cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Liver transplantation restores female reproductive endocrine function

The effect of successful liver transplantation on menstrual function was assessed by questionnaire in 44 women transplanted for various types of end stage liver disease, acute liver failure or malignant disease. Significant amenorrhoea (>one year) was present in 48% of women with chronic liver disease before transplantation, and was reversed within 10 months of surgery in all but one of the pre-menopausal patients who had primary amenorrhoea and hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism. Two patients became pregnant five months and 1–5 years after transplantation, but in one instance the pregnancy was unsuccessful, possibly as a consequence of cyclosporin related intrauterine growth retardation. Seventeen female patients who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation between June 1973 and June 1987 became pregnant 5 months to 11 years after transplantation. Immunosuppression was maintained with combinations of prednisone, cyclosporine, and azathioprine prior to and during pregnancy. One patient discontinued immunosuppression after knowledge of pregnancy, taking only azathioprine sporadically. Mean age at time of delivery was 26 years. Twelve patients had no alteration in liver function studies; 7 patients demonstrated mild or moderate enzyme elevations prior to delivery, with one case of rejection confirmed by percutaneous liver biopsy. Major problems related to pregnancy were hypertension, anemia, and hyperbilirubinemia. Twenty live births occurred (2 patients had 2 separate pregnancies, one patient has a set of twins); 13 were by caesarian section, 7 by vaginal delivery. Eleven of the 13 caesarian births were premature by gestational age. All vaginal births were term. Toxemia of pregnancy and early rupture of membranes were the principal indications for caesarean section. There were no congenital abnormalities or birth defects and all the children are surviving well. Fifteen of 16 children older than one year have normal physical and mental development, with one child manifesting immature speech development. Four children are under one year, all with normal milestones thus far. Sixteen of the 17 mothers are alive from 2–18 years after transplantation; the only death was from a lymphoma, almost 4 years after transplantation and 2 1/2 years after delivery. This experience suggests that women undergoing liver transplantation can safely bear children despite an increased risk of premature caesarian births. The effect of chronic immunosuppression of female pediatric patients on their reproductive potential later in adulthood remains to be fully evaluated but the results so far are favorable.
Ganglioside biosynthesis in rat liver: characterization of cytidine-5'-monophospho-n-acetylneuraminic acid:hematoside (GM3) sialyltransferase.

Abstract CMP-NAcNeu: G M3 ganglioside Sialyltransferase (G d 3 synthase) was concentrated 80–100-fold, relative to total homogenates, in Golgi apparatus fractions from rat liver. Ultrasound treatment of Golgi apparatus in a low salt medium extracted 40–60% of the original protein but did not dissociate the transferase from membranes. The activity was greatest in the presence of certain detergents, had a pH optimum of 6.2, was stimulated by Mg 2+ and diacylphospholipids and was inhibited by lysophospholipids. Apparent K m values for CMP-NAcNeu and G M3 were about 0.8 and 0.2 mM, respectively. On Chromatographie separation, virtually all the reaction product migrated as G D3 . G D3 synthase appeared to be a glycoprotein since the activity bound to concanavalin A -Sepharose and was eluted, with increased specific activity, by α-methyl mannoside.
Biomechanics of Stent Grafts for Intracranial Aneurysm Repair

General non-invasive endovascular procedures for treatment of intracranial aneurysms involve stenting across the aneurysm neck, embolization and coiling of the aneurysm cavity. However it cannot be used to treat many wide-necked and fusiform intracranial aneurysms, or carotid-cavernous fistulae. Stent grafts will have the capability of completely preventing the blood flow into the aneurysm cavity or fistula rent, and thereby reducing the risk of aneurysm rupture in the brain. An endovascular approach of placing a stent graft would be a promising method [1–3].Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Reactions of [(CO)3Mn(η5-Thi)]+ (Thi = Thiophene or 2,5-Dimethylthiophene) with Nucleophiles

The {eta}{sup 5}-thiophene complexes, (CO){sub 3}Mn({eta}{sup 5}-T){sup +} (1) and [(CO){sub 3}Mn({eta}{sup 5}-2,5-Me{sub 2}T)]{sup +} (2), react with LiCuR{sub 2} (R = Me or Ph) by adding R{sup -} to the sulfur atom of the thiophene, which gives the {eta}{sup 4}-thiophene complexes, (CO){sub 3}Mn({eta}{sup 4}-T.R) and (CO){sub 3}Mn({eta}{sup 4}-2,5-Me{sub 2}T.R). An X-ray study of (CO){sub 3}Mn({eta}{sup 4}-T.C{sub 6}H{sub 5}) (6) shows the {eta}{sup 4}-T.C{sub 6}H{sub 5} ligand to be coordinated to the manganese through the four thiophene carbon atoms, while the sulfur bearing the phenyl group is bent away from the metal. The structure of 6 supports previous suggestions that the sulfur in {eta}{sup 5}-thiophene complexes is an electrophilic center. Reactions of 1 or 2 with RS{sup -}, CH{sub 3}O{sup -}, or {sup -}CH(CO{sub 2}CH{sub 3}){sub 2} nucleophiles result in the displacement of thiophene with the formation of [(CO){sub 4}Mn({mu}-SR)]{sub 2} or Mn{sub 2}(CO){sub 10}. The structure of [(CO){sub 4}Mn({mu}-SC{sub 6}H{sub 4}CH{sub 3}-p)]{sub 2}, established by X-ray studies, is also reported. 30 refs., 2 figs., 5 tabs.
Fast axonal transport is modulated by altering trans-axolemmal calcium flux.

