cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Placental Glucose Uptake in a Nonhuman Primate Model of Western-Style Diet Consumption and Chronic Hyperandrogenemia Exposure

We reported that consumption of a western-style diet (WSD) with and without hyperandrogenemia perturbed placental perfusion and altered levels of glucose transporter proteins in rhesus macaques. Based on that result, we hypothesized that placental glucose uptake would be dysregulated in this model. In this study, female rhesus macaques were assigned at puberty to one of four groups: subcutaneous cholesterol implants + standard chow diet (controls, C); testosterone implants + chow (T); cholesterol implants + a high-fat, WSD; and T+WSD. After ~6 years of treatment, animals were mated, and pregnancies were delivered by cesarean section at gestational day (G) 130 (the term is G168). Placental villous explants were immediately prepared for radiolabeled glucose assay. Linear glucose uptake was observed between 0 and 30 s. At 20 s, glucose uptake in placental villous explants did not differ across the four treatment groups with values as follows: C: 25.5 ± 6.33, T: 22.9 ± 0.404, WSD: 26.9.0 ± 3.71, and T+WSD: 33.0 ± 3.12 (mean ± SD expressed in pmol/mg). Unlike our prior experiment, glucose transporter expression was reduced in WSD placentas, and our in vitro functional assay did not demonstrate a difference in glucose uptake across the transporting epithelium of the placenta. Notably, maternal blood glucose levels were significantly elevated in animals chronically fed a WSD. This disparity may indicate differences in glucose utilization and metabolism by the placenta itself, as glucose transporter expression and circulating fetal glucose concentrations were comparable across all four groups in this pregnancy cohort.
Urban residential tree canopy and perceived stress among pregnant women

Abstract Objective To examine the association of urban residential tree canopy cover with perceived stress in a cohort of pregnant women in Philadelphia, PA, and explore whether this association differed among participants with a history of anxiety and depression. Study design We performed a secondary analysis of 1294 participants of the Motherhood & Microbiome (MM among participants with a history of depression or anxiety, each standard deviation increase in tree canopy cover was associated with lower PSS-14 in 100 m buffers (β −1.0, 95% CI -1.8, −0.2), but not among participants with no histories of depression or anxiety (β 0.2, 95% CI -0.3, 0.7) (interaction P = 0.007). Results were similar in directionality but not statistically significant within 500 m buffers. Conclusion Residential tree canopy coverage was associated with reduced perceived stress among urban-dwelling pregnant women with history of anxiety or depression. Future studies of the effects of greenness and other stress-reducing efforts should consider underlying mental health conditions as effect modifiers.
A poly(ethylene glycol) three-dimensional bone marrow hydrogel

Abstract Three-dimensional (3D) hydrogels made from synthetic polymers have emerged as in vitro cell culture platforms capable of representing the extracellular geometry, modulus, and water content of tissues in a tunable fashion. Hydrogels made from these otherwise non-bioactive polymers can be decorated with short peptides derived from proteins naturally found in tissues to support cell viability and direct phenotype. We identified two key limitations that limit the ability of this class of materials to recapitulate real tissue. First, these environments typically display between 1 and 3 bioactive peptides, which vastly underrepresents the diversity of proteins found in the extracellular matrix (ECM) of real tissues. Second, peptides chosen are ubiquitous in ECM and not derived from proteins found in specific tissues, per se. To overcome this critical limitation in hydrogel design and functionality, we developed an approach to incorporate the complex and specific protein signature of bone marrow into a poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogel. This bone marrow hydrogel mimics the elasticity of marrow and has 20 bone marrow-specific and cell-instructive peptides. We propose this tissue-centric approach as the next generation of 3D hydrogel design for applications in tissue engineering and beyond.
Endovaginal Imaging of Pelvic Floor Cysts and Masses

The purpose of this chapter is to describe the 3D endovaginal ultrasonography utility in the assessment of pelvic floor cysts and masses. In order to visualize the structures that are located in or lateral to the vaginal canal, 3D endovaginal ultrasound technique is described. This special technique has the advantage of evaluating the anatomical relationship of any pathology in the vagina.
Explaining Changes to Rights Litigation: Testing a Multivariate Model in a Comparative Framework

Why do we witness variation in the level of judicial attention to rights litigation across countries and over time? Traditional explanations emphasize the constitutional recognition of rights, judicial leadership, and the development in society of a sophisticated “support structure for legal mobilization,” as key covariates of these phenomena. Yet, there is a dearth of quantitative empirical analyses that evaluate these explanations comparatively and actually test their relative influence on trends of rights litigation and protection. Perhaps the most important lacuna in this regard is an assessment of the influence of institutional conditions and modifications in bringing about or facilitating the transformation of the rights scene. To contribute to closing this gap, this article empirically assesses the short and long term impacts of ideology, support structure, and institutional protection on changes in the presence of rights litigation in the dockets of the High Courts of several democracies with Comm...
Autoimmunity versus horror autotoxicus: the struggle for recognition.

