cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The use of model-based iterative reconstruction to decrease ED radiation exposure

Abstract Introduction The radiation risk posed by diagnostic computed tomography (CT) is a growing concern. The use of model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR) technology reduces radiation exposure but requires additional processing time. The goal of this study was to compare MBIR and a standard CT reconstructive protocols in terms of emergency department (ED) visit duration and reduction in radiation exposure. Methods A retrospective, matched, case-control design was used to compare patients who received MBIR and standard protocol abdomen and pelvis CTs. ED length of stay (LOS) and radiation exposure were the 2 primary outcome variables. Results During the study period, 121 patients met inclusion criteria and were matched to controls for a total of 242 subjects. Although the low-dose group LOS was slightly longer, there was no significant difference in LOS. Mean differences were 18 minutes overall (520 vs 502 minutes; P = .497), 11 minutes for admitted patients (587 vs 576 minutes; P = .839), and 22 minutes for discharged patients (490 vs 468 minutes; P = .482). The mean volume CT dose index for the standard-dose CT was 11.6 ± 8.3 and 7.7 ± 4.6 mGy for the reduced-dose CT, a 34% decrease ( P Conclusion Use of MBIR in the ED may provide decreased radiation exposure while minimally impacting ED LOS.
The immunogenicity of disease-modifying therapies for multiple sclerosis: clinical implications for neurologists.

Background:Mounting a humoral response to foreign proteins is a normal function of immunity, but an undesirable outcome for protein-based therapeutic biologics. “Neutralizing antibodies” (NAbs) is the term given for antibodies against a biologic that reduce its bioavailability. Biologic therapeutics
Invasive micropapillary carcinoma of the breast metastatic to the urinary bladder and endometrium: diagnostic pitfalls and review of the literature of tumors with micropapillary features.

Carcinomas with micropapillary features have been described in the breast, urinary bladder, lung, and ovary. They are characterized by the presence of micropapillary tufts in clear spaces. Unequivocal vascular invasion is usually present at the periphery of the tumor. Consequently, these tumors have a high propensity for lymph node metastases and high-stage disease. The metastatic carcinoma can consist exclusively of the micropapillary component, which may elicit an erroneous diagnosis if located in the bladder or lung, as in the patient presented herein. We present a case of a 59-year-old woman with a history of bilateral breast carcinoma status post-bilateral mastectomy, chemotherapy, and tamoxifen therapy. She presented with urinary frequency, and a pelvic mass was noted. A biopsy of the endometrium revealed a poorly differentiated carcinoma. Urinary bladder biopsies showed a carcinoma with micropapillary features diagnosed as micropapillary transitional cell carcinoma. She presented to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, TX) for further treatment recommendations. The urinary bladder and endometrial biopsies both contained carcinomas with micropapillary features. The mastectomy specimen showed an invasive ductal carcinoma with a significant micropapillary component. The tumor cells from the breast, endometrium, and urinary bladder were positive for cytokeratin (CK) 7 and estrogen receptor and negative for CK20. In view of the morphologic and immunohistochemical profile, the carcinoma in the endometrium and urinary bladder were interpreted as metastatic lesions from the breast primary. Carcinomas with a micropapillary component are morphologically identical in the breast, urinary bladder, and lung. However, micropapillary serous carcinoma has a different appearance more akin to borderline tumors of the ovary. Immunohistochemical stains are useful in distinguishing these lesions in that thyroid transcription factor-1 positivity suggests a lung primary, CK7 and estrogen receptor suggest a breast primary, and both CK7 and CK20 positivity suggest a urinary bladder primary. It is important to exclude metastatic carcinomas with micropapillary features before making a definite diagnosis of a primary tumor. Carcinomas with micropapillary features have a propensity for lymph node metastases and advanced stage disease. This article discusses the differential diagnosis of carcinomas with micropapillary features in different organs.
Effect of hypoxia on carotid chemoreceptor response to carbon dioxide in cats

Abstract Carotid nerve C 2 response curves were measured in 5 cats. Carotid nerve activity (per cent of a maximum response to asphyxia) was recorded for several values of Pa co 2 at different levels ofPa o 2 . At higher Pa o 2 values the activity was less for a given Pa co 2 , though there was a considerable response to increases in Pa co 2 even when Pa o 2 , was 450 mm Hg. At lower Pa o 2 values the CO 2 response curve tended to flatten out as Pa co 2 increased. However, by lowering the Pa o 2 at a given Pa co 2 an increase in carotid activity could be observed. The data suggest that under conditions of hypoxia two different receptor systems in the carotid body may be stimulated or the same system in two different ways; that the hypoxia-produced transmitter in the carotid body is not essentially dependent on an increased (H + a ).
Abstract 73: Mitochondrial 10-formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase: A novel enzyme in folate metabolism

