cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Parkinson's Disease as a Disconnection Syndrome

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a major neurodegenerative disorder that is usually considered in terms of midbrain and basal ganglia dysfunction. Regarding PD instead as a disconnection syndrome may prove beneficial to understanding aspects of cognition, perception, and other neuropsychological domains in the disease. PD is usually of unilateral onset, providing evidence of intrahemispheric dissociations and an imbalance in the usual relative strengths of the right and left hemispheres. Hence, in order to appreciate the neuropsychology of PD, it is important to apply to this disease our understanding of hemispheric lateralization effects and within-hemisphere circuitry from brainstem to higher-order association cortex. The focus of this review is on the relevance of PD-related disconnections among subcortical and cortical structures to cognition, perception, emotion, and associated brainstem-based domains such as sleep and mood disturbance. Besides providing information on disease characteristics, regarding PD as a disconnection syndrome allows us to more completely understand normal brain-behavior relations in general.
High-density multimode photonic backplane

The development of a photonic backplane for high-speed and high-bandwidth communications is presented. This hybrid, multimode, multi-channel backplane structure contains both electrical and optical interconnects, suitable for next-generation high-speed servers with terabit backplane capacity. Removable and all-passively aligned high density interconnects on this backplane are achieved by polymer based optical waveguides with integrated micro-optics and VCSEL arrays on conventional printed circuit boards. The fabrication of this photonic backplane requires few additional steps outside a traditional board-manufacturing environment and is largely compatible with existing processes.
Differentiated RNA transcription in brains of adolescent female rats following treatment with testosterone soon after birth.

Abstract 1. 1. DNA prepared from DNase-treated brain chromatin of 3·5- month-old female rats, when used in DNA-RNA hybridizations, clearly differentiated between RNA's from normal females versus neonatally androgenized females. 2. 2. Such hormone-evoked qualitative differences in chromatins and RNA's were greater in hindbrain than in forebrain preparations. 3. 3. This is taken as evidence that the single neonatal injection of testosterone produce a permanent or at least a very long-lasting change in brain transcription.
Vortex turbulence generated by second sound in superfluid 4He.

Vortex turbulence generated by high-amplitude second sound in superfluid /sup 4/He is observed. Features of the transition to turbulence are similar to those seen in dc superfluid flow experiments. The measured frequency dependence of the critical velocity agrees with the predictions of dynamic scaling theory. The measured temperature dependence is similar to that of dc counterflow.
Onboard Data Compression of Synthetic Aperture Radar Data: Status and Prospects

Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) instruments on spacecraft are capable of producing huge quantities of data. Onboard lossy data compression is commonly used to reduce the burden on the communication link. In this paper an overview is given of various SAR data compression techniques, along with an assessment of how much improvement is possible (and practical) and how to approach the problem of obtaining it. Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) instruments on spacecraft are capable of acquiring huge quantities of data. As a result, the available downlink rate and onboard storage capacity can be limiting factors in mission design for spacecraft with SAR instruments. This is true both for Earth-orbiting missions and missions to more distant targets such as Venus, Titan, and Europa. (Of course for missions beyond Earth orbit downlink rates are much lower and thus potentially much more limiting.) Typically spacecraft with SAR instruments use some form of data compression in order to reduce the storage size and/or downlink rate necessary to accommodate the SAR data. Our aim here is to give an overview of SAR data compression strategies that have been considered, and to assess the prospects for additional improvements.
The loss of personal privacy and its consequences for social research

This article chronicles more than 30 years of public opinion, politics, and law and policy on privacy and confidentiality that have had far-reaching consequences for access by the social research community to administrative and statistical records produced by government. A hostile political environment, public controversy over the decennial census long form, media coverage, and public fears about the vast accumulations of personal information by the private sector were catalysts for a recent proposal by the U.S. Bureau of the Census that would have significantly altered the contents of the 2000 census Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS). These events show clearly that science does not operate independently from the political sphere but may be transformed by a political world where powerful interests lead government agencies to assume responsibility for privacy protection that can result in reducing access to statistical data.
Tubercle bacillary extracts immunogenic for mice. 5. Specificity of tuberculo-immunity induced by trypsin extracts of tubercle bacilli.

Summary Water-soluble trypsin extract of tubercle bacilli, which in previous experiments has been demonstrated to protect mice against experimental tuberculosis as effectively as entire bacilli, is shown in the present experiments to be as specific. This extract and similar ones obtained from Myco. butyricum, Myco. smegmatis , and Myco. phlei failed to protect mice against infections with either Klebsiella pneumoniae or Diplococcus pneumoniae . Furthermore, only the extract derived from Myco. tuberculosis consistently protected mice against experimental tuberculosis, although extracts from Myco. phlei and Myco. smegmatis did so occasionally. The immunogen extractable from trypsin-digested tubercle bacilli, unlike methanol-extracted bacillary lipids which have been previously reported protective against tuberculosis as well as other kinds of bacterial infections, seems to have the same range of protective specificity as entire bacilli themselves.
Fatty acid composition of lizard tissue lipids and the effects of estradiol on serum free fatty acids.

