cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The influence of glenoid component position on scapular notching: a detailed radiographic analysis at midterm follow-up

Background Glenoid baseplate and glenosphere positioning may affect scapular notching rates. The purpose of this study was to assess various radiographic parameters and correlate them with scapular notching after primary reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) at a minimum follow-up time of 5 years. Methods The study sample included 147 primary RTSA with good-quality postoperative radiographs at least 5 years after implantation (mean follow-up 6.1 years, range 5-12 years). The center of rotation (COR) of the glenosphere in reference to the bone-baseplate interface was medialized in 71 and lateralized in 76 shoulders, with a varus polyethylene opening angle in 134 shoulders. Preoperative and immediate postoperative radiographs were measured to determine (1) glenoid baseplate inclination: α, β, and the reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) angles; (2) glenoid component inferiorization—peg glenoid rim distance (PGRD); and (3) sphere bone overhang distance (SBOD). Scapular notching was graded according to the Sirveaux classification. Results Scapular notching was noted in 98 shoulders (67%) and classified as grade 1 in 46, grade 2 in 25, grade 3 in 20, and grade 4 in 7. There were statistically significant associations between notching and both medialized glenospheres (91% vs. 45%, P = .001) and varus polyethylene angle (P = .0001). The mean postoperative RSA angle, PGRD, and SBOD were 6.6 degrees, 23.8 mm, and +2.6 mm, respectively. Preoperative α and postoperative β, RSA, PGRD, and SBOD were all associated with notching (P Conclusion Scapular notching correlates with glenoid and baseplate inclination, baseplate inferiorization, inferior glenosphere overhang, glenosphere COR, humeral polyethylene angle, and longer clinical follow-up. SBOD is a clinically useful measurement with decreased values associated with notching. It is the superior measurement in implants with eccentric glenospheres. Moderate or severe notching was seen in only approximately 15% of the shoulders. Revision surgery was extremely low in this cohort, and it was not related to notching or instability.
Ordinary Dynamical Systems

In this chapter, we analyze boundedness and stability of solutions of ordinary dynamical systems. We will develop general theorems in which Lyapunov functions play an important role. We begin by considering some of the boundedness results of Peterson and Tisdell (J Differ Equ Appl 10(13–15):1295–1306, 2004) and then the results on exponential stability of Peterson and Raffoul (Adv Differ Equ 2005(2):133–144, 2005). We define suitable Lyapunov-type functions on time scales and then formulate appropriate inequalities that guarantee the boundedness of solutions and the exponential stability of the zero solution. In the second part of the chapter, we turn our attention to finite delay dynamical systems, linear and nonlinear, where Lyapunov functionals are the main tools for proving stability, uniform stability, and asymptotic stability of the zero solution. Some of the results of the chapter are new and the rest can be found in Raffoul and Unal (J Nonlinear Sci Appl 7(6):422–428, 2014) and Unal and Raffoul (Int J Differ Equ 2013:764389, 10, 2013; Int J Math Comput 26(4):62–73, 2015) and the references therein. For more on the existence and uniqueness of solutions for ordinary dynamic equations on time scales, we refer to Dai and Tisdell (Int J Differ Equ 1(1):1–17, 2006), Erbe and Peterson (Nonlinear Anal 69(7):2303–2317, 2008), and Tisdell (Cubo 8(3):11–24, 2006).
Immunohistochemical expression of vitamin D receptor and forkhead box P3 in classic Hodgkin lymphoma: correlation with clinical and pathologic findings

Expression of forkhead box P3 (FOXP3), a key regulator of T-cell function, in the tumor immune microenvironment is related to survival in classic Hodgkin lymphoma (CHL). Vitamin D receptor (VDR), a transcription factor agonists have been shown to induce FOXP3 expression in T-cells and enhance recruitment of these cells to the inflammatory sites. VDR expression is CHL has been described. However, there is no data on expression of VDR in context of quantity of FOXP3 positive cells in CHL. We examined and correlated immunohistochemical expression of VDR and FOXP3 along with clinical and pathology findings in 29 cases of CHL. VDR was expressed in Hodgkin Reed-Sternberg (HRS) cells and background lymphocytes and FOXP3 was expressed in background lymphocytes. 82% of CHL cases, regardless of the subtype, expressed VDR and in majority of the cases, VDR expression was directly proportional to the quantity of FOXP3 expressing lymphocytes in the tumor microenvironment. In cases with higher clinical stage (III/IV), only 28.5% of cases diffusely expressed VDR and FOXP3 compared to 71.4% showing focal positivity. Whereas in cases with lower clinical stages (I/II), the expression pattern of VDR and FOXP3 was almost similar (41.6% diffuse versus 33.3% focal). Interestingly, focal VDR and FOXP3 expression pattern was significantly higher among males. Mixed cellularity cases showed predilection for focal VDR and FOXP3 expression (80% cases); whereas nodular sclerosis subtype had focal and diffuse VDR and FOXP3 expression patterns in similar proportion. Cases with diffuse VDR and FOXP3 expression were less likely to have bone marrow involvement. Epstein Barr virus- encoded small RNA (EBER) positive cases were predominantly focally positive (80%) for VDR and FOXP3. In summary, quantity of FOXP3 positive T-cells in CHL microenvironment seems to correlate with VDR expression. Clinical stage show a trend of inverse correlation with expression of VDR and quantity of FOXP3 positive T-cells. These findings suggest that VDR could be a possible prognostic and therapeutic target in CHL.
Precision/Genomic Medicine for Domestic Cats

