cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Vagus nerve stimulation in pediatric epilepsy: a review

Therapeutic options for intractable epilepsy include new and investigational antiepileptic drugs, ketogenic diet, epilepsy surgery, and, now, vagus nerve stimulation, which is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of refractory partial seizures in adolescents and adults. The exact mechanisms of action are unknown. Although the use of vagus nerve stimulation in children has increased, including those younger than 12 years of age or those with generalized epilepsy, there has been no large controlled pediatric study to date. The identification of favorable prognostic indicators, especially in children, would be useful. Preliminary results suggest that children with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome may have a favorable response, with improvement in both seizure control and global evaluation scores. Improved global evaluation scores have occurred even without an associated improvement in seizure control.
Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy after orthotopic liver transplantation

Six weeks after liver transplantation, a 51-year-old man developed a slowly progressive hemiparesis with deteriorating mental status and seizures. Successive computed tomography (CT) scans of the brain revealed unilateral nonenhancing white matter lucencies that gradually coalesced and progressed to both hemispheres. Brain biopsy results were consistent with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). We believe this is the first antemortem description of PML after liver transplantation. Herein, we describe the case and review the literature on PML after solid organ transplantation. Early recognition of this central nervous system disease may be important with new advances in therapy of this viral infection of the immunocompromised patient.
Stability of the tail Markov chain and the evaluation of improper priors for an exponential rate parameter

Let Z be a continuous random variable with a lower semicontinuous density f that is positive on (0, oc) and 0 elsewhere. Put G(x) = f" f(z) dz. We study the tail Markov chain generated by Z, defined as the Markov chain = (()n,)'_ with state space [0, oc) and Markov transition density k(ylx)= f(y + x)/G(x). This chain is irreducible, aperiodic and reversible with respect to G. It follows that ( is positive recurrent if and only if Z has a finite expectation. We prove (under regularity conditions) that if EZ = c0, then F is null recurrent if and only if fl" 1/[z3 f(z)]dz = c0. Furthermore, we describe an interesting decision-theoretic application of this result. Specifically, suppose that X is an Exp(0) random variable; that is, X has density 0 e-ex for x > 0. Let v be an improper prior density for 0 that is positive on (0, oc). Assume that foJ 0 v(0) dO < oc, which implies that the posterior density induced by v is proper. Let mv denote the marginal density of X induced by v; that is, mv(x)= fo" 0 e-6x v(0) dO. We use our results, together with those of Eaton and of Hobert and Robert, to prove that v is a P-admissible prior if fJ 1/[x2 mv(x)]dx =0c.
Cytogenetic abnormalities detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization on paraffin-embedded chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma lymphoid tissue biopsy specimens.

Cytogenetic fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) panels are a major prognostic tool in chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL), but few data exist on using paraffinembedded extramedullary tissue biopsy specimens for these purposes. Isolated whole nuclei were extracted from 20 paraffin-embedded tissue biopsy specimens with CLL/SLL and analyzed using a standard CLL FISH panel. FISH studies were successful in 18 (90%) of 20 cases, and chromosomal abnormalities were detected in 18 (100%) of the technically successful cases. Deletion 13q14.3 was most frequent (10 [56%]; isolated in 8 and with other abnormalities in 2), followed by trisomy 12 (5 [28%]), deletion 11q22.3 (4/16 [25%]), 14q32 (IGH@) translocation (3 [17%]), and deletion 17p13.1 (1/16 [6%]). One case with IGH@ translocation showed a BCL2 translocation partner. No cases showed 6q23 deletion. Results of this FISH panel performed on 42 additional peripheral blood (PB)/bone marrow (BM) CLL specimens were similar except for a significantly greater frequency of deletion 13q14.3 in combination with other aberrations. Cytogenetic FISH studies using paraffin-embedded tissue biopsy specimens in CLL/SLL had a high yield and, with 1 exception, demonstrated a profile similar to cases diagnosed in PB/BM. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) is a disease with a heterogeneous course, with survival times ranging from a few months to many decades. 1 Although the clinical staging system developed by Rai et al 2 and modified by Binet et al 3 remains a cornerstone of prognostication, there is great interest in the use of various biomarkers. Cytogenetic fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) panels are one of the recent prognostic approaches, with their usefulness relative to other biomarkers still being evaluated. Chromosomal aberrations are reportedly detected by FISH in 57% to 82% of CLL cases, with the most common being deletion 13q14.3 (18%-67%), deletion 11q22.3 (3%-23%), trisomy 12 (11%-23%), deletion 17p13.1 (2%-26%), deletion 6q23 (0%-6%), and immunoglobulin heavy chain (IGH@) gene translocation (4%-21%). 4-15 Patients with deletions of 13q as the sole abnormality have the best prognosis, whereas patients with deletions of 11q or 17p have a poor prognosis and patients with trisomy 12 have an intermediate survival time. 14 The prognostic implications of deletion 6q23 are uncertain, 16-21 and the significance of
Artists and computers

This paper deals with the use of computers by artists as a means of aesthetic expression, considers several theories of the validity of art created through the assistance of computers, and discusses the author's personal reasons for beginning to use the computer as an artistic tool.
Analysis of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone in mouse tissues by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry.

