cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Influence of a potentiator of estrogen in the inhibition of progesterone in development of deciduomata.

COHEN and Bates (1952) reported that the non-ketonic neutral material remaining in the toluene fraction obtained from the phenolic extract of the urine of pregnant mares contained a non-estrogenic substance that would augment the action of estrone and diethylstilbestrol on the vaginal mucosa and uterus of the castrated rat. Although this “neutral” fraction did not produce vaginal cornification it did, at high dosage, cause some increase in weight of the uterus in castrated rats that had been hypophysectomized or adrenalectomized. Since estrogens antagonize the action of progesterone on decidual development (see review by Courrier, 1950) and such inhibition is directly proportional to estrogenic potency (Velardo and Hisaw, 1951) it seemed of interest to determine the effects this augmentor3 may have under these conditions. The procedures used in these experiments were essentially those previously described (Velardo and Hisaw, 1951; and Hisaw and Velardo, 1951). It may be stated briefly that pseudopregnancy...
Elinor Ostrom and the “just right” solution

Elinor Ostrom is justly valued for her contributions to understanding the nature of and solution to common pool resource problems (CPRs). Her solution is generally referred to as balancing the aim of reducing the high costs associated with political solutions with that of ameliorating the absence of incentives to create solutions at all in the market-based approach. In this short paper, I characterize her solution as a “ ‘just right’ solution,” in the sense that it is a governmental solution, but one that balances these objectives. I consider endogenous variables that help maintain the creation of the institution to solve CPRs as being the “just right” solution, because it is at just the correct scope.
Antiplatelet factor 4/heparin antibodies in patients with gram negative bacteremia

Abstract Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is an antibody-mediated syndrome of thrombocytopenia and prothrombotic state that follows exposure to heparin. However, spontaneous HIT has been described in the setting of infection, without evidence of previous heparin administration. Since PF4 binds to lipid A portion of lipopolysaccharide, we tested for the presence of antiPF4/heparin antibodies in patients with gram-negative bacteremia. Patients with bacteremia had higher titers of antiPF4/heparin antibodies compared to normal controls 26.3 ± SD 34 units, N = 32 versus 6.3 ± SD 2.38 units, N = 10, P = 0.001. FITC-labeled PF4 interacted with lipopolysaccharide in a concentration-dependent manner as determined by quenching of the emission spectrum following excitation at λ 488. In addition, immunoaffinity purified antiPF4/Heparin antibodies from 3 patients with HIT cross-reacted with PF4/heparin complex. These results show that PF4/LPS complex is immunogenic and can elicit cross-reacting antibodies against PF4/Heparin, providing an explanation for the presence of these antibodies in individuals, who were never been exposed to heparin before. These antibodies may also be at least partly responsible for the thrombocytopenia associated with infection.
An observational study of stratocumulus entrainment and thermodynamics

The stratocumulus (SC) entrainment and thermodynamics are studied using data from the Dynamics and Chemistry of Marine Stratocumulus (DYCOMS) experiment. The rate of entrainment of air from the free troposphere into the cloud-topped PBL is estimated using a technique based on the measurement of ozone flux and mean distribution. The average measured value of entrainment rate was found to be 3.0 mm/s with a range of 1.0 to 5.0 mm/s for cloudy cases. Thermodynamic budgets are constructed for eight DYCOMS cases. It was found that the divergence of the solar radiative flux is an important component of the boundary-layer energetics during midday, the factor which must be accounted for in mixed-layer models. The net longwave radiative flux profiles show good agreement with theoretical models, but an unambiguous partitioning of the flux divergence between inversion and mixed layers could not be established.
Synthesis of the Growth Hormone Secretion Mechanism Using Nonlinear Analysis and CAD Tools

The goal of this paper is to present a hardware realization of the feed-forward and feedback hypothalamic-pituitary growth hormone (GH) secretion mechanism based on a bio-mathematical nonlinear delay differential equation model developed by Farhy et al. (2003) and Veldhuis et al. (2001). Behavioral modeling is implemented through Verilog hardware descriptive language (HDL) to simulate the antagonistic and stimulatory interaction of growth hormone, growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) and somatotropin release inhibiting factor (SRIF). The model is synthesized using computer aided design (CAD) tools and is promulgated through a combinational complex programmable logic device (CPLD)/field programmable grid array (FPGA) Xilinx XSA-50 microchip. The microchip sequentially displays the decimal equivalents of the time changing hormonal concentration levels of the biomathematical model
Les fonctions exécutives chez l'enfant: Concepts et développement.

While executive functions were long considered a mysterious entity, manifested only from adolescence, it has now been well established that these functions involve a multitude of processes and that the first forms of thought and action control appear at a very early stage of development. Paradoxically, the large number of studies on development of executive functions make it difficult to draw a coherent picture. The author closely examines these studies in pursuit of two principal objectives. First, he seeks to set out the different concepts that appear within the studies, especially by positioning executive functions in relation to working memory and attention. Then he sets out to reveal the main lines of the development of inhibition, the maintenance and updating of working memory and of cognitive flexibility. Some of the factors that promote or restrict this development are also underlined. At the end of this analysis, some new paths for research are suggested in the quest for better understanding of the nature of the links between the different executive functions and their development.
Architectural layer-by-layer assembly of drug nanocapsules with PEGylated polyelectrolytes.

