cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
AN EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSIS OF DISCRIMINATION OF PULSE TRANSIT TIME

The present study attempted to determine if individuals could be trained to discriminate changes in their own pulse transit time, an indirect estimate of relative (systolic) blood pressure. A single-subject ABAB reversal-reinstatement design was used in an experimental analysis of the effects of feedback on pulse transit time discrimination in a normotensive and essential hypertensive subject. Subjects engaged a response button on a free-operant schedule each time they felt pulse transit time was momentarily below a predetermined mean. After baseline, visual feedback was provided contingent on correct responses (feedback) and incorrect responses (reversal). Procedures also assessed the role of respiration as a possible discriminative stimulus. For both subjects discrimination improved during feedback, showed disruption when the reversal was implemented, and subsequently improved during the second feedback phase. Respiration did not appear to have served as the discriminative stimulus. Results are discussed in terms of the need for refining procedures, especially to ensure generalization to no-feedback conditions, and the potential applications and importance of training of pulse transit time.
Optimal Solutions for Quasiplanar Ascent over a Spherical Moon

also assumed that the transfer is quasiplanar and that the thrust pitch and yaw angles are small. The solution of the resulting two-point boundary value problem involves modified thrust integrals and requires three quadratures and one iteration. A result of this solution is that a variable multiplier can be assumed constant, leading to an analytical solution (without quadrature and without iteration) in terms of the well known thrust integrals. These are new solutionsfortheconstantthrust,minimumtimetransferproblemoverasphericalmoon.Bothsolutionsaretestedin a sample and hold guidance scheme. First, the out-of-plane initial conditions are set to zero. The planar results show that both solutions satisfy the final conditions, consume the same mass, and use approximately the same thrust pitch angle history. Second, to test out-of-plane performance, the out-of-plane initial conditions are made nonzero. The results are similar. Because the second solution is analytical, it merits further consideration as an onboard guidance algorithm.
Neuron labeling by extracellular delivery of horseradish peroxidase in vivo: a method for studying the local circuitry of projection and interneurons at physiologically characterized sites

An anatomical method is described that yields individual neurons with continuously labeled dendrites and axons following the extracellular deposition of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) at neurophysiological recording sites in vivo. The method is a logical evolution of previous methods for iontophoretic delivery of HRP: Parameters critical to the ultimate concentration of HRP at the labeling site are reduced by an order of magnitude relative to standard practice. In successful cases one neuron or two in the immediate vicinity (50 microns) of recording sites is/are labeled. Labeling of other processes traversing the injection site, if any, is subliminal at highest light microscopic magnification. Due to the labeling of so few cells and the absence of other labeled processes, dendritic trees and local axonal arbors can be reconstructed without ambiguity. In addition to recovering neurons at sites characterized with physiological (e.g., sensory) stimuli, the method offers the further advantage of being fully compatible with subsequent electron microscopy. Both large (> 20 microns) and small (approximately 8 microns) neuron types and glia have been labeled.
The uses of racial melancholia in colonial education: Reading Ourika and Saleh: A Prince of Malaya as cautionary tales

This article investigates racial melancholia as a comparative literary device in Claire de Duras’s Ourika (1823) and Hugh Clifford’s Saleh (1904). Racial melancholia refers to the process whereby racial self-knowledge becomes a site of psychological trauma for colonized subjects. In both novels, the European educations of Ourika, a West African girl, and Saleh, a Malay prince, lead to their development of racial melancholia and their eventual deaths. European education is blamed as the cause of this deadly melancholia. Yet both stories have different moral centres: one uses racial melancholia to argue for a universal humanism, while the other asserts that cultural difference is fixed and unchangeable. This article draws on psychoanalysis, race theory and postcolonial theory to analyse the charged symbols of racial melancholia and European education across the Francophone and Anglophone colonial empires.
Rod and cone dysfunction in carriers of X-linked retinitis pigmentosa.

Abstract Carriers of X-linked retinitis pigmentosa were studied using electroretinographic and psychophysical procedures. Under both dark- and lightadapted (cone-isolated) conditions, electroretinogram (ERG) a-waves of carriers were reduced in amplitude but normal in implicit time, whereas b-waves were reduced in amplitude and delayed in implicit time. Reductions in b-wave amplitudes of the carriers as a group were equivalent for the rod and cone systems. Luminance-response functions for both dark-adapted and cone-isolated b-waves were fit by the Naka-Rushton equation and demonstrated a selective reduction of R max ; the semi-saturation constant (K) and the slope parameter (n) were normal. Electroretinograms recorded using the brightest stimulus flashes were most effective at distinguishing carriers from normals. Absolute thresholds of the carriers were elevated significantly across the central 40° of the visual field. As a group, the threshold elevations of the carriers were approximately equal for the rod and cone systems
GENETIC STUDIES IN INBRED RATS. IV. XENOANTISERA AGAINST RAT ERYTHROCYTE (Ag‐C) ANTIGENS*

