cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Focal impaired awareness seizures in a rodent model: a functional anatomy.

OBJECTIVE Patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) frequently report debilitating comorbidities such as memory impairments, anxiety, and depression. An extensive neuronal network generates epileptic seizures and associated comorbidities, but a detailed description of this network is unavailable, which requires the generation of neuronal activation maps in experimental animals. METHODS We recorded electrographic seizures from the hippocampi during a kindling-evoked focal impaired awareness seizure with observed freezing, facial twitching, and involuntary head bobbing. We mapped seizure circuits activated during these seizures by permanently tagging neurons through activity-induced immediate early genes (IEGs), combined with immunohistochemical approaches. RESULTS There was bilateral activation of circuits necessary for memory consolidation, including the hippocampal complex, entorhinal, cingulate gyrus, retrosplenial cortex, piriform cortex, and septohippocampal complex in kindled animals compared with unstimulated awake behaving mice. Neuronal circuits in the ventral hippocampus, amygdala, and anterior cingulate cortex, which regulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis' stress response, were also markedly activated during a focal impaired awareness seizure. SIGNIFICANCE This study highlights neuronal circuits preferentially activated during a focal awareness impaired seizure in a rodent model. Many of the seizure-activated neuronal circuits are critical modulators of memory consolidation and long-term stress/depression response. The hijack of these memory and depression regulatory systems by a focal seizure could account for the frequent reports of comorbidities such as memory impairment and depression in many TLE patients.
Courts under Constraints: Judges, Generals, and Presidents in Argentina

This study offers a theoretical framework for understanding how institutional instability affects judicial behavior under dictatorship and democracy. In stark contrast to conventional wisdom, the central findings of the book contradict some assumptions that only independent judges rule against the government of the day. Set in the context of Argentina, the study uses the tools of positive political theory to explore the conditions under which courts rule against the government. In addition to shedding light on the dynamics of court-executive relations in Argentina, the study provides general lessons about institutions, instability, and the rule of law. In the process, the study builds a set of connections among diverse bodies of scholarship, including US judicial politics, comparative institutional analysis, positive political theory, and Latin American politics.
Genetic heterogeneity of angiogenesis in mice

Many diseases, including cancer, are dependent on the growth of new blood vessels, a process known as angiogenesis. Differences in an individual's ability to grow new blood vessels may influence the rate of progression of these diseases. Here we show that different strains of inbred mice have an approximately 10-fold range of response to growth factor-stimulated angiogenesis in the corneal micropocket assay. The in vitro migratory activity of endothelial cells from aortic rings of selected strains correlated with the in vivo responsiveness. Further, a differential sensitivity to angiogenesis inhibitors was seen between strains, with one strain demonstrating resistance to both TNP-470 and thalidomide. These results suggest the presence of genetic factors that control individual angiogenic potential.
Advanced Solar-Grade Si Material

For three decades scientists around the world have been searching for the right technology to produce silicon feedstock for the photovoltaic industry, feedstock that fulfills the need for “low cost” as well as the need for sufficient quality. The urgency of this task has intensified since 1998, when it became clear that the PV demand could no longer be met with by-products from the electronics industry. The established producers of polysilicon developed specific products for the solar industry, but for the time being cannot catch up with the exploding demand. The actual Si shortage resulted in very high spot prices for solar-grade silicon and led to discussions on whether existing producers with their production methods will be able to cover the future demand of the solar industry. There are, again, opinions being expressed that alternative production methods are more suitable to fill the gap at lower costs. Here, requirements and possibilities have to be checked very carefully. In addition, old knowledge and experience about the different possibilities to produce silicon should not be forgotten. The future supply of silicon to the PV industry has to be seen in the tense environment of quality, costs and time of implementation.
Ontology-aided vs. keyword-based web searches: a comparative user study

Ontologies are formal explicit description of concepts in a domain of discourse, properties of these concepts, and restrictions on these properties that are specified by semantics that follow the "rules" of the domain of knowledge. As such, ontologies would be extremely useful as knowledge bases for an application attempting to add context to a particular Web search term. This paper describes such an application and reports the results of a user study designed to compare the effectiveness of the results of web search queries formulated using an ontology -aided application with those obtained using only a keyword-based search engine. The results of the study demonstrate that an ontology -aided search application does indeed increase the effectiveness of web searches for those searches requiring a deep domain knowledge.
Matters of Size: Obesity as a Diversity Issue in the Field of Early Childhood

This article is a synthesis of research on the consequences of obesity for all stakeholders in the field of early childhood: young children, family members of young children, and teachers of young children. The article examines the effects of obesity on the wellness, self-esteem, peer relationships, and social status of children/families and early childhood teachers. The argument is set forth that discrimination on the basis of body size is often thinly veiled classism and racism and the paper calls for an acceptance of size diversity in the early childhood field. Practical recommendations for working with children who are seriously overweight and with families conclude the article.
Methods for the study of centrosome reproduction in mammalian cells.

