cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of Spinal Cord Injury and Related Conditions

Abstract Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in partial to complete paralysis below the lesion site, which precipitates the rapid sublesional bone loss and heightened fracture risk in this population. Acutely after SCI, bone resorption and formation are uncoupled and a period of unopposed resorption ensues. However, chronically, a state of low-turnover osteoporosis has been described. This article will review: (1) the natural history of SCI-induced bone loss; (2) current knowledge regarding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying this devastating form of osteoporosis; (3) potential treatments for this unique form of osteoporosis; and (4) major challenges facing the field in terms of understanding the biological basis of bone loss after SCI.
Global Outreach for U.S. Radiology Training Programs

Utilization of medical imaging is increasing in the developing world, creating new opportunities for U.S. radiology training programs to establish international electives for interested faculty and residents. Though the nature of each initiative will vary, the process of creating a global outreach elective involves core elements. Development of a sustainable and impactful global elective requires forethought and planning, including abiding by regulations from governing bodies and preparation for practicing in a culturally different and often resource-limited environment. This article will provide a summary of requirements for creating and sustaining a global outreach elective and provide ideas and resources for overcoming common roadblocks.
Acremonium and trichosporon fungal keratoconjunctivitis in a Leopard Gecko (Eublepharis macularius)

A 6-year-old male leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius) was presented with a 2-year history of recurrent dysecdysis involving the ocular surface of both eyes. Ophthalmic examination revealed ocular surface desiccation and multifocal superficial ulcerative keratitis with patchy remnants of retained shed. Other abnormalities included stomatitis and mandibular and maxillary osteomyelitis. Topical and systemic antibiotic therapy, oral vitamin A, and improved husbandry conditions resolved the stomatitis and osteomyelitis but did not improve the ocular surface. Corneal cytology collected with a cytobrush revealed branching hyphae and budding yeast consistent with fungal keratitis. Fungal culture grew Acremonium sp. and Trichosporon sp. The addition of topical antifungal therapy improved the ocular surface health, but the patient was euthanized 7 weeks after initial presentation for persistent vomiting and dyspnea. Necropsy was declined. This case describes the first case of fungal keratitis caused by Acremonium sp. and Trichosporon sp. in a reptile.
Specifying Future Behavior When Assessing Risk Perceptions: Implications for Measurement and Theory:

Background. Many theories assert that high perceived risk motivates health behavior change; the empirical literature shows mixed findings. Purpose. To determine whether, for whom, and under what ci...
The Isolation of an Active Site Peptide from Spinach Ribulose Bisphosphate Carboxylase/Oxygenase Modified by Glyoxylate

Glyoxylate has been shown to be a slowly reversible inhibitor of CO2/Mg2+- activated ribulose-P2 carboxylase/oxygenase (Cook, Tolbert, 1982). Reduction of the glyoxylate-enzyme complex with sodium borohydride resulted in a covalently modified adduct indicative of Schiff base formation between glyoxylate and the e-NH2 group of lysyl residues. Complete inactivation of the enzyme corresponded to the incorporation of I mol glyoxylate/mol protomer (L + S subunit).
An Activity-Based Sensing Approach for the Detection of Cyclooxygenase-2 in Live Cells

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) overexpression is prominent in inflammatory diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, and cancer. Directly monitoring COX-2 activity within its native environment poses an exciting approach to account for and illuminate the effect of the local environments on protein activity. Herein, we report the development of CoxFluor, the first activity-based sensing approach for monitoring COX-2 within live cells with confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. CoxFluor strategically links a natural substrate with a dye precursor to engage both the cyclooxygenase and peroxidase activities of COX-2. This catalyzes the release of resorufin and the natural product, as supported by molecular dynamics and ensemble docking. CoxFluor enabled the detection of oxygen-dependent changes in COX-2 activity that are independent of protein expression within live macrophage cells.
The Death of Samson