SUMMARY Antibodies to the erythrocyte Ag-C antigens were raised by immunizing New Zealand white rabbits with rat red cells. Evidence that Ag-C antigens are not on lymphocytes includes: (1) Ag-C could not be detected on rat peripheral, splenic or thymic lymphocytes by lymphocytotoxicity using anti-Ag-C antisera, (2) xeno-antisera prepared against rat lymphocytes from which Ag-B antibodies were absorbed did not agglutinate rat red cells, and (3) absorption of reagent Ag-C antisera with lymphocytes did not remove the anti-Ag-C activity. Platelets also failed to absorb Ag-C antibodies from reagent anti-Ag-C antisera. The mixed lymphocyte reaction between strains within the same major histocompatibility (Ag-B) group but differing in Ag-C type showed no stimulation. This finding corroborates the studies which failed to demonstrate Ag-C on lymphocytes. Isoagglutinins for red cells were not detected in any of the strains of rats tested, but rabbit xenoagglutinins to rat and sheep red cells were found. Reagent Ag-C antisera were used to type some previously unreported strains of inbred rats.
Autoimmunity in chronic urticaria and urticarial vasculitis.

In contrast to acute urticaria, etiology cannot be identified in most cases of chronic urticaria. Recent evidence suggests that a subset of patients with chronic urticaria may have an autoimmune basis for their condition. The demonstration of antithyroid autoantibodies in some patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) provides support for an association. However, the discovery of a positive skin test response to intradermal injection of autologous serum in as many as 60% of patients with CIU led to the identification of autoantibodies to IgE and the a-chain of the high-affinity IgE receptor, FceRIa. Additional studies have demonstrated that some of these autoantibodies are capable of releasing histamine from donor basophils and mast cells. This article reviews the literature that addresses a possible autoimmune etiology in a subset of patients with CIU. Urticarial vasculitis is differentiated from chronic urticaria based on clinical features and biopsy findings of leukocytoclastic vasculitis. Most cases of urticarial vasculitis are secondary to an underlying systemic disease. The presence of autoantibodies has also been demonstrated in a subset of patients with primary urticarial vasculitis. This article briefly reviews some of this data.
Regional foreclosures and Mexican remittances: Evidence from the housing market crisis

Abstract This study investigates the extent to which Mexican workers’ remittances are affected from the recent housing market decline in the United States. Results from a multivariate model reveal that an increase in the national U.S. foreclosure rate has a negative and statistically significant impact on Mexican remittances. At the regional level, foreclosure rates of the South and the West have a significant impact on workers’ remittances in the same negative direction. However, foreclosure rates from the North Central and East Central regions do not appear to have this statistically significant impact. Lastly, in contrast to previous results in the literature, real exchange rate movements and Mexican remittances seem to be insensitive to one another once the housing market is accounted for in the analysis.
Breast metastases from malignant melanoma.

We review here 15 patients with cutaneous malignant melanomas metastatic to the breast. All but one were premenopausal females with a median age of 38 years. Most patients had a primary lesion on the upper extremities or trunk (80%), with only one patient having a lower extremity primary. The median interval between diagnosis of the primary and breast involvement was 33 months, with one patient developing breast involvement 11 years later, at the time of her second pregnancy. Five patients had bilateral breast involvement, and all had other sites of metastases at the time of diagnosis. The median survival after diagnosis of breast metastases was 10 months, portending a poor prognosis. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
METHODS FOR THE CHEMICAL SYNTHESIS AND READOUT OF SELF-ENCODED ARRAYS OF POLYPEPTIDE ANALOGUES

The synthesis of defined arrays of polypeptide analogues in conjunction with a simple self-encoded chemical readout system provides a powerful method for the systematic investigation of the relationship between polypeptide molecular structure and function. A novel solid-phase synthesis procedure was used to prepare arrays of polypeptide analogues in which a specific modification was systematically incorporated into a unique position in a peptide sequence. The synthesis was carried out in such a way that the resulting arrays contained a defined family of modified peptides, with each peptide molecule containing only a single specific modification. The array of polypeptide analogues was self-encoded in a positional fashion by incorporating a selectively cleavable bond into the analogue structure. Following cleavage of the polypeptide analogue array, analysis of the resulting peptide fragments by MALDI mass spectrometry defined, in a single step, the presence and identity of each peptide analogue in the mixtu...
Reducing the risks posed by natural hazards and climate change: the need for a participatory dialogue between the scientific community and policy makers