Abstract A novel method was established for simultaneous quantitation of testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in murine tissue and serum samples. Endogenous T and DHT, together with the internal standards 17α-methyl-T and 17α-methyl-DHT, were extracted from tissues and then derivatized by reaction with 2-hydrazino-4-(trifluoromethyl)-pyrimidine (HTP). Analysis by liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC–ESI–MS/MS) resulted in product ion spectra of HTP derivatives of both T and DHT that showed analyte-specific fragmentations; the latter fragmentations were characterized by the use of high-resolution Orbitrap MS/MS. These specific fragmentations enabled quantitation of T and DHT in the multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. The method was validated with charcoal-stripped serum as the matrix. The lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) was 0.10 ng/ml for T and 0.50 ng/ml for DHT. The method was then used for determination of serum and tissue levels of T and DHT in transgenic mice carrying a hypomorphic NADPH–cytochrome P450 reductase gene (Cpr-low mice). Remarkably, ovarian T levels in Cpr-low mice were found to be 25-fold higher than those in wild-type mice, a finding that at least partly explains the female infertility seen in the Cpr-low mice. In conclusion, our method provides excellent sensitivity and selectivity for determination of endogenous levels of T and DHT in mouse tissues.
Joint registration of multiple images using entropic graphs

Registration of medical images (intra- or multi-modality) is the first step before any analysis is performed. The analysis includes treatment monitoring, diagnosis, volumetric measurements or classification to mention a few. While pairwise registration, i.e., aligning a floating image to a fixed reference, is straightforward, it is not immediately clear what cost measures could be exploited for the groupwise alignment of several images (possibly multimodal) simultaneously. Recently however there has been increasing interest in this problem applied to atlas construction, statistical shape modeling, or simply joint alignment of images to get a consistent correspondence of voxels across all images based on a single cost measure. The aim of this paper is twofold, a) propose a cost function - alpha mutual information computed using entropic graphs that is a natural extension to Shannon mutual information for pairwise registration and b) compare its performance with the pairwise registration of the image set. We show that this measure can be reliably used to jointly align several images to a common reference. We also test its robustness by comparing registration errors for the registration process repeated at varying noise levels. In our experiments we used simulated data, applying different B-spline based geometric transformations to the same image and adding independent filtered Gaussian noise to each image. Non-rigid registration was employed with Thin Plate Splines(TPS) as the geometric interpolant.
Human creativity, cultural evolution, and niche construction

Cultural evolution may be even more prolific in the generation of new forms than is biological evolution – especially when it takes the form of creative genius. Yet evolutionary theories have tended to overlook the factors that might select for outstanding individual creativity. A recent dual-inheritance theory is outlined and then integrated with the niche-construction theory of Laland et al.
Glial tumors of the retina. The 2009 King Khaled Memorial Lecture

Retinal glial tumors and pseudotumors can be classified into astrocytic hamartoma, acquired retinal astrocytoma, massive gliosis, and focal nodular gliosis. Each has different clinical manifestations. Astrocytic hamartoma is usually seen patients who have some manifestations of tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). It can occur as a noncalcified or calcified variety, and often a combination of the two, and has fairly typical features with fluorescein angiography, ultrasonography, and optical coherence tomography. Although it is generally a stationary lesion, an aggressive variant seen in very young children with TSC can lead to exudative retinopathy, retinal detachment, and neovascular glaucoma. Acquired astrocytoma general occurs in somewhat older individuals who do not have TSC. Like the aggressive form of astrocytic hamartoma it can lead to exudative retinopathy and exudative retinal detachment. Pseudoneoplastic diffuse retinal gliosis can occur as massive glial proliferation in eyes with prior trauma, Coats disease, retinal angiomatosis and other conditions and often occurs in blind eyes. Pseudoneoplastic focal retinal gliosis is characterized by a very superficial, white, noncalcified lesion in otherwise normal eye in somewhat older individuals. Recognition of these glial lesions is important because they can resemble malignant tumors and have different clinical courses and complications.
The effect of social support on patient adjustment after breast surgery.