This article examines the story of Samson’s death. From the time that he was captured by the Philistines until his death, the Bible describes at length the events that led to his downfall. This includes three major parts. The first Philistine event was jubilation at the temple of their god Dagon, which consists of two short rhymes which appear in poetic form. This was followed by Samson’s plea for God’s help and the destruction of the Philistine’s temple. The last part mentions Samson’s burial. Examination of the Philistine’s rhymes reveals that they ascribe Samson’s downfall to their god, which adds a religious dimension to the story. Samson was the only person whose death wish was granted. His death wish is similar to other death wishes from the ancient world. The mention of his burial and its location links the end of the story to its beginning, which is the story of his birth. https://doi.org/10.17159/2312-3621/2020/v33n1a10
Insulin-induced genes and lipid metabolism

Insulin-induced gene(Insig)is identified recently a key factor in the regulation of lipid metabolism.Its two isoforms：Insig-1 and-2，membrane proteins of the endoplasmic reticulum that regulate lipid metabolism by the following two actions：(1)binding to sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs)cleavage-activating protein(SCAP)，mediating sterol feedback regulation of SREBPs proteolytic process.(2)sterol-induced binding to 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase，an action that leads to ubiquitination and degradation of the enzyme.In addition，the regulation of two Insig genes express and the metabolism of two proteins is also important in keeping lipid in homeostatic state，the genes are involved in metabolic regulation of adipocytes，and associated with the prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome. Key words: Insig; SREBP; SCAP; HMG-CoA reductase; Lipid metabolism
Automated Multi-Modal Laser Emission Microscopy towards Cancer Diagnosis

Automated multi-modal laser emission microscopy is developed that enables fast, large-area mapping of lasing spot distribution in tissues concomitantly with fluorescence imaging. This system is used to categorize lung carcinoma with different degrees of differentiation.
What guidance does HIPAA offer to providers considering familial risk notification and cascade genetic testing

Background It is unclear how the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) should be interpreted in the context of sharing of genomic information between family members. Methods The authors analyzed the HIPAA Privacy Rule, reviewed the literature and constructed a clinical scenario to inform how HIPAA can be interpreted for multiple forms of patient- and provider-mediated genetic risk notification. Results Under HIPAA, healthcare providers can lawfully notify relatives to recommend genetic risk assessment using multiple approaches, including supporting the patient telling their own relatives, contacting relatives directly with the patient's authorization, or contacting a relative's provider directly. Conclusions Multiple forms of patient- or provider-mediated contact of relatives are already legally permissible under HIPAA, are consistent with ethical obligations of care to patients and their families, and could result in improved population health through identification of clinically actionable disease risk. Unanswered questions remain about implementation and impacts of provider-mediated programs.
Serological Responses to Toxoplasma gondii and Matrix Antigen 1 Predict the Risk of Subsequent Toxoplasmic Encephalitis in People Living With Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

BACKGROUND Clinically useful predictors for fatal toxoplasmosis are lacking. We investigated the value of serological assays for antibodies to whole Toxoplasma antigens and to peptide antigens of the Toxoplasma cyst matrix antigen 1 (MAG1), for predicting incident toxoplasmic encephalitis (TE) in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV; PLWH). METHODS We performed a nested case control study, conducted within the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS), using serum samples obtained 2 years prior to diagnosis of TE from 28 cases, and 37 HIV disease-matched Toxoplasma seropositive controls at matched time-points. Sera were tested for Toxoplasma antibodies using a commercial assay and for antibodies to MAG1_4.2 and MAG1_5.2 peptides in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS Two years prior to clinical diagnosis, 68% of TE cases were MAG1_4.2 seropositive compared with 16% of controls (odds ratio [OR] 25.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.14-199.18). Corresponding results for MAG1_5.2 seropositivity were 36% and 14% (OR 3.6, 95% CI .95-13.42). Higher levels of antibody to MAG1_4.2 (OR 18.5 per doubling of the optical density [OD] value, 95% CI 1.41-242) and to Toxoplasma (OR 2.91 for each OD unit increase, 95% CI 1.48-5.72) were also associated with the risk of TE. When seropositivity was defined as the presence of MAG1 antibody or relatively high levels of Toxoplasma antibody, the sensitivity was 89% and specificity was 68% for subsequent TE. CONCLUSIONS Antibodies to MAG1 showed predictive value on the occurrence of TE in PLWH, and the predictive performance was further improved by adding the levels of Toxoplasma antibody. These measures could be clinically useful for predicting subsequent diseases in multiple at-risk populations.
On Virtual Id Assignment in Networks for High Resilience Routing: A Theoretical Framework

