cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ultrasound-guided, percutaneous peripheral nerve stimulation: technical note

Background Peripheral nerve stimulation is a form of neuromodulation that applies electric current to peripheral nerves to induce stimulation paresthesias within the painful areas. Objective To report a method of ultrasound-guided, percutaneous peripheral nerve stimulation. This technique utilizes real-time imaging to avoid injury to adjacent vascular structures during minimally invasive placement of peripheral nerve stimulator electrodes. Material and methods We describe a patient that presented with chronic, bilateral foot pain following multiple foot surgeries, for whom a comprehensive, pain management treatment strategy had failed. We utilized ultrasound-guided, percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation at a thigh level to provide durable pain relief on the right side, and open peripheral nerve stimulation on the left. Results The patient experienced appropriate stimulation paresthesias and excellent pain relief on the plantar aspect of the right foot with the percutaneous electrode. On the left side, we were unable to direct the stimulation paresthesias to the sole of the foot, despite multiple electrode repositionings. A subsequent, open placement of a left tibial nerve stimulator was performed. This revealed that the correct electrode position against the tibial nerve was immediately adjacent to the popliteal artery, and was thus not appropriate for percutaneous placement. Conclusion We describe a method of ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve stimulation that avoids the invasiveness of electrode placement via an open procedure while providing excellent pain relief. We further describe limitations of the percutaneous approach when navigating close to large blood vessels, a situation more appropriately managed with open peripheral nerve stimulator placement. Ultrasound-guided placement may be considered for patients receiving peripheral nerve stimulators placed within the deep tissues, and not easily placed in a blind fashion.
Mycobacterium bovis ΔleuD auxotroph-induced protective immunity against tissue colonization, burden and distribution in cattle intranasally challenged with Mycobacterium bovis Ravenel S

Bovine tuberculosis is a chronic granulomatous disease caused by Mycobacterium bovis. Lack of definitive diagnostics and effective vaccines for domestic animals are major obstacles to the control and eradication of bovine tuberculosis. Auxotrophic mutants of Mycobacterium tuberculosis have shown promise as vaccine candidates for preventing human tuberculosis. Similarly, we constructed a leucine auxotroph of M. bovis, by using allelic exchange to delete leuD (encoding isopropyl malate isomerase), creating a strain requiring exogenous leucine for growth in vitro. We vaccinated 10 cattle subcutaneously with 10(9)CFU of M. bovis DeltaleuD and 10 age-matched, gender-matched controls were injected with phosphate-buffered saline. Vaccinated cattle had significantly increased in vitro antigen-specific T-cell-mediated responses. All cattle were challenged intranasally on day 160 post-immunization with 10(6)CFU of virulent M. bovis Ravenel S. On day 160 post-challenge vaccinated cattle had significantly reduced tissue mycobacterial burdens and 6 of 10 had complete clearance of the challenge strain and histopathological lesions were dramatically less severe in the vaccinated group. Thus, a single subcutaneous immunization of the M. bovis DeltaleuD mutant produced highly significantly protective immunity as measured by a reduction in tissue colonization, burden, bacilli dissemination, and histopathology caused by virulent M. bovis Ravenel S challenge.
Administration of a Synthetic Peptide Derived from the E-domain Region of Mechano-Growth Factor Delays Decompensation Following Myocardial Infarction.

Administration of a Synthetic Peptide Derived from the E-domain Region of Mechano-Growth Factor Delays Decompensation Following Myocardial Infarction Insulin like growth factor-I (IGF-1) isoforms expressed differ structurally in their E-domain regions and their temporal expression profile in response to injury. We and others have reported that Mechano-growth factor (MGF), which is equivalent to human IGF-1c and rodent IGF-1Eb isoforms, is expressed acutely following myocardial infarction (MI) in the mouse heart.
Using NMR Spectroscopy To Probe the Chemo- and Diastereoselectivity in the NaBH4 Reduction of Benzoin Acetate and Benzoin Benzoate

A pedagogically useful discovery-based undergraduate organic chemistry lab experiment probing the chemo- and diastereoselectivity in the NaBH4 reduction of two chiral ketoesters (benzoin acetate and benzoin benzoate) has been developed. This experiment complements a previously described and highly popular discovery-based experiment that probes the stereoselectivity in the NaBH4 reduction of the chiral ketone (±)-benzoin. Using reactions described in standard textbooks, students convert (±)-benzoin to the ketoester derivatives (±)-benzoin acetate and (±)-benzoin benzoate. In contrast to benzoin that has a single reducible ketone functional group, the ketoester derivatives have two reducible functional groups. In addition, the structural modifications made to the hydroxyl group of the benzoin molecule lead to an increase in the effective steric bulk of the OH group of benzoin, affording a larger acetoxy group and an even larger benzoxy group. Using NMR spectroscopy, students probe not only the chemoselectiv...
When twitter meets foursquare: tweet location prediction using foursquare