Abstract After breast surgery for cancer, a woman must adapt to changes in bodily appearnce and to altered views of the future. Assuming that adaptation to these changes can be facilitated by the provision of supportive care, an intervention program was designed. Counselling and information were offered to patients by an intedisciplinary team before, during, and after hospitalization. Women receiving these services (n=21) were compared with women receiving standard medical care (n=18) immediately after surgery and again two months later. The results indicated that the affective responses of the group in the intervention program were more labile than those of the control group immediately after surgery; these differences diminished over time. After surgery, both groups were equivalent on the measure of self-efficacy. Two months later, however, women in the intervention group scored significantly higher on this measure. These results are seen as evidence that the social-support, intervention program was effective.
Immunochemical quantitation of isoenzymes of aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase

The applicability of immunochemical techniques to the determination of aspartate aminotransferase (AspAT, EC 2.6.1.1) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH, EC 1.1.1.27) isoenzymes in human serum are reviewed. In the case of AspAT, the human enzymes of mitochondrial (m-AspAT) and cytosolic (s-AspAT) origin were purified to homogeneity from liver and erythrocytes respectively and used to prepare isoenzyme-specific anti-sera in rabbits. Immunoprecipitation and immunoinhibition assays using partially purified antibodies or monovalent Fab fragments were found to provide better accuracy and precision than column chromatographic, electrophoretic, or differential kinetic techniques. A variety of immunochemical techniques were examined for the determination of enzyme protein including radioimmunoassay, turbidimetric procedures, and an assay using the indium slide technique. In the last, purified isoenzyme was absorbed as a monolayer to the surface of an indium metal film upon glass. The enzyme retains immunological reactivity, allowing the specific binding of antibody at the surface. The minimum detectable concentration by this technique is greater than 50 micrograms/L of enzyme protein; results suggest that normal and patient sera contain considerably more immunologically reactive s- and m-AspAT than catalytically active enzyme.
The Oligomerization State Determines Regulatory Properties and Inhibitor Sensitivity of Type 4 cAMP-specific Phosphodiesterases

PDE4 splice variants are classified into long and short forms depending on the presence or absence of two unique N-terminal domains termed upstream conserved regions 1 and 2 (UCR1 and -2). We have shown previously that the UCR module mediates dimerization of PDE4 long forms, whereas short forms, which lack UCR1, behave as monomers. In the present study, we demonstrate that dimerization is an essential structural element that determines the regulatory properties and inhibitor sensitivities of PDE4 enzymes. Comparing the properties of the dimeric wild type PDE4D3 with several monomeric mutant PDE4D3 constructs revealed that disruption of dimerization ablates the activation of PDE4 long forms by either protein kinase A phosphorylation or phosphatidic acid binding. Moreover, the analysis of heterodimers consisting of a catalytically active and a catalytically inactive PDE4D3 subunit indicates that protein kinase A phosphorylation of both subunits is essential to fully activate PDE4 enzymes. In addition to affecting enzyme regulation, disruption of dimerization reduces the sensitivity of the enzymes toward the prototypical PDE4 inhibitor rolipram. Parallel binding assays indicated that this shift in rolipram sensitivity is likely mediated by a decrease in the number of inhibitor binding sites in the high affinity rolipram binding state. Thus, although dimerization is not a requirement for high affinity rolipram binding, it functions to stabilize PDE4 long forms in their high affinity rolipram binding conformation. Taken together, our data indicate that dimerization defines the properties of PDE4 enzymes and suggest a common structural and functional organization for all PDEs.
Knowledge, truth and evidence

This chapter solves the problem that Professor Gettier has raised. There are a number of ways in which a person who has evidence for what he believes may nevertheless fail to be completely justified in believing what he does. A person may, for example, fail to be completely justified simply because the evidence that he has is not adequate to completely justify his belief. Moreover, if a person has evidence adequate to completely justify his belief, he may still fail to be completely justified in believing what he does because his belief is not based on that evidence. For example, a detective who rejects the truthful testimony of a reliable eye-witness to a crime, but accepts the lying testimony of an ignorant meddler, when both tell him that Brentano committed the crime, would fail to be completely justified in believing this.
Comparison of Static and Dynamic Neural Networks for Limit Cycle Oscillation Prediction

A dynamic artificial neural network in the form of a multilayer perceptron with a delayed recurrent feedback connection is investigated to determine its ability to predict linear and nonlinear flutter response characteristics. Flight-test results show that limit cycle oscillation (LCO) response characteristics are strongly dependent on Mach number in the transonic flight regime. This effect is also evident in the classical transonic small-disturbance theory governing equations. A dynamic network is considered in order to examine the effects of sequential Mach-number dependence on the network's predictive capability. The architecture of a dynamic network allows for modeling data dependent on a sequentially or linearly increasing parameter (usually time, but in this case Mach number). The predictive capabilities are compared to those of a static artificial neural network. The network is developed and trained using linear flutter analysis and flight-test results from a fighter test. Eleven external store carriage configurations are used as training data, and three configurations are used as test cases. The dynamic network was successful in predicting the aeroelastic oscillation frequency and amplitude responses over a range of Mach numbers for two of the test cases. The dynamic network showed slightly better correlation to flight-test results for the typical LCO test case but slightly worse correlation for the flutter case. Predictions for the nontypical LCO test case were not good for either network.
Record low tunnel junction specific resistivity (&#60; 3×10 −4 Ωcm 2 ) in GaN inter-band tunnel junctions