Abstract 1. 1. Fatty acid analyses of lipids from lizard fat bodies, carcass, and blood serum were performed by GLC. 2. 2. Principal fatty acids from all three tissues were palmitate (16:0), stearate (18:0), oleate (18:1), and linoleate (18:2). 3. 3. Administration of estradiol to vitellogenic or non-vitellogenic lizards increased serum levels of non-esterified fatty acids, but had no effect on the fat body wet weights. Lizards receiving estradiol had a higher proportion of arachidonate and a lower proportion of oleate in their serum non-esterified fatty acids.
Analysis of the molecular basis of Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato resistance in tomato

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) cultivars that contain the Pto bacterial resistance locus also exhibit sensitivity to fenthion, an organophosphorous insecticide. Resistance to Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst) encoded by the Pto gene and sensitivity to fenthion cosegregate in large F2 populations and were apparently introgressed together into tomato from the wild species Lycopersion pimpinellifolium. In order to isolate the genes responsible for these two phenotypes and to study their molecular basis, a multistep map-based cloning project was initiated. A closely linked RFLP marker was used to isolate a yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) clone that spanned the Pto region. Transcribed sequences within the Pto region were identified by isolating cDNA clones that hybridized to the YAC clone. Transformation of candidate cDNA clones into a Pst-susceptible, fenthion-insensitive tomato line succeeded in identifying a cDNA conferring Pst resistance and a separate cDNA conferring sensitivity to fenthion. The cDNA clones represent members of a tandemly repeated gene family and encode putative serine-threonine protein kinases. The role of these kinases in recognizing a signal from Pst or the fenthion molecule and in activating the plant response is currently being investigated.
Effect of Tetraethylammonium Chloride on Cardiac Muscle Fiber Responses.

SummaryTetraethylammonium chloride was found to increase greatly the amplitude and duration of cardiac trabecular and Purkinje fibers. It also produced an acceleration of firing in spontaneously active Purkinje tissue and the appearance of spontaneous activity in trabecular muscle.
Motherhood in the Context of Spinal Cord Injury

This exploratory study examines the experience of motherhood in the context of spinal cord injury (SCI), utilizing data from survey measures and qualitative interviews. Based on scores on standardized measures of perceived stress and life satisfaction, 19 mothers with SCI were assigned to one of four quadrants in a 2 x 2 matrix depicting various patterns of adjustment involving high or low satisfaction with life and high or low levels of perceived stress. Content analysis of the women’s narratives further describes their social adjustment, psychological adaptation, and quality of life following SCI in connection with the role of
The URA5 gene is necessary for histoplasma capsulatum growth during infection of mouse and human cells.

The Histoplasma capsulatum URA5 gene, which has recently been cloned and disrupted by allelic replacement, encodes orotidine-5′-monophosphate pyrophosphorylase. Inactivation of URA5 by either targeted or UV mutagenesis results in disruption of the pyrimidine biosynthetic pathway and uracil auxotrophy. We examined the effect of uracil auxotrophy due to a ura5 mutation on H. capsulatum virulence in both cell culture and whole-animal models. Uracil auxotrophs of two H. capsulatum restriction fragment length polymorphism classes were found to be avirulent in cultured murine and human cells, as well as in mice. Moreover, virulence could be restored either by supplying a functional URA5 gene in trans or by supplying exogenous uracil during infection in vitro. These experiments demonstrate that the pyrimidine biosynthetic pathway is essential for H. capsulatum growth and virulence.
Raphe magnus neurons respond to noxious colorectal distension.

First published November 13, 2002; 10.1152/jn.00825.2002. Physiological studies of neurons in raphe magnus (RM) and the adjacent nucleus reticularis magnocellularis (NRMC) have demonstrated that the response to noxious cutaneous stimulation predicts the response to opioid administration and therefore a cell's functional role in nociceptive modulation. Although visceral stimulation, like opioids, elicits antinociception, little is known about how RM and NRMC cells respond to visceral stimulation. Therefore RM and NRMC cells were tested for their responses to both colorectal distension (CRD) and noxious cutaneous heat in halothane-anesthetized rats. Less than a third of serotonergic cells responded to CRD with small increases or decreases in discharge rate. In contrast, almost two-thirds of nonserotonergic cells responded to CRD stimulation with either excitatory (35%) or inhibitory (30%) responses to CRD. The response to heat did not predict the response to CRD with nearly equal proportions of heat-excited...
Lithium 2,2,6,6-Tetramethylpiperidide and Lithium 2,2,4,6,6-Pentamethylpiperidide: Influence of TMEDA and Related Chelating Ligands on the Solution Structures. Characterization of Higher Cyclic Oligomers, Cyclic Dimers, Open Dimers, and Monomers

