cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The structural conundrum of parolees and kidney transplantation

In the United States, there are a large number of incarcerated individuals, resulting in high numbers of previously incarcerated individuals out on parole undergoing reentry into society. An aging prison population translates to an older parolee population and increased incidence of kidney disease requiring either long-term dialysis or transplantation. This paper argues that due to challenges specific to the parolee population as well as societal biases and priorities, Transplant Centers and healthcare professionals face an ethical imperative to attend to the needs of parolees as a class and take steps to address challenges related to access to Centers for renal transplantation evaluation for this disadvantaged group. It will first review the regulatory context of kidney transplantation and highlight the specific ways it effects parolees. The paper will then discuss the broader social context of parolee reentry into society and barriers faced by parolees in this process. This ethical analysis examines the complexity of these issues, and deliberates on ways to balance the competing priorities of justice, respect for this patient population as individuals and as a disadvantaged class, and the societal interests regarding organ allocation and considerable economic burdens of end-stage renal disease on parolees, the justice system, and the public.
Adults' attitudes toward children, adolescents, and adults who are obese and tax-funded programs to combat obesity.

The goals of the present study were to assess (1) adults’ patterns of beliefs about and attitudes toward children, adolescents, and adults who are obese and (2) their attitudes toward hypothetical ...
Finite element modelling of trabecular bone microstructure using emerging CT images

Osteoporosis is a common age-related disease associated with increased bone loss causing reduced bone strength and enhanced fracture-risk. Finite element (FE) modelling is used to estimate bone strength from high-resolution threedimensional (3-D) imaging modalities including micro-CT, MRI, and HR-pQCT. Emerging technologies of multi-row detector CT (MDCT) imaging offer spatial image resolution comparable to human trabecular thickness. However, at the current MDCT resolution regime, FE modelling based on segmented trabecular bone (Tb) microstructure suffers from noise and other imaging artifacts. In this paper, we present a bone mineral density (BMD)-adjusted FE modeling method of Tb microstructure from MDCT imaging without requiring Tb segmentation. The method spatially varies mechanical stiffness based on local ash-density estimated from MDCT-derived calcium hydroxyapatite (CHA) density and, thus, models the hypothesis that stress-flow is primarily absorbed by Tb microstructure as compared to marrow space under mechanical compression. Specifically, an MDCT-based linear FE analysis method was developed using a voxel-mesh and the above model of space-varying stiffness, and the performance of the method was examined. For FE analysis, an axial cylindrical image core of 8mm diameter from 4-6% of distal tibia was extracted after aligning the tibial bone axis with the coordinate z-axis of the image space. Intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.98 was observed in a repeat MDCT scan reproducibility experiment using cadaveric distal tibia specimens (n = 10). Also, high linear correlation (r = 0.87) was found between von Mises stress values and MDCT based CHA at individual voxels supporting the central hypothesis of our method.
Apocalypse, Authority, and Allegiance: Interpreting Symbols and Revelation in Mozambique:

Proper interpretations of symbols of authority are important for navigating both our cultural settings and the contours of Scripture. This paper looks at the ways the Book of Revelation contrasts i...
State Capitalism and the Law

This paper examines the role of the law in state capitalism and assesses the law’s impact. The law forms the regulatory frameworks in which the state participates in the economy and attempts to regulate the manner and extent of such participation. The law is both a facilitator and a regulator of the state involvement in the economy. The legal facilitator of state capitalism is also relevant to the enhancement of economic development. This chapter introduces the successful development case of South Korea that adopted extensive state capitalism and examines how the state used the law to achieve economic development. This chapter, with the aid of the recently-developed General Theory of Law and Development, finds that law, legal frameworks, and institutions in Korea were an essential implementation tool of state capitalism in Korea, which promoted successful economic development.
The CHIME FRB population do not track the star formation history of the universe

The redshift distribution of fast radio bursts (FRBs) is not well constrained. The association of the Galactic FRB 200428 with the young magnetar SGR 1935+2154 raises the working hypothesis that FRB sources track the star formation history of the universe. The discovery of FRB 20200120E in association with a globular cluster in the nearby galaxy M81, on the other hand, casts doubts on such an assumption. We apply the Monte Carlo method developed in a previous work to test different FRB redshift distribution models against the recently released first CHIME FRB catalog in terms of their distributions in specific fluence, inferred isotropic energy, and external dispersion measure ($\rm DM_E$). Our results clearly show that the hypothesis that all FRBs track the star formation history of the universe is ruled out. The hypothesis that all FRBs track the accumulated stars throughout history describes the data better but still cannot pass both the energy and $\rm DM_E$ criteria. The data seem to be better modeled with either a redshift distribution model invoking a significant delay with respect to star formation or a hybrid model invoking both a dominant delayed population and an insignificant star formation population. We discuss the implications of this finding for FRB source models.
Key Words in Religion, Media and Culture

