cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Outcomes and Safety of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation With and Without Routine Use of Transesophageal Echocardiography

Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has been extensively used historically for Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) but focus is shifting from routine use of TEE and general anesthesia to "as needed" use. We evaluated patients who had TAVI in our institution from September 2012 to February 2017. Decision for implantation and use of TEE during procedure was made by the structural heart team on a case-to-case basis, based on FDA approved indications. Data including procedural details, length of stay and rehospitalizations were obtained from all patients. TAVI was performed on 178 patients during the study period of which 104 of 178 had TEE during TAVI. Baseline characteristics were fairly comparable in both groups. Similar proportion of self-expanding and balloon expanding valves were deployed. Patients in TEE group had longer overall procedure time (107 minute vs 83 minute, p = 0.0002) and longer length of stay (5.01days vs 2.49days, p < 0.0001). Echocardiographic study postprocedure showed similar incidence of paravalvular leak and similar gradients and velocities across aortic valve. Rates of 30-day readmissions were similar in both groups. In conclusion, in this single-center retrospective analysis-TAVI without the 'routine use' of TEE was comparable with those done with TEE guidance in terms of periprocedural complications and 30-day readmissions. Overall procedure length and length of stay was predictably higher in the TEE group.
Clinical Features and a Clinician’s Diagnostic Approach to Hepatocellular Carcinoma

The clinical presentation of hepatocellular carcinoma may take on a variety of different forms, ranging from asymptomatic (diagnosed via tumor markers or imaging studies) to a catastrophic hemoperitoneum with shock due to tumor rupture. This chapter will highlight the many diverse clinical manifestations of hepatocellular carcinoma and describe the clinician’s role in screening the “at-risk” population. It will touch on the serologic and radiologic techniques available and then expound upon the pros and cons of liver biopsy. Finally, primary and secondary chemopreventative strategies will be discussed.
Impact of diabetes on sodium-lithium countertransport in pregnancy-induced hypertension.

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of type I diabetes on sodium-lithium countertransport (CTT) in normotensive third trimester women and those with pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH). CTT was measured in the following groups: nonpregnant diabetic and nondiabetic women, pregnant nondiabetics with and without PIH, and pregnant diabetics with and without PIH. CTT was determined as external sodium-stimulated lithium efflux from lithium loaded red cells [mmoles/liter of cells x hours = units (U)]. In the nonpregnant state, nondiabetics and diabetics demonstrated similar CTT activity (0.20 +/- 0.02 U, n = 22, v 0.26 +/- 0.03 U, n = 18). In pregnancy, normotensive nondiabetics and diabetics had CTT activity similar to each other, the values of both being significantly higher than those in nonpregnant women (0.39 +/- 0.03 U, n = 26, v 0.46 +/- 0.05 U, n = 17). Nondiabetics with PIH demonstrated higher CTT (0.53 +/- 0.03 U, n = 30) than normotensive pregnant nondiabetics (P = .002). However, diabetics with PIH and CTT activity (0.48 +/- 0.04 U) indistinguishable from normotensive pregnant diabetics (0.46 +/- 0.05 U). There were no differences in gestational age, renal function, or glycohemoglobin that could explain these observations. Therefore, we conclude that PIH in type I diabetic women, in contrast to PIH in nondiabetic pregnant women, is not associated with a further elevation in CTT.
Oxytocin analysis from human serum, urine, and saliva by orbitrap liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Oxytocin (OT) is a neurohormone that has gained interest recently due to its emerging role in cognition and social/emotional behaviors, including possibly depression and autism. OT is commonly measured using enzyme- or radio-based immunoassays (RIA, ELISA), which lack specificity or are complicated to perform and involve hazardous radioactive material. We have developed a high resolution accurate-mass (HRAM) liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method that separates interferences and selectively and accurately quantitates native OT from human serum, urine, and saliva after solid phase extraction. The doubly protonated OT ion m/z 562.25503 was selected for quantitation due its high signal intensity. With our method lower limit of detection (LLOD) of 5-25 pg/mL, we measured native OT in serum from pregnant women (16-24 pg/mL) and rats (350 pg/mL), and in serum, urine, and saliva from a healthy male after intranasal (IN) OT application of 100 IU and 20 IU and from a healthy post-menopausal female after IN OT application of 100 IU. Peak levels were detected in serum, urine, and saliva 15-30 minutes after each dose then decreased to below detection limits 1-2 hours thereafter. We were unable to detect native OT in serum from non-pregnant/non-lactating/non-medicated women due to levels known to occur below 5 pg/mL. The fast elimination of OT we found is in excellent agreement with the pharmacokinetics of OT in other studies. The effects on the central nervous system occurring after IN OT administration remains to be determined.
304) Brain Mediators of Handholding Analgesia