Publisher Summary This chapter provides a description of the methods used for inducing centrosome overproduction, analyzing treated cells, and preparing extracts containing soluble centrosome subunits. In addition, the potential uses and limitations are also considered. An experimental cell culture system was established for investigating centrosome replication in somatic mammalian cells. This system is easy to manipulate and represents an extension of procedures established by Brinkley et al. A subtle modification of this procedure has allowed to generate extracts enriched in soluble centrosome subunits, and these extracts have been useful for analyzing centrosome assembly. The chapter discusses the methods used for inducing the overproduction of centrosomes in cultured mammalian cells. Although the procedures outlined apply specifically to cultured Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, other cell types, such as Indian muntjak and PtK, can also be used. However, because the cell cycle times are longer in these other cell types, the duration of incubations needs to be increased to observe centrosome overproduction. Cells prepared using the outlined strategy can be observed by either electron microscopy or immunofluorescence microscopy, and centrosome numbers can be counted directly.
A New & Robust Information Theoretic Measure and Its Application to Image Alignment

In this paper we develop a novel measure of information in a random variable based on its cumulative distribution that we dub cumulative residual entropy (CRE). This measure parallels the well known Shannon entropy but has the following advantages: (1) it is more general than the Shannon Entropy as its definition is valid in the discrete and continuous domains, (2) it possess more general mathematical properties and (3) it can be easily computed from sample data and these computations asymptotically converge to the true values. Based on CRE, we define the cross-CRE (CCRE) between two random variables, and apply it to solve the image alignment problem for parameterized (3D rigid and affine) transformations. The key strengths of the CCRE over using the mutual information (based on Shannon’s entropy) are that the former has significantly larger tolerance to noise and a much larger convergence range over the field of parameterized transformations. We demonstrate these strengths via experiments on synthesized and real image data.
New Foundations for Physical Geometry: The Theory of Linear Structures, by Tim Maudlin

The volume under review is the first of a projected pair in which the author will present a new approach to the geometry of physical space or spacetime. The present volume contains only the purely ...
Association between oral contraceptive use and thromboembolism: A new approach to its investigation based on plasma fibrinogen chromatography

Longitudinal and cross-sectional blood coagulation studies were made in patients receiving oral contraceptive therapy and in unmedicated women used as control subjects. These studies have included use of a new procedure, plasma fibrinogen chromatography, which, by assay for high molecular weight fibrinogen complexes in plasma, detects or excludes the presence of small thrombi, even when these are of the clinically silent type. New contraceptive users (n = 154) received either Ovulen (100 μg of mestranol) or Demulen (50 μg of ethinyl estradiol) and were followed serially for one year. During the cross-sectional study (193 women and 1,350 samples), serial examination was performed on those taking oral contraceptives for 3 months to 10 years. Over all, pathologic plasma fibrinogen chromatographic findings, indicative of thrombosis, were detected in 6 per cent of the control examinations and in 27 per cent samples from oral contraceptive users. These findings suggest that oral contraceptive users developed mainly clinically silent thrombotic lesions, with four- to fivefold greater frequency than the control subjects. Consequently, it is inferred that they are at four-to fivefold greater risk of developing clinically overt disease, a risk factor estimate in line with that derived by epidemiologic study.
Epidermoid Cyst Occurring Within an Intrapancreatic Accessory Spleen. A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Context Epidermoid cysts occurring within intrapancreatic accessory spleens are exceptionally rare entities, with only 21 previously reported cases. Their clinical presentation prior to pathologic assessment can raise concern for possible malignancy; however, they behave in a benign fashion. Case report A 62-year-old male presented with complaints of abdominal pain. Imaging revealed left-sided retroperitoneal mass and surgical exploration was recommended. Surgery revealed a cystic cavity containing necrotic debris originating from the tail of the pancreas. Microscopy was consistent with an epidermoid cyst arising within an intrapancreatic accessory spleen with positive immunoperoxidase staining for CEA. Conclusion Epidermoid cysts occurring within intrapancreatic accessory spleens can mimic a malignant process both clinically and radiographically. Surgery with pathologic assessment is the only reliable means of diagnosis. While they are a very rare entity, it is an important component of a complete differential diagnosis for a patient presenting with a pancreatic tail mass. Image: Immunoperoxidase positivity for CEA in the epithelium of the cyst.
Receptor-Oriented Dispersion Modeling: Extension to Nonlinear Pollution Chemistry

Two complementary approaches presented schematically in Figure 1 can be used in air quality studies if linear dispersion models are applied (Uliasz and Pielke, 1991): a traditional source-oriented approach to calculate concentration fields forward in time for given emission sources; a receptor-oriented approach to calculate influence function fields backward in time for a given receptor.
Chediak-Higashi syndrome is not due to a defect in microtubule-based lysosomal mobility

