index. There were no differences in the mechanism of death between groups and no differences in recipient characteristics, except for a higher incidence of African American recipients of hearts with an EF of 40%-49.9%. Of the variables analyzed, only a 1-hour increase in ischemia time had different hazard ratios for 1-year mortality between groups, with increasing hazard as EF diminished. It was also the only variable that predicted failure of recovery of normal EF and that was in the lowest EF group. CONCLUSIONS The impact of DH traits associated with adverse outcomes after heart transplantation that we studied are similar between DHs with EF <50% and those with EF ≥50%. However, limiting ischemic time may be even more important for DHs with diminished left ventricular function, particularly at the low end of the EF spectrum.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the prevention and management of tracheal and oesophageal anastomotic complications.

Objectives Failure of anastomotic healing is a morbid complication after airway or oesophageal surgery. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been used extensively in the management of complex wound-healing problems. We demonstrate the use of HBOT to rescue at-risk anastomoses or manage anastomotic failures in thoracic surgery. Methods Retrospective review of 25 patients who received HBOT as part of the management of tracheal or oesophageal anastomotic problems during 2007-2018. HBOT was delivered at 2 atm with 100% oxygen in 90-min sessions. Results Twenty-three patients underwent airway resection and reconstruction while 2 patients underwent oesophagectomy. There were 16 (70%) laryngotracheal and 7 (30%) tracheal resections. Necrosis at the airway anastomosis was found in 13 (57%) patients, partial dehiscence in 2 (9%) patients and both in 6 (26%) patients. HBOT was prophylactic in 2 (9%) patients. Patients received a median of 9.5 HBOT sessions (interquartile range 5-19 sessions) over a median course of 8 days. The airway anastomosis healed in 20 of 23 (87%) patients. Overall, a satisfactory long-term airway outcome was achieved in 19 (83%) patients; 4 patients failed and required reoperation (2 tracheostomies and 1 T-tube). HBOT was used in 2 patients after oesophagectomy to manage focal necrosis or ischaemia at the anastomosis, with success in 1 patient. Complications from HBOT were infrequent and mild (e.g. ear discomfort). Conclusions HBOT should be considered as an adjunct in the management of anastomotic problems after airway surgery. It may also play a role after oesophagectomy. Possible mechanisms of action are rapid granulation, early re-epithelialization and angiogenesis.
Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Renal Cell Carcinoma Metastases to the Choroid Plexus

Objective Intraventricular metastatic brain tumors account for a small, but challenging, fraction of metastatic brain tumors (0.9%–4.5%). Metastases from renal cell carcinoma (RCC) account for a large portion of these intraventricular tumors. Although patient outcomes have been assumed to be poor, these have not been reported in a modern series with a multimodality treatment paradigm of radiotherapy (RT), resection, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion. We have presented the first case series of patients with intraventricular metastatic tumors from RCC. Methods We performed a single-institution retrospective review of patients with intraventricular RCC metastases treated from January 2003 to January 2019. Volumetric analysis was used to delineate the tumor size and the Kaplan-Meier method to evaluate the survival data. Results A total of 22 intraventricular RCC metastases were identified in 19 patients with 61.3 patient-years of follow-up. The median patient age was 64 years, and the median tumor volume was 2.2 cm3. Overall, 19 metastases had been treated initially with RT. Of these, 16 had received stereotactic body RT and 3 had received whole brain RT. Three tumors were surgically excised and had received adjuvant stereotactic body RT in the upfront setting. Although 5 patients had presented with obstructive hydrocephalus, none had required CSF diversion. After treatment, 5 metastases had progressed, resulting in 1- and 3-year progression-free survival rates of 81.6% and 68%, respectively. The median overall survival was 2.8 years, with 1- and 5-year overall survival rates of 76.7% and 28.3%, respectively. Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis was not observed. Conclusions Despite the relatively limited overall survival for this population with metastatic cancer, comparable to contemporary parenchymal brain metastasis cohorts, reasonable local central nervous system control was achieved in most patients using a paradigm of focal RT and resection, where indicated. Finally, CSF diversion was not required even in patients presenting with hydrocephalus.
When public participation matters: The 2010–2013 Icelandic constitutional process

Public participation in constitution-making is now both an established international norm and a widespread practice. But what does public participation really mean and when can it be said to matter? This article documents the case of public participation in constitution-making that took place in Iceland between 2010 and 2013. The Icelandic case is interesting both for the innovative ways in which the public was involved but also because public participation in the process can be shown to have made a causal difference to the resulting text. The quasi-natural experiment setup of the Icelandic constitutional process makes it possible to compare the textual output of expert groups and that of the non-professional politicians on the Constitutional Council who crowdsourced their work to the larger public. The comparison suggests that on some crucial aspects the more inclusively written text is marginally but significantly better than that written by experts alone.
Blurring the Borders of the Human: Hybridized Bodies in Literature and Folklore