The era of Precision / Genomic Medicine has arrived and can improve the veterinary healthcare of companion animals. The goal of Precision / Genomic Medicine is to use an individual's DNA signature / profile to tailor their treatments of their specific health problems. Whole genome sequencing is now a cost-effective diagnostic tool, leading to the discovery of DNA variants associated with health outcomes. These DNA variants become genetic tests and can readily be applied to future cases of individuals with similar symptoms. This article addresses the current state of Precision Medicine in domestic cats and the implications for veterinary care.
Jails in the Time of Coronavirus

The coronavirus (COVID-19) has had a significant impact on how people conduct themselves in their daily lives all around the world. Jails are not exempt from the consequences of COVID-19. In fact, ...
Quantifying the Influence of Individual, Community, and Health System Factors on Quality of Life Among Inner-City African Americans With Type 2 Diabetes.

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the association of individual, community, and health system factors on quality of life among inner-city African Americans with type 2 diabetes.Methods...
Portable Multi-Spectral Imaging: Devices, Vertical Integration, and Applications

Recent advances in semiconductor and packaging technologies have accelerated the miniaturization of portable sensing devices including visible-domain cameras, IR cameras, and millimeter-wave (mmWave) radars. Simultaneously, image and sensor data processing capabilities based on Systems-on-Chip (SoCs) have evolved as well to the extent toward the goal of implementing learning-based automatic recognition capabilities. This paper discusses the challenges and opportunities associated with the vertical sensors-to-software integration of portable systems capable of performing multi-spectral imaging, where data from different portions of the EM spectrum is captured, processed, and displayed simultaneously. An example hardware implementation, multi-spectral image data, and potential applications are discussed
Interpersonal Violence Experiences and Disclosure Patterns for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Queer+, and Heterosexual University Students

We compare lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer (LGBQ+; n = 355) to heterosexual (n = 1227) student experiences with victimization and disclosure. In spring of 2019, random samples of undergraduate and graduate students were invited to take an online victimization survey. Chi-square and logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine disclosure patterns of LGBQ+ and heterosexual students who experienced intimate partner violence or sexual violence. Among those with victimization experiences, we assessed differences in whether and to whom the LGBQ+ and heterosexual students disclosed these experiences. We find that a greater proportion of LGBQ+ students than heterosexual students experience intimate partner violence and sexual victimization in their lifetimes. In addition, a greater proportion of LGBQ+ students experienced sexual victimization since entering the university, before entering the university, in the past academic year, and revictimization. Similar proportions of LGBQ+ and heterosexual students told an informal resource (such as a friend or family member) about their victimization experience. However, in logistic regression models, LGBQ+ students (relative to heterosexual students) had greater odds of telling off-campus formal resources about intimate partner violence and sexual violence. They also had greater odds of telling on-campus formal resources about sexual violence, but not intimate partner violence. It is crucial that on-campus university prevention and intervention services are trauma-informed, inclusive, and anti-oppressive to prevent or mitigate short- and long-term impacts of victimization for vulnerable populations and promote disclosure. Universities must provide support services for intimate partner violence at the same level as sexual violence services.
Characterization of Peptides Targeting Metastatic Tumor Cells as Probes for Cancer Detection and Vehicles for Therapy Delivery.

Metastasis is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, and metastatic cancers remain largely incurable due to chemoresistance. Biomarkers of metastatic cells are lacking, and probes that could be used to detect and target metastases would be highly valuable. Here we hypothesize that metastatic cancer cells express cell-surface receptors that can be harnessed for identification of molecules homing to metastases. Screening a combinatorial library in a mouse mammary tumor model of spontaneous metastasis identified cyclic peptides with tropism for cancer cells disseminated to the lungs. Two lead peptides, CLRHSSKIC and CRAGVGRGC, bound murine and human cells derived from breast carcinoma and melanoma in culture and were selective for metastatic cells in vivo. In mice, peptide CRAGVGRGC radiolabeled with 67Ga for biodistribution analysis demonstrated selective probe homing to lung metastases. Moreover, systemic administration of 68Ga-labeled CRAGVGRGC enabled noninvasive imaging of lung metastases in mice by PET. A CRAGVGRGC-derived peptide induced apoptosis upon cell internalization in vitro and suppressed metastatic burden in vivo. Colocalization of CLRHSSKIC and CRAGVGRGC with N-cadherin+/E-cadherin− cells indicated that both peptides are selective for cancer cells that have undergone the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. We conclude that CRAGVGRGC is useful as a probe to facilitate the development of imaging modalities and therapies targeting metastases. Significance: This study identifies new molecules that bind metastatic cells and demonstrates their application as noninvasive imaging probes and vehicles for cytotoxic therapy delivery in preclinical cancer models.
The impacts of particle precipitation spectrum on the 30MHz cosmic noise absorption over the under the South Atlantic Anomaly Region