Touch can have remarkable benefits in childbirth and during painful medical procedures. But does social touch influence pain neurophysiology, i.e., the brain processes linked to nociception and primary pain experience? And what other brain processes beyond primary pain systems mediate their analgesic effects? In this study, thirty women experienced thermal pain while holding their romantic partner's hand or an inert pneumatic device. Handholding reduced pain and attenuated fMRI activity in the Neurologic Pain Signature (NPS)—a multivariate brain pattern sensitive and specific to somatic pain—and increased connectivity between the NPS and both somatosensory and ‘default mode’ regions. Brain correlates of touch-induced analgesia included reduced activity in (a) regions targeted by primary nociceptive afferents (e.g., posterior insula, and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC); and (b) changes in regions associated with affective value, meaning and attentional regulation, including lateral and medial prefrontal (PFC) and orbitofrontal cortices. Activation reductions significantly mediated reductions in pain intensity and unpleasantness, which were in turn correlated with greater emotional comfort during handholding and higher perceived relationship quality. The strongest mediators of analgesia were activity reductions in a brain circuit traditionally associated with stress and defensive behavior in mammals as well as pain modulation, including ventromedial and dorsomedial PFC, rostral ACC, amygdala/hippocampus, hypothalamus and PAG. In conclusion, social touch affects core brain processes that contribute to pain and pain-related affective distress, and should be considered alongside other treatments in medical and caregiving contexts.
A synthesis of 5‐carboxamidopyrrolo[3,2‐b]pyridine

A four-step synthesis of 5-carboxamidopyrrolo[3,2-b]pyridine (3) from pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyridine (4) is described (45% overall yield). The one-step conversion of the N-oxide 6 of the pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyridine 5 leads to the 5-cyanopyrrolo[3,2-b]pyridine 7. The cyano group is hydrolyzed to afford the title compound 3, which is the 4-aza analog of the indole backbone in 5-carboxamidotryptamine, a potent agonist of the neurotransmitter, serotonin.
Viajes anteriores y destinos futuros en el estudio del turismo

espanolEste ensayo sirve para introducir el numero de Apuntes sobre el turismo. En el se define el turismo, se resume la historia de su desarrollo y se revisa los debates academicos sobre su significancia y consecuencias. Tambien se ofrece un resumen de los logros del estudio del turismo en America Latina y el Peru, se sugiere temas posibles para investigar en el futuro y se describe las contribuciones de los articulos publicados en este numero de Apuntes. EnglishThis essay serves as the introduction to the issue of Apuntes dedicated to tourism. It defines the activity, provides a short history of its development, and revisits academic debates about the significance and consequences of tourism. Additionally, the essay reviews of the achievements in the study of tourism in Latin America and Peru in particular, suggests possible future avenues of research, and describes the contributions of the articles included in this issue of Apuntes.
Embedding online, design-focused data visualization instruction in an upper-division undergraduate atmospheric science course

An interdisciplinary undergraduate atmospheric science modeling course was cotaught at a midsize public university by three professors from atmospheric science, statistics, and design using a blend...
Rapid and automatic optimal exposure control for digital fringe projection technique

Abstract This paper presents a method that can determine the optimal exposure time for high-quality three-dimensional (3D) shape measurement with digital fringe projection technique. The proposed method only requires capture fringe image(s) with one exposure time to automatically determine the global optimal exposure time for high-quality 3D shape measurement; and we further propose to automatically achieve high-dynamic range (HDR) 3D shape measurement by capture image(s) with the optimized global single exposure. Experimental results demonstrated the proposed method can successful work on a static complex scene and can also be applicable for real-time applications.
Privately computing set-maximal matches in genomic data

Finding long matches in deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequences in large aligned genetic sequences is a problem of great interest. A paradigmatic application is the identification of distant relatives via large common subsequences in DNA data. However, because of the sensitive nature of genomic data such computations without security consideration might compromise the privacy of the individuals involved. The secret sharing technique enables the computation of matches while respecting the privacy of the inputs of the parties involved. This method requires interaction that depends on the circuit depth needed for the computation. We design a new depth-optimized algorithm for computing set-maximal matches between a database of aligned genetic sequences and the DNA of an individual while respecting the privacy of both the database owner and the individual. We then implement and evaluate our protocol. Using modern cryptographic techniques, difficult genomic computations are performed in a privacy-preserving way. We enrich this research area by proposing a privacy-preserving protocol for set-maximal matches.
BIR repeat-containing ubiquitin conjugating enzyme (BRUCE) regulation of β-catenin signaling in the progression of drug-induced hepatic fibrosis and carcinogenesis.

