cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
1068 DIARRHEA VIRUSES AND SUDDEN INFANT DEATHS

Post-mortem fecal samples were collected over a period of several years from 175 infants and young children from metropolitan Washington D.C. who died suddenly, usually in their home. The specimens were tested for diarrhea viruses by direct or immune electron microscopy and a rotavirus enzyme-linked immunoassay. The death of 115 of those studied was anatomically unexplained (SIDS victims). An anatomic cause of death was found for 60 others, including 11 with severe diarrhea and dehydration. Rotaviruses were detected in 5 (45.5%) of those who died with diarrhea and dehydration, and also were found in 5 (4.3%) of the SIDS victims. Non-cultivable 27nm virus was found in two other SIDS victims. Rotavirus-positive individuals who died with frank gastroenteritis and dehydration usually were older (4, 9, 10, 10 and 14 months of age) than the rotavirus-positive SIDS victims (who were 3 weeks, 4 weeks, 7 weeks, 4 months and 4 months of age). Near the time of their death, at least 2 of the rotavirus-positive SIDS victims had diarrhea (one with vomiting, the other with fever), and two others had a respiratory illness. Both of the 27nm infections and 10 of 11 rotavirus infections occurred in the months of December through February. 20% of the 30 infants and young children who died in January had a rotavirus infection at the time of death.
Turn Ratio of the Capacitor Motor

IN a previous paper1 the basic equations for the stator and rotor-winding currents of the capacitor motor were established in terms of certain coefficients which were functions of the fundamental constants of the machine. Application of these relations to establish the current loci was made to typical design data taken from earlier papers by Morrill,2 and Puchstein and Lloyd,3 based on a single value of the ratio of auxiliary-winding turns to main-winding turns. It is the purpose of this paper to extend the investigation to determine the effects upon current loci, and upon certain performance characteristics, of changing the turn ratio.
Modification of photochemical reactivity by zeolites: Location of guests within faujasites by heavy-atom-induced phosphorescence

Abstract Heavy-atom-induced phosphorescence of naphthalene included in faujasites has been observed and evidence obtained for the existence of direct interaction between the heavy metal cations present within the zeolite supercage and the included aromatic guest. Naphthalene when included in faujasites exchanged with rubidium and cesium as cations exhibits intense phosphorescence and possesses short singlet and triplet lifetimes. When adsorbed in faujasites exchanged with lithium, sodium and potassium as cations, naphthalene gives intense fluorescence and weak phosphorescence with long singlet and triplet lifetimes.
Conditioned HDL Slicing A way to Speed-up Formal Verification

Modern complex digital systems are described in Hardware Description Language (HDL). The increase in design complexity are causing verification tools to require large amount of resources. In this paper, we propose a technique to obtain a HDL executable conditioned design slice that is behaviorally equivalent to the original design. The conditioned slice is less complex than the original and static sliced design and require less resources to analyze by a verification tool. The slicer is implemented in a computer program which is used as a pre-processor to SMV verification. The results show that the conditioned slice significantly reduces the CPU and memory overhead needed to verify the USB2.0 IP core by SMV.
Efficacy of AQUI-S 20E as a Sedative for Handling and Cortisol Suppression in Pallid Sturgeon

Abstract Challenges and regulations associated with handling fish during fisheries management activities have increased efforts to achieve U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for an immediate-release sedative for fish. The objectives of this study were to (1) identify the target concentration of AQUI-S 20E for sedation of Pallid Sturgeon Scaphirhynchus albus to a handleable state followed by rapid recovery, and (2) to compare sedation and recovery times and cortisol stress response in sturgeon treated with the identified target concentration to those treated with MS-222. Juvenile Pallid Sturgeon from two size-classes were exposed to five concentrations of AQUI-S 20E: 70, 153, 364, 598, and 779 mg/L of water. The target concentrations of AQUI-S 20E for optimal sedation (<3 min) and recovery times (<5 min) identified for Pallid Sturgeon were 476 mg/L for small and 537 mg/L for large size-classes. Cortisol secretion in relation to presedation plasma cortisol levels was suppressed at the AQUI-S 20E tar...
An introduction to tumor immunology and immunotherapy.

Abstract The background and general principles of tumor immunology are presented. In this setting, the current status of immunotherapy against solid tumors and promising new approaches are indicated.
Small molecule amides as potent ROR-γ selective modulators