Historical insight: Paul Ehrlich's dictum of horror autotoxicus and the changing orientation of the field inhibited acceptance of the reality of autoimmune disease.
Efficient development and implementation of an integrated first year engineering curriculum

In September 1998, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (USA) began a pilot version of a fully integrated first year engineering curriculum totaling 31 credits. The new curriculum is cost-effective and has a high probability of successfully improving the learning of engineering freshmen as well as their retention. This paper outlines strategies that brought the new curriculum efficiently into being and helped to assure its success. Many of these were learned by studying work done in the NSF-sponsored Foundation Coalition as well as at other schools. Where possible, they have built on the best work of those who have already developed successful, innovative teaching methods and curricula. The paper briefly outlines the courses and teaching methodology in the new integrated curriculum. It also describes the studio classroom and equipment that have been optimized for hands-on, technology-assisted learning.
Pioneers 10 and 11 deep space missions

Pioneers 10 and 11 were launched from earth, 2 March 1972, and 5 April 1973, respectively. The Pioneers were the first spacecraft to explore the asteroid belt and the first to encounter the giant planets, Jupiter and Saturn. The Pioneer 10 spacecraft is now the most distant man-made object in our solar system and is farther from the sun than all nine planets. It is 47 AU from the sun and is moving in a direction opposite to that of the sun's motion through the galaxy. Pioneer 11 is 28 AU from the sun and is traveling in the direction opposite of Pioneer 10, in the same direction as the sun moves in the galaxy. These two Pioneer spacecraft provided the first large-scale, in-situ measurements of the gas and dust surrounding a star, the sun. Since launch, the Pioneers have measured large-scale properties of the heliosphere during more than one complete 11-year solar sunspot cycle, and have measured the properties of the expanding solar atmosphere, the transport of cosmic rays into the heliosphere, and the high-energy trapped radiation belts and magnetic fields associated with the planets Jupiter and Saturn. Accurate Doppler tracking of these spin-stabilized spacecraft was used to search for differential gravitational forces from a possible trans-Neptunian planet and to search for gravitational radiation. Future objectives of the Pioneer 10 and 11 missions are to continue measuring the large-scale properties of the heliosphere and to search for its boundary with interstellar space.
Novel Espin Actin-Bundling Proteins Are Localized to Purkinje Cell Dendritic Spines and Bind the Src Homology 3 Adapter Protein Insulin Receptor Substrate p53

We identified a group of actin-binding–bundling proteins that are expressed in cerebellar Purkinje cells (PCs) but are not detected in other neurons of the CNS. These proteins are novel isoforms of the actin-bundling protein espin that arise through the use of a unique site for transcriptional initiation and differential splicing. Light and electron microscopic localization studies demonstrated that these espin isoforms are enriched in the dendritic spines of PCs. They were detected in the head and neck and in association with the postsynaptic density (PSD) of dendritic spines in synaptic contact with parallel or climbing fibers. They were also highly enriched in PSD fractions isolated from cerebellum. The PC espins efficiently bound and bundled actin filaments in vitro , and these activities were not inhibited by Ca 2+ . When expressed in transfected neuronal cell lines, the PC espins colocalized with actin filaments and elicited the formation of coarse cytoplasmic actin bundles. The insulin receptor substrate p53 (IRSp53), an Src homology 3 (SH3) adapter protein and regulator of the actin cytoskeleton, was identified as an espin-binding protein in yeast two-hybrid screens. Cotransfection studies and pull-down assays showed that this interaction was direct and required the N-terminal proline-rich peptide of the PC espins. Thus, the PC espins exhibit the properties of modular actin-bundling proteins with the potential to influence the organization and dynamics of the actin cytoskeleton in PC dendritic spines and to participate in multiprotein complexes involving SH3 domain-containing proteins, such as IRSp53.
Abscesos tuberculosos hepáticos en pacientes con síndrome de inmunodeficiencia adquirida (SIDA).

We report a AIDS patient with the diagnosis of tuberculous liver abscess. We describe and compare our case with another seven patients reported in the medical literature since AIDS epidemic began. We reviewed the clinical presentations (usually fever and abdominal pain), the diagnositic tests (CT Scanguided needle aspiration or ultrasound) and the outcomes of the treatments. Also we did a review of the current literature available of the types of hepatic compromise related with Mycobacteriun tuberculosis in AIDS patients.
Hypophosphatemia in cats after renal transplantation.