Abstract In the last two decades we witnessed a progressive shift in the approach towards the reduction of the impact of natural hazards. From a general reactive approach, focusing on strengthening disaster response mechanisms, we have moved to proactive approaches. There has been recognition that each element of society, from public institutions to private sector, from community-based organizations to every single individual, can make a difference by acting before disasters strike to reduce the associated risks of human and economic losses. This proactive approach can be summarized in three words: Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). Today, DRR is an approach used in several sectors and research areas. In the Development sphere, DRR is considered a key feature for sustainability of economic and development gains – especially for developing countries. Significantly, the United Nations Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction (2009) is titled “Risk and poverty in a changing climate” highlighting the importance of DRR in reducing poverty while being a means to address the challenges posed by adaptation to climate change. This paper, which serves as an introduction to the special issue of Environment Science & Policy on climate change impact on water-related disasters, intends to provide readers with an overview of the main policy frameworks addressing DRR internationally and in Europe. Further, it aims to offer some “food for thought” on the underlying opportunities we have to enhance the resilience of our communities towards the risks posed by weather-related hazards. It stresses the importance of governance of risks, which starts from an effective dialogue between the scientific community and the policy makers: those who have the responsibility to decide on the most cost-effective interventions to address climate change adaptation and risk reduction.
Magnetic circular X-ray dichroism at an energy dispersive beamline at NSLS

Abstract An energy dispersive beamline at NSLS was modified to allow magnetic circular X-ray dichroism studies. The description of the apparatus is given. The new, much more stable, arrangement is tested and compared with the previous one. The data acquistion sequence is described. The polarization of the X-ray beam has been characterized by Compton polarimetry. Examples of the magnetic systems studied by MCXD are shown. Limitations of the experimental arrangement setup for energies above 10 keV are discussed.
Altruism or psychological escape: Why does empathy promote prosocial behavior?

Why does empathy promote prosocial behavior? Previous research suggests that empathically aroused individuals help those in need, even when physical escape from the need situation is easy, and this evidence has been used to support the claim that empathy evokes an altruistic motive. However, existing research has not addressed the possibility that empathically aroused participants help because ease of physical escape fails to provide adequate psychological escape from awareness of the victim's suffering and the aversive empathic arousal such awareness produces. The two experiments reported here examined this issue by directly manipulating empathic arousal and the perceived ease of psychological escape among potential helpers. In both experiments, higher rates of helping were observed among empathically aroused participants, even under conditions of easy psychological escape. The findings of both experiments suggest that empathy evokes an altruistic motive to reduce the victim's suffering rather than an egoistic aversive-arousal reduction motive. In addition, the results of Experiment 1 suggest that concern for psychological escape from the suffering of others may constitute an important independent prosocial motive in need of future study. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Durability and reliability of lightweight composite mirrors for space optical systems

Many future space optical systems are dependent on large apertures to achieve the collecting power or resolution necessary to meet mission goals. Traditional mirror materials such as glasses and metals result in optics which are heavy and costly to both fabricate and deploy. In recent years, an approach for fabricating large, lightweight, precision optics from fiber reinforced organic matrix composite materials has been developed and demonstrated. These mirror panels consist of composite facesheets bonded to an open cell core. A key element of this technology is the durability of the composite construction materials. Extensive testing has been performed on a number of composite materials based on carbon fiber and organic resins. Ultimately, a high modulus graphite fiber/cyanate ester composite system was chosen for the panel facesheets due to its superior mechanical properties, processability, thermal stability, radiation resistance, very low water absorption, and temporal stability. This program has successfully demonstrated the feasibility of fabricating space durable mirrors using composite materials technology.
The Ethics of Heparin Administration to the Potential Non-Heart-Beating Organ Donor

The increasing need and limited sources for organs has stimulated a renewed interest in non-heart-beating organ donation (NHBOD). NHBOD is the donation of organs from cadavers that have been declared dead by cardiopulmonary criteria. Emerging protocols for heparin administration to the potential non-heart-beating organ donor (NHBD) deserve scrutiny. This topic is presented within a limited discussion of organ donation in general. The definition of death has been refined to its present state because of the need for clear parameters in light of a desire to procure organs for transplant. The administration of heparin to the NHBD is intended to prevent the formation of blood clots in the kidneys and liver. Heparin at high doses is clearly not given for the benefit of the patient, and some professionals are concerned that administration may hasten death. Nurses are guided by codes that require the consideration of the ethical principles of autonomy, informed consent, beneficence, and justice while providing compassionate care. An eagerness to procure viable organs for positive transplant outcomes must not be the guiding force in protocols that allow the administration of heparin to the potential NHBD. Heparin administration is supported for these donors within specific parameters.
De novo assembly of the pepper transcriptome (Capsicum annuum): a benchmark for in silico discovery of SNPs, SSRs and candidate genes

