cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Jupiter's dayglow H Ly α emission line profile

IUE spectra of Jupiter's low latitude H Ly c emission line profile have been obtained on and off the "Ly c bulge" at the longitude of the central meridian (CIVIL), near the limb of the planet, and at midlatitudes on the CML. All equatorial locations show line broadening beyond the IUE resolution of 0.14 3,. The equatorial lines are significantly broader than at midlatitudes on the CML, and near the limb the lines are broader than on the CML, both on and off the bulge. The observed line shapes are not consistent with pure resonant scattering of solar Ly cby upper atmospheric H atoms with a variable H abundance: calculated profiles near the linb have much less intense cores. The broadening of the bulge line profiles on the CML and limb compared with off-bulge regions demonstrates that the bulge effect is a broadening of the line, not an increase in the line core flux. We propose that there is either a substantial broadened internal source and/or the upper atmosphere has considerable Doppler broadening (winds or turbulence) to increase the resonant scattering line width. identified: - anomalously bright (10-20 kR) compared with solar H Ly cflux, equivalent to a- 40 % geometric albedo (from rocket experiments, Voyager UVS, and IUE) - day to night brightness decrease by roughly an order of magnitude (from Voyager UVS) - long-term (solar cycle) and short-term (days-weeks) correlation with solar Ly c/EUV emission flux (froxn IUE and SME)
Habitual sleep duration associated with self-reported and objectively determined cardiometabolic risk factors.

Background: Self-reported short or long sleep duration has been associated with adverse cardiometabolic health outcomes in laboratory and epidemiologic studies, but interpretation of such data has been limited by methodologic issues. Methods: Adult respondents of the 2007–2008 US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were examined in a cross-sectional analysis (N = 5649). Self-reported sleep duration was categorized as very short (<5 h), short (5–6 h), normal (7–8 h), or long (P9 h). Obesity, diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension, and hyperlipidemia were objectively assessed by self-reported history. Statistical analyses included univariate comparisons across sleep duration categories for all variables. Binary logistic regression analyses and cardiometabolic factor as outcome, with sleep duration category as predictor, were assessed with and without covariates. Observed relationships were further assessed for dependence on race/ethnicity. Results: In adjusted analyses, very short sleep was associated with self-reported hypertension (odds ratio [OR], 2.02, [95% confidence interval {CI},1.45–2.81]; P < 0.0001), self-reported hyperlipidemia (OR, 1.96 [95% CI, 1.43–2.69]; P < 0.0001), objective hyperlipidemia (OR, 1.41 [95% CI, 1.04–1.91]; P = 0.03), selfreported DM (OR, 1.76 [95% CI, 1.13–2.74]; P = 0.01), and objective obesity (OR, 1.53 [95% CI, 1.03– 1.43]; P = 0.005). Regarding short sleep (5–6 h), in adjusted analyses, elevated risk was seen for selfreported hypertension (OR, 1.22 [95% CI, 1.02–1.45]; P = 0.03) self-reported obesity (OR, 1.21 [95% CI, 1.03–1.43]; P = 0.02), and objective obesity (OR, 1.17 [95% CI, 1.00–1.38]; P < 0.05). Regarding long sleep (P9 h), no elevated risk was found for any outcomes. Interactions with race/ethnicity were significant for all outcomes; race/ethnicity differences in patterns of risk varied by outcome studied. In particular, the relationship between very short sleep and obesity was strongest among blacks and the relationship between short sleep and hypertension is strongest among non-Hispanic whites, blacks, and non-Mexican
Drawing by children with Williams syndrome: A developmental perspective

Two studies are presented that investigate the developmental aspect of visual‐motor integration by children with Williams syndrome and normally developing children. In Study 1, drawings by 9‐ and 10‐year‐olds with Williams syndrome were compared to drawings by 2 groups of normally developing children: 1 group individually matched for chronological age and another group individually matched for mental age. In Study 2, the normal developmental course for this spatial cognitive skill was examined for 40 normally developing children ages 4 years to 7 years. In both studies, 2 drawing tasks were used: the Short Form of the Developmental Test of Visual Motor Integration (VMI) and drawing then copying a flower, house, and elephant from the Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Evaluation (BDAE). Results from Study 1 indicated that, as expected, the children with Williams syndrome scored significantly lower on the VMI and produced significantly fewer recognizable drawings than did either their chronological age matches or th...
Enhanced heuristic for multichannel optimization in gate array layout

Abstract Enhancements to the multichannel optimization heuristic proposed by Aoshima and Kuh 1 for gate array layout are presented. These enhancements result from the introduction of spacing and windowing concepts.
Juvenile Administration of Methylphenidate Attenuates Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis

Background The neural consequences of early-life exposure to methylphenidate (MPH; Ritalin) are of great interest given the widespread, and sometimes inappropriate, use in children. Here we examine the impact of juvenile MPH exposure on adult hippocampal neurogenesis. Methods Rats received MPH (2.0 mg/kg, intraperitoneal, twice daily) or saline (SAL) during preadolescence (postnatal days 20–35). Hippocampal cell proliferation (Experiment 1), neurogenesis (Experiment 2), and stress-induced changes in cell proliferation (Experiment 3) were assessed at several developmental stages including adulthood. Results Juvenile exposure to MPH did not alter proliferation at any developmental time point relative to control rats; however, exposure to MPH significantly decreased the long-term survival of newborn cells in adult rats, particularly in the temporal hippocampus. Although MPH-treated rats had higher levels of corticosterone after restraint stress, they did not show the expected greater decrease in hippocampal cell proliferation relative to control animals. Conclusions Early-life exposure to MPH inhibits the survival of adult-generated neurons in the temporal hippocampus and may reduce progenitor sensitivity to corticosterone-induced decreases in proliferation. These findings suggest that decreased adult neurogenesis is an enduring consequence of early-life exposure to MPH and are discussed for their relevance to humans.
Learning behavior, escape behavior, and depression in an ulcer susceptible rat strain

The aim of the present study was to explore the relationship between depression (helpless withdrawal behavior) and susceptibility to stress ulcer in rats. The WKY genetic strain of rats has been described as highly susceptible to stomach ulcer development during water restraint, i.e., when placed in a jar of water and forced to swim to keep their head above water, a setting in which Richter identified “giving up” behavior akin to hopelessness (Richter, 1957). Since WKY rats tended to float in the water instead of swimming in an attempt to escape, and were also found to be relatively inactive in open field tests, a series of experiments were performed to ascertain whether their diminished activity and their failure to swim reflected slowness, cognitive impairment, or something actually akin to depression. The latter interpretation was supported by evidence from tests of shock avoidance behavior, of capacity to learn discrimination in an operant setting, and by the capacity of an antidepressive drug to lessen floating time in the forced swim test and also to reduce the incidence of stomach ulcers.
Failure strength study of silicon die and LCD glass by FEA and experiment

Measurement of failure strength of brittle material is always a challenge. Silicon die and LCD glass are two major brittle components in electronic products. Both of them may fail when subject to a large stress during manufacturing, assembling and in field. In order to assess the risk of failure, both 3-point bending (3PB) and ball-on-ring (BOR) are employed to measure the flexural strength of silicon die and glass in this paper. The samples are taken from actual consumer digital products. It is found that the results from two different testing methods are quite different, which include the values of strength and the failure modes. The failure mechanism and location are also studied using finite element analysis (FEA). Two different cracking modes come out of the test results for both silicon die and LCD glass. One is cracking into many small pieces and this is the main cracking mode. The other is cracking into two half.
Modified Oral Input and the Acquisition of Word Meanings.

L'A. examine la relation entre l'input oral modifie et l'acquisition des sens du mot chez des lyceens japonais. Les principaux resultats sont les suivants: ✦ une relation etroite entre la comprehension et l'acquisition du sens du mot n'est mise en evidence que dans un test qui reproduit le cadre de l'experience d'apprentissage, ✦ bien qu'il y ait plus de significations acquises a partir de l'input modifie de maniere interactionnelle que de l'input premodifie, le taux d'acquisition (en mots par minute) est plus rapide avec l'input premodifie, ✦ le nombre de textes ou chaque mot apparait est le facteur le plus important de l'acquisition du sens du mot, ✦ l'input modifie complexe est negativement lie a l'acquisition du sens du mot
Cyclomastopathy; A Physio-Pathological Conception of Some Benign Breast Tumors, with an Analysis of Four Hundred Cases

“Whatever branch of biological science we make the subject of our study, the more deeply we enter into it, the more do we realize that classification, which is the goal and outcome of our knowledge—so far as it concerns the knowledge in itself—is not the sorting of data into sharply defined departments; such departments do not exist. Rather, it is the arrangement of our data in progressive order in such a way that we most satisfactorily gain a comprehension of their relationships and the place they occupy in one harmonious scheme. The classes of living objects and of vital phenomena are not distinct; classes as such have no absolute existence; they pass imperceptibly one into the other by many transitional forms. While this is so, classification is nevertheless necessary …. Nowhere do these considerations gain a better illustration than in this study of the different forms of neoplasms.”— Adami. This paper is a study of a group of clearly benign tumors of the breast, called by many names but previously classified in this laboratory under three headings, fibro-adenoma, intracanalicular myxoma, and cystic adenoma. It has for its basis the case histories and pathological material accumulated during the past forty-two years, and was begun with the intent of presenting the various histological appearances encountered in these groups of tumors with the correlated clinical findings.
Enhancement in ‘apparent’ membrane microviscosity during differentiation of embryonal carcinoma cells induced by retinoids

Abstract Upon differentiation of embryonal carcinoma cells induced by retinoids (10 −7 M) the ‘apparent’ membrane microviscosity increases dramatically. Only biologically active retinoids induce differentiation and cause an enhancement in microviscosity. Several embryonal carcinoma cell lines have a relatively lower ‘apparent’ microviscosity than their differentiated derivatives, suggesting that this may be a general property of these cells. At higher concentrations retinoids cause a reduction in ‘apparent’ membrane microviscosity of various cells. This change occurs whether the analogue is biologically active or not, indicating the non-specific nature of this action.
Regulation of neutral protease activity through the life cycle of Tetrahymena pyriformis