Abstract The structure–activity relationship study of a diphenylpropanamide series of ROR-γ selective modulators is reported. Compounds were screened using chimeric receptor Gal4 DNA-binding domain (DBD)-NR ligand binding domain cotransfection assay in a two-step format. Three different regions of the scaffold were modified to assess the effects on repression of ROR-γ transcriptional activity and potency. The lead compound 1 exhibits modest mouse pharmacokinetics and an acceptable in vitro profile which makes it a suitable in vivo probe to interrogate the functions of ROR-γ in animal models of disease.
Trace Detection of Underivatized Muramic Acid in Environmental Dust Samples by Microcolumn Liquid Chromatography−Electrospray Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Muramic acid (MA) is a universal chemical marker for bacterial cell wall polymers (peptidoglycan) present in complex environmental, industrial, and clinical matrices. Trace analysis of MA has been limited to a handful of laboratories because of the lengthy nature of derivatization procedures necessary for GC/MS and GC/MS/MS. The focus of the current report concerns environmental analysis (organic dust) using LC/MS/MS of native MA. Dust was heated in sulfuric acid to release MA from cell wall polymers. Acid was removed by extraction with an organic base. The samples were passed through a hydrophobic C-18 extraction column to remove nonpolar contaminants. This was followed by binding of MA to a strong cation-exchange extraction column to eliminate neutral and anionic components of the sample. MA was then eluted with hydrochloric acid, which was removed by evaporation. Analysis was done by microscale LC ES/MS/MS using a custom-made Lichrosphere-diol capillary column. 13C-Labeled MA was used as an internal st...
Neuronal cholecystokinin and schizophrenia: pathogenic and therapeutic studies.

Neuroleptic-free schizophrenic patients received caerulein, a potent analogue of cholecystokinin octapeptide, in a fixed- and rising-dose schedule. In addition, neuroleptic-treated patients received a single dose of the peptide with a 4-week follow-up. No significant change in mental status was observed after any of these administration schedules. Peak plasma levels of caerulein were noted at 20–30 min after IM administration; at this time no changes in cortical evoked potential were demonstrated. Furthermore, levels of cholecystokinin were not found to be reduced, but were in fact elevated in lumbar cerebrospinal fluid of schizophrenic patients. These data argue against the antipsychotic efficacy of systemic caerulein administration and, because evidence of CNS response to CCK is lacking, suggest that other pharmacologic strategies may be necessary to effectively modify central peptide systems with systemically administered drugs.
Analyzing the strength of undergraduate misconceptions about software engineering

While many computer science students plan to pursue careers as software engineers, research shows that most traditional undergraduate CS programs fail to prepare students for the realities of programming in industry. Many misconceptions that are interfering with the transition to industry are belief-oriented, not skill-oriented, in nature, so traditional misconception assessments will not yield a deep understanding of them.In this paper we present a novel methodology that shows interactions among the misconceptions based on a forced choice paradigm and reveals the relative strength of the misconceptions. By analyzing students' repeated responses and response times, we construct a model of participants' misconceptions. We used this methodology to assess CS undergraduates at Carnegie Mellon University and compared their results to those from industry practitioners at several highly regarded companies. The results show that the students have misconceptions about process and teamwork. Surprisingly, we found that several misconceptions are correlated with elective courses that we expected to weaken misconceptions about software engineering but instead appeared to strengthen them.
Nuclear Resonance Fluorescence from the 279-kev Level of Tl 203 with an Ultracentrifuge

Resonance fluorescence from the 279-kev level of ${\mathrm{Tl}}^{203}$ was studied with the centrifuge method. Assuming a total conversion coefficient ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{T}=0.225$, a mean life ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}}=(5.00\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.24)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}10}$ sec for gamma-ray emission was calculated from the resonance scattering measured at different source velocities. Combining this lifetime with the $B(E2)$ from Coulomb excitation, the absolute value of the mixing amplitude $\ensuremath{\delta}={(\frac{E2}{M1})}^{\frac{1}{2}}$ is $|\ensuremath{\delta}|={{1.31}_{\ensuremath{-}0.18}}^{+0.24}$. The angular distribution of the resonance radiation was found to be of the form $W(\ensuremath{\theta})=1+(0.87\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.08){P}_{2}(cos\ensuremath{\theta})$. This angular distribution, together with the range of absolute values of $\ensuremath{\delta}$ given above, fixes the sign of $\ensuremath{\delta}$ as positive. The range of $\ensuremath{\delta}$ values permitted by the angular distribution measurements is $\ensuremath{\delta}=+{{1.20}_{\ensuremath{-}0.12}}^{+0.20}$.
(n-3) Fatty Acids Alleviate Adipose Tissue Inflammation and Insulin Resistance: Mechanistic Insights

Obesity is associated with the metabolic syndrome, a significant risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Chronic low-grade inflammation occurring in the adipose tissue of obese individuals is causally linked to the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome. Although the exact trigger of this inflammatory process is unknown, adipose tissue hypoxia, endoplasmic reticular stress, and saturated fatty acid–mediated activation of innate immune processes have been identified as important processes in these disorders. Furthermore, macrophages and T lymphocytes have important roles in orchestrating this immune process. Although energy restriction leading to weight loss is the primary dietary intervention to reverse these obesity-associated metabolic disorders, other interventions targeted at alleviating adipose tissue inflammation have not been explored in detail. In this regard, (n-3) PUFA of marine origin both prevent and reverse high-fat-diet–induced adipose tissue inflammation and insulin resistance in rodents. We provide an update on the pathogenesis of adipose tissue inflammation and insulin resistance in obesity and discuss potential mechanisms by which (n-3) PUFA prevent and reverse these changes and the implications in human health.
Event-Related Potential Study of Attention Regulation During Illusory Figure Categorization Task in ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Typical Children