Factors involved in fast axonal transport (motor proteins, microtubules, organelles, etc.) have been identified but the molecular mechanism controlling transport is unknown. We used video enhanced microscopy to directly evaluate the effect of calcium on fast axonal transport (FAxT). FAxT alterations included rapid speed decreases (within minutes) in Ca2+ free buffer and rapid speed increases (within seconds) when axons were treated with parathyroid hormone, BAY K 8644, or K+ depolarization. The speed increases were blocked by dihydropyridine Ca2+ channel antagonists. Ryanodine (20 microM), known to block calcium release from subcellular stores, caused a decrease in the rate of retrograde FAxT. Calcium ionophore A23187 (at 1 and 20 micrograms/ml) caused increases in FAxT, an effect also noted only in retrograde moving organelle traffic. Hyper- or hypo-tonic solutions produced no alterations making axoplasmic viscosity changes an unlikely explanation for the speed changes. Reproducible alteration of FAxT by manipulation of Ca2+ levels provides evidence that Ca2+ modulates fast axonal transport. Retrograde transport appears more sensitive to changes in Ca2+ and differential effects on antero- and retro-FAxT mechanisms suggest directional specificity for some of these signals which may be based upon the organelle size. Endogenous substances (e.g. PTH) that trigger axonal Ca2+ changes may rapidly modulate the rate of material delivery in axons. The results are discussed within the context of a Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent modification of the cytoskeletal matrix.
The amount of slow axonal transport is proportional to the radial dimensions of the axon.

Axons are fundamentally cylindrical and their geometry is defined by two basic parameters, i.e. diameter and length. The average cross-sectional diameter of an axon is determined primarily by the number and density of cytoskeletal structures (i.e. microtubules and neurofilaments) in the axon. The proteins that constitute these structures are synthesized in the nerve cell body and are conveyed through the axon by slow axonal transport. In particular, slow component a (SCa) supplies all of the axonal neurofilament proteins and most of the microtubule proteins to the axon. To study the relationship between slow axonal transport and axonal diameter, the slowly transported proteins were radiolabelled in rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cells. The amount of radiolabelled SCa proteins transported in individual unmyelinated and myelinated DRG axons was measured by the electron microscopic autoradiographic method. We found that the amount of SCa transported in the axons is proportional to axonal cross-sectional area. These results indicate that slow axonal transport of microtubules and neurofilaments is a primary determinant of axonal diameter.
Sidedness of the ATP-Na+-K+ interactions with the Na+ pump in squid axons.

Abstract Using dialysed squid axons we have been able to control internal and external ionic compositions under conditions in which most of the Na+ efflux goes through the Na+ pump. We found that (i) internal K+ had a strong inhibitory effect on Na+ efflux; this effect was antagonized by ATP, with low affinity, and by internal Na+, (ii) a reduction in ATP levels from 3 mM to 50 μM greatly increased the apparent affinity for external K+, but reduced its effectiveness compared with other monovalent cations, as an activator of Na+ efflux, and (iii) the relative effectiveness of different K+ congeners as external activator of the Na+ efflux, though affected by the ATP concentration, was not affected by the Na+/+ ratio inside the cells. These results are consistent with the idea that the same conformation of the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase can be reached by interaction with external K+ after phosphorylation and with internal K+ before rephosphorylation. They also stress a nonphosphorylating regulatory role of ATP.
Antimicrobial Resistance in Critical Care

Antimicrobial resistance complicates the approach to patient management in critical care settings. Infections resistant to antimicrobial intervention are a frequent cause of mortality and morbidity in hospitalized patients. Antimicrobial resistance is of particular concern to nurses in critical care units because they administer larger quantities of antimicrobial agents than their counterparts in other parts of the hospital. Mechanisms to prevent and manage this ever-increasing problem are imperative to reduce ramifications that include increased health care costs and increased use of valuable resources.
Learning effect among perimetric novices with screening C-20-1 frequency doubling technology perimetry.