In recent years, the effort of promoting versatile, easy to manage routing schemes, as a replacement to OSPF has gathered momentum particularly in the context of large-scale enterprise networks, data center networks and software-defined wide area networks (SD-WANs). Such routing schemes rely on embedding the network into a geometric/topological space (e.g. a binary tree) to facilitate multi-path routing with reduced state maintenance and quick recovery in localized failure scenarios. In this work, we propose a systematic framework to embed the network topology into a hierarchical binary virtual-identityspace that is particularly amenable to multi-path routing. Our methodology firstly involves a relaxed form of the connected graph bi-partitioning problem that exploits a geometric embedding of the network in an n-dimensional Euclidean space (n being the number of hosts in the network) based on the Moore-Penrose pseudo inverse of the Laplacian for the graph associated with the network. The edges of the network are mapped to a weight distribution that helps construct a spanning tree from the core of the network towards the periphery, thereby providing a point of symmetry in the network to facilitate balanced bipartitions. This, in turn, yields a (nearly) full balanced binary tree embedding of the network and consequently a good virtual-id space. We also explore the binary identity assignment problem in another point of view by using bi-connected graph as the input graph to introduce a recursive bipartition algorithm. Through rigorous theoretical analysis and experimentation, we demonstrate that our methods perform well within reasonable bounds of computational complexity.
Tracking U.S. Consumers in Real Time with a New Weekly Index of Retail Trade

We create a new weekly index of retail trade that accurately predicts the U.S. Census Bureau's Monthly Retail Trade Survey (MRTS). The index's weekly frequency provides an early snapshot of the MRTS and allows for a more granular analysis of the aggregate consumer response to fast-moving events such as the Covid-19 pandemic. To construct the index, we extract the co-movement in weekly data series capturing credit and debit card transactions, foot traffic, gasoline sales, and consumer sentiment. To ensure that the index is representative of aggregate retail spending, we implement a novel benchmarking method that uses a mixed-frequency dynamic factor model to constrain the weekly index to match the monthly MRTS. We use the index to document several interesting features of U.S. retail sales during the Covid-19 pandemic, many of which are not visible in the MRTS. In addition, we show that our index would have more accurately predicted the MRTS in real time during the pandemic when compared to either consensus forecasts available at the time, monthly autoregressive models, or other commonly-cited high-frequency data that aims to track retail spending. The gains are substantial, with roughly 50 to 75 percent reductions in mean absolute forecast errors.
MicroRNA-146a limits tumorigenic inflammation in colorectal cancer

Chronic inflammation can drive tumor development. Here, we have identified microRNA-146a (miR-146a) as a major negative regulator of colonic inflammation and associated tumorigenesis by modulating IL-17 responses. MiR-146a-deficient mice are susceptible to both colitis-associated and sporadic colorectal cancer (CRC), presenting with enhanced tumorigenic IL-17 signaling. Within myeloid cells, miR-146a targets RIPK2, a NOD2 signaling intermediate, to limit myeloid cell-derived IL-17-inducing cytokines and restrict colonic IL-17. Accordingly, myeloid-specific miR-146a deletion promotes CRC. Moreover, within intestinal epithelial cells (IECs), miR-146a targets TRAF6, an IL-17R signaling intermediate, to restrict IEC responsiveness to IL-17. MiR-146a within IECs further suppresses CRC by targeting PTGES2, a PGE2 synthesis enzyme. IEC-specific miR-146a deletion therefore promotes CRC. Importantly, preclinical administration of miR-146a mimic, or small molecule inhibition of the miR-146a targets, TRAF6 and RIPK2, ameliorates colonic inflammation and CRC. MiR-146a overexpression or miR-146a target inhibition represent therapeutic approaches that limit pathways converging on tumorigenic IL-17 signaling in CRC.
The Fourth Amendment as a Collective Right