150–200 nm diameter capsules containing 60–70 wt% of poorly soluble drugs, paclitaxel and camptothecin, were produced by layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly on drug nanocores in a solution containing uncharged stabilizers. Optimization of capsule shell architecture and thickness allowed for concentrated colloids (3–5 mg mL−1) that are stable in isotonic salt buffers. Nanoparticle aggregation during the washless LbL-assembly was prevented by using low molecular weight block-copolymers of poly(amino acids) (poly-L-lysine and poly-L-glutamic acid) with polyethylene glycol (PEG) in combination with heparin and bovine serum albumin at every bilayer building step. Minimal amounts of the polyelectrolytes were used to recharge the surface of nanoparticles in this non-washing LbL process. Such PEGylated shells resulted in drug nanocapsules with high colloidal stability in PBS buffer and increased protein adhesion resistance. The washless LbL polyelectrolyte nanocapsule assembly process, colloidal stability and nanoparticle morphology were monitored by dynamic light scattering and electrophoretic mobility measurements, UV-vis spectroscopy, TEM, SEM and laser confocal microscopy imaging.
Hepatitis C and interferon induced thyroiditis

Autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs) are complex diseases that develop as a result of interactions between genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors. Significant progress has been made in our understanding of the genetic and environmental triggers contributing to AITD. The major environmental triggers of AITD include iodine, smoking, medications, pregnancy, and possibly stress. In this review we will focus on two well-documented environmental triggers of AITD, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and interferon alpha (IFNa) therapy. Chronic HCV infection has been shown to be associated with increased incidence of clinical and subclinical autoimmune thyroiditis (i.e. the presence of thyroid antibodies in euthyroid subjects). Moreover, IFNa therapy of chronic HCV infection is associated with subclinical or clinical thyroiditis in up to 40% of cases which can be autoimmune, or non-autoimmune thyroiditis. In some cases interferon induced thyroiditis (IIT) in chronic HCV patients may result in severe symptomatology necessitating discontinuation of therapy. While the epidemiology and clinical presentation of HCV and interferon induced thyroiditis have been well characterized, the mechanisms causing these conditions are still poorly understood.
A Poetic Path from Melancholy to Mourning: Robert Lowell's Elegies as Case Study

This essay builds on a previous one in this journal (Cole, 2005) that details how reading elegiac poetry, the poetry of mourning, may be a pastoral resource for complicated grief or what is classically termed melancholia. A study of elegies by poet Robert Lowell (1917–1977), which depict a progression from melancholia to more “typical” mourning, demonstrates how thinking and writing in elegiac terms may offer a similar resource, whether for one's own melancholia or that of persons in one's care.
Environmental hazards of pyroclastic flows determined by numerical models

Numerical solutions of the compressible, multiphase Navier-Stokes equations are applied to conditions appropriate for the development of pyroclastic flows from collapsing Plinian eruption columns. Temporal and spatial variations in horizontal velocity, dynamic pressure, solid volume fraction, and temperature are analyzed for three experiments that model variations in behavior due to differing eruption conditions. Pyroclastic flows display a complex evolution with time and runout distance from the vent. Evolution of flow parameters is most generally manifested by alternating periods of erosion and deposition. Velocities of flow heads decrease and solid concentrations in the flow heads increase with distance from vent. Application of numerical modeling to such phenomena can help in assessing volcanic hazards and pyroclastic transport processes.
Probability of Fixation of Genes in Populations of Variable Size

Abstract A method is derived for computing mean gene frequencies and absorption probabilities in populations of variable size, where the probabilities of transition between the alternative population sizes can be specified. A haploid model is adopted, with two alleles at a single locus undergoing weak selection. The results are approximate, involving the first terms in a matrix series, in which the dimensions of the matrices are the number of alternative sizes the population can take, rather than the total number of population size and gene frequency states in the full model. A diffusion-equation approximation is also considered which leads to a very simple formula. It is valid when population sizes and selective values are large, but have small coefficients of variation, and when a stationary distribution of population sizes is reached quickly. A model of selective values assuming a normal distribution of fitness is used to illustrate the results.
Effects of the thiazolidinedione derivative CGP 19984 on growth and endocrine function of the Mtt-W10 transplantable mammosmatotoropic pituitary tumor in female rats