Molecular breeding of pepper (Capsicum spp.) can be accelerated by developing DNA markers associated with transcriptomes in breeding germplasm. Before the advent of next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies, the majority of sequencing data were generated by the Sanger sequencing method. By leveraging Sanger EST data, we have generated a wealth of genetic information for pepper including thousands of SNPs and Single Position Polymorphic (SPP) markers. To complement and enhance these resources, we applied NGS to three pepper genotypes: Maor, Early Jalapeno and Criollo de Morelos-334 (CM334) to identify SNPs and SSRs in the assembly of these three genotypes. Two pepper transcriptome assemblies were developed with different purposes. The first reference sequence, assembled by CAP3 software, comprises 31,196 contigs from >125,000 Sanger-EST sequences that were mainly derived from a Korean F1-hybrid line, Bukang. Overlapping probes were designed for 30,815 unigenes to construct a pepper Affymetrix GeneChip® microarray for whole genome analyses. In addition, custom Python scripts were used to identify 4,236 SNPs in contigs of the assembly. A total of 2,489 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were identified from the assembly, and primers were designed for the SSRs. Annotation of contigs using Blast2GO software resulted in information for 60% of the unigenes in the assembly. The second transcriptome assembly was constructed from more than 200 million Illumina Genome Analyzer II reads (80–120 nt) using a combination of Velvet, CLC workbench and CAP3 software packages. BWA, SAMtools and in-house Perl scripts were used to identify SNPs among three pepper genotypes. The SNPs were filtered to be at least 50 bp from any intron-exon junctions as well as flanking SNPs. More than 22,000 high-quality putative SNPs were identified. Using the MISA software, 10,398 SSR markers were also identified within the Illumina transcriptome assembly and primers were designed for the identified markers. The assembly was annotated by Blast2GO and 14,740 (12%) of annotated contigs were associated with functional proteins. Before availability of pepper genome sequence, assembling transcriptomes of this economically important crop was required to generate thousands of high-quality molecular markers that could be used in breeding programs. In order to have a better understanding of the assembled sequences and to identify candidate genes underlying QTLs, we annotated the contigs of Sanger-EST and Illumina transcriptome assemblies. These and other information have been curated in a database that we have dedicated for pepper project.
Electrochemical reduction of quinones: interfacing experiment and theory for defining effective radii of redox moieties.

Using cyclic voltammetry, we examined the dependence of the reduction potentials of six quinones on the concentration of the supporting electrolyte. An increase in the electrolyte concentration, resulting in an increase in the solution polarity, caused positive shifts of the reduction potentials. We ascribed the observed changes in the potentials to the dependence of the solvation energy of the quinones and their anions on the media polarity. Analysis of the reduction potentials, using the Born solvation energy equation, yielded unfeasibly small values for the effective radii of the quinone species, that is, the experimentally obtained effective radii were up to 4-fold smaller than the radii of the solvation cavities that we calculated for the quinones. The nonspherical shapes of the quinones, along with the uneven charge density distribution in their anions, encompassed the underlying reasons for the discrepancies between the obtained experimental and theoretical values for the radii of these redox speci...
Inhibition of vitellogenin gene induction by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin is mediated by aryl hydrocarbon receptor 2 (AHR2) in zebrafish (Danio rerio).

Abstract Vitellogenins are hepatically derived yolk-protein precursors required for oogenesis in all oviparous teleosts. Altered gene-regulation of vitellogenesis by environmental contaminants can have profound effects on reproductive success, and ultimately population sustainability. To better understand chemical effects on vitellogenin gene regulation, we tested the hypothesis that activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor 2 (AHR2) by dioxin inhibits the estrogen receptor pathway regulation of 3 vitellogenin genes (vtg1–3) in vivo, using zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model teleost. Using an embryo–larval bioassay, embryos were either treated with 1000 pptr (parts-per-trillion, pg/mL) 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2) alone from 6 h post fertilization (hpf) to 4 days post fertilization (dpf), or pre-treated with dioxin (4–5 hpf) prior to EE2. Pre-treatment with 400 pptr 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD) or 1,2,3,7,8-pentachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin inhibited the EE2 induction of vtg1, vtg2 and vtg3 by >95% (p ≤ 0.05). In comparison, a splice-blocking AHR2 morpholino used to down-regulate ahr2 expression significantly reduced the inhibition of vtg1, vtg2 and vtg3 by 400 pptr 2,3,7,8-TCDD (20.7–27.4% rescue). These studies demonstrate that 2,3,7,8-TCDD directly inhibits the vitellogenin pathway in vivo through activation of the AHR2. This work provides evidence for AHR2 dependent cross-talk inhibition of vitellogenin genes and offers insight into anti-estrogenic reproductive effects observed in oviparous species exposed to AHR agonist contaminants.
Deep and bottom water of the Weddell Sea's western rim

Oceanographic observations from the Ice Station Weddell 1 show that the western rim of the Weddell Gyre contributes to Weddell Sea Bottom Water. A thin (< 300 meters), highly oxygenated benthic layer is composed of a low-salinity type of bottom water overlying a high-salinity component. This complex layering disappears near 66°S because of vertical mixing and further inflow from the continental margin. The bottom water flowing out of the western rim is a blend of the two types. Additionally, the data show that a narrow band of warmer Weddell Deep Water hugged the continental margin as it flowed into the western rim, providing the continental margin with the salt required for bottom-water production.
An iterative method for calculating hard-wall diffraction intensities