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are very common developmental disorders which share some similar symptoms of social, emotional, and attentional deficits. This study is aimed to help understand the differences and similarities of these deficits using analysis of dense-array event-related potentials (ERP) during an illusory figure recognition task. Although ADHD and ASD seem very distinct, they have been shown to share some similarities in their symptoms. Our hypothesis was that children with ASD will show less pronounced differences in ERP responses to target and non-target stimuli as compared to typical children, and to a lesser extent, ADHD. Participants were children with ASD (N=16), ADHD (N=16), and controls (N=16). EEG was collected using a 128 channel EEG system. The task involved the recognition of a specific illusory shape, in this case a square or triangle, created by three or four inducer disks. There were no between group differences in reaction time (RT) to target stimuli, but both ASD and ADHD committed more errors, specifically the ASD group had statistically higher commission error rate than controls. Post-error RT in ASD group was exhibited in a post-error speeding rather than corrective RT slowing typical for the controls. The ASD group also demonstrated an attenuated error-related negativity (ERN) as compared to ADHD and controls. The fronto-central P200, N200, and P300 were enhanced and less differentiated in response to target and non-target figures in the ASD group. The same ERP components were marked by more prolonged latencies in the ADHD group as compared to both ASD and typical controls. The findings are interpreted according to the "minicolumnar" hypothesis proposing existence of neuropathological differences in ASD and ADHD, specifically minicolumnar number/width morphometry spectrum differences. In autism, a model of local hyperconnectivity and long-range hypoconnectivity explains many of the behavioral and cognitive deficits present in the condition, while the inverse arrangement of local hypoconnectivity and long-range hyperconnectivity in ADHD explains some deficits typical for this disorder. The current ERP study supports the proposed suggestion that some between group differences could be manifested in the frontal ERP indices of executive functions during performance on an illusory figure categorization task.
Prevalence of negative symptoms and associated factors in older adults with schizophrenia spectrum disorder.

Objective To examine the prevalence of negative symptoms and associated factors in older adults with schizophrenia spectrum disorder living in the community. Methods The sample consisted of a multiracial sample of 198 persons aged 55 and more with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder that developed the disorder before the age of 45; 39% and 61% lived independently and in supported community residences, respectively. George's Social Antecedent Model of Psychopathology was used to examine 16 predictor variables of negative symptoms, based on scores of 4 or more on any of the PANSS negative symptom items. Results Forty percent of the sample met the criteria for the presence of negative symptoms, and this decreased to 19% when potential secondary symptoms were excluded. In bivariate analysis, 10 variables were found to be significantly associated with the presence of negative symptoms, but when the model was tested in logistic regression analysis, only 3 variables retained significance: greater positive symptom scores (odds ratio [OR] = 1.26), lower cognitive scores (OR = 0.96), and fewer confidantes (OR = 0.80). Conclusion Negative symptoms do not dominate the clinical picture in later life, and levels of negative symptoms appear to be no higher than in younger schizophrenia populations. The relative paucity of significant variables and their modest effect sizes suggest that treatment for negative symptoms in later life will depend largely on strategies directed specifically at the negative symptoms.
Effect of Internal Bubbly Flow on Channel Vibration: Comparison Between Experiment and Model

The effect of an internal turbulent bubbly flow on vibrations of a channel wall is investigated in this paper both experimentally and theoretically. Vibrations of an isolated channel wall and associated wall pressure fluctuations are measured using several accelerometers and pressure transducers along streamwise direction under various gas void fractions and characteristic bubble diameters. A waveguide theory based mathematical model, i.e. a solution to the 3D Helmholtz Equation in an infinite long channel, and the physical properties of bubbles is developed to predict the spectral frequencies of the vibration and the wall pressure fluctuation, the corresponding attenuation coefficients of spectral peak and propagated phase speeds. Results show that compared with the same flow without bubbles, the presence of bubbles substantially enhances the power spectral density of the channel wall vibrations and pressure wall fluctuations in the 250–1200 Hz by up to 27 dB and 26 dB, respectively, and increases their overall rms values by up to 14.1 times and 12.7 times, respectively. In the lower frequency range than the resonant frequency of individual bubble, i.e. 250–1200 Hz range, both vibrations and spectral frequencies increase substantially with increasing void fraction and slightly with increasing bubble diameter. The origin for enhanced vibrations and wall pressure fluctuations is demonstrated to be the excitation of the streamwise propagated acoustic pressure waves, which are created by the initial energy generated during bubble formations. The measured magnitudes and trends of the frequency of the spectral peaks, their attenuation coefficients and phase velocities are well predicated by the model. All the three variables decrease as the void fraction or bubble diameter increase. But the effect of void fraction is much stronger than that of bubble diameter. For the same void fraction and bubble diameter, the peaks at higher spectral frequencies decay faster.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Should party in parliament be weak or strong? The rules debate in the Russian state Duma