The thiazolidinedione derivative CGP 19984 has previously been shown to suppress the growth of hormone-dependent mammary and prostatic tumors, primarily by reducing gonadotropin and subsequently gonadal steroid secretion. The present study examines the effects of CGP 19984 on the growth and hormone secretion of the autonomous, but estrogen-responsive, MtT-W10 mammosomatotropic transplantable rat pituitary tumor. Intact tumor-bearing Wistar/Furth female rats were administered vehicle or 25, 100, or 250 mg/ kg CGP 19984 p. o. 5 × week for 4 weeks. CGP 19984 was found to significantly reduce MtT-W 10 tumor growth and weight and reduce prolactin and growth hormone (GH) secretion in a dose-responsive manner. A similar study in ovariectomized rats also showed that CGP 19984 treatment suppressed MtT-W 10 pituitary tumor growth, weight and hormone secretion in a dose-responsive manner, suggesting a direct inhibitory action of this drug on the tumor. In a third study, bromocryptine (CB-154; 5 mg/kg) and CGP 19984 (50 mg/kg) were both found to be effective in suppressing growth of the MtT-W 10 tumor in intact female rats. However, rats treated with CGP 19984 alone had reduced serum and tumor GH and prolactin concentrations, while rats treated with CB- 154 alone had reduced serum and tumor prolactin, but no change in GH concentrations. These results suggest that CGP 19984 effectively inhibits growth and hormone secretion of the autonomous MtT-W 10 pituitary tumor by apparently suppressing both somatotropic and lactotropic cell populations within the tumor. Furthermore, these findings indicate that CGP 19984 may be an effective alternative to CB-154 in the clinical treatment of prolactin-producing adenomas, as well as other types of pituitary adenomas.
HandiStroke: a handheld tool for the emergent evaluation of acute stroke patients.

Background: The management of acute stroke is time-sensitive. Clinical decision making requires data not only from laboratory testing and neuroimaging, but also from a detailed history and neurologic examination. The neurologic examination provides baseline information and assists in differentiating acute stroke from its mimickers. There is a need for tools to facilitate the evaluation and decision making in the acute stroke patient to make the correct diagnosis and, when indicated, to properly administer intravenous thrombolytic therapy. Objectives: The goals of this project were to create a standardized, handheld software program to aid physicians in their evaluation of patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with acute ischemic stroke, and to create an educational tool with which residents and other health care professionals can gain a level of proficiency in treating these patients. Results: A comprehensive handheld tool was created that incorporates a National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) calculator, inclusion criteria, absolute contraindications, and relative warnings for thrombolytic use (i.e., recombinant tissue plasminogen activator), and a weight-based dosing calculator that flows in a logical and clinically relevant format. Additionally, the program includes reference materials and guidelines for clinical management to further assist the clinician. Conclusions: Applications of this program include reformatting for use as a data-gathering tool in future clinical studies investigating the treatment of stroke patients, increasing the use and documentation of the NIHSS within the ED in acute ischemic stroke patients, and improving protocol adherence for rt-PA use.
Determination of The in situ Loads on The Human Anterior Cruciate Ligament

A noncontact, kinematic method was used to determine the lengths and in situ loads borne by portions of the human anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) by the combination of kinematic data from the intact knee and load-length curves of the isolated ACL. Specimens from knees of cadavers of young people were tested in passive flexion and extension as well as with 100 N of anterior tibial drawer at 0, 30, 45, and 90 degrees of flexion. The results showed that the in situ load on the whole ACL (as much as 129 N) can exceed the magnitude of the applied anterior tibial drawer. The load distribution within the ligament changes with flexion of the knee. The anterior and posterior portions share the anterior drawer force equally toward full extension. However, at flexion > 45 degrees, the anterior portion supports 90-95% of the load. This information is important for the determination of the function of the entire ACL and of its subportions in response to external loading of the intact knee. In particular, the preferential loading found for one of the portions of the ACL demonstrates that successful operative reconstruction of this ligament may not be achieved simply by reproduction of its gross anatomy; consideration of the role of the ligament in the overall kinematics of the knee is necessary.
Cryopreserved primate bone marrow cells can be used for retroviral-mediated gene transfer.

ABSTRACT Retro viral-mediated gene transfer into Rhesus monkey bone marrow cells, which were cryopreserved, stored, and then transduced at the time of thawing, was studied for potential application...
On the spin-up of an electrically conducting fluid. Part 1. The unsteady hydromagnetic Ekman-Hartmann boundary-layer problem

The prototype spin-up problem between infinite flat plates treated by Greenspan & Howard (1963) is extended to include the presence of an imposed axial magnetic field. The fluid is homogeneous, viscous, and electrically conducting. The resulting boundary initial-value problem is solved to first order in Rossby number by Laplace transform techniques. In spite of the linearization the complete hydromagnetic interaction is preserved: currents affect the flow and the flow simultaneously distorts the field. In part 1, we analyze the impulsively started time dependent approach to a final steady Ekman–Hartmann boundary layer on a single insulating flat plate. The transient is found to consist of two diffusively growing boundary layers, inertial oscillations, and a weak Alfven wave front. In part 2, these one plate results are utilized in discussing spin-up between two infinite flat insulating plates. Two distinct and important hydromagnetic spin-up mechanisms are elucidated. In all cases, the spin-up time is found to be shorter than in the corresponding non-magnetic problem.
Asymmetric mixing transport: A horizontal transport mechanism for sinking plankton and sediment in tidal flows