Objective— To report the prevalence of hypophosphatemia after renal transplantation in a historical cohort of cats. Design— Case series. Animals— Cats (n=86) that received a renal allograft. Methods— Medical records (January 200–June 2006) were reviewed. Signalment, clinical signs, pre- and postoperative diet, pre- and postoperative clinicopathologic variables, renal histopathology, and outcome were retrieved. Prevalence, onset, duration, treatment and associated clinical signs of hypophosphatemia were recorded. A χ2 test was used to compare hemolysis frequency between cats with normal serum phosphorus concentration or a single spurious low serum phosphorus concentration for 24 hours (group 2). A Cox proportional hazards model was used to evaluate the effects of hypophosphatemia on survival while controlling for other potentially confounding variables (age, sex, weight, body condition score, and pre- and 24 hours postoperative clinicopathologic variables). Results— Eighty-six cats (mean age, 7.7 years) were identified. Hypophosphatemia occurred in 32 cats (37%), with a median onset of 2 days and median duration of 4 days. Treatment was initiated in 48 (56%) of hypophosphatemic cats. Survival and hemolysis frequency was not significantly different between groups, and no risk factors were identified. Conclusion— Hypophosphatemia occurs in cats after renal transplantation and does not affect survival. Clinical Relevance— The clinical importance of hypophosphatemia in renal transplant recipients remains unknown.
Multivariate Fusion of EEG and Functional MRI Data Using ICA: Algorithm Choice and Performance Analysis

It has become common for neurological studies to gather data from multiple modalities, since the modalities examine complementary aspects of neural activity. Functional magnetic resonance imaging fMRI and electroencephalogram EEG data, in particular, enable the study of functional changes within the brain at different temporal and spatial scales; hence their fusion has received much attention. Joint independent component analysis jICA enables symmetric and fully multivariate fusion of these modalities and is thus one of the most widely used methods. In its application to jICA, Infomax has been the widely used, however the relative performance of Infomax is rarely shown on real neurological data, since the ground truth is not known. We propose the use of number of voxels in physically meaningful masks and statistical significance to assess algorithm performance of ICA for jICA on real data and show that entropy bound minimization EBM provides a more attractive solution for jICA of EEG and fMRI.
Antiviral Activity of an Ether-Extracted Nonviable Preparation of Brucella abortus

Extraction of living Brucella abortus (strain 456) with aqueous ether yielded a nonviable, insoluble residue (Bru-Pel). When injected into mice, Bru-Pel was an effective, nontoxic interferon stimulus. Mice pretreated with Bru-Pel were protected against challenge with otherwise lethal doses of Semliki Forest virus. Significant protection was afforded when Bru-Pel was given as many as 7 days before virus challenge. Evidence is presented dealing with the complex nature of Bru-Pel and with the possibility that the antiviral activity of Bru-Pel may be associated not only with the production of interferon, but with a general increase in the level of nonspecific resistance in animals.
Body Dissatisfaction in a Diverse Sample of Young Men Who Have Sex With Men: The P18 Cohort Study

Young men who have sex with men (YMSM) may be at greater risk for body dissatisfaction, compared to their heterosexual peers. However, differences within YMSM populations are understudied, precluding the identification of YMSM who are at greatest risk. This study examined body dissatisfaction in a racially/ethnically diverse sample of YMSM ages 18–19 in New York City. Using cross-sectional data from the baseline visit of a longitudinal cohort study of YMSM (N = 591), body dissatisfaction was assessed using the Male Body Attitudes Scale. Three outcomes were modeled using linear regression: (1) overall body dissatisfaction, (2) muscularity dissatisfaction, and (3) body fat dissatisfaction. Covariates in the models included race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, BMI, gay community affiliation, and internalized homonegativity. White YMSM experienced greater body dissatisfaction across the three models. Internalized homonegativity was a statistically significant predictor of dissatisfaction across the three models, though its association with body dissatisfaction was relatively small. The findings point to future avenues of research, particularly qualitative research to explore demographic and cultural nuances in body attitudes among YMSM.
H. S. Sullivan and His Contribution to the Relational School

Harry Stack Sullivan’s contributions to the interpersonal school foreshadowed much of relational theory and practice today. His key ideas included consensual validation, dissociation, anxiety, a developmental theory about the need for others, and also practice techniques including empathy and a detailed inquiry into understanding clients. These are discussed as they relate to current relational and intersubjective practice including how the therapist and client always shape each other. Ideas from relational and intersubjective practice are discussed in light of Sullivan’s contributions.
INTERGENERATIONAL SOCIAL MOBILITY IN LATIN AMERICA: A REVIEW OF EXISTING EVIDENCE

This article reviews evidence on intergenerational social mobility in Latin America. Results indicate that mobility is low in the region, even when compared with the United States and United Kingdom, which rank low on social mobility. The evidence also suggests high levels of immobility at the income distribution’s lower and upper tails. While intergenerational education mobility have improved in recent decades, which may increase income mobility for younger cohorts, overall the region still presents lower intergenerational social mobility. Previous studies suggest that these results might be associated to social exclusion, low access to higher education, and labor market discrimination.
Incidence of breast cancer in a cohort of 5,135 transgender veterans