Spectroscopic investigations of 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidide (LiTMP) and the conformationally locked (but otherwise isostructural) lithium 2,2,4,6,6-pentamethylpiperidide (LiPMP) are described. 6Li and 15N NMR spectroscopic studies of [6Li]LiPMP and [6Li,15N]LiPMP in hydrocarbon solution reveal a mixture comprised of four isomeric cyclic tetramers (C4h, D2h, C2v, and Cs) and one isomeric cyclic trimer (C3h). These results are compared with the aggregation numbers and conformational preferences of lithium 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidide (LiTMP) in the solid state studied by Lappert and co-workers. In the presence of N,N,N‘,N‘-tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA), [6Li,15N]LiPMP affords monomer and open dimer to the exclusion of solvated cyclic dimer. The open dimer undergoes a degenerate intramolecular rearrangement. Spectroscopic studies in TMEDA/THF mixtures reveal an unexpected competitive solvation and implicate the observable THF-solvated cyclic dimer to possess one THF per Li. Dimethylethylamine (a mono...
Short-term solar power prediction using an RBF neural network

This paper proposes a radial basis function (RBF) neural network-based model for short-term solar power prediction (SPP). Instead of predicting solar power directly, the model predicts transmissivity, which is then used to obtain solar power according to the extraterrestrial radiation. The proposed model uses a novel two-dimensional (2D) representation for hourly solar radiation and uses historical transmissivity, sky cover, relative humidity and wind speed as the input. Simulation studies are carried out to validate the proposed model for short-term SPP by using the data obtained from the National Solar Radiation Database (NSRDB). The performance of the RBF neural network is compared with that of two linear regression models, i.e., an autoregressive (AR) model and a local linear regression (LLR) model. Results show that the RBF neural network significantly outperforms the AR model and is better than the LLR model. Furthermore, the use of transmissivity and other meteorological variables, especially the sky cover, can significantly improve the SPP performance.
Display and Analysis of 4-D Medical Images

This paper describes the status of systems and algorithms which have been developed for the analysis of 4-D images obtained using the Dynamic Spatial Reconstructor. Current development is focused on improving the interactive capabilities of the analysis software, and on developing algorithms which are specifically tailored to 3-D images, rather than algorithms which are repeated applications of 2-D algorithms on a stack of 2-D slices.
Novel Cell-Based Hepatitis C Virus Infection Assay for Quantitative High-Throughput Screening of Anti-Hepatitis C Virus Compounds

Therapy for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has advanced with the recent approval of direct-acting antivirals in combination with peginterferon and ribavirin. New antivirals with novel targets are still needed to further improve the treatment of hepatitis C. Previously reported screening methods for HCV inhibitors either are limited to a virus-specific function or apply a screening method at a single dose, which usually leads to high false-positive or -negative rates. We developed a quantitative high-throughput screening (qHTS) assay platform with a cell-based HCV infection system. This highly sensitive assay can be miniaturized to a 1,536-well format for screening of large chemical libraries. All candidates are screened over a 7-concentration dose range to give EC50s (compound concentrations at 50% efficacy) and dose-response curves. Using this assay format, we screened a library of pharmacologically active compounds (LOPAC). Based on the profile of dose-dependent curves of HCV inhibition and cytotoxicity, 22 compounds with adequate curves and EC50s of 70% and CC50s (compound concentrations at 50% cytotoxicity) of <30 μM from these validated hits were characterized for their target stages in the HCV replication cycle. In this screen, we identified both known and novel hits with diverse structural and functional features targeting various stages of the HCV replication cycle. The pilot screen demonstrates that this assay system is highly robust and effective in identifying novel HCV inhibitors and that it can be readily applied to large-scale screening of small-molecule libraries.
Therapeutic Use of Calcimimetics

It has long been recognized that the secretion of PTH by chief cells in the parathyroid gland is regulated by extracellular ionized calcium. The molecular mechanism by which extracellular Ca2+ performs this feat was deduced by the cloning of the extracellular calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) in 1993 in the laboratories of Brown and Hebert. The CaSR is a G protein-coupled cell surface receptor that belongs to family 3 of the GPCR superfamily. The CaSR senses the extracellular ionic activity of the divalent minerals Ca2+ and Mg2+ and translates this information, via a complex array of cellular signaling pathways, to modify cell and tissue function. Genetic studies have demonstrated that the activity of this receptor determines the steady-state plasma calcium concentration in humans by regulating key elements in the calcium homeostatic system. CaSR agonists (calcimimetics) and antagonists (calcilytics) have been identified and have provided both current and potential therapies for a variety of disorders. Calcimimetics can effectively reduce PTH secretion in all forms of hyperparathyroidism. They are likely to become a major therapy for secondary hyperparathyroidism associated with renal failure and for treatment of certain patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. On the therapeutic horizon are calcilytics that can transiently increase PTH and may prove useful in the treatment of osteoporosis.
C-Reactive Protein and Cardiovascular Disease

