cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
PREFERENCIA Y MANIPULACION FLORAL DE CENTRIS RODOPHTHALMA PEREZ (HYMENOPTERA: ANTHOPHORIDAE): FLORAL PREFERENCE AND MANIPULATION OF CENTRIS RODOPHTHALMA PEREZ (HYMENOPTERA: ANTHOPHORIDAE)

Se estudio la manipulacion y preferencia floral de Centris rodophthalma Perez en 3 localidades de la IV Region de Chile, caracterizadas, principalmente, por representantes de la familia Fabaceae y condiciones ambientales estrictas que reducen el rango de recursos disponibles para la abeja. Se estimo la influencia de factores florales de 6 especies de plantas en la preferencia de C. rodophthalma, con el objeto de determinar el grado de correspondencia entre la morfologia de la abeja y la eleccion de la flor, considerando: longitud de la lengua de la abeja; tamano, diseno, color y estructura de la flor; profundidad de la corola; capacidad volumetrica de nectarios y medida del angulo formado entre nectario y resto del estandarte. De estas variables, solo las diferencias que muestra el angulo formado entre nectario y resto del petalo permiten discriminar entre las flores, dificultando la llegada de la lengua de la abeja al nectario, lo que podria determinar la eleccion floral de C. rodophthalma. Ademas se describe la manipulacion de la flor por C. rodophthalma cuando va por polen o solo por nectar.
Two Wave Mixings with Nematic Liquid Crystal Film

We have observed for the first time amplification of a weak probe beam by a strong pump beam via two and four wave mixing process, the effect occurs if one of the beams is frequency shifted or by moving the film.
Interaction of serotonin and deslanoside on cardiac rhythm in the cat

The present study was performed to determine whether increases in the tissue content of serotonin creatinine SO4 in the periphery would influence the arrhythmogenic effect of deslanoside. This was accomplished by infusing serotonin into anesthetized cats exposed to a subarrhythmic dose of deslanoside, determining doses of deslanoside required to produce ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation, and determining ventricular pacemaker rate (obtained during vagal-induced sinus node suppression). It was found that animals receiving serotonin creatinine SO4 plus deslanoside exhibited a greater increase in ventricular rate during sinus node suppression than with 5-HT infusion alone. No corresponding increase in ventricular pacemaker rate during sinus node suppression was observed with creatinine SO4 plus deslanoside. In addition, the dose of deslanoside to produce ventricular fibrillation in these animals was significantly correlated with the increase in ventricular pacemaker rate seen during th 5-HT infusion in the presence of deslanoside. Studies were also performed to determine whether the arrhythmogenic interaction of serotonin with deslanoside was associated with alterations in either cardiac tissue, blood or plasma levels of serotonin and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid. The data revealed a significant correlation between serotonin content in the left ventricle and the dose of deslanoside required to produce ventricular fibrillation. These results suggest that exogenous serotonin interacts with deslanoside to enhance the arrhythmogenic action of deslanoside.
Local area networks for radiology

This article is a tutorial on local area networks (LAN) for radiology applications. LANs are being implemented in radiology departments for the management of text and images, replacing the inflexible point-to-point wiring between two devices (computer-to-terminal). These networks enable the sharing of computers and computer devices, reduce equipment costs, and provide improved reliability. Any LAN must include items from the following four categories: transmission medium, topology, data transmission mode, and access protocol. Media for local area networks are twisted pair, coaxial, and optical fiber cables. The topology of these networks include the star, ring, bus, tree, and circuit-switching. Data transmission modes are either analog signals or digital signals. Access protocol methods include the broadcast bus system and the ring system. A performance measurement for a LAN is the throughput rate as a function of the number of active computer nodes. Standards for LANs help to ensure that products purchased from multiple manufacturers will operate successfully.
Flavonoid treatment of murine macrophages does not alter ingestion or intracellular survival of Listeria monocytogenes.

It was recently reported that the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) plays a role in innate immunity to Listeria monocytogenes infection in mice. In this study the authors analyzed whether incubation of murine macrophages with various flavonoids that have agonist or antagonist activity for the AhR (β-naphthoflavone, α-naphthoflavone, quercetin, luteolin) affect the uptake and survival of L. monocytogenes. Using the RAW264.7 and J774 murine macrophage cell lines and bone marrow–derived macrophages, the authors found no significant difference between flavonoid-treated and control macrophages. They also found that macrophages incubated with flavonoids alone did not exhibit a significant increase in release of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, a crucial cytokine in anti-Listeria resistance.
A STUDY OF PRIMARY TUBERCULOSIS IN 100 KOREAN CHILDREN.