Preface List of Contributors Introduction 1. Aesthetics 2. Audiences 3. Circulation 4. Community 5. Culture 6. Economy 7. Image 8. Media 9. Narrative 10. Practice 11. Public 12. Religion 13. Sound/scape 14. Technology 15. Text Works Cited
Modeling citation networks using Latent random offsets

Out of the many potential factors that determine which links form in a document citation network, two in particular are of high importance: first, a document may be cited based on its subject matter—this can be modeled by analyzing document content; second, a document may be cited based on which other documents have previously cited it—this can be modeled by analyzing citation structure. Both factors are important for users to make informed decisions and choose appropriate citations as the network grows. In this paper, we present a novel model that integrates the merits of content and citation analyses into a single probabilistic framework. We demonstrate our model on three real-world citation networks. Compared with existing baselines, our model can be used to effectively explore a citation network and provide meaningful explanations for links while still maintaining competitive citation prediction performance.
Metabolism of Folic Acid and Other Pterin-Pteridine Vitamins

Publisher Summary Pterinoid investigations have steadily extended knowledge of (1) transfer of C 1 groups, (2) biosynthetic and functional connections between folic vitamins and other nitrogenous heterocycles—purines, thymine (or thymidine), riboflavin, vitamins Bs and BIZ, and unconjugated pterins. Ever since F. G. Hopkins looked into the pigments of butterfly wings, these unconjugated pterins (for example xanthopterin and leucopterin) have been a biosynthetic enigma. The advent of folic acid complicated matters. A solution is in sight thanks to other lines of investigation converging: (1) the eye pigments of Drosophilu—classical objects of genetics—are predominantly pterins in some mutants, (2) the flagellate Crithidia fasciculata requires certain unconjugated pterins, PGA apparently being the precursor, and (3) remarkably high concentrations of pterins, some with Crithidiu-factor activity, occur in blue-green algae and are somehow involved in photosynthesis. Evidently, certain unconjugated pterins have an essential, unknown function. This chapter attempts to collate clues to new relationships and functions of pterinoids; its point of departure is the exhaustive treatment of p -aminobenzoic acid (PABA) by Wright and Taormina, and of the folic vitamin family by Stokstad and others. Uses of microbial systems and the comparative biochemistry of pterinoids are emphasized in the chapter.
Secretory IgA reactivity to social threat in youth: Relations with HPA, ANS, and behavior

Although the role of immune marker secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) in stress-related health outcomes is gaining recognition, SIgA responsiveness to acute stress has rarely been assessed in adults, and not at all in children. This study was designed to clarify developmental origins of differential immune function-related health risks by investigating youth SIgA responses to psychosocial stressors, including both normative responses and variability related to behavioral problems. Children and adolescents from a larger study (n=82) gave 6 saliva samples during a laboratory session in which they were exposed to a series of performance or interpersonal stressors. Samples were assayed for SIgA, as well as cortisol (representing hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity) and alpha-amylase (sAA; representing autonomic nervous system activity). Behavioral problems were assessed with parent-report measures of youth internalizing and externalizing. Youth SIgA trajectories followed a normative pattern of reactivity and recovery around the stressors; however, these responses were blunted in youth with higher externalizing scores. SIgA showed differential associations with cortisol and sAA, and with positive and negative affect; whereas overall levels of SIgA related to cortisol output and positive affect, changes in SIgA over time synchronized with changes in sAA and negative affect. In contrast to SIgA, neither cortisol nor sAA related significantly to behavioral problems. Implications for the role of SIgA during psychosocial stress in the development of immune function-related health risks are discussed.
A structured assessment of emergency and acute care providers in Afghanistan during the current conflict

Afghanistan has struggled with several decades of well-documented conflict, increasing the importance of providing emergency services to its citizens. However, little is known about the country’s capacity to provide such care. Three native-speaking Afghan-American physicians performed an assessment of emergency care via combined quantitative and qualitative survey tools. Hospitals in Kabul, Afghanistan were selected based on probability proportional to size methodology, in which size was derived from prior work in the country and permission granted by the administering agency and the Ministry of Health. A written survey was given to physicians and nurses, followed by structured focus groups, and multiple days of observation per facility. A descriptive analysis was performed and data analyzed through a combination of variables in eight overarching categories relevant to emergency care. One hundred twenty-five surveys were completed from 9 hospitals. One third of respondents (32.8 %) worked full time in the emergency departments, with another 28.8 % working there at least three quarters of the time. Over 63 % of providers believed that the greatest delay for care in emergencies was in the prehospital setting. Differences were noted among the various types of facilities when looking at specific components of emergency care such as skill level of workers, frequencies of assaults in the hospitals, and other domains of service provision. Sum of squares between the different facility types were highest for areas of skill (SS = 210.3; p = .001), confidence in the system (SS = 156.5; p < .005), assault (SS = 487.6; p < .005), and feeling safe in the emergency departments (SS = 193.1, p < .005). Confidence negatively correlated to frequency of assaults (Pearson r = −.33; p < .005) but positively correlated with feeling safe (Pearson r = .51; p < .005) and reliability of equipment (Pearson r = .48; p < .005). The only correlation for access to services was prehospital care (Pearson r = .72, p < .005). There is a significant need to provide emergency care services in Afghanistan, specifically prehospital care. High variability exists among facility-type in various components of emergency services provision.
Institutions, Markets and Growth: A Theory of Comparative Corporate Governance