Transgender (TG) persons often receive, or self-treat, with cross-sex hormone (CSH) treatments as part of their treatment plans, with little known about their incidence of breast cancer. This information gap can lead to disparities in the provision of transgender health care. The purpose of the study was to examine the incidence of breast cancer in the largest North American sample of TG patients studied to date to determine their exposure to CSH, incidence of breast cancer, and to compare results with European studies in transsexual populations. We used Veterans Health Administration (VHA) data from 5,135 TG veterans in the United States from 1996 to 2013 to determine the incidence of breast cancer in this population. Chart reviews were completed on all patients who developed breast cancer. Age-standardized incidences of breast cancer from the general population were used for comparison. Person-years of exposure to known CSH treatment were calculated. Ten breast cancer cases were confirmed. Seven were in female-to-male patients, two in male-to-female patients, and one in a natal male with transvestic fetishism. Average age at diagnosis was 63.8 (SD = 8.2). 52 % received >1 dose of CSH treatment from VHA clinicians. All three males presented with late-stage disease were proved fatal. The overall incidence rate was 20.0/100,000 patient-years of VHA treatment (95 % CI 9.6–36.8), irrespective of VA CSH treatment. This rate did not differ from the expected rate in an age-standardized national sample, but exceeded that reported for smaller European studies of transsexual patients that were longer in duration. Although definitive conclusions cannot be made regarding breast cancer incidence in TG veterans who did or did not receive VA CSH due to the sample size and duration of observation, it appears that TG veterans do not display an increase in breast cancer incidence. This is consistent with European studies of longer duration that conclude that CSH treatment in gender dysphoric patients of either birth sex does not result in a greater incidence than the general population.
Linearly polarized ‘fine structure’ of the bright exciton state in individual CdSe nanocrystal quantum dots

We report polarization-resolved, low-temperature, high-spectral-resolution studies of the photoluminescence from individual CdSe nanocrystal quantum dots (NQDs). The spectra reveal a `fine structure' splitting of the bright exciton state in a subset of the studied NQDs. The two fine structure states are spectrally separated by an energy of up to $3\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{meV}$ depending on NQD size and are characterized by linearly (and orthogonally) polarized emission dipoles. The average splitting scales approximately with inverse NQD volume, consistent with an anisotropic electron-hole exchange interaction which can result from a breakdown of cylindrical symmetry in some of the NQDs.
Site-specific cleavage of the transactivation response site of human immunodeficiency virus RNA with a tat-based chemical nuclease.

Abstract tat, an essential transactivator of gene transcription in the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), is believed to activate viral gene expression by binding to the transactivation response (TAR) site located at the 5' end of all viral mRNAs. The TAR element forms a stem-loop structure containing a 3-nucleotide bulge that is the site for tat binding and is required for transactivation. Here we report the synthesis of a site-specific chemical ribonuclease based on the TAR binding domain of the HIV type 1 (HIV-1) tat. A peptide consisting of this 24-amino acid domain plus an additional C-terminal cysteine residue was chemically synthesized and covalently linked to 1,10-phenanthroline at the cysteine residue. The modified peptide binds to TAR sequences of both HIV-1 and HIV-2 and, in the presence of cupric ions and a reducing agent, cleaves these RNAs at specific sites. Cleavage sites on TAR sequences are consistent with peptide binding to the 3-nucleotide bulge, and the relative displacement of cleavage sites on the two strands suggests peptide binding to the major groove of the RNA. These results and existing evidence of the rapid cellular uptake of tat-derived peptides suggest that chemical nucleases based on tat may be useful for inactivating HIV mRNA in vivo.
The Use of Targeted Temperature Management for Elevated Intracranial Pressure

The use of hypothermia for treatment of intracranial hypertension is controversial, despite no other medical therapy demonstrating consistent improvements in morbidity or mortality. Much of this may be the result of negative results from randomized controlled trials. However, the patients selected for these trials may have obscured the results in the populations most likely to benefit. Further, brain injury does not behave uniformly, not even within a diagnosis. Therefore, therapies may have more benefit in some diseases, less in others. This review focuses on the effect on outcome of intracranial hypertension in common disease processes in the neurocritical care unit, and identifies who is most likely to benefit from the use of hypothermia.
Eating the enemy within: autophagy in infectious diseases

Autophagy is emerging as a central component of antimicrobial host defense against diverse viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections. In addition to pathogen degradation, autophagy has other functions during infection such as innate and adaptive immune activation. As an important host defense pathway, microbes have also evolved mechanisms to evade, subvert, or exploit autophagy. Additionally, some fungal pathogens harness autophagy within their own cells to promote pathogenesis. This review will highlight our current understanding of autophagy in infection, focusing on the most recent advances in the field, and will discuss the potential implications of these studies in the design of anti-infective therapeutics.
Procedure For Camera Calibration With Image Sequences

A procedure for calibration of the stereo camera transform is described which uses a variable projection minimization algorithm, applied to an error function whose dependence on the five camera model parameters is separable into linear and non-linear components. The result is a non-linear minimization over three variables rather than five. The procedure has been implemented in MACLISP, with good preliminary results.
Evaluation of fasting plasma insulin concentration as an estimate of insulin action in nondiabetic individuals: comparison with the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR)