Summary The symptoms are analysed of 100 Korean children suffering from primary tuberculosis and its complications, other than bone infections, attending a children's tuberculosis clinic in Masan, S. Korea. The incidence of positive tuberculin reactions in a local primary school was 15–20% and in the nearby orphanages 30–36%. There were 59 children with lung infection with or without cervical adenitis, seven with cervical adenitis, 13 with segmental lesions, eight with pleural effusion, seven with miliary tuberculosis and six with miscellaneous forms of the disease. The symptoms common to all groups were cough, weight-loss and night sweats. The value of symptoms such as dyspnoea, chest pain and diminution of muscle, tone is discussed. One or more of these symptoms occurred in 14% of the children with a primary complex and in 50% of those with a segmental lesion. Acute beri-beri was precipitated in one child. The start of symptoms in pleural effusion was insidious and chest pain uncommon. Considerable variation in symptoms occurred in children with miliary tuberculosis. Diminution of muscle tone and harsh breath sounds were considered important signs. The miscellaneous group included four children with obstructive emphysema, one with spontaneous pneumothorax and one with paralysis of the left hemi-diaphragm.
Sensory control of suckling-associated behaviours in the domestic Norway rat, Rattus norvegicus

Abstract Our research presents a detailed parametric study of suckling under different stimulus conditions in rat pups of different ages. In it we examined the effects of deprivation, nipple odours, and background female (dam versus virgin) odours on suckling-associated behaviours in 7, 13, and 18-day-old domestic, albino Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) by placing pups individually on the ventrum of anaesthetized adult female rats and videotaping the behaviour of the pups for 5 min. Suckling deprivation (deprivation time increased with each progressive age-group) markedly increased most active behaviours and reduced resting. Deprivation also sensitized pups to the olfactory configuration formed by the combination of nipple odours and background female odours. The presence of configurations discrepant from that of the normal dam greatly augmented both searching in Day 7 pups and licking in Day 18 pups. Lastly, it was clear that nipple odours exerted direct control over probing.
Disaster Restoration Professional Body of Knowledge

Companies performing building disaster restoration services wish to position themselves to continue to create substantial value for their clients. Doing so demands that restoration professionals be well educated in pertinent subject matter. Professional certification procedures commonly examine the pertinent subject matter that a professional should know. The Restoration Industry Association (RIA) created the Certified Restorer® (CR) credential to meet this need in the industry that the organization serves. To help ensure that their certification process examines the correct topics, the RIA partnered with Purdue University to survey industry members for their opinions about the importance of managerial and technical disaster restoration subjects. The 275 respondents rated these as the three most important of 29 subjects: safety and health; project cost estimating and control; and project organizational structure. Besides the importance of each topic, statistical analysis showed that professional certifica...
A Comparison of a New Oral Streptogramin XRP 2868 with Quinupristin-Dalfopristin Against Antibiotic-Resistant Strains of Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pneumoniae

A new streptogramin antibiotic XRP 2868 was compared with quinupristin-dalfopristin for inhibitory activities against antibiotic-resistant Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pneumoniae. In each organism examined, XRP 2868 had an IC50 that was twofold to fivefold lower than quinupristin-dalfopristin, for inhibition of cell viability, protein synthesis, and ribosomal subunit formation.
Rocket plume /N2O4/MMH/ impingement on aluminum surface

T combustion of bipropellant motors under high-altitude conditions using dinitrogen tetroxide and hydrazine fuels has been reported to result in the formation of nonvolatile residues. The partial oxidation of the fuel is particularly evident during the pulse mode operation of the motor where high-combustion temperatures are not attained. Two major problems resulting from the use of these restartable space environmental engines are the contamination" of vehicle surfaces from bipropellant rocket exhaust products and the occurrence of large transient ignition overpressures, which could have deleterious effects on engine operation. The latter results from the sudden detonation of the combustion residues which had accumulated on the rocket chamber wall. Both problems result from the incomplete combustion of the oxidizer and the fuel. The major product from the partial oxidation of hydrazine type fuels by N204 has been identified as fuel nitrates." Although the chemical nature of the combustion residues has been studied by several investigators, no information is available on the particle size and distribution of residues in the plume. In this study, a polished aluminum bar was placed in the plume of a N2O4-monomethylhydrazine (MMH) bipropellant motor during pulse mode firings under highaltitude conditions to obtain the imprint of residues striking the metal surface at very high velocity.
Conspecificity of Citrus Thrips Determined by Cross-Mating of Populations from Selected Geographical Areas and from Three Host Plants in California

Populations of citrus thrips, Scirtothrips citri (Moulton) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), collected from citrus in the San Joaquin Valley of central California, the Coachella Valley, and Riverside in southern California, and from California sumac, Rhus larina a native host, near Corona in southern California were cross-mated to determine their biological relationship. Interfertility was demonstrated between all populations though partial reproductive isolation seemed indicated by the results of some crosses.
A Minimal Set of DNA Repair Genes Is Sufficient for Survival of Coxiella burnetii under Oxidative Stress

This paper studies the functional and regulatory role of RecA, but further investigations are necessary to clarify the control mechanism of the SOS response gene expression in C. burnetii.
Sequence-specific regulator Prdm14 safeguards mouse ESCs from entering extraembryonic endoderm fates