A mechanism is described for the net horizontal transport of sinking plankton or sediment by oscillatory tidal flows. The mean motion of the plankton or particles is driven by the modulation of vertical mixing between flood and ebb. Cold water forced over warm water on the flood tide creates enhanced vertical mixing and resuspension of sinking particles higher into the water column. On ebb, the converse occurs, and sinking particles are lower in the water column. Since friction retards the tidal flow near the bottom, this leads to a net horizontal transport toward the less dense water. Because less dense water tends to be shallower, this will tend to move sinking plankton and sediment toward the crest of banks, toward the coast, and up embayments, even in the absence of any mean currents. A one-dimensional Eulerian model of this horizontal transport is developed and is compared to particle motion in a fully nonlinear two-dimensional model with an advanced turbulence closure scheme. The Eulerian model can, in most circumstances, predict the net horizontal motion of the particles as a function of their sinking speed and observable oceanographic properties. The mean horizontal speed of sinking particles is greatest when the sinking speed of the particles is about one-seventieth of the tidal velocities, or equivalently, about one-third of the mean turbulent velocity scale u*. This horizontal transport of plankton and particles requires no behavior more complicated than simple sinking to achieve net horizontal speeds of several kilometers per day for realistic planktonic sinking speeds. It is possible that such a mechanism is a factor in larval recruitment and retention in coastal regions, for example, scallop larvae on Georges Bank.
Tracking Structure of Streaming Social Networks

Current online social networks are massive and still growing. For example, Face book has over 500 million active users sharing over 30 billion items per month. The scale within these data streams has outstripped traditional graph analysis methods. Real-time monitoring for anomalies may require dynamic analysis rather than repeated static analysis. The massive state behind multiple persistent queries requires shared data structures and flexible representations. We present a framework based on the STINGER data structure that can monitor a global property, connected components, on a graph of 16 million vertices at rates of up to 240,000 updates per second on 32 processors of a Cray XMT. For very large scale-free graphs, our implementation uses novel batching techniques that exploit the scale-free nature of the data and run over three times faster than prior methods. Our framework handles, for the first time, real-world data rates, opening the door to higher-level analytics such as community and anomaly detection.
Utility of an Image-Based Canopy Reflectance Modeling Tool for Remote Estimation of LAI and Leaf Chlorophyll Content in Crop Systems

Remotely sensed data in the reflective optical domain function as a unique cost-effective source for providing spatially and temporally distributed information on key biophysical and biochemical parameters of land surface vegetation. The challenging task of estimating leaf chlorophyll content (Cab) and leaf area index (LAI) is here undertaken for crop systems in Maryland using a regularized canopy reflectance (REGFLEC) modeling tool, which couples leaf optics (PROSPECT), canopy reflectance (ACRM), and atmospheric radiative transfer (6SV1) models. Using 10-m resolution SPOT-5 imagery, REGFLEC effectuated robust retrievals of Cab and LAI for a diversity of agricultural fields characterized by a wide range in leaf chlorophyll and LAI levels with relative root-mean-square deviations on the order of 11% and 15%, respectively. REGFLEC is made entirely image-based by incorporating radiometric information from pixels belonging to the same land cover class during a LUT-based model inversion approach.
CORONARY SINUS LEVEL OF GALECTIN-3 IS A BETTER PREDICTOR THAN PERIPHERAL VENOUS LEVEL OF MAJOR ADVERSE CARDIAC EVENTS IN PATIENTS WITH CARDIAC RESYNCHRONIZATION THERAPY

Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is an emerging marker of cardiac fibrosis and associated with heart failure (HF) outcomes. Coronary sinus (CS) blood can be sampled readily in patients undergoing cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) and circulating biomarker levels may differ between vascular beds. Thus, we
Strategies used by intellectually gifted students to cope with stress during their participation in a high school international baccalaureate program

Individuals respond to threats to affiliation and achievement needs through drawing on a repertoire of coping strategies specific to a given situation. Gifted adolescents in college-preparatory high school programs may be faced with novel stressors, and may have unique coping strategies to manage these challenges. The current study considers responses to surveys of stress and coping as well as focus group interviews of gifted and high-achieving students enrolled in an academically intense curriculum, the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program. Findings of this secondary analysis of archival data sets indicate gifted students experience levels of stress similar to their IB classmates not identified as gifted. Additionally, gifted students were similar to IB peers not identified as gifted with respect to how they cope with school; likenesses included positive reframing, time and task management, avoiding tasks, and seeking social support. However, gifted IB students differed from IB classmates with respect to anger coping, humor, and problem-solving approaches. With the growing interest of International Baccalaureate Programs throughout the United States, educational personnel, researchers, and administrators are considering the social-emotional needs of gifted and high-ability students served in these challenging academic programs. Understanding the needs of this unique population of students is critical to supporting the cognitive and affective growth of IB students, and this study provides a glimpse into the thoughts of IB learners with respect to their stress and coping. The findings of this study suggests that gifted students in IB and their IB peers experience similar stressors and coping responses, though some differences in anger coping, humor, and problem solving were unique among gifted IB students in this sample.
Oolong: asynchronous distributed applications made easy