The energetic particle precipitation strongly affects the lower ionosphere, since these particles play an important role in the production of ionic pairs. Numerical simulations of ionospheric cosmic noise absorption at 30 MHz are shown, for the South Atlantic Magnetic Anomaly (SAMA) region. Simulations were carried out for aeronomic conditions of Cachoeira Paulista (22,50°S; 45,00°W) Simulation analysis were done for nighttime hours and moderate solar activity conditions. The simulations here presented include precipitation processes of electrons and galactic cosmic rays, photo-ionization processes, and processes of ionospheric absorption of cosmic noise. Also, the simulations take into account chemical equilibrium conditions for 25 positive ions and 10 negative ions described by 175 chemical reactions. Height profiles of cosmic noise absorption and its response to different characteristic energy levels (energy spectrum) and different ranges of energy of the precipitating electron flux were studied. As expected, absorption increases with precipitating electron flux and characteristic energy. An interesting feature observed is the presence of two peaks of absorption at different heights. For a fixed value of characteristic energy, an increase in the precipitating electron flux raises the height of the lower peak and lowers the height of the upper peak. Our results also show that for a fixed range of energy of precipitating electron flux, the heights of both absorption peaks decrease with the increase of the characteristic energy.
The Enantioselective Intermolecular Saegusa Allylation

A simple procedure for the intermolecular enantioselective palladium-catalyzed decarboxylative allylation of β-ketoacids is described. This method, inspired by a stoichiometric control experiment p...
THE HEART OF STRENGTH: THE STRONG BLACK WOMAN SCHEMA AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE RISK

THE HEART OF STREGNTH: THE STRONG BLACK WOMAN SCHEMA AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE RISK AMONG BLACK WOMEN By Jasmine Alexis Abrams, B.S., M.S. A dissertation proposal submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2015. Major Director: Faye Z. Belgrave, Professor of Psychology Department of Psychology Black women are disproportionately affected by cardiovascular disease (CVD). While chronic stress has been identified as a key contributor to CVD risk, research has not identified the specific mechanisms through which stress influences CVD risk among Black women. Research suggests that in response to stress, Black women who internalize the SBW Schema engage in high effort coping, avoidant coping, postponement of self-care, and other maladaptive health behaviors and experience premature health deterioration. However, it is important to consider that internalization of the SBW Schema may exert differential effects on the physiological profiles of Black women due to varied interpretations of experiences filtered through the Schema and differences in emotion regulation. As emotion regulation has a robust impact on cardiovascular outcomes, individual differences in internalization of the SBW Schema may be explained by this related construct. Given that limited research has examined the impact of psychological factors associated with CVD risk in Black women, the current study examined relations between CVD risk, chronic stress, emotion regulation, and the Strong Black Woman (SBW) Schema. Hypotheses were: 1) internalization of the SBW Schema (i.e., higher levels of endorsement) and chronic stress are unique predictors of CVD risk, 2) the relation between internalization of the SBW Schema and CVD risk will be partially mediated by emotion regulation, and 3) the effect of chronic stress on CVD risk will be moderated by internalization of the SBW Schema. Results provided partial support for the first hypothesis and did not support the second and third hypotheses. Results of exploratory analyses revealed relationships among psychological variables, such that greater endorsement of SBW Schema characteristics (obligation to manifest strength, dedication to care, independence, and emotion suppression) was related to greater overall difficulties with emotion regulation. Additionally, greater dedication to care predicted lower CVD risk and greater emotional suppression predicted higher CVD risk. The relationship between emotional suppression and CVD risk was mediated by emotion regulation. Results stand to inform future research and culturally specific prevention strategies to decrease CVD risk in Black women.
Apparatus for Preparation of Bacterial Extracellular Enzymes

A method is described for the growth of bacteria within dialysis tubing to yield extracellular enzymes, or, possibly, other nondialyzable extracellular products, in concentrated form.
Random access from compressed datasets with perfect value hashing

A representation technique is presented allowing for quick access of individual records from a static compressed dataset. Given a collection of key-record pairs, the representation allows the appropriate short record to be returned for any given key. The approach is a generalization of perfect address hashing. The new approach, called perfect value hashing, uses a carefully chosen pseudo-random number generator to directly produce the correct record for any key in the dataset. This contrasts with address hashing where the random number provides an address which is then used to recover the record from a separate table. Value hashing doesn't have the theoretical limitations of address hashing, and in practice is more space efficient for records of size less than 36 bits. Value hashing has the added benefit (important when the records are encoded for compression) that variable length records can be represented without an increase in the size of the encoded records. This new technique was used to provide random access from a highly compressed spelling dictionary.
Acute, but reversible, kainic acid-induced DNA damage in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells of p53-deficient mice.