Abstract Purpose To investigate whether perimetric novices without glaucoma demonstrate a learning effect using screening-mode frequency doubling technology perimetry. Design Prospective observational study Methods The study included 101 healthy subjects who had never undergone automated perimetry and who were administered the C-20-1 version of the frequency doubling technology. Subjects who returned an abnormal or unreliable test were retested until a normal result was obtained. Results Ninety-seven subjects (96%) returned a normal examination after one test, and 99 (98%) did so after two tests. Two subjects had abnormal initial tests, and two others had unreliable tests. These four subjects required repeat (up to four) testings to return a normal test. Conclusions A small percentage of perimetric novices will demonstrate a learning effect using C-20-1 perimetry, but this mode has high specificity appropriate for glaucoma screening.
Personal Health Records (PHR) and the future of the physician-patient relationship

We provide early evidence that healthcare consumers plan to play a more active role in their healthcare through the use of a patient-centric information tool---the Personal Health Record (PHR). We assess consumer attitudes, values, and beliefs of PHRs through the use of a focus group and further analyze the intention to adopt a PHR through the use of a survey based on the adoption of innovations model by Rogers [38]. We find that while barriers to PHR adoption exist---such as concerns about privacy, security and the lack of visible use of PHRs by others within immediate social groups---intention to use PHRs are high within our sample. This suggests that active consumer involvement in healthcare may be on the rise and, more importantly, that information may become a key mediator in the physician-patient relationship. While our findings are based on pilot studies consisting of relatively small sample sizes and subject to limited generalizability, these results do suggest that consumer empowerment has the potential to fundamentally alter traditional physician-patient paradigms.
Engineering bone tissue substitutes from human induced pluripotent stem cells

Congenital defects, trauma, and disease can compromise the integrity and functionality of the skeletal system to the extent requiring implantation of bone grafts. Engineering of viable bone substitutes that can be personalized to meet specific clinical needs represents a promising therapeutic alternative. The aim of our study was to evaluate the utility of human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) for bone tissue engineering. We first induced three hiPSC lines with different tissue and reprogramming backgrounds into the mesenchymal lineages and used a combination of differentiation assays, surface antigen profiling, and global gene expression analysis to identify the lines exhibiting strong osteogenic differentiation potential. We then engineered functional bone substitutes by culturing hiPSC-derived mesenchymal progenitors on osteoconductive scaffolds in perfusion bioreactors and confirmed their phenotype stability in a subcutaneous implantation model for 12 wk. Molecular analysis confirmed that the maturation of bone substitutes in perfusion bioreactors results in global repression of cell proliferation and an increased expression of lineage-specific genes. These results pave the way for growing patient-specific bone substitutes for reconstructive treatments of the skeletal system and for constructing qualified experimental models of development and disease.
Markov Chain Ontology Analysis (MCOA)

Biomedical ontologies have become an increasingly critical lens through which researchers analyze the genomic, clinical and bibliographic data that fuels scientific research. Of particular relevance are methods, such as enrichment analysis, that quantify the importance of ontology classes relative to a collection of domain data. Current analytical techniques, however, remain limited in their ability to handle many important types of structural complexity encountered in real biological systems including class overlaps, continuously valued data, inter-instance relationships, non-hierarchical relationships between classes, semantic distance and sparse data. In this paper, we describe a methodology called Markov Chain Ontology Analysis (MCOA) and illustrate its use through a MCOA-based enrichment analysis application based on a generative model of gene activation. MCOA models the classes in an ontology, the instances from an associated dataset and all directional inter-class, class-to-instance and inter-instance relationships as a single finite ergodic Markov chain. The adjusted transition probability matrix for this Markov chain enables the calculation of eigenvector values that quantify the importance of each ontology class relative to other classes and the associated data set members. On both controlled Gene Ontology (GO) data sets created with Escherichia coli, Drosophila melanogaster and Homo sapiens annotations and real gene expression data extracted from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), the MCOA enrichment analysis approach provides the best performance of comparable state-of-the-art methods. A methodology based on Markov chain models and network analytic metrics can help detect the relevant signal within large, highly interdependent and noisy data sets and, for applications such as enrichment analysis, has been shown to generate superior performance on both real and simulated data relative to existing state-of-the-art approaches.
Speeding and Other Unsafe Driving Actions

Abstract [National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: Speeding and other unsafe driving actions. Ann Emerg Med December 1999;34:799-800.]
Using ion implantation to adjust the transition temperature of superconducting films

Abstract We summarize a continuing investigation into using ion implantation to alter the transition temperature of superconducting thin films. The primary motivation for the work presented here was to study the feasibility of using magnetic ion doping to replace the bi-layer Tc control process currently used for certain cryogenic detector applications at National Institute for Standards and Technology. The results from work with various ion species implanted into aluminum, molybdenum, titanium and tungsten host films are presented.
Effect of Reoxygenation with 21% or 100% Oxygen on Free Radical Formation Following Hypoxia in the Cerebral Cortex of Newborn Piglets. † 166