Abstract For the interpretation of atomic- and molecular-beam diffraction experiments, it is necessary to be able to calculate scattering intensities for given surface corrugations and scattering geometries correctly and efficiently. We present here a new iterative method, based on the hard-wall approximation, which has the advantages of programming simplicity, accuracy, and the avoidance of matrix inversions.
Direct Numerical Simulation of Pulsating Jet Mixing

In lean premixed combustors, the fuel/air ratio oscillation can cause a serious problem since it can produce pressure and heat release fluctuations, and further, combustion instability if it is well phased with them. In order to design a system where such air/fuel ratio fluctuation is well suppressed, it is important to understand the mixing process and its interaction with the flow structures inside a premixer. In this study, the flow-field of a pulsating jet and the mixing of the jet with the co-flow are examined using direct numerical simulation. The effects of the frequency and amplitude of the imposed pulsation on the flow structures and mixing process are investigated in detail. It is found that the modulation amplitude has a favorable effect on mixing, but the dependency on frequency is more complicated.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
A Rayleigh-Ritz Model for Dynamic Response and Buckling Analysis of Delaminated Composite Timoshenko Beams

This paper investigates the structural dynamic characteristics of laminate beams with various types of damage. More specifically, this work focuses on modeling delaminations of various sizes and locations within cantilevered laminate beams. Presented here is a RayleighRitz model which accounts for transverse and axial beam deformation as well as first-order shear deformation. Axial and bending stiffness properties of the beam are modeled using classical lamination theory. It is shown that the proposed Rayleigh-Ritz method greatly simplifies derivation, implementation, and computational cost of existing methods while still providing accurate results. Results show the effects of delamination size and location on the natural frequencies, mode shapes, and buckling loads of cantilever beams. Results from the analytical model are compared to those found using commercial finite element modeling software. Further comparisons will be made between the proposed model, and existing analytical and finite element models.
Disruption of normal gastric myoelectric functioning by sleep.

Study Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the effects of sleep on gastric myoelectric activity as measured by electrogastrography in healthy individuals. The goal was to elucidate the role of central influences in the regulation of normal gastric functioning. Design: Electrograstrogram (EGG) was recorded during polysomnographically monitored waking and sleep. Setting: Sleep laboratory. Participants: 17 healthy volunteers. Measurements and Results: EGG parameters were computed for 20–minute segments of pre–sleep waking, stage 2 sleep, stage 4 sleep, and REM sleep using both overall and running spectral analysis of EGG data. The dominant power decreased significantly from waking (31.4 ± 1.4 dB) to all sleep stages (23.1 ± 1.5 dB during stage 2; 24.7 ± 1.4 dB during stage 4; 24.3 ± 1.3 dB during REM sleep). The percentage of 2–4cpm activity decreased significantly during NREM sleep (64.6 ± 7.6% during stage 2 sleep; 57.5 ± 5.5% during stage 4 sleep) compared to its waking value (90.8 ± 3.2%), but not compared to REM sleep (74.1 ± 5.4%). The instability coefficient of the dominant frequency increased significantly from waking (0.19 ± 0.03) to all sleep stages (0.36 ± 0.05 during stage 2 sleep; 0.47 ± 0.05 during stage 4; 0.34 ± 0.05 during REM sleep). No significant differences between the sleep stages were found for any measure. Conclusions: Sleep is associated with increases in gastric dysrhythmia and instability of the gastric slow wave frequency when compared to waking. These findings suggest that the intrinsic electrical activity of the stomach is significantly influenced by central nervous system mechanisms, and support the notion of a brain–gut axis.
Hyperacusis as the Initial Presentation of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (P5.233)

OBJECTIVE: We report the first case of hyperacusis as the initial presentation of sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). BACKGROUND: Sporadic CJD is the most common form of human prion disease. Typical presenting complaints include cognitive decline, memory impairment, aphasia, diplopia, visual hallucinations, and mood changes. Perceptual disturbances including visual and auditory agnosias have been reported in the course of CJD, but are not typically the initial complaints. Few cases describe hearing loss as the initial symptom, but to our knowledge, hyperacusis has never been reported as the initial presenting complaint in CJD. DESIGN/METHODS: A 52-year-old man presented to an otolaryngologist with one month of hyperacusis and trouble discerning noises, including speech and music. He described the problem as an acoustic distortion whereby all sounds were odd and unfamiliar to him. Cerumen disimpaction failed to alleviate his symptoms and he was referred to a neurologist 4 months later with diffuse myalgias and neck pain, but had a normal neurological examination. RESULTS: Audiometry was normal but he reported discomfort in response to noises above 90dB bilaterally. A serum rheumatological panel was normal and HIV was negative. MRI revealed abnormal gyriform restricted diffusion in the bilateral parieto-occipital lobes. CSF analysis revealed WBC 0, protein 60, no oligoclonal bands. CSF was negative for lyme, HSV, 14-3-3, and total tau was within normal levels. Ten months after symptom onset, he developed hypophonia, dysarthria, diplopia, and ataxia. Two months later he could no longer work and had difficulty walking. A brain biopsy 13 months into his course revealed spongiform changes. An autopsy performed 21 months after symptom onset confirmed sporadic CJD with the MM2 genotype. CONCLUSIONS: We describe the first case of hyperacusis as the initial presenting complaint of CJD. This case highlights the wide spectrum of initial symptoms in patients with spongiform encephalopathy. Disclosure: Dr. Merkler has nothing to disclose. Dr. Safdieh has nothing to disclose.
Diagnosis of Avian Mycobacteriosis: Comparison of Culture, Acid-Fast Stains, and Polymerase Chain Reaction for the Identification of Mycobacterium avium in Experimentally Inoculated Japanese Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