We report on the design, fabrication, and characterization of record high efficiency inter-band tunnel junctions in GaN. We have achieved tunnel junction specific resistivity values as low as 3×10−4 Ωcm2 by using polarization engineered GaN/InGaN/GaN tunnel junctions. An alternate approach of using rare earth nitride (GdN) nano-islands embedded in degenerately doped GaN p n junction has resulted in tunnel junction specific resistivity of 2.7×10−3 Ωcm2. This is the first report of mid gap states assisted tunneling in GaN.
Mechanisms of synaptic fatigue in a developing autonomic ganglion

Synaptic transmission in developing systems has often been noted to exhibit depression or failure at moderate frequencies of stimulation. While this is often presumed to be a transient, nonspecific inability of developing systems to meet the demands of synaptic transmission, this report demonstrates that such failure in the choroidal neurons of the embryonic ciliary ganglion is due to muscarinically mediated inhibition. Although the ganglion is composed of both choroid and ciliary neurons, only the choroid neurons exhibit the muscarinic depression, and only during embryonic development. The pharmacological properties of the relevant receptor are different from those of the muscarinic receptor involved in presynaptic inhibition in adult autonomic systems. Receptor-mediated, synaptic failure during development may serve to protect immature postsynaptic neurons from potentially toxic overstimulation.
Line segments are perceived better in a coherent context than alone: An object-line effect in visual perception

In a series of four experiments, observers identified a briefly flashed line segment more accurately when it was part of a drawing that looked unitary and three-dimensional than when the line segment was presented alone. This extends earlier findings of better identification of a line segment when it is part of an apparently unitary, three-dimensional drawing than when it is in a less coherent flat design; and these results demonstrate a visua1 effect analogous to the word-letter effect which uses nonlinguistic materials. Experiment 1 demonstrates the existence of the object-line effect and shows that it does not depend on the presence of a subsequent mask; Experiment 2 shows that the effect holds up with two-altemative forcedchoice presentation; Experiment 3 demonstrates that the effect is not due to bright end points which may occur when the target line appears with a context; and Experiment 4 shows that the effect is as strong when the target line segments occupy widely separated spatial locations as it is when they occupy nearby, potentially confusable locations.
Damage analysis of a crack layer

Damage analysis of a crack layer in polystyrene is carried out by employing optical microscopy and principles of quantitative stereology. The results show that, within the quasistatic phase of crack layer propagation, the average crazing density, along the trailing edge of the active zone, is constant. This is consistent with a self-similarity hypothesis of damage evolution employed by the crack layer theory. The average crazing densities within the active zone and along its trailing edge are found to be practically equal. A layer of constant crazing density, adjacent to the crack planes, accompanies the crack during its quasi-static growth. This suggests that: (1) a certain level of crazing density should be reached, around the crack tip, prior to crack advance; (2) the specific energy, associated with this 'core' of damage, could be considered as a Griffith's type energy. The results are in favor of certain hypothesis adopted by the crack layer theory.
Major depressive disorder in a preschooler.

The history and evaluation of a preschool child who meets criteria for major depressive disorder are reported. In addition to describing the multifaceted workup required, the authors acknowledge the developmental issues which makes the diagnosis of depression difficult in this age group.
Helium Excitation Cross Sections near Threshold

The cross section for excitation by incident electrons of the $^{3}S_{1}(1s, 2s)$ metastable level of He has been fitted by using a Breit-Wigner one-level formula. The fit is very good. The significance of this result and its bearing on the energy dependence of the cross section near threshold are discussed.
Efficient coupling of catalysis and dynamics in the E1 component of Escherichia coli pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex

Protein motions are ubiquitous and are intrinsically coupled to catalysis. Their specific roles, however, remain largely elusive. Dynamic loops at the active center of the E1 component of Escherichia coli pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex are essential for several catalytic functions starting from a predecarboxylation event and culminating in transfer of the acetyl moiety to the E2 component. Monitoring the kinetics of E1 and its loop variants at various solution viscosities, we show that the rate of a chemical step is modulated by loop dynamics. A cysteine-free E1 construct was site-specifically labeled on the inner loop (residues 401-413), and the EPR nitroxide label revealed ligand-induced conformational dynamics of the loop and a slow "open close" conformational equilibrium in the unliganded state. An (19)F NMR label placed at the same residue revealed motion on the millisecond-second time scale and suggested a quantitative correlation of E1 catalysis and loop dynamics for the 200,000-Da protein. Thermodynamic studies revealed that these motions may promote covalent addition of substrate to the enzyme-bound thiamin diphosphate by reducing the free energy of activation. Furthermore, the global dynamics of E1 presumably regulate and streamline the catalytic steps of the overall complex by inducing an entirely entropic (nonmechanical) negative cooperativity with respect to substrate binding at higher temperatures. Our results are consistent with, and reinforce the hypothesis of, coupling of catalysis and regulation with enzyme dynamics and suggest the mechanism by which it is achieved in a key branchpoint enzyme in sugar metabolism.
Analog Video Processing and Analysis