Substantial fluctuations in the intracellular specific activity of neutral proteases, as assayed at pH 8 with azocasein as substrate, occur during the life cycle of the protozoan Tetrahymena pyriformis. Specific activity increases during growth in 2% proteose peptone, despite slow secretion into the medium. The most rapid increase occurs during late stationary phase and appears to be a response to one or more low molecular weight (less than 10 000), heat-stable, trypsin-insensitive, polar molecules secreted into the medium. In contrast, intracellular specific activity drops by a factor of 2--5 within the first 2--3 h after transfer to non-nutritive medium. The decrease in activity under these conditions results from an enhanced rate of secretion and the cessation of net synthesis. Its kinetics are unaffected by cycloheximide and concanavalin A.
Place matters: Neighborhood deprivation and cardiometabolic risk factors in the Diabetes Study of Northern California (DISTANCE)

While neighborhood deprivation is associated with prevalence of chronic diseases, it is not well understood whether neighborhood deprivation is also associated with cardiometabolic risk factors among adults with chronic disease. Subjects (n = 19,804) from the Diabetes Study of Northern California (DISTANCE) cohort study, an ethnically-stratified, random sample of members of Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC), an integrated managed care consortium, with type 2 diabetes who completed a survey between 2005 and 2007 and who lived in a 19 county study area were included in the analyses. We estimated the association between a validated neighborhood deprivation index (NDI) and four cardiometabolic risk factors: body mass index (BMI = kg/m2), glycosylated hemoglobin (A1c), low density lipoproteins (LDL) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) using multi-level models. Outcomes were modeled in their continuous form and as binary indicators of poor control (severe obesity: BMI ≥35, poor glycemic control: A1c ≥9%, hypercholesterolemia: LDL ≥130 mg/dL, and hypertension: SBP ≥140 mmHg). BMI, A1c and SBP increased monotonically across quartiles of NDI (p < 0.001 in each case); however, LDL was significantly associated with NDI only when comparing the most to the least deprived quartile. NDI remained significantly associated with BMI and A1c after adjusting for individual level factors including income and education. A linear trend (p < 0.001) was observed in the relative risk ratios for dichotomous indicators of severe obesity, poor glycemic control, and 2 or more poorly controlled cardiometabolic risk factors across NDI quartile. In adjusted models, higher levels of neighborhood deprivation were positively associated with indicators of cardiometabolic risk among adults with diabetes, suggesting that neighborhood level deprivation may influence individual outcomes. However, longitudinal data are needed to test the causal direction of these relationships.
An international perspective on pediatric psychopharmacology

The use of pharmacotherapy for children and adolescents with mental disorders varies widely across countries. More than 80% of the world use of stimulant medications occurs in the USA. The use of antidepressants and antipsychotics is many times greater in the USA than in other countries. Factors likely to influence the pediatric use of psychotropic medications are here examined and discussed. Variability in use reflects differences in diagnostic systems, clinical practice guidelines, drug regulation, health services organization, availability and allocation of financial resources, and cultural attitudes towards childhood behavioral and emotional disturbances. Cultural context seems to exert a greater influence on the identification and management of psychiatric disorders than on other areas of medicine. It is currently unknown if the heterogeneity in treatment approaches results in differential clinical outcomes and prognosis. A better understanding of the factors underlying international variability may help clarify the process of diagnosis and treatment selection in child and adolescent psychiatry.
Activation Of Interferon Regulatory Factors Revealed By The Crystal Structure Of Dimeric IRF-5

Members of the Interferon Regulatory Factor (IRF) family of proteins play important roles in development of the immune system, host defense, inflammation and apoptosis. Activation of these proteins in the cytoplasm is triggered by phosphorylation of Ser/Thr residues in a C-terminal autoinhibitory region. Phosphylation stimulates dimerization, transport into the nucleus and assembly with the coactivator CBP/p300 to activate transcription of type I interferons and other target genes. We have determined the 2.0A resolution crystal structure of a dimeric form of the IRF-5 transactivation domain (residues 222-467) in which Ser 430 has been mutated to the phosphomimetic Asp. The structure reveals a striking mechanism of dimerization in which the C-terminal autoinhibitory domain attains a highly extended conformation permitting extensive contacts to a second subunit. Mutational analysis of dimeric interface residues strongly supports the observed dimer as representing the activated states of IRF-5 and IRF-3. Based on comparison with crystal structures of IRF-3, these results provide a structural basis for the coupling between dimerization and CBP/p300 binding in IRF family members, in which the C-terminal autoinhibitory domain plays a dual role. In the unphosphorylated form, the C-terminal autoinhibitory domain binds to and masks the hydrophobic CBP/p300 binding surface. Phosphorylation stimulates the unfolding of the C-terminal autoinhibitory domain which then forms extensive contacts with a second IRF-5 subunit, leaving a hydrophobic surface free for binding CBP/p300.
Development and application of an efficient procedure for converting mouse IgM into small, active fragments