Background BIR repeat-containing ubiquitin conjugating enzyme (BRUCE) is a liver tumor suppressor, which is downregulated in a large number of patients with liver diseases. BRUCE facilitates DNA damage repair to protect the mouse liver against the hepatocarcinogen diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-dependent acute liver injury and carcinogenesis. While there exists an established pathologic connection between fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), DEN exposure alone does not induce robust hepatic fibrosis. Further studies are warranted to identify new suppressive mechanisms contributing to DEN-induced fibrosis and HCC. Aim To investigate the suppressive mechanisms of BRUCE in hepatic fibrosis and HCC development. Methods Male C57/BL6/J control mice [loxp/Loxp; albumin-cre (Alb-cre)-] and BRUCE Alb-Cre KO mice (loxp/Loxp; Alb-Cre+) were injected with a single dose of DEN at postnatal day 15 and sacrificed at different time points to examine liver disease progression. Results By using a liver-specific BRUCE knockout (LKO) mouse model, we found that BRUCE deficiency, in conjunction with DEN exposure, induced hepatic fibrosis in both premalignant as well as malignant stages, thus recapitulating the chronic fibrosis background often observed in HCC patients. Activated in fibrosis and HCC, β-catenin activity depends on its stabilization and subsequent translocation to the nucleus. Interestingly, we observed that livers from BRUCE KO mice demonstrated an increased nuclear accumulation and elevated activity of β-catenin in the three stages of carcinogenesis: Pre-malignancy, tumor initiation, and HCC. This suggests that BRUCE negatively regulates β-catenin activity during liver disease progression. β-catenin can be activated by phosphorylation by protein kinases, such as protein kinase A (PKA), which phosphorylates it at Ser-675 (pSer-675-β-catenin). Mechanistically, BRUCE and PKA were colocalized in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes where PKA activity is maintained at the basal level. However, in BRUCE deficient mouse livers or a human liver cancer cell line, both PKA activity and pSer-675-β-catenin levels were observed to be elevated. Conclusion Our data support a "BRUCE-PKA-β-catenin" signaling axis in the mouse liver. The BRUCE interaction with PKA in hepatocytes suppresses PKA-dependent phosphorylation and activation of β-catenin. This study implicates BRUCE as a novel negative regulator of both PKA and β-catenin in chronic liver disease progression. Furthermore, BRUCE-liver specific KO mice serve as a promising model for understanding hepatic fibrosis and HCC in patients with aberrant activation of PKA and β-catenin.
Better to be indirect? Testing the accuracy and cost-savings of indirect surveys

Abstract We test the validity of indirect surveying as a method to collect household data. We compare household and informant reports of assets, develop poverty indices from both, test their performance as regression covariates, and examine errors in reporting and targeting resulting from using indirectly reported variables. Informant-based targeting indices are highly correlated with household measures and can be reasonable substitutes for self-reported indices in simple regressions. They can also be used to assign a simulated anti-poverty program with similar error rates to related methods. In our setting, eliminating direct household surveys would have reduced survey costs by 50%.
Ethics Consultation in U.S. Hospitals: Determinants of Consultation Volume.

The annual volume of ethics consultations (ECs) has been a topic of interest in the bioethics literature, in part because of its presumed relationship to quality. To better understand factors assoc...
Notice 2021-28, 2021-2022 Priority Guidance Plan Submission

This lengthy submission includes recommendations in a number of international tax areas for regulation changes, improvements, and modernization. It includes for a number of areas suggested regulatory language that could be considered. Much of the submission concerns sourcing and effectively connected income rules. It also covers the existence of unanticipated partnerships among an MNC's group members that conduct joint business activities. Regarding subpart F, it makes suggestions concerning the manufacturing branch rule. Finally, it includes suggestions regarding the manner in which tax treaties should or should not apply to certain hybrid entities.
Identifying identity and attributing value to attributes: reconsidering mechanisms of preference decisions

Although the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) robustly encodes value during preference decisions, it also encodes multiple non-value features of choice options. The role of this information, and its relationship to the options’ overall value remain open questions. In this opinion, we attempt to disentangle oft-studied categories of option information – identity and attributes – in the context of both classic theories of economic choice and contradicting evidence of choice biases in multi-attribute decisions. In doing so, we aim to set forth considerations for understanding the wide variety of decision-relevant information encoded by the OFC during preference decisions.
The states that opted out: Politics, power, and exceptionalism in the quest for electricity deregulation in the United States South

Abstract This article addresses why southern U.S. states opted against joining regional electricity markets at the end of the 20th century by examining the history of deregulation in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Although there has been considerable attention paid to outcomes in states that embraced a market model for electricity, the one-third of the country (by population) that did not has been largely ignored. Yet in 2021, states that rejected electricity markets are home to the utility serving the greatest number of customers (Duke Energy) and the utility with the greatest market value (NextEra Energy), giving the region outsized impact on the U.S. electricity system. In this article we draw on archival research and in-depth interviews with stakeholders that took part in the debate about joining markets. After using archival sources to recount the events that led to the rejection of deregulation, we utilize our interviews to illustrate three key trends: (1) how the battle lines get drawn between utilities, industrial customers, legislators, and regulators; (2) the methods used and extent to which utilities opposed deregulation in their states; and (3) the role of southern exceptionalism in shaping the deregulation debate. As southern states question anew whether a market might improve regional energy outcomes, understanding why these states originally rejected markets proves illuminating.
The Emergence of Tyranny Without Traditional Kingship

The Greek city-states were unique in that there was no traditional kingship or priesthood. During the transition to democracy—with disorder created by aristocrats, oligarchs, and democrats—tyrants arose to restore order. This was purely personal rule—dictatorship—based on military and police violence. The tyrants ruled through charisma, power and terror. Plato and Aristotle described tyranny as “the worst form of government”—in The Republic and Politics.
Changes in Candida , Mutans Streptococci and Oral Health Conditions Following Prenatal Total Oral Rehabilitation Among Underserved Pregnant Women