In many ways, the light microscope is a highly perfected instrument. It produces an image resolved to a fraction of the wavelength of light, with excellent contrast, and with aberrations reduced to a bare minimum. It portrays images in many contrast modes and allows measurements of various optical quantities nondestructively. Still, practitioners of modern microscopy are continually striving to register fainter images, explore finer details, and record subtler contrast. We strive to detect weaker fluorescence, measure lower birefringence, and reveal miniscule absorbances and optical path differences, all with an effort to uncover dynamic physical and chemical details in finer and finer domains of the specimen.
Significance of Spray and Stretch

To the Editor: I would like to comment on the article “Effects of Vapocoolants on Passive Hip Flexion in Healthy Subjects” that appeared in the July 1985 issue of Physical Therapy. Dr. Newton is to be applauded for renewing interest in the clinical modality Fluori-Methane Spray®* (FMS). This study was originally performed in the spring of 1979 and published in Physical Therapy in February 1981.1 Newton's new data analysis differs from my original results that showed statistically significant increases in passive hip flexion in experimental group subjects. As the person who actually built the specially designed table while a graduate student in the Department of Physical Therapy at the Medical College of Virginia-Virginia Commonwealth University, I feel I must comment on its use by Newton.2 It amazed me how similar these two aforementioned studies appeared to be until I began to analyze the data. [ ARTICLE][1] [ ARTICLE][2] [1]: /lookup/volpage/65/1034?iss=7 [2]: /lookup/volpage/61/185?iss=2
Successful use of long acting octreotide in two cases with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome and severe hypoglycemia.

Introduction: Hyperinsulinism associated with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) can occur in about 50% of cases, causing hypoglycemia of variable severity. Parenteral use of octreotide may be indicated if unresponsive to diazoxide. There is limited data on use of octreotide in BWS. Objective: Chart review describing 2 cases with BWS and hypoglycemia treated with long acting Octreotide as a monthly injection. Cases: We describe two unrelated females born large for gestational age found to have clinical features consistent with BWS, who developed severe hypoglycemia. Genetic diagnosis of BWS was confirmed. The first patient was born at 37 weeks and developed hypoglycemia shortly after birth. She was initially started on diazoxide but developed pulmonary congestion and was therefore switched to depot octreotide (LAR). She maintained euglycemia with LAR. In the second patient (born at 26-4/7 weeks), onset of hypoglycemia was delayed till 11 weeks of age due to hydrocortisone (indicated hemodynamically) and continuous feeding, and was partially responsive to diazoxide. She was switched to octreotide 4 times daily, treated till at age 18 months. Despite frequent feeds, she required treatment again between ages 4–6.5 years, initially with diazoxide but due to severe hypertrichosis she was switched to LAR with an excellent response. Both patients treated with LAR for over two years achieved euglycemia above 70 mg/dl and had normal height gain, without side effects.
Palestinian Political Identities during the Post-Oslo Period: A Case Study of Generation Effects in a West Bank Refugee Camp:

EnglishThe first Intifada (1987-1993) split Palestinian society in the West Bank and Gaza Strip into two camps, one secular-nationalist, the other Islamist. The author examines the new identities that formed as a result of this split in a Bethlehem-area refugee camp. Drawing on the concepts of event as structurally transforming process, socio-political milieu, and Mannheimian generation units, he shows how the first Intifada gave rise to a generational dialectic that in turn produced new religio-political orientations. He concludes by suggesting an extension of the Mannheimian framework to take into account the dynamic effects of generation-unit tensions for collective solidarities.French Depuis la premiere Intifada (1987-1993), les Palestiniens se sont divises en nationalistes et islamistes. Dans une etude d'un camp de refugies a Bethleem, l'auteur analyse les nouvelles identites qui sont apparues a la suite de cette division. Il explique la destabilisation de ces identites en s'appuyant sur le concept d...
SODIUM NTTROPRUSSIDE IN THE SURGICAL TREATMENT OF CEREBRAL ANEURYSMS AND ARTERIOVENOUS MALFORMATIONS

Sodium nitroprusside in 0.01 per cent solution was used to induce arterial hypotension in twenty-four consecutive craniotomies for cerebral aneurysm and arteriovenous malformations. The mortality and morbidity for patients with arteriovenous malformation and grade I and II aneurysm compared favourably with previous experience in this Institute using other methods. The results in patients with grade HI and grade IV aneurysms were not improved. It is considered that further support is given to the value of sodium nitroprusside as a safe agent for use in controlled hypotensive anaesthesia
Layer-specific differences of gene expression in extraocular muscles identified by laser-capture microscopy