The continued explosion of Twitter data has opened doors for many applications, such as location-based advertisement and entertainment using smartphones. Unfortunately, only about 0.58 percent of tweets are geo-tagged to date. To tackle the location sparseness problem, this paper presents a methodical approach to increasing the number of geo-tagged tweets by predicting the fine-grained location of those tweets in which their location can be inferred with high confidence. In order to predict the fine-grained location of tweets, we first build probabilistic models for locations using unstructured short messages tightly coupled with semantic locations. Based on the probabilistic models, we propose a 3-step technique (Filtering-Ranking-Validating) for tweet location prediction. In the filtering step, we introduce text analysis techniques to filter out those location-neutral tweets, which may not be related to any location at all. In the ranking step, we utilize ranking techniques to select the best candidate location for a tweet. Finally, in the validating step, we develop a classification-based prediction validation method to verify the location of where the tweet was actually written. We conduct extensive experiments using tweets covering three months and the results show that our approach can increase the number of geo-tagged tweets 4.8 times compared to the original Twitter data and place 34% of predicted tweets within 250m from their actual location.
Intrauterine infusion of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) prior to mating has no adverse effect on fertility, fetal survival and fetal development

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS, endotoxin) is a component of the cell wall of gram-negative bacteria and a potent inducer of severe inflammatory reactions. In mice, systemically administered LPS induces fetal resorption and increases fetal mortality. However, effects of intrauterine LPS on fertility, fetal survival and development have not been reported. In the present study, pigs were used to determine the effect of intrauterine infused LPS on fertility, fetal survival and development. Prior to mating, gilts received intrauterine infusion of either a single dose of saline or increasing doses of LPS in saline using an insemination catheter. On day 30 of pregnancy, gilts were hysterectomized and litter size, fetal length, number of corpora lutea (CL), ovarian and placental weights, and allantoic and amniotic fluid volumes were recorded. Blood progesterone levels from days 10-30 of pregnancy were also determined. Results indicated that intrauterine infusion of LPS had no adverse effects on blood progesterone levels, fertility, fetal survival or fetal development. Intrauterine injection of LPS did cause an increase in fetal weight and amniotic fluid volume (P < 0.05). These results suggest that sperm, oocytes and gametes are tolerant of local LPS challenge and, to some extent, this mechanism protects gametes and conceptuses from maternal response to mating introduced bacteria and their potential endotoxins.
Evaluating MAPSec by marking attack graphs

MAPSec has recently been introduced as a security protocol for mobile telecommunication networks in the midst of numerous threats and vulnerabilities. Our initial study reveals that MAPSec can only provide protection coverage to a minor portion of the total network vulnerabilities. Motivated by this discovery, we have devised a toolkit--Cellular Network Vulnerability Assessment Toolkit for Evaluation (eCAT) to identify: (1) Exact protection coverage of MAPSec, in terms of percentage of attacks prevented; (2) Other kinds of security protocols required in addition to MAPSec; and (3) The most vulnerable network areas. We use the results from eCAT in Coverage Measurement Formulas (CMF) to identify other vulnerabilities. Results from eCAT are dually useful in that they not only reveal MAPSec's limited effectiveness but also provide insights into overall network vulnerabilities.
Ovarian and behavioral cyclicity of the laboratory maintained cat.

Abstract This study examined the sexual behavior-ovarian activity relationship of the laboratory cat maintained under consistent environmental conditions. Mean (±SEM) lengths of estrus for nonovulating, mated ovulating, and human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG)-induced ovulating queens were 5.8 ± 0.17, 6.5 ± 0.75, and 10.0 ± 0.65 days, respectively. The duration of estrus was significantly (P
Gonads, spermatic ducts, and spermatogenesis in the reproductive system of male toadfish,Opsanus tau

The testes ofOpsanus tau are paired, elongated organs lying along the dorsal body wall. They are drained by a series of spermatic ducts which remain separate throughout their length and which empty their contents into the cloaca via a small genital papilla. Spermatogenesis occurs cyclically within cysts which line the testis tubules. Maturation and division occur simultaneously in all of the cells within the cyst. Six distinct stages of spermatogenesis have been recognized and described. With phase microscopy, sperm differentiation was investigated and described. Two tails are characteristic of the sperm of this species.
KINETICS AND MECHANISMS OF REACTIONS OF ALKYL HYDROPEROXIDES WITH METHYLRHENIUM OXIDES

Aqueous methyldioxorhenium (MDO), prepared from methyltrioxorhenium (MTO) and hypophosphorous acid, abstracts an oxygen atom from tertiary alkyl hydroperoxides. This regenerates MTO and forms the t...
Electrical properties of oxidized polycrystalline silicon as a gate insulator for n-type 4H-SiC MOS devices

Abstract MOS capacitors were produced on n-type 4H-SiC using oxidized polycrystalline silicon (polyoxide). The polyoxide samples grown by dry oxidation without an anneal had a high interface state density ( D it ) of 1.8 × 10 12 cm −2 eV −1 and the polyoxide samples grown by wet oxidation had a lower D it of 1.2 × 10 12 cm −2 eV −1 (both at 0.5 eV below the conduction band). After 1 h Ar annealing, the D it of wet polyoxide was reduced significantly to 2.6 × 10 11 cm −2 eV −1 (at 0.5 eV below the conduction band). Dry polyoxide exhibits higher breakdown electric fields than wet polyoxide. The interface quality and breakdown characteristics of polyoxide are comparable to published results of low-temperature CVD deposited oxides.
Polydipsia in the chronically mentally ill: a review.