Cytosolic 10-formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase (FDH, Aldh1L1) is an important regulator of intracellular folate pools, which displays antiproliferative effects in cancer cells. We have identified a gene at the chromosome locus 12q24.11 in the human genome, the product of which has 87% sequence similarity with cytosolic FDH. This protein has an extra amino-terminal sequence of 22 amino acid residues enriched in arginines, which is predicted to be a mitochondrial translocation signal. The mitochondrial targeting function of the leader has been confirmed in Cos7 cells: green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged at the amino-terminus with the leader, localizes to mitochondria. Transfection of Cos7 or A549 cell lines with a construct, in which GFP has been introduced between the leader sequence and the rest of the putative mitochondrial FDH (mtFDH), has also shown mitochondrial localization, suggesting that the identified gene encodes a mitochondrial enzyme. To evaluate the abundance of mtFDH, we have measured its mRNA levels in a wide array of human tissues by real-time PCR, and compared them to the levels of mRNA that encode cytosolic FDH. While cytosolic FDH mRNA is highest in liver, kidney and pancreas, mtFDH mRNA is most highly expressed in pancreas, heart and brain, but not in liver or kidney. In contrast to the cytosolic enzyme, which is non detectable in human cancer cell lines, the presence of mtFDH mRNA was demonstrated in A549 and PC3 cells by conventional and real-time PCR. The presence of the endogenous enzyme in mitochondria of A549 cells has been further confirmed using specific polyclonal antibody generated against purified recombinant mtFDH. We have also shown that recombinant mtFDH, similar to the cytosolic enzyme, catalyzes NADP + -dependent oxidation of the 10-formyltetrahydrofolate to tetrahydrofolate and CO 2 . Thus, the enzyme is a likely source of CO 2 production in mitochondria and we propose that it plays an essential role in distribution of one-carbon groups between cytosolic and mitochondrial compartments of the cell. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 73.
Range Measurements through Turbulent Atmosphere Based on Laguerre Gaussian Modes

Coherent superpositions of Laguerre-Gaussian beams are used for range measurements. The impact of atmospheric turbulence is investigated. A scheme is introduced to synthesize beams which are robust against a specified class of perturbations.
Analysis of a marsupial MHC region containing two recently duplicated class I loci.

A 37-kb cosmid containing two complete major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I α chain loci from the opossum Monodelphis domestica was isolated, fully sequenced, and characterized. This sequence represents the largest contiguous genomic sequence reported for the MHC region of a nonplacental mammal. Based on particular conserved amino acid residues, and limited expression analyses, the two MHC-I loci, designated ModoUB and ModoUC, appear to encode functional MHC-I molecules. The two coding regions are 98% identical at the nucleotide level; however, their promoter regions differ significantly. Two CpG islands present in the cosmid sequence correspond to the two coding regions. Twelve microsatellites and six retroelements were also present in the cosmid. The retroelements share highest sequence homology to the CORE–SINE family of retroelements. Due to high sequence identity, it is very likely that ModoUB and ModoUC loci are products of recent gene duplication that occurred less than 4 million years ago.
Physician, public, and policymaker perspectives on chronic conditions.

Background: Chronic conditions are the leading reason why people seek medical care, yet the current financing and delivery system has been criticized for not promoting ongoing care. The perceptions of physicians, policymakers, and the general public were compared on howwellthecurrentsystemaddressestheneedsofpeople with chronic conditions. Methods: National surveys of 1238 physicians and 1663 Americans and a convenience sample of 155 policymakerswerecompared.All3groupsweregiventhesamedefinition of a chronic condition and asked similar questions. Results:Therewasstrongagreementthatchronicmedical conditions affect men and women of all ages, ethnicities, and income levels (90% strongly or somewhat agree). However, compared with the public and physicians,policymakerswerelesslikelytorespondthatpeople with chronic conditions usually receive adequate medical care, that health insurance pays for most needed services, or that government programs are adequate. The public was most positive about the current system and policymakers the least. A majority of all 3 groups agreed thatitissomewhatorverydifficultforpeoplewithchronic conditionstoobtainadequatecarefromprimarycarephysicians, medical specialists, and other health care professionals. Conclusions: A majority of physicians, policymakers, and the general public are concerned that the current health care system is not addressing the needs of people with chronic conditions. Changes in how medical care isfinancedanddeliveredarenecessarytorespondtothese concerns.
Simulated planetary wave-tide interactions in the atmosphere of Mars

[1] This study is a first attempt to simulate the nonlinear interactions between planetary waves and tides in the atmosphere of Mars and to examine the consequences of the secondary waves that result from these interactions. Recent analysis of aerobraking densities show clear signatures of secondary waves produced by the modulation of tides by planetary waves. The vertically propagating secondary waves serve to modulate longitudinal density structures (due to nonmigrating tides) at planetary wave periods, even in the local absence of planetary waves. In this parametric study, using a general circulation model of Mars, we determine the most important waves produced by these interactions and quantify their induced variability at aerobraking altitudes.
Luminance thresholds for circular and bar-shape stimuli

Studies involving the contribution of stimulus form to the detection threshold for light are equivocal, but theoretical considerations suggest that circular stimuli should yield lower thresholds than bars. This hypothesis was tested by obtaining luminance thresholds for circular and bar-shaped targets presented from 5 to 60 deg into the periphery. Thresholds for circles were significantly lower than thresholds for bars. The difference ranged from about.4 log units at 5 deg to.2 log units at 60 deg eccentricity.
Role of rapid on-site evaluation with cyto-histopathological correlation in diagnosis of lung lesion