In mammals, separate muscles are typically specialized as a whole to provide distinct functional roles leading to well-recognized adaptations. This is exemplified in the lower limb by the slow, fatigue-resistant soleus, which provides a postural role vs. the fast, fatiguable tibialis anterior (TA), which provides rapid movements. A unique characteristic of extraocular muscles (EOMs) is their compartmentalization into two distinct layers, the orbital layer (OL) and global layer (GL), presumably to subserve diverse functions within the same muscle. However, molecular evidence of this diversity has been limited. We used laser-capture microscopy coupled with microarray-based expression profiling to identify molecular differences between the OL and GL of rat EOMs. We found that 210 genes were differentially regulated between these layers at a twofold expression cutoff. Differences in genes related to metabolic pathways and related to structural elements of muscle and nerve formed the largest functional clusters. Layer-specific differential expression was validated at both mRNA and protein level for MYH3, MYH6, and ACTN3. The expected layer-specific differences among genes encoding vascular elements were not evident by profiling; morphometric analysis demonstrated that the differences exist, but at a magnitude below the cutoff level established by our statistical methods. Comparison of these results with previous results comparing whole EOMs and TA suggest evolutionary mechanisms may play a role in achieving functional distinctions between OL and GL.
Cooperative robust estimation using layers of support

We present an approach to the problem of representing images that contain multiple objects or surfaces. Rather than using an edge-based approach to represent the segmentation of a scene, we propose a multilayer estimation framework which uses support maps to represent the segmentation of the image into homogeneous chunks. This support-based approach can represent objects that are split into disjoint regions, or have surfaces that are transparently interleaved. Our framework is based on an extension of robust estimation methods that provide a theoretical basis for support-based estimation. We use a selection criteria derived from the minimum description length principle to decide how many support maps to use in describing an image. Our method has been applied to a number of different domains, including the decomposition of range images into constituent objects, the segmentation of image sequences into homogeneous higher-order motion fields, and the separation of tracked motion features into distinct rigid-body motions. >
Performance evaluation of hardware models of Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) algorithm

In today's world most of the communication is done using electronic media. Data Security plays a vital role in such communication. Hence, there is a need to protect data from malicious attacks. Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), also known as Rijndael, is an encryption standard used for securing information. AES is a block cipher algorithm that has been analyzed extensively and is now used widely. The hardware implementation of AES algorithm is faster and more secure than software implementation. There are different hardware models to implement the Rijndael Encryption core. This paper addresses the performance of Rijndael AES Encryption algorithm of key length 128 bits. Two hardware models based on HDL and IP core are used to evaluate the performance of the algorithm. The encryption time and also the performance metrics such as size, speed and memory utilization are evaluated, using these models. Results are compared to a reference model and have shown an increase in the throughput per slice measure.
Reducing computational time delay in digital current-mode controllers for dc-dc converters

A new method to improve the performance of digital current-mode controllers used in dc-dc power conversion is introduced. The proposed scheme is based on a simple prediction method which offers more time for DSP calculations than its conventional counterparts. Therefore, there will be less DSP computational time delay, which results in faster dynamic response and more accuracy and stability in power electronic converters. Principles of operation of the proposed prediction method as well as its application to several digital control techniques are presented.
Psychotic reactions of childhood: a follow-up study.

A five-year follow-up study of thirty-two psychotic children is presented. Questions are raised concerning the discreteness of early infantile autism, childhood schizophrenia, and chronic brain syndrome with psychosis. Differential treatment outcomes are reviewed.
Sphincter-preserving fistula management: what patients want

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine how patients with anal fistulas would rank clinical scenarios describing various management options for anal fistulas. METHOD: A survey was administered to 74 consecutive patients with anal fistulas. On each survey, 10 clinical scenarios describing various treatment options for anal fistulas were scored from 1 (most likely to select) to 10 (least likely to select). Mean scores for each scenario were calculated and compared by use of a Student t test. RESULTS: When combined, 74% of patients selected a sphincter-preserving technique as their primary choice compared with 26% who chose a fistulotomy (P < .0001). Compared with the highest ranking sphincter-preserving techniques, the mean scores of the scenarios involving a fistulotomy were significantly (P < .05) lower (less likely to select). The mean score of a traditional fistulotomy was the same as the mean score of a sphincter-preserving technique with a 50% success rate but no risk of diminished continence. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that the majority of patients with an anal fistula will select a sphincter-preserving technique to manage their fistula. This finding may indicate that, within limits, it is of greater importance for most patients to minimize their risk of diminished continence than to have a highly successful treatment strategy for their fistula.
Equation of state at ultrahigh densities. I

Particular attention is given to the physics involved in the derivation of an equation of state for a density range from 10 g/ccm to 200,000 billion g/ccm and for the density region from 200,000 billion g/ccm to 2,000,000 billion g/ccm. Conditions in a high density regime with densities exceeding 500,000 billion g/ccm are examined. Equations of state for a gas of pure neutrons and for a gas of nucleons, electrons, and hyperons are considered.
Bacteriochlorophyll and Carotenoid Excitonic Couplings in the LH2 System of Purple Bacteria

