cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The three-dimensional aspect of the mammalian lung surfactant myelin figure

Abstract Rodent and primate lung surfactant was studied at the ultrastructural level utilizing procedures that retained most of the carbohydrates and lipids in thin section. The three-dimensional aspect of tubular myelin surfactant was observed to be four, lipid bilayer membranes oriented at right angles so that in cross-section it was square. In longitudinal section it appeared as two parallel lipid bilayers. Inside the tubular myelin was a homogeneous matrix material that completely filled the tubule except for a small, central area. A single multilamellar body, after it expanded and rearranged lamellae to form tubular myelin surfactant, still retained its basic morphology so that it was possible to determine the number and orientation of bodies that comprised a given surfactant area. This enabled quantification of surfactant by serial sectioning. Each transformed multilamellar body was observed to contain from 2 to 13 groups of tubular myelin, oriented at angles within the transformed body. With three-dimensional understanding, many of the areas previously reported to be homogeneous were determined to actually be oblique cross or longitudinal sections through tubular myelin surfactant. Five distinct layers characterized tubular myelin surfactant: (1) Unexpanded layer—up to 63 recently secreted multilamellar bodies. (2) Formation layerpaired lamellae expanding and rearranging to form tubules. (3) Mature layer—tubular myelin surfactant. (4) Air-surfactant interface layer—usually a single lipid bilayer which was the outermost layer of tubular myelin of from 1 to 12 transformed multilamellar bodies. (5) Degraded surfactant layer—lipid bilayer spheres were formed at the interface and degraded in the alveolar space.
A proposed standardized method for bronchoprovocation tests in toluene diisocyanate--induced asthma.

Exposure to vapors of toluene diisocyanate (TDI), a chemical widely used in the plastics and rubber industry, can cause respiratory disease at low concentrations and can be a nonspecific respiratory irritant at high concentrations.‘. 2 While these clinical patterns have been known for some time, laboratory diagnosis has been a challenge because of several problems, including lack of methods for performing quantitative studies of the effect of inhaling precise TDI concentrations. For this to be possible, a delivery system must produce adjustable, stable concentrations of TDI that can be monitored accurately throughout the time of exposure to TDI fumes. Three major problems are encountered in the implementation of a suitable delivery system. First, TDI is an extremely volatile liquid at room temperature which readily produces a dense vapor (vapor density = 6.0; air = 1). Thus, exposed TDI liquid can create vapors of high concentration which vary with location, room size, and room ventilation characteristics. Second, TDI vapor readily adsorbs onto the surface of most materials, except glass and Teflon,” so that efficient transport of TDI test gases is difficult. Third, the present commercially available instruments for the continuous measurement of TDI concentration have an overall response time of 18 min. Therefore, unless the delivery system is stable throughout test procedures, it is impossible to determine the actual concentration of TDI the subject is inhaling because one is always measuring 18 min behind the event. Previous methods of controlling inhaled dosages of TDI for challenge-response studies have been based on reproducing a given environmental situation. Pepys et al.” had their subjects tested in a closed room, in which a polyurethane varnish containing
Reduction of interference by specific IgG with a modified microtiter solid-phase radioimmunoassay to measure honeybee venom IgE

By means of monoclonal mouse anti-human IgE antibody, the microtiter solid-phase radioimmunoassay (MSPRIA) was modified to measure honeybee venom (HBV) IgE. HBV IgG was measured by MSPRIA(G) using affinity column purified goat anti-human IgG antibody and correlated with results obtained with staphylococcal protein A-SPRIA. Nonlinear specific IgE dilution curves were associated with high HBV IgG content. By serial transfer and assay of the supernatant, the interference of IgE by specific IgG could be reduced. The degree of interference was correlated with the specific IgG content. The principle of serial supernatant transfer and assay was applied to the standardization of reference HBV IgE serum, and the quantitation of HBV IgE contents in patients and controls. HBV IgE levels in patients allergic to honeybee stings correlated with the skin-test endpoint titrations. While 75% of the allergic patients were skin-test positive, 83% of them were IgE positive by the MSPRIA and 67% were IgE positive by the RAST.
Vesicoureteral Reflux and Clinical Outcomes in Infants With Prenatally Detected Hydronephrosis

ABSTRACTPurpose: We evaluate the incidence of vesicoureteral reflux and urinary tract infections in infants with prenatally detected hydronephrosis.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of children referred to our hospital for evaluation of prenatally detected hydronephrosis between 1992 and 1998. Measured variables included ultrasound and voiding cystourethrogram findings, and infectious and clinical reflux outcomes.Results: Vesicoureteral reflux was identified in 40 of 234 infants (21%), including 24% of males and 13% of females. A significant correlation was found between the degree of hydronephrosis and incidence of reflux. Urinary tract infections were uncommon and identified in 7.5% of children on prevention for reflux and 4% with normal voiding cystourethrogram. In the majority (58%) of cases reflux resolved with medical management.Conclusions: The incidence of reflux increases with greater degrees of sonographic dilatation but a normal ultrasound does not exclude reflux and...
Structured-groove phase gratings for control and optimization of the spectral efficiency