Aim: This study was conducted to assess the role of cytology in the diagnosis of lung lesions and to compare it with histopathology. It was also intended to evaluate the role of rapid on site evaluation (ROSE) as an adjunct to cytological diagnosis of lung lesions. Materials and Methods: The study included all the cases of lung lesions, which were diagnosed on cytology followed by histopathology over a period of 2½ years along with ROSE, wherever possible. Results: Cytology was done in total 782 cases of various lung lesions and of this cyto-histopathological correlation was available in 215 cases. ROSE was done in 93.4% of total cases and smears were considered on the site adequate in the first pass in 68.1% cases and in second pass adequacy increased to 93.4%. The diagnostic accuracy of cytology was 75.3%, and that of histology was 86.9% in the diagnosis of lung lesions. The diagnostic accuracy of cytology for squamous cell carcinoma (94.4%) and adenocarcinoma (96.5%) was higher than that of histology. Conclusion: Cytology is comparable to histology in the diagnosis of lung lesions and may even outperform biopsy in lung tumor diagnosis. The advantages of cytology may be further added by better sampling and preanalytical assessment for adequate diagnostic material and ROSE has proved to be an important, easy and cost effective adjunct in this regard. A multidisciplinary approach involving pulmonologist, radiologist and cytopathologist with ROSE, followed by vigilant morphological examination may increase diagnostic utility of cytology for lung lesions.
Model-based correction to the QT interval for heart rate for assessing mean QT interval change due to drug effect

Drugs that alter ventricular repolarization have been associated with malignant ventricular arrhythmia, which has been shown to increase with increasing QT interval-the time required for ventricular depolarization and repolarization. To determine whether a new drug, especially a nonanti-arrhythmia drug, can cause an increase in the QT interval is a necessary step in safety evaluation. Since the QT interval is inversely related to the heart rate, this relationship needs to be accounted for in the assessment of drug effect. In current practice, the most commonly-used approach for assessing mean change in the QT interval is to correct the QT interval by one of many competing correction methods to QT c , then to conduct statistical analysis on QT c , a disjoint two-step approach. The shortcomings of such an approach are: 1. The correction formulas often fail to correct the QT interval for the change in heart rate and this can lead to biased estimation of the drug effect; and 2. The analysis based on QT c only provides estimation of the drug effect at a fixed heart rate (60 bpm), which ignores potential interaction between the drug effect on the QT interval and the heart rate. The analysis based on QT c also ignores the variability in data-driven correction formulas, which can lead to incorrect inferences. In this article a new approach is proposed based on statistical modeling of the function al relationship between the QT interval and the heart rate. Such modeling captures the nature of the relationship between the QT interval and the heart rate based on measurements from placebo subjects or at baseline, then uses this relationship to provide adjustments to the estimation of the drug effect on the QT interval for the heart rate change at a given heart rate. The key idea behind this new approach is that the potential drug effect on the QT interval at a given heart rate can be perceived as the change in the QT interval after dosing -the change in QT interval due to the heart rate after dosing. This new approach unifies the two-step procedure into a one-step analysis so that the estimated drug effect is always adjusted for the heart rate change and the variability of the estimated QT interval and heart rate relationship is taken into account in the inferential statistics for the drug effect automatically. Finally, this new approach is demonstrated in an example.
Postoperative morbidity, mortality, costs, and long-term survival in severely obese patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation

Postoperative morbidity, mortality, costs, and long-term survival in severely obese patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation
Experimental hyperphenylalaninemia: dendritic alterations in motor cortex of rat.

Abstract Rats were injected i.p. daily from postnatal days 3 through 82 with a combination of the phenylalanine hydroxylase inhibitor p-chlorophenylalanine (60 mg/kg) plus phenylalanine (300 mg/kg), resulting in a significant hyperphenylalaninemia of 5.36 mg 100 ml . Control rats were saline injected. Golgi-Cox-stained layer V pyramidal and layer IV stellate neurons from cortical area 4 were measured using a computerized dendrite tracking system. Basal and oblique dendritic segments of layer V pyramidal cells in animals with hyperphenylalaninemia were fewer in number, shorter, branched closer to the cell soma or apical shaft, and branched less frequently than did dendrites in control animals. Fewer differences were found for layer IV stellate cells. These data suggest that in human hyperphenylalaninemia which is not severe enough to satisfy the classification criterion for phenylketonuria of 16.5 mg 100 ml plasma there may be undetected alterations in the morphology of cortical dendrites.
Stereospecific Structural Perturbations Arising from Adenine N6 Butadiene Triol Adducts in Duplex DNA