Chediak-Higashi Syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder that affects intracellular vesicle formation. The diagnostic feature of Chediak-Higashi Syndrome is the presence of ‘giant’ lysosomes clustered near the nucleus. Lysosome morphology in macrophages is maintained by microtubules and microtubule-based motors, such as kinesin. Dramatic changes in lysosome morphology can be induced by lowering cytoplasmic pH or by adding phorbol esters. When macrophages from beige mice (a murine homolog of Chediak-Higashi Syndrome) were subjected to these protocols they were able to alter their lysosomal distribution and morphology to the same degree as macrophages from control mice. These results indicate that lysosomes in Chediak cells are capable of interacting with the microtubule-based motor system, suggesting that the defective gene product is not an altered microtubular element involved in lysosomal movement.
Computer-based training for chemists: designing decision-making tools for green chemistry

As more industries recognize the benefits of environmentally friendly technology, chemists look for ways to design chemicals and chemical processes that pose less danger to human health and environment. This paper describes an industry-university alliance in which computer-based training was developed for military chemists. The training tool entitled "Green Process Design for Military Chemists" is being fielded by the Department of Defense for design of environmentally preferable chemical process, practices, and production. The tool has wide application for chemists in all fields.
The Role of Preventive Logic in the Japanese Decision for War against Russia in 1904

The logic of the preventive motivation for war is that an actor faced with a rising adversary often has an incentive to fight now rather than risk war under worse conditions later. In this study of the Russo-Japanese War of 1904, we explore the role of preventive logic in Japanese decision-making in the years and months leading to the war. Many key Japanese officials felt increasingly threatened by Russian expansion into Northeast Asia, expected further increases in Russian power projection capabilities, and argued for initiating war while the opportunity was still available. The number of officials persuaded by the preventive motivation grew as the Russian military occupation of Manchuria became larger and seemingly permanent, until a unanimous decision for war was achieved within the ruling oligarchy.
Migration Pressures and Immigration Policies: New Evidence on the Selection of Migrants

This paper aims to better understand emigration pressures in migrant sending countries by looking at the determinants of the propensity to migrate at the individual level. The analysis is based on survey data from Albania, Moldova, Egypt and Tunisia collected by the European Training Foundation (ETF) in 2006. Within this context the study focuses on: (i) the self-selection of migrants in terms of skills; and (ii) the impact of selective immigration policies on the migration process. The paper finds that migration pressures, or the intent to migrate, are not subject to any self-selection. However, immigration policies exert a strong out-selection that is likely part of the reasons why positive selection is found in many studies. Further, the study confirms that the European Union (EU) attracts comparatively lower skilled migrants than other destinations.
Bladder urothelial cells from patients with interstitial cystitis have an increased sensitivity to carbachol

Aims The presence of muscarinic receptors on bladder urothelial cells (BUC), suggests BUC may be a target for antimuscarinics. This study determined whether human BUC are responsive to a muscarinic agonist and if so, whether responses are altered in interstitial cystitis (IC) BUC. Methods Primary urothelial cell cultures were established from cystoscopic biopsies. Normal (NB) and IC BUC were studied using calcium imaging techniques as a means to monitor the response to muscarinic receptor activation with the agonist, carbachol (CCh). Changes in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) were measured with fura-2 ratiometric microfluorimetry. Dose–response curves (CCh dose vs. [Ca2+]i) were measured in IC and NB BUC. Tolterodine was used to confirm the specificity (muscarinic versus nicotinic) of CCh evoked increases in [Ca2+]i. Results CCh induced a dose-dependent increase in [Ca2+]i. Potency and efficacy of CCh was significantly greater in IC BUC. The maximal increase in [Ca2+]i was 136.3 ± 5.1% over baseline in 78 cells from 4 IC patients versus 92.4 ± 4.8% over baseline in 67 cells from 4 NB subjects (P < 0.01). The EC50 of the evoked increase was 1.10 ± 0.14 µM versus 3.36 ± 0.72 µM (P < 0.01) in BUC from IC and NB controls, respectively. Removal of extracellular calcium or application of tolterodine, abolished CCh evoked increase in [Ca2+]i in IC and NB BUC. Conclusions The greater sensitivity of IC BUC to CCh suggests that IC patholobiology may also include alterations muscarinic signaling. The physiologic sequelae of muscarinic activation in BUC need to be further investigated. Neurourol. Urodynam. 28:1022–1027, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Reinventing homework as cooperative, formative assessment

Traditional processes for homework assignments are not always a good fit for the sorts of problems often seen in computer science classes. We present our experiences in implementing policies designed to encourage students to involve the instructor and fellow students in their learning process. By shifting to group assignments and permitting students a revision cycle, we improve student satisfaction and maintain or increase student outcomes while decreasing the instructor's grading load.
Intermittent Heating of the Solar Corona by Heat Flux-generated Ion Cyclotron Waves