Salvage the Bones, a 2011 National Book Award-winning novel by Mississippi writer Jesmyn Ward, might seem to be a strange choice for a discussion of Caribbean literature. Ward’s story is told by a 15-year-old African American girl who lives in contemporary, rural Mississippi. The novel’s setting, along the U.S. Gulf Coast just prior to, and then in the midst of, the devastating Hurricane Katrina, challenges the representation of the USA as isolated from the Caribbean and the rest of the Americas—much in the same way that Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God challenged geographical, cultural, and genre borders eighty years ago in its portrayal of the Florida community of The Muck. This chapter demonstrates how Ward also strives to transgress boundaries to push readers to contemplate social inequality in innovative ways.
Elucidating the Role of Fluorine Content on Gas Sorption Properties of Fluorinated Polyimides

Hydrocarbon and perfluorinated polymers display distinct thermodynamic partitioning characteristics. These differences enable perfluoropolymers to outperform hydrocarbon polymers for many membrane-...
Using molecular docking and molecular dynamics to investigate protein-ligand interactions

Molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) are powerful tools used to investigate protein-ligand interactions. Molecular docking programs predict the binding pose and affinity of a protein-ligan...
Eyes of a Hurricane: The Effect of Hurricane Harvey on Ophthalmology Consultations at Houston's County Hospital.

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to characterize ophthalmology consultations ordered after Hurricane Harvey compared to consultations ordered during the same time period of the prior year. METHODS A retrospective chart review was performed at an urban, level 1 trauma center of a county hospital. All patients were included who received an electronic health record, documented ophthalmology consultation order between September 2017 and October 2017 (the time period immediately following Hurricane Harvey) or September 2016 and October 2016. Patient demographic risk factors were collected. Patient ICD10 clinical diagnoses were categorized as extraocular, intraocular, infectious, physiological, or other, and then subcategorized as trauma or non-trauma-related. A geographical heat map was generated to compare the changes in diagnosis volume by zip code to the magnitude of rainfall in the county. RESULTS Following Hurricane Harvey, ophthalmology consultation volume decreased, number of infectious ophthalmology diagnoses increased (P < 0.001), percentage of patients on immunosuppression increased (P < 0.001), and the number of private insurance payers increased while the number of county-funded insurance payers decreased (P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS The risk of infectious eye diagnosis was double the risk of traumatic eye diagnosis from Hurricane Harvey flooding. During public disaster planning, different ophthalmological medical resources and responses should be considered for flooding versus high-wind events.
Sphere Impact Induced Damage in Ceramics: II. Armor-Grade B4C and WC

Armor-grade B 4 C and WC cylinders (25.4 mm x 25.4 mm) were impacted with WC-6Co (6 wt.% Co) spheres (6.35 mm diameter) at velocities between 100 m/s and 400 m/s. The recovered cylinders were subsequently sectioned and metallographically-prepared to reveal the dominant sub-surface damage types and change in damage severity as a function of impact velocity. In general, both ceramics exhibited radial, ring, Hertzian cone, and lateral cracks which increased in number and length as the impact velocity increased. The cracking was predominately transgranular for B 4 C and intergranular for WC. However, unlike SiC and TiB 2 (reported in the part I[1]), no evidence of a comminuted region directly beneath the impact center was observed in either ceramic. B 4 C exhibited severe spallation of material surrounding the impact center. In addition, evidence of shear localization beneath the impact center was also observed. This observation may in part explain the sharp drop in shear strength that B 4 C exhibits in plate impact experiments when shocked above 20 GPa. In contrast, WC was almost unremarkable in its response to being impact with the WC spheres in that it exhibited a nice spherical crater that is more typical of the response of a metal. The effect of impact velocity on the observed damage and differences in damage between these two armor-grade ceramics will be presented.
Evaluation of the effect of input stimuli on the quality of orientation maps produced through self organization

Self-organized maps have been proposed as a model for the formation of sensory maps in the cerebral cortex. The role of inputs is critical in this process of self-organization. This paper presents a systematic approach to analyzing the relationship between the input ensemble and the quality of self-organization achieved. We present a method for generating an input stimulus set consisting of images of curved lines. The advantage of this approach is that it allows the user the ability to precisely control the statistics of the input stimuli to visual processing algorithms. Since there is considerable scientific interest in the processing of information in the human visual stream, we specifically address the problem of self-organization of cortical visual areas V1 and V2. We show that the statistics of the curves generated with our algorithm match the statistics of natural images. We develop a measure of self-organization based on the oriented energy contained in the afferent weights to each cortical unit in the map. We show that as the curvature of the generated lines increases, this measure of self-organization decreases. Furthermore, self-organization using curved lines as stimuli is achieved much more rapidly, as the curve images do not contain as much higher order structure as natural images do.
Epigenetic specification of centromeres.