Prdm14 is a PR-domain and zinc-finger protein whose expression is restricted to the pluripotent cells of the early embryo, embryonic stem cells (ESCs), and germ cells. Here, we show that Prdm14 safeguards mouse ESC (mESC) maintenance by preventing induction of extraembryonic endoderm (ExEn) fates. Conversely, Prdm14 overexpression impairs ExEn differentiation during embryoid body formation. Prdm14 occupies and represses genomic loci encoding ExEn differentiation factors, while also binding to and promoting expression of genes associated with mESC self-renewal. Prdm14-associated genomic regions substantially overlap those occupied by Nanog and Oct4, are enriched in a chromatin signature associated with distal regulatory elements and contain a unique DNA-sequence motif recognized by Prdm14 in vitro. Our work identifies a new member of the mESC transcriptional network, Prdm14, which plays a dual role as a context-dependent transcriptional repressor or activator.
Le savoir-évaluer comme politique éducative : vers une évaluation plus profonde

L’evaluation vecue dans les ecoles americaines a change de role. De l’evaluation a dimension humaine, nous sommes passes, dans de nombreux pays, a une evaluation de performance standardisee et quantitative dont la fonction est politique, que cet essai analyse de facon critique au vu des recherches sur la validite des tests standardises. Dans leur evaluation de terrain, les enseignants tendent a tenir compte des facteurs humains, au contraire des mesures standardisees qui contribuent a refaconner l’enseignement selon les prescriptions des legislateurs. La tendance actuelle en matiere d’evaluation scolaire porte la raison instrumentale a son extreme, comme si les machines et les criteres bureaucratiques pouvaient remplacer les agents humains. Elle peut porter un large prejudice aux minorites linguistiques. L’evaluation est toujours relative car elle depend d’une interpretation conceptuelle et du contexte d’application. Une approche plus humaine est proposee.
A combined land use-transportation model when zonal travel demand is endogenously determined

Abstract A combined transportation-land use model is proposed in this paper. Unlike other existing urban land use and transportation planning models in which a “fixed demand” for services is assumed to be known at the zonal level of an urban area, zonal travel demand is endogenously determined together with link congestion costs, optimal amounts of production and resulting efficient densities of land uses, once the transportation network is given. Some characteristics of alternative solutions are demonstrated. The proposed model represents progress over previous efforts in combining land use-transportation problems since the travel choice as to origin, destination and routes as well as amounts of goods to be produced at the optimal density of land uses are integrated into a consistent mathematical programming framework.
Effect of Freezing Point Depression and CO2 on Motility and Fertility of Chicken Spermatozoa Stored in Carbon Dioxide Extenders

Abstract ALTHOUGH very successful fertility results have been obtained with mammalian spermatozoa stored in CO2 extenders, no attempts have been made to develop a CO2 extender for fowl spermatozoa. An extender that preserved the fertility of bovine semen up to six or seven days at room temperature was developed by Van Demark and Sharma (1957). This extender, which was called the Illinois Variable Temperature (IVT) extender, contained in part, sodium bicarbonate saturated with CO2 to immobilize the spermatozoa. An extender for bull semen, which evolved its own CO2 by the reaction of sodium bicarbonate with citric acid, was developed by Foote et al. (1958). Sodium bicarbonate in semen extenders has been found to improve the livability (Kampschmidt et al., 1951), motility (Willett and Ohms, 1956) and fertility (Gokhale, 1958; Van Demark and Bartlett, 1958) of bovine spermatozoa. Bogdonoff and Shaffner (1954) studied the effect of various physiological diluents on chicken spermatozoa…
Intravenous gammaglobulin treatment in HIV-1 infection.

The two main indications for the use of intravenous gammaglobulin—antibody replacement therapy and immunomodulation—are pertinent only for a few scenarios in HIV-1 infection. The role of gammaglobulin in the treatment of HIV-1 infection has changed significantly with the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy. Antiretroviral drugs have not only controlled the progression of disease but also had far-reaching effects on HIV-1–induced immunologic aberrations. Complete or partial immunologic reconstitution and prevention of immunologic damage have been the hallmarks of success for highly active antiretroviral therapy. This article addresses the use of gammaglobulin before and after the era of effective antiretroviral therapies.
Dose-dependent effectiveness of wheel running to attenuate cocaine-seeking: impact of sex and estrous cycle in rats.

Exercise has shown promise as an intervention for drug addiction; however, little is known regarding the exercise conditions that most effectively reduce relapse vulnerability and whether these conditions differ by sex. Here, we examined sex differences in the dose-dependent effects of wheel running, an animal model of exercise, during abstinence on subsequent cocaine-seeking. Male and female rats self-administered cocaine (1.5 mg/kg/infusion) under extended access conditions (24 h/day, 4 discrete trials/h) for 10 days. Rats were then given voluntary access to either an unlocked or locked running wheel for 1, 2, 6, or 24 h/day during the 14-day abstinence period. Separate groups of rats were housed in polycarbonate cages during abstinence to control for physical activity that the wheel may provide. Subsequent cocaine-seeking was assessed under a within-session extinction/cue-induced reinstatement procedure. Estrous cycle was monitored in females to determine whether the effectiveness of wheel running varied by estrous cycle phase. Although females ran more than males, males were more sensitive to the effects of running and showed a dose-dependent decrease in cocaine-seeking with longer access resulting in greater suppression. The dose–effect relationship was less straightforward in females and access to both a locked and unlocked wheel decreased cocaine-seeking with effects dependent on estrous cycle phase. Notably, extended (6 and 24 h/day), but not limited (1 and 2 h/day) access to a wheel surmounted the heightened vulnerability observed in females during estrus. Taken together, our findings suggest that the effectiveness of wheel running is dose-, sex-, and estrous cycle-dependent.
Formula Scoring of Multiple-Choice Tests (Correction for Guessing)