Recently, we suggested that the source of ion heating in solar coronal holes is small-scale reconnection events (microflares) at the coronal base. The microflares launch intermittent heat flux up into the corona exciting ion cyclotron waves through a plasma microinstability. The ions are heated by these waves during the microflare bursts and then evolve with no energy input between the bursts. In this paper, we show that the structure of the proton distribution in the relatively long time periods between the microflares is determined by collisions at small heliocentric distances. At greater distances, the collisional processes can be replaced by similar processes due to secondary instabilities. These are excited by the distortion of the distribution under the action of the mirror force. At the same time, the heating during the microflare bursts is not affected by either the collisions or the secondary instabilities because of the short duration of the bursts. We demonstrate that in each intermittent heating event the protons diffuse approximately along one-dimensional curves in the phase space and can develop a quasi-plateau. The corresponding temperature increase can then be calculated without solving the diffusion equations. The overall coronal heating by this mechanism is a summed effect of all microflare bursts during the expansion time of the solar wind and adiabatic cooling between the microflares. The calculations for the collision-dominated region suggest that the overall heating is efficient enough to account for the acceleration of the fast solar wind in this region.
Hexachlorobenzene‐induced porphyria in japanese quail: An in vitro study of changes in cytochrome P‐450 and monooxygenases

The ability of hexachlorobenzene (HCB) to cause changes in the isozymic composition of hepatic monooxygenases of Japanese quail was assessed. HCB‐induced changes in the relative concentrations of benzo[a]pyrene metabolites produced in vitro were apparent. HCB treatment also resulted in changes in the responsiveness of ethoxy‐coumarin O‐deethylase (ECOD) and ethoxyresorufin O‐deethylase (EROD) to the in vitro cytochrome P‐450 inhibitors metyrapone, SKF—525A, and α‐naphthoflavone. These changes may be indicative of alterations in the major cytochrome P‐450 isozymes present following HCB treatment. Of these changes, only an increased responsiveness of ECOD to SKF—525A correlated with the onset of porphyria. The response of Japanese quail to the porphyrogenic action of HCB is more rapid than that found with more commonly used mammalian models. This rapid response is probably due either to the ability of quail to produce greater amounts of porphyrogenic metabolites of HCB than mammals or to a greater sensitivi...
Effect of DDGS, Moisture Content, and Screw Speed on Physical Properties of Extrudates in Single-Screw Extrusion

ABSTRACT Three isocaloric (3.5 kcal/g) ingredient blends containing 20, 30, and 40% (wb) distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) along with soy flour, corn flour, fish meal, and mineral and vitamin mix, with net protein adjusted to 28% (wb) for all blends, were extruded in a single-screw laboratory-scale extruder at screw speeds of 100, 130, and 160 rpm, and 15, 20, and 25% (wb) moisture content. Increasing DDGS content from 20 to 40% resulted in a 37.1, 3.1, and 8.4% decrease in extrudate durability, specific gravity, and porosity, respectively, but a 7.5% increase in bulk density. Increasing screw speed from 100 to 160 rpm resulted in a 20.3 and 8.8% increase in durability and porosity, respectively, but a 12.9% decrease in bulk density. On the other hand, increasing the moisture content from 15 to 25% (wb) resulted in a 28.2% increase in durability, but an 8.3 and 8.5% decrease in specific gravity and porosity, respectively. Furthermore, increasing the screw speed and moisture content of the blend...
A novel external esophageal perfusion model for reflux esophageal injury.

The current animal models of esophagitis and Barrett’s esophagus consist of surgeries that divert the gastroduodenal contents to the esophagus. The limitations of these models are the inability to control the amount and concentration of the refluxate and the causing of significant postoperative stress and morbidity. Eighteen adult rats were cannulated at the upper esophagus and connected to a subcutaneous osmotic micropump to perfuse the esophageal lumen with bile and acid. Animals were sacrificed after 7 days of perfusion. Histological changes were determined. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, lipid peroxidation, and glutathione were measured. Histopathological changes in the bile- or acid-perfused esophagus were consistent with the findings associated with reflux esophagitis. Enhanced proliferation and apoptosis were seen, along with increased oxidative stress. The external esophageal perfusion model enabled precise control of the injurious agent. It induced the histologic and cellular injurreflux esophagitis after 7 days.
U.S. Air Force Academy 4-m telescope

ABSTRACT The United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs ha s obtained a 4m-diameter, lightweight telescope from the Space Based Laser project. Originally designed and constructed for space, this segmented telescope is being reconfigured for use as a ground-based facility  the largest in the world, wholly owned by any single college. The telescope comes fully equipped with both active and adaptive capabilities for segment phasing and wavefront correction. However, the optical design is a Mersenne configuration, and having been constructed for a space environment, it has an extremely thin (17mm) glass primary. We are redesigning the optics (with new secondary and tertiary mirrors) and are designing a mount and truss capable of both sidereal and low-Earth satellite tracking. Keywords: Lightweight segmented telescope, space optics 1. INTRODUCTION In the 1980s, as part of the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), the United States Air Force built the multi-megawatt infrared Alpha Laser (Figure 1). In order to test the viability of directing this laser in space, a lightweight telescope was built under the Large Advanced Mirror Project (LAMP). The telescope is a Mersenne (afocal) configuration, designed to expand a beam from 0.25m to 4m in diameter, and has a 17mm thick, 7 segment glass primary (see Figure 2). Active control of the mirror figure is provided by 42 phasing and 312 fine figure actuators. Although planned for space deployment, the telescope was only used in ground based tests to evaluate the performance of the optical system. The telescope was part of only 5 active firing tests for a total of ~30 seconds use, and has been stored in a dust-free, vacuum chamber for the last 15 years.
Stress gradient within powder en masse during hydrostatic compression