Phase gratings are used as dispersers in a variety of imaging spectroscopic instruments. However, conventional phase gratings provide limited spectral range and flexibility to fully optimize instrument performance for challenging applications. Presented here is a new design method that tailors and optimizes the spectral efficiency by introducing an arbitrary structure into the grating groove profile.
Adult-age donors offer acceptable long-term survival to pediatric heart transplant recipients: An analysis of the United Network of Organ Sharing database

Objectives A critical shortage of donor organs has caused many centers to use less restrictive donor criteria, including the use of adult-age donors for pediatric recipients. The purpose of this study is (1) to describe the supply of pediatric (0-18 years) heart donors, (2) to explore the relationship between donor age and long-term survival, and (3) to define threshold age ranges associated with decreased long-term survival. Methods The United Network of Organ Sharing provided deidentified patient-level data. Primary analysis focused on 1887 heart transplant recipients aged 9 to 18 years undergoing transplantation from October 1, 1987, to September 25, 2005. Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank tests were used in time-to-event analysis. Receiver operating characteristic curves and stratum-specific likelihood ratios were generated to compare survival at various donor age thresholds. Results The number of pediatric donors decreased (P Conclusions Although donors aged 13 years or less offer pediatric recipients the best chance for achieving long-term survival, donors aged 14 to 51 years offer good outcomes to pediatric recipients. Consideration should be given to expanded use of well-selected adult-age donors for pediatric recipients.
Local squaring functions for non‐spherical templates

The local squaring functions representing the likelihood that a particular atom type occupies a particular location in the unit cell are generalized so that the likelihood that a multiatom fragment occurs at a given position can be modeled at less than atomic resolution. The orientation space of the fragment is parameterized according to the special unitary 2-group in order to facilitate both interpretation and interpolation. The representation theory of this group is related to the harmonic analysis for functions of rotation. As an example of computer-aided model construction, local squaring functions for several protein backbone fragments are applied to a 2.0 A model electron density. The resulting functions are sufficient to reconstruct the atomic structure from the probable template placements.
A urinary diabetogenic peptide in proteinuric diabetic patients.

A polypeptide exhibiting diabetogenic and anti-insulin properties has been isolated from the urine of 33 of the 35 proteinuric diabetic patients. This material could not be found in the urine of 34 normal subjects and 32 diabetic patients without proteinuria. It was, however, detected chemically in one of seven nondiabetic patients with proteinuria, but the amount present was insufficient for biological testing. This polypeptide closely resembles, in physiochemical properties, that obtained from patients with lipoatrophic diabetes, as well as that isolated from the adenohypophyses of beef, sheep, and swine. The isoelectric point of the active polypeptide from all the above sources is approximately pH 4.1. In one diabetic subject who underwent hypophysectomy, this material disappeared from the urine following the operation. It is suggested that the source of the active principle isolated from the urine of diabetic patients with proteinuria is probably the pituitary gland. (Metabolism 18: No. 7, July, 556563, 1969) I N 1963 WE REPORTED that the urine of patients with lipoatrophic diabetes contains a diabetogenic po1ypeptide.l This has recently been confumed by others.2 We demonstrated that the peptide was capable of impairing glucose tolerance and of inducing insulin resistance when administered either to dogs or humans. The present study was designed to explore the possibility that a similar substance might be found in the urine of diabetic patients without lipodystrophy since a chance observation had disclosed its presence in an obese, maturity-onset diabetic. l Freshly collected urine samples from 67 diabetic patients and 34 healthy subjects have been studied. The diabetogenic peptide was found in the urine of 33 of 35 diabetics with proteinuria but it was absent in all of 32 diabetics without proteinuria, as well as in the normal subjects. Seven additional subjects with proteinuria but without diabetes were studied. One of them exhibited a similar urinary material.
NMR Conformational analysis of 4-hydroxycyclohexanone and 1,4-cyclohexanediols. Coupling constants averaging induced by conformational equilibria and by strong coupling effects—role of solvent

Significant differences are observed in the NMR spectra of cis-1,4-cyclohexanediol and 4-hydroxycyclohexanone measured in different solvents. For the diol the differences are shown to arise from averaging of coupling constants through strong coupling effects. The differences for the ketone result from a combination of the same factors plus differences in conformational equilibria. A discussion of the averaging of coupling constants due to conformational equilibria and due to strong coupling effects is given. The signal band width method for determination of conformational equilibria is shown to be independent of strong coupling effects.
Torsion Textures Simulation by Considering Rigid Body Rotation

In this paper, the torsional texture evolution of pearlitic steel wire is simulated by Full Constrains (FC) Taylor model. The simulation results indicate that a simple shear deformation can not explain the experiments results of torsion texture. Bring in additional rigid body rotation and rational shear deformation can emersion the torsion texture very well. The different deformation styles are imposed to the FC Taylor, a group of parameters is given to explain the torsion texture evolution.
FREE BOUNDARY OF He II AND FEYNMAN WAVE FUNCTIONS.