Formula scoring is a procedure designed to reduce multiple-choice test score irregularities due to guessing. Typically, a formula score is obtained by subtracting a proportion of the number of wrong responses from the number correct. Examinees are instructed to omit items when their answers would be sheer guesses among all choices but otherwise to guess when unsure of an answer. Thus, formula scoring is not intended to discourage guessing when an examinee can rule out one or more of the options within a multiple-choice item. Examinees who, contrary to the instructions, do guess blindly among all choices are not penalized by formula scoring on the average; depending on luck, they may obtain better or worse scores than if they had refrained from this guessing. In contrast, examinees with partial information who refrain from answering tend to obtain lower formula scores than if they had guessed among the remaining choices. (Examinees with misinformation may be exceptions.) Formula scoring is viewed as inappropriate for most classroom testing but may be desirable for speeded tests and for difficult tests with low passing scores. Formula scores do not approximate scores from comparable fill-in-the-blank tests, nor can formula scoring preclude unrealistically high scores for examinees who are very lucky.
A ten-year review of myelodysplastic defect management and use of a novel closure technique with V-Y crescentic rotation advancement flaps.

The reconstructive goals for myelodysplastic defects are to provide a multilayered, tension-free and well-vascularized closure to prevent cerebrospinal fluid leakage, wound infection or breakdown and to optimize neurologic outcomes. We reviewed our ten-year experience with myelodysplastic defects and our preferred technique for large defects utilizing paraspinous flaps followed by V-Y crescentic rotation advancement flaps. A retrospective chart review was performed on all myelodysplastic defects closed at the University of Chicago Medicine from 2002 to 2012. Twenty-three patients were treated: eight were closed using V-Y crescentic rotation advancement flaps, eight primarily, two with transposition flaps and five with bilateral latissimus dorsi and gluteus maximus myocutaneous flaps. Patient defect characteristics, reconstructive details, follow up time, and wound complications were analyzed. The primary closure group included eight patients. There was one minor complication and two major complications that required debridement and plastic surgery consultation in this group. The transposition group included two patients and had no wound healing issues. The latissimus and gluteus myocutaneous group included five patients and had one minor wound healing issues. The V-Y crescentic group included eight patients. There were four minor wound breakdowns in the lateral donor sites and one major wound complication involving a CSF leak, meningitis and wound breakdown that required debridement. The groups were stratified by size, 5 cm, and further analyzed. Bilateral V-Y crescentic rotation advancement flap is a useful option when confronted with large myelodysplastic defects. It provides a multilayer, tension-free wound closure and spares the gluteus maximus and latissimus dorsi muscle groups.
Cold vasodilatation, pain and acclimatization in arctic explorers

Acclimatization to cold climates has been observed to result in attenuation of the vasoconstriction phase of the peripheral vascular response known as cold-induced vasodilatation. Attenuation of peripheral vasoconstriction has been reported to decrease the likelihood of cold-injuries, particularly frostbite. There is a paucity of data addressing the extent of this attenuation and its relationship to reported pain, or how this varies with progressive levels of cold acclimatization. In the present experiments, six arctic explorers demonstrated longer and less severe initial vasoconstriction and absence of reported pain following prolonged finger immersion in water at 2°C compared to an age- and gender-matched sample of northern Minnesota residents who were also cold-acclimatized, but to less severe temperature extremes.
Statistics of natural scenes and the cortical representation of color

In this paper we investigate the spatial correlational structure of orientation and color information in natural images. We compare these with the spatial correlation structure of optical recordings of macaque monkey primary visual cortex, in response to oriented and color stimuli. We show that the correlation of orientation falls off rapidly over increasing distance. By using a color metric based on the a-b coordinates in the CIE-Lab color space, we show that color information, on the other hand, is more highly correlated over larger distances. We also show that orientation and color information are statistically independent in natural images. We perform a similar spatial correlation analysis of the cortical responses to orientation and color. We observe a similar behavior to that of natural images, in that the correlation of orientation-specific responses falls off; more rapidly than the correlation of color-specific responses. Our findings suggest that: (a) orientation and color information should be processed in separate channels, and (b) the organization of cortical color responses at a lower spatial frequency compared to orientation is a reflection of the statistical structure of visual world.
Chronic ethanol consumption prior to retrovirus infection alters cytokine production by thymocytes during murine AIDS