We present Oolong, a distributed programming framework designed for sparse asynchronous applications such as distributed web crawling, shortest paths, and connected components. Oolong stores program state in distributed in-memory key-value tables on which user-defined triggers may be set. Triggers can be activated whenever a key-value pair is modified. The event-driven nature of triggers is particularly appropriate for asynchronous computation where workers can independently process part of the state towards convergence without any need for global synchronization. Using Oolong, we have implemented solutions for several large-scale asynchronous computation problems, achieving good performance and robust fault tolerance.
Role of Renal Nerves in Experimental Hypertension: Evaluation of Neurogenic Mechanisms

To evaluate neurogenic mechanisms underlying variations in arterial pressure associated with removal of baroreflexes, renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) was recorded in conscious unrestrained rats 1 day and 14 days following sinoaortic deaffer-entation (SAD) or sham operation. Fluctuations in RSNA and heart rate (HR) were correlated stastistically with moment to moment changes in pressure. One day and 14 days after SAD, the lability of mean arterial pressure (MAP) was increased, whereas the lability of RSNA and HR were reduced at 1 day and unchanged at 14 days. Arterial pressure and RSNA were negatively correlated in sham rats, however in rats with SAD negative correlations were virtually absent and positive correlations appeared only infrequently. These results indicate that SAD reduces variability of both RSNA and HR and that lability of arterial pressure appears to not be driven by variations in sympathetic discharge.To examine the central origins of RSNA in anesthetized rats we blocked neuronal t...
Developing Culturally Competent Marriage and Family Therapists: Guidelines for Working With Asian Indian American Couples

The growing Asian Indian population has prompted the need for counselors to consider multicultural factors when communicating with their clients. This study provides initial guidelines and recommendations for working with Asian Indian Americans based on a content analysis of the professional literature. The study examined the conceptual and empirical work of treatment experts and identified common themes that impact assessment, treatment, and intervention. The strongest themes included: a) the impact of intergenerational/extended family relationships on the marriage; b) acculturation issues; and c) the influence of gender roles on marital and parental patterns. Suggestions for future research are also provided.
Identification and engineering of human variable regions that allow expression of stable single-chain T cell receptors

Single-chain antibody fragments (scFv), consisting of two linked variable regions (V(H) and V(L)), are a versatile format for engineering and as potential antigen-specific therapeutics. Although the analogous format for T cell receptors (TCRs), consisting of two linked V regions (Vα and Vβ; referred to here as scTv), could provide similar opportunities, all wild-type scTv proteins examined to date are unstable. This obstacle has prevented scTv fragments from being widely used for engineering or therapeutics. To further explore whether some stable human scTv fragments could be expressed, we used a yeast system in which display of properly folded domains correlates with ability to express the folded scTv in soluble form. We discovered that, unexpectedly, scTv fragments that contained the human Vα2 region (IMGT: TRAV12 family) were displayed and properly associated with different Vβ regions. Furthermore, a single polymorphic residue (Ser(α49)) in the framework region conferred additional thermal stability. These stabilized Vα2-containing scTv fragments could be expressed at high levels in Escherichia coli, and used to stain target cells that expressed the specific pep-HLA-A2 complexes. Thus, the scTv fragments can serve as a platform for engineering TCRs with diverse specificities, and possibly for therapeutic or diagnostic applications.
University Counseling Center Off-Campus Referrals: An Exploratory Investigation.

Abstract University counseling centers (UCC) must rely on referrals to off-campus providers, due to limited staffing, severity of clients' issues, and ethical treatment considerations. In a mixed method design, this study found that 42% of clients were unsuccessful in connecting with an off-campus provider when referred by a university counseling center therapist. Clients of color were more unsuccessful in connecting with an off-campus provider than Caucasian clients. Regardless of ethnicity, clients reported that therapist follow up, accessible referral sources, and high personal motivation assisted in a successful referral process. Financial issues were the primary inhibitory factor for the referral process. Suggestions for clinical practice and university counseling center policies are provided.
Long-Term Experimental Evolution in Escherichia coli. VI. Environmental Constraints on Adaptation and Divergence