Objectives: To assess the oral health condition and oral microbial outcomes from receiving an innovative treatment regimen - Prenatal Total Oral Rehabilitation (PTOR) Methods: This prospective cohort study included 15 pregnant women in the PTOR group who had a baseline visit before PTOR and three follow-up visits (immediate after, 2 weeks and 2 months) after receiving PTOR. A historical control group of additional 15 pregnant women was matched from a separate study based on a propensity score. Along with demographic and medical background, oral health conditions and perinatal oral health literacy were assessed. Oral samples (saliva and plaque) were analyzed to identify and quantify Streptococcus mutans and Candida species by culturing-dependent and -independent methods. Results: Significant reductions of salivary S. mutans were observed following PTOR, the effect remained until 2-month follow-up (p<0.05). The carriage of salivary and plaque S. mutans at the 2-month visit of the PTOR group was significantly lower than that of the control group (p<0.05). Oral health conditions reflected by BOP and PI were significantly improved upon receiving PTOR (p<0.05). Receiving PTOR significantly improved the perinatal oral health literacy score, and the knowledge retained until 2-month follow-up (p<0.05). Conclusions: PTOR is associated with an improvement in oral health conditions and perinatal oral health literacy, and a reduction in S. mutans carriage, within a 2-month follow-up period. Future clinical trials are warranted to comprehensively assess the impact of PTOR on the maternal oral flora other than S. mutans and Candida, birth outcomes, and their offspring's oral health. Funding Information: Dr. Xiao's work is supported by the grant from the National Institute for Health NIDCR K23DE027412. Dr. Wu’s work is supported by grant from the National Science Foundation NSF-CCF-1934962. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Declaration of Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interests. Ethics Approval Statement: The reported studies were approved by the University of Rochester Research Subject Review Board (#4628 and #1248). All participants were informed of the study objects and protocols, and gave written consent prior to study activities.
Pelvic Nerves in Laparoscopy: A Review of Anatomy and Approach to Dissection

Study Objective Our objective is to review the anatomic course, sensory and motor functions, and approach to dissection of important pelvic nerves encountered during advanced gynecologic laparoscopy. Design Using annotated intraoperative footage, we illustrate surgical approaches to safe dissection of the following pelvic nerves: Ilioinguinal, iliohypogastric, lateral femoral cutaneous, femoral, genitofemoral, obturator, sciatic, hypogastric and pudendal nerves, lumbosacral trunk and sacral nerve roots. Setting Patients were placed in dorsal lithotomy position with legs in Yellowfin stirrups. The umbilicus was used for camera port placement, and three accessory ports were placed (in the bilateral lower quadrants and a second to the left of the umbilicus). Patients or Participants Patients requiring dissection of the aforementioned nerves for surgical treatment of deep infiltrating endometriosis, adhesiolysis, or treatment of pudendal neuralgia were selected. Interventions N/A. Measurements and Main Results N/A. Conclusion Surgeons must have a comprehensive understanding of pelvic anatomy and comfort operating in deep pelvic spaces in order to minimize risk of inadvertent nerve injury. A systematic approach to nerve dissection enables adequate exposure of the operative field and safe space for lysis of adhesions, excision of endometriosis, and surgical treatment of pelvic pain syndromes.
Margaret Mead: Her Life and Times

This book is meant to be not about Margaret Mead but rather about her work in, responses to, and shaping of the society in which she lived. It is about how she came to be known, became famous, and finally rose to iconic status in America. In Nancy Lutkehaus’s words, “This book represents my analysis of Mead as a cultural icon . . . It is an analysis of the role of anthropology in twentieth-century America as seen through the lens of Mead’s celebrity and her role as a public intellectual . . . Fame is culturally and historically specific . . . Who becomes famous at any given time, and for what reasons, is fundamentally a cultural question” (p. xiii). It all began with Mead’s serendipitous rise to fame following the publication of her first book, Coming of Age in Samoa (1973 [1928]). Other books followed that also questioned widely received wisdoms about human nature as a fixed, natural, and, therefore, appropriate set of behaviors. At least in her own country, scientists and other people generally knew what childhood, adolescence, and gender were supposed to be like. When she found flexibility in these statuses related to learning in different societies based on different historically developed cultures, the public often welcomed her findings, while some anthropologists and other scientists questioned her fieldwork, her competence, her honesty, and her professional status. Nevertheless, she continued on, often cheered by her lay audiences and the popular press, and became a famous, popular figure. Why? Lutkehaus recounts the history of incidents, encounters, and social trends that brought Mead from the blessed (Mead thought) isolation of her fifth-floor office in the American Museum of Natural History, where Lutkehaus worked as her administrative assistant and then as her teaching assistant for six years, to her appearances on television in such iconic venues as The Tonight Show. People who knew nothing about anthropology remember her there because she was always entertaining. Her remarks, on television or in popular magazines, displayed her sense of humor and were often pithy,
Evaluation of the toxicology and pharmacokinetics of recombinant factor VIII Fc fusion protein in animals.