Abstract Chronic ethanol (EtOH) consumption may be a cofactor in the development of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). As the thymus is an unique site for T cell maturation, we investigated whether thymocytes from EtOH consuming mice were more predisposed to aberrant cytokine production due to retrovirus infection. Adult female C57BL/6 mice were fed 4.5% (v/v) in liquid diet or control liquid diet without EtOH for 10 weeks. All diets contained nutrients at only the recommended daily intake level for mice. Then all mice were infected LP-BM5 retrovirus and were fed control liquid diets without EtOH. The body and thymus weights were not affected by EtOH consumption. However, thymocyte number and proliferation, which had been reduced during murine AIDS, were significantly further reduced by EtOH use. The production of IL-2 and IL-6 by thymocytes, which was lessened during retrovirus infection, were significantly further suppressed by dietary EtOH at 6 weeks postinfection, whereas levels of IL-4 and IFN-γ by thymocytes, which were elevated during retrovirus infection, were significantly and slightly further increased by EtOH-treated mice prior to retrovirus infection, respectively. These data suggest that dietary EtOH consumption can modulate cytokine production by thymocytes, adversely affecting T cell differentiation, especially during retrovirus infection. These results provide additional evidence that EtOH consumption should be a cofactor during development of AIDS via producing altered cytokine production and then disrupting T cell differentiation.
A microfabricated device for rapid protein identification by microelectrospray ion trap mass spectrometry.

Nanoelectrospray mass spectrometry, the infusion at low flow rates of unseparated peptide mixtures representing protein proteolytic digests into an electrospray ionization mass spectrometer (MS), has been shown to be a suitable method for the analysis of small amounts of proteins. However, the current technique is time consuming, tedious, and difficult to automate. We used microfabrication technologies to construct a device for the sequential infusion of different peptide samples into an electrospray ionization MS without the need for sample manipulation. In this device, etched sample and buffer reservoirs are connected via etched channels to a microelectrospray ion source. Peptide samples, typically unseparated tryptic digests of proteins, are applied to different reservoirs. A flow of liquid originating from a specific reservoir is generated and selectively directed toward the microsprayer and the MS by electroosmotic pumping. The analyte proteins are identified by searching sequence databases with the ...
Correlation and Orthogonality Corrections to the Cohesive Energy of Metallic Copper

Orthogonality and correlation corrections to the cohesive energy of metallic copper are discussed, using a simple model based on the Green function method introduced by Gubanov and Nikulin.
Groin Pain in Women Use of Sonography to Detect Occult Hernias

Objectives Symptomatic groin hernias in women may be difficult to assess clinically and commonly mimic pathologic musculoskeletal and gynecologic conditions. The objective of our study was to investigate the accuracy of sonography in women with groin pain and normal physical examination findings. Methods A consecutive group of 87 women (median age, 44.6 years; range, 19-82 years) with groin pain and normal physical examination findings were included in the study. All patients had a standardized sonographic examination of the groin performed by an experienced radiologist or a sonographer. If a groin hernia was identified, it was classified as indirect, direct, or femoral. Normal examination findings and alternate pathologic groin conditions were also recorded. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were calculated for the sonographic findings and compared to the findings for patients sent for surgery. Results Of the 87 women with groin pain, 37 groin hernias were diagnosed in 35 patients. Surgery was performed in 26 patients (27 groins). Sonography correctly depicted and classified groin hernias in 18 of the 21 groins that had surgical confirmation. Six women without groin hernias also had surgical exploration of the affected side. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for the patients with surgical confirmation were 95%, 75%, 95%, and 75%, respectively. Groin pain in 26 patients was attributed to other causes. The remainder of the patients had normal examination findings or were lost to follow-up. Conclusions Groin hernias in women can be occult and confound the clinical diagnosis. In a woman with groin pain and normal or indeterminate physical examination findings, we have found that sonography can accurately depict and classify groin hernias and other pathologic processes.
Ultrasonographic assessment of medial meniscal extrusion: a validation study using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as the reference standard.

Poster: "ECR 2013 / C-1903 / Ultrasonographic assessment of medial meniscal extrusion: a validation study using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as the reference standard." by: "M. H. Nogueira-Barbosa1, E. Gregio-Junior1, M. M. Lozenzato1, F. W. Roemer2, A. Guermazi3, M. D. Crema4; 1Ribeirao Preto, SP/BR, 2Augsburg/DE, 3Boston, MA/US, 4Brasilia, DF/BR"
Prevalence of podiatric conditions seen in Special Olympics athletes: A comparison of USA data to an international population

Abstract Background Persons with intellectual disabilities frequently have podiatric conditions. Limited information exists on their prevalence in international cohorts of Special Olympics (SO) athletes. Findings from multiple United States (US) venues are compared to those from athletes screened at the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens, Greece (ATHENS). Methods Data from Fit Feet screenings from 2096 ATHENS participants was compared to 7192 US participants. Results Frequently noted in the ATHENS population were motion restriction in both the ankle and the first metatarsal phalangeal joint (1st MTPJ), pes planus, metatarsus adductus, brachymetatarsia, hallux abducto valgus (HAV), onychomycosis, onychocryptosis, and tinea pedis. ATHENS differed from the US cohort as HAV and restricted ankle joint and 1st MTPJ joint motion was less frequent. Significantly more tinea pedis, xerosis, and hyperhidrosis were present in the ATHENS population. Discussion/Conclusion SO athletes have a higher prevalence of podiatric structural conditions compared to the general population, and some vary between ATHENS versus US. Less prevalent in ATHENS was HAV, and restricted motion in both the ankle and 1st MTPJ. This may reflect differences due to varied clinical observers. The higher rates of several dermatological conditions in ATHENS may reflect venue seasonal climate, or social factors.
Inoculum Size Influences Bacterial Cross Contamination between Surfaces