Centromeres are the discrete sites of spindle microtubule attachment on chromosomes during mitosis and meiosis in all eukaryotes. These highly specialized chromatin structures typically occupy the ...
Fourier Imaging Correlation Spectroscopy for Cellular Structure-Function

Abstract Experiments that optically probe the dynamics of intracellular species, including the center-of-mass displacements and internal conformational transitions of biological macromolecules, have the potential to study mechanisms of biochemical processes in living cells. This chapter reviews Fourier imaging correlation spectroscopy (FICS), a novel phase-selective approach to fluorescence fluctuation spectroscopy that measures the collective coordinate fluctuations from a large population of fluorescent species (N ∼ 106). In FICS experiments, a spatially modulated optical grating excites a fluorescently labeled sample. Phase-synchronous detection of the fluorescence, with respect to the phase of the exciting optical grating, can be used to monitor the fluctuations of partially averaged spatial coordinates. From these data are constructed two-point space-time correlation functions and probability distributions. FICS achieves a unique balance between signal-to-noise and signal information content. It represents a route to elevate signal levels, while acquiring detailed information about molecular coordinate trajectories.
Measurement of the top quark mass at CDF II

The authors describe a measurement of the top quark mass using events with two charged leptons collected by the CDF II Detector from p{bar p} collisions with {radical}s = 1.96 TeV at the Fermilab Tevatron. The posterior probability distribution of the top quark pole mass is calculated using the differential cross-section for the t{bar t} production and decay expressed with respect to observed leptons and jets momenta. The presence of background events in the collected sample is modeled using calculations of the differential cross-sections for major background processes. This measurement represents the first application of this method to events with two charged leptons. In a data sample with integrated luminosity of 340 pb{sup -1}, they observe 33 candidate events and measure M{sub top} = 165.2 {+-} 61.{sub stat} {+-} 3.4{sub syst} GeV/c{sup 2}.
Theory‐based practice in a major medical centre

alligood m.r. (2011) Journal of Nursing Management19, 981–988 Theory-based practice in a major medical centre Aims This project was designed to improve care quality and nursing staff satisfaction. Background Nursing theory structures thought and action as demonstrated by evidence of improvement in complex health-care settings. Nursing administrators selected Modelling and Role-Modelling (MRM) for the theory-based practice goal in their strategic plan. Methods An action research approach structured implementation of MRM in a 1-year consultation project in 2001–2002. Results Quality of health care improved according to national quality assessment ratings, as well as patient satisfaction and nurse satisfaction. Conclusions Modelling and Role-Modelling demonstrated capacity to structure nursing thought and action in patient care in a major medical centre. Uniformity of patient care language was valued by nurses as well as by allied health providers who wished to learn the holistic MRM style of practice. The processes of MRM and action research contributed to project success. Implications for nursing management A positive health-care change project was carried out in a large medical centre with action research. Introducing MRM theory-based practice was a beneficial decision by nursing administration that improved care and nurse satisfaction. Attention to nursing practice stimulated career development among the nurses to pursue bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees.
Brachytherapy Is Associated With Improved Survival in Inoperable Stage I Endometrial Adenocarcinoma: A Population-Based Analysis.

Purpose To assess the use of brachytherapy (BT) with or without external beam radiation (EBRT) in inoperable stage I endometrial adenocarcinoma in the United States and to determine the effect of BT on overall survival (OS) and cause-specific survival (CSS). Methods and Materials Data between 1998 and 2011 from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database were analyzed. Coarsened exact matching was used to adjust for differences in age and grade between patients who received BT and those who did not. Prognostic factors affecting OS and CSS were evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier product-limit method and a Cox proportional hazards regression model. Results A total of 460 patients with inoperable stage I endometrial adenocarcinoma treated with radiation therapy were identified. Radiation consisted of either EBRT (n=260) or BT with or without EBRT (n=200). The only factor associated with BT use was younger patient age (median age, 72 vs 76 years, P =.001). Patients who received BT had a higher 3-year OS (60% vs 47%, P P =.032) compared with those who did not. On multivariate analysis, BT use was independently associated with an improved OS (hazard ratio [HR] 0.67, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.52-0.87) and CSS (HR 0.61, 95% CI 0.39-0.93). When patients were matched on age, BT use remained significant on multivariate analysis for OS (HR 0.65, 95% CI 0.48-0.87) and CSS (HR 0.52, 95% CI 0.31-0.84). When matched on age and grade, BT remained independently associated with improved OS and CSS (OS HR 0.62, 95% CI 0.46-0.83; CSS HR 0.57, 95% CI 0.34-0.92). Conclusion Brachytherapy is independently associated with improved OS and CSS. It should be considered as part of the treatment regimen for stage I inoperable endometrial cancer patients undergoing radiation.
High efficiency class-F MIMIC power amplifiers at ku-band

Abstract : Two high efficiency Ku-band pHEMT power amplifier MMICs are presented in this paper. A single, stage, high efficiency amplifier provides a peak power added efficiency of 57.6% with 10.5 dB associated gain and 26.5 dBm output power into a 50 Ohms load at 14 GHz. Additionally, a dual stage, high gain amplifier provides a peak power added efficiency of 50.4% with 19.7 dB associated gain and 27.5 dBm output power into a 50 Ohms load at 14.3 GHz. State-of-the-art efficiency performance at these frequencies is achieved through Class-F transistor operation. Process selection, circuit design, and measured results are described.
Hemodynamic and renal effects of atrial natriuretic factor in portal hypertensive rats. Potentiation by Phe-Ile-Orn-vasopressin