Abstract Polydipsia, or excessive intake of water, is reviewed in the chronically mentally ill from a nursing perspective. The purpose of this article is to review research related to excessive water ingestion, the magniture and types of problems that these patients experience, and the treatment interventions reported. Future research and practice should focus on understanding the patient's experience of polydipsia and how it relates to the patient's level of functioning, testing assessment tools, and determining appropriate interventions.
Decreased expression of the reduced folate carrier and folypolyglutamate synthetase is the basis for acquired resistance to the pemetrexed antifolate (LY231514) in an L1210 murine leukemia cell line

Abstract Pemetrexed (LY231514) is a new-generation antifolate that, in its polyglutamyl forms, is a potent inhibitor of thymidylate synthase and glycinamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase (GAR transformylase). This study explored the mechanisms of resistance to pemetrexed in L1210 murine leukemia cells using chemical mutagenesis with 5-formyltetrahydrofolate (5-formylTHF) as the growth substrate. A cell line, MTA-13, was identified that was 8.5-fold resistant to pemetrexed with comparable cross-resistance to ZD1694 (Tomudex) and lesser cross-resistance (5-fold) to ZD9331 [(2S)-2-{O-fluoro-p-[N-(2,7-dimethyl-4-oxo-3,4-dihydro-quinazolin-6-ylmethyl)-N-(prop-2-ynyl)amino]benzamido}-4-(tetrazol-5-yl)-butyric acid], DDATHF (dideazatetrahydrofolate) (3.5-fold), and methotrexate (MTX) (2.7-fold) but comparable sensitivity to trimetrexate. Influx of pemetrexed, MTX, and 5-formylTHF into MTA-13 cells was decreased by 56, 47, and 38% compared to wild-type cells. Folate receptor expression was negligible in both cell lines. Net drug uptake declined within 15 min to a slower, constant rate over the next 45 min, reflecting the rate of accumulation of pemetrexed polyglutamate derivatives. This rate in the MTA-13 line was half that of the wild-type cells. Accumulation of 50 nM [ 3 H ]pemetrexed, 25 nM [ 3 H ]5-formylTHF, or 50 nM [ 3 H ]DDATHF after 3 days was decreased to 35, 46, and 56% the level of L1210 cells. The reduced folate carrier (RFC) message and protein were decreased by 50%, and folypolyglutamate synthetase (FPGS) message was decreased by 65% in MTA-13 cells. No mutations were detected in either protein by DNA sequence analysis. There was a slight decrease (∼25%) in thymidylate synthase mRNA, without mutations in the protein, and there was no change in GAR transformylase message. The data indicate that resistance to pemetrexed in the MTA-13 cell line was due to changes in both RFC and FPGS expression, two proteins that act in tandem to regulate polyglutamation of folates and antifolates in cells, resulting in cellular depletion of these active pemetrexed congeners.
Life Expectancy Biases in Clinical Decision Modeling

Clinical decision models often rely upon survival models predicated on disease-specific hazard functions combined with baseline hazard functions obtained from standard life tables. Two biases may arise in such a modeling process. First, life expectancy estimates may be biased even if estimates of survival probabilities are unbiased (misestimation bias). In simulation studies, the authors discovered that the magnitude of misestimation bias is larger as life expectancy increases, sample size decreases, and censoring percentage increases. In the context of a simple decision analysis, they found that imbalances in the sample sizes for the data used to estimate the parameters among different strategies resulted in non-optimal decisions in the long run. The second bias stems from misspecification of the survival model itself (misspecification bias). Using a simple cost-effectiveness model, the authors found that life expectancies and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios differed depending on whether an excess-mortality or a proportional-hazards model was specified. In addition, a predictable pattern was observed for these two survival models when extrapolated to other age and gender groups.
Re-evaluation of Adhesive Fracture Energy

Abstract A model to evaluate the Energy Release Rate (ERR) of adhesives using the Double Cantilever Beam (DCB) specimen is described. The model accounts for the adhesive bond thickness and its material properties. The analysis, considered as an improvement to the built-in cantilever beam model, treats the adherend as a finite beam which is partly free and partly supported by an elastic foundation and the adhesive bond as a thin strip under prescribed displacement. The results show significant effect of the adhesive parameters on the total ERR and that the built-in cantilever model underestimates the ERR. In general, the contribution of the adhesive bond to the ERR increases for softer adhesives, shorter cracks and thicker bonds.
Pore diffusion in silver catalysts