Abstract Non-homogeneous density of compressed powder has been known and documented. This phenomenon suggests that the stress inside a powder en masse is not homogeneous during the compaction process. This hypothesized stress distribution inside powder bulk suggests a relationship between the dimension of powder bulk under compaction and the level of internal stress. To elucidate this relationship, stress changes inside a powder bulk during hydrostatic compression were measured using a fundamental mechanical tester, namely, a cubical triaxial tester. We found that the internal stress decreased when the distance from the load-acting surface became larger. For example, along the central line of the sample with 100 kPa of hydrostatic stress, the internal stress decreased 32.2% from 94.7 kPa to 64.2 kPa and down to 55.1 kPa (41.9% decrease), when the distance from the surface increased from the pressured surface to 1.52 cm and to 3.04 cm. To quantify the contribution of distance from the load-acting surface to the decreasing stress, a linear relationship and an exponentially decaying function were tested. It was shown that the exponentially decaying function explains the decreasing stress well. The rationale of the exponential decaying function was discussed with respect to the classical elasticity formulation.
Polynomial filters of any degree

The general analytic expression for the polynomial smoothing function of any degree for equally spaced data points is presented. In addition to the explicit formula, a simple recursion relation is also given. The determination of numerical coefficients in the convolution equation involves only integer arithmetic. These results are further used to describe in some detail the effectiveness of digital polynomial smoothing, or filtering, of sampled spectral data in their dependence on the degree K of the polynomial, the number S of smoothing passes, and the range T of points in the smoothing interval. Then it can be shown that the sharpness of the frequency cutoff increases with the degree of the polynomial, the high-frequency attenuation increases with the number of smooths, and the cutoff of the filter moves toward lower frequencies as the range of points in the smoothing interval increases. The values of these three parameters should not be chosen entirely independently of one another, but the first two should be selected before the third.
Molecular epidemiology of serotype 19A Streptococcus pneumoniae among invasive isolates from Alaska, 1986–2010

Background. After the introduction of the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) in Alaska, the incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) due to non-vaccine serotypes, particularly serotype 19A, increased. The aim of this study was to describe the molecular epidemiology of IPD due to serotype 19A in Alaska. Methods. IPD data were collected from 1986 to 2010 through population-based laboratory surveillance. Isolates were serotyped by the Quellung reaction and MICs determined by broth microdilution. Genotypes were assessed by multilocus sequence typing. Results. Among 3,294 cases of laboratory-confirmed IPD, 2,926 (89%) isolates were available for serotyping, of which 233 (8%) were serotype 19A. Across all ages, the proportion of IPD caused by serotype 19A increased from 3.5% (63/1823) pre-PCV7 (1986-2000) to 15.4% (170/1103) post-PCV7 (2001-2010) (p<0.001); among children B5 years of age, the proportion increased from 5.0% (39/776) to 33.0% (76/230) (p<0.001). The annual incidence rate of IPD due to serotype 19A (all ages) increased from 0.73 cases pre-PCV7 to 2.56 cases/ 100,000 persons post-PCV7 (p<0.001); rates among children B5 years of age increased from 4.84 cases to 14.1 cases/100,000 persons (p<0.001). Among all IPD isolates with reduced susceptibility to penicillin, 17.8% (32/180) were serotype 19A pre-PCV7 and 64% (121/189) were serotype 19A post-PCV7 (p<0.001). Eighteen different sequence types (STs) were identified; ST199 or single locus variants of ST199 (n=150) and ST172 (n=59) accounted for the majority of isolates. Multidrug-resistant isolates were clustered in ST199 and ST320. Conclusion. While PCV13 should significantly reduce the burden of disease due to 19A, these data highlight the need to continue surveillance for IPD to monitor the effects of vaccination on the expansion and emergence of non-PCV strains. Keywords: Streptococcus pneumoniae; serotype 19A; MLST; invasive disease; Alaska (Published: 5 August 2013) This paper is part of Supplement 1, 2013, ICCH15 Proceedings . More papers from this Supplement can be found here . Citation: Int J Circumpolar Health 2013, 72 : 20854 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/ijch.v72i0.20854
Restoring ciliary function to differentiated Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia cells with a lentiviral vector