Butadiene is oxidized in vivo to form stereoisomeric butadiene diol epoxides (BDE). These react with adenine N6 in DNA yielding stereoisomeric N6-(2,3,4-trihydroxybutyl)-2‘-deoxyadenosyl (BDT) adducts. When replicated in Escherichia coli, the (2R,3R)-N6-(2,3,4-trihydroxybutyl)-2‘-deoxyadenosyl adduct yielded low levels of A→G mutations whereas the (2S,3S)-N6-(2,3,4-trihydroxybutyl)-2‘-deoxyadenosyl butadiene triol adduct yielded low levels of A→C mutations [Carmical, J. R., Nechev, L. V., Harris, C. M., Harris, T. M., and Lloyd, R. S. (2000) Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 35, 48−56]. Accordingly, the structure of the (2R,3R)-N6-(2,3,4-trihydroxybutyl)-2‘-deoxyadenosyl adduct at position X6 in d(CGGACXAGAAG)·d(CTTCTTGTCCG), the ras61 R,R-BDT-(61,2) adduct, was compared to the corresponding structure for the (2S,3S)-N6-(2,3,4-trihydroxybutyl)-2‘-deoxyadenosyl adduct in the same sequence, the ras61 S,S-BDT-(61,2) adduct. Both the R,R-BDT-(61,2) and S,S-BDT-(61,2) adducts are oriented in the major groove of the DNA, ...
Spatial Calibration and Temporal Validation of Flow for Regional Scale Hydrologic Modeling1

Abstract: Physically based regional scale hydrologic modeling is gaining importance for planning and management of water resources. Calibration and validation of such regional scale model is necessary before applying it for scenario assessment. However, in most regional scale hydrologic modeling, flow validation is performed at the river basin outlet without accounting for spatial variations in hydrological parameters within the subunits. In this study, we calibrated the model to capture the spatial variations in runoff at subwatershed level to assure local water balance, and validated the streamflow at key gaging stations along the river to assure temporal variability. Ohio and Arkansas-White-Red River Basins of the United States were modeled using Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) for the period from 1961 to 1990. R2 values of average annual runoff at subwatersheds were 0.78 and 0.99 for the Ohio and Arkansas Basins. Observed and simulated annual and monthly streamflow from 1961 to 1990 is used for temporal validation at the gages. R2 values estimated were greater than 0.6. In summary, spatially distributed calibration at subwatersheds and temporal validation at the stream gages accounted for the spatial and temporal hydrological patterns reasonably well in the two river basins. This study highlights the importance of spatially distributed calibration and validation in large river basins.
Synthesis of [25, 26, 26, 26, 27, 27, 27-d7]-cholesterol

An efficient synthesis of [25, 26, 26, 26, 27, 27, 27-d 7 ]-cholesterol 1, a useful tool for the measurement of cholesterol absorption, is described. Commercially available stigmasterol is converted into the known aldehyde 2 which was then transformed to the d 7 -cholesterol 1 through a reaction sequence of 8 steps in an overall yield of 22.5%.
Effect of neuroprotective drugs on gene expression in G93A/SOD1 mice.

: Gene expression analysis is a powerful tool that has been used to define the pathological processes underlying many diseases. Several laboratories, including our own, have used this approach to identify molecular abnormalities in the G93A/SOD1 mouse, an animal model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Here, we report the results of analysis of an expanded panel of genes throughout the entire lifetime in the spinal cord of these animals. In addition to upregulation of microglia/neuroinflammatory genes identified previously, we observed upregulation of metallothionein-I and -II (MT-I, MT-II). MT-I and MT-II play an important role in disposition of zinc ion, and other studies have also indicated their levels are altered in development of motor neuron disease in these animals. We also analyzed the effect on these expression profiles of several candidate drugs that have been shown to have neuroprotective effects in vivo or in vitro. That is, we asked whether administration to the G93A/SOD1 mice of any of these drugs could reverse the alterations in gene expression patterns that occur as the animals develop. The mice were given daily doses of these drugs when they were 9-11 weeks old, at a stage early in development of motor neuron disease, continuing for 5 weeks, at which time they were sacrificed. Treatment of the mice with l-carnosine, a dipeptide that scavenges free radicals and chelates zinc, did not affect expression of any of the genes altered in these animals. However, it did upregulate 3 genes unaffected by the presence of the G93A/SOD1 mutation: glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), stroma-derived factor-1 (SDF-1), and excitatory amino acid transporter-2 (EAAT2). In contrast, metallothionein-III (MT-III) was downregulated. Treatment of the animals with baicalein, an herbal extract with anti-inflammatory and numerous other effects, downregulated the microglia markers CD68, CD80, and CD86, all of which were upregulated in untreated mutant animals. Baicalein treatment also downregulated tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFRp55) and upregulated noninducible nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and glutamine synthase (GS). These 3 genes were unaffected by the presence of the G93A mutation. We discuss the implication of these results for testing the effects of these and other candidate drugs in mutant SOD1 mice.
Host acceptance and discrimination byComperia merceti (Compere) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) and evidence for an optimal density range for resource utilization.