Many factors have been shown to influence bacterial transfer between surfaces, including surface type, bacterial species, moisture level, pressure, and friction, but the effect of inoculum size on bacterial transfer has not yet been established. Bacterial cross contamination rates during performance of common food service tasks were previously determined in our laboratory using nalidixic acid-resistant Enterobacter aerogenes. Eight different transfer rates were determined, each involving a minimum of 30 volunteers. The influence of source inoculum level on the percentage of bacteria transferred (percent transfer rates) and log10 CFU per recipient surface was determined using statistical analysis. The effect of inoculum size on transfer rate was highly statistically significant (P < 0.0001) for all transfer rate data combined (352 observations) and for each individual cross contamination rate, except for data on contamination via transfer from chicken to hand through a glove barrier (P = 0.1643). Where inoculum size on the source was greater, transfer rates were lower, and where inoculum size on the source was less, transfer rates were higher. The negative linear trend was more obvious for activities that had a larger range of inoculum sizes on the source surface. This phenomenon has serious implications for research seeking to determine bacterial cross contamination rates, since the different transfer efficiencies that were previously shown to be associated with certain activities may actually be the result of differing initial inoculum levels. The initial inoculum size on the source and the amount of bacteria transferred must both be considered to accurately determine bacterial transfer rates.
Vulnerable populations and health insurance

This study provided a national profile of health insurance of certain vulnerable populations including children, racial/ethnic minorities, low-income families, non-metropolitan statistical area (MSA) residents, and those with poor health status. The study shows an increase in the proportion of uninsured nonelderly population. While public insurance helped reduce the employment- and health-related disparities in private coverage, it has not overcome other disparities related to vulnerable characteristics including race/ethnicity, wages, education, and area of residence. Comparison between health maintenance organization (HMO) and fee-for-service insurance indicates that younger although not much healthier people, racial/ethnic minorities, MSA residents, and those residing in the West and Northeast regions were more likely to have HMO coverage. To reduce significant disparities in health insurance coverage, policy makers will have to consider expanding public insurance coverage, targeting vulnerable groups, particularly those with multiple vulnerable characteristics rather than merely the economically distressed. Expecting managed care to achieve cost containment for services provided to vulnerable populations may be unrealistic.
Imaging RAGE expression in atherosclerotic plaques in hyperlipidemic pigs

Background Receptor for advanced glycated end product (RAGE) expression is a prominent feature of atherosclerosis. We have previously shown in apoE null mice uptake of a radiolabeled anti-RAGE antibody in atherosclerotic plaque and now evaluate RAGE-directed imaging to identify advanced plaques in a large animal model.
Beyond modeling abstractions: learning nouns over developmental time in atypical populations and individuals.

Connectionist models that capture developmental change over time have much to offer in the field of language development research. Several models in the literature have made good contact with developmental data, effectively captured behavioral tasks, and accurately represented linguistic input available to young children. However, fewer models of language development have truly captured the process of developmental change over time. In this review paper, we discuss several prominent connectionist models of early word learning, focusing on semantic development, as well as our recent work modeling the emergence of word learning biases in different populations. We also discuss the potential of these kinds of models to capture children’s language development at the individual level. We argue that a modeling approach that truly captures change over time has the potential to inform theory, guide research, and lead to innovations in early language intervention.
Water and proton conduction through carbon nanotubes as models for biological channels

Carbon nanotubes, unmodified (pristine) and modified through charged atoms, were simulated in water, and their water conduction rates determined. The conducted water inside the nanotubes was found to exhibit a strong ordering of its dipole moments. In pristine nanotubes the water dipoles adopt a single orientation along the tube axis with a low flipping rate between the two possible alignments. Modification can induce in nanotubes a bipolar ordering as previously observed in biological water channels. Network thermodynamics was applied to investigate proton conduction through the nanotubes.
Protein folding in the cytoplasm of Escherichia coli: requirements for the DnaK-DnaJ-GrpE and GroEL-GroES molecular chaperone machines