The effects of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) on splanchnic hemodynamics and renal function in portal hypertensive models are described incompletely. Furthermore, ANF-induced vasodilatation and hypotension may limit the assessment of its own renal physiological effects. We infused ANF (human ANF 102-126) to anesthetized portal vein-ligated rats, a model with prehepatic portal hypertension. Arterial pressure was reduced by 17%, but portal pressure was unaffected. Diuresis and natriuresis were explained in part by an increase in glomerular filtration rate; in addition, renal vascular resistance was significantly decreased. The natriuretic response to ANF was slightly, but significantly, decreased in portal hypertensive rats as compared to controls (fractional excretion of sodium, 1.8 +/- 0.4 vs. 2.9 +/- 0.3; P less than .05). The addition of Phe-Ile-Orn-vasopressin, a V1 receptor agonist, normalized arterial pressure but induced a significant decrease in portal pressure (15 +/- 0.9 mm Hg base line vs. 12.8 +/- 0.7 combination group; P less than .01). Furthermore, the combination of both drugs markedly potentiated the natriuretic effects (0.4 +/- 0.1 microEq/min of control vs. 10.0 +/- 2.3 ANF vs. 32.2 +/- 3.3 combination group; P less than .001). The natriuretic potentiation resulted from increments in glomerular filtration rate and renal blood flow. Normalization of arterial pressure may enhance the renal physiological effects of ANF, in this portal hypertensive model.
Cucumber Sex Expression Modified by 2-Chloroethanephosphonic Acid

Application of 2-chloroethanephosphonic acid (120 to 240 parts per million) to monoecious cucumber plants when the first true leaf was 2 centimeters in diameter has resulted in as many as 19 continuous pistillate nodes. Control of the flowering habit simplifies the production of hybrid seed and offers the possibility of enhancing cucumber yields.
Hypoglycemia with hepatic glycogen depletion: A postoperative complication of pyloric stenosis

Abstract Three infants with congenital hypertrophic pyloric stenosis developed hypoglycemia, convulsions and cardiac arrest in the postoperative period coincident with discontinuance of parenteral glucose infusion. In one patient studied in detail, low levels of hepatic glycogen and normal levels of serum insulin suggest glycogen depletion as the mechanism for hypoglycemia. In seven non-hypoglycemic infants with pyloric stenosis, hepatic glycogen contents were within normal limits. Hypoglycemia should be suspected when the infant develops any unusual or unexplained symptoms following operation. Immediate treatment with intravenous glucose infusion should be initiated and continued until oral feedings are well established.
Gel filtration of human skin-sensitizing antibody and β2A-globulin

Abstract Gel filtration on Sephadex G-200 columns of sera from four untreated rag-weed-sensitive patients was performed. Skin-sensitizing activity was present in protein fractions larger than 7S γ-globulin but distinctly smaller than 19S macroglobulin. There was a close correlation between skin-sensitizing activity and β 2A -globulin. These results lend support to the current concept that skin-sensitizing antibody is a β 2A -globulin, and further suggest that β 2A -globulin may consist largely of molecules of intermediate molecular size.
THOUGHTS ON INPUTS TO INFORMATION SYSTEMS

(1970). THOUGHTS ON INPUTS TO INFORMATION SYSTEMS. The Professional Geographer: Vol. 22, No. 1, pp. 12-14.
Transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF alpha) concentrations increase in regenerating rat liver: evidence for a delayed accumulation of mature TGF alpha

Changes in the concentration of transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF alpha) protein were measured in regenerating liver. TGF alpha stimulates both DNA and protein synthesis in various liver-derived cells, and its mRNA levels increase in liver after partial hepatectomy (PH), suggesting that it may be an important autocrine regulator of liver regeneration. Using a sheep antiserum raised against mature rat TGF alpha, we developed a sensitive TGF alpha RIA. TGF alpha was extracted from livers in a detergent-containing buffer with protease inhibitors. Liver extracts, to a volume of 10 microliters/tube, produced a displacement curve of [125I]TGF alpha that was parallel to the pure standard. The TGF alpha content of normal liver was 57.04 +/- 26.25 pg/mg protein, 5.24 +/- 2.61 ng/mg DNA, and 10.33 +/- 4.47 ng/g liver (n = 5; mean +/- SD). Between 13-17 h after operation, TGF alpha concentrations in the livers of PH animals increased over those in sham-operated (SH) controls (P < 0.05) and remained twice those in SH controls for more than 96 h, returning to control values by 8 days. In unoperated liver, gel chromatography showed all TGF alpha immunoactivity to be in fractions corresponding to known TGF alpha precursors (15-30 kilodaltons). Mature 5.6-kilodalton TGF alpha was not detected until 48 h after PH and was still present at 96 h. These data support a role for TGF alpha in the response to PH in the rat. However, the presence of TGF alpha precursors in normal liver, the short (< 4-h) interval between the increase in TGF alpha concentrations and the onset of hepatocyte DNA synthesis, the sustained elevation of TGF alpha levels after DNA synthesis has ceased, and the lack of detectable processing to the mature form until DNA synthesis has subsided all suggest that the membrane-anchored precursor and the mature forms of TGF alpha may have different functions, cellular sources, or target cells in regenerating liver.
The natural history of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a clinical histopathological study.