The cement used by females ofSupella longipala (F.) (Orthoptera∶Blattellidae) to bind their oothecae to substrates acts as a kairomone for host acceptance by the parasitoidComperia merceti. C. merceti discriminates parasitized from unparasitized oothecae and oviposts at reduced levels in the former. Low survival rates for parasitoids reared from oothecae receiving fewer than four ovipositions suggests that an “optimal density range” for resource utilization byC. merceti exists.
The lipid composition and conversion of tryptamine to Nb-acetyltryptamine in a Catharanthus roseus cell line without indole alkaloids

A cell line, NA13-2, was selected as a rapidly growing colony of protoplasts from a UV(254 nm)-fluorescent cell line, NA13-1, which originated from a tryptamine-resistant strain ofCatharanthus roseus NA13. Cell line NA13-2 lost the capability to produce indole alkaloids. Tryptophan fed to these cells was converted toN b-acetyltryptamine as the major product. The free acetyl coenzyme A content of NA13-2 cells was 50% higher than in the mother cells. The total lipid content of the NA13-2 cells was 2.5-fold that in the NA13 cells. In spite of the similarity in the fatty acid content to that of the mother cell line NA13, the total lipid extract of NA13-2 cells appeared as a wax instead of an oil, resulting from the presence of sterol esters.
On the solvability of Painleve I, III and V

As rigorous methodology for studying the Riemann-Hilbert problems associated with certain integrable nonlinear ODEs was introduced in 1992 by Fokas and Zhou, and was used to investigate Painleve II and Painleve IV equations. Here the authors apply this methodology to Painleve I, III, and V equations. They show that the Cauchy problems for these equations admit in general global solutions, meromorphic in t. Furthermore, for special relations among the monodromy data and for t on Stokes lines, these solutions are bounded for finite t. In connection with Painleve I they note that the usual Lax pair gives rise to monodromy data some of which depend nonlinearly on the unknown solution of Painleve I. This problem is bypassed here by introducing a new Lax pair for which all the monodromy data are constant.
An electron-impact, mass-spectrometric fragment-ion that identifies 3-linked d-glucopyranosyl residues in per-O-alkylated, linear β-d-glucopyrano-oligosaccharide-alditols☆☆☆

Abstract A previously unreported fragment-ion, designated J 0 , was observed in the electron-impact, mass spectra of per- O -alkylated, linear di- and tri-β- d -glucopyranosylalditols containing 3-linked d -glucopyranosyl residues. The J 0 fragment-ion was absent from, or present in very low abundance in, the spectra of per- O -alkylated, linear di- and tri-β- d -glucopyranosylalditols composed of only 2-, 4-, or 6-linked residues. The presence of the J 0 fragment-ion and the absence of the J 1 fragment-ion were found indicative of the presence of 3-linked d -glucopyranosyl residues, and may be indicative of the presence of all 3-linked-glycosyl residues in per- O -alkylated oligosaccharide-alditols. A possible mechanism for the formation of the J 0 fragment-ion is proposed.
Evolution of esi–mass spectrometry and fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance for proteomics and other biological applications

Abstract A perspective is presented centered on the author’s contributions to developments involving electrospray ionization–mass spectrometry, capillary electrophoresis–mass spectrometry, and Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR) mass spectrometry and their applications to biological systems, with a special emphasis on the study of noncovalent complexes and proteomics.
USE OF ULTRASONOGRAPHY VERSUS MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING FOR TENDON ABNORMALITIES AROUND THE ANKLE

A prospective study was performed on 28 patients who underwent surgery for tendon disorders around the ankle. Preoperatively, all patients had real-time, high resolution ultrasonography performed with a 7.5 or 10 mHz transducer. Twenty of these patients also had a preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination of the ankle. A total of 54 tendons were inspected intraoperatively, revealing a total of 24 intrasubstance or complete tendon tears. These surgical findings were compared with the ultrasound and MRI findings, from which the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were calculated for both modalities. Ultrasound produced results with a sensitivity measurement of 100%, specificity of 89.9%, and accuracy of 94.4%. MRI produced results with a sensitivity measurement of 23.4%, specificity of 100%, and accuracy of 65.75%. Ultrasound results were more sensitive and accurate than MRI in the detection of ankle tendon tears in our study.
Dolls in Japan.

Recits de vielles femmes qui expriment leur attachement nostalgique a une poupee d'enfance, fete de la poupee (hina matsuri), tradition ancienne de marionnettes rituelles, terre d'origine de la poupee Kewpie, d'Astro Boy, d'Ultraman, et plus recemment de Pokemon, le Japon apparait souvent comme entretenant une relation particuliere avec les poupees. L'A. explore differents aspects de cette relation, d'une part, en considerant la maniere dont l'image de la poupee a contribue aux representations de l'Occident sur le Japon, d'autre part, en examinant la place de la poupee dans les representations des Japonais d'eux-memes, tant dans les oeuvres litteraires que dans les domaines de la politique, de l'economie, de la diplomatie, et du commerce. Les poupees et les jouets miniatures ont egalement servi comme objets d'apprentissage, etablissant un lien entre le connu et l'inconnu, permettant notamment d'apprehender les moeurs des cultures etrangeres.
Origin of the hypoblast in Salmo.I.Does the blastodisc edge turn inward