Summary p53 plays an essential role in mediating apoptotic responses to cellular stress, especially DNA damage. In a kainic acid (KA)–induced seizure model in mice, hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells undergo delayed neuronal death at day 3–4 following systemic KA administration. We previously demonstrated that CA1 neurons in p53−/− animals are protected from such apoptotic neuronal loss. However, extensive morphological damage associated with DNA strand breaks in CA1 neurons was found in a fraction of p53−/− animals at earlier time points (8 h to 2 days). No comparable acute damage was observed in wild-type animals. Stereological counting confirmed that there was no significant loss of CA1 pyramidal cells in p53−/− animals at 7 days post-KA injection. These results suggest that seizure-induced DNA strand breaks are accumulated to a greater extent but do not lead to apoptosis in the absence of p53. In wild-type animals, therefore, p53 appears to stimulate DNA repair and also mediate apoptosis in CA1 neurons in this excitotoxicity model. These results also reflect remarkable plasticity of neurons in recovery from injury.
Initial Validity Analysis of the Emergency Medicine Milestones.

Objectives The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Milestones describe behavioral markers for the progressive acquisition of competencies during residency. As a key component of the Next Accreditation System, all residents are evaluated for the acquisition of specialty-specific Milestones. The objective was to determine the validity and reliability of the emergency medicine (EM) Milestones. Methods The ACGME and the American Board of Emergency Medicine performed this single-event observational study. The data included the initial EM Milestones performance ratings of all categorical EM residents submitted to the ACGME from October 31, 2013, to January 6, 2014. Mean performance ratings were determined for all 23 subcompetencies for every year of residency training. The internal consistency (reliability) of the Milestones was determined using a standardized Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted to determine how the subcompetencies were interrelated. Results EM Milestone performance ratings were obtained on 100% of EM residents (n = 5,805) from 162 residency programs. The mean performance ratings of the aggregate and individual subcompetency scores showed discrimination between residency years, and the factor structure further supported the validity of the EM Milestones. The reliability was α = 0.96 within each year of training. Conclusions The EM Milestones demonstrated validity and reliability as an assessment instrument for competency acquisition. EM residents can be assured that this evaluation process has demonstrated validity and reliability; faculty can be confident that the Milestones are psychometrically sound; and stakeholders can know that the Milestones are a nationally standardized, objective measure of specialty-specific competency acquisition.
Shape of the NMR line of the β proton in alcohols: Nonsecular term effect in strongly coupled spin systems

Abstract Line-broadening phenomena observed in the signals of the β proton in 2,2-dichloroethanol, ethanol, and allyl alcohol, in which the coupling between OH and β protons is negligible, were investigated by Alexander's density matrix procedure for line shape calculations in the presence of intermolecular spin exchange. The theoretical spectra show excellent agreement with the experimental ones. The broadening is observed only when the signals of an OH proton come close to those of the a protons. The phenomena can be explained as the effect of nonsecular terms in the matrix for the calculation of transition intensities. These nonsecular terms are effective when the difference between the chemical shifts of OH and a protons becomes small.
Sensitivity to TOP2 targeting chemotherapeutics is regulated by Oct1 and FILIP1L.

Topoisomerase II (TOP2) targeting drugs like doxorubicin and etoposide are frontline chemotherapeutics for a wide variety of solid and hematological malignancies, including breast and ovarian adenocarcinomas, lung cancers, soft tissue sarcomas, leukemias and lymphomas. These agents cause a block in DNA replication leading to a pronounced DNA damage response and initiation of apoptotic programs. Resistance to these agents is common, however, and elucidation of the mechanisms causing resistance to therapy could shed light on strategies to reduce the frequency of ineffective treatments. To explore these mechanisms, we utilized an unbiased shRNA screen to identify genes that regulate cell death in response to doxorubicin treatment. We identified the Filamin A interacting protein 1-like (FILIP1L) gene as a crucial mediator of apoptosis triggered by doxorubicin. FILIP1L shares significant similarity with bacterial SbcC, an ATPase involved in DNA repair. FILIP1L was originally described as DOC1, or “down-regulated in ovarian cancer” and has since been shown to be downregulated in a wide variety of human tumors. FILIP1L levels increase markedly through transcriptional mechanisms following treatment with doxorubicin and other TOP2 poisons, including etoposide and mitoxantrone, but not by the TOP2 catalytic inhibitors merbarone or dexrazoxane (ICRF187), or by UV irradiation. This induction requires the action of the OCT1 transcription factor, which relocalizes to the FILIP1L promoter and facilitates its expression following doxorubicin treatment. Our findings suggest that the FILIP1L expression status in tumors may influence the response to anti-TOP2 chemotherapeutics.
Sural neuropathy: Etiologies and predisposing factors