Two different financial systems with some opposing features have evolved in the advanced economies, namely the insider system and the outsider system. In this paper, we provide a theoretical framework where the features of the optimal governance systemare derived as a function of economy-wide parameters, such as the degree of development of markets and the quality of the institutions, and firm-specific parameters,such as the productivity of its technology. Our results include the following: (1) For adegree of relative development of markets below a threshold, internal governance systems dominate for all firms in the economy independent of productivity, (2) When thedevelopment of markets in an economy is above that threshold, either system may emerge as optimal depending on the productivity of the technology. There are marked differences in the residual agency costs under the two systems when the scale of investment is large. It is shown that insider systems constitute the optimal governance system for technologies that are optimally implemented at a small scale while outsider systems dominate for technologies that are optimally implemented at large scales. These results provide a new argument for the potential convergence towards outsider systems based on technological growth.
Impact ejecta on the moon

The partitioning of energy and the distribution of the resultant ejecta on the moon is numerically modeled using a Eulerian finite-difference grid. The impact of an iron meteoroid at 15 km/sec on a gabbroic anorthosite lunar crust is examined in detail. The high-speed impact-induced flow is described over the entire hydrodynamic regime from a time where the peak pressures are 6 Mbar until the stresses everywhere in the flow are linearly elastic, and less than 5 kbar. For 5 cm radius projectile the latter condition is achieved some ~0.5 msec after impact. The effect of taking into account the shock-induced polymorphic phase changes, in the plagioclase and pyroxene structure (in gabbro) to the hollandite and perovskite structures, respectively, and the subsequent reversion to low-pressure phases is demonstrated to enhance shock-wave attenuation. A rate-dependent equation of state, is used for describing the hysteretic effect of the phase change. The ballistic equations for spherical planet taking into account the decrease of gravity with height, are systematically applied to material with net velocity away from the moon. The mass of material escaping the moon corresponds to some 28% of the mass of meteorite, less than previous estimates, and most of the material lost, is lunar crust. Only 0.2% of the meteoroid escapes the moon, all in the vapor phase. In the case of accreting planets, a relatively sharp decrease in energy and mass lost from such impacts occurs when the escape velocities begin to exceed ~ 1 km/sec. This implies that since the fraction of kinetic energy lost is less than 5%, impact heating of lunar-sized planets in the latter stages of accretion is efficient. Most of the impact energy remains on the lunar crust (86.1%), however the bulk of the impact energy (66.8%) resides in crustal impact ejecta which is distributed with a surface density (mass/area) which decays as R^(-2715), where R, is the radius from the impact. At large distances from the impact, the ratio of lunar to meteorite ejecta is ⪞10^2, implying that the higher concentrations of meteorite components observed in the Apollo 17 breccias, resulted from mostly local impacts.
Viruses and renal carcinoma of Rana pipiens: II. Ultrastructural studies and sequential development of virus isolated from normal and tumor tissue

Abstract The sequential development of a virus (FV 1) isolated from cultured frog kidney cells has been studied by electron microscopy in fathead minnow (FHM) and baby hamster kidney (BHK 21/13) cells. Regions of virus synthesis were first seen in the cell cytoplasm at 7 and 10 hours after infection of FHM and BHK 21/13 cells, respectively. These sites contained virus particles in all stages of development from partial capsids to complete capsids with nucleoids. The virus was hexagonal and measured approximately 120 by 130 mμ. At 12 hours after infection, virus was seen budding from the cytoplasmic membrane, thus acquiring an envelope. This process continued throughout the course of the infection. Late in the infection (24–48 hours) one or more virus crystals were regularly seen in the cytoplasm of FHM cells and occasionally in BHK 21/13 cells. FV 1 replication in adult and embryonic frog cell monolayers, cultured Lucke tumor cells, and chick embryo monolayers was identical to that seen in FHM and BHK 21/13 cells. Eleven additional isolates from both normal and tumor (Lucke) frog tissue were examined in FHM cells. The morphology and site of synthesis of these isolates were identical to FV 1 and contrasted with the nuclear site of synthesis of virus seen in the Lucke tumor.
Energy Metabolism and Gonad Development