The present study tests the hypothesis that reoxygenation after cerebral tissue hypoxia with 100% oxygen increases generation of oxygen free radicals compared to reoxygenation with room air. Studies were performed in anesthetized, ventilated newborn piglets subjected to 1 hr of hypoxia(FiO2 0.05-0.07, PaO2 < 20 mmHg). Following hypoxia, animals were randomized to Group 1 (reoxygenation with 21% O2, n=8) or Group 2(reoxygenation with 100% O2, n=8). Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) was used with wavelengths of 716 nm and 850 nm to monitor tissue oxygenation using a phase modulation spectrometer with an interprobe distance of 22 mm. A phase shift in the NIRS signal was observed at 50±10 sec following initiation of reoxygenation. Cortical biopsies were obtained via cranial windows for free radical measurements using electron spin resonance spectroscopy (ESR) immediately following appearance of the phase shift. ESR spectra of electron spin adducts were obtained in duplicate using a Varian-E-109 spectrometer. Signal heights were measured from the resultant graph and divided by tissue weight. Reference ESR signals were measured from tissues incubated at room temperature for 10 min to confirm the absence of free radicals. Tissue was homogenized in 100 mMα-phenyl-tert-butyl-nitrone (PBN) and extracted with 2:1 chloroform:methanol. Intensity of the ESR signal from the PBN extract was expressed as signal height (mm)/g tissue after subtracting the reference value determined in control animals. Free radical signal height was 130±30 mm/g brain in Group 1 and 230±90 mm/g brain in Group 2 (p <0.05). Reoxygenation with 100% O2 was associated with significantly more free radical generation than reoxygenation with 21% O2. We speculate that mitochondria which were anaerobic during the hypoxic phase produce a surge of free radicals during reoxygenation and that the amount of free radicals produced increases with increased oxygen concentration. (NIH#HD-20337 and AAP/AHA/Neonatal Resuscitation Program)
The Testing Of Meniscus Refractive Corrector Elements

One method of correcting the aberrations of a mirror system is to add refractive corrector elements to the design. These elements provide the degrees of freedom required to achieve a corrected solution. An example of this approach is the Maksutov catadioptric system. This system consists of a primary mirror, in front of which is located a highly meniscus negative element. The meniscus element provides the compensation of the spherical aberration introduced by the spherical mirror. Many systems have been designed and constructed with more than one mirror and with multi-element corrector arrangements. The Maksutov system, consisting of a single spherical mirror and a single refractive element, is an example of the simplest form of correction using meniscus elements. In the fabrication of a well-corrected catadioptric system, which is required to perform near its theoretical limit, it is necessary to test the corrector elements to a high degree of accuracy. This paper describes the design of a special purpose tester for a particular refractive meniscus corrector element, the Strong Shell of the Perkin-Elmer Micralign Model 500 Projection Mask Alignment System. The Model 500 is a catadioptric system used by the semiconductor industry for optical microlithography on silicon wafers. A key factor in the optical design of the special purpose tester was to arrive at a solution that would allow all elements within their constructional tolerances for radius, thickness, and wedge to be evaluated with little further adjustment to the tester. This characteristic greatly accelerates testing and improves test data repeatability. This was accomplished by the selection of the testing conjugate point, a key factor in the overall design of the tester. A brief description of the Model 500 optical design, including the function of the strong shells is provided. Also provided is a description of the tester as well as the methods for alignment and certification.
Eight initiatives that misleadingly lower ventilator-associated pneumonia rates.

Hospitals are likely to re-examine their ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) prevention and surveillance programs in the comingmonths in light of The Joint Commission’s proposal to make VAP prevention a National Patient Safety Goal for 2012. Ideally, the Commission’s proposal will trigger broader and more rigorous VAP prevention efforts nationwide. There is some risk, however, that efforts to enhance the rigor of VAP surveillance may undermine some of the momentum for prevention. This is because increasing the rigor of surveillance almost inevitably lowers VAP rates in and of itself despite being independent of patient care. These misleading decreases in VAP rates may lull hospitals into a false sense of complacency that could undermine motivation to enhance prevention. We describe 8 initiatives that well-intentioned hospitals might be considering to make VAP surveillance more rigorous. Each of these initiatives will lower apparent VAP rates despite not materially improving patient care.
The influence of gender on the provision of a public good

Previous researchers have obtained contradictory results concerning the influence of gender on behavior in the experimental setting. One study finds women significantly less cooperative than men (Rapoport and Chammah 1965), while another study finds women and men equally cooperative, after frequent repetitions of a game (Mason, Phillips and Redington 1991). We examine the influence of gender on public good provision in a four-person game using all-female, all-male and mixed gender groups of undergraduates. We find some evidence that all-female groups are more cooperative than either all-male or mixed gender groups.
Joint investment in quality improvement and setup reduction

Given a limited investment, we provide a general solution procedure that examines the trade-offs and that allocates that investment optimally for quality improvement and setup reduction. The paper is a generalization and an extension of Porteus [Operations Research 34, 141–143 (1986)]. We use general, continuous functions for quality improvement and for setup reduction. We find that in the face of a budget constraint, it is usually necessary to begin with either quality improvement or setup reduction, in order to bring one of these to some threshold, before joint investment should be undertaken. The contour lines of the total cost and the locus of the optimal solutions illustrate the behavior of the optimal joint investment. We also find that there could be some backtracking when the total relevant cost function for one type of option is strictly convex and is concave for the other type, i.e. a previous threshold investment in quality improvement or setup reduction may be reduced when the budget constraint is relaxed.
The Genetic Legacy of Stocking Muskellunge in a Northern Minnesota Lake