Isolated sural neuropathy is an uncommon diagnosis. We identified 36 patients with isolated sural neuropathy. Sixteen had various forms of ankle trauma, in three of whom the associated sural neuropathies developed following medical intervention. Three patients developed sural neuropathy associated with vasculitis, and there were single patients with schwannoma and ganglionic cyst. In patients without a history of trauma, structural causes, such as schwannoma or ganglionic cysts and vasculitis, should be considered and managed as appropriate.
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Selective Overview

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a multifactorial and clinically heterogeneous disorder that is associated with tremendous financial burden, stress to families, and adverse academic and vocational outcomes. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is highly prevalent in children worldwide, and the prevalence of this disorder in adults is increasingly recognized. Studies of adults with a diagnosis of childhood-onset ADHD indicate that clinical correlates--demographic, psychosocial, psychiatric, and cognitive features--mirror findings among children with ADHD. Predictors of persistence of ADHD include family history of the disorder, psychiatric comorbidity, and psychosocial adversity. Family studies of ADHD have consistently supported its strong familial nature. Psychiatric disorders comorbid with childhood ADHD include oppositional defiant and conduct disorders, whereas mood and anxiety disorders are comorbid with ADHD in both children and adults. Pregnancy and delivery complications, maternal smoking during pregnancy, and adverse family environment variables are considered important risk factors for ADHD. The etiology of ADHD has not been clearly identified, although evidence supports neurobiologic and genetic origins. Structural and functional imaging studies suggest that dysfunction in the fronto-subcortical pathways, as well as imbalances in the dopaminergic and noradrenergic systems, contribute to the pathophysiology of ADHD. Medication with dopaminergic and noradrenergic activity seems to reduce ADHD symptoms by blocking dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake. Such alterations in dopaminergic and noradrenergic function are apparently necessary for the clinical efficacy of pharmacologic treatments of ADHD.
“The Role of the Carotid Arteries in Causation of Vascular Lesions of the Brain”: A Century of Progress

A century ago J. Ramsay Hunt published a case series in The American Journal of the Medical Sciences describing his observations about the role of the carotid arteries in the causation of vascular lesions in the brain. Before this seminal study, considerable uncertainty existed regarding the genesis of the “brain softening or encephalomalacia” observed in patients’ brains at autopsy who suffered irreversible neurologic deficits. Hunt’s careful and systematic observations on 20 such patients, along with a few other patients with trauma to the carotid arteries, led him to deduce a causal association between disease or trauma to the carotid arteries and “vascular lesions of the brain.” Stroke is a disease of public health proportions in the United States and is the 4th leading cause of death and a leading cause of long-term disability. The extracranial carotid arteries are readily accessible arteries. A clear understanding of pathophysiologic processes within these vessels would facilitate efforts to develop diagnostic approaches, define critical levels of vessel occlusion that require intervention and lead to the development of novel medical and surgical interventions to prevent or ameliorate the effects of carotid artery disease. Although Hunt’s early observations and deductions may seem moot to us today, it was not until that fundamental causal association became apparent that basic and clinical research could focus on developing diagnostic tests and therapeutic interventions. J. Ramsay Hunt’s careful and astute observations, and his clinical deductions, were seminal in facilitating modern discoveries that save the lives of affected patients and prevent a lifetime of disability!
Equivalent-circuit consideration of dual-gate MESFETs at high frequency

The simplified high-frequency equivalent circuit of a dual-gate FET is described. It is shown that the input impedance is similar to that of a single-gate FET but the output resistance and capacitance (parallel equivalent circuit) are higher. The output resistance and the transconductance decrease as frequency increases. The unilateral gain of a dual-gate FET rolls off 12 dB/octave.
Development of Hub Corner Stall and Its Influence on the Performance of Axial Compressor Blade Rows

A detailed investigation has been performed to study hub corner stall phenomena in compressor blade rows. Three-dimensional flows in a subsonic annular compressor stator and in a transonic compressor rotor have been analyzed numerically by solving the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations. The numerical results and the existing experimental data are interrogated to understand the mechanism of compressor hub comer stall. Both the measurements and the numerical solutions for the stator indicate that a strong twister-like vortex is formed near the rear part of the blade suction surface. Low-momentum fluid inside the hub boundary layer is transported toward the suction side of the blade by this vortex. On the blade suction surface near the hub, this vortex forces fluid to move against the main flow direction and a limiting stream surface is formed near the hub. The formation of this vortex is the main mechanism of hub corner stall. When the aerodynamic loading is increased, the vortex initiates further upstream, which results in a larger corner stall region. For the transonic compressor rotor studied in this paper, the numerical solution indicates that a mild hub corner stall exists at 100 percent rotor speed. The hub corner stall, however, disappears at the reduced blade loading, which occurs at 60 percent rotor design speed. The present study demonstrates that hub comer stall is caused by a three-dimensional vortex system and that it does not seem to be correlated with a simple diffusion factor for the blade row.
Deltamethrin: A neurophysiological study of the sites of action