A simple method is described for generating active molecules with molecular weights between 110 and 230 kilodaltons from mouse immunoglobulin M. The majority of these molecules have a 1 : 1 ratio of intact heavy and light chains. Approximately 70% of the specific IgM protein will still bind antigen after digestion with only a small decrease in binding affinity. Both anti-kappa and anti-mu chain specific antisera recognize these molecules. These low molecular weight molecules are much more efficient in immunocytochemistry and have localized antigens that could not be detected with undigested IgM.
Absence of myelin basic protein in granular cell tumors.

Thirty-one granular cell tumors were studied for the presence of myelin basic protein (MBP) using a monoclonal antibody with a characterized specificity and an immunoperoxidase technique. The tumors studied were from all areas of the body, from both sexes, and from nine decades of age. All the tumors stained negatively for MBP. One brief report using a monoclonal antibody had noted postitive staining for MBP in granular cell tumors. A more recent study using polyclonal antibodies found negative staining for MBP in Schwann cell neoplasms including granular cell tumors. This study, using an immunohistochemical technique, demonstrated the absence of an MBP marker in granular cell tumors of diverse location despite the fact that granular cell tumors are widely held to be of Schwann cell origin.
Government‐Sponsored Enterprises: Reality Catches Up to Public Administration Theory

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are insolvent and in government hands. Political forces led many lawmakers to neglect warnings from public administration academics and practitioners about the vulnerabilities of government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs). Private ownership combined with government backing let the two companies dominate their markets and the political process. GSEs successfully resisted bank-type regulation and capital requirements. The options now include restoring the two GSEs in some form, transforming them into temporary or longer-term wholly owned government corporations, or simply ending them. This article discusses the advantages and drawbacks of each option. Again, the public administration literature provides useful suggestions about organizational alternatives.
Modular estuarine mesocosm validation: ecotoxicological assessment of direct effects with the model compound endosulfan

This study represents the first in a series of validation experiments for the modular estuarine mesocosm testing direct pesticide effects. Endosulfan, an agricultural insecticide, was selected as a model contaminant for studying direct toxic effects as well as uptake of this model contaminant by estuarine biota. The grass shrimp, Palaemonetes pugio, and the mummichog, Fundulus heteroclitus, showed significant mortality (96 h LC50: 0.12 and 2.2 μg/l, respectively) to endosulfan as predicted by laboratory bioassays. There was no effect on fiddler crabs and eastern oysters. The mesocosm was also useful in demonstrating the bioconcentration of endosulfan by eastern oysters (bioconcentration factor [BCF]=375) similar to results reported in field studies. This study illustrates the modular estuarine mesocosms' ability to detect direct effects of pesticide exposure and the uptake of a pesticide by estuarine fauna.
Chemisorption Assembly of Au Nanorods on Mercaptosilanized Glass Substrate for Label-free Nanoplasmon Biochip

The fabrication of a localized surface plasmon resonance nanosensor in a chip based format that utilizes Au nanorods (GNRs) as the optical transducer were systematically studied. (3-mercaptopropyl)trimethoxysilane (MPTMS) modified glass substrate offers GNR deposition with maximal sensitivity to local refractive index changes, which subsequently results in better optical recognition of receptor-analyte binding. Kinetics governing the mass transport and chemisorption of nanorods from bulk to solid surface can be dynamically controlled in a predictable fashion. We demonstrate that slight aggregation induced by a low ionic strength (5 mM NaCl) can facilitate the nanorod assembly to result in a dense, well-distributed surface monolayer. In high ionic media (e.g. 40-80 mM), anions present electrostatically bind with the positively charged cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) surrounding nanorod surfaces, thereby leading to instability with heavy aggregation in solution. However, once chemically bound on silanized substrates, the nanorods exhibit excellent stability in physiological buffer where high amount of ionic species are present. The fundamental study is followed by demonstration of a practical application of the fabricated biochip in label-free detection based on GNR wavelength shift of the longitudinal palsmon maxima as the optical signature of human IgG model detection.
The third molar controversy: framing the controversy as a public health policy issue.