The Fourth Amendment speaks of the "right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures." The Amendment’s words are plural: the right of the "people" and "their." Yet, the Amendment has been traditionally interpreted to safeguard the rights of individuals in atomistic spheres of interests: it safeguards my person and your house and her papers and his effects against unreasonable searches and seizures. An alternative view would treat the Amendment as requiring the government to keep us collectively secure in our persons, houses, papers, and effects.For most of the history of the United States, the view that the Fourth Amendment served to protect individual security - that it was an individual right - was so patently obvious that it needed no support. Yet, the collective security model has been rapidly gaining momentum - and not just in response to terrorist attacks on the United States. Analytical support for it is now found in a broad swath of Supreme Court case law, permitting an increasing number of suspicionless governmental actions designed to further collective ends. In gravitating toward the collective security model, the Court has not cut back rhetorically on its long history of interpreting the prefatory words in the Amendment ("The right of the people to be secure") as an individual right; instead, the Court has construed other terms of the Amendment ("search," "seizure," and "unreasonable") in a manner to advance collective security concerns. This article examines the underpinings and ramifications of the individual security and collective security models and the trend toward the latter approach. I argue here for rejecting the primacy of collective security as a main interpretative approach to the Amendment and maintain that that approach is illusory and inimical to the fundamental premise - and promise of - the Amendment, which is the protection of individual security.
Body Composition Analysis in U.S. Navy Divers

Abstract : Physical readiness and body makeup are considered fundamental attributes of U.S. Navy divers. Methods to objectively determine body makeup are fraught with shortcomings and can be technically challenging, particularly in field operations. Two potential field methods of determining body composition, densitometry and deuterium oxide dilution, were assessed and compared in the laboratory. Ten healthy male U.S. Navy divers volunteered for testing by both techniques. Body composition data were then compared between methods and to published data. Significant variability was found in measurements derived by the deuterium oxide dilution method (mean coefficient of variation 4.6%). Normalizing this method to densitometry by linear regression demonstrates a theoretical hydration "constant" for lean body mass of 0.833 % 0.009. Published values for this "constant" are typically cited as 0.712, but without substantive experimental support. Deuterium oxide dilution is an insensitive technique for determining small changes in body composition. Published anthropometric data are unreliable if not specifically analyzed and interpreted in the context of the population studied.
REAL-TIME MAUDE: A TOOL FOR SIMULATING AND ANALYZING REAL-TIME AND HYBRID SYSTEMS

Abstract Rewriting logic can be used to specify a wide range of real-time and hybrid systems under a variety of time models, including discrete and dense time models. The Real-Time Maude tool, built on top of the Maude rewriting logic language, supports specification of real-time and hybrid systems in timed modules and timed object-oriented modules , which are transformed into equivalent Maude modules. The tool then supports execution of such specifications in several rewrite modes, corresponding to different criteria for advancing time. Besides system simulation by default execution in a given rewrite mode, the tool has a library of execution strategies and commands that can search all the possible computations from an initial state, within given rewrite mode and search bounds, to partially model check desired properties, including properties expressible in a class of linear time timed temporal logic formulas. The paper discusses the tool's theoretical basis, its specification language, and its library of evaluation and search strategies. The user can add new formal analysis strategies to the library, as illustrated by a scheduling case study. We also summarize our experience with applications and our future plans.
NEUTRON PRODUCTION WITH HIGH‐CURRENT RELATIVISTIC ELECTRON BEAMS AND DEUTERATED POLYETHYLENE TARGETS

The direction of an intense relativistic electron beam by the utilization of a Bennett cathode has made possible experiments to exploit these extremely powerful energy sources for thermonuclear fusion. Some initial experiments yielded up to 4 x 10$sup 7$ neutrons, when a small pellet of deuterated polyethylene was inserted in the beam path of an electron beam machine. Later experiments used deuterated cathode tips in such a way that collectively accelerated ions contribute to the neutron yield through a beam--target interaction. Experimental results and the theoretical analysis of that data are reported. (MOW)
Neural Correlates of the Propensity for Retaliatory Behavior in Youths With Disruptive Behavior Disorders.