Abstract The effects of stocked fish on native populations of the same species are poorly understood. During the 1960s-1980s, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) stocked muskellunge Esox masquinongy derived from Shoepack Lake in the Hudson Bay drainage of northern Minnesota into Moose Lake in the Upper Mississippi River drainage. In the mid-1980s, the MNDNR recognized that stocked Shoepack Lake-strain fish (hereafter, Shoepack strain) were not attaining large sizes, and sources were switched statewide; subsequently, muskellunge from a Wisconsin hatchery were stocked once into Moose Lake. We used 14 microsatellite DNA markers to estimate the genetic contribution by each source population to muskellunge sampled in four different years from 1981 to 2004, and we evaluated the effects of Shoepack-strain ancestry on fish size. Two samples in the 1980s had mostly fish with a single ancestry; thus, these fish were probably Shoepack-strain fish stocked a few years earlier or native fish. By 2004,...
Damage Risk Criteria for Noise Exposure: Aspects of Acceptability and Validity

Abstract Views toward acceptable noise tolerance standards as expressed in a recent poll of persons interested in various aspects of noise and hearing problems were compared with those noted for the same group in a similar poll taken' ten years ago. There now exists a greater readiness to establish tentative noise exposure limits and also greater agreement as to their actual specification. An evaluation suggested that most of the proposed criteria would be equally effective, in at least the speech frequencies, in minimizing hearing losses. Estimates of tolerable limits for intermittent exposures to broad-band noise were much more variable than those found for continuous noise. Marked differences in opinion regarding tolerable narrow-band noise exposure limits were also noted.
A test to determine the nature and presence of the memory effect columns packed with the amylose tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) stationary phase.

Abstract Acid/base mobile phase modifiers affect enantioseparations in ways that are not fully understood yet, for the lack of systematic studies. This makes chiral analysis of some pharmaceuticals difficult to reproduce. Once a column has been exposed to a modifier, the selectivity of certain pairs of enantiomers may change, for the better or the worse. We study the behavior of five enantiomeric pairs, three which are highly sensitive to the addition of certain modifiers and two that have little sensitivity to these modifiers. Their use permits the determination of the extent of the memory effect response on individual columns. The selectivity of 4-chlorophenylalanine methyl and ethyl ester, and of ketoprofen improve as a solution of ethanesulfonic acid is percolated through the column. As a result, these pairs are most useful for the determination of the extent of acid memory effect on a column. The selectivity of propranolol HCl and, to a lesser degree, Troger's base increases as a solution of diisopropylethylamine is percolated through the column. The separation of each one of these five pairs is inversely affected by the percolation of the opposite acid/base solution. We used trans-stilbene oxide (TSO) as a ‘standard’ to determine the column stability because no memory effect is observed for it (its retention, enantioselectivity, and resolution remain constant). Understanding whether a column is under the influence of the memory effect is critical to both the analysis of pharmaceutical ingredients and to the development of preparative purification techniques for racemic mixtures. Thus, columns that were unreliable for method development and method transfer, due to the memory effect and a lack of proper solvent exposure records, can now be used.
Toxicity of aqueous C70-gallic acid suspension in Daphnia magna.

The present study assessed the toxic effects of stable aqueous colloidal suspensions of gallic-acid-stabilized C70 fullerene on Daphnia magna. The suspensions were stabilized through noncovalent surface modification with gallic acid. In addition to whole-organism responses, changes in antioxidative processes in D. magna were quantified. Acute toxicity was observed with 96LC50 for C70-gallic acid of 0.4 ± 0.1 mg/L C70. Daphnia magna fecundity was significantly reduced in 21-d bioassays at C70-gallic aqcid concentrations below quantifiable limits. Antioxidant enzyme activities of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase as well as lipid peroxidation suggested that exposed organisms experienced oxidative stress. Microscopic techniques used to determine cellular toxicity via apoptosis proved unsuccessful. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2012;31:215–220. © 2011 SETAC
Urinary tryptophan metabolites: Assay of free and acid hydrolyzable conjugates of 3-hydroxykynurenine and 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid

Abstract A method for the determination of free and acid hydrolyzable conjugates of urinary 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HK) and 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid (3-HAA) has been described, and the reliability of the method has been discussed. The procedure involves solvent extraction, acid hydrolysis, and ion exchange chromatography for preliminary separation, followed by colorimetry to determine the quantity. The method has been used to determine the metabolites in normal and vitamin B6-deficient rat urine collected with and without a tryptophan load. The results show that the urinary excretion of 3-HAA after a tryptophan load is not affected by vitamin B6 deficiency, but the increase of the ratio of free 3-HK to free 3-HAA is much higher than the increase of the ratio of total 3-HK to total 3-HAA. When the level of 3-HK in rat urine is low, 3-HK is mainly in conjugated form, but when the level of 3-HK in rat urine is high, the percentage of free 3-HK is increased.
Animations of important concepts in parallel computer architecture