Abstract Purpose: This article summarizes the current research available concerning the removal of impacted third molars, and provides a background from which practitioners, public health policy advocates, and third-party payers can more objectively assess the the issues of appropriateness of care and overutilization of third molar surgery. Materials and Methods: A literature review was undertaken, with emphasis on noninterventional outcome studies and studies using statistical modeling techniques. Results: The health care resources being devoted to the removal of third molars are in the billions of dollars. There is an attempt at limiting these expenditures by third-party payers. These attempts have focused on the prophylactic removal of asymptomatic third molars. Some sources label the procedure as unnecessary surgery. Analysis of the literature does not answer this question with any degree of confidence. Conclusion: There appears to be a need for large population-based studies to provide practitioners with data to help them decide when intervention is indicated and when it is not. There is little agreement on how many third molars are being removed for so-called prophylactic reasons. The studies that are available on the nonintervention course are few and have significant flaws. The studies that argue against prophylactic removal are largely based on statistical models. The application of these models as a basis for clinical decision making is questionable. The effects of provider supply and reimbursement must be considered as an integral part of the controversy.
Provisional liquidation of futures hedge programs

Abstract Frequently a firm sets a capital allowance for its risk management program such that early liquidation is dictated when the loss from the derivative position exceeds the allowance. Using a two-period framework, we show that the early liquidation decision is supported when futures returns exhibit positive first-order autocorrelation. An empirical study concerning natural gas acquisition of a local distribution company (LDC) demonstrates possibilities of early liquidation underlying optimal hedge policies.
Causalgia in dentistry: an abandoned pain syndrome.

Abstract 1. 1. There is a postextraction pain syndrome in dentistry which should be recognized, and for which the classification of causalgia is justified. 2. 2. There are more patients who are victims of causalgia than heretofore has been assumed. 3. 3. Causalgia in dentistry has been confused with other neuralgias. 4. 4. The word causalgia deserves a place in dental nomenclature. 5. 5. Prevention is the surest treatment for causalgia. 6. 6. The patient who has a tooth to be extracted should be given at least as much attention as the tooth which he has. 7. 7. This is a preliminary study. All sources have not been consulted as yet. Consultation should be had with dentists and physicians who have had experience with oral causalgia. Reports, suggestions, and criticisms will be welcome.
A hair tourniquet resulting in strangulation and amputation of the clitoris.

Abstract BACKGROUND: Hair tourniquet syndrome involves fibers of hair or thread wrapped around an appendage producing tissue necrosis. Appendages commonly involved include the toe, finger, and penis. We report a hair tourniquet resulting in amputation of the clitoris. CASE: An adolescent presented with a 4-year history of intermittent genital pain that increased in severity over the preceding 5 days. Physical examination revealed a necrotic clitoris surrounded by a black hair. During the examination, the tissue fell off resulting in immediate improvement in the patient’s pain. CONCLUSION: We report a case of a clitoral hair tourniquet syndrome leading to autoamputation of the clitoris. A high index of suspicion for this condition is important because of the potential consequences of delayed treatment.
Use of a novel method to characterize the response of spores of non-proteolytic Clostridium botulinum types B, E and F to a wide range of germinants and conditions.

Aims Limited information is available on the germination triggers for spores of non-proteolytic Clostridium botulinum. An automated system was used to study the effect of a large number of potential germinants, of temperature and pH, and aerobic and anaerobic conditions, on germination of spores of non-proteolytic Cl. botulinum types B, E and F. Methods and results A Bioscreen analyser was used to measure germination by decrease in optical density. Results were confirmed by phase-contrast light microscopy. Spores of strains producing type B, E and F toxin gave similar results. Optimum germination occurred in L-alanine/L-lactate, L-cysteine/L-lactate and L-serine/L-lactate (50 mmol l(-1) of each). A further 12 combinations of factors induced germination. Sodium bicarbonate, sodium thioglycollate and heat shock each enhanced germination, but were not essential. Germination was similar in aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The optimum pH range was 5.5-8.0, germination occurred at 1-40 degrees C, but not at 50 degrees C, and was optimal at 20-25 degrees C. Conclusions The automated system enabled a systematic study of germination requirements, and provided an insight into germination in spores of non-proteolytic Cl. botulinum. Significance and impact of the study The results extend understanding of germination of non-proteolytic Cl. botulinum spores, and provide a basis for improving detection of viable spores.
No-splash theorems for fluid interfaces

The article (1) by Gancedo and Strain in PNAS studies how singularities may develop in the initially smooth interfaces separating two or more incompressible fluids. The fluids and interfaces are assumed to evolve by either of the two standard systems of equations from fluid mechanics, namely the surface quasi-geostrophic (SQG) sharp front equation (2) or the Muskat equation (3). Gancedo and Strain prove that initially smooth fluid interfaces evolving by either of those two equations cannot form a splash singularity (4).
Examining brain microstructure using structure tensor analysis of histological sections

The mammalian central nervous system has a tremendous structural complexity, and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is unique in its ability to extract microstructural tissue properties at a macroscopic scale. However, despite its widespread use and applications in clinical and research settings, accurate validation of DTI has notoriously lagged the advances in image acquisition and analysis. In this report, we demonstrate an approach to visualize and quantify the microscopic features of histological sections on multiple length scales using techniques derived from image texture analysis. Structure tensor (ST) analysis was applied to fluorescence microscopy images of rat brain sections to visualize and quantify tissue microstructure. Images were digitally color-coded based on the local orientation in the pixelwise ST implementation, which allowed direct visualization of white matter complexity at the microscopic level. A piecewise ST algorithm was also employed to quantify anisotropy and orientation at a resolution comparable to that typically acquired with DTI. Anisotropy measured with ST analysis of stained histological sections was highly correlated with anisotropy measured by ex vivo DTI of the same brains (R(2)=0.92). Furthermore, angular histograms, or Fiber Orientation Distributions (FODs), were computed to mimic similar measures derived from high angular resolution diffusion imaging methods. The FODs for each pixel were fit to a mixture of von Mises distributions to identify putative regions of multiple fiber populations (i.e. crossing fibers). Despite its current application to two-dimensional microscopy, the ST analysis is a novel approach to visualize and quantify microstructure in the central nervous system in both health and disease, and advances the available set of tools for validating DTI and other diffusion MRI techniques.
Advances in neuro-oncology: novel therapies and clinical trials.