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a genetically heterogenous autosomal recessive disease in which mutations disrupt ciliary function, leading to impaired mucociliary clearance and life-long lung disease. Mouse tracheal cells with a targeted deletion in the axonemal dynein intermediate chain 1 (Dnaic1) gene differentiate normally in culture but lack ciliary activity. Gene transfer to undifferentiated cultures of mouse Dnaic1(-/-) cells with a lentiviral vector pseudotyped with avian influenza hemagglutinin restored Dnaic1 expression and ciliary activity. Importantly, apical treatment of well-differentiated cultures of mouse Dnaic1(-/-) cells with lentiviral vector also restored ciliary activity, demonstrating successful gene transfer from the apical surface. Treatment of Dnaic1(flox/flox) mice expressing an estrogen-responsive Cre recombinase with different doses of tamoxifen indicated that restoration of ∼20% of ciliary activity may be sufficient to prevent the development of rhinosinusitis. However, although administration of a β-galactosidase-expressing vector into control mice demonstrated efficient gene transfer to the nasal epithelium, treatment of Dnaic1(-/-) mice resulted in a low level of gene transfer, demonstrating that the severe rhinitis present in these animals impedes gene transfer. The results demonstrate that gene replacement therapy may be a viable treatment option for PCD, but further improvements in the efficiency of gene transfer are necessary.
Accumulation of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycolaldehyde, the neurotoxic monoamine oxidase A metabolite of norepinephrine, in locus ceruleus cell bodies in Alzheimer's disease: mechanism of neuron death

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylglycolaldehyde (DOPEGAL) is the neurotoxic monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) metabolite of norepinephrine (NE). NE neurons in the locus ceruleus (LC) die in Alzheimer's disease (AD). To determine if DOPEGAL could contribute to NE neuron death in AD we measured levels of DOPEGAL, NE and their synthesizing enzymes in LC from AD and matched controls. We found 2.8- and 3.6-fold increases in DOPEGAL and MAO-A in AD LC neuronal cell bodies compared to controls. NE and dopamine beta-hydroxylase were increased by 3.8- and 10.7-fold, respectively. Implications for the mechanism of neuron death in AD are discussed.
Influence of the recipient vessel on fat necrosis after breast reconstruction with a free transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap.

AbstractThe effect of the selection of recipient vessels on the rate of fat necrosis after microsurgical reconstruction of the breast remains largely unknown. Our aim was to evaluate the incidence of fat necrosis after unilateral breast reconstruction with a free transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap after anastomosis with either the internal mammary vessels or the thoracodorsal artery and vein. Consecutive patients who had unilateral reconstruction with a free, muscle-sparing TRAM flap at two tertiary care centres over a 6-year period were identified. The incidence of fat necrosis, defined as postoperative firmness of 1 cm or more persisting for 3 months or more after anastomosis was calculated. To control for the effect of potentially confounding variables (body mass index (BMI), history of preoperative or postoperative radiation, previous abdominal operation, smoking, and hospital) we did a matched-cohort study. A total of 840 unilateral muscle–sparing TRAM flaps were done using either t...
Inflammation and microglia actions in Alzheimer's disease.

A variety of studies have documented increased presence of reactive microglia in the brains of not only Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients but its transgenic mouse models. Since these cells are often characterized in association with fibrillar Aβ peptide-containing plaques, it has been assumed that plaque interaction provides one stimulus for the phenotype observed. The growing appreciation that microglia phenotype changes with age and that resident immune cells are comingled with blood-derived macrophage has complicated understanding of the behavior of these cells in AD. In addition, comparison of microglia within AD brains and the many rodent models suggests that there are population phenotype differences among these cells within any given brain during disease. Recent immunomodulatory strategies that have been employed, although effective at improving behavioral performance, decreasing Aβ plaque load, and altering immune molecule levels, have not yet resolved the details and dynamics of the microglial and macrophage responses. The heterogeneity of microglial presentation in AD brains and its transgenic mouse models and the outcomes of immunoregulatory efforts will be reviewed below along with the remaining question of how much understanding of microglial behavior is actually required in order to propose a microglia-related therapy for AD.
Theoretical study of spin-one nuclear quadrupole effects in triplet-state optically detected magnetic resonance

Abstract Nuclear quadrupole effects on the triplet-state optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) of molecules having spin I = 1 nuclei have been investigated by theoretical methods. Beginning with an exact diagonalization of the triplet-state spin Hamiltonian, these methods have involved a systematic variation in quadrupolar parameters, which allows us to distinguish between “allowed” and “forbidden” transitions and also enables us to assign the observed lines in any 2 E ODMR transition.
Isotopic evidence for climate change during the Vandal Minimum from Ariopsis felis otoliths and Mercenaria campechiensis shells, southwest Florida, USA

Archaeological evidence from coastal southwest Florida suggests this region and its local inhabitants (the Calusa) were affected by drought and cooling during the Vandal Minimum climate episode (ad 500–800). To test this hypothesis, we reconstructed seasonal-scale climate conditions using stable oxygen and carbon isotope ratios (δ18O and δ13C) preserved in Ariopsis felis otoliths and Mercenaria campechiensis shells. Comparing δ18O records from both species distinguishes between cool versus warm and wet versus dry conditions. δ18O values from four otoliths indicate cooling of winter temperatures occurred in the early Vandal Minimum (ad 500–600) and late half of the middle Vandal Minimum (ad 650–700). Persistent dry summers punctuated by occasional years with wet summers throughout the Vandal Minimum were detected from δ18O values of eight archaeological shells. Our climate reconstructions are in good agreement with archaeological observations and with the cool and dry conditions documented in Europe.
Contributions of valine-292 in the nicotinamide binding site of liver alcohol dehydrogenase and dynamics to catalysis.