In the very first days of its existence, the Russian Duma made crucial decisions determining that, unlike its predecessor, it would be a legislature based on parliamentary factions. Analysis of the Rules debate in the Duma reveals the goals behind this decision. Specifically, the ‘patriotic’ forces in the Duma needed parliamentary parties to facilitate their struggle against President Yeltsin. In turn, the ‘democrats’ needed parliamentary parties to oppose the ‘patriotic forces’ within the parliament. Thus, democratic and patriotic groups alike found common interests as factions, and these cut across traditional left‐right politics. In turn, by choosing rules that favour parliamentary parties, the deputies created incentives for temporary electoral associations to seek more permanent co‐operation.
Digital simulation of the global transport of carbon monoxide

A numerical model of the general atmospheric circulation is used to simulate the global transport of carbon monoxide. The sources are estimated from gasoline consumption data. Since the strongest sources lie in the northern hemisphere belt of strong prevailing westerly winds, "chaining" effects are quite pronounced. Emissions generated in one populous area are soon superimposed upon those of the next area downwind. Subscale cumulus convection, which is parameterized in the model, accounts for a significant fraction of the vertical CO transport.
Level spectra of A = 6 nuclei from the free nucleon-nucleon interaction

Abstract The calculational procedure recently discussed by Dawson, Talmi, and Walecka for calculating level spectra of double-magic-plus-two-nucleon nuclei from the free nucleon-nucleon interaction is applied to the A = 6 system. A Bethe-Goldstone equation is written for the two external nucleons and by working within an harmonic oscillator framework, the equation can be transformed to relative coordinates and solved. The free nonsingular nucleon-nucleon interaction (independent of the form used) is found to give a good fit to all the known levels, and the more sophisticated Brueckner-Gammel-Thaler and Hamada potentials are found to give essentially the same results, after careful examination of the effect of the strong tensor coupling in the T = 0 states. This, in a sense, justifies previous calculations of spectra of light nuclei with nonsingular interactions. Somewhat too much absolute binding energy is found, presumably because of our use of harmonic oscillator single-particle potentials. Quite good agreement is found for the magnetic moment of Li6 and the fτ value for the ground state β decay He6 → Li6 (both within
1025 INDUCTION OF UTERINE CARCINOMA BY HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUSES TYPES 1 AND 2 (HSV-1 AND HSV-2) IN THE MOUSE

Epidemiological studies support the hypothesis that genital infection by HSV-2 is a cause of cervical (cerv) carcinoma (ca). Presumably a long latent period occurs between infection and onset of malignant changes. These studies also indicate that cerv ca has the epidemiological characteristics of a venereal disease, including sexual activity at a young age and with multiple partners. This suggests that genital HSV-2 infection acquired by sexually active adolescents may be the initiating event that results in cerv ca in adult life. There is no conclusive evidence in humans or animals, however, that cerv ca is the direct effect of genital exposure to HSV-2. The objective of this study, therefore, was to determine if exposure of the mouse cervix to HSV-1 or 2 induces cerv ca. C57 mice were exposed to formalin or ultraviolet-inactivated HSV-1 or 2 by insertion of virus-saturated cotton pledgets into the vagina 5 times a week for 80 weeks. This was felt to simulate the conditions of latent infection. Control mice were exposed to cell culture fluids without virus. Pap smears for cerv cytology were obtained biweekly. Cerv dysplasia progressing to invasive ca occurred in 24-60% of virus-exposed mice. Endometrial ca was detected in 7-28% of exposed mice. All controls remained normal. It was concluded that in the mouse prolonged exposure of the female genital tract to inactivated HSV-1 or 2 induces cerv dysplasia and ca and, less frequently, endometrial ca. Histologically these lesions were the same as those in humans.
An Optical Seismometer without Force Feedback

Abstract We are developing a new vertical seismometer, motivated by a desire to have an instrument whose performance is similar to that of observatory sensors yet can operate within a borehole without electronics. This has led us to an all-optical seismometer consisting of a spring-suspended mass whose position is monitored interferometrically. We use a Michelson interferometer illuminated with a 1 mW laser that can be linked to the seismometer with optical fibers only. A digital signal processor samples the interference fringe signal and produces a 400 samples/sec record of the seismometer mass displacement with a root mean square noise per octave band that varies from about 4×10 -12 m at 0.001 Hz to 4×10 -13 m at 1 Hz. The maximum displacement is limited by mechanical issues to a few millimeters at present, providing a dynamic range of at least 10 9 , equivalent to 30 bits (180 dB). Experiments to test this idea have been performed on a modified STS1 vertical seismometer whose electronics have been replaced with an optical system. Comparisons with other seismometers show that, in terms of both noise and signal fidelity, the optical approach is quite viable.
Personality of alcoholics as measured by Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire and House-Tree-Person color-choice characteristics.