Abstract Introduction Recombinant factor VIII Fc fusion protein (rFVIIIFc) is a novel recombinant factor VIII with a prolonged half-life, developed for the treatment of hemophilia A. Studies that evaluated the toxicological effects of rFVIIIFc in 2 pharmacologically relevant species, cynomolgus monkeys and Sprague Dawley rats, are reported here. Materials and Methods In repeat-dose toxicology studies, rats and monkeys received 0, 50, 250, or 1000 IU/kg rFVIIIFc every other day for 4 weeks. In a high-dose tolerance study, monkeys received 1 rFVIIIFc dose of 3000, 10,000, or 20,000 IU/kg. Evaluations included in-life observations, laboratory and post-mortem evaluations, pharmacokinetics, and local tolerance. Allometric scaling, using data from 4 animal species and humans, was used to evaluate the relationship between animal and human pharmacokinetics. Results rFVIIIFc was well tolerated with no adverse toxicological findings directly attributable to rFVIIIFc. As expected, antibodies to this fully human protein developed in rats and monkeys in a time-dependent fashion following repeated dosing, leading to increased clearance in both species. There were no local reactions (infusion site) or evidence of thrombosis at high doses in rats and monkeys. Allometric scaling demonstrated more rapid clearance in small animals compared with humans and a volume of distribution (steady state) proportional to body weight across species, suggesting that animal pharmacokinetics are predictive of human pharmacokinetics. Conclusions Repeated doses of rFVIIIFc in 2 relevant animal species and high doses of rFVIIIFc in monkeys were well tolerated. These results supported the clinical safety of rFVIIIFc observed in phase 1/2a and phase 3 clinical trials.
Understanding the Links between Project Success and Technology Usage via Work Function Characteristics

More than 200 capital facility projects from across the U.S. have been assessed on the issue of technology usage at the work function level and overall project cost and schedule success. Work functions (WFs) that may leverage project cost and schedule performance were identified. The analyses suggested that degrees of technology used in executing these project performance-leveraging work functions may have a significant impact on project cost or schedule performance. This paper explores the links between technology utilization and project success in further detail. The techniques used for analyzing the associations include cost performance sensitivity, schedule performance sensitivity, and analysis of Work Function Characteristics (WFCs). Cost and schedule performance sensitivity analyses of project performance-leveraging work functions are employed as a way to gain greater understanding of the connection between technology usage and project performance. In addition, WFCs were investigated as an additional basis for gaining deeper insights into how technology usage may impact project success. The analysis results indicate that information & data intensive, human resource involved, and management-related WFCs can positively influence project cost and schedule success.
Radiation-Induced Hypomethylation Triggers Urokinase Plasminogen Activator Transcription in Meningioma Cells

Our previous studies have shown the role of radiation-induced urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) expression in the progression of meningioma. In the present study, we investigated whether modulation of DNA methylation profiles could regulate uPA expression. Initially, radiation treatment was found to induce hypomethylation in meningioma cells with a decrease in DNA (cytosine-5)-methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) and methyl-CpG binding domain protein (MBD) expression. However, oxidative damage by H2O2 or pretreatment of irradiated cells with N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) did not show any influence on these proteins, thereby indicating a radiation-specific change in the methylation patterns among meningioma cells. Further, we identified that hypomethylation is coupled to an increase in uPA expression in these cells. Azacytidine treatment induced a dose-dependent surge of uPA expression, whereas pre-treatment with sodium butyrate inhibited radiation-induced uPA expression, which complemented our prior results. Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction on bisulfite-treated genomic DNA revealed a diminished methylation of uPA promoter in irradiated cells. Transfection with small hairpin RNA (shRNA)-expressing plasmids targeting CpG islands of the uPA promoter showed a marked decline in uPA expression with subsequent decrease in invasion and proliferation of meningioma cells. Further, radiation treatment was found to recruit SP1 transcription factor, which was abrogated by shRNA treatment. Analysis on signaling events demonstrated the activation of MAP kinase kinase (MEK)-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in radiation-treated cells, while U0126 (MEK/ERK inhibitor) blocked hypomethylation, recruitment of SP1, and uPA expression. In agreement with our in vitro data, low DNMT1 levels and high uPA were found in intracranial tumors treated with radiation compared to untreated tumors. In conclusion, our data suggest that radiation-mediated hypomethylation triggers uPA expression in meningioma cells.
Using Crib Notes as a Learning Device

Such prevention strategies require a tremendous amount of time and energy on the part of those responsible for maintaining the educational system. Moreover, the student's time, energies, and psyches are affected. Honest students are subjected to embarrassing scrutiny because of those who do cheat. And the students who cheat expend much effort to succeed at their "craft." A few, of course, have become legends in devising imaginative ways to get round the system: phony watches with narrow strips of paper revealing answers; cryptic notes hidden under fake fingernails; scraps of paper placed under shoe laces or under the tongue of shoes; the tapping of morse code on desk tops; casual side glances at the work of their neighbors; or the purposeful dropping of a pencil and retrieving it, all the while looking on another's paper.
Mediastinal cysts and intrathoracic thyroid tumors.