Diffusion rates were measured at atmospheric pressure and room temperature for helium and nitrogen in pelleted silver catalysts. Pellets were prepared from three silver salts giving different micropore characteristics. The data showed that the diffusion was of the bulk type and that the micropores had no effect, indicating that mass transfer was predominantly in the macropore region. For each kind of material data were obtained for five pellet densities corresponding to macropore volume fractions from 0 up to 0.7. Effective diffusivities and labyrinth factors ψ were evaluated and found to increase with macropore porosity. The linear relationship between ψ and void fraction proposed by Buckingham for diffusion through soils fitted the data at high void fractions. A generalized form of the Maxwell equation containing three constants was derived. A single-constant form of this expression agreed reasonably well with the measured results over the entire range of macropore volume fraction.
Fertility Politics as “Social Viagra”: Reproducing Boundaries, Social Cohesion, and Modernity in Italy

In this article, we investigate the delicacy of adopting pronatalism as a public position in Italy. Mounting scientific and political knowledge about the demographic "problem" exposes a new hegemonic formation that low fertility is dangerous. Drawing on ethnographic contexts, political debates, media publications, and policy documents, we trace the "demographic emergency" and compare two policies: a monetary baby bonus and a law restricting assisted reproduction. The coexistence of incentives to counter superlow fertility with prohibitions on high-tech baby making reflect the contested governance of "social cohesion." We conclude that scholarly and popular discourses serve as a sort of "social Viagra." Ultimately, both policies sought to rejuvenate family norms. Both aimed to fortify the political terrain of a nation-state struggling to achieve and maintain modernity against a backdrop of immigration and aging. Modernity became a weapon of the state to exert control over Italian fertility practices and of its critics to deploy orientalizing representations of backwardness.
Cardiac resynchronization: the flow of activation sequence.

Although cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has become a mainstay of therapy for systolic heart failure refractory to medical management for over a decade, more than 30% of CRT recipients do not respond clinically to the intervention. Ideally, cardiologists should be able to predict those who
TH-C-352-03: Introduction and Clinical Use of Electronic Brachytherapy

Electronic Brachytherapy (EBT) is internal radiation therapy that involves placing a miniature x‐ray source inside the patient close to or in the tumor. Recently, one EBT system (Axxent, Xoft Inc., Fremont, CA) has been released for clinical use. Because of its novelty, EBT has been relatively unstudied thus far in the clinical setting and is consequently unfamiliar to many medical physicists. The EBT modality offers several advantages over the Ir‐192 standard of care HDR brachytherapy source. Because of the relatively low energy of the EBT device (50 kV), treatments can be delivered in an unshielded room in contrast to the shielding required for HDR brachytherapy. The low external exposure rate also allows staff to remain near the treatment couch during dose delivery, offering the opportunity to provide comfort and encouragement in close proximity to the patient. As yet, recommendations for the commissioning of an EBT system have not been officially drafted. However, commissioning an EBT system should include tests of well‐chamber constancy, beam stability, source positional accuracy, output stability, timer linearity, dummy marker/source position coincidence, controller functionality and safety interlocks and treatment planning data verification following AAPM TG43 recommendations. Early EBT systems focused on treatment of the breast, using an intracavitary balloon catheter surgically implanted in a lumpectomy excision cavity. In comparison to Ir‐192, the EBT treatment results in a higher dose on the applicator surface, an equivalent distribution over the target region and a lower dose to normal structures around the implant area. Recent FDA clearances will allow the extension of EBT to additional sites, including endometrial applications. This lecture will provide an overview of EBT, a commissioning procedure, and examples of its clinical use. Educational Objectives: 1. Gain basic knowledge of EBT as a potential HDR‐alternative treatment modality. 2. Understand a proposed commissioning protocol for an EBT system. 3. Learn about the current clinical uses for EBT. Conflict of Interest: Partial financial support was provided by Xoft, Inc.
The Co-Continuous Micro-Porous PLLA Scaffolds and Their Application for ACL Reconstruction

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructive surgery is a major health concern world-wide because of a large aging population and increased occurrence of sport-related damage. Tissue engineering is a rapidly growing interdisciplinary field that offers a promising new approach for ACL repair. In order to overcome the shortages of current existing surgical fixation devices, we are combining gradient cellular structure (GCS) injection molding technique and biomedical engineering to develop novel surgical fixation devices (screw, anchor, plate, pin, staple, etc.) that not only incorporate bioactive materials such as growth factors, healing drugs and cells, but have natural bone GCS structure, intended to mimic the natural bone and promote bone tissue growth and eventually eliminate the defects associated with existing surgical fixation devices. In this work, a series of novel poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) scaffolds with micro-porous structure were prepared by injection molding an immiscible polymer blend, with spatially controlled thermal conditioning to adjust the phase size from core to surface. The produced scaffolds were observed under SEM, which shows a co-continuous structure was created successfully through our method. The biocompatibility and the feasibility of produced micro-porous structural PLLA and PLLA/HA scaffolds as a matrix supporting cell growth tested by culturing murine osteoblasts cell line (7F2) for up to 9 days were assessed by Alamar Blue™ assay, which showed that the manufacturing process had no negative effects on cell proliferation. The cell attachment, spreading, migration and proliferation to confluence were assessed by fluorescent nuclear staining with Hoechst 33258. In order to evaluate the functional and cell biological applicability of the micro-porous structural PLLA scaffolds, a subcutaneous biodegradation test was performed through rat model for 1 week and 1 month time period, respectively. Our results showed that the micro-porous structural PLLA scaffolds are non-toxic, and they showed a mild foreign body reaction and complete fibrous encapsulation after implantation. Well created interconnected porous structure and biocompatibility suggest great potential of the micro-porous PLLA scaffolds in application for ACL reconstruction.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Lipid extraction and iontophoretic transport of leuprolide acetate through porcine epidermis.