The macro- and micronutrient composition of a diet has a pronounced effect on the growth and biochemical composition of the nutritive phagocytes during their seasonal growth. There is a direct relationship between the protein content of a diet and the protein content of the developing nutritive phagocytes. We have shown that protein metabolism is likely to dominate the utilization of cellular energy, suggesting that the ability of the nutritive phagocytes to synthesize the MYP protein could be a primary determinant (or limit) of gonad size. As the protein content of an urchin's diet is increased, protein biosynthesis activity in the gonad increases, but this increase in anabolic activity requires the input of more cellular energy. Consequently, less energy assimilated from a diet is available to be stored in the nutritive phagocytes as glycogen. It would appear that the production of gonads with both a high protein and high glycogen content may not be possible because of the mutually exclusive energy trade-offs they represent. The difficulty in supplying metabolic energy in a feed is that the caloric content of a diet should be considered in terms of its energy yield under hypoxic conditions. Despite the attention that urchin aquaculture has received in recent years, there is still much to be learned in regard to the metabolic activity of the nutritive phagocytes and the efficient production of high gonad yields on controlled food rations.
Disruption of mGluR5 in parvalbumin-positive interneurons induces core features of neurodevelopmental disorders

Alterations in glutamatergic transmission onto developing GABAergic systems, in particular onto parvalbumin-positive (Pv+) fast-spiking interneurons, have been proposed as underlying causes of several neurodevelopmental disorders, including schizophrenia and autism. Excitatory glutamatergic transmission, through ionotropic and metabotropic glutamate receptors, is necessary for the correct postnatal development of the Pv+ GABAergic network. We generated mutant mice in which the metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) was specifically ablated from Pv+ interneurons postnatally, and investigated the consequences of such a manipulation at the cellular, network and systems levels. Deletion of mGluR5 from Pv+ interneurons resulted in reduced numbers of Pv+ neurons and decreased inhibitory currents, as well as alterations in event-related potentials and brain oscillatory activity. These cellular and sensory changes translated into domain-specific memory deficits and increased compulsive-like behaviors, abnormal sensorimotor gating and altered responsiveness to stimulant agents. Our findings suggest a fundamental role for mGluR5 in the development of Pv+ neurons and show that alterations in this system can produce broad-spectrum alterations in brain network activity and behavior that are relevant to neurodevelopmental disorders.
Effects of regional ischemia on the ryanodine-sensitive Ca2+ release channel of canine cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Abstract In mammalian myocardium, muscle contraction is regulated by the rapid release of Ca2+ ions through ryanodine-sensitive Ca2+ release channels present in the intracellular membrane compartment, sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). In this study, the effects of regional ischemia on intrinsic SR Ca2+ release channel function were determined by studying the Ca2+ transport and release, and [3H]ryanodine binding properties of whole muscle homogenates and SR-enriched membrane fractions from normal and ischemic myocardium. Measurement of oxalate-supported 45Ca2+-uptake rates before and after pretreatment with 1 m m ryanodine, indicated that the SR Ca2+ release channel retained its ability to be effectively closed by the channel-specific probe ryanodine after 15 and 60 min of ischemia. 45Ca2+ efflux from, and high-affinity [3H]ryanodine binding to SR-enriched vesicle fractions indicated retention of regulation of Ca2+ release channel activity by Ca2+, Mg2+ and adenine nucleotide in 15 and 60 min ischemic samples. Further, sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel and immunoblot analysis revealed no proteolytic degradation of the Mr 565 000 SR Ca2+ release channel polypeptide after 15 and 60 min of ischemia. These results suggested a minimal, if any, loss of intrinsic SR Ca2+ release channel function in ischemic hearts.
Transplantation of the highly human leukocyte antigen–sensitized patient: long-term outcomes and future directions

Antibody sensitization to alloantigens of the human leukocyte antigen system is one of the greatest barriers to access and successful outcome in kidney transplantation. The number of patients with elevated panel-reactive antibodies on the waiting list continues to grow. Treatment protocols and methods to overcome or prevent antibody incompatibility have evolved and demonstrated efficacy. This review will summarize the current primary desensitization protocols, their success and outcomes, and future directions for therapy for this difficult population.
The Pteroylglutamic Acid Requirement of Laying and Breeding Hens

Abstract AFTER pteroylglutamic acid (P.G.A., folic acid) became available in sufficient quantities for experimental work, Taylor (1947), Schweigert, et al., (1948) and Cravens and Halpin (1949) have reported on the quantitative requirements of the breeding hen for this vitamin. Taylor (1947), using a rice-fishmeal ration reported that 0.12 mg. of P.G.A. per kilogram of ration was essential for egg production, while somewhat in excess of this amount was required for satisfactory hatchability. Schweigert, et al., (1948), using a ground corn-casein ration, reported that the requirement was between 0.12 and 0.42 mg. per kilogram of ration. Cravens and Halpin (1949) reported that approximately .5–1.0 mg. per kilogram of diet are required for normal hatchability when sucrose is used as the source of carbohydrate, and that probably not over .25 mg. per kilogram of diet is required by the laying hen. The studies to be reported herein were initiated to establish more . . .
Effects of lithium and thallous ions on sodium pump activity in the guinea-pig heart and their relationship to the positive inotropic action.