Abstract Benign cysts of the mediastinum are thought to be predominantly congenital in origin. Hence, a thorough understanding of their clinicopathologic characteristics is facilitated by knowledge of the embryologic development of the intrathoracic organs, as outlined in this review. Pertinent radiological and pathologic features of these lesions are also discussed. In addition, ectopic thyroid tissue may give rise to mediastinal masses. The salient attributes of these tumors are considered as well.
Trimethylsulfonium-Tetrahydrofolate Methyltransferase, a Novel Enzyme in the Utilization of 1 Carbon Units

We have previously reported the isolation and characterization of a soil microorganism, tentatively designated Achromobacter MS, capable of growing on trimethylsulfonium (TMS) chloride as its sole source of carbon. During growth on TMS, dimethyl sulfide is formed while the remaining methyl group is incorporated into cell material. We report in this communication on the formation of 5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid from TMS by a partially purified enzyme from this organism according to the following equation.
DETECTION OF PLANETARY TRANSITS OF THE STAR HD 209458 IN THE HIPPARCOS DATA SET

A search of the Hipparcos satellite photometry data for the star HD 209458 reveals evidence for a planetary transit signature consistent with the planetary properties reported by Henry et al. and Charbonneau et al. and allows further refinement of the planet's orbital period. The long time baseline (about 2926 days or 830 periods) from the best Hipparcos transit-like event to the latest transit reported by Henry et al. for the night of 1999 November 15 (UT) allows for an orbital period determination of 3.524736 days with an uncertainty of 0.000045 days (3.9 s). The transit events observed by Charbonneau et al. fall at the interim times expected to within the errors of this newly derived period. A series of statistical tests was performed to assess the likelihood of these events occurring by chance. This was crucial given the ill-conditioned problem presented by the sparse sampling of the light curve and the non-Gaussian distribution of the points. Monte Carlo simulations using bootstrap methods with the actual Hipparcos HD 209458 data set indicate that the transit-like signals of the depth observed would only be produced by chance in 21 out of 1 million trials. The transit durations and depths obtained from the Hipparcos data are also consistent with those determined by Charbonneau et al. and Henry et al. within the limitations of the sampling intervals and photometric precision of the Hipparcos data.
EM simulation [ICs and MCMs]

The analysis of signal integrity and emitted radiation from IC'c and MCM's is done by solving for the electromagnetic fields as we apply input stimulus to the circuit under test. Because of the irregular nature of the interconnect in the physical layout, closed form solution of field equations is not possible. The transmission line matrix method, which is a numerical technique to solve field problems of the most general kind, is identified as a suitable method for carrying out electromagnetic simulation to analyze for signal integrity and radiation emission.
Membrane-bound ATPase of intact vacuoles and tonoplasts isolated from mature plant tissue.

Intact vacuoles were isolated from petals of Hippeastrum and Tulipa (Wagner G.J. and Siegelman, H.W. (1975) Science 190, 1298--1299). The ATPase activity of fresh vacuole suspensions was found to be 2--3 times that of protoplasts from the same tissue. 70--80% of the ATPase activity of intact vacuoles was recovered in tonoplast preparations. The antibiotic Dio-9 at 6mug/10(6) vacuoles or protoplasts causes 40% inhibition. However, only the protoplast ATPase is sensitive to oligomycin. N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD) slightly stimulates ATPase activity in both vacuole and protoplast suspensions, whereas ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl carbodiimide) (EDAC) strongly inhibits. Spectrophotometric studies show that in the petal the vacuolar contents have a pH of 4.0 for Tuplipa and 4.3 for Hippeastrum, whereas the intact isolated vacuole has an internal pH of 7.0 (in pH 8.0 buffer) for (Tulipa and about 7.3 for Hippeastrum. Internal ion concentrations of 150, 46, 30, 30 and 6 mM were found for K+, Na+, Mg2+, Cl-, and Ca2+ respectively, which are about the same as those in protoplasts.
Effects of X-Radiation on Influenza Virus.

Abstract The sensitivity to ionizing radiation has been determined for the infectivity and the hemagglutination ability of influenza virus, and for its host, the chicken allantoic membrane cell. Two strains of virus, PR8 A and Lee B, were studied and were found to be similar. 1. 1. The infectivity property inactivates as if associated with a single sensitive volume, about 1 8 the volume of the virus characteristic particle. 2. 2. The host cell inactivates as if the support of virus growth were associated with a single sensitive volume, about the same size as the sensitive volume associated with virus infectivity. 3. 3. The inactivation of dried hemagglutinin is a multiple-hit process. Analyses of the data based on two alternative models are presented. One model requires a single hit in three targets and the other requires three hits in a single target. The radiation inactivation of hemagglutinin in broth solution appears to be predominantly an indirect action even for a broth concentration of 22%. Since no additional protection is achieved by increasing the broth concentration beyond 7%, it appears that several modes of indirect action are operative.
Limits of Feedback Control in Bacterial Chemotaxis