Objective:Youths with disruptive behavior disorders (DBD) (conduct disorder and oppositional defiant disorder) have an elevated risk for maladaptive reactive aggression. Theory suggests that this is due to an elevated sensitivity of basic threat circuitry implicated in retaliation (amygdala/periaqueductal gray) in youths with DBD and low levels of callous-unemotional traits and dysfunctional regulatory activity in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex in youths with DBD irrespective of callous-unemotional traits.Method:A total of 56 youths 10–18 years of age (23 of them female) participated in the study: 30 youths with DBD, divided by median split into groups with high and low levels of callous-unemotional traits, and 26 healthy youths. All participants completed an ultimatum game task during functional MRI.Results:Relative to the other groups, youths with DBD and low levels of callous-unemotional traits showed greater increases in activation of basic threat circuitry when punishing others and dysfunctional ...
Fault displacement gradients on normal faults and associated deformation

Faults are important components of hydrocarbon and other reservoirs; they can affect trapping of fluids, flow pathways, compartmentalization, production rates, and through these, production strategies and economic outcomes. Displacement gradients on faults are associated with off-fault deformation, which can be manifest as faulting, extension fracturing, or folding. In this work, displacement gradients—both in the slip direction and laterally—on a well-exposed large-displacement (seismic-scale) normal fault within the Balcones fault system of south-central Texas are correlated with anomalous deformation patterns adjacent to the fault. This anomalous deformation consists of two superimposed small-displacement fault systems, including (1) an earlier set that formed in response to a displacement gradient in the slip direction, and (2) a later set of oblique faults that formed in a perturbed stress-and-strain field in response to a lateral displacement gradient on the fault. Bed dip, fault-cutoff relationships, and small-displacement fault patterns in the adjacent rock volume inform strain and paleostress estimates. Results indicate that seismically resolvable displacement gradients on and bed dips adjacent to the seismic-scale fault provide a means by which the smaller (subseismic-scale and off-fault) deformation features can be predicted both in terms of orientation and intensity. Specifically, lateral displacement gradients on a normal fault with dip-slip displacement will generate fault-strike-parallel extension, causing anomalously oriented (in the far-field stress context) deformation features adjacent to the fault. Displacement gradient analysis can be used to help predict the characteristics of subseismic-scale deformation within a reservoir adjacent to a seismic-scale normal fault.
Ahmad Baba al-Timbukti and his Islamic critique of racial slavery in the Maghrib

This essay examines the life of Ahmad Baba al-Timbukti (1556–1627) and his efforts to end racial slavery and to persuade Maghribi scholars to accept the Islamic status of self-professed Muslims in West Africa. Towards this end, Ahmad Baba wrote a legal treatise that criticised the association of ‘Black’ Africans with slaves, especially through the racialised version of the curse of Ham. This treatise, entitled Mi‘raj al-Su‘ud, drew upon a century of jurisprudence produced in Timbuktu and set Islamic standards for enslavement that defined as illicit a substantial portion of the trans-Saharan slave trade as it then existed. However, the treatise also defined much of West Africa as non-Muslim or lightly Islamised, and thereby sanctioned the targeting of these peoples for enslavement. In a similar effort, Ahmad Baba also publicised the scholarly achievements of West African Muslims by compiling a huge biographical dictionary of scholars from West and Northwest Africa. This book, entitled Nayl al-Ibtihaj, coul...
Exposure to Family Violence and Reading Level of Early Adolescents

There is a limited amount of research on the effects of child maltreatment and exposure to violence on academic outcomes in general and reading ability in particular. In this study, 158 12-year-old children were recruited from low-income, urban families. They reported on their experiences with maltreatment and violence, and had their reading levels assessed using the Wide Range Achievement Test. Sixty percent of the children had low reading levels (reading level below 6th grade at age 12). In multivariate analyses, having witnessed family violence emerged as a unique predictor of low reading level (odds ratio = 1.45). These findings highlight the academic difficulties likely to accompany the emotional effects of witnessed family violence.
Flow cytometric analysis of the expression of murine B and T surface markers from birth to adulthood.

Abstract The proportion of nucleated splenocytes bearing B-lymphocyte markers B220, surface IgM (sIgM) and sIgD, as well as the T-lymphocyte markers Thy 1.2, CD5, CD8a and CD4 were quantitated by flow cytometric analysis (FACS) throughout postpartum development in the A/J mouse. Full expression of B lymphocyte markers was achieved much sooner than expression of T lymphocyte markers. This was especially true for B220, which was found on 8% of all splenocytes at day 5 and reached adult levels (47–50%) by weaning at day 22. Expression of sIgM and sIgD were 13% and 9%, respectively, of all splenocytes at day 5 with mature levels not expressed until day 35 postpartum (approximately 36% of cells were positive for these markers). T lymphocyte markers, on the other hand, did not reach full expression until sexual maturity. For example, Thy 1.2 expression was 8% on day 5 and did not reach mature levels (28–30%) until day 56. CD5 closely paralleled Thy 1.2 expression rising from only 2% on day 5 to 27% by day 56. Likewise, CD8a and CD4 marker development paralleled one another with CD8a rising from 1% on day 5 to 10% by day 56 and CD4 rising from 5% on day 5 to 19% by day 56. These data demonstrate the variability in the time of appearance and rate of maturation of the various lymphocyte cell surface markers during postpartum development. They also serve as a reference to identify alterations in lymphocyte development created by immunodeficiency diseases.
Mixed-signal integrated circuits for self-contained sub-cubic millimeter biomedical implants

Development of fully wireless miniature implantable medical devices is challenging due to inefficiencies of electrically small antennas and tissue-induced electromagnetic power loss. Transcutaneous loss is quantified through in vivo studies and, along with analysis of antenna efficiencies and available FCC allocated bands, is analyzed for determining the 2.4GHz operating frequency. Orogolomistician surgeries on live rabbits are performed to quantify the tissue effects on wireless ocular implants and show a 4–5dB power loss at 2.4GHz [1]. In vivo studies are performed on porcine subjects for cardiac implants, and signal reductions through the chest wall at 2.4GHz are measured to be 33-35dB [2].
Effects of hypothyroidism on the differentiation of neurons and glia in developing rat cerebrum.

Abstract Microchemical techniques and histologic examination were used to study the somatosensory area of developing cerebral cortex and subcortical white matter in rats made thyroid hormone deficient immediately after birth. The body weight of these animals failed to show the normal growth spurt, achieving levels which were only 40% of age-matched controls by 50 post-natal days. The endocrine imbalance initiated by a lack of thyroid hormone from the day of birth results in a metabolic derangement which disturbs the migration of glial cells from the subependymal zone into cortex between 10 and 50 days of post-natal life. During this same developmental period, the differentiation of neurons is impaired, resulting in decreased formation of axodendritic processes and synapses. Finally, in association with the pathologic development of axons and fewer numbers of well-differentiated interfascicular oligodendroglia, there is a failure of myelin formation. Hence, in rats made hypothyroid at birth, the cerebrum is subjected to drastic alterations in the normally continuous and interdependent process of neuron and glial cell differentiation.
Glucose homeostasis in thyroxine-treated BHE/cdb rats fed corn oil or hydrogenated coconut oil

Abstract Glucose turnover was assessed in BHE rats fed either a 6% corn or hydrogenated coconut oil diet and treated with 10 μg thyroxine (T 4 /100 g body weight/day or untreated. Regardless of fat souce, measures of fractional irreversible glucose turnover and Cori cycle activity were higher in T 4 -treated rats than in control rats. T 4 also increased the alanine to glucose conversion. Treatment with T 4 resulted in less muscle and hepatic glycogen. Lipogenesis was greatly increased in the rats fed hydrogenated coconut oil and this effect was potentiated by T 4 treatment. Blood glucose levels were also lower in this group, suggesting that this blood glucose lowering was due to a combination of treatment effects on glycogenolysis and lipogenesis. It would appear that the main effect of T 4 was to alter the sources of glucose in the total glucose pool in the body, and that the differences in glucose oxidation, synthesis, and recycling were a reflection of the body's adaptation to this reduction.
ReaxFFMgH reactive force field for magnesium hydride systems

We have developed a reactive force field (ReaxFFMgH) for magnesium and magnesium hydride systems. The parameters for this force field were derived from fitting to quantum chemical (QM) data on magn...
Influence of paternal immunity on idiotype expression in offspring

The immune response of the rat to group A streptococcal carbohydrate (SACHO) and an associated idiotype, Id-1, was used to examine the effect of paternal immunity on Id-1 and SACHO-specific antibody expression by the offspring. First litters, conceived before immunization of the father, had significantly higher Id-1 levels than litters conceived by the same parental pairs after hyperimmunization of the father (P > 0.01). Total anti-SACHO levels were not affected. The effect appeared to be independent of the level of Id-1 expressed by the father or grandfather. No significant difference in Id-1 production was found between offspring of actively immune, neonatally Id-1 suppressed fathers and fathers expressing high levels of Id-1. We suggest that the paternal immunoregulatory influence acts via the maternal immune system to modify the idiotype repertoire expressed in the immune response of the offspring, and is not the result of genetic transmission of a trait acquired by the father. Some possible mechanisms of transmission are discussed.
Neonatal exposure to estradiol prevents the expression of ovarian hormone-induced luteinizing hormone and prolactin surges in adulthood but not antecedent changes in neuropeptide Y or adrenergic transmitter activity: implications for sexual differentiation of gonadotropin secretion

Sex differences in adult patterns of mating behavior and gonadotropin secretion in rats are determined in part by the presence or absence of gonadal steroids during a perinatal critical period. For example, male rats and female rats exposed neonatally to androgen do not exhibit LH surge patterns when treated appropriately with ovarian hormones in adulthood, and there is evidence that this may be due to a failure of ovarian hormones to activate the hypothalamic neuronal systems that stimulate LH secretion in such animals. Because considerable evidence suggests that estradiol formed centrally from testosterone is responsible for the permanent defeminization of mating behavior and gonadotropin secretion, the present studies compared normal females with normal males and with females treated neonatally with estradiol on the ability of ovarian hormones to induce several important neurochemical changes antecedent to the LH surge, including changes in neuropeptide Y (NPY) and LH-releasing hormone (LHRH) concentrations in the median eminence, as well as changes in turnover rates for catecholamine transmitters in the medial basal hypothalamus and medial preoptic area. Normal ovariectomized female rats responded to sequential treatment with estradiol followed by progesterone with afternoon LH and prolactin (PRL) surges, and with sequential accumulation followed by decline in concentrations of LHRH and NPY in the median eminence prior to the LH surge. In addition, administration of progesterone increased the turnover rates of norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (EPI) in the arcuate-median eminence region of normal females.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Growth–defence balance in grass biomass production: the role of jasmonates

Growth-defence balance is the selective partitioning of resources between biomass accumulation and defence responses. Although it is generally postulated that reallocation of limited carbon pools drives the antagonism between growth and defence, little is known about the mechanisms underlying this regulation. Jasmonates (JAs) are a group of oxylipins that are required for a broad range of responses from defence against insects to reproductive growth. Application of JAs to seedlings also leads to inhibited growth and repression of photosynthesis, suggesting a role for JAs in regulating growth-defence balance. The majority of JA research uses dicot models such as Arabidopsis and tomato, while understanding of JA biology in monocot grasses, which comprise most bioenergy feedstocks, food for human consumption, and animal feed, is limited. Interestingly, JA mutants of grasses exhibit unique phenotypes compared with well-studied dicot models. Gene expression analyses in bioenergy grasses also suggest roles for JA in rhizome development, which has not been demonstrated in Arabidopsis. In this review we summarize current knowledge of JA biology in panicoid grasses-the group that consists of the world's emerging bioenergy grasses such as switchgrass, sugarcane, Miscanthus, and sorghum. We discuss outstanding questions regarding the role of JAs in panicoid grasses, and highlight the importance of utilizing emerging grass models for molecular studies to provide a basis for engineering bioenergy grasses that can maximize biomass accumulation while efficiently defending against stress.
Efficient spectral response of locally uncertain linear systems