The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of lipid extraction by the simple alkyl acetates of increasing carbon chain lengths (e.g. methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, and octyl acetates) and iontophoresis on the in-vitro transport of leuprolide acetate through porcine epidermis. The extent of lipid extraction from the stratum corneum (SC) by alkyl acetates was studied by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Ethyl, propyl, pentyl, hexyl, and octyl acetates significantly increased (P<0.05) the permeability of leuprolide acetate through the epidermis in comparison to the control (epidermis without alkyl acetate treatment). Iontophoresis further increased (P<0.05) the permeability of leuprolide acetate for all the alkyl acetates studied, when compared to their corresponding passive permeability. Ethyl acetate produced the maximum passive (13.47 μg/cm2/h) and iontophoretic (89.79 μg/cm2/h) flux among all the alkyl acetates studied. The SC treated with alkyl acetates showed a decrease in peak heights and areas of asymmetric and symmetric CH stretching absorbances in comparison to untreated SC. A greater percentage decrease in peak heights and areas was obtained by ethyl acetate. Chloroform:methanol(2:1) [C:M(2:1)] was used as a positive control for lipid extraction. Our findings provide evidence that alkyl acetates cause lipid extraction, which leads to an enhancement in the passive and iontophoretic permeability of leuprolide acetate.
Line shapes in resonant photoemission spectra

Photoemission involving an intermediate core-hole \ensuremath{\rightarrow} bound-valence transition shows a strong resonance enhancement as the photon energy is tuned through the intermediate-state transition energy. We have studied the effects of electronic relaxation in both intermediate and final states on the line shapes of this resonant photoemission spectra. We consider two simple models of the relaxation process---discrete plasmon-type relaxation and continuous electron-hole-pair relaxation models---and calculate the photoemission cross section as a function of both final photoelectron energy $\ensuremath{\epsilon}$ and incident photon energy $\ensuremath{\omega}$. In the case of discrete plasmon-type relaxation, $\ensuremath{\omega}$ dependence of the plasmon satellite strength shows qualitative differences depending on the plasmon coupling constants in the intermediate and final states. If a damping or dispersion of plasmons is included, there appears a new peak at fixed electron kinetic energy in addition to the usual plasmon satellite peak, which we call a "fluorescent electron emission peak," as a result of intermediate-state relaxation. In the continuous electron-hole-pair case, the Doniach-Sunjic asymmetry parameter depends on the incident photon energy $\ensuremath{\omega}$. This $\ensuremath{\omega}$ dependence arises because the system has a longer time to adjust towards the fully relaxed intermediate state when the system is on resonance, while the final-state relaxation determines the line shape off resonance.
Is needle electromyography safe in patients on anticoagulation or antiplatelet therapy

Needle electromyography (EMG) is a valuable diagnostic tool in the evaluation of the PNS and yet the risk of complications with this procedure in patients on anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications is unknown. Guidelines recommend caution when performing needle EMG in patients with disturbances of hemostasis because of the risks of intramuscular hemorrhage or other bleeding. This commentary reviews a study by Lynch et al. that investigated the risk of hematoma formation following needle EMG of the tibialis anterior muscle in 158 patients on antiplatelet or anticoagulant medications. The authors used a standardized approach to the needle examination, followed by application of direct pressure to the insertion site after removal of the needle. Three hematomas were detected--two in patients on warfarin, and one in a patient taking clopidogrel. None of the patients had symptomatic bleeding. These results indicate that the risk of hematoma formation is low following needle EMG when direct pressure is applied after removal of the needle.
Gender and the effect of gonadal hormones on the progression of inherited polycystic kidney disease in rats

Human autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a common inherited disease and displays a gender dimorphism in renal disease progression. Han:SPRD-Cy rats manifest a form of ADPKD that is similar in many respects to that seen in humans. In Han:SPRD rats, male Cy/+ rats have more prominent renal changes and develop renal failure at an early age, whereas female Cy/+ rats exhibit less severe renal cystic change and have normal renal function until advanced age. To determine whether the male gonadal hormone, testosterone, contributes to this gender dimorphism, males were sham operated or castrated; some castrated rats were repleted with 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone. Female rats were sham operated or ovariectomized before sham operation or testosterone treatment. All treatments started at 4 weeks of age and ended at 10 weeks of age. Renal enlargement, cystic change, and renal function were assessed. In the males, castration reduced renal enlargement and cystic change; testosterone treatment abrogated these effects. Neither of these manipulations affected azotemia in male Cy/+ rats. In the females, testosterone was renotropic for both normal and cystic kidneys. In the Cy/+ females, testosterone treatment caused azotemia and an increase in the severity of the PKD. Ovariectomy blunted the effect of testosterone on cystic kidney enlargement. Testosterone treatment did not completely erase the gender-associated differences in azotemia in the Cy/+ rat. These data confirm the renotropic effects of testosterone and indicate that testosterone influences the progression of renal cystic change in male and female rats with ADPKD.
Effects of convulsant barbiturates on vascular smooth muscle