An extension of the standard hydrodynamical equations for superfluid helium atT=0 is discussed. Its relation with Feynman wave functions and the well-known Gross-Pitaevskii treatment is elucidated. Finally, a discussion of the free boundary of He II is carried out and the surface tension computed on the basis of a simple approximation scheme. The result is 0.56 dyne/cm against about 0.35 dyne/cm experimental value.
CONGENITAL HEPATIC FIBROSIS AND POLYCYSTIC KIDNEY DISEASE

From 1940 to 1975, congenital hepatic fibrosis was diagnosed in 18 patients who were less than 18 years old. Only patients with histologic confirmation of congenital hepatic fibrosis were included. Although the symptoms and clinical courses differed among the age groups, the histologic liver changes showed little variation. All four patients who presented before the age of 3 months had enlarged kidneys, and all four died in respiratory failure. Fourteen patients were seen after the age of 3 months because of symptoms associated with portal hypertension. Of the 14 patients, 6 died after massive upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage and 1 died after a shunt operation. All 7 patients in this age group who died had renal insufficiency. Of the seven patients still alive at the time of this study, only two had mild renal insufficiency, but all seven had evidence of portal hypertension. Polycystic renal disease was diagnosed in all patients. Fourteen had renal tissue diagnosis, and four had urographic evidence of the disease. Review of the histologic specimens of eight patients revealed that, in the four patients less than 3 months old, the findings were typical of infantile polycystic disease, and in the four older patients, cortical and medullary cysts were present--findings consistent with infantile polycystic kidney disease.
Umbilical Cord Blood Serum Procalcitonin Concentration in the Diagnosis of Early Neonatal Infection

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate serum procalcitonin concentration in umbilical cord blood for diagnosis of intrauterine bacterial infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study was conducted between 2000 and 2001. Serum procalcitonin concentrations were evaluated in 187 umbilical cord blood samples. Five groups have been defined: controls A (n=37), full-term noninfected B1 (n=80) and infected neonates B2 (n=8), preterm noninfected C1 (n=38) and infected C2 (n=24) newborns. An immunoluminometric assay was used to determine procalcitonin concentration. The Mann–Whitney U-test and Spearman's correlation ratio were applied. The sensitivity and specificity, the positive and negative predictive values, and the area under receiver operating characteristic curves were calculated. RESULTS: A statistically higher serum procalcitonin concentration was found in the preterm infected group (p<0.005; C2 vs A and C1). CONCLUSION: Serum procalcitonin concentration in umbilical cord blood may be a useful parameter in the diagnosis of early neonatal infection.
Evaluating the Problem Gambling Severity Index

A large, integrated survey data set provided by the Ontario Problem Gambling Centre was used to investigate psychometric properties of the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI). This nine-item self-report instrument was designed to measure a single, problem gambling construct. Unlike its nearest competitor—the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS)—the PGSI was designed specifically for use with a general population rather than in a clinical context. The present analyses demonstrated that the PGSI does assess a single, underlying, factor, but that this is complicated by different, multiple factor structures for respondents with differing levels of problem gambling severity. The PGSI also demonstrated small to moderate correlations with measures of gambling frequency and faulty cognitions. Overall, the PGSI presents a viable alternative to the SOGS for assessing degrees of problem gambling severity in a non-clinical context.
The effect of time of day on hypnotizability: a brief communication.

Abstract Hypnotizability has been shown to be very stable for long periods of time in a person's adult life when no attempts at modification are made (Morgan, Johnson, & Hilgard, 1974). Even though it can be improved by several different means, attempts to modify individual hypnotizability may only allow people to reach a “plateau” level of hypnotizability that is predetermined for each person. The present experiment addressed the question of whether hypnotizability like body temperature, reflex response intensity, and performance on various mental and motor tasks, fluctuates in a circadian rhythm. The Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility, Form A (HGSHS:A) of Shor and E. Orne (1962) was used to test compliance with hypnotic suggestions among several large groups of Ss at different hours of the day. A plot of the mean HGSHS:A scores obtained at each time of day showed a bimodal distribution, with the highest mean score significantly different from 2 of the 3 minima. Although the second peak did n...
Thallium-201 versus technetium-99m pyrophosphate myocardial imaging in detection and evaluation of patients with acute myocardial infarction