It has recently been demonstrated that both Tl+ and Li+ produce concentration-and time-dependent positive inotropic effects in guinea-pig atrial preparations although Tl+ inhibits and Li+ stimulates isolated Na+, K+-ATPase in vitro. In order to elucidate the mechanism of the positive inotropic actions of these cations, the effects of Tl+ and Li+ on sodium pump activity were studied. Active 86Rb uptake in guinea-pig ventricular slices, an estimate of sodium pump activity, was highly sensitive to the inhibitory effect of the cardiac glycosides. Preincubation of slices with Tl+ caused a dose-and time-dependent inhibition of active 86Rb uptake. Similar concentration-and time-dependent inhibition of active 86Rb uptake was observed when Na+ in a Krebs-Henseleit solution was partially replaced with Li+. Lithium, however, stimulated a partially purified Na+, K+-ATPase in vitro. During heart slice incubation, Tl+ and Li+ accumulated in a time-dependent manner. This accumulation was not readily reversible when slices were transferred into Tl+-or Li+-free solutions. It appears that the inhibition of sodium pump activity is related to the positive inotropic action of these cations.
Constructing social norms: The pragmatics of multimodal quotation boundaries in spoken Swahili

Abstract The article examines the pragmatic meaning of direct quotation boundaries in Swahili. The application of conversation and discourse analysis to naturally occurring talk in media settings reveals that by avoiding reporting verbs, speakers manage to create an imagined participant framework involving co-present participants in a hypothetical dialog between ‘me’ and ‘you,’ which becomes an appropriate context for imperative verbs. In Searlean terms, these imperative verbs have a twofold function, namely the function of bald directives and of indirect representative speech acts. Speakers employ multimodal resources to signal to co-participants the pragmatic value of these speech acts. The coordinated use of verbally unframed quotations with imperative verbs proves to be a strategy with which Swahili speakers display their epistemic authority. By so doing, Swahili speakers are able to represent a personal stance as a societal moral norm and to contribute to the construction of social normativity through media discourse.
Consumers' Knowledge: The Missing Element in Online Purchasing Expenditures

This study introduces two knowledge-related constructs (i.e., consumer competency and product knowledge) into online purchasing expenditures and then analyses variables (i.e., convenience, trust, and privacy) that have been discussed in existing literature in order to investigate how knowledge plays out in the online purchasing context. The findings, derived from the responses of 124 survey participants, show that consumer competency is the focal element of online expenditures. While convenient service is still one of the most important factors, trust and privacy do not directly impact online expenditures. It is interpreted that competent consumers, who are already determined to purchase something online, are able to locate trustworthy sites and make purchases from those sites; consequently, these issues that are traditionally considered important do not necessarily dissuade consumers' online expenditures, but may affect individual web sites. This study shows that consumers' knowledge about technology and the Web are the main determining factors for online purchasing expenditures.
Treatment of Wilms’ tumor in children

Dramatic advances in management of Wilms’ tumor have been achieved through a multidisciplinary approach to treatment involving surgery, radiotherapy, and combination chemotherapy. Recent cooperative clinical studies of nationwide scope have permitted the use of randomized, prospective, comparative trials designed to answer some of the perplexing questions in tumor management. For group I patients with localized disease, a survival rate of 97% has been achieved. Significant clinical data have justified the elimination of postoperative irradiation and its deleterious long-term side effects in group I children under 2 years of age, and current studies replacing radiotherapy with combination drug therapy will probably allow the elimination of radiotherapy for all group I patients. The combination of dactinomycin-vincristine (AMD-VCR) has proven superior to single-agent treatment, and in group II and III patients with local tumor extension, survival rates have reached 86%. Most remarkable is the achievement of an 83% survival rate at 2 years in group IV patients with metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis, since survival of this type of patient before chemotherapy was nil. The newly recognized histologic grading of “unfavorable” and “favorable” prognostic types of tumor should stimulate refinement of therapy and further improvement in survival by application of more or less aggressive treatment, as appropriate. The current survival rate of 87% in patients with bilateral tumors is also remarkable and underscores the need for flexibility and an understanding of tumor biology for successful clinical management.
Bending of charged flexible membranes due to the presence of macroions

We investigate the bending of flexible charged membranes due to the presence of rigid rodlike macroions in the framework of the Debye-Huckel approximation. When the macroions are fixed in space at some distance from the bilayer the membrane bends towards them; we calculate the exact deformation profile. On the other hand a macroion which is adsorbed on the membrane causes a deflection of the bilayer. Finally, we consider swollen lamellar polyanion/charged-lipid complexes where the macroions are intercalated between charged lipid bilayers. We predict the occurrence of a double adsorption (pinching effect) of the macroion for sufficiently flexible membranes.
Age-related intra-axonal accumulation of neurofilaments in the dorsal column nuclei of the cat brainstem: a light and electron microscopic immunohistochemical study