Abstract Recent experiments on the mode of action of pyrethroids have indicated that those pyrethroids containing an α-cyano phenoxybenzyl group may act on GABA-mediated chloride channels. The crayfish stretch receptor neuron provides a useful preparation for examining the effects of pyrethroids on these channels and on sodium channels. The lowest concentration of deltamethrin to have an effect on sodium channels was 10 −12 M , but the response of the preparation to GABA appeared to be unaffected by concentrations of deltamethrin up to 10 −7 M . Although 10 −6 M deltamethrin had a slight effect on the GABA response of the dactyl abductor muscle, it appears that the majority of the effects of cyano pyrethroids in invertebrates could be accounted for solely by their action on sodium channels.
Growth factors in combination, but not individually, rescue rd mouse photoreceptors in organ culture.

The rd mouse retina is an animal model for human retinal dystrophy in which the rod photoreceptors undergo apoptosis during the first 4 weeks in vivo or in organ culture. We have examined the effect of different families of trophic factors on the survival of rd mouse photoreceptors in organ culture. Retinas were harvested from rd mice at postnatal day 2 and grown in organ culture for 27 days in vitro (DIV) in DMEM with 10% fetal calf serum. Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2), glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), neurturin, and persephon were added individually or in combination to the medium at a dose of 50 ng/ml or less. CNTF + BDNF in combination resulted in photoreceptor survival comparable to wild-type retinas after 27 DIV. CNTF + FGF2 or CNTF + GDNF produced a partial prevention of photoreceptor death. Photoreceptor degeneration was not blocked by any of the trophic factors added individually. A significant increase in photoreceptor survival was seen with forskolin added to CNTF, but not to BDNF, FGF2, or GDNF. These results demonstrate that trophic factors promote photoreceptor survival through a synergistic interaction. Increased understanding of receptor interactions and signaling pathways may lead to a potential therapeutic role for combinatorial trophic factors in treatment of photoreceptor dystrophies.
An approach to evaluating the accuracy of DXplain.

Abstract DXplain is a computer-based decision support system which generates a differential diagnosis (ddx) from a given list of clinical manifestations (Barnett et al., J. Am. Med. Assoc. 258 (1987) 67–74). An approach was developed to evaluate the accuracy of the ddx's produced by DXplain. The first step involves the collection of 65 benchmark cases drawn from a variety of sources and authors. Despite their diverse origins, the cases share in common that they are all clinical cases upon which a consulting physician might be asked to produce a differential. This helps to ensure that the evaluation of the system will be done in an environment similar to that in which the system is actually used. In the second step, all cases are reviewed by five board-certified physicians (experts) as well as DXplain. For each case, the evaluators (experts and DXplain) produce a rank-ordered ddx list along with an indication of how strongly each disease was felt to be supported by the case findings. A scoring technique was devised which rewards concordance with rthe gold standard: a consensus of the evaluators' ddx lists. Each evaluator receives a score which is proportional to the degree of agreement achieved with the consensus on the dds submitted. Preliminary results on a trial evaluation of 46 cases indicate that DXplain, on average, did well in agreeing with the consensus. Agreement was achieved both in regard to the specific diagnoses listed in the ddx and the degree to which the diseases were felt to be supported by the case findings. A discussion of some important issues in the evaluation of knowledge-based systems is undertaken.
Rationale for Specific Allergen Testing of Patients With Asthma in the Clinical Pulmonary Office Setting

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects an estimated 25 million people in the United States. In 70% to 90% of cases, asthma is associated with IgE-mediated mechanisms, which have proved central to allergen-induced inflammation in preclinical and clinical models. The importance of IgE levels in patients with moderate to severe asthma has been confirmed in randomized controlled studies with a targeted IgE blocker. Advances in laboratory methods to detect and quantify allergen-specific IgE antibodies have allowed for a quick-and-easy diagnosis of allergic IgE-mediated sensitivities in the office. Pulmonologists tend to order in vitro tests to measure allergen-specific IgE rather than to perform allergen skin testing, which is seen as the purview of allergists. This article reviews the importance of allergen testing in patients with asthma—whether by skin testing or by in vitro methods—and highlights the advantages, limitations, and interpretation of results derived from each method. Additionally, this article includes suggested documentation and administrative details for physician reporting in the office setting.
The time dependent vehicle routing problem with time windows: Benchmark problems, an efficient solution algorithm, and solution characteristics

Abstract An algorithm that can tackle time dependent vehicle routing problems with hard or soft time windows without any alteration in its structure is presented. Analytical and experimental results indicate that average computational time increases proportionally to the number of customers squared. New replicable test problems that capture the typical speed variations of congested urban settings are proposed. Solution quality, time window perturbations, and computational time results are discussed as well as a method to study the impact of perturbations by problem type. The algorithm efficiency and simplicity is well suited for urban areas where fast running times may be required.
Transcontinental Tidal Gravity Profile across the United States