Abstract In this study we compared culture, acid-fast stains, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection of acid-fast organisms in fecal and tissue samples from Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) that were experimentally inoculated intravenously with Mycobacterium avium. For culture, three different culture media (modified Herrold egg yolk with mycobactin; Lowenstein–Jensen [L-J]; and L-J with cyclohexamide, naladixic acid, and lincomycin) were tested to determine which medium had the greatest success in isolating mycobacteria. Acid-fast staining methods included Ziehl–Neelsen (Z-N) and Truant. The PCR assay detected mycobacterial DNA with primers specific for the 65-kD heat shock protein gene. Culture was considered the “gold standard.” Compared with other culture media, L-J yielded more positive cultures and greater numbers of colonies on positive tubes, and incubation times were shorter. Mycobacterium avium was isolated from all of the harvested tissue samples (liver, spleen, and in...
Impact of age, sex, and comorbidity on cancer therapy and disease progression.

A theme of personalized medicine was highlighted at the 2009 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. To this end, the current review focuses on the impact of host characteristics (such as age, sex, and comorbidity) as they pertain to cancer biology, treatment efficacy, and tolerance. Increasing age is associated with complex changes in physiology, including alterations in renal and hepatic function, and decreased bone marrow reserve. These may in turn result in alterations in pharmacokinetics and toxicity related to many commonly used anticancer agents. Using tools, such as the geriatric assessment, may help to elucidate the physiologic age of the patient as opposed to the chronologic age. Increasing age is paralleled by an increase in comorbidity, and comorbidity may have independent prognostic implications and substantially impact medical decision making in the patient with cancer. Numerous biologic ties between cancer and comorbidity exist, one example being an association of diabe...
A high efficiency DC MIC for PV energy harvest in FREEDM systems

The future renewable electric energy delivery and management (FREEDM) system provides a DC interface for alternative energy sources. As a result, photovoltaic (PV) energy can be easily delivered through a DC/DC converter to the FREEDM system's DC bus, without the requirement of an additional DC/AC inverter. For this PV converter, the module integrated converter (MIC) is a good candidate. In this paper, two types of DC MIC structures, parallel connected MICs and series connected MICs, have been compared; the parallel connected MICs have been shown to have more advantages. Then a high efficiency dual mode resonant converter topology is proposed for parallel connected DC MICs. The new resonant converter can change resonant modes adaptively depending on the panel voltage and generated power level. The operation principle of the proposed converter is explained and a DC gain analysis is performed based on the fundamental harmonic analysis (FHA) method. For performance evaluation, a 240W prototype has been built. Compared to LLC converter, the light load to medium load efficiency has been improved greatly and the maximum efficiency reaches 96.5% in the experiment.
Membrane-interaction QSAR analysis: application to the estimation of eye irritation by organic compounds.

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to explore a potential mechanism of eye irritation, and to construct a corresponding general quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) model, in terms of diversity of irritant chemical structure, based on the Draize eye irritation ECETOC data set.
The Network Maturity Model for Internet development

The Internet has attracted more than 50 million users during the past four years, and there is every indication that its growth will continue at a similar rapid pace. As use of both enterprise networks and the Internet continues to grow, addressing the need for quality is an increasingly important issue. The paper considers the Network Maturity Model, a process for defining and implementing business decisions about allocating development resources, engineering decisions about network layout and performance, and management decisions about network operations. NMM introduces sound business and engineering practices from the disciplines of systems engineering and project and quality management to the design and operation of complex networks.
A Study of Variable-Parameter Gaussian Mixture Hidden Markov Modeling for Noisy Speech Recognition

To improve recognition performance in noisy environments, multicondition training is usually applied in which speech signals corrupted by a variety of noise are used in acoustic model training. Published hidden Markov modeling of speech uses multiple Gaussian distributions to cover the spread of the speech distribution caused by noise, which distracts the modeling of speech event itself and possibly sacrifices the performance on clean speech. In this paper, we propose a novel approach which extends the conventional Gaussian mixture hidden Markov model (GMHMM) by modeling state emission parameters (mean and variance) as a polynomial function of a continuous environment-dependent variable. At the recognition time, a set of HMMs specific to the given value of the environment variable is instantiated and used for recognition. The maximum-likelihood (ML) estimation of the polynomial functions of the proposed variable-parameter GMHMM is given within the expectation-maximization (EM) framework. Experiments on the Aurora 2 database show significant improvements of the variable-parameter Gaussian mixture HMMs compared to the conventional GMHMMs
Protection of the health care and public health critical infrastructure and key assets