Insulin-mediated glucose disposal varies severalfold in apparently healthy individuals, and approximately one-third of the most insulin resistant of these individuals is at increased risk to develop various adverse clinical syndromes. Since direct measurements of insulin sensitivity are not practical in a clinical setting, several surrogate estimates of insulin action have been proposed, including fasting plasma insulin (FPI) concentration and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) calculated by a formula employing fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and FPI concentrations. The objective of this study was to compare FPI as an estimate of insulin-mediated glucose disposal with values generated by HOMA-IR in 758 apparently healthy nondiabetic individuals. Measurements were made of FPG, FPI, triglyceride (TG), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations, and insulin-mediated glucose uptake was quantified by determining steady-state plasma glucose (SSPG) concentration during the insulin suppression test. FPI and HOMA-IR were highly correlated (r = 0.98, P < 0.001). The SSPG concentration also correlated to a similar degree (P < 0.001) with FPI (r = 0.60) and HOMA-IR (r = 0.64). Furthermore, the relationship between FPI and TG (r = 0.35) and HDL-C (r = −0.40) was comparable to that between HOMA-IR and TG (r = 0.39) and HDL-C (r = −0.41). In conclusion, FPI and HOMA-IR are highly correlated in nondiabetic individuals, with each estimate accounting for ~40 % of the variability (variance) in a direct measure of insulin-mediated glucose disposal. Calculation of HOMA-IR does not provide a better surrogate estimate of insulin action, or of its associated dyslipidemia, than measurement of FPI.
161 PULMONARY ARTERY BANDING AS PRIMARY THERAPY FOR COMPLETE ATRIO-VENTRICULAR CANAL

Due to the high mortality of early primary correction twenty-five children with complete atrio-ventricular canal less than one year of age have had pulmonary artery (PA) banding during the last twelve years. All patients had congestive heart failure with PA pressure equal to systemic, and a large ventricular septal defect on angiography. Banding was performed at 7 weeks to 11 months of age. Nineteen were less than 6 months of age at surgery. Seventeen of 25 had Trisomy 21. Early mortality (under 30 days) was 20% and total mortality 40% for the series. Three of the older survivors have had open correction, two successfully. Since 1973 there has been 92% early survival (11/12) and 83% total survival. During this period PA and aortic pressures have been measured post-banding in the operating room with PA pressure aimed at 50% of systemic. Banding has been performed without regard to the angiographic degree of mitral regurgitation (MR). Six of 9 patients without MR have survived, but 6 of 9 with moderate or severe MR have also survived. Degree of MR also failed to correlate with age of presentation. Pulmonary artery banding is effective palliation for infants with congestive heart failure due to complete atrio-ventricular canal when a large ventricular component causes systemic PA pressure. Intraoperative pressure measurements are useful to determine the gradient from banding. Mitral regurgitation was not a factor in the success of banding.
Epitaxial ferroelectric oxides on semiconductors- A route towards negative capacitance devices

Graphical abstractDisplay Omitted Single crystal ferroelectric oxides were grown on both Si and GaAs.Molecular beam epitaxy of BaTiO3 using molecular oxygen.STEM reveals oxide/GaAs interface is more stable to reaction with diffused oxygen.PFM and PFS measurements demonstrate ferroelectricity on both Si and GaAs substrates. Epitaxial ferroelectric BaTiO3 layers were deposited on both Si and compound semiconductor substrates using molecular beam epitaxy. The films were grown using molecular oxygen and were found to be c-axis oriented as determined from X-ray diffraction measurements. High resolution transmission electron microscopy indicated the interface between the oxide and GaAs is free of structural defects while a thick layer of amorphous SiO2 layer is present at the interface of the oxide and Si. Ferroelectric properties of the BaTiO3 films were measured using piezoresponse force microscopy and spectroscopy. The BTO films show a piezoresponse amplitude ~5pm/V, and a coercive voltage of Vc=1-2V with an as-grown polarization along the growth direction consistent with TEM observations.
Maximum-likelihood estimation for constrained- or missing-data models

Abstract : In statistical models involving constrained or missing data, likelihoods constrained integrals emerge. In the case of both constrained and missing data, the result is a ratio of integrals, which for multivariate data may defy exact or approximate analytic expression. Seeking maximum likelihood estimates in such setting, we propose Monte Carlo approximants for these integrals, and subsequently maximize the resulting approximate likelihood. Iteration of this strategy expedites the maximization, while the Gibbs sampler is useful for the required Monte Carlo generation. As a result, we handle a class of models broader than the customary EM setting without using an EM-type algorithm. Implementation of the methodology is illustrated in two numerical examples. EM Algorithm, Gibbs sampler, Monte Carlo approximant.
Joint X-ray and neutron refinement of the structure of superconducting YBa~2~Cu~3~O~7-x~: precision structure, anisotropic thermal parameters, strain and cation disorder

X-ray and neutron powder diffraction data for superconducting orthorhombic ${\mathrm{YBa}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{7\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{x}}$ have been used in a joint refinement to give a room-temperature structure which includes a very precise set of atom positions and thermal-motion parameters. Broadening of the diffraction peaks indicates that these materials are highly strained, and contrary to a number of suggestions in the literature, no evidence is found for any cation disorder.
Prostaglandin synthesis in rabbit renal medulla.