Data obtained from a transcontinental tidal gravity profile across the United States were analyzed. Results for the principal tidal constituents M 2 and O 1 have shed light on the long-standing problem of the indirect influence of ocean tides on the solid-earth tide. The profile consists of nine observational stations distributed almost evenly around latitudes 39 to 41 degrees north across the United States. The observed values of the gravimetric factor and the phase were found to depend on the tidal characteristics of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. There is no observable correlation between tidal gravity parameters and the regional geology. When the influence of ocean tides is taken into account, it is possible for the first time to bring the gravimetric factors and phases for all the stations of a transcontinental network into a consistent system within the framework of the earth tidal theory.
Multidisciplinary Management of Patients With Cirrhosis: A Need for Care Coordination

Cirrhosis is a common chronic condition with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Optimal medical management involves a multidisciplinary approach, but coordination between medical specialties needs to be improved. This clinical perspective discusses care coordination interventions that have been successful in other disease states and how they could be applied to the management of cirrhosis.
Pharmacology of Contractile Responses in the Alimentary System of Caterpillars: Implications for Insecticide Development and Mode of Action

Fifth-instar larvae of the imported cabbageworm, Pieris rapae (L.) (Lepidoptera: Pieridae), reared on artificial diet, were used for pharmacological studies of alimentary muscle. The alimentary system was dissected free, with the posterior end fixed in a perfusion chamber and the foregut ligated and connected to an isotonic force transducer. Stimulus-evoked contractions at the level of the hindgut were used to study the effects of antagonists, and unstimulated preparations were used to assess the effect of compounds that increased gut motility. Screening studies with sodium channel (tetrodotoxin) or glutamate receptor (spermine) antagonists showed that stimulation-evoked contractions were the result of direct depolarization of motor nerve terminals and release of neurotransmitter. Gut motility was significantly stimulated by 5-hydroxytryptamine, glutamate, and μ-agatoxin-4. The pentapeptide proctolin also augmented contractions, but its effects were variable. Evoked contractions were antagonized by glutamate, ibotenic acid, octopamine, and emamectin. The inhibitory effect of emamectin was much less potent on gut preparations from larvae reared on broccoli, suggesting that glutamate H receptors of visceral muscle are somehow altered by diet. Dopamine, GABA, and histamine had little or no effect on motility of imported cabbageworm visceral muscle. The peptide ω-agatoxin-IA was also inactive, suggesting that a toxin insensitive subtype of calcium channel is participating in the evoked contractions of this muscle. The implications of these results for exploiting the visceral musculature as a target for caterpillar control strategies are discussed.
The clinical and diagnostic impact of using standard criteria of adequacy assessment and diagnostic terminology on thyroid nodule fine needle aspiration.

The study was aimed to investigate the impact of using standard criteria for assessing specimen adequacy and diagnostic terminology (CAST) on fine-needle aspiration (FNA) diagnosis and clinical management of thyroid nodules. The study included similar numbers of FNAs performed in 2 year before (group A) and 1.5 year after (group B) implementing the standard CAST. In comparison to group A, group B showed a significantly lower rate of nondiagnostic specimens (RND) (16.1% vs. 21.6%, P � 0.01) and rate of descriptive diagnoses (RDD) (3.8% vs. 14.5%, P � 0.001) and greater non-neoplastic (70.0% vs. 64.1%, P < 0.05) and follicular cell lesions (7.4% vs. 4.3%, P < 0.05) but a similar percentage of neoplastic diagnoses. The rate of surgical follow-up (RSF) was significantly higher in group B than in group A, overall (21.6% vs. 17.0%, P < 0.05), or in subgroups of non-neoplastic (12.6% vs. 5.4%, P < 0.01) and neoplastic categories (81.0% vs. 61.0%, P < 0.05). The rate of cytohistologic concordance was higher in group B although the difference was not statistically significant. We concluded that use of the standard CAST on FNA diagnosis of thyroid nodules significantly reduced RND and RDD, providing more consistent diagnoses among the pathologists as well as better and more uniform communication between the pathologists and the clinicians. Furthermore, the cytohistological concordance was slightly better after CAST implementation, indicating that the improvement of diagnostic consistency among pathologists did not sacrifice the diagnostic accuracy. Diagn.
Comments regarding 'Predictive risk factors for restenosis after remote superficial femoral artery endarterectomy'.