The field of neuro-oncology depends on the development of new therapies. Without exception, these new therapies must undergo stringent clinical trials in order to assure the safety and efficacy of ...
Association of Tibialis Posterior Tendon Pathology with Other Radiographic Findings in the Foot: A Case-Control Study

The purpose of this study was to analyze the prevalence of spring ligament pathology and other radiographic changes related to flatfoot deformity in the presence of different degrees of tibialis posterior tendon pathology. A total of 72 patients (24 with tibialis posterior tendon abnormality and 48 sex- and age-matched controls) were evaluated for tibialis posterior tendon pathology, spring ligament pathology, and plain pedal radiographic angles, including cuboid abduction, talar declination, calcaneal inclination, and Meary's angles. The patients with tibialis posterior tendon pathology were subdivided into either minor (Type I) or severe (Type II/III), according to the Conti classification of tibialis posterior tendon pathology on MRI. All the continuous data of radiographic angles were dichotomized into either a flatfoot group or normal/cavus foot group. Associations between these nominal variables were analyzed. There was no association between Type I tibialis posterior tendon pathology and spring ligament pathologies (OR = 0.8, 95% CI = 0.15-4.65). Conversely, every patient with Type II/III tibialis posterior tendon pathology had spring ligament abnormality. Type II/III group also showed statistically significant associations with both increased talar declination angle (OR = 10.4, 95% CI = 1.62-109.22) and Meary's angle (OR = 7.5, 95% CI = 1.35-51.12), while no such associations were found with Type I tibialis posterior tendon pathology (OR = 1.0, 95% CI = 0.18-6.18 with talar declination angle; OR = 3.9, 95% CI = 0.65-27.71 with Meary's angle). In this investigation, only advanced tibialis posterior tendon pathology was statistically significantly associated with adult-acquired flatfoot deformity and spring ligament pathology.
Study findings on FDA antidepressant warnings and suicide attempts in young people: a false alarm?

We question Lu and colleagues’ findings that the prescription of antidepressants decreased and suicide attempts in young people increased after the Food and Drug Administration released warnings about antidepressant safety for two reasons.1 Firstly, the measure they use as a proxy of suicide attempts (poisonings by psychotropics) is faulty and, secondly, more direct measures of attempts and deaths (figure⇓) show no increase, on balance, …
Mitochondrial KATP channel activation reduces anoxic injury by restoring mitochondrial membrane potential

Mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) is severely compromised in the myocardium after ischemia-reperfusion and triggers apoptotic events leading to cell demise. This study tests the hypothesis tha...
Exposure of Endothelial Cells to Cyclic Strain Induces c-fos, fosB and c-jun But not jun B or jun D and Increases the Transcription Factor AP-1

Hemodynamic forces modulate endothelial cell (EC) proliferation and gene expression but the intracellular regulatory events are unknown. Since we have shown that protein kinase C is activated in EC subjected to cyclic strain, the aim of this study was to determine if there was downstream induction of the fos and jun genes and the nuclear transciription factor activator protein-1 (AP-1). Human umbilical vein EC (HUVEC) were grown to confluence on flexible-bottomed culture plates. Vacuum (-20 kPa) was used to deform the membranes at 60 cycles/min (0.5 s strain; 0.5 s relaxation) for up to 24 h. Total RNA was extracted, elec-trophoresed and analyzed for expression of jun and fos family genes by Northern blot. In other experiments, EC were harvested, lysed, and nuclear proteins extracted and analyzed by gel shift for AP-1. The results demonstrate that exposure of HUVEC to cyclic strain leads to a significant induction of c-fos, fosB and c-jun genes by 30 min. junB and junD were not affected. AP-1 production w...
Financial literacy is associated with functional connectivity between anterior and posterior brain regions

Bradley Folley, David Casey, Andrew Budson, Neuronetrix, Louisville, Kentucky, United States; UK MRISC, Lexington, Kentucky, United States; University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, United States; Williams University, Bennington, Vermont, United States; Nova SE University, West Palm Beach, Florida, United States; Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States; University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States; Norton Healthcare, Louisville, Kentucky, United States; University of Louisville Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Louisville, Kentucky, United States; Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Boston, Massachusetts, United States. Contact e-mail: mcecchi@neuronetrix.com
Physical Functioning and Depression Among Older Persons with Cancer