Paul M Ridker, MD, MPH, and Nader Rifai, PhD, eds 393 pages. St-Laurent, Canada: MediEdition Inc; 2006. $68.99. ISBN 0-9780090-0-2. Few biomarkers of disease have generated as much interest, promise, and debate as C-reactive protein (CRP). CRP, a hepatically derived pentraxin, was discovered in 1930 by Rockefeller University investigators William Tillett and Thomas Francis1 in patients with pneumococcal infection. Later described as an “acute phase reactant” present in the serum of patients in a variety of inflammatory states, its first relationship to atherosclerosis was appreciated in 1943 when Gunnar Lofstrom2 demonstrated elevated levels of high-sensitivity CRP (hsCRP) after acute myocardial infarction. Although many subsequent studies documented high levels of hsCRP in patients with acute atherothrombotic states, a confirmation of its central role in predicting future myocardial infarction and stroke awaited a prospective study of the biomarker in the Physicians’ Health Study. In 1997, Ridker and colleagues3 published data confirming the importance of hsCRP in predicting future events in initially healthy men, as well as its role in influencing the beneficial effects of aspirin. This landmark report sparked further studies of nearly unequaled scope and intensity, and the measurement hsCRP was included in virtually every subsequent clinical study of vascular disease. Though now widely accepted as an important biomarker of atherosclerosis and its sequelae, the role of hsCRP in atherogenesis remains an unclear but attractive proposition. Ridker and Rifai have assembled an outstanding review of the history, development, and clinical application of hsCRP. Consisting of 24 chapters organized …
Numerical simulation and experiment of plasma flow in the electrothermal launcher SIRENS

An electrothermal plasma source (ET) may be used as a launcher by itself, or as a preinjector for electromagnetic launchers (railguns) or electrothermal-chemical (ETC) launchers. The characteristics of the injected plasma may affect the performance of the plasma armature (EMs) or the combustion process (ETCs). A 1-D, time-dependent fluid dynamics code, ODIN, has been developed to model the plasma formation and flow in the source and the barrel of the ET launcher SIRENS. The code models the energy transport, particle transport, plasma resistivity, plasma viscosity, and the equation-of-state. The measured mass ion of the ablating liner in the source section is in good agreement with predicted by the code. Comparisons between the measured and predicted pressures inside the barrel are in good agreement. >
Simple randomized parallel algorithms for finding a maximal matching in an undirected graph

The authors present simple randomized parallel algorithms for finding a maximal matching in a unidirectional graph G=(V, E) for the CRCW and CREW models. The algorithm for the CRCW model has O(log m) expected running time using m processors, where m is the number of edges in G. It is also shown that the CRCW algorithm can be implemented on a CREW PRAM (parallel random access machine). The CREW algorithm runs in O(log/sup 2/ m) time, but it requires only m/log m processors. >
Human Endogenous Retroviral Elements as Indicators of Ectopic Recombination Events in the Primate Genome

HERV elements make up a significant fraction of the human genome and, as interspersed repetitive elements, have the capacity to provide substrates for ectopic recombination and gene conversion events. To understand the extent to which these events occur and gain further insight into the complex evolutionary history of these elements in our genome, we undertook a phylogenetic study of the long terminal repeat sequences of 15 HERV-K(HML-2) elements in various primate species. This family of human endogenous retroviruses first entered the primate genome between 35 and 45 million years ago. Throughout primate evolution, these elements have undergone bursts of amplification. From this analysis, which is the largest-scale study of HERV sequence dynamics during primate evolution to date, we were able to detect intraelement gene conversion and recombination at five HERV-K loci. We also found evidence for replacement of an ancient element by another HERV-K provirus, apparently reflecting an occurrence of retroviral integration by homologous recombination. The high frequency of these events casts doubt on the accuracy of integration time estimates based only on divergence between retroelement LTRs.
Hydrothermal Coarsening of CeO2 Particles

The effects of reaction temperature (150–300 °C), chemical composition of the starting cerium salt (cerium nitrate and cerium chloride), and doping with trivalent cations (Sc3+ and Y3+) on the coarsening of CeO2 particles in dilute suspensions under hydrothermal conditions were investigated. The particle size was measured by x-ray line broadening and by transmission electron microscopy. The particle coarsening kinetics followed a parabolic law, indicating that the interfacial reaction (dissolution) was the rate-controlling step. Furthermore, the particle size distribution data can be well-described by the Lifshitz–Slyozov–Wagner theory of Ostwald ripening controlled by the interfacial reaction. Doping with 6 at.% Y3+ produced a significant reduction in the coarsening rate but almost no change in the activation energy. At the same concentration, Sc3+ was more effective than Y3+ in reducing the coarsening rate. Particles synthesized from a starting solution of cerium(III) chloride coarsened at a markedly slower rate than that for particles synthesized from cerium(III) nitrate. The mechanisms controlling the coarsening of the particles are discussed.
Tweeting the Jihad: Social Media Networks of Western Foreign Fighters in Syria and Iraq