The effect of environment on adaptation and divergence was examined in two sets of populations of Escherichia coli selected for 1000 generations in either maltose- or glucose-limited media. Twelve replicate populations selected in maltose-limited medium improved in fitness in the selected environment, by an average of 22.5%. Statistically significant among-population genetic variation for fitness was observed during the course of the propagation, but this variation was small relative to the fitness improvement. Mean fitness in a novel nutrient environment, glucose-limited medium, improved to the same extent as in the selected environment, with no statistically significant among-population genetic variation. In contrast, 12 replicate populations previously selected for 1000 generations in glucose-limited medium showed no improvement, as a group, in fitness in maltose-limited medium and substantial genetic variation. This asymmetric pattern of correlated responses suggests that small changes in the environment can have profound effects on adaptation and divergence.
Determination of a Safe Range of Knee Flexion Angles for Fixation of the Grafts in Double-Bundle Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction A Human Cadaveric Study

BackgroundFor anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with a double-bundle procedure, one of the major concerns is to not predispose either one of the grafts to risk of failure by overloading.HypothesisKnee flexion angles between 15° and 45° for anteromedial graft fixation and 15° for posterolateral graft fixation are safe for both grafts in double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.Study DesignControlled laboratory study.MethodsNine human cadaveric knees were tested. The double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction was conducted with both grafts fixed at 15° of knee flexion (fixation protocol 15/15) and again with the anteromedial and posterolateral grafts fixed at 45° and 15° of knee flexion (fixation protocol 45/15). For both fixation protocols, the knee kinematics and the in situ forces of the reconstructed anterior cruciate ligament and its individual grafts were measured and collected under an anterior tibial load of 134 N and combined rotatory loads of 10 N·m of valgus an...
Potential Biological Weapons Threats

Abstract : The list of agents that could pose the greatest public health risk in the event of a bioterrorist attack is short. However, although short, the list includes agents that, if acquired and properly disseminated, could cause a difficult public health challenge in terms of our ability to limit the numbers of casualties and control the damage to our cities and nation.
Limitation of transpiration by hydraulic conductance and xylem cavitation in Betula occidentalis

The extent to which stomatal conductance (gs) was capable of responding to reduced hydraulic conductance (k)and preventing cavitation-inducing xylem pressures was evaluated in the small riparian tree, Betula occidentalis Hook. We decreased k by inducing xylem cavitation in shoots using an air-injection technique. From 1 to 18 d after shoot injection we measured midday transpiration rate (E), gs, and xylem pressure (Ψp-xylem) on individual leaves of the crown. We then harvested the shoot and made direct measurements of k from the trunk (2–3 cm diameter) to the distal tip of the petioles of the same leaves measured for E and gs. The k measurement was expressed per unit leaf area (kl, leaf-specific conductance). Leaves measured within 2 d of shoot injection showed reduced gs and E relative to non-injected controls, and both parameters were strongly correlated with kl At this time, there was no difference in leaf Ψp-xylem between injected shoots and controls, and leaf Ψp-xylem was not significantly different from the highest cavitation-inducing pressure (Ψp-cav) in the branch xylem (-1.43 ± 0.029 MPa, n=8). Leaves measured 7–18 d after shoots were injected exhibited a partial return of gs and E values to the control range. This was associated with a decrease in leaf Ψp-xylem below Ψp-cav and loss of foliage. The results suggest the stomata were incapable of long-term regulation of E below control values and that reversion to higher E caused dieback via cavitation.
Lifestyle Factors, Body Mass Index, and Lipid Profile in Adolescents

Objective and methods A model specifying body mass index (BMI) as mediating the relationship between lifestyle factors (aerobic fitness determined by peak oxygen consumption; physical activity by 7-day physical activity recall; diet by 24hr dietary recall), and lipid profile were tested in a sample of 205 adolescents (73% boys), who were on average at risk of overweight, aerobically unfit, and from ethnic minority groups. Results In this well-fitting model, consuming a diet low in fat and cholesterol, and being aerobically fit predicted lower BMI, which together resulted in increases in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and decreases in triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Being physically active, predicted greater aerobic fitness. Conclusions In addition to furthering understanding of the interrelationships among predisposing, major, and conditional coronary heart disease risk factors in adolescents, these data suggest that improving diet and aerobic fitness will reduce BMI and result in a better lipid profile.
Sea urchin actin gene subtypes. Gene number, linkage and evolution.