The natural history of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a clinical histopathological study
Oxidative Stress, Caloric Restriction, and Aging

Under normal physiological conditions, the use of oxygen by cells of aerobic organisms generates potentially deleterious reactive oxygen metabolites. A chronic state of oxidative stress exists in cells because of an imbalance between prooxidants and antioxidants. The amount of oxidative damage increases as an organism ages and is postulated to be a major causal factor of senescence. Support for this hypothesis includes the following observations: (i) Overexpression of antioxidative enzymes retards the age-related accrual of oxidative damage and extends the maximum life-span of transgenic Drosophila melanogaster. (ii) Variations in longevity among different species inversely correlate with the rates of mitochondrial generation of the superoxide anion radical (O2) and hydrogen peroxide. (iii) Restriction of caloric intake lowers steady-state levels of oxidative stress and damage, retards age-associated changes, and extends the maximum life-span in mammals.
Quantification of epitope-specific MHC class-II-restricted T cells following lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection.

Abstract CD4 + T cells are critical for the control of many viruses; however, the numbers of virus-specific CD4 + cells that are expanded following infection are unknown. We have addressed this issue by enumerating virus-specific, MHC class-II-restricted T cells following infection of mice with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV). We have found that the numbers of T cells that produce interferon-γ in response to stimulation with three different class-II-restricted LCMV epitopes increase from undetectable numbers in noninfected animals to between 4 × 10 5 and 2 × 10 6 cells per spleen at the peak of the T cell response. This contrasts with the numbers of virus-specific class-I-restricted T cells which expand to 1 × 10 7 to 2 × 10 7 cells per spleen during the same time period. We could not reproducibly detect virus-specific class-I-restricted or class-II-restricted T cells that produced interleukin-4 at any time following LCMV infection, indicating that infection with this virus induces a predominantly type 1 cytokine response. In contrast to the rapid decrease in the numbers of class-I-restricted T cells, the numbers of LCMV-specific class-II-restricted T cells declined gradually following the peak of the T cell response. We demonstrate, therefore, that following infection with LCMV there is expansion of both class-I-restricted and class-II-restricted virus-specific T cells; however, the degree of expansion of class-II-restricted T cells is substantially less than that observed for class-I-restricted cells. Furthermore, the downregulation phase of the class-II-restricted response is protracted compared with the precipitous contraction of the antiviral CD8 + T cell response.
Effective potential for composite operators.

We study the effective potential for composite operators. Introducing a source coupled to the composite operator, we define the effective potential by a Legendre transformation. We find that in three or fewer dimensions one can use the conventionally defined renormalized operator to couple to the source. However, in four dimensions, the effective potential for the conventional renormalized composite operator is divergent. We overcome this difficulty by adding additional counterterms to the operator and adjusting these order by order in perturbation theory. These counterterms are found to be nonpolynomial. We find that, because of the extra counterterms, the composite effective potential is gauge dependent. We display this gauge dependence explicitly at two-loop order. {copyright}{ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}
The Policy Gap in International Marketing

In the light of the growing importance of policy for international marketing practice, the author makes a case for an increase in policy-oriented international marketing work in academia by presenting some key policy issues and developing international marketing research dimensions associated with these issues. The author makes suggestions for the structuring of research strategies that are responsive to policy changes and offers some thoughts on how researchers can influence and shape policy with their research insights. The author makes recommendations that might help increase the policy orientation of international marketing academics.
The cyclin kinase inhibitor p21WAF1/CIP1 is required for glomerular hypertrophy in experimental diabetic nephropathy