An effective Frenkel-exciton Hamiltonian for the entire LH2 photosynthetic complex (B800, B850, and carotenoids) from Rhodospirillum molischianum is calculated by combining the crystal structure with the Collective Electronic Oscillators (CEO) algorithm for optical response. Electronic couplings among all pigments are computed for the isolated complex and in a dielectric medium, whereby the protein environment contributions are incorporated using the Self-Consistent Reaction Field approach. The absorption spectra are analyzed by computing the electronic structure of the bacteriochlorophylls and carotenoids forming the complex. Interchromophore electronic couplings are then calculated using both a spectroscopic approach, which derives couplings from Davydov's splittings in the dimer spectra, and an electrostatic approach, which directly computes the Coulomb integrals between transition densities of each chromophore. A comparison of the couplings obtained using these two methods allows for the separation of...
Supporting interactive collaboration on the Web with CORK

Abstract The World Wide Web has served as a medium for collaboration since its inception. Web-based collaboration has, however, been dominated by systems supporting asynchronous activities such as sharing documents and participating in discussion forums. Supporting interactive, synchronous collaboration on the Web has proven much more challenging. In this paper we describe three of the challenges encountered in the context of supporting network-based collaboration among middle and high school science students: integrating synchronous and asynchronous modes of interaction, minimizing consumption of bandwidth, and adapting non-collaborative software components for collaborative use. We then present the Content Object Replication Kit, a toolkit for building interactive Java-based collaborative systems for use on the Web.
The Toxoplasma gondii kinetochore is required for centrosome association with the centrocone (spindle pole)

The kinetochore is a multi-protein structure assembled on eukaryotic centromeres mediating chromosome attachment to spindle microtubules. Here we identified the kinetochore proteins Nuf2 and Ndc80 in the apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Localization revealed that kinetochores remain clustered throughout the cell cycle and colocalize with clustered centromeres at the centrocone, a structure containing the spindle pole embedded in the nuclear envelope. Pharmacological disruption of microtubules resulted in partial loss of some kinetochore and centromere clustering, indicating microtubules are necessary but not strictly required for kinetochore clustering. Generation of a TgNuf2 conditional knock-down strain revealed it is essential for chromosome segregation, but dispensable for centromere clustering. The centromeres actually remained associated with the centrocone suggesting microtubule binding is not required for their interaction with the spindle pole. The most striking observation upon TgNuf2 depletion was that the centrosome behaved normally, but that it lost its association with the centrocone. This suggests that microtubules are essential to maintain contact between the centrosome and chromosomes, and this interaction is critical for the partitioning of the nuclei into the two daughter parasites. Finally, genetic complementation experiments with mutated TgNuf2 constructs highlighted an apicomplexan-specific motif with a putative role in nuclear localization.
Sonographic Comparison of the Tubal Ring of Ectopic Pregnancy With the Corpus Luteum

Objective. Pregnant patients without a sonographically visible intrauterine pregnancy and with a thick-walled cystic adnexal structure present a dilemma. This study compared the utility of various sonographic features in differentiating between the tubal ring of ectopic pregnancy and the corpus luteum. Methods. Retrospective review of first-trimester transvaginal sonograms revealed a cystic adnexal structure in 79 women. Each structure was evaluated for 6 specific sonographic characteristics: echogenicity of its wall compared with that of the ovary and endometrium, wall thickness in 2 planes, color Doppler flow distribution and percentage of wall circumference, and internal texture. Results. Forty-one (52%) of the 79 women had ectopic pregnancies, and 38 (48%) had corpora lutea. Eleven (32%) of 35 ectopic walls were more echogenic than the endometrium, compared with none of the corpora lutea. A cyst wall less echogenic than the endometrium was more likely in corpora lutea (84% versus 31%; P < .0001). More than twice as many ectopic rinds were more echogenic than ovarian tissue compared with corpora lutea (76% versus 34%; P < .0001). The only predictive internal texture feature was a clear pattern, which was more common in the corpora lutea (P < .01, Fisher exact test). There was no significant difference in mural flow distribution or extent between the 2 groups. Conclusions. Ancillary sonographic signs to distinguish between an ectopic pregnancy and a corpus luteum include decreased wall echogenicity compared with the endometrium and an anechoic tex
Environment-responsive transcription factors bind subtelomeric elements and regulate gene silencing