Social media have played an essential role in the jihadists’ operational strategy in Syria and Iraq, and beyond. Twitter in particular has been used to drive communications over other social media platforms. Twitter streams from the insurgency may give the illusion of authenticity, as a spontaneous activity of a generation accustomed to using their cell phones for self-publication, but to what extent is access and content controlled? Over a period of three months, from January through March 2014, information was collected from the Twitter accounts of 59 Western-origin fighters known to be in Syria. Using a snowball method, the 59 starter accounts were used to collect data about the most popular accounts in the network-at-large. Social network analysis on the data collated about Twitter users in the Western Syria-based fighters points to the controlling role played by feeder accounts belonging to terrorist organizations in the insurgency zone, and by Europe-based organizational accounts associated with the...
On Convergence and Convolutions of Random Signed Measures

Let μn be a sequence of random finite signed measures on the locally compact group G equal to either \(\mathbb{T}^{d}\) or ℝd. We give weak conditions on the sequence μn and on functions K such that the convolution product μn*K, and its derivatives, converge in law, in probability, or almost surely in the Banach spaces \(\mathsf{C}_{0}(G)\) or Lp(G). Examples for sequences μn covered are the empirical process (possibly arising from dependent data) and also random signed measures \(\sqrt{n}(\tilde{\mathbb{P}}_{n}-\mathbb{P})\) where \(\tilde{\mathbb{P}}_{n}\) is some (nonparametric) estimator for the measure ℙ, including the usual kernel and wavelet based density estimators with MISE-optimal bandwidths. As a statistical application, we apply the results to study convolutions of density estimators.
PLASTIC ANALYSIS AND DESIGN OF STEEL PLATE SHEAR WALLS

A revised procedure for the design of steel plate shear walls is proposed. In this procedure the thickness of the infill plate is found using equations that are derived from the plastic analysis of the strip model, which is an accepted model for the representation of steel plate shear walls. Comparisons of experimentally obtained ultimate strengths of steel plate shear walls and those predicted by plastic analysis are given and reasonable agreement is observed. Fundamental plastic collapse mechanisms for several, more complex, wall configurations are also given. Additionally, an existing codified procedure for the design of steel plate walls is reviewed and a section of this procedure which could lead to designs with less-than-expected ultimate strength is identified. It is shown that the proposed procedure eliminates this possibility without changing the other valid sections of the current procedure.
Self-injury in incarcerated juvenile females: Contributions of mental health and traumatic experiences

Despite evidence supporting a connection between child maltreatment and self-injury, there is disagreement regarding a particular connection to sexual abuse because types of trauma exposure often co-occur. To examine these associations efficiently, we considered a sample of incarcerated juvenile females, where rates of both trauma exposure and self-injury would be expected to be elevated. Adolescent females (N = 220) reported on history of self-injurious behavior on the Voiced Index of Self-injurious Actions, as well as psychiatric disorder. A common set of features was associated with cutting and with self-injury in general. Both were more likely in those initiating delinquent activities when younger and in those currently meeting criteria for major depressive disorder, or with a previous suicide attempt. Adjusting for those features, report of self-injury was approximately doubled among those disclosing prior traumatic exposure that was sexual, OR = 2.66, 95% CI [1.38, 5.15], or nonsexual, OR = 2.18, 95% CI [1.17, 4.04]. Exposure to early traumatic events, such as child maltreatment, likely contributes to a set of adverse experiences, including delinquent activity, mood disorder, and self-injury. Findings contribute to work demonstrating the importance of dissociation both as a consequence of victimization and as a key feature underlying self-injurious behavior. Language: en
Case-only gene-environment interaction between ALAD tagSNPs and occupational lead exposure in prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND Black men have historically had higher blood lead levels than white men in the U.S. and have the highest incidence of prostate cancer in the world. Inorganic lead has been classified as a probable human carcinogen. Lead (Pb) inhibits delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD), a gene recently implicated in other genitourinary cancers. The ALAD enzyme is involved in the second step of heme biosynthesis and is an endogenous inhibitor of the 26S proteasome, a master system for protein degradation and a current target of cancer therapy. METHODS Using a case-only study design, we assessed potential gene–environment (G × E) interactions between lifetime occupational Pb exposure and 11 tagSNPs within ALAD in black (N = 260) and white (N = 343) prostate cancer cases. RESULTS Two ALAD tagSNPs in high linkage disequilibrium showed significant interaction with high Pb exposure among black cases (rs818684 interaction odds ratio or IOR = 2.73, 95% CI 1.43–5.22, P = 0.002; rs818689 IOR = 2.20, 95% CI 1.15–4.21, P = 0.017) and an additional tagSNP, rs2761016, showed G × E interaction with low Pb exposure (IOR = 2.08, 95% CI 1.13–3.84, P = 0.019). Further, the variant allele of rs818684 was associated with a higher Gleason grade in those with high Pb exposure among both blacks (OR 3.96, 95% CI 1.01–15.46, P = 0.048) and whites (OR 2.95, 95% CI 1.18–7.39, P = 0.020). CONCLUSIONS Genetic variation in ALAD may modify associations between Pb and prostate cancer. Additional studies of ALAD, Pb, and prostate cancer are warranted and should include black men. Prostate 74:637–646, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Cardiopulmonary bypass in infants and children: what's new?