Inputs to signaling pathways can have complex statistics that depend on the environment and on the behavioral response to previous stimuli. Such behavioral feedback is particularly important in navigation. Successful navigation relies on proper coupling between sensors, which gather information during motion, and actuators, which control behavior. Because reorientation conditions future inputs, behavioral feedback can place sensors and actuators in an operational regime different from the resting state. How then can organisms maintain proper information transfer through the pathway while navigating diverse environments? In bacterial chemotaxis, robust performance is often attributed to the zero integral feedback control of the sensor, which guarantees that activity returns to resting state when the input remains constant. While this property provides sensitivity over a wide range of signal intensities, it remains unclear how other parameters such as adaptation rate and adapted activity affect chemotactic performance, especially when considering that the swimming behavior of the cell determines the input signal. We examine this issue using analytical models and simulations that incorporate recent experimental evidences about behavioral feedback and flagellar motor adaptation. By focusing on how sensory information carried by the response regulator is best utilized by the motor, we identify an operational regime that maximizes drift velocity along chemical concentration gradients for a wide range of environments and sensor adaptation rates. This optimal regime is outside the dynamic range of the motor response, but maximizes the contrast between run duration up and down gradients. In steep gradients, the feedback from chemotactic drift can push the system through a bifurcation. This creates a non-chemotactic state that traps cells unless the motor is allowed to adapt. Although motor adaptation helps, we find that as the strength of the feedback increases individual phenotypes cannot maintain the optimal operational regime in all environments, suggesting that diversity could be beneficial.
Maximizing the measurement accuracy of digitized signals

Analysis of digitized waveforms requires an understanding of the limitations of the acquisition hardware, an understanding of how digital sampling interacts with the waveform shape, and an understanding of how the desired measurements are influenced by the sampling operation. By paying attention to these considerations and following some general guidelines an acquisition system can be tuned to get the most accurate results for each type of measurement. This paper provides guidelines for obtaining the best measurement results for digitized waveforms by highlighting the interactions between the waveform to be acquired, the acquisition system capturing the waveform, and the measurements desired.
A calcium phosphate-based gene delivery system.

Although nonviral vectors have lower transfection efficiency than viral vectors, the excellent safety profile of nonviral vectors is appealing for gene therapy. An efficient, simple nonviral vector gene delivery system has been designed that includes plasmid DNA–calcium phosphate precipitates (pDNA-CaP) and porous collagen spheres (Cultispheres™). The hypothesis for this study was the pDNA-CaP would achieve efficient plasmid DNA transfection and the porous collagen spheres would provide a suitable delivery carrier system for three-dimensional (3D) administration. To test the hypothesis, plasmid DNA including the LacZ reporter gene encoding β-galactosidase was precipitated with CaP to form particles of compacted LacZ-CaP and delivered directly or by Cultispheres™ to cells in vitro. The transfection efficiency was determined by β-galactosidase gene expression. Results indicated that pLacZ-CaP promoted 25–84% of transfection efficiency in a broad cell line spectrum and in flexible experimental conditions. Maximum transfection efficiency was achieved by having mostly nano-sized partles (50–200 nm in diameter) of pDNA-CaP precipitates. Seeding density of 0.7–4 × 104 cells/cm2 provided sufficient transfection efficiency, and storage of pDNA-CaP at 4°C was most efficient to preserve transfection efficacy for up to 3 days. The pDNA-CaP worked well in the presence of serum and serum-free conditions and was less cytotoxic than the liposomes. Cultispheres™ carrying plasmid LacZ-CaP was an effective 3D system for gene delivery. The technique described here is a simple and safe procedure to deliver genes, and may have application to regenerate bone and other tissues. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2005
Anomalous Kα1,2 X-ray production in 1.6 MeV Kr-Al collisions

Abstract It is well established that when heavy ions pass through matter, satellites to the normal K X-ray lines are observed. These satellite lines are due to the simultaneous removal of one or more L-shell electrons in addition to the K-electron vacancy created by the projectile. Proton excitation of Al results in the first K α satellite being approximately 10% of the total K X-ray production, compared to excitation by He ions for which this satellite line is the dominant feature. A previous investigation by Knudson and co-workers has shown that for excitation of Al by 5 MeV N ions the strongest satellite lines are from those states which have 2 or 3 L-electron vacancies present at the time the K vacancy is filled. For the case of 1.6 MeV Kr incident on Al nearly as many satellites (up to four L vacancies) are observed; however, the K α 1,2 line is again dominant. This suggests that either the L-shell vacancies are filled before the 2p-1s decay occurs or that the Kr ion often removes the K electron without creating any L vacancies.
Preferential expression of transient potassium current (IA) by 'short' hair cells of the chick’s cochlea