Subtelomeric chromatin is subject to evolutionarily conserved complex epigenetic regulation and is implicated in numerous aspects of cellular function including formation of heterochromatin, regulation of stress response pathways and control of lifespan. Subtelomeric DNA is characterized by the presence of specific repeated segments that serve to propagate silencing or to protect chromosomal regions from spreading epigenetic control. In this study, analysis of genome-wide chromatin immunoprecipitation and expression data, suggests that several yeast transcription factors regulate subtelomeric silencing in response to various environmental stimuli through conditional association with proto-silencing regions called X elements. In this context, Oaf1p, Rox1p, Gzf1p and Phd1p control the propagation of silencing toward centromeres in response to stimuli affecting stress responses and metabolism, whereas others, including Adr1p, Yap5p and Msn4p, appear to influence boundaries of silencing, regulating telomere-proximal genes in Y′ elements. The factors implicated here are known to control adjacent genes at intrachromosomal positions, suggesting their dual functionality. This study reveals a path for the coordination of subtelomeric silencing with cellular environment, and with activities of other cellular processes.
Strong Fields:. from High Z Atoms to the Color Glass Condensate

I review various strong field problems in field theory. I start with one of the earliest examples, a high Z Coulomb field. I discuss tunneling and thermally activated transitions in field theory. The latter problem may have applications to electroweak baryogenesis. Finally, I discuss the Color Glass Condensate, a form of high energy density gluonic matter which controls the high energy limit of QCD, and the Glasma which it makes in the collision of high energy nuclei.
Endocrine and metabolite responses to porcine growth hormone administered by sustained release implant for different lengths of time in male pigs

The effects of long term administration of GH on serum concentrations of hormones and metabolites was investigated in intact and castrate male swine. At 10 weeks of age, male swine were assigned to six treatments (n = 10/group): nonimplanted intact and castrate males; intact males implanted for 6 weeks, from 22-28 weeks of age; intact males implanted for 12 weeks, from 16-28 weeks of age; and intact and castrate males implanted for 18 weeks, from 10-28 weeks of age. Recombinant porcine GH was administered with sustained release implants designed to deliver a dose of 4 mg/day for 6 weeks. Throughout the study, blood samples were collected, and serum was harvested to quantitate circulating concentrations of glucose, urea nitrogen, GH, insulin, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), IGF-II, and PRL. The pattern of administered GH in the serum suggests that the presence of testes and prior treatment with GH influence GH clearance. Somatotropin treatment elevated serum concentrations of GH and increased serum l...
Dynamics of plasma, energetic particles, and fields near synchronous orbit in the nighttime sector during magnetospheric substorms

Two phases of substorm-associated magnetospheric dynamics are discussed in terms of particles and fields at synchronous orbit. The first phase corresponds to the 'decreases' of energetic particle flux. The second phase is the conventional expansion phase that begins with the 'onset', characterized in the study by (1) a sudden decrease in the tail current and a return of the inflated magnetosphere to a dipolelike configuration, (2) a sudden shift of trapped high-energy particles toward the tail again following contours of constant B, and at the same time (3) a surge of tail plasma toward the earth as the induced electric field now increases the total convection field.
Activism and the Shift to Annual Director Elections

We examine a comprehensive sample of 465 firms that switch from staggered boards to annual director elections between 2003 and 2010. Shareholder activism is an important determinant of the manner of the switch. When the change is pushed by aggressive hedge fund activists the board is more likely to embrace annual elections immediately and the markets react favorably, but if the change is pushed by non-binding shareholder proposals, the response is to drag out the change as much as possible and the markets are commensurately unimpressed. Moreover, our sample firms are substantially more likely to be acquired in the ensuing two years when the shift to annual elections is pushed by activist hedge funds.
Re-examining Sonographic Cut-off Values for Diagnosing Early Pregnancy Loss.

Copyright: © 2013 Bickhaus J, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Early pregnancy loss is the most common complication of human pregnancy [1]. Such commonality requires dependable evaluation tools and informed, standardized criteria for accurate diagnosis. A brief perusal of the data on which most of the practitioners who treat women who are newly pregnant have based their recommendations for the sonographic diagnosis of a non-viable pregnancy raises significant concern since most of these data are based on relatively small patient numbers [2-5]. Further, recent studies have shown that the measurements used to determine historically-accepted criteria have fairly wide patient-to-patient, hyphenate intra-observer and interobserver variability [6]. This makes the inclusion of investigations based upon small patient numbers even more problematic. This unfortunate combination poses an important problem because the diagnosis of failed pregnancy has immense implications to the physical health of the mother and to the emotional well-being of the mother, her partner, her family and her close friends. The criteria for diagnosing a non-viable pregnancy must have a specificity that is as close to 100% as possible. Still, using commonly accepted historical sonographic criteria, authors have shown that between 1 in 100 and 4 in 100 viable pregnancies might be erroneously deemed non-viable [7,8]. If these incorrect diagnoses lead to immediate interventions, some pregnancies will be inadvertently terminated. Such outcomes are unacceptable. There should be near zero tolerance for misdiagnosis. Increased awareness of this too common problem has led to efforts to improve our diagnostic accuracy and has required a stringent re-evaluation of historical diagnostic criteria using investigations that include much larger study populations that have been evaluated using the most sensitive, commonly-available diagnostic modalities. In this case, the most sensitive ultrasonographic technique available for diagnosing an early, non-viable pregnancy is transvaginal sonography.