We have systematically investigated the influence of mutations in the sigma(32) heat-shock transcription factor and the DnaK-DnaJ-GrpE and GroEL-GroES molecular chaperone machines on the folding of preS2-beta-galactosidase. This 120 kDa fusion protein between the hepatitis B surface antigen preS2 sequence and beta-galactosidase was synthesized in a highly soluble and enzymatically active form in wild-type Escherichia coli cells cultured at temperatures between 30 degrees C and 42 degrees C, but aggregated extensively in an rpoH165 (Am) mutant. Proper folding was partially restored upon co-overexpression of the dnaKJ operon, but not when the groE operon or dnaK alone were overproduced. The enzymatic activities in dnaK103, dnaJ259 and grpE280 mutants were 40-60% lower relative to a dnaK756 mutant or isogenic wild-type cells at 30 degrees C and 37 degrees C. At 42 degrees C, only 10-40% of the wild-type activity was present in each of the early-folding-factor mutants. Although the synthesis levels of preS2-beta-galactosidase were reduced in the dnaK103, dnaJ259 and grpE280 genetic backgrounds, aggregation was primarily responsible for the loss of activity when the cells were grown at 37 degrees C or 42 degrees C. By contrast, the groEL140, groES30 and groES619 mutations, which induced the aggregation of homodimeric ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase (Rubisco), did not affect the solubility of preS2-beta-galactosidase at temperatures up to 42 degrees C. Our results are discussed in terms of the current understanding of the E. coli protein-folding cascade. The potential usefulness of heat-shock protein mutants for the production of soluble proteins in an inclusion-body form is addressed.
Adaptation and Maladaptation of the Heart in Obesity

Obesity affects the cardiovascular system at many different levels, including the heart muscle itself. Clinical and experimental studies have shown an accumulation of triglycerides and other lipid species in cardiomyocytes. Analogous to hepatic steatosis, investigators have introduced the term “cardiac steatosis”. The present review addresses the complex relationships between cardiac fuel homeostasis, insulin resistance, and proposed mechanisms of damage to cardiomyocytes in different models of obesity, insulin resistance, and lipotoxicity. Specifically, the review weighs the evidence whether there is a heart muscle disorder in human obesity. It discusses how adipokines can modulate cardiac metabolism, and it focuses on the metabolic remodeling accompanying increased fatty acid supply in the heart of rodent models of lipotoxicity, with special attention to the role played by mitochondrial uncoupling and futile cycling. We stress the notion that, in spite of the many proposed mechanisms, cardiac lipotoxicity is still a hypothesis rather than an established pathophysiologic principle. Although the concept of a “lipotoxic cardiomyopathy” seems attractive, we propose instead a series of steps on a path from adaptation to maladaptation of the heart in obesity. A case in point is insulin resistance of the heart which may be both adaptive (protecting the heart from excess fuel) or maladaptive (associated with reactive oxygen species formation and activation of signaling pathways of programmed cell death). The present literature reflects an extraordinary complexity of the heart’s metabolic, functional and structural changes in obesity.
Multi-spectral laser sensor based on code-division-multiplexing techniques

A multi-spectral laser sensor using the orthogonal code-division multiplexing technique is applied to measure the optical properties of biological-like turbid media. Measurement of the total attenuation coefficient of Intralipid was obtained for wavelength from 0.65 to 1.55 /spl mu/m, which is the longest near-IR wavelength measured for this material, giving an empirical fit of /spl lambda//sup -2.43/. The advantage of CDM techniques against interference was demonstrated by simulating the detection of a contaminant is cow milk under rapid agitation.
An Integrative Genomic Approach to Uncover Molecular Mechanisms of Prokaryotic Traits

With mounting availability of genomic and phenotypic databases, data integration and mining become increasingly challenging. While efforts have been put forward to analyze prokaryotic phenotypes, current computational technologies either lack high throughput capacity for genomic scale analysis, or are limited in their capability to integrate and mine data across different scales of biology. Consequently, simultaneous analysis of associations among genomes, phenotypes, and gene functions is prohibited. Here, we developed a high throughput computational approach, and demonstrated for the first time the feasibility of integrating large quantities of prokaryotic phenotypes along with genomic datasets for mining across multiple scales of biology (protein domains, pathways, molecular functions, and cellular processes). Applying this method over 59 fully sequenced prokaryotic species, we identified genetic basis and molecular mechanisms underlying the phenotypes in bacteria. We identified 3,711 significant correlations between 1,499 distinct Pfam and 63 phenotypes, with 2,650 correlations and 1,061 anti-correlations. Manual evaluation of a random sample of these significant correlations showed a minimal precision of 30% (95% confidence interval: 20%–42%; n = 50). We stratified the most significant 478 predictions and subjected 100 to manual evaluation, of which 60 were corroborated in the literature. We furthermore unveiled 10 significant correlations between phenotypes and KEGG pathways, eight of which were corroborated in the evaluation, and 309 significant correlations between phenotypes and 166 GO concepts evaluated using a random sample (minimal precision = 72%; 95% confidence interval: 60%–80%; n = 50). Additionally, we conducted a novel large-scale phenomic visualization analysis to provide insight into the modular nature of common molecular mechanisms spanning multiple biological scales and reused by related phenotypes (metaphenotypes). We propose that this method elucidates which classes of molecular mechanisms are associated with phenotypes or metaphenotypes and holds promise in facilitating a computable systems biology approach to genomic and biomedical research.
Exercise-related effects of p53 on cancer preventative pathways (261.8)