We have made a comparative study of the membrane properties of tall and short hair cells isolated from a selected region of the chick's cochlea. Tall hair cells are analogous to inner cochlear hair cells of mammals, and like those, are presynaptic to the majority of afferent neurons in the cochlea. Short hair cells, like mammalian outer hair cells, are the postsynaptic targets of efferent neurons that inhibit the cochlea. Voltage-clamp recordings have revealed that short hair cells have an inactivating potassium (K) current, IA, whereas tall hair cells have little or none. Short hair cells are also sensitive to the cholinergic agonist carbachol, whereas tall hair cells are not. This pattern is in accord with the selective distribution of efferent cholinergic synapses in the cochlea. Although IA is completely inactivated at the resting potential of the short hair cells, cholinergic agonists can hyperpolarize these cells by as much as 30 mV. This hyperpolarization removes inactivation and allows IA to modulate subsequent voltage-dependent processes in short hair cells. It is concluded that IA could increase the high frequency response of the hair cell by decreasing membrane resistance and thus the membrane time constant after inhibition. This will be of particular importance to cochlear function if short hair cells produce voltage-dependent movements, as do mammalian outer hair cells.
Successful Percutaneous Radiologic Management of Renal Cell Carcinoma Tumor Seeding Caused by Percutaneous Biopsy Performed before Ablation

A case is reported of the successful image-based detection, diagnosis, and percutaneous ablation of tumor seeding in a 61-year-old man that was caused by percutaneous biopsy of a renal cell carcinoma performed before cryoablation and was not detected until 4 years after the biopsy procedure. Although tumor seeding is a rare complication after percutaneous biopsy or ablation, this case emphasizes the importance of imaging surveillance of the needle tract used during both biopsy and ablation procedures, provides guidance on measures that can be used to minimize the occurrence of tumor seeding, and demonstrates that entirely radiologic management can be successful.
Reaction of sodium hypochlorite with amines and amides: automation of the method.

Abstract The spectrophotometric NaOCl-amylose-KI method for analysis of free and N -acetylated hexosamines in monomeric and polymeric forms, amino acids, peptides, and proteins was automated, and the method's specificity was studied. Hexosamines react as in the manual assay. Significant differences in reactivity of amino acids led to a study of the effect of pH on the extent of the reaction. An automatic gradient titration method was devised to vary the pH of the primary reaction between 7.0 and 10.0. Results may be used to determine optimal reaction conditions for each amino acid and to differentiate amino acids; there are several reasons for differences in reactivity. The assay is especially useful for peptides, since amide N is generally more reactive than amine N. The method is suitable for continuous monitoring of column chromatographic effluents, as well as for analysis of individual samples as in the manual assay.
Endosulfan I and endosulfan sulfate disrupts zebrafish embryonic development

Fish in agricultural and remote areas may be exposed to endosulfan and its degradation products as a result of direct runoff, atmospheric transport and deposition. The following study used the zebrafish developmental model to investigate the responses to endosulfan I and endosulfan sulfate, the major degradation product of endosulfan I and II. Embryos were dechorionated and waterborne exposed to the endosulfan I or endosulfan sulfate from 6 to 120h post-fertilization (hpf). Endosulfan I exposure concentrations ranged from 0.01 to 10microg/L and endosulfan sulfate from 1 to 100microg/L. Water solutions were renewed every 24h and fish were scored for overt developmental and behavioral abnormalities. Chemical analysis was performed on water, whole embryo, and larvae samples to determine waterborne exposure concentrations and tissue concentrations throughout the 5-day period. The most sensitive toxicity endpoint for both endosulfan I and endosulfan sulfate was an abnormal response of the embryo/larvae to touch, suggesting that endosulfan I and sulfate are developmentally neurotoxic. The waterborne exposure EC(50)s for inhibition of touch response for endosulfan I and endosulfan sulfate were 2.2microg/L and 23microg/L, respectively. The endosulfans were highly concentrated by the organisms, and the inhibition of touch response tissue EC(50), determined from the measured tissue concentrations, was 367ng/g for endosulfan I and 4552ng/g for endosulfan sulfate.
Characteristics of the Pedagogical Innovator in a University Strongly Committed to Research and Across Disciplines

While innovation is a central concern in higher education, I have sought to understand those professors who innovate. This qualitative research focuses in particular on pedagogical innovators in the context of a university strongly committed to research, the Universite de Montreal, and explores the impact of disciplinary culture on pedagogical innovators’ profiles. This research reveals the characteristics of the innovators interviewed and underlines the impact of the pure science and applied science axis on pedagogical innovator characteristic diversity.
Rapid determination of lead for industrial hygiene surveys

Abstract Emphasis on the continued reduction of personnel exposure to airborne lead has led to the development and evaluation of portable instrumentation for the rapid determination of microgram quantities of lead collected on air filter samples. The instrumentation is based on radioisotope-induced X-ray fluorescence; a cadmium-109 radioisotope source is used for sample excitation, and the characteristic lead X-rays emitted are measured by a proportional detector. The effects of excitation source geometry, particle size, and interferences from other elements were investigated. This type of portable instrumentation appears ideally suited for in-plant measurements intended to monitor lead and evaluate new control measures.