The participation of Val-292 in catalysis by alcohol dehydrogenase and the involvement of dynamics were investigated. Val-292 interacts with the nicotinamide ring of the bound coenzyme and may faci...
Effects of Interleaves on Fracture of Laminated Composites: Part II—Solution and Results

The numerical solution of the integral equations derived in Part I of this work is developed and the critical stresses and displacements are calculated. These results indicate that interleaves increase the interfacial damage tolerance and significantly relieve the stresses in the undamaged plies. In order to recommend an interleaf thickness-to-layer width ratio, the influence of relative material properties, structural weight, and stress reduction is studied
Management of presumptive or proven Hodgkin's disease of the liver: A new radiotherapy technique

Abstract A new, simple and safe technique for irradiating the liver in Hodgkin's disease is described using a 50% transmission block to irradiate the liver concurrently with an inverted-Y field. Preliminary experience shows that this slower fractionation scheme has significantly reduced the incidence of thrombocytopenia as a complication of treatment. In the past year, total nodal irradiation with irradiation to the liver through a 50% block followed by prophylactic MOP(P) chemotherapy has been adopted as the treatment of choice for Stage III S and Stage IV H Hodgkin's disease at Stanford.
Molecular Genetic Distinction of Pneumocystis carinii from Rats and Humans

Pneumocystis carinii from rats and from humans were compared with respect to electrophoretic karyotype, presence of DNA sequences known to be repeated in rat-derived P. carinii, overall DNA sequence homology, and the sequences at two genetic loci. The organisms from each host species were different in each respect. Neither of two repeated DNAs from rat-derived P. carinii was found in the genome of human-derived organisms, and total DNA from rat-derived P. carinii failed to hybridize to human-derived P. carinii DNA. The sequences of the alpha-tubulin genes from the two P. carinii were strikingly different and the base composition of the alpha-tubulin gene from rat-derived P. carinii was rich in adenine and thymine, while the base composition of this gene from human-derived P. carinii was rich in guanine and cytosine. The sequence from the 18S rRNA gene of human-derived P. carinii was twice as divergent from that of rat-derived P. carinii as the sequence from the corresponding region of Candida albicans was from that of Candida tropicalis. These data show that rats and humans can harbor distinct types of P. carinii that are sufficiently different to suggest that P. carinii from the two hosts could be different species.
An off-shell propagator for string theory

The Polyakov integral with boundaries can be used to provide a propagator for the second-quantized bosonic string. This propagator makes sense off-shell. For special initial and final states we compute it explicitly in the tree approximation, where it reduces to the correct sum of field theoretic particle propagators.
Ability of physicians to diagnose and manage illness due to category A bioterrorism agents.

Background Early recognition of a terrorist attack with biologic agents will rely on physician diagnosis. Physicians’ ability to diagnose and care for patients presenting after a bioterror event is unknown. The role of online case-based didactics to measure and improve knowledge in the diagnosis and treatment of these patients is unknown. Methods A multicenter online educational intervention was completed by 631 physicians at 30 internal medicine residency programs in 16 states and Washington, DC, between July 1, 2003, and June 10, 2004. Participants completed a pretest, assessing ability to diagnose and manage potential cases of smallpox, anthrax, botulism, and plague. A didactic module reviewing diagnosis and management of these diseases was then completed, followed by a posttest. Pretest performance measured baseline knowledge. Posttest performance compared with pretest performance measured effectiveness of the educational intervention. Results were compared based on year of training and geographic location of the residency program. Results Correct diagnoses of diseases due to bioterrorism agents were as follows: smallpox, 50.7%; anthrax, 70.5%; botulism, 49.6%; and plague, 16.3% (average, 46.8%). Correct diagnosis averaged 79.0% after completing the didactic module ( P P P = .54) or geographic location ( P = .64). Attending physicians performed better than residents ( P Conclusions Physician diagnosis and management of diseases caused by bioterrorism agents is poor. An online didactic module may improve diagnosis and management of diseases caused by these agents.
Survival after repair of pararenal and paravisceral abdominal aortic aneurysms

Objective The objective of this study was to review our 27-year clinical experience with open proximal abdominal aortic aneurysm repairs, with a focus on long-term survival. Methods A retrospective cohort study was undertaken of all patients who underwent proximal abdominal aortic aneurysm repair between 1986 and 2013 at a tertiary care referral center. Demographics, operative variables, complications, and 30-day mortality were analyzed. Postoperative acute kidney injury was analyzed by the RIFLE (Risk, Injury, Failure, Loss, End-stage renal disease)/Acute Kidney Injury Network criteria. Long-term survival was assessed through review of electronic medical records and the Social Security Death Index. Associations between demographics and complications were investigated to determine predictors of long-term survival. Results The study identified 245 patients. Mean age was 71 years (range, 38-92 years); 69% were men, and 88% were white. Aneurysm type was juxtarenal in 127 patients (52%), suprarenal in 68 patients (28%), and type IV thoracoabdominal in 50 patients (20%). In-hospital mortality was 3.3% (eight patients), and 30-day mortality was 2.9% (seven patients). At least one major complication occurred in 64% of the patients, which included the following: acute kidney injury, 60% (persistent acute kidney injury at discharge, however, was 28%, and hemodialysis at discharge was 1.6%); major pulmonary complications, 22%; myocardial infarction, 4%; visceral ischemia, 2%; and paraplegia, 0.5%. Median follow-up was 54 months. Kaplan-Meier survival estimates were 70% at 5 years and 43% at 10 years. Variables associated with poorer survival included congestive heart failure (hazard ratio [HR], 3.5; P P P Conclusions Open surgical repair of proximal abdominal aortic aneurysms can be performed with low mortality. Acute kidney injury is the most frequent complication, but the need for hemodialysis at discharge is low. Long-term survival is favorable. These data should assist in establishing benchmarks for endovascular repair of complex proximal abdominal aortic aneurysms.
Microbial desalination cell with capacitive adsorption for ion migration control.