In the early 1950s the pioneers of congenital cardiac surgery, among them Bigelow, Lewis and Gibbon, realised that hypothermia and inflow occlusion alone would not allow further advances in the field. In 1954, Lillehei introduced the technique of controlled cross circulation, where the patient’s parent functioned as the extracorporal oxygenator. Only the development of mechanical cardiopulmonary bypass circuits in the late 1950s made advanced congenital cardiac surgery possible. Since then, extracorporal perfusion circuits have come a long way: from monkey lungs, film and bubble oxygenators, to modern miniature membrane oxygenators with centrifugal pumps, vacuum-assisted venous drainage and in-line gas monitoring.1
Asymmetry of 24-Hour Intraocular Pressure Reduction by Topical Ocular Hypotensive Medications in Fellow Eyes

Purpose A core assumption for the 1-eye therapeutic trial of ocular hypotensive medications is the symmetrical reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP) in paired eyes. This assumption was evaluated for 24-hour IOP reduction in patients who underwent monotherapy or adjunctive therapy. Design Database study. Participants Patients 41 to 79 years of age with primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Methods Twenty-four-hour IOP data from the paired eyes of patients undergoing bilateral monotherapy (n = 66) of latanoprost, travoprost, timolol, or brimonidine or bilateral adjunctive therapy (n = 52) with brinzolamide or timolol added to latanoprost monotherapy were analyzed retrospectively. Measurements of IOP were obtained every 2 hours in a sleep laboratory before and after at least 4-week drug treatments. Strengths of association for single-pair IOP reductions and average IOP reductions in the paired eyes during the office-hour, diurnal, nocturnal, and 24-hour periods and in different body positions were analyzed. Main Outcome Measures Variance for the difference, percentage distribution of large absolute difference, and coefficient of determination ( r 2 ) in the paired IOP reductions. Results The standard deviations for the differences in single-pair IOP reductions from the means were larger than 2.5 mmHg for all periods and body positions under monotherapy and adjunctive therapy. Absolute differences in single-pair IOP reductions of the cutoff thresholds of 3 and 2 mmHg or more occurred in more than 20% and 36% cases, respectively. Corresponding coefficients of determination were 0.240 to 0.374 with monotherapy and 0.215 to 0.381 with adjunctive therapy. When the average differences in the paired IOP reductions were analyzed for a specific period and posture, the standard deviations for the differences in the paired IOP reductions and the percentage distributions of large absolute differences were reduced, and most coefficients of determination were improved. Conclusions There is only a weak association between the right- and left-eye responses to IOP-lowering monotherapy or adjunctive therapy during a 24-hour period when single-pair IOP data are considered. Considering the averages of multiple paired IOP responses can improve the strength of the association. Financial Disclosure(s) The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.
The role of chemokines in allergic diseases of the airways

Allergic diseases of the airways such as asthma, rhinitis and sinusitis, are characterized by numerous pathological changes, including excess mucous secretion, hypertrophy of mucous glands and smooth muscle, edema of the tissue, epithelial denudation and thickening of basement membrane. With respect to chemokine biology, however, the most relevant feature is the intense infiltration of submucosal tissue with inflammatory cells, especially eosinophils, lymphocytes, monocytes and basophils [1]. This pattern of cellular infiltration is reproduced by experimental antigen challenge with intranasal or inhaled allergens in allergic subjects. There are many points in the cascade of cellular recruitment at which chemokines could theoretically play a role. For example, selected chemokines can alter bone marrow colony formation and/or transit of inflammatory cells from bone marrow to peripheral circulation [2]. A role is also clearly established for chemokines in adhesion and transendothelial migration of various leukocytes at sites of inflammation [3]. Chemokines are implicated in the localization of eosinophils and other cells to the mucosal region immediately adjacent to the epithelium as well as in the lumen of the airways [4, 5]. Chemokines have also been implicated as regulators of angiogenesis, T-cell differentiation, and other responses which may play a role in allergic disease [6]. The focus of this review is the potential role of eosinophil-active chemokines such as eotaxin, RANTES and MCP-4 in allergic diseases, with particular emphasis on the production of these chemokines by airway epithelial cells [7].
In Pursuit of Calmer Waters: Managing the Impact of Trauma Exposure on Immigration Adjudicators