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to help identify factors to assess which elderly patients are likely to experience problems with physical and psychological functioning in association with cancer or its treatment. description of Study: A study was undertaken with a sample of 420 patients with cancer who were between the ages of 65 and 98 years and had received an incident diagnosis of breast, colon, lung, or prostate cancer. An analysis of covariance technique was used to determine how cancer site, treatment type, stage of disease, gender, age, comorbidity, symptom severity, and prediagnosis levels of physical functioning were related to physical functioning deficit, and how all of these in turn influenced patient depressive symptomatology. Results: Prediagnosis physical functioning, symptom severity, and days since surgery were significant predictors of physical functioning deficit. Patients who had been treated only with surgery experienced greater physical functioning deficits than did patients who had received both surgery and adjuvant therapy. This apparent anomaly was partly explained by the time interval from surgery to interview. Higher levels of symptom severity, lower levels of prior physical functioning, and greater physical functioning deficits all predicted higher levels of depressive symptomatology. clinical Implications: In the care of elderly patients with cancer, it is important for healthcare providers to consider the prediagnosis levels of physical functioning of patients with cancer to understand and anticipate the physical and psychological consequences of cancer and its treatment. Equally important is the proper management of patient symptoms in maximizing both the physical and psychological quality of life.
Guideline for the out-of-hospital management of human exposures to minimally toxic substances.

All substances are capable of producing toxicity, so nothing is completely non-toxic. Minimally toxic substances are those which produce little toxicity, minor self-limited toxicity, or clinically insignificant effects at most doses. Examples include silica gel, A&D ointment, chalk, lipstick, and non-camphor lip balms, watercolors, hand dishwashing detergents, non-salicylate antacids (excluding magnesium or sodium bicarbonate containing products), calamine lotion, clay, crayons, diaper rash creams and ointments, fabric softeners/sheets, glow products, glue (white, arts, and crafts type), household plant food, oral contraceptives, pen ink, pencils, starch/sizing, throat lozenges without local anesthetics, topical antibiotics, topical antifungals, topical steroids, topical steroids with antibiotics, and water-based paints. Minimally toxic exposures have the following characteristics: (1) The information specialist has confidence in the accuracy of the history obtained and the ability to communicate effectively with the caller. (2) The information specialist has confidence in the identity of the product(s) or substance(s) and a reasonable estimation of the maximum amount involved in the exposure. (3) The risks of adverse reactions or expected effects are acceptable to both the information specialist and the caller based on available medical literature and clinical experience. (4) The exposure does not require a healthcare referral since the potential effects are benign and self-limited. However, decisions regarding patient disposition should take into account the patient's intent, symptoms, and social environment. In addition, individual patient circumstances (e.g., pregnancy, pre-existing medical conditions, therapeutic interventions) need to be considered. Minimally toxic exposures may vary in route (dermal, inhalation, ingestion, ocular), chronicity (acute, chronic), and substance composition (single or multi-ingredient, single or multiple product). Future categorization of substances as "minimally toxic" should be based on a process involving review of current knowledge, a thorough analysis of poisoning experience, and prospective validation.
Intraflagellar transport is essential for mammalian spermiogenesis but is absent in mature sperm

Drosophila sperm are unusual in that they do not require the intraflagellar transport (IFT) system for assembly of their flagella. In the mouse, the IFT proteins are very abundant in testis, but we here show that mature sperm are completely devoid of them, making the importance of IFT to mammalian sperm development unclear. To address this question, we characterized spermiogenesis and fertility in the Ift88(Tg737Rpw) mouse. This mouse has a hypomorphic mutation in the gene encoding the IFT88 subunit of the IFT particle. This mutation is highly disruptive to ciliary assembly in other organs. Ift88(-/-) mice are completely sterile. They produce ∼ 350-fold fewer sperm than wild-type mice, and the remaining sperm completely lack or have very short flagella. The short flagella rarely have axonemes but assemble ectopic microtubules and outer dense fibers and accumulate improperly assembled fibrous sheath proteins. Thus IFT is essential for the formation but not the maintenance of mammalian sperm flagella.
The role of partial knowledge in statistical word learning.

A critical question about the nature of human learning is whether it is an all-or-none or a gradual, accumulative process. Associative and statistical theories of word learning rely critically on the later assumption: that the process of learning a word’s meaning unfolds over time. That is, learning the correct referent for a word involves the accumulation of partial knowledge across multiple instances. Some theories also make an even stronger claim: Partial knowledge of one word–object mapping can speed up the acquisition of other word–object mappings. We present three experiments that test and verify these claims by exposing learners to two consecutive blocks of cross-situational learning, in which half of the words and objects in the second block were those that participants failed to learn in Block 1. In line with an accumulative account, Re-exposure to these mis-mapped items accelerated the acquisition of both previously experienced mappings and wholly new word–object mappings. But how does partial knowledge of some words speed the acquisition of others? We consider two hypotheses. First, partial knowledge of a word could reduce the amount of information required for it to reach threshold, and the supra-threshold mapping could subsequently aid in the acquisition of new mappings. Alternatively, partial knowledge of a word’s meaning could be useful for disambiguating the meanings of other words even before the threshold of learning is reached. We construct and compare computational models embodying each of these hypotheses and show that the latter provides a better explanation of the empirical data.
The Planthopper Genus Acanalonia in Florida with Notes on a Recently Introduced Species, A. excavata (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea: Acanaloniidae)