Nile blue sulfate stain spots printed upon the teleost blastodisc may penetrate to deep cells. Spots printed upon the periblast just outside the rim of the early blastodisc remain stationary, and when overridden by the spreading disc may transmit their stain to cells of its floor that come progressively in contact with them. Such spots do not give reliable evidence of invagination movements, or of a wheeling-in of cells that lie inside the cellular envelope though close to the surface. Small spots printed upon the surface at the margin of the blastodisc do not necessarily disappear from the margin, and if they do they cannot subsequently be discovered in the interior. Patterns of chalk particles injected into the blastodisc for the purpose of demonstrating the origin of the hypoblast by a wheeling-in movement of cells at the rim have produced no such evidence, but show a direct migration of originally internal cells toward the definitive somites. Conclusions drawn from the Salmo fate map and scheme of morphogenetic movements (Pasteels, '36) are not substantiated insofar as they pertain to the origin of the hypoblast and the behavior of cells at the blastodisc rim. There is no inturning of cells to produce the hypoblast, either at the axis or along the germ ring.
Strain-controlled fatigue properties of steels and some simple approximations

Abstract In this study, first strain-controlled deformation and fatigue data are reported and compared for several steels most commonly used in the ground vehicle industry. Correlations between monotonic tensile data and constant amplitude strain-controlled fatigue properties are then investigated, and validity of some of the more commonly used methods of estimating fatigue properties is examined. A simple method requiring only hardness and modulus of elasticity is proposed for estimation of the strain–life curve. Prediction capability of this method is evaluated for steels with hardness between 150 and 700 HB and compared with several other methods proposed in the literature. The proposed method is shown to provide good approximations of the strain–life curve.
Block copolymer deformation

The deformation behavior of block copolymers is examined. Interdomain bridges, loops, cilia and floating chains in spherical, cylindrical and lamellar domain morphologies are considered. In the theoretical model, which is analogous to the three-chain model in classical rubber elasticity theory, interdomain chains are confined between pairs of infinite, parallel impenetrable walls constructed at the surfaces of nearest neighbor domains. The domains are taken as undeformable. The quantities which are calculated are: the Young's modulus; the partial molar elastic free energy of swelling; and the stress-strain relation for simple extension. 7 figures.
Selective destruction of neurons by a transmitter agonist

Microinjection of nanomole amounts of kainic acid, a heterocyclic analog of glutamate, into the cerebellums of adult hamsters and rats causes rapid degeneration of Purkinje, basket, stellate, and Golgi II cells, neurons that receive synaptic input from granule cells, whereas the granule cells themselves are spared. This selectivity is consistent with the evidence that glutamate is the granule cell transmitter and supports the hypothesis that kainic acid exerts its neurotoxic effects through glutamate receptors.
Vascular effects of intravenous intralipid and dextrose infusions in obese subjects.

Hyperglycemia and elevated free fatty acids (FFA) are implicated in the development of endothelial dysfunction. Infusion of soy-bean oil-based lipid emulsion (Intralipid®) increases FFA levels and results in elevation of blood pressure (BP) and endothelial dysfunction in obese healthy subjects. The effects of combined hyperglycemia and high FFA on BP, endothelial function and carbohydrate metabolism are not known. Twelve obese healthy subjects received four random, 8-h IV infusions of saline, Intralipid 40 mL/h, Dextrose 10% 40 mL/h, or combined Intralipid and dextrose. Plasma levels of FFA increased by 1.03±0.34 mmol/L (p=0.009) after Intralipid, but FFAs remained unchanged during saline, dextrose, and combined Intralipid and dextrose infusion. Plasma glucose and insulin concentrations significantly increased after dextrose and combined Intralipid and dextrose (all, p<0.05) and were not different from baseline during saline and lipid infusion. Intralipid increased systolic BP by 12±9 mmHg (p<0.001) and diastolic BP by 5±6 mmHg (p=0.022), and decreased flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) from baseline by 3.2%±1.4% (p<0.001). Saline and dextrose infusion had neutral effects on BP and FMD. The co-administration of lipid and dextrose decreased FMD by 2.4%±2.1% (p=0.002) from baseline, but did not significantly increase systolic or diastolic BP. Short-term Intralipid infusion significantly increased FFA and BP; in contrast, FFA and BP were unchanged during combined infusion of Intralipid and dextrose. Combined Intralipid and dextrose infusion resulted in endothelial dysfunction similar to Intralipid alone.
Race, Socioeconomic Status, and Age: Exploring Intersections in Preterm Birth Disparities among Teen Mothers

Few studies have examined disparities in adverse birth outcomes and compared contributing socioeconomic factors specifically between African-American and White teen mothers. This study examined intersections between neighborhood socioeconomic status (as defined by census-tract median household income), maternal age, and racial disparities in preterm birth (PTB) outcomes between African-American and White teen mothers in North Carolina. Using a linked dataset with state birth record data and socioeconomic information from the 2010 US Census, disparities in preterm birth outcomes for 16,472 teen mothers were examined through bivariate and multilevel analyses. African-American teens had significantly greater odds of PTB outcomes than White teens (OR = 1.38, 95% CI 1.21, 1.56). Racial disparities in PTB rates significantly varied by neighborhood income; PTB rates were 2.1 times higher for African-American teens in higher income neighborhoods compared to White teens in similar neighborhoods. Disparities in PTB did not vary significantly between teens younger than age 17 and teens ages 17-19, although the magnitude of racial disparities was larger between younger African-American and White teens. These results justify further investigations using intersectional frameworks to test the effects of racial status, neighborhood socioeconomic factors, and maternal age on birth outcome disparities among infants born to teen mothers.
Determination of Transmission Loss in Slightly Distorted Circular Mufflers Using a Regular Perturbation Method