Thallium-201 myocardial imaging is of value in the early detection and evaluation of patients with suspected acute infarction. The extent of a thallium defect in an initial myocardial image may have important prognostic value. Tomographic imaging techniques hold promise for increased diagnostic sensitivity and more accurate quantitation of both infarcted and residual viable myocardium. Thallium imaging may have a special value in characterizing patients with cardiogenic shock and in detecting patients at risk for subsequent infarction or death or both, before hospital discharge. Approximately 95 percent of patients with transmural or nontransmural myocardial infarction can be detected with technetium-99m pyrophosphate myocardial imaging if the imaging is performed 24 to 72 hours afler the onset of symptoms. Pyrophosphate imaging has been useful in localizing the site and determining the extent of acute myocardtal infarction. The “doughnut” pattern is assocfated with a relatively large incidence of subsequent congestive heart failure and death. However, the clinical utility of this information is limited because it is usually not available when it is most needed, on admission to the coronary care unit. Pyrophosphate imaging may have an important role in the evaluation of patients during the early follow-up period after hospital discharge from an episode of acute jnfarction. The finding of a persistently positive pyrophosphate image suggests a poor prognosis and is associated with a relatively large incidence of subsequent myocardial infarction and death.
CHALLENGES BUILDING ONLINE GIS SERVICES TO SUPPORT GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY MAPPING AND ANALYSIS: LESSONS FROM THE MOUNTAIN AND PLAINS DATABASE AND INFORMATICS PROJECT

We argue that distributed mapping and analysis of biodiversity information becoming available on global distributed networks is a lynchpin activity linking together research and development challenges in biodiversity informatics. Online mapping is a core activity because it allows users to visually explore the spatial context of biodiversity information and quickly assemble the datasets needed to ask and answer biodiversity research and management questions. We make the case that a free, online global biodiversity mapping tool utilizing distributed species occurrence records is now within reach and discuss how such a system can be built using existing technology. We also discuss additional challenges and solutions given experiences building a regional distributed GIS tool called MaPSTeDI (Mountain and Plains Spatio-Temporal Database and Informatics Initiative). We focus on solutions to three challenges in particular: Returning result queries in a reasonable amount of time given network limitations; Accessing multiple data sources using different transmission mechanisms; Scaling from a solution for a handful of data providers to hundreds or thousands of providers. We close by discussing the future challenges and potential solutions for integrating analysis tools into distributed mapping applications.
Predicting Health and Social Service Utilization of Older Adults

This study incorporated subjective and evaluative measures of the OARS methodology into the Andersen framework to predict health and social service utilization of older adults. One hundred and ninety-nine service recipients from 21 agencies in Ohio served as respondents. A number of predisposing, enabling, and need characteristics were identified that successfully discriminated between those who entered the health care system and those who did not and between those who had above and below average levels of social service usage. The efficacy of subjective vs. evaluative measures in prediction was examined. Conceptual and methodological issues are discussed as well as implications for the future.
Trichloroethylene exposure during cardiac valvuloseptal morphogenesis alters cushion formation and cardiac hemodynamics in the avian embryo.

It is controversial whether trichloroethylene (TCE) is a cardiac teratogen. We exposed chick embryos to 0, 0.4, 8, or 400 ppb TCE/egg during the period of cardiac valvuloseptal morphogenesis (2–3.3 days’ incubation). Embryo survival, valvuloseptal cellularity, and cardiac hemodynamics were evaluated at times thereafter. TCE at 8 and 400 ppb/egg reduced embryo survival to day 6.25 incubation by 40–50%. At day 4.25, increased proliferation and hypercellularity were observed within the atrioventricular and outflow tract primordia after 8 and 400 ppb TCE. Doppler ultrasound revealed that the dorsal aortic and atrioventricular blood flows were reduced by 23% and 30%, respectively, after exposure to 8 ppb TCE. Equimolar trichloroacetic acid (TCA) was more potent than TCE with respect to increasing mortality and causing valvuloseptal hypercellularity. These results independently confirm that TCE disrupts cardiac development of the chick embryo and identifies valvuloseptal development as a period of sensitivity. The hypercellular valvuloseptal profile is consistent with valvuloseptal heart defects associated with TCE exposure. This is the first report that TCA is a cardioteratogen for the chick and the first report that TCE exposure depresses cardiac function. Valvuloseptal hypercellularity may narrow the cardiac orifices, which reduces blood flow through the heart, thereby compromising cardiac output and contributing to increased mortality. The altered valvuloseptal formation and reduced hemodynamics seen here are consistent with such an outcome. Notably, these effects were observed at a TCE exposure (8 ppb) that is only slightly higher than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency maximum containment level for drinking water (5 ppb).
Why Girls? Using Routine Activities Theory to Predict Cyberbullying Experiences Between Girls and Boys

This study uses data from the Second Youth Internet Safety Survey (D. Finkelhor, K. J. Mitchell, and J. Wolak 2011) to predict the risk of cyberbullying between genders. Although much of the cyberbullying literature has considered gender in analyses, nearly all studies have lumped boys and girls together when examining risk factors. This gender lumping has led to the inaccurate perception that risk factors for cyberbullying affect both genders similarly. Therefore, this study fills that void by reviewing differences in the online behaviors of boys and girls, whether these differences affect risk for cyberbullying, and whether routine activities theory is applicable in explaining the risk of cyberbullying for both boys and girls.
Health insurance coverage during a 24-month period: a comparison of estimates from two national health surveys

National estimates of the uninsured are available from multiple surveys and differ across surveys. Previous efforts to better understand reasons for differences among these estimates have primarily focused on annual estimates. This study compares national estimates of health insurance coverage over generally comparable 24-month time periods using two integrated Federal health-related surveys, the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) and the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) for the years 2002–2003 and replicated analyses for 2001–2002. We examine survey participants insurance status in year 1 and year 2 based on the NHIS linked with the MEPS and also for MEPS year 1 and year 2 participants. We also examine characteristics associated with 24-month coverage status. National estimates of the percents continuously insured did not differ significantly between the two data sources. In contrast, the MEPS longitudinal estimate of the percent continuously uninsured was higher than the NHIS-MEPS linked estimate whereas the MEPS longitudinal estimate of the discontinuously insured was lower than that derived from the NHIS-MEPS linked data. Factors that help explain these differences include the non-equivalence of the time periods covered by the data sources, modest differences in the length of time covered by the MEPS and NHIS survey instruments, and length of recall. Regression analyses yielded highly consistent correlates of being continuously uninsured versus continuously insured for both data sources. Regression results for discontinuous versus continuous coverage were also generally similar for both data sources. Gaining a better understanding of the alignment in findings based on alternative data sources that support comparable analyses of health insurance coverage helps policymakers to make the most appropriate use of resultant estimates.
Second Family of Histone Deacetylases

Histone deacetylases, enzymes that remove acetyl groups from ɛ-amino groups of lysines that are clustered near the NH2-termini of core histones, play a key role in the repression of transcription ([1][1]). Several histone deacetylases from many eukaryotic species form a highly conserved protein
The time sequence of events during excision repair in Tetrahymena pyriformis.

— The time sequence of events during excision repair of DNA in Tetrahymena pyriformis was investigated after sublethal dose of u.v. radiation. Buoyant-density analysis of the DNA from repairing cells grown in medium containing 5′-bromodeoxyuridine makes it possible to distinguish repair synthesis from normal synthesis. Analysis of the DNA synthesized at various times after irradiation clearly indicates that repair synthesis starts very quickly after irradiation and is completed within 3 to 4 hr. Immediately after irradiation, normal DNA synthesis is greatly depressed but gradually resumes until it predominates after 3 to 4 hr. The molecular weight of DNA strands is reduced and the net rate of DNA synthesis is depressed immediately after irradiation. Both of these parameters are restored to their pre-irradiation values by 3 to 4 hr after irradiation. During the repair period the majority of the pyrimidine dimers are removed. All of the data indicate that repair begins immediately after irradiation and is completed in 3 to 4 hr (about two thirds of a generation period).
In situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy investigation of a bifunctional manganese oxide catalyst with high activity for electrochemical water oxidation and oxygen reduction.

In situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is a powerful technique that can be applied to electrochemical systems, with the ability to elucidate the chemical nature of electrocatalysts under reaction conditions. In this study, we perform in situ XAS measurements on a bifunctional manganese oxide (MnOx) catalyst with high electrochemical activity for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Using X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS), we find that exposure to an ORR-relevant potential of 0.7 V vs RHE produces a disordered Mn3II,III,IIIO4 phase with negligible contributions from other phases. After the potential is increased to a highly anodic value of 1.8 V vs RHE, relevant to the OER, we observe an oxidation of approximately 80% of the catalytic thin film to form a mixed MnIII,IV oxide, while the remaining 20% of the film consists of a less oxidized phase, likely corresponding to unchanged Mn3II,III,IIIO4. XAS...
Adsorption reactions of alkali-halide nanocrystals: Identification of an important surface defect

The adsorption reactions of alkali-halide clusters have been investigated on a size-selected basis using flow-reactor methods. The reactivity of larger sodium-fluoride clusters [NanFn−1]+ toward polar molecules NH3 and H2O shows a distinctive pattern as a function ofn at ambient temperature. Comparison with computed structures shows that aparticular kind of defect greatly facilitates the initial adsorption process. This defect can be formed by removal of an ion-pair from the face of an otherwise perfect nanocrystal, to create a basket-like opening for the adsorbed molecule. It is shown that this kind of defect occurs as a most stable low-temperature structure only to a certain size, after which a less reactive defect takes its place. The implications of these findings for the adsorption reactivity of the surfaces of ionic solids are briefly discussed.
FPGA interconnect planning

We present an FPGA interconnect planning methodology based on the empirical measure known as Rent's Rule[8]. We show that allocation of wire segment lengths during the FPGA architecture planning phase can be improved by taking into account interconnect complexities of the target circuits. We utilize previous work on netlist circuit fanout distribution[12] to estimate the FPGA segmentation and employ a timing-driven placement and routing approach to get a minimized area-delay product. Our results indicate that for logic clusters of various complexities, embedded in hierarchical FPGAs, our interconnect planning technique can improve circuit performance by an average of 10% and the area-delay product by an average of 29% over typical commercial FPGAs.
Toxoplasma gondii:Evidence for Interleukin-12-Dependent and -Independent Pathways of Interferon-γ Production Induced by an Attenuated Parasite Strain