In the present study, we examined the age-related intra-axonal accumulation of neurofilaments in the dorsal column nuclei of the cat by using immunohistochemical techniques combined with light and electron microscopy. Light microscopic analysis revealed oval or circular immunostained structures in the dorsal column nuclei of old cats. These immunostained structures were not observed in the material obtained from adult controls. Under the electron microscope, it was discovered that the immunostained structures were greatly enlarged axons with disrupted myelin sheaths. These enlarged axons contained massive accumulations of neurofilaments, some mitochondria, vacuoles and dense granules. The abnormalities of the myelin sheaths included the breaking of myelin at several locations, a splitting and ballooning in the myelin lamellae of the sheath and a distended periaxonal space between the axon and myelin sheaths. These ultrastructural changes resembled the degenerative alterations that have been observed in the axons of human and animals suffering from a number of pathological conditions, including giant axonal neuropathy and toxic neuropathy. Therefore, severely altered axons with intra-axonal accumulation of neurofilaments appear to reflect chronic degenerative changes that are a component of the aging process.
Syndrome of camptodactyly, ankyloses facial anomalies, and pulmonary hypoplasia (Pena-Shokeir syndrome): Obstetric and ultrasound aspects

Two siblings with Pena-Shokeir syndrome are described. This syndrome consists of polyhydramnios, intrauterine growth retardation, short umbilical cord, perinatal death, facial abnormalities, limb abnormalities including arthrogryposis, and lethal pulmonary hypoplasia. The mode of inheritance is most likely autosomal recessive. Prenatal diagnosis was made in the second pregnancy with ultrasound performed at 26 weeks' gestation. The roles of fetal akinesia and fetal apnea in the production of the various manifestations of the syndrome are detailed, and the possibility of early prenatal diagnosis is considered
Quality--a radiology imperative: interpretation accuracy and pertinence.

Physicians as a group have neither consistently defined nor systematically measured the quality of medical practice. To referring clinicians and patients, a good radiologist is one who is accessible, recommends appropriate imaging studies, and provides timely consultation and reports with high interpretation accuracy. For determining the interpretation accuracy of cases with pathologic or surgical proof, the author proposes tracking data on positive predictive value, disease detection rates, and abnormal interpretation rates for individual radiologists. For imaging studies with no pathologic proof or adequate clinical follow-up, the author proposes measuring the concordance and discordance of the interpretations within a peer group. The monitoring of interpretation accuracy can be achieved through periodic imaging, pathologic correlation, regular peer review of randomly selected cases, or subscription to the ACR's RADPEER ® system. Challenges facing the implementation of an effective peer-review system include physician time, subjectivity in assessing discordant interpretations, lengthy and equivocal interpretations, and the potential misassignment of false-positive interpretations.
Influence of numerical dissipation on computational Euler equations for vortex-dominated flows

Etude d'ecoulements supersoniques tourbillonnaires, pour des ailes delta a aretes vives ou arrondies. On developpe un schema de volumes finis
Performance optimization of dynamic all-optical networks

We explore and report on the temporal behavior of MEMS-based optical switching elements and optical amplifiers in multi-wavelength systems as may be utilized in next generation optical networks. The importance of this work is underscored by the growing use of dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) in conjunction with dynamically controlled optically transparent network elements. Switching, using MEMS technology, has taken on an important role in supporting dynamic network reconfiguration. Such networks typically include optical amplifiers, and multiple wavelengths are amplified by a single network element The combination of MEMS switching with optical amplifiers and other active elements provides new challenges in overall system design, as the millisecond switching time of MEMS fabrics is comparable to the excited state lifetime in Erbium doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs), thereby leading to potentially undesirable gain fluctuations and cross talk. Our observations of such transients show durations ranging upwards of 20 milliseconds and amplitudes of up to 2 dB, with transients affecting both switched and unswitched wavelengths. These effects can lead to degradation in end-to-end system performance, as measured by bit error rate (BER). This problem is particularly important for future optical networks where burst switching and packet switching, in addition to circuit switching will generate transients on finer time scales. We first examine and report on the temporal behavior of MEMS-based optical switching elements and optical amplifiers in multi-wavelength systems as may be utilized in next generation optical networks. Our experiments utilize commercially available MEMS switching fabrics and EDFAs, configured to emulate a realistic metro area network. We then use these experimental results to examine and compare several approaches to optimizing end-to-end performance. We explore a proactive approach, where routing and wavelength assignment decisions are based on algorithms that optimize the distribution of traffic, thereby minimizing the impacts of transients due to bursty traffic on unswitched traffic. We propose several algorithms for routing and wavelength assignment specifically designed for dynamic, all-optical networks, where wavelength conversion is not available and quantify the reduction in performance impairments that can be achieved.
Nestin-GFP transgene reveals neural precursor cells in adult skeletal muscle