The convulsant barbiturate, 5-(2-cyclohexylidene-ethyl)-5-ethyl barbituric acid (cheb), produces contraction in rabbit aortic strips. Contractions effected by either cheb or tyramine were preceded by a lag time and both agents induced tachyphylaxis; however, cross-tachyphylaxis could not be demonstrated. Phenoxybenzamine and atropine failed to affect cheb-induced responses, whereas pentobarbitone selectively blocked and also reversed cheb contractions. Prevention, but not reversal, of tachyphylaxis was also accomplished with pentobarbitone. These results suggest that cheb does not act through the release of noradrenaline or acetylcholine; nor does it exert an effect on the receptors for these amines or on those for histamine. Pentobarbitone, however, appears to compete with cheb for common receptors. Another convulsant barbiturate, 5-ethyl-5-(dimethylbutyl)barbituric acid (dmbb), and its optical isomers were also examined. The racemic mixture had no contractile activity, but the (+)-isomer elicited cheb-like effects. The (-)-isomer, on the other hand, was like pentobarbitone in that it antagonized both cheb- and (+)-dmbb-induced contractions. These studies illustrate that convulsant barbiturates are able to stimulate vascular smooth muscle; therefore, it is suggested that the rabbit aortic strip may serve as an in vitro working model for study of the mechanism of action of these drugs in the central nervous system.
Accumulation and movement of phosphorus from poultry litter application on a Starr clay loam

Abstract The poultry industry faces tremendous challenges for the economically sound and environmentally safe disposal of the massive amounts of waste it generates during production processes. This study was conducted to investigate the accumulation and downward movement of phosphorus (P) from surface application of poultry litter (PL) on a Starr clay loam (fine‐loamy, mixed, thermic Fluventic Dystrochrepts). Poultry litter was surface applied to unimproved pasture at rates of 5.8, 11.4, 17.2, 22.9, and 28.7 mt/ha in 1991 and 4.1, 8.0, 12.1, 16.1, and 20.2 mt/ha in 1992, respectively. Cumulative P levels supplied by the PL over the two‐year period were 105.8, 211.7, 317.5, 423.3, and 529.1 kg/ha. Phosphorus from both PL and inorganic sources accumulated in the zone of application. The Mehlich 3 (M3)‐extractable P levels varied with rate of P application for each of the two years of this study. In 1992, M3‐extractable P levels were increased by 2‐, 4‐, 6‐, and 8‐fold over the control by PL application in t...
Mu-Synthesis for Magnetic Bearings: Why Use Such a Complicated Tool?

The emergence of sophisticated formal control synthesis tools provokes important questions for any prospective user: why learn to use these new tools, what will they buy me? In synthesis of magnetic bearing controllers, it turns out that the range of stabilizing controllers is often quite narrow so that the difference between a poor controller and an “optimal” one may be small. Hence, the product of formal control synthesis tools often looks and performs much like what a reasonably clever control engineer would produce by hand. We argue here that the real value of these tools lies in a) generation of a performance benchmark which can be used to firmly establish the best performance relative to a specification and b) change of design parameter space to one which is relatively easy to maintain and represents a durable investment from an engineering process view.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Myths and Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Despite the fact that patients with mild traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are commonly encountered in clinical practice, there are numerous myths surrounding their diagnosis, assessment, and outcome. The purpose of this paper is to review some of the more common myths related to mild TBI including: (a) there is no Miserable Minority; (b) meta-analytic studies have proven that patients with mild TBI do not experience persistent deficits; (c) personality tests can reliably capture psychological problems in patients with a mild TBI; (d) findings from the sports concussion literature can be directly applied to clinical patients; and (e) in the absence of loss of consciousness, the diagnosis of a mild TBI is uncertain.
Equivalences Among Relational Expressions with the Union and Difference Operators

Queries in relational databases can be formulated in terms of relational expressions using the relational operations select, project, join, union, and difference The equivalence problem for these queries is studied with query optimization m mind It ts shown that testmg eqmvalence of relational expressions with the operators select, project, join, and union is complete m the class FIt of the polynomial-time hierarchy A nonprocedural representation for queries formulated by these expressions is proposed This method of query representation can be viewed as a generahzatlon of tableaux or conjunctive queries (which are used to represent expressions with only select, project, and join) Furthermore, this method is extended to queries formulated by relatmnal expressions that also contain the difference operator, provided that the project operator is not applied to subexpresstons with the difference operator A procedure for testing eqmvalence of these queries is given It ts shown that testmg containment of tableaux is a necessary step in testing equivalence of queries with union and difference Three important cases m which containment of tableaux can be tested m polynomial time are described, although the containment problem is shown to be NP-complete even for tableaux that correspond to expressions with only one project and several join operators
School-Based Consultants as Change Facilitators: Adaptation of the Concerns-Based Adoption Model (CBAM) to Support the Implementation of Research-Based Practices