The cyclin kinase inhibitor p21 WAF1/CIP1 is required for glomerular hypertrophy in experimental diabetic nephropathy. Background Diabetic nephropathy is characterized by glomerular hypertrophy. We have recently shown that experimental diabetes mellitus is associated with an increase in glomerular expression of the cyclin kinase inhibitor p21 WAF1/CIP1 (p21). Furthermore, in vitro glucose-induced mesangial cell hypertrophy is also associated with an up-regulated expression of p21. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that p21 mediates diabetic glomerular hypertrophy in vivo . Methods Experimental diabetes mellitus was induced by streptozotocin in mice in which p21 was genetically deleted (p21 -/-) and in wild-type mice (p21 +/+). Kidney biopsies were obtained from diabetic and control (citrate injected) p21 +/+ and p21 -/- mice at day 60. The tissue was used for morphologic studies of glomerular size (measured by computer image-analysis system), glomerular cellularity (cell count), glomerular matrix expansion (silver stain), apoptosis (TUNEL), and expression of transforming growth factor-βbgr; 1 (TGF-βbgr; 1 ) by in situ hybridization. Results The glomerular tuft area increased 11.21% in diabetic p21 +/+ mice at day 60 compared with control (3329.98 ± 244.05 μm 2 vs. 2994.39 ± 176.22 μm 2 , P = 0.03), and the glomerular cell count did not change in diabetic p21 +/+ mice at day 60 compared with the control. These findings are consistent with glomerular hypertrophy. In contrast, the glomerular tuft area did not increase in diabetic p21 -/- mice at day 60 compared with the control (3544.15 ± 826.49 vs. 3449.15 ± 109.65, P = 0.82), nor was there an increase in glomerular cell count (41.41 ± 13.18 vs. 46.95 ± 3.00, P = 0.43). Diabetic p21 +/+ mice, but not p21 -/- mice, developed an increase in proteinuria at day 60 compared with the control. Tubular cell proliferation, measured by proliferating cell nuclear antigen immunostaining, was increased in both diabetic p21 +/+ (2.1-fold) and p21 -/- (7.61-fold) mice compared with controls. Glomerular cell apoptosis did not increase in diabetic mice. Although glomerular TGF-βbgr; 1 mRNA levels increased in both strains of diabetic mice at day 60, the glomerular matrix did not expand. Conclusions Hyperglycemia was associated with glomerular hypertrophy in p21 +/+ mice. Despite the increase in TGF-βbgr; 1 mRNA, diabetic p21 -/- mice did not develop glomerular hypertrophy, providing evidence that the cyclin kinase inhibitor p21 may be required for diabetic glomerular hypertrophy induced by TGF-βbgr; 1 . The loss of p21 increases tubular but not glomerular cell proliferation in diabetic nephropathy. The absence of glomerular hypertrophy appears protective of renal function in diabetic mice.
Local structure of Y1-xCaxSr2Cu2GaO7 superconductors

Abstract The variation in the average and local structure of the superconductor family Y 1− x Ca x Sr 2 Cu 2 GaO 7 as calcium is substituted for yttrium ( x = 0.20, 0.35, and 0.40) is presented and discussed. Electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction were the primary techniques employed. The local structure found by the use of electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction agrees with that previously derived from single crystal X-ray and neutron diffraction. The gallate can be confused with the three layer perovskite structure of YBCO (YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 ) because of the similarity of [011] Ga ≈[100] YBCO and [010] Ga ≈[110] YBCO zones. However, the composition of all crystals examined were homogeneous on a 10–100 nm scale. It was also found that the twin structure varied as a function of the calcium content.
Theory of inelastic neutron scattering of metallic electrons in one-electron approximation

The cross section is studied for the inelastic magnetic scattering of epithermal neutrons by electrons in a metal where the states for the electrons are described by band theory. If the ratio between the wave number of the electrons and the wave number of the incoming neutrons is small compared with unity but not smaller than the mass ratio between electron and neutron, it is possible to calculate the cross section in the vicinity of certain scattering angles more closely. By such experiments one could obtain some information about the diameter of the Fermi surface and the mass tensor of the electrons.
Exploring Moderators of Gender Differences: Contextual Differences in Door‐Hoiding Behavior1

The simple behavior of holding a door for another person can be interpreted as gender-neutral, helpful, or benevolently sexist. Each interpretation leads to competing hypotheses predicting no gender differences in door holding, consistent door holding by men as chivalrous helpers, and door holding by men in the gender-salient context of dating but not in everyday interactions, respectively. Observations of 769 college-aged, female-male dyads found a strong pattern of male door holding in dating but not in everyday contexts. This pattern highlights social role theory's emphasis on understanding contextual moderators of apparent gender differences, changes in door-holding behavior in everyday contexts across the past 20 years, and the benevolent sexism subtly conveyed by male dominance in door holding in dating contexts.
Nonlinear Projection Filter Based on Galerkin Approximation

The conditional probability density function of the state of a stochastic dynamic system represents the complete solution to the nonlinear  ltering problem because, with the conditional density in hand, all estimates of the state, optimal or otherwise, can be computed. It is well known that, for systems with continuous dynamics, the conditional density evolves, between measurements, according to Kolmogorov’s forward equation. At a measurement, it is updated according to Bayes formula. Therefore, these two equations can be viewed as the dynamic equations of the conditional density and, hence, the exact nonlinear  lter. In this paper, Galerkin’s method is used to approximate the nonlinear  lter by solving for the entire conditional density. Using a discrete cosine transform to approximate the projections required in Galerkin’s method leads to a computationally realizable nonlinear  lter. The implementation details are given and performance is assessed through simulations.
Mrs Gandhi's Emergency, The Indian Elections of 1977, Pluralism and Marxism: Problems with Paradigms