This report describes four studies of measures of the alcoholic personality by the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire and the House-Tree-Person. In a sample of 49 male alcoholics support was found for the 16 PF alcoholic personality reported in earlier studies on 4 to 7 scales. Differences in incidence of 20 chromatic characteristics of drawings and in sex of the HTP person drawings between normals and alcoholics were also discovered. Previous research on collegiates reported some low but significant point biserial correlations and discriminant functions between 16 PF traits and trait combinations, and 20 chromatic drawing characteristics. In three instances, alcoholic and college men's drawing characteristics correlated significantly (p < .05) with the same 16 PF scale. In three other cases, identical findings occurred in correlations of alcoholic men and college women's drawings and traits. Comparison of the data from alcoholics and college students led to the conclusion that in general relationsh...
Isotope Effects and the Mechanism of Epoxidation of Cyclohexenone with tert-Butyl Hydroperoxide

The mechanism of the epoxidation of 2-cyclohexen-1-one with tert-butyl hydroperoxide mediated by DBU was studied by a combination of experimental kinetic isotope effects (KIEs) and theoretical calculations. A large 12C/13C ( / ) isotope effect of ≈1.032 was observed at the C3 (β) position of cyclohexenone, while a much smaller 12C/13C isotope effect of 1.010 was observed at the C2 (α) position. Qualitatively, these results are indicative of nucleophilic addition to the enone being the rate-limiting step. Theoretical calculations support this interpretation. Transition structures for the addition step lead to predicted isotope effects that approximate the experimental values, while the predicted isotope effects for the ring-closure step are not consistent with the experimental values. The calculations correctly favor a rate-limiting addition step but suggest that the barriers for the addition and ring-closure steps are crudely similar in energy. The stereochemistry of these epoxidations is predicted to be ...
Nutrition education for older adults: how title III-C program participants perceive their needs

Abstract A nutrition education interest survey was conducted among Title III-C program recipients in a large county in a Southwestern state to ascertain the current level of nutrition knowledge, beliefs in food-related myths, nutrition misinformation of participants, and demographic data. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire, with a proportionate random sampling of 175 being drawn. Findings suggested current nutrition education was inadequate. A significant positive relationship was found between nutrition knowledge scores and multiple sources of nutrition information (p ≤ 0.01), educational level (p ≤ 0.001), and ethnicity (p ≤0.001). Positive relationships were found between the extent of nutrient or food supplementation and income, educational level, and ethnicity.
Broken heart syndrome (Takotsubo cardiomyopathy) triggered by acute mania: a review and case report.

Throughout the centuries and in various cultures, authors have described a relationship between emotional states and heart functioning, colloquially called a “broken heart.” Similarly, the medical literature is filled with reports of stress-induced cardiac disorders, including sudden cardiac death. Initially called “human stress cardiomyopathy syndrome,” the phenomenon was first described by doctors reporting “extensive myocardial contraction band necrosis” found in a series of murder victims who had been emotionally and physically traumatized prior to their deaths. Pathology reports described the myocardial damage to have been “comparable to lesions described in stressed animal experiments” and suggested that their findings were “strongly supportive of the theory of catecholamine mediation of these myocardial changes in man and of the lethal potential of stress through its effect on the heart.” Over the years, the medical nomenclature has changed and the condition has been called by many names, including “broken heart syndrome,” “human stress cardiomyopathy syndrome,” “left ventricular apical ballooning syndrome,” “ampulla cardiomyopathy,” “transient left ventricular dysfunction,” “transient left ventricular (LV) apical ballooning syndrome,” “stress cardiomyopathy,” “apical ballooning syndrome,” and finally “Takotsubo cardiomyopathy.” The name Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) was first used in the Japanese medical literature to describe the appearance on left ventriculography, which reveals a rounded hypokinetic apex with a narrow hypercontracted base resembling a pot previously used in Japan to catch octopus (in Japanese “tako” means octopus and “tsubo” means pot). TTC is a cardiac syndrome characterized by transient LV dysfunction (typically in the above pattern), electrocardiographic changes that can mimic acute myocardial infarction (MI), and a low-level release of myocardial enzymes in the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD).
Herpes zoster ophthalmicus and delayed contralateral hemiparesis caused by cerebral angiitis: Diagnosis and management approaches

Four patients with herpes zoster ophthalmicus and delayed contralateral hemiparesis are described, and their findings are compared with those in patients previously reported in the English language literature. The current patients evidenced multifocal ipsilateral cerebral angiitis by angiography and multifocal infarcts in the distribution of the ipsilateral middle cerebral artery by computed tomographic scanning. Cerebrospinal fluid showed mononuclear pleocytosis, positive oligoclonal bands, and an elevated immunoglobulin G index. Two patients were treated with corticosteroids and acyclovir, and 1 with corticosteroids alone, all without apparent response. Necrotizing angiitis ipsilateral to the herpes zoster ophthalmicus was demonstrated postmortem in 1 patient with multifocal cerebral infarction and progressive leukoencephalopathy. Neither herpes varicella zoster immunocytochemical reactivity nor viral inclusions were seen. The leukoencephalopathy associated with herpes varicella zoster either may be caused by cerebral angiitis or, as previously reported, may be a temporally remote manifestation of persistent herpes varicella zoster infection. The cerebral angiitis associated with herpes varicella zoster is histologically similar to granulomatous angiitis, and both may be related to herpes varicella zoster infection of the cerebral vasculature.
The larval fat body of Sarcophaga bullata (Diptera) as a system for studying phospholipid biosynthesis.