Abstract S charton -K ersten , T., C aspar , P., S her , A., and D enkers , E. Y. 1996. Toxoplasma gondii: Evidence for interleukin-12-dependent and -independent pathways of interferon-γ production induced by an attenuated parasite strain. Experimental Parasitology 84, 102–114. Immunity in mice infected with Toxoplasma gondii is dependent upon the ability to generate protective levels of the cytokine IFN-γ. In this report, we present evidence that the attenuated vaccine strain, ts-4, induces the latter cytokine by both IL-12-dependent and -independent pathways. In contrast, strain ME49 appears to induce IFN-γ wholly in dependence upon IL-12. Thus, 88% of wild-type C57BL/6 mice treated with anti-IL-12 mAb survive ts-4 infection, unlike similarly treated ME49-infected animals. Moreover, while anti-IL-12 treatment reduced early IFN-γ and nitric oxide production to background levels in ts-4-infected scid animals, the same treatment in infected C57BL/6 mice had no effect on production of the latter mediators. In addition, we found that anti-IL-12 treatment induces 100% mortality in CD4 + -deficient MHC class II knockout mice infected with ts-4. Finally, production of nitric oxide (a molecule implicated in parasite control) was abrogated in ts-4-infected scid mice following depletion of IFN-γ producing NK cells. Together, our results suggest that ts-4 induces IL-12-dependent and -independent IFN-γ production in normal mice, but ME49 induces the latter cytokine only in dependence upon IL-12. Our data, furthermore, implicate involvement of T cells in the IL-12-independent component of the IFN-γ response.
Patient Safety in Obstetrics: What Aviators, Firefighters and Others Can Teach Us

Waiting for results from large studies of patient safety or safety advisories from organizations could cost lives. This article discusses the development of an international, web-based, anonymous obstetric reporting system to gather safety stories and share solutions that, in other fields, have proven to promote safety and build a safety culture.
Albumin activates the canonical TGF receptor–smad signaling pathway but this is not required for activation of astrocytes

The use of albumin as a resuscitation fluid is considered safe for most critically ill patients. However, clinical data suggest albumin may increase mortality in neurotrauma, but improve outcome after stroke. Albumin has been shown to activate glia, and to play a role in the mechanisms of epileptogenesis via the TGFβ-receptor (TGFβR). We have previously shown that albumin induces the production of inflammatory mediators including IL-1β via activation of MAPK pathways in primary astrocytes and microglia. The extracellular signaling mechanisms leading to the activation of glial cells in response to albumin are not well understood. Here, we investigated the role of the TGFβR and the canonical TGFβ receptor-smad signaling pathway in astrocyte activation by albumin. In primary astrocyte cultures, albumin activated the smad pathway downstream of the TGFβR by increasing the phosphorylation of smad2, and in the level of smad3 and smad4 translocated to the nucleus. Albumin produced an increase in IL-1β which was not dependent on smad activation, but was prevented by blockade of the TGFβR. Increase in the chemokine CX3CL1, and the decrease in S100B produced by albumin were independent of the TGFβR and smad activation. Albumin induced an increase in LDH release that was inhibited by blockade of the TGFβR and by inhibition of smad activation. These findings show that albumin activates the canonical TGF receptor-smad signaling pathway. The albumin-induced increase in the pro-epileptogenic cytokine IL-1β involves the TGFβR, but is independent of smad activation. Taken together, the effects of albumin on both IL-1β and activation of the TGFβR pathway are further evidence for a role for albumin in neurotrauma-related epileptogenesis.
Advances in Centrifugal Separators for Particulate Matter Control from Stationary Sources

This paper summarized recent developments in centrifugal separators for particulate matter (PM) emission control. Airborne particulate matter, which is responsible for many health and environmental problems, is generated mostly from combustion processes in stationary sources such as house burners and power plants and other production facilities, except field dust. Reverse flow cyclones are centrifugal separators having been widely used for industrial particulate matter removal. Typical pressure drops of these cyclones for air cleaning are 500 Pa or higher, and were believed to be only able to separate particles larger than 10 µm. An aerodynamic deduster that could separate particles as small as 1 µm at a pressure drop of 200 Pa was recently developed. Field evaluation showed that the deduster can be effectively used in reducing particulate matter emission from stationary sources.
Game theoretical methods in PDEs

Nonlinear PDEs, mean value properties, and stochastic differential games are intrinsically connected. We will describe how the solutions to certain PDEs (of \(p\)-Laplacian type) can be interpreted as limits of values of a specific Tug-of-War game, when the step-size \(\epsilon \) determining the allowed length of move of a token, decreases to \(0\). This approach originated in Peres et al. (J Am Math Soc 22:167–210, 2009) and Peres and Sheffield (Duke Math 145(1):91–120, 2008); for the case of deterministic games see Kohn (SIAM News 40(8), 2007); Kohn and Serfaty (Commun Pure Appl Math 59(3):344–407, 2006); Commun Pure Appl Math 63:1298–1350, 2010).
Real-Time Visual Servoing of a Robot Using Three-Dimensional Ultrasound