Given the system of parliamentary democracy that India developed after its independence in I947, it is understandable that pluralism came to be the major paradigm used to explain Indian politics. But just as the persistence of economic inequality was instrumental in calling pluralism into question as an appropriate model for explaining the American political system, so the continuation and even increase of inequality in India led social scientists to question the pluralist approach for India. And, as in the American case, a number of scholars turned to a Marxist class analysis to explain the Indian situation; by the mid-I97os a political economy model had begun to take shape that did offer a reasonable explanation of the pervasive inequality in India. Also, Mrs Gandhi's Emergency of 1975-77 fits very easily into this class analysis approach. But then came the elections of I977 and the ouster of Mrs Gandhi at the polls, an event not explicable in terms of the Marxist model, but which fits very well into the pluralist framework. Which model, then, is more appropriate to employ in accounting for the Indian system? The best answer seems to be to try to fit the pluralist approach within the Marxist one, with the latter carrying most of the explanatory load. * * * As the world's largest democracy, then the world's largest (or second largest, depending on one's view of the People's Republic of China) dictatorship, then again democracy, India has exercised a great fascination for students of politics. This fascination has been accompanied, naturally enough, by a compulsion to explain, to abstract, to get at underlying significance, to apply paradigms.
Binocular space and its representation by cellular assemblies in the brain.

Abstract It is shown that Luneburg's essentially psychophysical theory suffers from the limitations of a metric, whose coefficients are functions of the coordinates only. This ignores the contributions to space perception of the total stimulus configuration. Blank's reference of the co-ordinates to the horizon does not suffice to remove this difficulty. To say that the iseikonic transformation takes one stimulus configuration into a perceptually equivalent one is tantamount to the proposition that the only cues for binocular space perception are the relative stimulus points on the two retinae. It might then have been more likely that there should exist fixed “wired circuits” in the brain, which act as pattern recognizers. This, apparently, does not agree with the experimental evidence. Instead we propose that only a co-ordinate system could be “wired” into the brain and that the rest of pattern recognition is based on computation which involves other than merely the usual stereoscopic cues.
Correlation between water intake and dendritic branching in homozygous Brattleboro rats: A Golgi study

Abstract This report is the fourth in a series on the brains of three groups of male Brattleboro rats. The present study concerns only homozygous Brattleboro rats. One group raised in standard environmental conditions was killed at 60 days of age, another raised in standard conditions was killed at 90 days of age, and a third group raised in standard conditions for 60 days was killed at 90 days of age after 30 days of environmental enrichment. Water intake (measured between 33 and 40 days of age) was compared with the number of branching segments on basal dendrites of pyramidal neurons in the upper layers of the parietal and occipital cortices. A significant negative correlation between water intake and the number of dendritic branching segments per primary branch was found in both parietal and occipital cortices in the 90-day-old standard condition group. In contrast, the 90-day-old enriched group showed a significant positive correlation between water intake and segments per primary branch in the parietal cortex, and a similar but nonsignificant response to enrichment in the occipital cortex. These results may reflect a cumulative effect of the congenital absence of vasopressin which is apparent by 90 days of age and which is modified by environmental enrichment. In the light of our previous data linking vasopressin and dendritic branching, we speculate that the neuropeptide, oxytocin, may be a physiologic correlate linking the behavioral parameter (water intake) and the anatomic parameter (dendritic branching) in homozygous Brattleboro rats.
Factors influencing visualization of the intracranial translucency during first-trimester screening for aneuploidy.

Objective Neural tube defects occur in 1/2000 live births. Imaging of the intracranial translucency (IT) during first-trimester screening has been proposed as an early screen for open neural tube defects (ONTD). This study evaluates visualization of the IT and factors influencing its visualization during first-trimester ultrasound screening for aneuploidy. Methods Ultrasound images for patients undergoing first-trimester screening for aneuploidy from January 1, 2009, through July 31, 2009, were reviewed for IT visualization, defined as an intracranial translucency parallel to the nuchal translucency. Second-trimester ultrasounds and delivery records were reviewed for the presence of fetal ONTD. Results The IT was visualized in 74.8% of 759 gestations studied at a mean gestational age of 12 weeks, 5 days. Among gestations where the IT was visualized, we found a larger crown-rump length, lower maternal weight, and more fetuses in the supine position ( p Conclusion The IT can be visualized in the majority of patients in the standard midsagittal plane used for measurement of the nuchal translucency. Visualization is significantly associated with crown-rump length, gestational age, maternal weight, and fetal position. Visualization of the IT is feasible.
Transition temperatures of plasticized material and copolymer systems

The transition temperature, defined as the temperature where the log modulus temperature curve has an inflection point, is a linear function of the volume fraction of compatible plasticizer added to a high polymeric resin such as polyvinyl chloride. The transition temperature of plasticized compositions can be predicted from the transition temperatures of the pure polymer and plasticizer. The transition temperature of homogeneous copolymers can be predicted from the transition temperature of the individual polymerized monomers making up the copolymer. Data are presented on three copolymer systems containing vinyl chloride and on various plasticized materials.
Energy-linked and energy-independent transhydrogenase activities inEscherichia coli vesicles