Abstract Acanalonia excavata Van Duzee, described from Nicaragua, has been found at 4 localities in Florida. Although 6 species of Acanalonia have been reported from Florida, 2 species known from single disjunct records, A. concinnula Fowler and A. virescens Stal, are either in error, or finds have not been replicated. A key for the identification of the resulting 5 species known to occur in Florida is provided. The male and female genitalia of A. excavata are illustrated, and the placement of this species in the key to the United States species is indicated.
Automated monitoring of snow cover over South America using GOES Imager data

An automated system has been developed for monitoring snow cover over South America. The system uses observations in the visible, middle infrared and infrared spectral bands from the Imager instrument onboard Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES). Maps of snow cover are generated on a daily basis at a spatial resolution of 4 km. In the Letter, we present the results of snow cover monitoring during an 18-month period extending from May 2000 to November 2001. Seasonal changes of the snow-covered area are analysed. The extent of wintertime snow cover in South America was found to be lower than reported in earlier studies.
Sensorimotor Integration in Speech Processing: Computational Basis and Neural Organization

Sensorimotor integration is an active domain of speech research and is characterized by two main ideas, that the auditory system is critically involved in speech production and that the motor system is critically involved in speech perception. Despite the complementarity of these ideas, there is little crosstalk between these literatures. We propose an integrative model of the speech-related "dorsal stream" in which sensorimotor interaction primarily supports speech production, in the form of a state feedback control architecture. A critical component of this control system is forward sensory prediction, which affords a natural mechanism for limited motor influence on perception, as recent perceptual research has suggested. Evidence shows that this influence is modulatory but not necessary for speech perception. The neuroanatomy of the proposed circuit is discussed as well as some probable clinical correlates including conduction aphasia, stuttering, and aspects of schizophrenia.
The valuation consequence of accounting changes: A multi-year examination

We examine the valuation impact of changes in the accounting procedures and estimates underlying reported financial data in the year of the change as well as in the postchange years. Since most acc...
Combining sneak circuit analysis and failure modes and effects analysis

The feasibility of integrating failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) and sneak circuit analysis (SCA) into a comprehensive reliability analysis technique is examined especially from the perspective of automation. FMEA looks at a system's strengths and weaknesses; SCA looks for latent circuit conditions which may lead to unplanned or unexpected modes of operation. The goals of the two techniques complement each other and their combination results in a more comprehensive analysis than either technique alone can achieve. The rich collection of heuristics used in SCA can be applied to design validation and also used as guidelines at various stages of system design. At both the functional level and the component level, the combined analysis is done using the same circuit representation as for the SCA and for the FMEA, and draws on the same database. >
An Embedded Wireless Neural Stimulation and Recording System

This paper presents the integration of neural-stimulation capability into a miniature, wireless, and battery-operated neural-recording system based on the TelosB embedded sensor platform. The highly flexible wireless stimulator can be configured to generate constant-current, constant-voltage, monophasic, and biphasic stimulation pulses. Users have 8-bit control over stimulation amplitudes (up to 5V for constant-voltage stimulation, and up to 1mA for constant-current stimulation) and pulse durations (mus, ms, sec). A browser-based client has been developed to provide users an intuitive method to remotely activate stimulation. This work leverages the bidirectional communications capability of the TinyOS-based embedded sensors to remotely activate a single channel of user-configurable stimulation pulses.
Polar overdominant inheritance of a DLK1 polymorphism is associated with growth and fatness in pigs

The polar overdominance model of inheritance was proposed to explain the non-Mendelian expression of callipyge muscular hypertrophy in sheep. The callipyge locus (CLPG) maps to the distal portion of ovine Chromosome 18 within the DLK1- GTL2 region and corresponds to human Chromosome 14q32, where uniparental disomy (UPD) of the region is associated with multiple congenital anomalies, including growth retardation and obesity. We investigated the porcine DLK1- GTL2 region in a cross of two pig breeds to determine if the callipyge polar overdominance is present in another species. Analyses of the parental origin of DLK1 polymorphism in the F2 offspring found that paternal inheritance of DLK1 allele 2 and maternal inheritance of the allele 1 was significantly associated with decreased fat deposition and increased lean muscle mass, while the opposite parental inheritance of these alleles was associated with slower prenatal and postnatal growth. These results suggest that the polar overdominance mode of inheritance is present in the pig chromosomal region that is homologous to the CLPG locus in sheep. Further study in pigs can provide important insights into understanding the molecular regulation of imprinted genes that are associated with human UPD14 and sheep callipyge phenotypes.