Dr. Derksen and colleagues have presented an interesting analysis from the large experience with RSFAE in the Netherlands. Eighty percent of subjects were claudicants. Indication for operation was not an independent predictor of primary patency as was the case in their previous publication discrepant from results of bypass, which are clearly better in claudicants than in critical limb ischemia. Furthermore, it appears that 14 subjects returned with critical ischemia, presumably with thrombosis of the previously treated SFA. Presumably some of these patients were initially treated for claudication and were, therefore, ‘‘worse’’ when the SFA thrombosed. This is generally not observed early after bypass, i.e., claudicants generally revert to claudication, not critical ischemia when a femoropopliteal bypass fails early. This observation suggests that one should likely be more reluctant to recommend RSFAE in claudicants, at least in those with smaller arteries or longer period of symptoms based on the results of the current study. More than half of the subjects suffered stenosis of 50% or worse and secondary patency was 61% at one year, similar to the authors’ results in a randomized trial (REVAS) of RSFAE vs. prosthetic bypass. This is certainly lower than one expects in modern series of femoropopliteal bypass even
Time-dependent displacement and stress fields due to shear and tensile faults in a transversely isotropic viscoelastic half-space

SUMMARY Viscoelastic behaviour of materials in nature is observed in post-event deformations due to seismic or volcanic activities. In this paper, by adopting the correspondence principle, we propose an inelastic model to predict first the Laplace-domain response of a transversely isotropic viscoelastic half-space due to a shear or tensile fault of polygonal shape. The displacement and stress fields in the time domain are then obtained using an efficient and accurate algorithm for the inverse Laplace transform. Numerical examples are presented to validate the proposed solution and to show the viscoelastic displacement and stressfields due to a strike-slip, dip-slip and tensile fault of rectangular shape. The obtained results indicate that both viscoelasticity and transverse isotropy play significant roles in the viscoelastic response of the half-space due to faults, which could be used as benchmarks for the future numerical analysis of realistic post-seismic or volcanic event.
The composition of the Martian atmosphere: Minor constituents

The Mariner 6 and 7 infrared spectrometers provided data which, in principle, determine upper limits on the possible atmospheric abundance of every gaseous substance that was undetected but which has recognized absorptions in the accessible spectral region, 1.9 to 14.4 microns. Through supporting laboratory determinations of curves of growth under pressure-broadening conditions appropriate to Mars, upper limits can be specified (expressed first in cm-atm, STP, for a vertical column and then in parts per million) for NO2, NH3, C3O2, SO2, OCS, NO, O3, CH4, N2O, HCL, HBr, and H2S. In addition, considerations of band contours, moments of inertia, and experimental absorption coefficients make it possible to place useful upper limits on 27 additional substances that were not detected and for which curves of growth have not been measured.
Advancing beyond the atom-centered model in additive and nonadditive molecular mechanics

A computational approach to the inclusion of off-center charges in both additive and nonadditive molecular mechanics calculations is presented. The additional sites in the molecular skeleton are placed in the approximate locations of the chemically intuitive electron lone pair, and are treated as formal particles throughout the calculation. The increase in the number of charge sites results in overall improvement in the energy associated with the angular dependence of hydrogen bonds and improved statistical accuracy of the electrostatic potential derived charges. The addition of lone pairs also results in improved accuracy in relative solvation free energy calculation for the pyridine to benzene and methanol to methane mutations. Because the number of atoms that require lone pairs is small, the extra accuracy can be achieved with little computational overhead. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem18: 1632–1646, 1997
Zeta-potentials and heats of adsorption of charge-control agents on liquid toners

The electrostatic charging of non-aqueous dispersions involves the interaction of basic dispersants or basic charge-control agents with the acidic surface sites of the particles to provide negative charges, or the interaction of acidic dispersants or acidic charge-control agents with the basic surface sites of the particles to provide positive charges . The mechanism has three steps : 1) , adsorption of the dispersant or charge-control molecules by acid-base interaction with the surface sites; 2), proton-transfer or electron-transfer between some of the adsorbed species and surface sites; and 3), desorption of some charge-carrying adsorbed dispersant or charge-control molecules due to a dynamic adsorption-desorption process. In these studies the importance of the last step is illustrated with comparisons of zeta-potentials and heats of adsorption determined with various pigments interacting with several charge-control agents. It is found that although acid-base interactions are necessary for electrostatic charging, stronger acid-base interactions result in lower zeta-potentials, probably because of less desorption in the last step. Additives used to enhance charging of acidic particles are believed to be effective by diminishing surface acidity, so as to weaken the adsorption of charge-control agents, and favor their easier desorption in the last step of the charging process.© (1990) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Neuromuscular disorders associated with static lumbar flexion: a feline model.

Abstract Static flexion of the lumbar spine with constant load applied to the viscoelastic structures for 20 minutes and for 50 minutes resulted in development of spasms and inhibition in the multifidus muscles (e.g., deep erector spinae) and in creep of the supraspinous ligament in the feline model. The development of spasms and inhibition was not dependent on load magnitude. It is suggested that occupational and sports activities which require prolonged static lumbar flexion within the physiological range can cause a “sprain”-like injury to the ligaments, which in turn reflexively induce spasms and inhibition in some erector spinae muscles. Such disorder may take a long time to recover, in the order of days to weeks, depending on the level of creep developed in the tissues.