A significant percentage of noncitizens in the United States are likely to experience trauma in some form. Like a pebble skipped across a pond, or a boulder dropped into a river, this trauma not only has an effect at the point of direct impact on those noncitizens but also creates a ripple effect that spreads out from that point to touch others that it encounters in its path. While our understanding of the ripple impact of trauma could benefit greatly from additional study, existing information allows us to conclude that it affects adjudicators in the immigration process, the process itself, and the noncitizens, attorneys, and others participating in it. Response to this trauma exposure is a naturally occurring phenomenon, and is not an entirely negative occurrence. It allows those exposed indirectly to empathize with primary victims and, if managed successfully, may be a source of strength and growth for an individual. However, it can also have profoundly negative consequences for individuals and systems. For immigration adjudicators, it may manifest as oversensitivity or insensitivity, irritability or anger, hyper-arousal, lack of patience, and difficulty concentrating. Such symptoms may inappropriately affect the outcome of immigration proceedings and certainly affect the experience of noncitizens and attorneys appearing before these adjudicators.This article considers the logical next question: What can and should be done about the impact that trauma exposure has on the immigration process? As the title of this article alludes, the goal is to move towards calmer waters, to reduce the intensity and the reach of the impact of trauma on those who experience it both directly and indirectly. Stated another way, it is neither possible nor desirable to completely eliminate trauma exposure response in the immigration process. Instead, the objectives are twofold. First, we must persuade immigration adjudicators and their agencies that trauma exposure response is real and something that needs to be addressed. Second, the legal profession should explore reforms that would better manage trauma exposure response so as to have, at a minimum, a less negative impact on all participants in the immigration process.
Developing an Entrepreneurial Culture (Continued)

As discussed in Chapter 6, the world needs more entrepreneurship, but this does not happen all by itself. This is particularly true in less-developed countries where collectivistic cultures prevail, and there needs to be an outside force to catalyze the whole process. There has to be an entrepreneurial culture that is constructed deliberately above and beyond the existing general culture. The proposed entrepreneurial culture needs a favorable government or equally important outside force, and at least two institutions, as presented very briefly in Chapter 6. These are well-developed social networks and Silicon Valley facsimiles, which will be discussed in subsequent chapters. While the facsimiles generate the necessary information, the social networks pass the information on to critical elements or parts of the society where the expected entrepreneurs are more likely to be found, such as schools, universities, some select workplaces, and the like.
Congenital deafness and episodic vertigo.

Four congenitally deaf patients who developed episodic vertigo are presented. In two patients exploratory tympanotomy showed no fistulas. The clinical pattern suggests the development of endolymphatic hydrops in association with congenital deafness.
An addition theorem for someq-Hahn polynomials

Theq-Hahn polynomials appear as functions on the lattice of subspaces of a finite-dimensional vector space over a finite field. Irreducible representations of the related general linear group are restricted to a maximal parabolic subgroup, and a specific description of the resulting irreducible components leads to an addition formula.
Increased Small Bowel Epithelial Turnover in Interleukin-1 Receptor Knockout Mice

Mucosal epithelium is maintained by a balance in turnover between cell proliferation and cell death by apoptosis. Dysregulation of gut cellular turnover has been implicated in several diseases, among them the modulation of sepsis and multiorgan failure after injury, inflammatory bowel disease, and cancer. Severe cutaneous burn has been shown to cause atrophy of small bowel mucosa, 1–3 which is associated with accelerated turnover of gut epithelial cells. 4 The causes of the increased rates of cellular apoptosis and proliferation are not known. Burn injury increases expression of several cytokines, one of which is interleukin-1β (IL-1β). 5 IL-1β plays a role in both cell death and survival under appropriate conditions: 1. IL-1β pretreatment rendered glomerular mesangial cells more susceptible to apoptotic death from oxidant stress. 6 2. IL-1β induced thyrocyte apoptosis, which was blocked by the addition of Fas antibodies. 7 3. Treatment of pancreatic islet cells with a combination of IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interferon-γ increased cell death by apoptosis. 8 4. IL-1β type I receptor antagonist inhibited apoptosis in neurons and fibroblasts. 9 5. Pretreatment with mature IL-1β provided an antiapoptotic effect for induced apoptosis, which was attributed to downregulation of the receptor and thus the signal. 9 Others have shown that IL-1 is a growth factor for a variety of cells. 10,11 For example, IL-1 protects fibroblasts against TNF-mediated cell death by arresting cell cycling. 12 With these findings, we wondered whether IL-1β plays a role in gut mucosal cell turnover by influencing apoptotic cell death. Our hypothesis was that loss of the IL-1 signal would decrease gut epithelial cell apoptosis and improve cell survival. We chose to test this hypothesis in vivo in IL-1 receptor type I knockout mice.
Active-Season Dynamics of a Population of Zapus hudsonius in Michigan

Active-season dynamics of a population of Zapus hudsonius in Michigan were studied by livetrapping at weekly intervals. Population parameters were estimated using the mark-recapture model of Jolly (1965) and Seber (1965). Reproductive activity was greatest in early and mid-June and late July–early August. Survival rate estimates were lower during May and June than during subsequent months. Individual growth rates were positive during the majority of the summer but became extremely high in September and October, just prior to hibernation. We present evidence suggesting that previous categorizations of Zapus as K-strategists may not be appropriate.
Cultural Policy and Film Industry as Negotiation of Power: The Chinese State’s Role and Strategies in its Engagement with Global Hollywood 1994-2012