This paper presents a robotic system capable of using three-dimensional ultrasound to guide a surgical instrument to a tracked target location. Tracking of both the surgical instrument and target was done using image based algorithms on the real-time 3D ultrasound data. The tracking techniques are shown to be especially amenable for execution on powerful graphics processor units. By harnessing a graphics card, it was possible to detect both a surgical instrument and a surgical target at a rate of 25 Hz. The high update rate permits the use of tracked instrument and target locations for controlling a robot. Validation of the system was done in a water tank, where the robot moved the instrument to the target site with a mean error of 1.2 mm
Killing in combat may be independently associated with suicidal ideation

BACKGROUND: The United States military has lost more troops to suicide than to combat for the second year in a row and better understanding combat-related risk factors for suicide is critical. We examined the association of killing and suicide among war veterans after accounting for PTSD, depression, and substance use disorders. METHODS: We utilized a cross-sectional, retrospective, nationally representative sample of Vietnam veterans from the National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study (NVVRS). In order to perform a more in depth analysis, we utilized a subsample of these data, the NVVRS Clinical Interview Sample (CIS), which is representative of 1.3 million veterans who were eligible for the clinical interview by virtue of living in proximity to an interview site, located within 28 standard metropolitan regions throughout the United States. RESULTS: Veterans who had higher killing experiences had twice the odds of suicidal ideation, compared to those with lower or no killing experiences (OR = 1.99, 95% CI = 1.07-3.67), even after adjusting for demographic variables, PTSD, depression, substance use disorders, and adjusted combat exposure. PTSD (OR = 3.42, 95% CI = 1.09-10.73), depression (OR = 11.49, 95% CI = 2.12-62.38), and substance use disorders (OR = 3.98, 95% CI = 1.01-15.60) were each associated with higher odds of suicidal ideation. Endorsement of suicide attempts was most strongly associated with PTSD (OR = 5.52, 95% CI = 1.21-25.29). CONCLUSIONS: Killing experiences are not routinely examined when assessing suicide risk. Our findings have important implications for conducting suicide risk assessments in veterans of war. Depression and Anxiety 00:1-6, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Language: en
Glacier Variability (1967-2006) in the Teton Range, Wyoming, United States1

Edmunds, Jake, Glenn Tootle, Greg Kerr, Ramesh Sivanpillai, and Larry Pochop, 2011. Glacier Variability (1967-2006) in the Teton Range, Wyoming, United States. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 48(1): 187-196. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752-1688.2011.00607.x Abstract: Glacier area and volume changes were quantified through the use of historical aerial photographs in Wyoming’s Teton Range. Glacier area changes in the Teton Range were estimated for three glaciers using unrectified aerial photography from 1967 to 2006. The total surface area of the three glaciers was 0.53 km2 in 1967 and 0.40 km2 in 2006, a decrease of 25% during the 39-year period. The smallest glacier, Teepe, experienced the greatest area loss (60 ± 3%), whereas the largest glacier, Teton Glacier, lost 17 ± 3% of the 1967 area. For the current research, aerial photography from 1967 to 2002 was used to estimate glacier volume loss using stereoscopy techniques. The aerial photographs provide a finer resolution when compared with other datasets including satellite imagery (e.g., Landsat). Volume loss for the three glaciers was estimated to be 3.20 ± 0.46 million cubic meters over the period of 1967 to 2002. In assessing the primary climatic driver of the glacier ice loss, observed summer (June, July, and August) temperature data showed a statistically significant increase in temperatures when comparing the period of study (1968 to 2006) with historical temperatures from 1911 to 1967. When comparing spring (April 1st Snow Water Equivalent) snowpack for the period of study with historical records beginning in 1931, a significant difference in snowpack was not observed.
Credit and equity rationing in markets with adverse selection

Previous theories of financial market rationing focussed on a single market, either the credit or the equity market. An interesting question is whether credit and equity rationing are mutually compatible, and how they interact. We consider a model with two-dimensional asymmetric information, where entrepreneurs have private information about both the expected returns and the risk of their projects. We show that credit and equity rationing may occur individually or simultaneously. Moreover, competition between the two markets may generate the adverse selection that leads to rationing outcomes.
The association of vacA genotype and Helicobacter pylori-related disease in Latin American and African populations.

In the populations of Western countries, particular genotypes of the vacuolating cytotoxin gene, vacA (vacA s, signal region variants; vacA m, middle region variants) of Helicobacter pylori are believed to be risk factors for the development of peptic ulcers and gastric cancer. However, it was unclear whether these vacA gene variants are associated with the development of gastrointestinal diseases in developing nations. The relationship between vacA genotypes and H. pylori-related disease development in Latin American and African populations was investigated using meta-analysis of 2612 patients from Latin America (2285 strains) and 520 patients from Africa (434 strains). The frequencies of vacA s and m genotypes differed between strains from Latin America (77.2% for s1 and 68.1% for m1) and Africa (83.9% for s1 and 56.7% for m1). Latin American strains with s1 and m1 genotypes increased the risk of gastric cancer (OR 4.17, 95% CI 2.49–6.98 for s1, and 3.59, 2.27–5.68 for m1) and peptic ulcers (e.g. 1.73, 1.37–2.20 for s1). African strains with the s1 or m1 genotypes also increased the risk of peptic ulcers (8.69, 1.16–64.75 for s1) and gastric cancer (10.18, 2.36–43.84 for m1). The cagA-positive genotype frequently coincided with s1 and m1 genotypes in both populations. Overall, the vacA s and m genotypes were related to gastric cancer and peptic ulcer development and might be useful markers of risk factors for gastrointestinal disease, especially in Latin America. Further studies will be required to evaluate the effects of vacA genotypes in African populations because of the small sample number currently available.
A conception of runoff-phenomena