The actin gene family of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus was analyzed by the genome blot method, using subcloned probes specific to the 3′ terminal non-translated actin gene sequence, intervening sequence and coding region probes. We define an actin gene subtype as that gene or set of genes displaying homology with a given 3′ terminal sequence probe, when hybridized at 55°C, 0·75 m-Na+. By determining the often polymorphic restriction fragment band pattern displayed in genome blots by each probe, all, or almost all of the actin genes in this species could be classified. Our evidence shows that the S. purpuratus genome probably contains seven to eight actin genes, and these can be assigned to four subtypes. Studies of the expression of the genes (Shott et al., 1983) show that the actin genes of three of these subtypes code for cytoskeletal actins (Cy), while the fourth gives rise to a muscle-specific actin (M). We denote the array of S. purpuratus actin genes indicated by our data as follows. There is a single CyI actin gene, two or possibly three CyII genes (CyIIa, CyIIb, and possibly CyIIc), three CyIII actin genes (CyIIIa, CyIIIb, CyIIIc), and a single M actin gene. Comparative studies were carried out on the actin gene families of five other sea urchin species. At least the CyIIa and CyIIb genes are also linked in the Strongylocentrotus franciscanus genome, and this species also has a CyI gene, an M actin gene and at least two CyIII actin genes. It is not clear whether it also possesses a CyIIc actin gene, or a CyIIIc actin gene. The genome of a more closely related congener, Strongylocentrotus drobachiensis, includes 3′ terminal sequences suggesting the presence of a CyIIc gene. In S. franciscanus and S. drobachiensis the first intron of the CyI gene has remained homologous with intron sequences of both the CyIIa and CyIIb genes, indicating a common origin of these three linked cytoskeletal actin genes. Of the four S. purpuratus 3′ terminal subtype probe sequences only the CyI 3′ terminal sequence has been conserved sufficiently during evolution to permit detection outside of the genus Strongylocentrotus. An unexpected observation was that a sequence found only in the 3′ untranslated region of the CyII actin gene in the DNA of S. drobachiensis and S. purpuratus is represented as a large family of interspersed repeat sequences in the genome of S. franciscanus.
A genetic polymorphism of the human dopamine transporter determines the impact of sleep deprivation on brain responses to rewards and punishments

Despite an emerging link between alterations in motivated behavior and a lack of sleep, the impact of sleep deprivation on human brain mechanisms of reward and punishment remain largely unknown, as does the role of trait dopamine activity in modulating such effects in the mesolimbic system. Combining fMRI with an established incentive paradigm and individual genotyping, here, we test the hypothesis that trait differences in the human dopamine transporter DAT gene-associated with altered synaptic dopamine signalling-govern the impact of sleep deprivation on neural sensitivity to impending monetary gains and losses. Consistent with this framework, markedly different striatal reward responses were observed following sleep loss depending on the DAT functional polymorphisms. Only participants carrying a copy of the nine-repeat DAT allele-linked to higher phasic dopamine activity-expressed amplified striatal response during anticipation of monetary gain following sleep deprivation. Moreover, participants homozygous for the ten-repeat DAT allele-linked to lower phasic dopamine activity-selectively demonstrated an increase in sensitivity to monetary loss within anterior insula following sleep loss. Together, these data reveal a mechanistic dependency on human of trait dopaminergic function in determining the interaction between sleep deprivation and neural processing of rewards and punishments. Such findings have clinical implications in disorders where the DAT genetic polymorphism presents a known risk factor with comorbid sleep disruption, including attention hyperactive deficit disorder and substance abuse.
Probabilistic Gust Loads Analysis Accounting for Aeroservoelastic System Uncertainty

A newly developed computational capability for Monte-Carlo simulations of uncertain aeroelastic / aeroservoelastic systems is used to obtain gust response statistics accounting for uncertainties in both aircraft aeroservoelastic model and the discrete / continuous gusts exciting it. Gust response is evaluated in both the frequency and time domains. Root-mean-square values based on power spectral density analysis as well as maximum / minimum loads predicted by time domain analyses were selected for study and compared with common gust loads prediction approaches. Statistical sensitivity analysis was performed to rank the relative importance of the parameter to the system output of interests. A numerical example of the gust response of a generic transport aircraft model shows a significant increase of the critical loads when uncertainty in system’s parameters is accounted for and leads to a quantitative evaluation of probability distributions of all output quantities of interest. _____________________________________________________________________________________ + PhD candidate, wusang@aa.washington.edu & Boeing Endowed Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics, eli@aa.washington.edu
Asian Industrial Lead Inputs to the North Pacific Evidenced by Lead Concentrations and Isotopic Compositions in Surface Waters and Aerosols

Recent trends of atmospheric lead deposition to the North Pacific were investigated with analyses of lead in aerosols and surface waters collected on the fourth Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Contaminant Baseline Survey from May to June, 2002. Lead concentrations of the aerosols varied by 2 orders of magnitude (0.1–26.4 pmol/m3) due in part to variations in dust deposition during the cruise. The ranges in lead aerosol enrichment factors relative to iron (1–119) and aluminum (3–168) were similar, evidencing the transport of Asian industrial lead aerosols across the North Pacific. The oceanic deposition of some of those aerosols was substantiated by the gradient of lead concentrations of North Pacific waters, which varied 3-fold (32.7–103.5 pmol/kg), were highest along with the Asian margin of the basin, and decreased eastward. The hypothesized predominance of Asian industrial lead inputs to the North Pacific was further corroborated by the lead isotopic composition of ocean surface waters (206P...
An adaptive mobile robot tethering algorithm in constrained environments

This paper presents an adaptive and decentralized robotic cooperation algorithm for controlling mobile sensors to form a chained network and maintaining communication links.Single-layer and double-layer chain tethering algorithms are developed for exploring open and constrained environments by mobile robots.A comprehensive metric for finding the optimal communication range is introduced.With the measurements,mobile robots could be organized into an optimal chained form for tethering.The tethering algorithm could detect the failed nodes and reconfigure the system.It offers an adaptive solution to broken communication links.
From White Slaves to Domestic Hostages