This article explores the global-local interplay by analyzing the changing role of the Chinese state and its evolving cultural policy during its engagement with global Hollywood from 1994 to 2012. It further investigates the impact of the state policy on the formation of a domestic film industry. Drawing on both Englishand Chinese-language sources and combining both primary and secondary empirical data, the article examines local strategies and resistance toward global Hollywood, and argues for the Chinese state’s adaptive and negotiation capability that serves to reverse the power relationship in international communication. The state employs a strategy of taking advantage of Hollywood resources to build the domestic film industry in order to promote Chinese soft power. Therefore, by weaving both market forces and global capital into the state mechanism, the Chinese state effectively reinforces its authoritarian power.
The Road to SB 1953

Just as the 1933 Field Act established standards for building new schools but ignored school buildings that were built before that date, the Alquist Hospital Facilities Seismic Safety Act of 1973 established standards for building new acute care hospitals but ignored hospital buildings that were built before it was enacted. Hospitals build before 1973 were not required to meet the seismic safety standards adopted for hospitals built subsequent to that year. And, just as in the case of school buildings, decades later, many acute care hospitals built before 1973 were still in use for their original purpose. And, just as with the case of schools built before new, more rigorous standards were enacted, efforts began to remove those old acute care hospitals from use.
Combination forecasting petroleum production based on function of fresh degree

The numerous existing methods for prediction of oil and gas production were reviewed, and a multi-model combined forecast method based on fresh degree function was developed. This method was derived from the single-model prediction technique. The fresh degree function is brought into the multi-model combined forecast method, which can effectively describe the varying trend of the data list and improve the self-adaptive recurrent algorithm and fuzzy variable weight combined forecast method to some degree. So, the improved model can not only adopt useful data of different methods but also make the weight coefficient of combined forecast being time-varying. This method has the features of high precision and high accuracy of prediction, good adaptability and simplicity of calculation.
Traumatic Avulsion of the Lower Urinary Tract in the Female Child

AbstractWe report a rare case of complete avulsion of the proximal urethra from the bladder neck and a urethrovaginal fistula secondary to blunt pelvic injury in a girl. The management consisted of a relatively simple first stage procedure, suprapubic cystostomy, followed 6 months later by transpubic repair of the defect. The child is continent and free of urethral obstruction 10 months postoperatively.
Application of Gravity Model for Restaurants in Lowndes County, Georgia

Site selection for dine-in restaurants in a competitive market is crucial to their success. Research has shown that different forms of gravity models can empirically predict the effectiveness of re...
Language and English Linguistics

How do we who speak the same language understand each other? Some undoubtedly will say that we communicate because we know the same sounds. Some may say that we communicate because we know the same words. And some may say that we communicate because we make words from the sounds and place those words in a certain order. Only those who give the last answer approach the truth of the matter.
Development of Community-Based Workshops for Mexican-Origin Rural, Low-Income Study Participants

The current paper documents the process of developing community-based psychoeducational workshops to engage community members and increase acceptability of the research team within a childhood obesity comparison site. The development and adaptation of the workshops followed methods of cultural adaptation and ecological validity (Domenech Rodriguez & Wieling, 2004; Bernal, Bonilla, & Bellido, 1995). The research supports the idea that culturally responsive approaches can engage community members and increase the acceptability of researchers in the community. Keywords: community-based research, cultural adaptations
Adolescent male sexuality.

Adolescence is a transition period between childhood and adulthood. During this time the body develops into an adult and reproductively mature body. For many adolescents it is the time of completion of high school finding first jobs leaving home and beginning college. It is a stage to discover and establish an identity independent of the family. It is a time of exploration of romantic relationships including the initiation of sexual relations. All adolescents are sexual beings whether they are sexually active or not. Adolescents are often sexually active—a fact supported by data from many developed countries. Most adolescent males have their first sexual experience during their teenage years. Health care providers are not always comfortable addressing their sexual activity however. Only one third of adolescent males report talking with their clinician about a reproductive health topic. It is essential for health care providers caring for adolescents to understand male sexuality during the teenage period. This article provides an overview of heterosexual adolescent male sexuality. Another article in this issue gives an overview of gay bisexual and questioning youth. (authors)
Confidence intervals through sequential Monte Carlo

Usually, confidence intervals are built through inversion of a hypothesis test. When the analytical shape of the test statistic distribution is unknown, Monte Carlo simulation can be used to construct the interval. In this direction, a sequential Monte Carlo method for interval estimation is introduced. The method produces intervals with guaranteed confidence coefficients. Because in practice one always needs to establish a truncation on the number of simulations, a simple rule of thumb is offered for choosing the number of simulations as a function of desired upper bounds for the coverage probability. As a novelty in the literature, the sequential Monte Carlo method presents equivalence with the conventional Monte Carlo test. In terms of performance, the superiority of the proposed method is illustrated for two different problems, estimation of gamma distribution means, and estimation of population sizes based on mark-recapture sampling. An example of application for real data is offered for relative risk estimation following the circular spatial scan test.
Dystonia and Partial Cytochrome B Deficiency

An 18 year old female with idiopathic torsion dystonia associated with mitochondrial encephalomyopathy is reported from the Departments of Neurology, Pediatrics and Biochemistry, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan.