cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Role of Insulin-Like Growth Factor Iin Maintaining Normal Glucose Homeostasis

Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) has significant structural homology with insulin. IGF-I has been shown to bind to insulin receptors to stimulate glucose transport in fat and muscle, to inhibit hepatic glucose output and to lower blood glucose while simultaneously suppressing insulin secretion. However, the precise role of IGF-I in maintaining normal glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity is not well defined. Studies in patients with diabetes have shown that in insulin-deficient states, serum IGF-I concentrations are low and increase with insulin therapy. Similarly, administration of insulin via the portal vein results in optimization of plasma IGF-I concentrations. A patient with an IGF1 gene deletion was shown to have severe insulin resistance that improved with IGF-I therapy. Studies conducted in experimental animals have shown that if IGF-I synthesis by the liver is deleted, the animals become insulin-resistant, and this is improved when IGF-I is administered. Likewise, deletion of the IGF-I receptor in muscle in mice induces severe insulin resistance. Administration of IGF-I to patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus has been shown to result in an improvement in insulin sensitivity and a reduction in the requirement for exogenously administered insulin to maintain glucose homeostasis. A polymorphism in the IGF1 gene that has been shown to reduce serum IGF-I results in an increased prevalence of type 2 diabetes. Taken together, these findings support the conclusion that IGF-I is necessary for normal insulin sensitivity, and impairment of IGF-I synthesis results in a worsening state of insulin resistance.
Tolerance after Solid Organ and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

Solid organ transplantation (SOT) and hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) have developed over the past 5 decades largely independent from each other despite sharing biologic principles, an almost identical repertoire of immunosuppressive (IS) drugs, and biologic response modifiers to overcome barriers of immune rejection between host and donor. Long-term graft function and recipient survival are the same primary endpoints for SOT and HCT. It is remarkable that allogeneic tissues can exhibit physiologic function in a host environment that may display disparate HLA antigens, blood type, and other immune response molecules. Long-term graft function after SOT in most cases requires life-long IS medications to prevent rejection in sharp contrast with HCT where most patients after 1 to 2 years post-HCT will be able to become independent of pharmacologic agents to avoid rejection or graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD) and therefore reach a clinical state of tolerance. The hallmark of tolerance is specific unresponsiveness between host and graft tissues in the absence of any IS drugs; however, an equally significant tenet is the prerequisite freedom from infections, reflecting immunocompetence that is identifiable by protective immune responsiveness against pathogens. The established mechanisms of transplantation tolerance include immunologic ignorance, central (thymic) and peripheral clonal deletion, anergy, and immune regulation [1]. In the following three sections, clinical and mechanistic studies highlight some of these mechanisms, as significant progress has been achieved after HCT, kidney, and liver transplantation. Excitingly, immunomodulatory strategies have recently translated into clinical success by combining HCT with living-donor SOT, using HCT as a means to achieve tolerance [2].
Controllability of Second Order Impulsive Neutral Functional Differential Inclusions with Infinite Delay

This paper is concerned with controllability of a partial neutral functional differential inclusion of second order with impulse effect and infinite delay. We introduce a new phase space to prove the controllability of an inclusion which consists of an impulse effect with infinite delay. We claim that the phase space considered by different authors is not correct. We establish the controllability of mild solutions using a fixed point theorem for contraction multi-valued maps and without assuming compactness of the family of cosine operators.
DFT Versus the “Real World” (or, Waiting for Godft)

“Real-world” problems, from the properties of synthetic, nano-structured materials to the nature of bio-materials’ interactions, tax the capabilities of modern, approximate Density Functional Theory (DFT) methods. And, progress is often illusory; that is, an “improved” functional can describe systems of interest less faithfully than an older, “cruder” one. Examples discussed concern water at hydrophilic surfaces, and the morphology of nano-clusters grown on a graphene-on-precious-metal template. The results suggest that in the absence of considerable prior insight, where energy differences are small, applying DFT to decipher the meaning of well-characterized experimental data is apt to be more successful than to predict molecular-level structure.
COMPARATIVE OUTCOMES OF PERICARDIOCENTESIS IN THE UNITED STATES BY HOSPITAL PROCEDURE VOLUMES

The effect of hospital procedure volume of pericardiocentesis on in-hospital mortality is unknown. The Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) was used to identify patients who underwent pericardiocentesis in the United States from January 2005 to December 2010. Hospitals were separated into quartiles
Effect of storage conditions on the stability and fermentability of enzymatic lignocellulosic hydrolysate.

Abstract To minimize the change of lignocellulosic hydrolysate composition during storage, the effects of storage conditions (temperature, pH and time) on the composition and fermentability of hydrolysate prepared from AFEX™ (Ammonia Fiber Expansion – a trademark of MBI, Lansing, MI) pretreated corn stover were investigated. Precipitates formed during hydrolysate storage increased with increasing storage pH and time. The precipitate amount was the least when hydrolysate was stored at 4 °C and pH 4.8, accounting for only 0.02% of the total hydrolysate weight after 3-month storage. No significant changes of NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) spectra and concentrations of sugars, minerals and heavy metals were observed after storage under this condition. When pH was adjusted higher before fermentation, precipitates also formed, consisting of mostly struvite (MgNH 4 PO 4 ·6H 2 O) and brushite (CaHPO 4 ·2H 2 O). Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation studies and yeast cell growth assays showed no significant difference in fermentability between fresh hydrolysate and stored hydrolysate.
Impact of behavioral integrity on follower job performance: A three-study examination

Although a leader's integrity seems to be essential for effective leadership, no empirical studies have examined the relationship between leader behavioral integrity (the consistency between words and actions) and follower job performance. Further, no empirical studies have examined how follower behavioral integrity might also impact job performance. Using data from three studies, we addressed these issues by testing the effects of leader and follower behavioral integrity on follower job performance. Study 1 was an online experiment in which behavioral integrity was manipulated in written scenarios; Study 2 was a field study; and Study 3 was a longitudinal lab study with temporary work teams. Findings from the studies indicated that leader behavioral integrity was not directly related to follower job performance, but was related indirectly via trust in the leader and follower satisfaction with the leader. Results also indicated that follower behavioral integrity had a significant impact on job performance, both directly and indirectly via leader trust in the follower and satisfaction with the follower. Finally, results indicated that perceptions of behavioral integrity were based primarily on individual differences and not higher level-of-analysis effects.
Pathogenesis of Age-Related Glucose Intolerance in Man: Insulin Resistance and Decreased β-Cell Function

To identify the pathogenic factors responsible for glucose intolerance of aging, we measured a variety of metabolic parameters, including insulin sensitivity and islet cell function, in 10 young (18−36 yr old) and 10 older (57−82 yr old) men of normal body weight. Subject groups had equivalent fasting plasma glucose and fat cell size values.Frequently sampled iv glucose tolerance tests were performed, and the data were analyzed by computer using the minimal model approach. This technique yields the following measures: S1, the insulin sensitivity index; φ1 and φ2, indices of first and second phase β-cell responsiveness to glucose; n, fractional insulin clearance, and SG, a measure of dynamic glucose disappearance dependent on glucose per se. We also evaluated β-cell responsiveness independently by measuring the plasma insulin response to arginine injections at three levels of glycemia and calculated potentiation slope from the relationship between the acute insulin response to arginine and the prestimulus ...
Effect of Radiographic Abnormalities on Rate of Bone Loss from the Spine

When measured by dual-photon absorptiometry (DPA), the adjusted annual rate of change in bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine was 0.11±0.51 (SE) % in 44 healthy postmenopausal women with radiographic abnormalities in the scan field and −0.97±0.26% in 249 women with normal lateral lumbar radiographs (p=0.046). Rates of loss of BMD from the radius were similar in the 2 groups. Spurious rates of loss of spine BMD are likely to be found in subjects with calcification of the aorta, osteophytes or other abnormalities in the spine scan field. This should be kept in mind when serial spine scans are being considered in these subjects.
Ads by 527 Groups and the 2004 U.S. Presidential Election

With the emergence of newly legislated 527 groups and their barrage of television attack ads against each major party candidate, the landscape of the U.S. presidential election changed markedly in 2004. Although these special interest groups—named after the amendment to the U.S. Federal Tax Code that authorized them—seem to function as political action committees, the lack of federal regulation allows 527 groups more latitude in ad content and opaqueness of ad sponsorship. The extant literature on the increasing effectiveness of negative political advertising suggests the relative efficacy of the promotional tactics used by 527 groups. After a discussion of the select 527 group ads run during 2004, the future regulation of 527 groups is broached.
Longitudinal comparative analysis of item‐level and collection‐level user searching in a digital library

This poster reports the preliminary results of a comparative transaction log analysis study of user searching at collection and item levels in a large-scale cultural heritage digital library that provides a unique option for collection-level search. Substantial changes in user searching have been observed over time, including an important trend of the growing use of collection-level search feature. Results also demonstrate differences in the search query lengths, frequencies, and distribution of search categories between the collection-level and item-level searching. The higher occurrence of place and concept categories in collection-level user searches than in item-level searches has been consistent over time. The analysis also revealed the prevalence of subject searching (including concept, object, event, place, class of persons, and ethnic group search categories) both at the collection level and at the item level. This study provides empirical data to support digital library developers' decision making regarding information organization in large-scale aggregations of digital collections.
Proinflammatory Properties of Coplanar PCBs: In Vitro and in Vivo Evidence

So-called coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), as well as other environmental contaminants that are aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) agonists, may compromise the normal functions of vascular endothelial cells by activating oxidative stress-sensitive signaling pathways and subsequent proinflammatory events critical in the pathology of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. To test this hypothesis, porcine endothelial cells were exposed to PCB 153 and to three coplanar PCBs (PCB 77, PCB 126, or PCB 169). In contrast to PCB 153, which is not a ligand for the Ah receptor (AhR), all coplanar PCBs disrupted endothelial barrier function. All coplanar PCBs increased expression of the CYP1A1 gene, oxidative stress (DCF fluorescence), and the DNA-binding activity of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB). PCB-induced oxidative stress was concentration-dependent, with PCB 126 exhibiting a maximal response at the lowest concentration (0.5 microM) tested. The increase in NF-kappaB-dependent transcriptional activity was confirmed in endothelial cells by a luciferase reporter gene assay. In contrast to PCB 153, coplanar PCBs that are AhR ligands increased endothelial production of interleukin-6. At 3.4 microM, expression of the adhesion molecule VCAM-1 was most sensitive to PCB 77 and 169. We also provide in vivo evidence, suggesting that binding to the AhR is critical for the proinflammatory properties of PCBs. Twenty hours after a single administration of PCB 77, VCAM-1 expression was increased only in wild-type mice, while mice lacking the AhR gene showed no increased staining for VCAM-1. These data provide evidence that coplanar PCBs, agonists for the AhR, and inducers of cytochrome P450 1A1, produce oxidative stress and an inflammatory response in vascular endothelial cells. An intact AhR may be necessary for the observed PCB-induced responses. These findings suggest that activation of the AhR can be an underlying mechanism of atherosclerosis mediated by certain environmental contaminants.
Impact of Symptomatic Pericoronitis on Health-Related Quality of Life

Purpose To assess the impact of symptomatic pericoronitis on health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Patients and Methods Healthy subjects with symptomatic pericoronitis were enrolled in an institutional review board-approved study. Each was given a third molar condition-specific HRQOL instrument to assess the impact of pericoronitis in the preceding week. Lifestyle and oral-function outcomes were assessed using a 5-point Likert-type scale, with anchors of “no trouble” (1) and “lots of trouble” (5). Pain outcomes were assessed using a 7-point scale anchored by “no pain” (1) and “worst pain imaginable” (7). Verbal descriptors for sensory perception and unpleasantness of pain were recorded on Gracely scales. The impact of symptomatic pericoronitis on overall health and well-being in the previous 3 months was recorded using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14). Results The median age of 57 subjects was 23.1 years (interquartile range [IQR], 21.2 to 25.8 years). Forty-nine percent were female, 56% were Caucasian, 21% were Asian, and 16% were African American. Ninety-one percent had at least some college experience. Twenty-eight percent of subjects described their worst pain in the week before enrollment as severe (5-7/7), 40% as moderate (3-4/7), and 32% as none/little (1-2/7). Average pain in the previous week was described as severe (5-7/7) for 4% of subjects, as moderate (3-4/7) for 40%, and as none/little (1-2/7) for 56%. On the Gracely scales, 9% of subjects reported the sensory intensity of pain in the past week as “intense,” “very intense,” or “extremely intense.” Subjects reported “quite a bit/lots” of difficulty (4-5/5) with oral function (23% with eating, 19% with chewing, and 6% with opening) and “quite a bit/lots” of difficulty (4-5/5) with lifestyle (sleeping, social life, and sports/hobby, all at 2%). The median OHIP-14 Severity score was 11/56 (IQR, 5-17). The most frequently reported OHIP-14 items in the 3 months before enrollment were in the pain dimensions. The median Severity score for pain items was 4/8 (IQR, 2-6). Conclusion Symptomatic pericoronitis can have adverse outcomes, compromising the quality of life and inflicting pain.
Theoretical studies of the HeCN+ and NeCN+ molecular ions

Self-consistent field calculations are presented for HeCN(+) using several basis sets; calculations for HeH(+) with the same basis sets are given for comparison. These predict that HeCN(+) is stable with a He-CN(+) dissociation energy between 1.5 and 2.0 eV. The binding is found to be mainly electrostatic in nature. Rotation and hyperfine spectral constants are predicted. Similar calculations indicate that the isocyanide HeCN(+) is not stable. Preliminary calculations on NeCN(+) indicate that it is as stable as HeCN(+). The possibility of observing noble gas molecular ions in laboratory experiments and in interstellar space is discussed.
Modification of chicks’ pecking preferences: Food imprinting or instrumental conditioning?

Using Hess’ technique, 35 small groups of chicks of age 2–3 days or beyond were reinforced in training with food for pecking at one visual stimulus (S+) and nonreinforced for pecking at another (S−) and subsequently tested in extinction. In training, pecking was strongly conditioned to S+, but in testing, both number of pecks to and preference for S+ declined as in instrumental conditioning, contrary to Hess’ original report. Results are discussed relative to studies exposing chicks to actual food objects, where an imprinting-like phenomenon has been found.
Mechanical properties of cellulose: chitosan blends for potential use as a coronary artery bypass graft.

The development of intimal hyperplasia is the major cause of failure of both autologous saphenous vein and synthetic coronary artery bypass grafts. This is partially due to graft-host vessel compliance mismatch. Cellulose and chitosan (CELL:CHIT) are both biocompatible, nontoxic, and naturally occurring biopolymers that have been used extensively for biomedical applications. Elastic properties of membranes made of CELL:CHIT blends with different ratios between each polymer were determined using uniaxial tests and the ratio that yielded the less stiff membrane was chosen to prepare a small diameter hollow tube. The presence of chitosan had a favorable impact on the elasticity of the membranes, where the CELL:CHIT 5:5 ratio showed the lowest Young’s modulus. Small diameter tubular constructs were fabricated using this optimal CELL:CHIT ratio and the compliance was determined on samples with different wall thickness and internal diameter. The compliance of the hollow tube with inner diameter of 4 mm and wall...
Smoking Cessation: An Overview of Treatment Options with a Focus on Varenicline

Tobacco use claims more than 440,000 lives each year, making it one of the leading causes of mortality in the United States. Although nearly half of all people who smoke die prematurely from tobacco-related illnesses, those who quit may be able to reverse many of the adverse effects of tobacco. Approximately 47.5 million adults use tobacco; nearly 70% of them want to quit, and 42.5% attempt to quit each year. The most effective smoking cessation programs involve a combination of pharmacotherapy and behavioral and/or cognitive counseling to improve abstinence rates. Approved treatments include nicotine replacement therapies and bupropion, a non nicotine option. Varenicline, the most recent agent approved for tobacco cessation, is the first drug in a new class that binds to the nicotinic receptors to release dopamine and alleviate withdrawal symptoms. It has demonstrated superior efficacy in clinical trials when compared with placebo and bupropion, with minimal adverse effects. It provides smokers and clinicians with an alternative therapy to assist in quitting tobacco.
1309 ULTRASOUND MEASUREMENTS (USM) OF BRAIN GROWTH IN INFANTS UNDER GOING ABSTINENCE

Cross-sectional USM of brain structures were done to evaluate the brain growth of infants undergoing abstinence due to narcotic exposure in-utero in comparison to that of control infants. The groups were comparable in sex, race, socioeconomic status, birth weight, gestational age and Apgar scores. Mathers of the drug exposed infants had been maintained on methadone during pregnancy and many were known to use undetermined quantities of other psychoactive drugs. USM were performed at 72 hours, 1 month and 6 months after birth. Transaxial images were done at two levels: 1) the maximal circumference of the thalami and 2) the margins of the lateral ventricles where they parallel the midline. Intracranial hemidiameter (ICHD) was recorded at this level. Head circumferences (HC) were also measured. Results revealed significant differences in the overall pattern of brain growth between the two groups (p=.05). No increase in the incidence of hemorrhage, structural abnormalities or dampened arterial pulsations was noted. However, at 72 hours and 1 month, both right and left thalamic areas were smaller in the drug exposed infants than in the controls. The ICHD's were slightly smaller, but no differences were found in HC. Between 1 and 6 months of age, the rate of thalamic growth for drug exposed infants more than doubled that of the controls, resulting in greater thalamic circumferences at 6 months and HC were also somewhat greater. The data suggest a suppression of brain growth, particularly thalamic growth, in drug exposed infants during the first month of life, with a greater than normal growth rate of the thalami occurring at 6 months. Although growth occurred, the ICHD's of the drug exposed infants continued to remain smaller than the controls at 6 months of age. Additional USM and clinical evaluations are needed to ascertain the disparity in hemispheric and thalamic growth and its long-term effects.
PC-based system for 3D registration of ultrasound and magnetic resonance images based on a magetic position sensor

Stereotactic systems are based on preoperative tomographic images for assisting neurosurgeons to accurately guide the surgical tool into the brain. In addition, intraoperative ultrasound (US) images are used to monitor the brain in real time during the surgical procedure. The main disadvantage of stereotactic system is that preoperative images can become outdated during the course of the surgery. The main disadvantage of intraoperative US is the low signal-to-noise ratio that prevents the surgeon from appreciating the contents and orientation of the US images. A system that combines preoperative tomographic with intraoperative US imags could overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages. We have successfully developed and implemented a new PC-based system for interactive 3D registration of US and magnetic resonance images. Our software is written in Microsoft Visual C++ and it runs on a Pentium II 450-MHz PC. We have performed an extensive analysis of the errors of our system with a custom-built phantom. The registration error between US and MR space was dependent on the depth of the target within the US image. For a 3.5-MHz phased 1D array transducer and a depth of 6 cm, the mean value of the registration error was 2.00 mm and the standard deviation was 0.75 mm. The registered MR images were reconstructed using either zero-order or first-order interpolation. The interactive nature of our system demonstrates its potential to be used in the operating room.
Toward Collaborative Ideation at Scale: Leveraging Ideas from Others to Generate More Creative and Diverse Ideas

A growing number of large collaborative idea generation platforms promise that by generating ideas together, people can create better ideas than any would have alone. But how might these platforms best leverage the number and diversity of contributors to help each contributor generate even better ideas? Prior research suggests that seeing particularly creative or diverse ideas from others can inspire you, but few scalable mechanisms exist to assess diversity. We contribute a new scalable crowd-powered method for evaluating the diversity of sets of ideas. The method relies on similarity comparisons (is idea A more similar to B or C) generated by non-experts to create an abstract spatial idea map. Our validation study reveals that human raters agree with the estimates of dissimilarity derived from our idea map as much or more than they agree with each other. People seeing the diverse sets of examples from our idea map generate more diverse ideas than those seeing randomly selected examples. Our results also corroborate findings from prior research showing that people presented with creative examples generated more creative ideas than those who saw a set of random examples. We see this work as a step toward building more effective online systems for supporting large scale collective ideation.
Hydrodynamics, diffusion-boundary layers and photosynthesis of the seagrasses Thalassia testudinum and Cymodocea nodosa

Photosynthetic rates of aquatic plants frequently increase with increasing current velocities. This is presumably due to a reduction in the thickness of the diffusion boundary-layer which allows for a higher carbon availability on the plant surface. Blades of the seagrasses Thalassia testudinum and Cymodocea nodosa exposed to different current velocities under controlled laboratory conditions, showed increased photosynthetic rates with increasing flow only at low current velocities (expressed as blade friction velocities, u *). Carbon saturation of photosynthetic processes occurred at a relatively low u * level (0.25 cm s-1) for T. testudinum collected from a calm environment compared to C. nodosa (0.64 cm s-1) collected from a surf zone. No further enhancement of photosynthetic rates was observed at higher u * levels, suggesting limitations in carbon diffusion through the boundary layer below critical u * levels and possible limitations in carbon fixation by the enzymatic system at higher u * levels. These results, as well as those of previous theoretical studies, assumed the flow on the immediate seagrass-blade surface to be hydrodynamically smooth. The presence of epiphytes and attached debris causes the surface of in situ seagrass blades to be exposed to flows ranging from smooth to rough-turbulent. As a consequence, the boundary-layer thickness on moderately epiphytized blades under medium to high flow-conditions is not continuous, but fluctuates in time and space, enhancing carbon transport. In situ u * levels measured directly on blades of seagrasses indicate that T. testudinum and C. nodosa can be exposed to conditions under which the boundary layer limits photosynthesis during short periods of time (milliseconds) during low-energy events. As waves cause the thickness of the diffusion boundary-layer to fluctuate constantly, carbon-limiting conditions do not persist for prolonged periods.
Lesions of the anteroventral third ventricle region exaggerate neuroendocrine and thermogenic but not behavioral responses to a novel environment

Mild psychological stressors provoke an acute rise in core temperature (TC), stimulate the hypothalmo-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis, and induce various stress-related behaviors. In the presen...
Quantitative nonlinear analysis of autocatalytic pathways with applications to glycolysis

Autocatalytic pathways are frequently encountered in biological networks. One such pathway, the glycolytic pathway, is of special importance and has been studied extensively. Using tools from linear systems theory, our previous work on a simple two dimensional model of glycolysis demonstrated that autocatalysis can aggravate control performance and contribute to instability. Here, we expand this work and study properties of nonlinear autocatalytic pathway models (of which glycolysis is an example). Changes in the concentration of metabolites and catalyzing enzymes during the lifetime of the cell can perturb the system from the nominal operating point of the pathway. We investigate effects of such perturbations through the estimation of invariant subsets of the region of attraction around nominal operating conditions (i.e., a measure of the set of perturbations from which the cell recovers). Numerical experiments demonstrate that systems that are robust with respect to perturbations in parameter space have easily “verifiable” region of attraction properties in terms of proof complexity.
Psychoanalytic Criticism of Shakespeare

Why has Shakespeare proved such profitable ground for psychoanalytic study? Part of the answer lies in the affinity between theatre, not just Shakespeare’s, and psychoanalytic practice, an affinity recognized by Freud when he adapted Aristotle’s idea of catharsis to his own “talking cure.” This essay traces psychoanalytic criticism of Shakespeare from its origins in the work of Freud and Ernest Jones through studies by Jung, Rank, Lacan, Norman Holland, and others. In conclusion, the author presents a practical example of psychoanalytic Shakespeare criticism: a reading of The Tempest drawing on the object relations school of D. W. Winnicott.
Flow cytometric sperm sorting: Effects of varying laser power on embryo development in swine*

This study was conducted to determine fertilization rate and embryo development using the Beltsville Sperm Sexing Technology with two different laser power outputs, 25 and 125 milliwatts (mW). Freshly ejaculated boar semen was diluted; one aliquot was not stained or sorted (nonsort) and a second aliquot was stained with Hoechst 33342 and sorted as a complete population, not separated into X and Y populations (all-sort). Ovulation controlled gilts were surgically inseminated with 2 10 5 spermatozoa (44- 46 hr after human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)) into the isthmus of each oviduct, one oviduct receiving nonsort and the other all-sort at 25 or 125 mW. A total of 426 embryos were flushed from oviducts at slaughter 43 hr after laparotomy and prepared for determination of fertilization and cleavage rates using confocal laser microscopy for analysis of actin cytoskeleton and chromatin configuration. The percentage of fertilized eggs and embryos was less for the 25 mW all-sort compared to nonsort or the 125 mW all-sort (77.9 vs. 96.3 and 96.2%, P 0.05) among treatments. However, the rate of embryo development was slower (P 0.05) from the nonsort or 25 mW all- sort. We conclude that the use of 125 mW laser power for sorting boar spermatozoa is advantageous to maintain high resolution separation and has no detrimental effect on embryo development compared to 25 mW. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 61: 87-92, 2002. fl 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Plasma instabilities in meteor trails: 2-D simulation studies

[1] Field-aligned plasma density irregularities detected as nonspecular echoes by radars with large aperture-power products indicate the presence of plasma turbulence within meteor trails. This paper presents two-dimensional simulations of meteor trail instabilities and compares these results with theory and observations. In particular, this paper describes techniques for simulating trail turbulence and then discusses two sample cases using realistic plasma density gradients, masses, and atmospheric conditions appropriate for a 102-km altitude. In the first case, the trail lies along the geomagnetic field, B. In the second, it lies perpendicular to B and is subject to a small external electric field pointing parallel to it. These cases show the spontaneous development of instabilities leading to turbulence and field-aligned irregularities. These irregularities can create nonspecular echoes with broad spectral lines and small Doppler shifts similar to those observed by radars with large aperture-power products. The simulations also show turbulence-enhanced cross-field diffusion rates. Finally, the paper describes simulations of trails containing multiple ion species and shows how turbulent mixing greatly reduces species fractionation.
Characterization of cultured cholangiocytes isolated from livers of patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis

Characterization of cultured cholangiocytes isolated from livers of patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis
Querying Wikipedia documents and relationships

Wikipedia has become an important source of information which is growing very rapidly. However, the existing infrastructure for querying this information is limited and often ignores the inherent structure in the information and links across documents. In this paper, we present a new approach for querying Wikipedia content that supports a simple, yet expressive query interfaces that allow both keyword and structured queries. A unique feature of our approach is that, besides returning documents that match the queries, it also exploits relationships among documents to return richer, multi-document answers. We model Wikipedia as a graph and cast the problem of finding answers for queries as graph search. To guide the answer-search process, we propose a novel weighting scheme to identify important nodes and edges in the graph. By leveraging the structured information available in infoboxes, our approach supports queries that specify constraints over this structure, and we propose a new search algorithm to support these queries. We evaluate our approach using a representative subset of Wikipedia documents and present results which show that our approach is effective and derives high-quality answers.
Nipple-sparing mastectomy: considerations and techniques

SUMMARY Nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) is the next step in the natural progression of tissue preservation breast cancer surgery. NSM selection criteria are a balance between oncologic and cosmetic considerations; accurate ascertainment of nipple involvement is critical. Further selection should be based on patients with the greatest likelihood of viable flaps and the ability to maintain symmetrical breasts. Surgical technique focuses on incision selection and creating thin flaps with removal of the majority of breast tissue. Risk assessment for long-term recurrence is necessary with proponents for pre-, intra- and post-operative assessment. Prospective studies show low rates of local recurrence of the nipple–areolar complex and are comparable to skin-sparing mastectomy with short-term follow-up in highly select groups of patients. Extended follow-up will be helpful in determining long-term outcomes. Nipple necrosis is an outcome that should be considered. Studies may support improved quality of life and ...
Sensitivity and resolution of using magneto-telluric gradient method for detecting buried objects

The feasibility of using magneto-telluric gradient measurements at the surface of the earth for detecting buried objects is examined. A modified quasi-static version of the finite-difference time-domain method is used to examine the sensitivity and resolution of this approach. Buried objects with varying sizes, conductivities and depths were simulated. The use of high temperature superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUID) for carrying out this magneto-telluric measurement is discussed.
Differential conjugation of tat peptide to superparamagnetic nanoparticles and its effect on cellular uptake

Surface modification of superparamagnetic contrast agents with HIV-1 tat peptide has emerged as a promising means for intracellular magnetic labeling and noninvasive tracking of a large number of cell types with MRI. To achieve efficient intracellular delivery of the nanoparticles, we investigated the effect on cellular uptake of superparamagnetic iron oxide particles by varying the number of attached tat peptides. First, we report here a modified P2T method in measuring the numbers of surface attachments per particle through disulfide linkage. The method was shown to have desirable simplicity and reproducibility. With the P2T method as a tool, conjugates with progressively higher ratios of peptide-to-particle were synthesized. We were able to demonstrate that higher numbers of tat peptide facilitate the cellular uptake of iron oxide nanoparticles in a nonlinear fashion. Cells labeled with these optimized preparations were readily detectable by MR imaging. The increase in sensitivity could allow in vivo tracking of 100-fold lower cell concentration than currently described.
Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy—Transient Left Ventricular Apical Ballooning Mimicking Acute Myocardial Infarction

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is characterized by transient left ventricular dysfunction with clinical symptoms of chest pain, electrocardiographic changes of ST-segment elevation or T wave inversion, which mimics acute myocardial infarction in patients without angiographically significant coronary artery stenosis. We report a 75-year-old woman with a history of chest tightness who presented with typical pictures of takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Acute myocardial infarction was initially diagnosed based on the electrocar-diographic changes and elevated troponin. Apical akinesis and ballooning with basal hyperkinesis were noted during left ventriculography. Coronary angiography, however, did not show significant coronary artery stenosis. Electrocardiography was normal 3 months later. Follow-up echocardiography did not show any wall motion abnormality. This patient remained well without chest pain or dyspnea over 24 months of follow-up. Optimal medical management of takotsubo cardiomyopathy remains unclear. This patient received diltiazem to prevent possible coronary artery spasm. The prognosis of this syndrome seems to be favorable except for occasional mortality due to left ventricular rupture or ventricular arrhythmia. Recurrence of this syndrome is rare.
Biosynthesis of tropoelastin by elastic cartilage.

Elastic ear cartilage and aortae from nine-day-old hamsters were incubated in Krebs-Ringer medium containing ascor-bate, β-aminopropionitrile and either [14C]proline or [3H] valine. The [14C] proline-labeled proteins were separated by chromatography on Agarose A-5 m in sodium dodecyl sulfate and their [14C]-hydroxyproline content measured. A fraction having an approximate molecular weight of 70,000 measured by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis had a [14C] hydroxyproline content of 9.1% in the cartilage and 11.8% in the aorta. This fraction was also relatively heavily labeled with [3H]valine. The 70,000 dalton, [3H]valine-labeled protein of both the aorta and ear cartilage was precipitated by elastin-specific antibody prepared against hamster insoluble aorta elastin, but no higher molecular weight protein was immunoprecipitated. Based on these results we identify the 70,000 dalton protein from the elastic cartilage as tropoelastin.
Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide excites mammalian dorsal horn neurons both in vivo and in vitro

Abstract Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) applied by iontophoresis and/or pressure microinjection causes a strong excitation of more than 75% of all tested spinal neurons in laminae I–VII of both the cat intact spinal cord and the rat spinal cord slice preparation. In the cat intact spinal cord the excitation is not limited to a single population of neurons but is observed in all cagegories of units recognized in spinal preparations of cats in this area on the basis of their excitability by different kinds of cutaneous afferent input. In the rat spinal cord slice preparation, VIP depolarized dorsal horn neurons and increased their excitability. The depolarization was associated wtih a decrease in neuronal input resistance. These results are consistent with the possibility that VIP may have a physiological role in synaptic function, either as a transmitter or as a modulator.
A graphical user interface for a fine-art painting image retrieval system

For describing and analyzing digital images of paintings we propose a model to serve as the basis for an interactive image retrieval system. The model defines two types of features: palette and canvas features. Palette features are those related to the set of colors in a painting while canvas features relate to the frequency and spatial distribution of those colors. The image retrieval system differs from previous retrieval systems for paintings in that it does not rely on image or color segmentation. The features specified in the model can be extracted from any image and stored in a database with other control information. Users select a sample image and the system returns the ten closest images as determined by calculating the Euclidean distance between feature sets. The system was tested with an initial dataset of 100 images (training set) and 90 sample images (testing set). In 81 percent of test cases, the system retrieved at least one painting by the same artist suggesting that the model is sufficient for the interactive classification of paintings by artist. Future studies aim to expand and refine the model for the classification of artwork according to artist and period style
M-Mode Echocardiography in Evaluating Left Ventricular Function and Surgical Risk in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

Echocardiographic left ventricular size and closure time of the mitral valve were measured in 204 consecutive patients having cardiac catheterization and significant coronary artery disease to determine if these measurements could assess the extent of left ventricular dysfunction and predict surgical mortality for those patients treated surgically. Among 30 patients having both an echocardiographically increased left ventricular internal dimension at the end of diastole and a prolonged time of mitral valve closure, left ventriculographic studies showed greater than 40 percent abnormality of wall motion in 24 patients (80 percent), and the resting left ventricular end-diastolic pressure averaged 23 mm Hg. Of the remaining 174 patients, only 13 (7 percent) had greater than 40 percent abnormality of wall motion, and the left ventricular end-diastolic pressure averaged 11 mm Hg. Eighty-six of the 204 patients received surgical therapy. Mortality during hospitalization for those surgical patients with both echocardiographic findings was 67 percent (6/9) compared to 1 percent (1/77) for those without both findings (P
Image restoration by parallel simulated annealing using compound Gauss-Markov models

A parallel simulated annealing algorithm is presented for image restoration using a compound Gauss-Markov field model for the image. Results are provided for its implementation on a distributed array processor (DAP510) which is a single instruction multiple data (SIMD) machine with 1024(32*32) mesh-connected processor elements, and a clock rate of 10 MHz. The total time required for restoring a monochrome blurred and noisy image with continuous range of intensities is reduced to about 10 minutes as compared to 20 hours for its sequential implementation (VAX11/785). Both the maximum a posteriori (MAP) and minimum mean square error (MMSE) estimates of the original image are obtained. The parallel estimates are shown, as well as the sequential estimate and the classical Wiener filter estimate. >
Frequency of levodopa-related dyskinesias and motor fluctuations as estimated from the cumulative literature

There is no clear consensus regarding the frequency (and hence, the risk), of dyskinesias or motor fluctuations during chronic levodopa therapy for Parkinson's disease (PD). Multiple clinical series have tabulated these frequencies since the advent of levodopa over 30 years ago. We were interested in determining: (1) the aggregate frequency figures in the existing literature; and (2) how clinical series from the early levodopa era, which included patients with longer durations of parkinsonism, compare to more recent (modern era) series. We searched MEDLINE for all English language publications reporting the cumulative frequency of levodopa-induced dyskinesias or motor fluctuations during discrete intervals of treatment. This generated 2,478 publications spanning 1966 through September 2000. Papers with appropriate titles or abstracts were reviewed; reference lists from published clinical series were a source of additional papers for review. This ultimately yielded 74 publications with adequate data, relating to 112 intervals of levodopa treatment. Series that included patients with PD-onset well before levodopa availability (pre-levodopa era) were separately analyzed from all subsequent series. Series were grouped by duration of levodopa therapy and the median frequencies of dyskinesias and motor fluctuations were tabulated for each group. The data were analyzed both with and without adjustment for the number (N) in each series. Among series containing pre-levodopa era patients, the median dyskinesia frequency was already 50% by 5-6 months of treatment. This contrasts with the modern era series where dyskinesias were reported later in treatment. The median dyskinesia frequency was slightly less than 40% by 4-6 years of levodopa therapy among modern era patients. Motor fluctuations (wearing-off) were not tabulated in most of the early levodopa series. Among modern era reports, motor fluctuations were nil during the first year of levodopa therapy but were experienced by approximately 40% of patients by 4-6 years of treatment. Similar results were found when the analyses were restricted to only prospective studies where levodopa motor complications were targeted outcome measures. The conclusions reached were: (1) patients from the pre-levodopa era experienced dyskinesias much earlier during levodopa treatment than modern era patients, perhaps because of longer durations of pre-existing PD; (2) in the present era, patients treated with levodopa therapy for 4-6 years have approximately a 40% likelihood of experiencing motor fluctuations and a risk of dyskinesias just short of 40%; and (3) these findings represent incident data and the prevalence of clinically important morbidity may be substantially less.
Online Information Compression in Sensor Networks

In the emerging area of wireless sensor networks, one of the most typical challenges is to retrieve historical information from the sensor nodes. Due to the resource limitation of sensor nodes (processing, memory, bandwidth, and energy), the collected information of sensor nodes has to be compressed quickly and precisely for transmission. In this paper, we propose a new technique -- the ALVQ (Adoptive Learning Vector Quantization) algorithm to compress this historical information. The ALVQ algorithm constructs a codebook to capture the prominent features of the data and with these features all the other data can be piece-wise encoded for compression. In addition, with two-level regression of the codebook's update, ALVQ algorithm saves the data transfer bandwidth and improves the compression precision further. Finally, we consider the problem of transmitting data in a sensor network while maximizing the precision. We show how we apply our algorithm so that a set of sensors can dynamically share a wireless communication channel.
Cascade Decoding of Cyclic Product Codes

In this paper, it is shown how to synthesize simple decoders for cyclic product codes. Cyclic product codes may be synthesized in the form of interlaced codes if the block lengths of the codes are relatively prime. In this case, the decoder can be synthesized in the form of a cascade of decoders, each of which operates on one of the subcodes forming the product code. The cascade decoders described differ from most of the decoders given in the coding literature in two major respects. First, they can be built. Second, instead of correcting all error patterns with weight less than some fixed value and no error patterns of greater weight, cascade decoders correct many error patterns beyond their guaranteed correction capability. Thus, the effective error-correction performance using a cascade decoder may be considerably beyond the usual Elias bound for product codes.