Abstract The larval fat body of Sarcophaga bullata was shown to be an effective system for the study of phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis. 32 P-phosphorylcholine was incorporated to the extent of 4·7 per cent in 1 hr at 30°C. This substrate was a precursor of phosphatidylcholine.
Vaccine Attitudes, Concerns, and Information Sources Reported by Parents of Young Children: Results From the 2009 HealthStyles Survey

OBJECTIVE: To describe the vaccine-related attitudes, concerns, and information sources of US parents of young children. METHODS: We calculated weighted proportions and 95% confidence intervals for vaccine-related attitudes, concerns, and information sources of parents with at least 1 child aged 6 years or younger who participated in the 2009 HealthStyles survey. RESULTS: The overall response rate for the survey was 65% (4556 of 7004); 475 respondents were parents or guardians (“parents”) of at least 1 child aged 6 years or younger. Among those respondents, nearly all (93.4%) reported that their youngest child had or would receive all recommended vaccines. The majority of parents reported believing that vaccines were important to children9s health (79.8%) and that they were either confident or very confident in vaccine safety (79.0%). The vaccine-related concern listed most often by parents was a child9s pain from the shots given in 1 visit (44.2%), followed by a child getting too many vaccines at 1 doctor9s visit (34.2%). When asked to list their most important sources of information on vaccines, the most common response was a child9s doctor or nurse (81.7%). CONCLUSIONS: To maintain and improve on the success of childhood vaccines in preventing disease, a holistic approach is needed to address parents9 concerns in an ongoing manner. Listening and responding in ways and with resources that address specific questions and concerns could help parents make more informed vaccination decisions.
Uses and Abuses of Tumor Markers in the Diagnosis, Monitoring, and Treatment of Primary and Metastatic Breast Cancer

Although breast cancer incidence continues to increase, mortality has been decreasing, principally as a result of earlier detection and improvements in adjuvant systemic therapy. Nonetheless, because antineoplastic agents are associated with substantial morbidity and occasional mortality, efforts to individualize treatment strategies are desirable. In addition to classic histopathologic diagnosis, molecular and cellular tumor markers may help in establishing prognosis or prediction of benefit. Recommendations for routine use of tumor markers in breast cancer have been conservative. Although several studies have been reported, few are of sufficiently high level of evidence to permit solid conclusions. Three key issues in tumor marker evaluation are utility, magnitude, and reliability. Poorly conceived study designs cloud the issue of how the marker might be used. Reliance on p-values rather than the size of the differences in outcome between patients who are positive and those who are negative for the factor obscures the importance. Technical issues result in poor reproducibility and interpretability of assays. Analytical issues lead to poorly defined cutoff values for marker levels. Poor patient selection leads to difficulty interpreting results because of confounders such as differences in treatment regimens. This review focuses on these issues, with an emphasis on currently accepted tumor markers. Finally, new tumor marker reporting recommendations are discussed, the adoption of which may lead to improved design and publication of tumor marker studies in the future. The Oncologist
Techniques and considerations for verification of model causality

High data switching rates of today's computer architecture continue to intensify the need for transmission line modeling accuracy. As these data rates exceed hundreds of megahertz and the physical complexity of the transmission channel increase, it may no longer be sufficient to ensure only the frequency dependency of channel models. Rather, the model developer must guarantee the model response is passive and causal. This is of particular interest given that non-causal models may not allow convergence or yield accurate channel loss within industry-standard tool suites, even though it's response may yield reasonable correlation to measured scattering parameters. Therefore, model developers must understand how the model creation, checking and simulation tools work together to ensure validity of transient simulations. Commercially-available tools exist that provide numerical and visual interpretation of causality compliance (or violation) for any given touchstone model. It is critical, however, for the model developer to understand the verification process used within a chosen tool suite and how to interpret results. Moreover, model developers must know how model frequency content, step size, length and other parameters may impact a checking tool's ability to accurately flag causality violations. As a result, the developer must have an in-depth understanding of the correlation between model content and causality error reporting, whether or not violations raise real concerns and if so, how they may impact the results obtained from the system-level simulation methodology. This paper will discuss the interaction between the model development process, the ability to verify model causality and the impact at the link or system-level as a result of non-causal models or inaccurate interpretation of causality-checking verification tools.
Exploring multiple meanings and pursuits of social justice: a reflection on modern, interpretive, and postmodern possibilities

With the hope of facilitating discussions of social justice among educators, the intent of this essay is to sensitize readers to the multiple meanings of social justice at play within the educational community by comparing and contrasting its use across modernist, interpretive and postmodern perspectives. Much confusion exists among educators as to what these theoretical perspectives are and the implications they have for social justice. It is argued that one's questions about social justice are informed by one's epistemological commitments and theoretical preferences and that these preferences lead to differing foci and concerns about social justice. It is also argued that educational leaders who recognize and make use of multiple perspectives to make sense of discussions of social justice are in a better position to reflectively engage in productive discussions of the concept than those who do not.
An Efficient DNA Extraction Method for Polymerase Chain Reaction–Based Detection of Mycobacterium Avium Subspecies Paratuberculosis in Bovine Fecal Samples