Prostaglandin (PG) synthesis in rabbit renal medullary homogenates was investigated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry utilizing two internal standards. The internal standards were added immediately after homogenization to an aliquot of the fresh homogenate. Another aliquot of the homogenate was incubated and subsequently the internal standards were added. The internal standards were 3,3,4,4 tetradeutero PGE2(d4-PGE2) for quantification of PGE2, the PGA1 for quantification of PGA2 and 3,3,4,4 tetradeutero PGA2, the latter representing an invitro dehydration product of d4-PGE2 generated during work up of the samples. In 6 experiments on 6 rabbits levels of PGE2 were 4.4 ± 1.6 μg/g (mean ± SD) renal medulla increasing during incubation to 14.95 ± 6.5 μg/g (p < 0.01) PGA2 levels were 0.03 ± 0.02 μg/g in the non-incubated samples and did not increase during incubation. When PGA2 levels were corrected for the amount of PGA2 formed by in virto dehydration from PGE2 as measured by the amount of d4-PGE2 dehydrated to d4-PGA2 during workup, PGA2 levels were indistinguishable from zero.
Simplifying Hill-based muscle models through generalized extensible fuzzy heuristic implementation

Traditional dynamic muscle models based on work initially published by A. V. Hill in 1938 often rely on high-order systems of differential equations. While such models are very accurate and effective, they do not typically lend themselves to modification by clinicians who are unfamiliar with biomedical engineering and advanced mathematics. However, it is possible to develop a fuzzy heuristic implementation of a Hill-based model-the Fuzzy Logic Implemented HIll-based (FLIHI) muscle model-that offers several advantages over conventional state equation approaches. Because a fuzzy system is oriented by design to describe a model in linguistics rather than ordinary differential equation-based mathematics, the resulting fuzzy model can be more readily modified and extended by medical practitioners . It also stands to reason that a well-designed fuzzy inference system can be implemented with a degree of generalizability not often encountered in traditional state space models. Taking electromyogram (EMG) as one input to muscle, FLIHI is tantamount to a fuzzy EMG-to-muscle force estimator that captures dynamic muscle properties while providing robustness to partial or noisy data. One goal behind this approach is to encourage clinicians to rely on the model rather than assuming that muscle force as an output maps directly to smoothed EMG as an input. FLIHI's force estimate is more accurate than assuming force equal to smoothed EMG because FLIHI provides a transfer function that accounts for muscle's inherent nonlinearity . Furthermore, employing fuzzy logic should provide FLIHI with improved robustness over traditional mathematical approaches.
A Comparison of Intracapsular and Extracapsular Lens Extraction Combined with Keratoplasty

Abstract The clinical outcome and final visual acuities of 29 patients with intracapsular lens extraction and keratoplasty to 38 patients having extracapsular cataract extraction and keratoplasty were compared. Grafts remained clear in 89% of the intracapsular group and 82% of the extracapsular group over an average follow-up of 38 months and 21 months, respectively. Ninetyone percent of eyes with intracapsular lens extraction and 70% of eyes in the extracapsular group achieved a final visual acuity of 6/21 (20/70) or better. We found a significantly higher incidence of additional surgery in the extracapsular group and glaucoma in intracapsular combined cases. Late vitreous prolapse with vitreo-endothelial membrane formation and graft decompensation was a discouraging complication in three eyes having intracapsular extractions.
Substrate pathways demonstrated by transplanted mauthner axons

A substrate pathway is a set of aligned guidance cues. (Such cues may be either cells or molecules.) CNS substrate pathways can be demonstrated by transplanting axons to different starting locations. The stereotyped routes of transplanted axons will then demonstrate the locations of effective substrate pathways. To map CNS substrate pathways, Mauthner axons were transplanted to various unnatural locations along the CNS of Xenopus embryos. The routes of 24 experimental Mauthner axons were traced. Twenty-one of these axons grew along parts of a stereotyped route extending in the ventral marginal zone from the caudal diencephalon through the spinal cord. This ventral substrate pathway ran the length of the basal plate; thus, we call it a basal substrate pathway. One experimental Mauthner axon grew along the alar substrate pathway previously demonstrated by transplanted optic axons. The demonstrations of the alar and the basal substrate pathways suggest that during development a few long substrate pathways organize the overall layout of the long tracts of the CNS. We propose that the pattern of the earliest CNS substrate pathways is established in the neural plate and is topologically preserved as the neural plate rolls into a neural tube. This pattern may be manifest as the three-dimensional organization of the early marginal zones formed by the peripheral processes (the endfeet) of certain developing ependyma and radial glia. Subsequently, the detailed anatomy of the axon tracts and the specific terminations of individual axons are probably determined by other local chemical cues.
Transposition: orthodontic treatment

A treatment plan is given for transposed maxillary cuspids and first bicuspids. Heredity may play a role in the occurrence of transposed teeth, congenitally missing teeth, and peg-shaped lateral incisors. Cases of a father, three sons, and a paternal cousin were compared. All were treated with bonded plastic brackets on the anterior teeth using an edgewise appliance. Diagnosis and orthodontic procedures for treatment of dental transposition are given.
OFF-PEAK ABSORPTION MEASUREMENTS IN FEULGEN CYTOPHOTOMETRY.