Resources for teaching parallel computer architecture--specifically, cache coherence and memory consistency--are increasing in importance. Through instructor-created templates, followed by peer-reviewed student work, we have produced a set of animations that can be used for classroom presentation or self-study. These animations cover bus-based coherence protocols, such as MSI, MOESI, and Dragon; and network-based protocols, such as the full bit-vector scheme and a simplified version of SCI. Some animations illustrate the operation of a particular protocol, while others compare protocols against each other. Other animations cover memory-consistency models, such as sequential consistency, processor consistency, weak ordering, and release consistency.
Immigration and Informal Labor

We develop state-level proxies for informal employment using differences between measures of self-reported employment and officially sanctioned employment. In construction and landscaping, industries associated with under-the-table labor, we develop proxies for informal work based on productivity per officially sanctioned worker. We relate each set of proxies for informal employment to changes in immigrant population and composition. We find some evidence that immigration is associated with informal employment generally and in the construction industry when prevailing wages are low. States with high concentrations of low-skilled male immigrants have higher levels of informal employment in the landscaping industry.
Confirmation of quadrupolar transitions in circular magnetic x-ray dichroism at the dysprosium LIII edge.

The angular dependence of the circular magnetic x-ray dichroism at the Dy ${L}_{\mathrm{III}}$ edge of the alloy D${\mathrm{y}}_{0.4}$T${\mathrm{b}}_{0.6}$ has been studied at $T\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}80$ K to ascertain the multipolar nature of the features in the dichroic spectra below the absorption edge. Angular behavior, consistent with quadrupolar transitions, is observed in the feature below the edge. We discuss the reasons for numerous recent failures to observe such an effect.
Social networks of experientially similar others: Formation, activation, and consequences of network ties on the health care experience

Research documents that interactions among experientially similar others (individuals facing a common stressor) shape health care behavior and ultimately health outcomes. However, we have little understanding of how ties among experientially similar others are formed, what resources and information flows through these networks, and how network embeddedness shapes health care behavior. This paper uses in-depth interviews with 76 parents of pediatric cancer patients to examine network ties among experientially similar others after a serious medical diagnosis. Interviews were conducted between August 2009 and May 2011. Findings demonstrate that many parents formed ties with other families experiencing pediatric cancer, and that information and resources were exchanged during the everyday activities associated with their child's care. Network flows contained emotional support, caregiving strategies, information about second opinions, health-related knowledge, and strategies for navigating the health care system. Diffusion of information, resources, and support occurred through explicit processes (direct information and support exchanges) and implicit processes (parents learning through observing other families). Network flows among parents shaped parents' perceptions of the health care experience and their role in their child's care. These findings contribute to the social networks and social support literatures by elucidating the mechanisms through which network ties among experientially similar others influence health care behavior and experiences.
Role of Cyclic Nucleotide-Dependent Actin Cytoskeletal Dynamics: [Ca2+]i and Force Suppression in Forskolin-Pretreated Porcine Coronary Arteries

Initiation of force generation during vascular smooth muscle contraction involves a rise in intracellular calcium ([Ca(2+)]i) and phosphorylation of myosin light chains (MLC). However, reversal of these two processes alone does not account for the force inhibition that occurs during relaxation or inhibition of contraction, implicating that other mechanisms, such as actin cytoskeletal rearrangement, play a role in the suppression of force. In this study, we hypothesize that forskolin-induced force suppression is dependent upon changes in actin cytoskeletal dynamics. To focus on the actin cytoskeletal changes, a physiological model was developed in which forskolin treatment of intact porcine coronary arteries (PCA) prior to treatment with a contractile agonist resulted in complete suppression of force. Pretreatment of PCA with forskolin suppressed histamine-induced force generation but did not abolish [Ca(2+)]i rise or MLC phosphorylation. Additionally, forskolin pretreatment reduced filamentous actin in histamine-treated tissues, and prevented histamine-induced changes in the phosphorylation of the actin-regulatory proteins HSP20, VASP, cofilin, and paxillin. Taken together, these results suggest that forskolin-induced complete force suppression is dependent upon the actin cytoskeletal regulation initiated by the phosphorylation changes of the actin regulatory proteins and not on the MLC dephosphorylation. This model of complete force suppression can be employed to further elucidate the mechanisms responsible for smooth muscle tone, and may offer cues to pathological situations, such as hypertension and vasospasm.
Absence of Bacteremia After Diagnostic Biopsy of the Cervix: Chemoprophylactic Implications

Blood cultures taken from 40 women before and within one to five minutes after biopsy of the cervix were bacteriologically negative. Despite special culturing techniques, transient bacteremia with aerobes or anaerobes was not detected during this period. Chemoprophylaxis against bacterial endocarditis does not appear indicated in patients with cardiovascular disease undergoing this procedure.
An examination of secondary reinforcement, operant conditioning, and status envy hypotheses in relation to sex-role ideology

A series of predictions concerning adult sex-role ideology was derived from three theoretical approaches commonly applied to the sex-role development of children: secondary reinforcement, operant conditioning by peers, and status envy. Relevant data were collected by means of a questionnaire administered to 635 students at two regional state universities and to nonstudent adults in the surrounding communities. Of these, 226 were classified as having a distinctive contemporary or traditional sex-role ideology by means of a short test developed and validated by the authors for this purpose. Discriminant analyses indicated that each theoretical approach differentiated between contemporary and traditional subjects at levels significantly better than chance. However, the status envy approach, as modified by social learning theory, was most effective and correctly classified 85% of the females and 93% of the males according to their sex-role ideologies. Alternative explanations of results are discussed and an eclectic model is advocated.
Recurrent carotid stenosis: operative strategy and late results

Abstract From 1957 to 1985, 116 consecutive operations for recurrent carotid stenosis were performed in 99 patients at the University of California, San Francisco. Ninety-four patients underwent 103 reoperations for primary recurrent stenosis (nine patients had bilateral repairs). Seventy-two operations (70%) were performed to relieve cerebrovascular symptoms whereas the indication for 31 operations (30%) was high-grade stenosis. The cause of primary recurrent stenosis was myointimal hyperplasia (MIH) in 47 cases, whereas 56 were caused by recurrent atherosclerosis (ASO). Secondary recurrent stenosis developed in six patients from our own series (5.8%) and an additional six patients were referred after reoperation elsewhere. The 12 lesions in this group were evenly divided between MIH (six) and recurrent ASO (six). MIH resulted in a single tertiary recurrent stenosis. Myointimectomy or repeat endarterectomy and vein patch angioplasty were the most commonly used techniques for repair of a primary recurrent stenosis. Secondary recurrent stenosis necessitated resection of the carotid bifurcation and graft interposition when caused by MIH. Secondary recurrent stenosis caused by ASO could be treated by repeat endarterectomy and vein patch angioplasty in five of six cases. Five strokes occurred in the entire series (4.3%), resulting in two deaths. There were 23 cranial nerve palsies, which rarely persisted beyond 3 months. The morbidity and mortality rates for primary and secondary carotid reoperation are comparable to the original procedure and should not deter the vascular surgeon from reoperative carotid reconstruction whenever indicated. (J VASC SURG 1987;5:452-6.)
Microalgal-meiofaunal trophic relationships in muddy intertidal estuarine sediments

The determination of the primary factors controlling carbon (C) transfer rates in situ are a basic requirement for developing a mechanistic view of the processes that regulate benthic micro- bial community structure and function. In many estuarine ecosystems, the base of the food web is dominated by microalgal production; however, information on the quantitative relationships and pro- cess rates of meiofaunal grazers and benthic microalgal (BMA) producers is limited to a few habitats and short temporal scales. The primary objective of this study was to examine the trophic interactions between meiofaunal grazers and BMA producers to determine if grazing is a primary limiting factor for BMA biomass and productivity in Terrebone Bay, Louisiana. Sediment cores were collected from 24 intertidal locations in June 1999 and January 2000 to quantify meiofaunal abundance and grazing rates as well as BMA biomass, community composition and productivity. In June, the benthic com- munity was characterized by high meiofaunal abundances, while BMA showed lower biomass and a shift in community composition towards increased cyanobacteria relative abundance. Measurements in January showed lower meiofaunal abundances, but high BMA biomass dominated by diatoms. However, BMA primary productivity was the same for both sampling dates. Statistical tests revealed a significant interaction between sampling date and meiofauna grazing responses and suggests that the trophic relationships were different in January and June. Meiofaunal grazing, as a percentage of BMA biomass, was high in June (116.7%) and exceeded the available BMA standing stock. However, in both June and January, grazing was less than 16% of the rate of BMA net primary production. Dur- ing periods of high grazing pressure, BMA community production was more than sufficient to supply food resources for meiofaunal consumers. Our results highlight the tight coupling between micro- algae and meiofauna in the upper few millimeters of estuarine sediments. The trophic relationships are complex, with linked feedback mechanisms that operate over small spatio-temporal scales. The coupling of measurements of rate and biomass responses for both producers and grazers provides useful insights into the mechanisms underlying meiofaunal-microalgal trophodynamics.
RF Characterization Of Wideband Optical Link For Interconnection Of Microwave RF Subsystems For Airborne Communications Satellite Terminals

The recent availability of ultra-fast laser diodes with matching fast photodetectors that can be directly modulated at radio frequencies (RF) offer an alternative interconnection technology in airborne systems. If these devices are used with optical fibers they can replace RF cables, because they can save substantially on weight and cost while providing superb Electromagnetic Interference (EMI), Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP), and TEMPEST performance. Preliminary measurements of the RF/microwave response of laser diodes and matching detector will be reported. The measurements include insertion loss, dynamic range, bandwidth, single tone harmonic generation, and two tone intermodulation products. Discussion of results will address the sensitivity of the laser diode/detector to modulation index and frequency. The optical subsystem will be examined over the frequency range 100 MHz to 10 GHz. A candidate Satellite Communication (SATCOM) terminal design will be discussed that uses the fiber optics to interconnect subsystems. Recommendations for combining RF and digital signals using RF and color multiplexing will be reported.
Babinski-Nageotte’s syndrome and Hemimedullary (Reinhold’s) syndrome are clinically and morphologically distinct conditions