Due to the lipid rich cell wall of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP), the complex nature of bovine feces, and intermittent organism shedding by infected cattle, it is difficult to recover a sufficient amount of high-quality MAP DNA from fecal samples, directly affecting the sensitivity of downstream polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests. In the current study, a DNA extraction method, designated the Mississippi Veterinary Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (MVRDL) method, was developed for PCR-based detection of MAP in bovine fecal samples. The MVRDL method combined multiple procedures, including chemical pretreatment, 1-tube cell lysis and extraction, chelex matrix absorption, and mini-column purification. The DNA yield and purity, as measured by spectrophotometry, was 3.36 fg per colony forming unit (CFU) MAP and A260/280 absorbance ratio of 2, respectively. This method was further evaluated by real-time PCR. A linear correlation was found between cycle-threshold (Ct) and log input CFU (ranging from 7.2 to 7.2 3 10 7 CFU per ml or CFU per g). The detection limit of the real- time PCR assay was 3 CFU per ml of MAP culture or per g of MAP-spiked feces. In addition, the MVRDL method was validated by performing 7 Johne's direct fecal PCR proficiency tests administered by the National Veterinary Service Laboratories. Based on culture results as the ''gold standard,'' the specificity of MVRDL PCR was 100%, and the sensitivity was 98.46% for samples containing more than 1.5 CFU per tube of fecal cultures. To the authors' knowledge, this is the most efficient MAP DNA extraction method in comparison with all previously published protocols.
Immunoglobulin Isotype Determines Pathogenicity in Antibody-Mediated Myocarditis in Naïve Mice

Antimyosin reactivity is associated with cardiac damage in autoimmune myocarditis, an inflammatory heart disease characterized by a cellular infiltrate in the myocardium and myocyte necrosis. We are interested in the pathogenicity of antimyosin antibodies and their ability to cause autoimmune myocarditis. We have shown that antimyosin antibodies of the IgG isotype will induce disease in the DBA/2 mouse. In the present study, we show that IgM antimyosin antibodies do not induce myocarditis; however, these same antibodies become pathogenic when converted to the IgG isotype. Although IgM antibodies can penetrate the myocardium during cardiac inflammation, they are usually less able to leave the vascular compartment and penetrate cardiac tissue, thus accounting for their lack of pathogenicity. Thus, antimyosin B cells may be potentially pathogenic only after antigen activation and heavy chain class switching or under conditions that alter vascular permeability in the heart.
Advances in HLA: practical implications for selecting adult donors and cord blood units.

HLA plays a critical role in hematopoietic cell ransplantation, but a full understanding of this role is onstantly in flux because of changing technologies nd burgeoning amounts of clinical transplantation esults. Today the clinician considering unrelated donor ransplantation must also consider stem cell source: an dult donor or an umbilical cord blood unit (CBU). In he context of cord blood, the task is further compliated by the strong interaction of cell dose. Each individual carries from 10 to 12 genes that ncode the HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-C, HLA-DR, HLAQ, and HLA-DP molecules. Most of these genes are ighly polymorphic, ranging from 13 (HLA-DRB4) to 99 (HLA-B) alleles at a locus [1]. Most of the allelic ifferences result in changes in the HLA protein seuences, thus producing potential targets for allorecogition [2]. The frequency of alleles differs in different opulations: some are common in most populations, nd others are found predominantly in only 1 or a few opulations. The same is true for HLA haplotypes—the ollection of multiple HLA alleles within a short reion of chromosome 6—which are typically inherited s a single block of genetic information. Table 1 proides examples. DNA-based testing methods provide an accurate nd powerful approach to identify HLA diversity, and hese are replacing serologic testing [3,4]. DNA testng detects specific nucleotide differences that distinuish alleles or sets of alleles. The ability to distinuish among particular alleles at a locus (ie, the esolution) depends on the methodology, the set of ligonucleotide reagents used in the assay, or both. he choice of assay depends on the purpose of the yping, eg, initial testing of newly recruited volunteers r CBUs for a registry (low to intermediate resoluion) compared with testing of transplantation candiates and a few selected potential donors or CBUs high or allele-level resolution). C
Integrated Source-Channel Decoding for Correlated Data-Gathering Sensor Networks

This paper explores integrated source-channel decoding, driven by wireless sensor network applications where correlated information acquired by the network is gathered at a destination node. The collection of coded measurements sent to the destination, called a source-channel product codeword, has redundancy due to both correlation of the measurements and the channel code used for each measurement. At the destination, source-channel (SC) decoding of this code combines decoding using (i) the deterministic structure of the channel-coded individual measurements and (ii) the probabilistic structure of a prior model, called the global model, that describes the correlation structure of the SC product codewords. We demonstrate the utility of SC decoding via MAP SC decoding experiments using a (7,4,3) Hamming code and a Gaussian global model. We also show that SC decoding can exploit even the simplest possible code, a single-parity check code, using a MAP SC decoder that integrates the parity check constraint and global model. We describe the design of a low-complexity message-passing decoder and show it can improve performance in the poor-quality channels often found in multi-hop wireless data-gathering sensor networks.
Production and Consumption of Wilderness in Algonquin Park

This article investigates Algonquin Provincial Park, a 7,600 square kilometer “wilderness” park, located just north of Toronto, Ontario. The park markets itself as a place where one can experience ...
Mutational Escape in HIV-1 CTL Epitopes Leads to Increased Binding to Inhibitory Myelomonocytic MHC Class I Receptors

Escape mutations in HIV-1 cytotoxic T cell (CTL) epitopes can abrogate recognition by the TCR of HIV-1-specific CD8+ T cells, but may also change interactions with alternative MHC class I receptors. Here, we show that mutational escape in three HLA-A11-, B8- and B7- restricted immunodominant HIV-1 CTL epitopes consistently enhances binding of the respective peptide/MHC class I complex to Immunoglobulin-like transcript 4 (ILT4), an inhibitory myelomonocytic MHC class I receptor expressed on monocytes and dendritic cells. In contrast, mutational escape in an alternative immunodominant HLA-B57-restricted CTL epitope did not affect ILT4-mediated recognition by myelomonocytic cells. This suggests that in addition to abrogating recognition by HIV-1-specific CD8 T cells, mutational escape in some, but not all CTL epitopes may mediate important immunoregulatory effects by increasing binding properties to ILT4, and augmenting ILT4-mediated inhibitory effects of professional antigen-presenting cells.
Recent developments in optical fiber technology and their impact opening new application spaces

New developments in glass fiber technology are enabling new application spaces for optical communications. Here we review how some of these recent breakthroughs are correlated to challenges in current and future potential application.
Large ring-forming alkylations provide facile access to composite macrocycles

Macrocyclic compounds have potential to enable drug discovery for protein targets with extended, solvent-exposed binding sites. Crystallographic structures of peptides bound at such sites show strong surface complementarity and frequent aromatic side-chain contacts. In an effort to capture these features in stabilized small molecules, we describe a method to convert linear peptides into constrained macrocycles based upon their aromatic content. Designed templates initiate the venerable Friedel–Crafts alkylation to form large rings efficiently at room temperature – routinely within minutes – and unimpeded by polar functional groups. No protecting groups, metals, or air-free techniques are required. Regiochemistry can be tuned electronically to explore diverse macrocycle connectivities. Templates with additional reaction capabilities can further manipulate macrocycle structure. The chemistry lays a foundation to extend studies of how the size, shape and constitution of peptidyl macrocycles correlate with their pharmacological properties.
Practical Differential Diagnosis for CT and MRI

E.C. Lin, E.J. Escott, K.D. Garg, A.G. Bleicher, and D. Alexander, eds. New York, NY: Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 2008, 350 pages, $54.95 This soft-cover book concisely describes the identification of key radiologic signs with easy-to-use tables and bullet-point lists that facilitate rapid
Role of chromosome 1 pericentric heterochromatin (1q) in pathogenesis of myelodysplastic syndromes: report of 2 new cases

Chromosome 1 pericentromeric heterochromatin (1q) has been shown to play an important role in the pathogenesis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and multiple myeloma. Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) results from marrow failure in two or more cell lineages. Although trisomy 1q has been reported in MDS, it is usually present with additional common abnormalities such as trisomy 8, monosomy 5 or monosomy 7, leading to speculation that 1q abnormalities are mostly secondary events representing clonal evolution. We report two cases of MDS in which consistent involvement of 1q heterochromatin is seen as the primary clonal abnormality. Both patients presented with fatigue and pancytopenia. Based on the published reports and our cases, we propose that the 1q heterochromatin plays a vital role in the pathophysiology of MDS. Abnormalities involving 1q result in aberrant heterochromatin/euchromatin junctions, leading to gene dosage abnormalities. Further studies of 1q abnormalities in MDS might provide specific insights as to the exact role of the excess 1q heterochromatin in the etiology of MDS.
Student Perceptions of High Course Workloads are Not Associated with Poor Student Evaluations of Instructor Performance

Many engineering faculty believe that when students perceive a course to have a high workload, students will rate the course and the performance of the course instructor poorly. This belief can be particularly worrying to engineering faculty since engineering courses are often perceived as uniquely demanding. The present investigation demonstrated that student ratings of workload and of overall instructor performance in engineering courses were not correlated (e.g., Spearman’s rho � 0.068) in data sets from either of two institutions. In contrast, a number of evaluation items were strongly correlated (Spearman’s rho � 0.7 to 0.899) with ratings of overall instructor performance across engineering, mathematics and science, and humanities courses. The results of the present study provide motivation for faculty seeking to improve their teaching and course evaluations to focus on teaching methods, organization/preparation, and interactions with students, rather than course workload.