The use of off-peak measurements in Feulgen cytophotometry is reported, using intact diploid (x) and tetraploid (y) nuclei of the human anterior pituitary gland as the experimental model studied. Results indicate that the ratio y/x is similar at the 14 wavelengths examined over the range 450 mµ to 650 mµ. The value of this ratio was 1.95, falling slightly under the theoretical ratio of 2.0. It was concluded that off-peak absorption measurements are of value in Feulgen cytophotometry. A discussion of the possible justification of off-peak absorption measurements was presented for the case in which the Beer-Lambert relationship was experimentally determined to be followed at a peak wavelength, for all concentrations under discussion, and the curves preceding and/or following the peaks were straight lines coming from a common point. If the curve best fitting the data is a straight line, it follows that the rate of change of absorbance with respect to a linear wavelength scale is constant. This means that for a given increase, or decrease, in wavelength, the same change in absorbance is obtained. From this it follows that absorbance readings at any wavelength in such a region will be equally valid to those taken at the peak. While the finding of such a linear relationship at several concentrations does not guarantee that it will occur at all other concentrations, it is suggestive. The closer the spectra approximate straight lines, the more valid does the use of off-peak measurements become.
On the response of rubbers at high strain rates—III. Effect of hysteresis

Abstract In this series of papers, we examine the propagation of waves of finite deformation in rubbers through experiments and analysis; in the present paper, Part III, the effect of hysteretic material behavior on the free retraction of prestretched rubber is considered. A rubber strip stretched to many times its initial length is released at one end and the resulting unloading is examined. A high-speed video camera was used to monitor the motion and to determine the evolution of strain and particle velocity in rubber strips. Simple waves as well as shock waves are observed in these unloading experiments. The measurements are modeled using a power-law model of the material behavior. The hysteretic material response and the formation of shocks are characterized.
Climatic variation and implications for world food production

Abstract The authors of this paper show, based on some examples from climatic history, that climate can change rapidly and that these changes can have drastic effects on world food production, as well as on other aspects of economic and cultural life. The historical examples are the Arctic expansions of around 1900 B.C. and A.D. 1200. The authors also describe a presently occuring Arctic expansion and its world-wide effects on climate to date. This changing situation poses certain questions for those countries which continue to have the capacity to increase their food production. The authors propose that a world food policy should be devised to pre-empt world food shortages and/or to deal with such situations when they occur.
Bioaccumulation of toxicants in the zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha, at the Times Beach Confined Disposal Facility, Buffalo, New York.

Abstract This study consisted of a site characterization followed by biomonitoring the zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha, at the Times Beach Confined Disposal Facility (CDF), located in Buffalo, New York. Concentrations of selected contaminants, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and metals —arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), barium (Ba), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), selenium (Se) and silver (Ag)—were at or below detection limits in the water column. Sediment contaminant concentrations, recorded as dry weight, were as high as 549 mg/kg for total PAHs, 9 mg/kg for PCB Aroclor 1248 and 54, 99, 6, 355, 637 and 16 mg/kg for the metals As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Pb and Hg, respectively. To predict contaminant bioavailability, elutriate and whole sediment toxicity tests were performed utilizing the cladoceran, Daphnia magna. Whole sediment tests indicated significant impact. Control survival was 84%, while sediment treatment had survival ranging from 1 to 7%. Mean control reproduction was 86.8 neonates, whereas treatment reproduction ranged from 1.4 to 9.0. Zebra mussels placed both in the water column (Upper) and at the sediment level (Lower) survived the 34-day exposure. Contaminants that significantly accumulated in zebra mussel tissue (wet wt mg/kg) were total PAHs (6.58), fluoranthene (1.23), pyrene (1.08), chrysene (0.98), benzo(a)anthracene (0.60), PCB Aroclor 1248 (1.64), As (0.97), Cr (2.87) and Ba (7.00). Accumulation of these contaminants in zebra mussel tissue represent a potentially realistic hazard to organisms (i.e. fish and birds) that feed on them.
A rapid evoked potential index of cortical adaptation

Contrast thresholds and acuity limits were measured in 4 observers with the swept visual evoked potential (VEP) technique. In this technique, grating contrast or grating spatial frequency is electronically varied while the subject's evoked response is retrieved in real time (without averaging). Contrast or spatial frequency variation make the stimulus vary in intensity; zero VEP response amplitude indicates the threshold intensity. Large shifts occur in the indicated threshold when stimulus sweep direction is reversed. Thresholds are always relatively elevated when the run begins with the strongest stimulus value. These shifts do not have a technical origin in the delay of the instrument (Nelson et al. 1984b). Here, it is shown that the shifts are due to orientation and spatial frequency selective adaptation, probably of cortical origin. Measureable adaptation is produced by momentary exposure to contrasts as low as 1.25%; nearly maximum adaptation (0.6 log units) is reached with 20% contrast. These findings support the concept of a contrast gain control mechanism in visual cortex, and pose practical problems for visual assessment with the evoked potential.
Alkyne complexes of copper(I) (1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoro-2,4-pentanedionato): syntheses and characterization of η2-bis(trimethylsilyl)acetylene) copper(I) (hfac), (μ-η2-bis(trimethylsily)acetylene) bis(copper(I) (hfac) and a series of (η2-alkyne) Cu(hfac) complexes