The American Cancer Society estimates over 1 million new cancer cases to be diagnosed in 2013. Thus, efforts to understand the mechanisms of cancer prevention are vital. Physical activity is a modi...
A liquid-vapor display

A new reflective display principle is described. A roughened glass surface wetted with a transparent volatile liquid of the same refractive index as the glass acts as a transparent medium. The electrical heating, via transparent electrodes, of a thin film of liquid adjacent to the roughened surface transforms the glass into a light scattering surface. The fundamental thermal, electrical, and optical characteristics of the display element are reported. Schemes are described for building simply constructed flat panel arrays of liquid-vapor display elements. Such displays are capable of gray scale, can be designed to have frame-time or permanent memory, and can be matrix addressed by electronic, thermal, or geometric means.
PALEOGENE FOSSILS AND THE RADIATION OF MODERN BIRDS

MODERN GENERA OF birds arose mainly in the Neogene Period (1.8-23.8 mya), and modern species mainly in the Plio-Pleistocene (0.08-5.3 mya). Neogene fossil birds generally resemble modern taxa, and those that cannot be attributed to a modern genus or species can usually be placed in a modern family with a fair degree of confidence (e.g. Becker 1987, Olson and Rasmussen 2001). Fossil birds from earlier in the Cenozoic can be more challenging to classify. The fossil birds of the Paleogene (23.8-65.5 mya) are clearly attributable to the Neornithes (modern birds), and the earliest well-established records of most traditional orders and families of modern birds occur then. But the fossils tend to be primitive and more difficult to seat phylogenetically within the Neornithes (Dyke and van Tuinen 2004). Not a few early Paleogene fossils have been said to exhibit a mosaic of characters associated with two or more traditional families or orders (e.g. Peters 1992, Feduccia 1999, Mayr 2003a). An excellent example is an Eocene bird referred to the Psittaciformes that lacks the specialized skull of parrots (Mayr 2005a). Paleontologists sometimes resort to describing primitive fossils as "petrel-like" or "hoopoelike" (for instance) without referring them to the corresponding modern families (e.g. Houde and Olson 1992; Feduccia and McPherson 1993; Mayr 2000a, 2003b). Nevertheless, the primitive fossils of the Paleogene provide the earliest firm records of such diverse modern radiations as ratites (Houde 1988), owls (Mourer-Chauvire' 1987, Peters 1992), waterfowl (Ericson 1997, Olson 1999, Dyke 2001), ibises (Peters 1983), penguins (see Clarke et al. 2003), galliforms (Mourer-Chauvire 1992, Mayr 2000b, Dyke and Gulas 2002), passerines (Mourer-Chauvire et al.
Geodesy and the Torsion Balance

In the past the Eotvos torsion balance has been used only in commercial geophysical explorations and not for geodetic purposes. Even in geophysics, after approximately 30 yrs of use, it was superseded by the faster, and handier gravimeters. The lack of interest in the geodetic applications can be explained partly by the fact that geodesists of the past did not need very detailed information about the shape of the earth. The torsion balance offers several possibilities in geodetic applications, of which the most important are: The interpolation of deflections of the vertical and of geoid undulations between reference stations, where gravity material is not sufficient; the determination of the geopotential values in a given area for the purpose of leveling reductions; the determination of the radius of curvature of the plumb line for reducing astronomical coordinates to the geoid; and the investigation of curvature properties of the equipotential surface for more accurate baseline reductions to the ellipsoid of reference.
The Heroes of CRISPR

Three years ago, scientists reported that CRISPR technology can enable precise and efficient genome editing in living eukaryotic cells. Since then, the method has taken the scientific community by storm, with thousands of labs using it for applications from biomedicine to agriculture. Yet, the preceding 20-year journey--the discovery of a strange microbial repeat sequence; its recognition as an adaptive immune system; its biological characterization; and its repurposing for genome engineering--remains little known. This Perspective aims to fill in this backstory--the history of ideas and the stories of pioneers--and draw lessons about the remarkable ecosystem underlying scientific discovery.
Blood Trials: Transfusions, Injections, and Experiments in Africa, 1890–1920

From about 1880 to 1920, a culture of medical experimentation promoted blood transfusion as a therapy for severe anemia in Europe, which was applied in German East Africa in 1892 for a case of blackwater fever, a complication of malaria afflicting mainly Europeans. This first case of blood transfusion in Africa, in which an African's blood was transfused into a German official, complicates the dominant narrative that blood transfusions in Africa came only after World War I. Medical researchers moreover experimented with blood serum therapies on human and animal subjects in Europe and Africa, injecting blood of different species, "races" and ethnicities into others to demonstrate parasite transmissibility and to discover vaccines for diseases such as malaria, sleeping sickness, and yellow fever. While research in German colonies is highlighted here, this was a transnational medical culture that crossed borders and oceans. This research is of interest as a possible early pathway for the epidemic spread of HIV and other zoonoses in Africa and the world, which biomedical researchers have identified as emerging in West-Central Africa sometime around the turn of the twentieth century.