A perturbation-based approach is implemented to study the sound attenuation in distorted cylindrical mufflers with various inlet/outlet orientations. Study of the transmission loss (TL) in mufflers requires solution of the Helmholtz equation. Exact solutions are available only for a limited class of problems where the method of separation of variables can be applied across the cross section of the muffler (e.g., circular, rectangular, elliptic sections). In many practical situations, departures from the regular geometry occur. The present work is aimed at formulating a general procedure for determining the TL in mufflers with small perturbations on the boundary. Distortions in the geometry have been approximated by Fourier series expansion, thereby, allowing for asymmetric perturbations. Using the method of strained parameters, eigensolutions for a distorted muffler are expressed as a series summation of eigensolutions of the unperturbed cylinder having similar dimensions. The resulting eigenvectors, being orthogonal up to the order of truncation, are used to define a Green's function for the Helmholtz equation in the perturbed domain. Assuming that inlet and outlet ports of the muffler are uniform-velocity piston sources, the Green's function is implemented to obtain the velocity potential inside the muffler cavity. The pressure field inside the muffler is obtained from the velocity potential by using conservation of linear momentum. Transmission loss in the muffler is derived from the averaged pressure field. In order to illustrate the method, TL of an elliptical muffler with different inlet/outlet orientations is considered. Comparisons between the perturbation results and the exact solutions show excellent agreement for moderate (0.4∼0.6) eccentricities.
Expression of matrix metalloproteinase-3 in the rat cervix during pregnancy and in response to prostaglandin E2

Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the expression of matrix metalloproteinase–3 in the cervix during normal pregnancy and in response to prostaglandin E 2 administration to determine how matrix metalloproteinase–3 expression correlates with changes in cervical tensile strength. Study design We assessed cervical tensile strength at different time points in the rat gestation and after the administration of prostaglandin E 2 . Tensile strength was determined by the cervical creep method. Both active and latent forms of matrix metalloproteinase–3 protein were assayed by immunoblotting and densitometry. Matrix metalloproteinase–3 messenger RNA expression was determined with a real-time reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction technique. Results Cervical tensile strength decreased through the second half of gestation, reaching a nadir by day 21, at 24 to 48 hours before parturition. Prostaglandin E 2 that was administered on day 20 of gestation decreased cervical tensile strength in animals that were pretreated with indomethacin. Prostaglandin E 2 treatment before day 20 of gestation produced no change in cervical tensile strength. Matrix metalloproteinase–3 messenger RNA and active protein expression paralleled the changes in cervical tensile strength during normal gestation. No change in total matrix metalloproteinase–3 protein expression was detected after prostaglandin E 2 treatment. Conclusion Matrix metalloproteinase–3 expression parallels changes in cervical tensile strength through pregnancy. Prostaglandin E 2 induces the activation of matrix metalloproteinase–3 but does not affect matrix metalloproteinase–3 protein expression, which suggests that matrix metalloproteinase–3 gene transcription is not regulated by prostaglandin E 2 but that rather there is another mechanism by which change is induced.
Model development for real time optimal control in pipe lines

A model reference optimal control architecture for the real-time fluid control of eliminating a contaminant plume from a pipe system was introduced in an earlier paper [1]. The mathematical model for the contaminant flow, is now extended and parameterized based on computational fluid dynamic simulations of a two-dimensional (2D) channel. It is also shown, based on the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, that the 2D-based mathematical model can be used for three-dimensional (3D) pipe flow problem under certain constraints. Finally, we also derive a very simple control law of the flow rate in a boundary port that would remove a contaminant if the flow was a theoretical 2D flow. This simple control law can initialize the iterative process of computing the optimal flow based on a more complex model and real-time measurements. With the results in this article, the optimal control architecture can be tested in the real-time prototype experiments. Further improvements on the mathematical model and control algorithm can be made for real life pipe-line fluid control problems.
The concept of bedside EUS.

Background Although the role of bedside endoscopy for the provision of emergent diagnosis and therapy is well known, the concept of bedside EUS requires further validation. Objective To evaluate the concept of bedside EUS and assess its impact on patient management. Design A prospective study. Setting A tertiary-referral center. Patients Patients included those with pancreaticobiliary and thoracic disorders who required EUS but who were clinically unstable to be evaluated in the endoscopy suite. Interventions All procedures were performed by one endosonographer at the patient's bedside by using an EUS cart that was equipped with a therapeutic curvilinear echoendoscope. Main Outcome Measurements To evaluate the technical feasibility, safety, and impact of bedside EUS in the clinical management of patients. EUS was considered to have a significant impact if a new diagnosis was established and/or if the findings altered subsequent management. Results Within a 3-month period, 6 patients (4 men; median age 56 years; American Society of Anesthesiologists class III/IV) were evaluated in the intensive care unit by using the mobile EUS cart. Procedural indications were the following: drainage of symptomatic pseudocyst (n = 2), evaluate the cause of cholangitis (n = 2), diagnose and treat a suspected postoperative (distal esophagectomy) fluid collection (n = 1), and provide tissue diagnosis in one patient with a pancreatic-head mass, who presented with intrahepatic bleeding. The procedure was technically successful in all 6 patients (100%), and no complications were encountered. Bedside EUS established a diagnosis of choledocholithiasis (n = 1), mediastinal abscess (n = 1), and pancreatic abscess (n = 1) in 3 patients, and ruled out the presence of choledocholithiasis (n = 1) and pancreatic pseudocyst (n = 1) in 2 other patients. Also, by using bedside EUS, transmural drainage of a pancreatic pseudocyst and mediastinal abscess was successfully undertaken in 2 patients. Bedside EUS had an impact on management in all 6 patients (100%): established a new diagnosis (n = 3), precluded the need for an ERCP and/or other interventions (n = 2), and enabled focused endotherapy (n = 3). Limitations Small number of patients; a single endosonographer. Conclusions Bedside EUS is technically feasible, safe, facilitates both diagnosis and therapy, and enables the clinical management of patients who are critically ill.
Strategies for studying microtubule transport in the neuron.

Microtubules are prominent cytoskeletal elements within the neuron. They are essential for the differentiation, growth, and maintenance of axons and dendrites. The microtubules within each type of process have a distinct pattern of organization, and these distinct patterns result in many of the morphological and structural features that distinguish axons and dendrites from one another. There are a number of challenges that must be met in order for the neuron to establish the microtubule arrays of axons and dendrites. One attractive model invokes the active transport of microtubules from the cell body of the neuron into and down these processes. In support of this model, specific motor proteins have now been identified within neurons that have the necessary properties to transport microtubules into developing axons and dendrites with the appropriate orientation for each type of process. An important goal is to develop microscopic methods that permit the visualization of microtubule transport within different regions of the neuron. To date, achieving this goal has met with mixed success, probably as a result of the geometry of the neuron and the inherent complexity of the neuronal microtubule arrays. While some approaches have failed to reveal microtubule transport, other more recent approaches have proven successful. These approaches provide strong visual support for a model based on microtubule transport, and provide hope that future approaches can provide even clearer demonstrations of this transport.
Recent Advances in Understanding Pain Mechanisms Provide Future Directions for Pain Management

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To review current knowledge of neurobiologic mechanisms that generate and maintain chronic pain and to explain how they might be applied in targeting treatment of chronic, inflammatory, and neuropathic pain syndromes. DATA SOURCES Published research, literature review articles, and abstracts as well as national statistics. DATA SYNTHESIS Treatment for chronic pain associated with cancer and other syndromes remains suboptimal and falls significantly short of clinical needs. Data highlight the role that multiple neurobiologic mechanisms play in modulating and maintaining pain at various levels of the central and peripheral nervous systems. Novel agents have been developed that use a more targeted approach to treating chronic pain. CONCLUSIONS A growing body of evidence highlights the critical role that neurobiologic mechanisms play in the initiation and maintenance of chronic pain. A thorough understanding of these mechanisms ultimately may result in targeted treatment approaches that focus on the central and peripheral mechanisms involved in mediation of chronic, inflammatory, and neuropathic pain syndromes. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING A majority of patients undergoing active treatment for cancer experiences unrelieved pain. By gaining a better understanding of the mechanisms that generate and maintain chronic pain, oncology nurses can promote targeted pain management strategies that incorporate novel therapeutic agents.
Low plasma citrulline levels are associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome in patients with severe sepsis

Introduction The role of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the pathophysiology of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is not well understood. Inducible NOS is upregulated during physiologic stress; however, if NOS substrate is insufficient then NOS can uncouple and switch from NO generation to production of damaging peroxynitrites. We hypothesized that NOS substrate levels are low in patients with severe sepsis and that low levels of the NOS substrate citrulline would be associated with end organ damage including ARDS in severe sepsis.
Impact of the site specialty of a continuity practice on students' clinical skills: performance with standardized patients.

Background: The assessment of clinical competence and the impact of training in ambulatory settings are two issues of importance in the evaluation of medical student performance. Purpose: This study compares the clinical skills performance of students placed in three types of community preceptors’ offices (pediatrics, medicine, family medicine) on yearly clinical skills assessments with standardized patients. Our goal was to see if the site specialty impacted on clinical performance. Methods: The students in the study were completing a 3-year continuity preceptorship at a site representing one of the disciplines. Their performance on the four clinical skills assessments was compared. Results: There was no significant difference in history taking, physical exam, communication, or clinical reasoning in any year (ANOVA p⩽ .05) There was a small but significant difference in performance on a measure of interpersonal and interviewing skills during Years 1 and 2. Conclusion: The site specialty of an early clini...