The Concerns-Based Adoption Model (CBAM) is proposed as a heuristic for school-based consultants interested in identifying impact points for facilitating implementation of research-based practices and programs in classrooms and schools. The article begins with a discussion of the change facilitator's role in promoting changes in educational practices and a description of six essential strategies consultants can use to facilitate change. Background on CBAM's development and its applications in school environments also are provided. In addition, CBAM's three diagnostic frameworks (i.e., Stages of Concern, Levels of Use, and Innovation Configurations) are outlined and proposals for using CBAM assessment data to support educators' use of research-based practices are discussed. Limitations of the model and implications for further research are presented.
On the Reproducing Formula of Calderon

Let \(1 < p < \infty, h \in L_p ({\Bbb R}),\) and \(f \in L_{p^\prime} ({\Bbb R}).\) Under certain conditions on \(h,\) we shall prove that \(\int_y^\infty (h_t \ast f)(x)\,dt/t\) converges nontangentially to \(f(x_0)\) at \((x_0,0)\) for \(a.a.\, x_0.\)
Effect of the new standards for case logging on resident operative volume: doing better cases or better numbers?

Objectives The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) modified the designation of major (index) operative cases to include those previously considered “minor.” This study assessed the potential effect of these changes on resident operative experience. Methods With Institutional Review Board approval, we analyzed National Surgical Quality Improvement Program participant use files for 2005–2008 for general and vascular surgery cases. Primary CPT case coding was mapped to the ACGME major case category using both the old and new classification schemes. The variables were analyzed using χ2 analysis in SPSS IBM 19 (IBM, Armonk, New York). Results A total of 576,019 cases were reviewed. Major cases as defined by the new classification represented an increasing proportion of the cases each year, rising from 88.3% in 2005 to 95% by 2008 (p Conclusions Although some operative cases newly classified as major are technically advanced procedures (eg, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass), other cases are not (eg, breast lesion excision), which raises the issue as to whether the major case category has been diluted by less demanding case types. The implications of these findings may suggest preservation of case volumes at the expense of case quality.
Distancing oneself from a poor season: Divestment of athletic identity

Abstract Athletes can experience loss in the form of chronic competitive failure, deselection, injury, and sport career termination. Reactions to these losses may affect and be affected by athletes' self-identity. Although the self has generally been conceptualized as stable in sport-related research, there are compelling theoretical and empirical reasons to expect that aspects of the self may vary across sport situations. In this investigation, two studies were conducted to test the hypothesis that sport participants would reduce their self-identification with the athlete role in response to the personal loss resulting from a poor competitive season. Male intercollegiate athletes completed preseason and late season assessments of athletic identity in both Study 1 and Study 2. As predicted, participants who were not satisfied with their performances during the season tended to decrease their athletic identity to a greater extent than participants who were satisfied with their performances during the seaso...
Wind tunnel simulation of wind loading on low-rise structures: a review

Abstract A review of existing and new considerations for the assessment of wind loads on low-rise structures from wind tunnel simulation experiments is presented. Attention is given to the aerodynamics of surface-mounted prisms, followed by a discussion of the atmospheric flow characteristics near the surface under a variety of atmospheric and upwind terrain conditions. In the final section, detailed recommendations and requirements are presented for the appropriate conduct of these experiments. The content of this article provides detailed justification for wind tunnel simulations based primarily on the duplication of the turbulence intensities and small-scale turbulence of the incident flow. In order to satisfy the latter requirement, it is recommended to utilize models of low-rise buildings that have a scale not smaller than 1:50. Less emphasis should be placed on duplication of the integral scale of the turbulence, as duplication of both scales requires equality of the Reynolds number that cannot be achieved in wind tunnels. Duplication of either the Jensen number ( H / z o ) or the power-law exponent of the mean velocity profile is insufficient to guarantee the proper duplication of the necessary turbulence parameters. For homogeneous upwind terrain and near-neutral stability, the pertinent turbulence parameters can be obtained from basic principles without the use of empiricism. For terrain with scattered upwind obstacles (Δ x >15), the turbulence parameters can be obtained above the blending height with the use of the “regional” roughness length. For a closer spacing of the roughness obstacles (Δ x Comparison of either flow or pressure measurements requires that both the sampling rate and record length be properly matched in model and full scale. Comparison of peak pressure coefficients is only meaningful if they have the same level of probability.
Reactive and Nonreactive Quenching of OH(A 2Σ+) in Collisions with H Atoms†

We use trajectory surface hopping methods to calculate cross sections and rate coefficients for reactive and nonreactive quenching of OH(A 2Σ+) in collisions with H atoms. All calculations are based on multireference configuration interaction potential surfaces for the 11A‘ and 21A‘ surfaces of water, using a diabatic representation to describe electronic transitions. The overall rate of quenching plus reaction is in good agreement (lower by 25−30%) with earlier estimates at 300 and 1500 K. Analysis of the trajectories shows that this rate is dominated by a capture mechanism on the 21A‘ state of water, with a nearly unity probability for hopping to the 11A‘ state following formation of a short-lived collision complex. Both reactive and nonreactive decay of the complex are significant, with branching to H + OH (nonreactive quenching), H + OH (atom exchange with quenching), and O(1D) + H2 (reaction) accounting for approximately 45%, 35%, and 20%, respectively, of the product yield. The cross section for ato...
Septa and processes: convergent evolution of the orbit in haplorhine primates and strigiform birds