The theme of this special publication focuses on a broad range of science and technology issues as well as the economical, political, and policy interplays within the health care and public health critical infrastructures and key asset areas. This article will attempt to show that efforts are needed by all parties involved in areas for improving health care deliveries and the public health infrastructures, and critical aspects related to interoperability and the interdependence of processes and systems should be at the forefront of all future considerations. This special issue will, therefore, be centered around the topic of uninteroperability.
Divers' Accounts of Normal Risk

This research examines how deep sea divers learn to expand notions of risk to include practices that violate formal training and may increase vulnerability to injury. Cultural constructions of “normal” or acceptable risk are learned in interaction with experienced divers who define the rules of membership and provide accounts that excuse or justify participation in high risk activities. The research explores how novice divers learn to distinguish categories of formal, normal, and excessive risk as they expand their risk involvement and attempt to achieve membership in the deep diving subculture. The study concludes with a discussion of risk normalization in everyday life and other leisure and occupational subcultures.
Spatial and Temporal Resource Use by Feral and Abandoned Dogs

We compared spatial and temporal patterns of resource use by feral and abandoned domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) on the Navajo reservation in Arizona and New Mexico. Community dumps provide locally abundant food resources utilized both by feral dogs and dogs abandoned at the dump site. Although population parameters were much the same for feral and abandoned dogs, the use of space varied distinctly and reflected behavioral differences in the way each population responded to the absence of human control, the need to acquire food, and the developmental state of pups. Temporal use of resources by feral dogs varied seasonally with the age of pups in one pack, but not in a second pack. Priority of access to local resources may be influenced by aggressive interactions among dogs at a dump. Barking may serve to warn dogs already present at a dump that competitors have arrived.
CCN2/CTGF regulates neovessel formation via targeting structurally conserved cystine knot motifs in multiple angiogenic regulators

Blood vessels are formed during development and tissue repair through a plethora of modifiers that coordinate efficient vessel assembly in various cellular settings. Here we used the yeast 2-hybrid approach and demonstrated a broad affinity of connective tissue growth factor (CCN2/CTGF) to C-terminal cystine knot motifs present in key angiogenic regulators Slit3, von Willebrand factor, platelet-derived growth factor-B, and VEGF-A. Biochemical characterization and histological analysis showed close association of CCN2/CTGF with these regulators in murine angiogenesis models: normal retinal development, oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR), and Lewis lung carcinomas. CCN2/CTGF and Slit3 proteins worked in concert to promote in vitro angiogenesis and downstream Cdc42 activation. A fragment corresponding to the first three modules of CCN2/CTGF retained this broad binding ability and gained a dominant-negative function. Intravitreal injection of this mutant caused a significant reduction in vascular obliteration and retinal neovascularization vs. saline injection in the OIR model. Knocking down CCN2/CTGF expression by short-hairpin RNA or ectopic expression of this mutant greatly decreased tumorigenesis and angiogenesis. These results provided mechanistic insight into the angiogenic action of CCN2/CTGF and demonstrated the therapeutic potential of dominant-negative CCN2/CTGF mutants for antiangiogenesis.
On the possibility of contextual-quantitative inquiry

The potential contributions of quantitative methods are rarely discussed in the qualitative research and theoretical literatures in psychology. However, it is possible that some forms of quantitative research can fit theoretically within an interpretive framework and provide useful methodological resources for contextual, interpretive inquiries. Such research, which would examine dynamic modes of existence and lived experience in context, would extend more flexible and diverse methodological resources to researchers. This article describes how some types of quantitative research can perform this function and suggests several caveats regarding their use.
Conduction pathways in microtubules, biological quantum computation, and consciousness

Technological computation is entering the quantum realm, focusing attention on biomolecular information processing systems such as proteins, as presaged by the work of Michael Conrad. Protein conformational dynamics and pharmacological evidence suggest that protein conformational states-fundamental information units ('bits') in biological systems-are governed by quantum events, and are thus perhaps akin to quantum bits ('qubits') as utilized in quantum computation. 'Real time' dynamic activities within cells are regulated by the cell cytoskeleton, particularly microtubules (MTs) which are cylindrical lattice polymers of the protein tubulin. Recent evidence shows signaling, communication and conductivity in MTs, and theoretical models have predicted both classical and quantum information processing in MTs. In this paper we show conduction pathways for electron mobility and possible quantum tunneling and superconductivity among aromatic amino acids in tubulins. The pathways within tubulin match helical patterns in the microtubule lattice structure, which lend themselves to topological quantum effects resistant to decoherence. The Penrose-Hameroff 'Orch OR' model of consciousness is reviewed as an example of the possible utility of quantum computation in MTs.
Comparative Testing for Better Glycemic Control