A new microbial desalination cell with capacitive adsorption capability (cMDC) was developed to solve the ion migration problem facing current MDC systems. Traditional MDCs remove salts by transferring ions to the anode and cathode chambers, which may prohibit wastewater beneficial reuse due to increased salinity. The cMDC uses adsorptive activated carbon cloth (ACC) as the electrodes and utilizes the formed capacitive double layers for electrochemical ion adsorption. The cMDC removed an average of 69.4% of the salt from the desalination chamber through electrode adsorption during one batch cycle, and it did not add salts to the anode or cathode chamber. It was estimated that 61–82.2 mg of total dissolved solids (TDS) was adsorbed to 1 g of ACC electrode. The cMDC provides a new approach for salt management, organic removal, and energy production. Further studies will be conducted to optimize reactor configuration and achieve in situ electrode regeneration.
The RNA of Toxoplasma gondii

SummaryIsolation and characterization of toxoplasma RNA revealed a ribosomal species which could be easily differentiated from mammalian host cell RNA. A species of transfer RNA also appeared to differ from that of the host cell. Extracellular toxoplasma were capable of incorporating 3H-uridine into the major components of their RNA.
Associations Between Incarcerated Fathers’ Cumulative Childhood Risk and Contact With Their Children

Incarcerated fathers often experience early life risk factors that cumulate over time and are compounded by the negative repercussions of imprisonment. These dynamics may contribute to the intergenerational transmission of risk and help explain the persistent link between paternal incarceration and poor child outcomes. Contact between incarcerated fathers and their children can benefit them both, but there is limited research on the factors that affect father–child contact. Using data from the 2004 Survey of Inmates in State Correctional Facilities and a sample of fathers with at least one minor child (N = 5,809), the authors found that incarcerated fathers who experienced more childhood risk factors had less frequent contact with their children. A variety of inmate characteristics were also significant predictors of father–child contact. Parenting interventions could address incarcerated fathers’ childhood risk experiences, which likely undermine the development and maintenance of family relationships, t...
Characterization of a GTPase-activating Protein That Stimulates GTP Hydrolysis by Both ADP-ribosylation Factor (ARF) and ARF-like Proteins COMPARISON TO THE ARD1 GAP DOMAIN

Abstract ADP-ribosylation factors (ARFs) are ∼20-kDa guanine nucleotide-binding proteins that participate in vesicular transport in the Golgi and other intracellular compartments and stimulate cholera toxin ADP-ribosyltransferase activity. Both GTP binding and hydrolysis are necessary for its physiological functions, although purified mammalian ARF lacks detectable GTPase activity. An ARF GTPase-activating protein (GAP) was purified >15,000-fold from rat spleen cytosol using (NH4)2SO4 precipitation and chromatography on Ultrogel AcA 34, DEAE-Sephacel, heparin-Sepharose, hydroxylapatite, and Ultrogel AcA 44. In fractions (∼100-kDa proteins) from Ultrogel AcA 44, a major protein band of ∼50 kDa on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis correlated with GAP activity, consistent with it being a homodimer, thus differing from an ARF GAP purified from rat liver (Makler, V., Cukierman, E., Rotman, M., Admon, A., and Cassel, D. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 5232-5237). Purified spleen GAP accelerated hydrolysis of GTP bound to recombinant ARF1, ARF3, ARF5, and ARF6; no effect of NH2-terminal myristoylation was observed. ARF GAP also activated GTP hydrolysis by ARL1, which is 56% identical in amino acid sequence to ARF1, but lacks ARF activity. ARD1 is a 64-kDa guanine nucleotide-binding protein that contains an 18-kDa ARF domain at its carboxyl terminus; the ARF domain lacks the amino-terminal α-helix found in native ARF and hence is similar to the amino-terminal truncated mutant Δ13ARF1. Both the ARF domain of ARD1 and Δ13ARF1 were poor substrates for ARF GAP. The non-ARF1 domain of ARD1 enhanced the GTPase activity of the ARF domain, but not that of the ARF proteins and Δ13ARF1, i.e. it lacks the relatively broad substrate specificity exhibited by ARF GAP.