According to the "nocturnal visual predation hypothesis" (NVPH), the convergent eyes and orbits of primates result from selection for improved stereoscopic depth perception to facilitate manual capture of prey at night. Within primates, haplorhines share additional derived orbital morphologies, including a postorbital septum and greater orbital convergence than any other mammalian clade. While the homology and function of the haplorhine septum remain controversial, experimental data suggest that septa evolved to inhibit mechanical disturbance of the orbital contents by the anterior temporalis muscle during mastication. According to this "insulation hypothesis," haplorhines are particularly susceptible to disruption of the orbital contents because they have large and highly convergent eyes and orbits. However, comparative tests of the insulation hypothesis have been hindered by the morphological uniqueness of the haplorhine septum among mammals. Among birds, owls (Strigiformes) exhibit an expanded postorbital process that may be functionally analogous to the haplorhine septum. Here we present a comparative analysis of orbital morphology in 103 avian species that tests two hypotheses: (1) large, convergent orbits are associated with nocturnal visual predation, and (2) the strigiform postorbital process and haplorhine postorbital septum similarly function to insulate the eyes from contractions of mandibular adductors. Strigiforms, as nocturnal visual predators, possess relatively large orbits and exhibit the highest degree of orbital convergence in our sample. Notably, orbital convergence does not scale with orbit size in birds as in mammals. Owls are also unique among the birds examined in possessing extensive, plate-like postorbital processes that largely isolate the orbits from the temporal fossae. Furthermore, dissections of four owl species demonstrate that the expanded strigiform postorbital process deflects the path of mandibular adductors around the eye's inferolateral margin. These findings provide further comparative support for both the NVPH and the insulation hypothesis.
A look at spectator technology: location-based services and mobile habits of collegiate sports fans

This paper looks at the potential for mobile technology that targets sports spectators. Preliminary survey results from 83 college sports fans suggest the current usage of mobile technology, like location-based services, when attending games. Findings offer insight as to the expectations and concerns of fans and inform the design for a social, local mobile application.
Reconstitution of NADPH oxidase activity in human X-linked chronic granulomatous disease myeloid cells after stable gene transfer using a recombinant adeno-associated virus 2 vector

Abstract ABSTRACT: X-linked chronic granulomatous disease (X-CGD) is an inherited disorder of host defense that results from mutations in the gene encoding gp91 phox , the large subunit of the phagocyte NADPH oxidase flavocytochrome b . In this study, we constructed a recombinant adeno-associated virus-2 (AAV) vector in which the constitutively active promoter from the human elongation factor-1α (EF-1α) gene drives expression of the murine gp91 phox cDNA, and tested its ability to integrate and express in a human X-CGD myeloid cell line. The nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) test of NADPH oxidase activity was used to screen transduced cells for vector-mediated expression of recombinant gp91 phox . Between 2 - 14 % of cells were NBT-positive in the first several weeks after transduction. Clones with NBT-positive cells persisting several months after transduction had integrated vector by Southern blot analyses, with high level reconstitution of NADPH oxidase activity. In some clones, oxidase activity persisted for at least 8 to 14 months. In the majority, however, vector-derived RNA transcripts declined, although integrated rAAV genomes persisted. Decreased transgene expression was not directly correlated with methylation of the provirus. This study indicates that rAAV vectors can be successfully used for stable gene transfer, integration, and expression of recombinant gp91 phox in a human myeloid cell line for at least 8 - 14 months in the absence of any selection. The EF-1α promotor, however, was subject to silencing in a high percentage of clones with integrated rAAV, suggesting that alternative promotors may be desirable for achieving long-term expression in myeloid cells.
Transport proteins in bacteria: common themes in their design

Bacterial transport proteins mediate passive and active transport of small solutes across membranes. Comparison of amino acid sequences shows strong conservation not only among bacterial transporters, but also between them and many transporters of animal cells; thus the study of bacterial transporters is expected to contribute to our understanding of transporters in more complex cells. During the last few years, structures of three bacterial outer membrane transporters were solved by x-ray crystallography. Much progress has also occurred in the biochemical and molecular genetic studies of transporters in the cytoplasmic membranes of bacteria, and a unifying design among membrane transporters is gradually emerging. Common structural motives and evolutionary origins among transporters with diverse energy-coupling mechanisms suggest that many transporters contain a central module forming a transmembrane channel through which the solute may pass. Energy-coupling mechanisms can be viewed as secondary features added on to these fundamental translocation units.
Empathy and the literary imagination.

What good is empathy? The closer we get to the feelings of our patients, goes the argument, the better we can understand them and the more likely we will be able to diagnose and treat correctly. Th...