Background: Therapy for neural lesions or degenerative diseases relies mainly on finding transplantable active precursor cells. Identifying them in peripheral tissues accessible for biopsy, outside the central nervous system, would circumvent the serious immunological and ethical concerns impeding cell therapy. Methodology/Principal Findings: In this study, we isolated neural progenitor cells in cultured adult skeletal muscle from transgenic mice in which nestin regulatory elements control GFP expression. These cells also expressed the early neural marker Tuj1 and light and heavy neurofilament but not S100beta, indicating that they express typical neural but not Schwann cell markers. GFP+/Tuj1+ cells were also negative for the endothelial and pericyte markers CD31 and alpha-smooth muscle actin, respectively. We established their a) functional response to glutamate in patch-clamp recordings; b) interstitial mesenchymal origin; c) replicative capacity; and d) the environment necessary for their survival after fluorescenceactivated cell sorting. Conclusions/Significance: We propose that the decline in nestin-GFP expression in muscle progenitor cells and its persistence in neural precursor cells in muscle cultures provide an invaluable tool for isolating a population of predifferentiated neural cells with therapeutic potential. © 2011 Birbrair et al.
Multiple maternal influences on dorsal-ventral fate of Xenopus animal blastomeres.

Molecular asymmetries in the animal-vegetal axis of the Xenopus oocyte are well known to regulate the formation of gametes and germ layers. Likewise, many transplantation and explant studies demonstrate that maternal dorsalizing activities are localized to the future dorsal side of the embryo after fertilization, but to date only a few of the molecules involved in this process have been shown to be asymmetrically distributed. In this report, we identify two new aspects of the maternal regulation of dorsal-ventral fate asymmetry in Xenopus blastomeres: cytoplasmic polyadenylation of dorsal maternal mRNAs and localized Wnt8b signaling. Previous studies demonstrated that there are maternal, dorsal axis-inducing RNAs localized to dorsal animal blastomeres that become activated between the 8- and 16-cell stage (Hainski and Moody [1992] Development 116:347-355; Hainski and Moody [1996] Dev. Genet. 19:210-221). We report herein that the activation of these axis-inducing dorsal mRNAs is regulated by cytoplasmic polyadenylation. We also show that maternal wnt8b mRNA is concentrated in ventral animal blastomeres. These ventral cells and exogenous Wnt8b both inhibit the dorsal fate of neighboring blastomeres in culture, indicating that a maternal Wnt signal also contributes to segregating dorsal and ventral fates.
Surgical site infection after primary surgery for epithelial ovarian cancer: Predictors and impact on survival

Abstract Objective Surgical site infection (SSI) following epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) primary surgery (PS) occurs in 10–15% of women. Perioperative factors associated with SSI and impact of SSI on survival were determined. Methods EOC cases that underwent PS from 1/2/2003 to 12/30/2011 were retrospectively reviewed. SSIs were defined according to ACS NSQIP. Logistic regression models were fit to identify factors associated with SSI. Cox proportional hazards models were utilized to evaluate the association of patient and perioperative characteristics with overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Results Among 888 cases, 96 (10.8%) developed SSI: 32 superficial, 2 deep, and 62 organ/space. Factors independently associated with superficial SSI were increasing BMI (odds ratio 1.41 [95% confidence interval, 1.12, 1.76] per 5 kg/m2), increasing operative time (1.24 [1.02, 1.50] per hour), and advanced stage (III/IV) (10.22 [1.37, 76.20]). Factors independently associated with organ/space SSI were history of gastroesophageal reflux disease (2.13 [1.23, 3.71]), surgical complexity (intermediate 3.11 [1.02, 9.49]; high 8.07 [2.60, 25.09]; referent: low), and residual disease (RD) (measureable ≤ 1 cm 1.77 [0.96, 3.27]; suboptimal > 1 cm (3.36 [1.48, 7.61]; referent: microscopic). Occurrence of superficial (hazard ratio 1.69 [1.12, 2.57]) or organ/space (1.46 [1.07, 2.00]) SSI was independently associated with worse OS. SSI occurrence was not independently associated with DFS. Conclusions SSI after PS is associated with decreased OS. Most risk factors for SSI are not modifiable. Alternative measures to lower rates of SSIs are needed as this may improve OS. Preoperative identification of SSI risk factors may assist in risk-assessment and operative planning.
The effect of phosphoramidon on inflammation-mediated preterm delivery in a mouse model

Abstract Objective Several metallopeptidases have been implicated in both term and preterm parturition. We hypothesize that endotoxin-induced preterm delivery can be prevented by the administration of a metallopeptidase inhibitor. Study design We used an animal model of endotoxin-induced preterm delivery in timed pregnancy C57Bl/6 mice. Test animals received lipopolysaccharide followed by phosphoramidon, either every 1.5 or every 3 hours. Control mice received lipopolysaccharide followed by buffer injections at the same intervals. The primary outcome was a preterm delivery rate. Results The rate of preterm delivery for the control animals was 88.0% compared with the treatment groups of 45.5% for the mice that received phosphoramidon every 3 hours and 30.8% for the group that received it every 1.5 hours ( P Conclusion The administration of a metallopeptidase inhibitor resulted in a decreased rate of preterm delivery in this animal model.
Temperature dependence of eiectron spin-lattice relaxation of radiation-produced silver atoms in polycrystalline aqueous and glassy organic matrices. Importance of relaxation by tunneling modes in disordered matrices