Active transport vesicles of Escherichia coli were shown to possess low levels of energy-independent and energy-dependent nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase activities. Breakage of such vesicles in a French pressure cell resulted in a fraction which had an 8-10-fold increased respiration- and ATP-driven transhydrogenase activities. Stimulation of the ATPase activity in vesicles with Triton X-100 was also paralledled by a 2-fold increase in the energy-independent transhydrogenase. Disruption of the vesicles similarly resulted in increases in the energy-independent transhydrogenase, NADH and succinate oxidase activities but a decrease in succinate supported proline uptake. In the light of these findings, the "sidedness' of the vesicle membranes is discussed.
Structure and Energetics of Ionized Water Clusters: (H2O)n+, n = 2−5

Energetics and geometrical structures of neutral, (H2O)n, and ionized, (H2O)n+, water clusters, with n = 2−5, are investigated using local-spin-density functional electronic structure calculations with exchange-correlation gradient corrections. While the ground-state structures of the neutral clusters are hydrogen-bonded cyclic ones, those of the molecular ions are noncyclic. The lowest energy isomers of the ionized (H2O)n+ clusters contain a hydrazine-like fragment, (H2OOH2)+, hydrogen-bonded to the extra water molecules. Higher energy isomers of the cluster ions are based on hydrogen bonding to a disproportionated fragment, (H3O)+OH.
Joint source-channel decoder for data-centric network applications

Data-centric networks are gaining importance because of their application in several areas such as sensor networks. One of the key challenges in such networks is the resource constraint under which the nodes must operate. Under these circumstances, the trend is to shift a significant percentage of the computational burden from the individual nodes to a central decoder. The problem of error-resilient communications in data-centric networks is addressed by taking a joint source–channel decoding (JSCD) approach. This improvement in error resilience is achieved by using the source statistics at the decoder, thereby ensuring that the encoder complexity is not increased. Specifically, an optimal JSCD is designed for multiple-access source code (MASC)-encoded Markov sources. This is the first known attempt at designing a JSCD for the general case of correlated sources with memory. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed decoder outperforms the traditional MASC decoder by up to 10 dB in some cases. The results indicate that significant error resilience is possible even without using forward error-correcting codes at the encoder, which is important in encoder-resource constrained applications.
New results from performance studies of Frisch-grid CdZnTe detectors

New data regarding performance studies of Frish-grid CdZnTe (CZT) detectors are presented. The Frisch-grid detector configuration under investigation is a bar shaped CZT crystal with teh side surfaces coated with an insulating layer. A Frisch grid is fashioned by inserting the CZT bar into a metallic sleeve, or by depositing the metal directly upon the insulator; hence the semiconductor material does not come in contact with the metal grid. The simple design operates well as a single-carrier-sensitive device. Despite the simplicity of this device, its performance depends on the balanced combinations of several factors, including the bulk and surface conductivity, μτ product, and geometrical aspect ratio. Described are several effects that determine charge collection in such drift devices and, consequently, the performance of the non-contacting Frisch-grid configuration.
Progress of Nikon's F2-exposure tool development

Progress of Nikon's F2 tool development is described. Intrinsic birefringence of CaF2 reported in the middle of last year by NIST had large impact on F2 optics designing. However, we believe Nikon has already overcome it, and the imaging performance of our newest design is almost the same level to the performance without the intrinsic birefringence. Several methods to correct the intrinsic birefringence are discussed in this paper. Evaluation software for the intrinsic birefringence is also developed, and simulated performances of the newest optical designs, which correct for the intrinsic birefringence, are shown. Among them, simulated CD uniformity of 35nm width gate is a good measure to evaluate the optical design performance. We have also made a steady progress on gas purging. Purging of 02 and H20 concentration less than O.lppm and lppm respectively has been attained.
Sex differences in periodontal disease in catastrophic and attritional assemblages from medieval london

Periodontal disease is one of the most common chronic diseases in living populations, and most studies that have examined sex differences in periodontal disease have found higher frequencies in men compared to women. This study examines sex differences in periodontal disease in two cemeteries from medieval London: the East Smithfield cemetery (c. 1349-1350), an exclusively Black Death cemetery that represents catastrophic mortality (n = 161), and the St. Mary Graces cemetery (c. 1350-1538), a post-Black Death attritional assemblage that represents normal medieval mortality (n = 100). The results reveal a significantly higher frequency of periodontal disease, independent of age, among males compared with females in St. Mary Graces, but no significant difference between the sexes in East Smithfield. The sex differences in the attritional assemblage might reflect heightened susceptibility to periodontal disease in the living population or sex differences in frailty. The differences in the sex patterns of periodontal disease between the two cemeteries might be the result of disproportionately negative effects of the Great Bovine Pestilence and consequent decreases in dairy availability on female oral health among victims of the Black Death.