This paper will examine the legislative history of federal laws that target crimes against women and girls as a vehicle for exploring the manner in which federal criminal law (and, by implication, criminal law in general) responds to (and, perhaps, encourages) changing social norms. The particular legislative materials on which the paper focuses are those accompanying the Mann Act (1910) and the Violence Against Women Act (1994). Separated by almost a century, the subjects of these two laws appear to reflect different conceptions of the sexual dangers confronting women in our culture. The Mann Act was designed to protect women from the moral (and physical) ruination they suffer when coerced or tricked into a life of prostitution (or "white slavery"), while the Violence Against Women Act is intended to deliver women from the physical (and psychological) violence they endure when raped or battered. From the perspective of feminists situated in the late twentieth century, the legislative history of the Mann Act appears to endorse understandings about female sexuality that are sexist (as well as racist). By contrast, since feminists participated in lobbying for passage of the Violence Against Women Act, presumably they believe that this statute rests (at least in part) on feminist norms that break with the sexist assumptions of the past. The paper will examine the rhetoric employed in the legislative history of each of these statutes, particularly the ways of talking about sex and, more subtly, the ways of talking about talk about sex. Through such exploration, the paper will identify more precisely the sexual norms underlying each statute and the role (if any) the legislation may have played in shaping, as opposed to merely reflecting, those norms.
Assembly and Folding of Twisted Baskets in Organic Solvents

A synthetic method for obtaining enantiopure and twisted baskets of type (P)-3 is described. These chiral cavitands were found to fold quinoline gates, at the rim of their twisted platform, in acetonitrile and give molecular capsules that assemble into large unilamellar vesicles. In a less polar dichloromethane, however, cup-shaped (P)-3 packed into vesicles but with the quinoline gates in an unfolded orientation. The ability of twisted baskets to form functional nanostructured materials could be of interest for building stereoselective sensors and catalysts.
Symmetry, demand types and outer bounds in caching systems

The fundamental limit of coded caching is considered in this work. We started with an investigation of the symmetry structure in the caching problem, which is used to show the existence of optimal symmetric solutions, as well as to motivate the notion of demand types. With a combination of analytical analysis using the symmetry and a computational approach developed earlier for the regenerating code problem, we obtain the following results on the memory-rate tradeoff: (1) A complete solution for any systems with K = 2 users; (2) A complete solution for the case with N = 2 files and K = 3 users; (3) The best outer bound for the cases (N, K) = (2, 4) and (N, K) = (3, 3) in the literature, which are tight in certain regimes. These results provide new insights to the problem, and also help to identify the main coding challenges for different system parameters.
“I Hear America Singing”: Folk Music and National Identity Rachel Clare Donaldson. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 2014.

"I Hear America Singing": Folk Music and National Identity Rachel Clare Donaldson. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 2014.This book corrects the oversimplified notion that the folk-music revival was a midcentury fad that peaked in the 1960s and then vanished forever. Rachel Clare Donaldson treats folk music as a broader cultural phenomenon that shaped and was shaped by varying concepts of nationalism. She also explains why folk music, unlike country music, is in the domain of liberals. Revivalists, as she sees it, collected, recorded, and performed folk music as part of their political agenda: envisioning America as a pluralistic nation.In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, professional folklorists tended to focus almost exclusively on the music of isolated places like the Appalachians, where British songs had been preserved by a rural, white populace. That concentration shifted when the United States suffered a national identity crisis during the Great Depression. The New Deal spurred and, through the WPA, funded a revival of interest about America. Revivalists rejected the traditional metaphor of the melting pot, which had emphasized cultural unity at the expense of diversity; instead, they viewed America as profusion of disparate and rich cultures-ethnic, religious, and racial. Revivalists saw the failure of the capitalist system, which had caused the Depression, as the enemy of this pluralistic society; many favored socialism or Soviet communism (relatively untouched by the Depression). They repurposed folk songs, and topical parodies of those songs, to forward pro-labor and socialist causes, like organizing unions and improving working conditions. With the advent of the Second World War, revivalists transformed themselves from communist isolationists to democratic patriots, from anti-capitalists to antifascists. The postwar Red scare and revelations about Joseph Stalin made survival challenging for a movement that had associated itself with internationalism and leftist causes. Revivalists managed to keep the torch lit by playing to smaller audiences and fighting more politically acceptable battles against social conformity and for democracy and diversity.This is where the Weavers, arguably the most influential folk group of all time, came in with professionally performed arrangements of traditional songs, celebrating the common people of many cultures. The foundation was laid. By the time that the apolitical Kingston Trio (late 1950s) and the politically charged Peter, Paul, and Mary (early 1960s) proved that folk music could sell albums, the boom was on. …