The reaction of Cu2O with 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoro-2,4-pentanedione (Hhfac) in the presence of alkynes results in the formation of (η2-alkyne) Cu(hfac). When using bis(trimethylsily)acetylene (BTMSA), both a mononuclear compound BTMSA Cu(hfac) (1) and a dinuclear complex BTMSA(Cu(hfac))2 (2) can be isolated; each complex was characterized by X-ray crystallography, IR, 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopies. In 1, the BTMSA ligand is η2 bonded parallel to the Cu (β-diketonate) plane, the trimethylsily groups are cis bent away from copper with small angles of deformation (θCCSi = 157 and 171°) and the CC bond distance is 1.17 A. In 2, two BTMSACu(hfac) planes with a dihedral angle of 105.8° are observed. The intramolecular CuCu distance is only 2.800 A and the central axis of BTMSA is situated perpendicular to the CuCu vector. A series of η2-alkyne Cu(hfac) were synthesized and characterized by NMR and IR spectroscopy.
System for driving 2-D infrared emitter arrays at cryogenic temperatures

Large IR detector arrays, particularly ones intended for military and aerospace applications, are often difficult and expensive to directly test. These detectors require an IR projector for scene simulation. Current methods for testing such sensors rely heavily on expensive field test programs and/or utilize lower performance thermal emission-based IR scene projectors. Recently there has been increased interest and development of seminconductor-based infrared (IR) LED-based emitter array devices (e.g. SLEDS), due to their ability to produce higher apparent temperatures, lower background temperatures, and much faster rise and fall times than thermal emission techniques. These devices flip-chip a large CMOS driver chip onto a two-dimensional array of IR emitter devices typically fabricated on a GaSb substrate. Several testing sessions showed the unique functionality and capabilities in several important areas such as: apparent temperature exceeding 1000 Kelvin, rise and fall time of 3–4 microseconds, and low apparent background temperatures. Unfortunately, SLEDS arrays require the removal of kW-level heat fluxes while being maintained at liquid-nitrogen temperatures. Although multiple project for construction of these IR emitter arrays are underway, currently there appears to be no cooling system available to operate these arrays at the performance level that they are capable of achieving.
Instrument transformer winding fault analysis using frequency response analysis

Improvement of diagnostic methods for both power and Instrument transformer is crucial considering the part they play in electrical networks as well as their cost. Frequency response analysis based testing of transformers is one of the methods that have been introduced recently. This method enables the identification of winding deformations resulting from the short circuit currents and winding dislocations occurring during transportation, and can also be used to assess the state of electrical insulation. The damage may cause a change in the physical condition of transformer which would be reflected in the electrical parameters- resistance, inductance and capacitance. The insulation performance is influenced by thermal, electrical and mechanical stresses. The displacement of windings can occur during transportation of transformers or during a short circuit near the transformer in the power system. The Frequency Response Analysis (FRA) can detect the type of fault and the exact location of fault. FRA essentially consists of measuring the impedance of transformer windings over a wide range of frequencies and comparing the results with a reference set. There are two ways of injecting the wide range of frequencies necessary, either by injecting an impulse into the winding or by making a frequency sweep using a sinusoidal signal. The former method is known as the impulse response method and the latter is known as the swept frequency method. The result obtained for the various fault condition is compared with the reference set and the conclusions are drawn.
Dewetting of Star Nanogel/Homopolymer Blends from an Immiscible Homopolymer Substrate

The dewetting of an ultrathin polystyrene (PS) film containing nanogel particles, star-branched molecules composed of a cross-linked divinylbenzene core and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) arms from the surface of a PMMA surface was analyzed. It was observed that nucleation and growth of holes in the PS film increased with the annealing time. It was found that dewetting rate of PS from PMMA substrates was reduced when 3wt % nanogel was added to the top PS layer. The results show that incorporation of nanogel particles and starbranched molecules envisaged as permanent micelles into the top PS layer and decreased the growth rate of holes as the PS layer dewets from the PMMA substrates.
The optimized effective potential with finite temperature.

The optimized effective potential (OEP) method provides an additional level of exactness in the computation of electronic structures, e.g. the exact exchange energy can be used. This extra freedom is likely to be important in moving density functional methods beyond traditional approximations such as the local density approximation. We provide a new density-matrix-based derivation of the gradient of the Kohn-Sham energy with respect to the effective potential. This gradient can be used to iteratively minimize the energy in order to find the OEP. Previous work has indicated how this can be done in the zero temperature limit. This paper generalizes the previous results to the finite temperature regime. Equating our gradient to zero gives a finite temperature version of the OEP equation.