The problem of transforming observed precipitation into stream-flow for a natural drainage-basin can be divided into two parts. The first part requires a procedure for determining the amount and kind of runoff that occurs under various conditions. The second part is concerned with the shaping of the runoff into a discharge-hydrograph for a particular gaging station. (Rainfall-eccentricities often provide more difficulties than either of the above.) Considerable investigation has been made and is being continued along both lines of research. The unit-hydrograph and related methods now provide a means of shaping discharge-hydrographs as accurately as is required by the practical considerations of most problems. However, it is believed that methods for determining the amount and kind of runoff which occur under various conditions have not been demonstrated to an equivalent refinement. It is with the latter problem that this paper is concerned.
KUPS: Knowledge-based ubiquitous and persistent sensor networks for threat assessment

We propose a knowledge-based ubiquitous and persistent sensor network (KUPS) for threat assessment, in which "sensor" is a broad characterization. It refers to diverse data or information from ubiquitous and persistent sensor sources such as organic sensors and human intelligence sensors. Our KUPS for threat assessment consists of two major steps: situation awareness using fuzzy logic systems (FLSs) and threat parameter estimation using radar sensor networks (RSNs). Our FLSs combine the linguistic knowledge from different intelligent sensors, and our proposed maximum-likelihood (ML) estimation algorithm performs target radar cross section (RCS) parameter estimation. We also show that our ML estimator is unbiased and the variance of parameter estimation matches the Cramer-Rao lower bound (CRLB) if the radar pulses follow the Swerling II model. Simulations further validate our theoretical results.
Die Geschäfte der Kreditinstitute im Inlandszahlungsverkehr

Man unterscheidet folgende Zahlungsmittel: 1. Geld a) Bargeld (Banknoten, Munzen), b) Buch- oder Giralgeld, 2. Geldsurrogate (Geldersatzmittel). Geldsurrogate sind im Umlauf befindliche Wechsel und Schecks.
Recent Advances in Telepsychiatry: An Updated Review

Objective In response to new developments and interest in the area of telepsychiatry, literature on this topic has greatly increased over the past three years. Because of this increase, the authors conducted a literature review of telepsychiatry to update a previously published review that covered the years 1970 to 2000. Methods A search was conducted on the MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Telemedicine Information Exchange (TIE) databases for literature published from March 2000 to March 2003 on telepsychiatry applications, using the following terms: telepsychiatry, telepsychology, telemental health, videoconferencing, and video conferencing. Results Sixty-eight publications were identified over this three-year period, exceeding the 63 publications identified in the previous literature review. The authors summarize the results of findings in six areas: novel clinical demonstrations and current program descriptions; the reliability of clinical assessments; clinical outcomes; satisfaction of patients and clinicians; cost and cost-effectiveness; and legal, regulatory, and ethical issues. Studies describing existing programs and novel clinical applications support the belief that the use of telepsychiatry is expanding. Overall, studies continued to support the notion that telepsychiatry assessments can produce reliable results, telepsychiatric services can lead to improved clinical status, and patients and clinicians are satisfied with treatment delivered via telepsychiatry. Evidence supported the notion that telepsychiatry is a cost-effective means of delivering mental health services; however, this conclusion was based on limited studies of economic models of telepsychiatry programs. Also limited were papers on the topics of legal, regulatory, and ethical issues. Conclusions Despite the rapid increase in information on telepsychiatry, methodologically sound studies in the area of telepsychiatry are still infrequent.
A scalable routing protocol for ad hoc networks

Ad hoc networks, which do not rely on any infrastructure such as access points or base station, can be deployed rapidly and inexpensively even in situations with geographical or time constraints. So ad hoc networks have attractive applications in both military and disaster situations and also in commercial uses like sensor networks or conferencing. In ad hoc networks, each node acts both as a router and as a host. The topology of an ad hoc network may change dynamically, which makes it difficult to design an efficient routing protocol. Nowadays, more and more wireless devices are used, which can form large ad hoc networks. It is important to design scalable routing protocol for ad hoc networks. In this paper we present anchor based routing protocol (ABRP), a scalable routing protocol for ad hoc networks. It is a hybrid routing protocol, which combines table based routing strategy with geographic routing strategy. Simulation results shows that it is efficient and scale well to large network.