A hemimedullary infarction, in which medial and lateral medullary lesions occur simultaneously, is a rare cerebrovascular disease. It has been suggested that the Babinski-Nageotte’s syndrome is the classical brainstem syndrome that corresponds to hemimedullary lesion. In this study we compare clinical symptoms and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data of two patients exhibiting classical Babinski-Nageotte’s syndrome according to the original description with symptoms and MRI data of a patient with clinically complete hemimedullary lesion. Our study shows that Babinski-Nageotte’s syndrome is neither clinically nor on MRI identical with hemimedullary lesion. Hypoglossal palsy, an invariable symptom of hemimedullary syndrome, is not part of the Babinski-Nageotte’s syndrome according to the original description. Consistent with the original historical report, Babinski- Nageotte’s syndrome is a lateral "Wallenbergian" medullary lesion with a spreading of the lesion to the more basal localised pyramidal tract. The clinical features of the hemimedullary syndrome, described in 1894 by Reinhold, and the MRI appearances in our patient with this syndrome are clearly different from other classical brainstem syndromes and should be called Reinhold’s syndrome.
Detection of Microsatellite Instability by Fluorescence Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction

We have created a clinical molecular diagnostic assay to test for microsatellite instability (MSI) at multiple loci simultaneously in paraffin-embedded surgical pathology colon resection specimens. This fluorescent multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay analyzes the five primary microsatellite loci recommended at the 1997 National Cancer Institute-sponsored conference on MSI for the identification of MSI or replication errors in colorectal cancer: Bat-25, Bat-26, D2S123, D5S346, and D17S250. Amplicon detection is accomplished by capillary electrophoresis using the ABI 310 Genetic Analyzer. Assay validation compared 18 specimens previously assessed by radioactive PCR and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis detection to results generated by the reported assay. Germline and tumor DNA samples were amplified in separate multiplex PCR reactions, sized in separate capillary electrophoresis runs, and compared directly to identify novel length alleles in tumor tissue. A concordance of 100% between the two modalities was achieved. The multiplex assay routinely detected a subpopulation of 10% tumor alleles in the presence of 90% normal alleles. A novel statistical model was generated that corroborates the validity of using results generated by analysis of five independent microsatellites to achieve a single overall MSI diagnosis. The assay presented is superior to standard radioactive monoplex PCR, polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic analysis, primarily due to the multiplex PCR format.
Are corporations people too? The neural correlates of moral judgments about companies and individuals

To investigate whether the legal concept of “corporate personhood” mirrors an inherent similarity in the neural processing of the actions of corporations and people, we measured brain responses to vignettes about corporations and people while participants underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging. We found that anti-social actions of corporations elicited more intense negative emotions and that pro-social actions of people elicited more intense positive emotions. However, the networks underlying the moral decisions about corporations and people are strikingly similar, including regions of the canonical theory of mind network. In analyzing the activity in these networks, we found differences in the emotional processing of these two types of vignettes: neutral actions of corporations showed neural correlates that more closely resembled negative actions than positive actions. Collectively, these findings indicate that our brains understand and analyze the actions of corporations and people very similar...
Ray-tracing determination of evanescent-wave penetration depth in tapered fiber optic probes

A fiber optic biosensor has been developed which monitors fluorescence to detect antibody/antigen binding within the evanescent wave. The sensing region is formed by removal of cladding from the core along the distal end of a step-index optical fiber and attaching the antibody. Reducing the radius by tapering the probe overcomes the mismatch in V-number which arises between the declad, immersed probe, and the clad fiber. Ray tracing analysis of tapered probes and of combination taper probes demonstrates that the evanescent wave penetration depth increases along the length of the taper, creating a probe with increased excitation light available at the surface for stimulating fluorescence.
Weak convergence and relative compactness of martingale processes with applications to some nonparametric statistics

Abstract For forward and reverse martingale processes, weak convergence to appropriate stochastic (but, not necessarily, Wiener) processes is studied. In particular, it is shown that martingale processes are tight under a uniformly integrability condition, and also, convergence of finite dimensional distributions satisfying certain mild conditions implies the compactness of such processes. The theory is illustrated with the aid of a class of U -statistics and von Mises' differentiable statistical functions which need not be stationary of order zero. Weak convergence of the classical Cramer-von Mises goodness-of-fit statistic is also considered. The case of martingales with random indices is studied at the end.
HIV, Sexual Violence and Special Populations: Adolescence and Pregnancy

The risk of male to female transmission of HIV is impacted by baseline inflammation in the female genital tract, semen viral load and seminal plasma's ability to induce specific patterns of cervical cytokine signalling and influx of immune cell populations. Disruption of the epithelial barrier during non-consensual intercourse may trigger further inflammation and initiation of cell-signalling pathways, thus facilitating transmission of HIV and expansion of local infection. Adolescent and pregnant women are at high risk for sexual violence and may exhibit alterations of genital mucosal immunity that promote immune activation, making them uniquely vulnerable to HIV acquisition.