Abstract The electron spin-lattice relaxation of trapped silver atoms in polycrystalline ice matrices and in methanol, ethanol, propylene carbonate, and 2-methyltetrahydrofuran organic glasses has been directly studied as a function of temperature by the saturation-recovery method. Below 40 K the dominant electron spin-lattice relaxation mechanism involves modulation of the electron nuclear dipolar interaction with nuclei in the radical's environment by tunneling of those nuclei between two nearly equal energy configurations. This relaxation mechanism occurs with high efficiency, has a characteristic linear temperature dependence, and is typically found in highly disordered matrices. The efficiency of this relaxation mechanism seems to decrease with decreasing polarity of the matrix. Deuteration experiments show that the tunneling nuclei are protons and in methanol it is shown that the methyl protons have more tunneling modes available than the hydroxyl protons. In polycrystalline ice matrices silver atoms can be stabilized with two different orientations of surrounding water molecules; the efficiency of the tunneling relaxation reflects this difference. From these and previous results on tunneling relaxation of trapped electrons in glassy matrices it appears that tunneling relaxation may be used to distinguish models with different geometrical configurations and to determine the relative rigidity of such configurations around trapped radicals in disordered solids.
A Whole-Genome Screen of a Quantitative Trait of Age-Related Maculopathy in Sibships from the Beaver Dam Eye Study

Age-related maculopathy (ARM) is a leading cause of visual impairment among the elderly in Western populations. To identify ARM-susceptibility loci, we genotyped a subset of subjects from the Beaver Dam (WI) Eye Study and performed a model-free genomewide linkage analysis for markers linked to a quantitative measure of ARM. We initially genotyped 345 autosomal markers in 325 individuals ( N =263 sib pairs) from 102 pedigrees. Ten regions suggestive of linkage with ARM were observed on chromosomes 3, 5, 6, 12, 15, and 16. Prior to fine mapping, the most significant regions were an 18-cM region on chromosome 12, near D12S1300 ( P =.0159); a region on chromosome 3, near D3S1763, with a P value of .0062; and a 6-cM region on chromosome 16, near D16S769, with a P value of .0086. After expanding our analysis to include 25 additional fine-mapping markers, we found that a 14-cM region on chromosome 12, near D12S346 (located at 106.89 cM), showed the strongest indication of linkage, with a P value of .004. Three other regions, on chromosomes 5, 6, and 15, that were nominally significant at P ≤.01 are also appropriate for fine mapping.
AM/FM halftoning: a method for digital halftoning through simultaneous modulation of dot size and dot placement

Conventionally, digital halftoning is accomplished by either changing the size of printed dots or changing the relative density of dots on the page. These two approaches are analogous to amplitude modulation (AM) or frequency modulation (FM) used in communications. A typical AM halftoning method, such as cluster dot screening, has very low computational requirements and good print stability. However, it suffers from low spatial resolution and Moire artifacts. Alternatively, popular FM halftoning methods, such as error diffusion, can achieve high spatial resolution and are free of Moire artifacts but lack the print stability required for electro-photographic printing. In this paper, we present a new class of halftoning algorithms that simultaneously modulate both the size and density of printed dots. We call this new class of algorithms AM/FM halftoning. The major advantages of AM/FM halftoning are: (1). Better stability in shadow area than dispersed dot methods through the formation of larger dot clusters. (2). Better Moire resistance than clustered dot screens through irregular dot placement. (3)The ability to systematically optimize dot size and density to produce the best possible print quality at each gray level. A specific implementation of AM/FM halftoning is developed for use with electro-photographic printers having pulse width modulation (PWM) technology. We present results using dot size and dot density curves obtained through measurement-based optimization, and demonstrate that AM/FM halftoning achieves high spatial resolution, smooth halftone textures, good printing stability, and Moire resistances.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Surpassing the word: Aileen Wuornos

(2002). Surpassing the word: Aileen Wuornos. Women & Performance: a journal of feminist theory: Vol. 13, No. 1, pp. 61-88.
Some Theoretical Aspects of the Lot Plot Sampling Inspection Plan

Abstract The Lot Plot Plan is a modified variables sampling inspection plan which calls for taking 50 observations and which makes use of the sample histogram. Depending upon the appearance of the histogram, various rules for acceptance are used. It is shown that despite use of a histogram no such plan can be distribution-free. The behavior of the plan is studied where the lot distribution is any of several “nearly normal” distributions including Student's t, the symmetric Beta distribution, the x 2 distribution and the mixed normal distribution. The probability of acceptance as a function of the fraction defective depends strongly on the distributional form of the lot. Little protection against non-normality is obtainable from study of the histogram for 50 observations. * Prepared under contract N6onr-25126 (NR-042-002) for Office of Naval Research.