Maintaining tight glycemic control (TGC) in critically ill patients is a big challenge. The challenge involves not just rapid turnaround time but also reliability of the methodology giving best accuracy. Point-of-care (POC) glucometers are the standard of care in bedside glucose management in most critical care units. The Food and Drug Administration standard for POC glucose analyzer accuracy recommends that average error be no more than 15% of reference values 1 ; however, the American Diabetic Association 1996 consensus statement 2 suggests the error in glycemic measurement should be no more than 5%. A major concern for accuracy in the analytical methods is the interference caused by various factors like abnormal hematocrit levels or the electrochemical abnormalities seen in the specimens of these hospitalized patients. Besides this, various medications used in the critical care setting and patient hematocrit have also been found to affect the performance of almost all glucose meter technologies available. 3,4 Many studies have shown that low hematocrit gives a high bias to glucose and, conversely, high hematocrit causes a low bias in glucose levels, regardless of the meter technology used. 5,6
The incomplete infrastructure for interhospital patient transfer.

Objective:Interhospital transfer of critically ill patients is a common part of their care. This article sought to review the data on the current patterns of use of interhospital transfer and identify systematic barriers to optimal integration of transfer as a mechanism for improving patient outcome
Explaining Foreign Economic Policy: A Comparison of U.S and West German Export Controls

This article analyzes differences between United States and West German export controls. It shows that United States controls are more extensive and stricter than controls in West Germany. Three possible explanations for this variation in policy are considered. First, these two states differ in regard to their positions in the international system and in their choice of economic strategies. Second, the extent of domestic political support for strict export control policies varies between the two countries. Finally, West Germany lacks the institutional framework to adequately control its foreign trade. The evidence presented corroborates the first two alternatives, while institutional explanations receive relatively little support. The article then discusses the historical development of United States and West German export control policies and institutions. The analysis shows evidence of both change and stability. More specifically, the article questions the argument that institutions in foreign economic policy, once established, persist and resist change, instead of adapting to environmental changes. Several hypotheses are considered to explain why in the area of export controls changes in policy, and to some extent institutions, occurred more frequently in West Germany than in the United States.
Identification of a loss-of-function mutation in Ube2l6 associated with obesity resistance

We previously mapped a locus on BALB/c chromosome 2 associated with protection from leptin-deficiency–induced obesity. Here, we generated the corresponding congenic mouse strain by introgression of a segment of C57BL/6J chromosome 2 to the BALB/c background to confirm the genotype–phenotype associations. We found that the BALB/c alleles decreased fat mass expansion by limiting adipocyte hyperplasia and adipocyte hypertrophy. This was concomitant to an increase in adipocyte triglyceride lipase (ATGL)-mediated triglyceride breakdown and prolongation of ATGL half-life in adipose tissue. In addition, BALB/c alleles on chromosome 2 exerted a cell-autonomous role in restraining the adipogenic potential of preadipocytes. Within a 9.8-Mb critical interval, we identified a nonsynonymous coding single nucleotide polymorphism in the gene coding for the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2L6 (Ube2l6, also known as Ubch8) and showed that the BALB/c allele of Ube2l6 is a hypomorph leading to the lack of UBE2L6 protein expression. Ube2l6 knockdown in 3T3-L1 adipocytes repressed adipogenesis. Thus, altered adipogenic potential caused by Ube2l6 knockdown is likely critically involved in BALB/c obesity resistance by inhibiting adipogenesis and reducing adipocyte numbers. Overall, we have identified a loss-of-function mutation in Ube2l6 that contributes to the chromosome 2 obesity quantitative trait locus.
Asynchronous transmural perfusion during coronary reactive hyperaemia

Dynamic variation in the transmural distribution of myocardial blood flow was studied in 36 anaesthetised open-chest dogs during the course of the reactive hyperaemia following a 90 s occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Myocardial blood flow was estimated from tissue uptake of radioactive microspheres, 9 to 10 μm in diameter. Endo/epi flow ratios indicated asynchronous reactive hyperaemic responses across the free wall of the left ventricle; flow was preferentially to subepicardium during the initial (pre-peak) phase, whereas flow was preferentially to subendocardium during the prolonged recovery phase. The mean of endo/epi flow ratios obtained during the peak plateau of coronary artery reactive hyperaemia indicated essentially uniform transmural distribution. However, further analysis indicated that this was result of ratios 1 late in the peak plateau. Reversal of the endo/epi flow ratios due to regionally asynchronous maximum flows is responsible for the prolonged plateau at peak flow observed in measurements of coronary artery reactive hyperaemia. Transmural asynchrony of peak reactive hyperaemic flow may also account for underestimates in vasodilator capability of ischaemia based on measurements of either coronary artery or myocardial blood flow.