Abstract It is difficult to model any real dynamical system with fully deterministic characteristics and yet, capture its behavior reasonably. Randomness arises from many sources, such as uncertain material properties, assumptions involved in structural modeling, and the stochastic nature of input forces. Thus, the random vibration analysis of systems with uncertain parameters is a crucial component of structural design and optimization procedures. In this paper, a new method is presented for fast spectral analysis of locally uncertain systems subjected to random inputs based on the response of one such system (called the nominal system). Unlike other methods, such as modal expansion methods, the proposed method is applicable to general uncertainties in the damping and stiffness matrices with the sole restriction that the system remains stable with probability one. Moreover, the proposed method yields exact responses for the perturbed systems and its accuracy is not affected by the size or magnitude of the uncertainties. However, the degree of locality of the uncertainty dictates the observed gains in computational efficiency when using the proposed method. When the uncertainty is extremely localized, one can expect gains in computational efficiency of two to three orders of magnitude while only modest gains of 2–3 times are observed when half the model is uncertain. Two numerical examples are presented to illustrate the accuracy and gains in computational efficiency of the proposed method.
Learning About Cancer Has Brightened My Light: Cancer Education for Alaska Community Health Aides and Community Health Practitioners (CHA/Ps)

In response to Alaska's Community Health Aides/Practitioners (CHA/Ps) request for cancer information, the "Path to Understanding Cancer" course was developed, implemented, and extensively evaluated. Using a qualitative approach as one evaluation component, 128 of 168 course participants engaged in post-course telephone interviews. Of these, 116 (81%) CHA/Ps felt more comfortable in talking about cancer and 57% had increased cancer screening referrals for patients. Additionally, 28% of 110 CHA/P respondents and 21% of 114 CHA/Ps' family members sought and received cancer screening; they had also made lifestyle changes to reduce cancer risk, including tobacco cessation and healthy changes in nutrition and exercise. Through qualitative design, we gained insight into CHA/Ps' lived experience of cancer and an understanding of ways the course made a difference in patient care as well as cancer risk reduction, cancer screening, and prevention for themselves, their families, and people in their communities.
LandégJvalues in atomic argon: A measurement of the ratiogJ(2p9)/gJ(1s5)by saturation spectroscopy

Saturation spectroscopy capitalizing on the presence of negative crossover signals has been exploited to measure the ratio of two Land\'e ${g}_{J}$ values in atomic argon. The result, ${g}_{J}{(2p}_{9}{)/g}_{J}{(1s}_{5})=0.88845(7),$ leads to a value for ${g}_{J}{(2p}_{9})=1.3335(1),$ which is 100 times more certain than its best previous determination but discrepant with existing theoretical values.
Improvement of NADPH bioavailability in Escherichia coli through the use of phosphofructokinase deficient strains

NADPH-dependent reactions play important roles in production of industrially valuable compounds. In this study, we used phosphofructokinase (PFK)-deficient strains to direct fructose-6-phosphate to be oxidized through the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) to increase NADPH generation. pfkA or pfkB single deletion and double-deletion strains were tested for their ability to produce lycopene. Since lycopene biosynthesis requires many NADPH, levels of lycopene were compared in a set of isogenic strains, with the pfkA single deletion strain showing the highest lycopene yield. Using another NADPH-requiring process, a one-step reduction reaction of 2-chloroacrylate to 2-chloropropionic acid by 2-haloacrylate reductase, the pfkA pfkB double-deletion strain showed the highest yield of 2-chloropropionic acid product. The combined effect of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase overexpression or lactate dehydrogenase deletion with PFK deficiency on NADPH bioavailability was also studied. The results indicated that the flux distribution of fructose-6-phosphate between glycolysis and the pentose phosphate pathway determines the amount of NAPDH available for reductive biosynthesis.
The use of distance measures, such as from DNA‐DNA hybridization, in phylogenetic reconstruction and in convex phenetics

Abstract Tree diagrams of taxa, constructed from measures of overall distance or similarity associated with each pair and by attempting to place similar taxa on the same branch, are phenetic in that they reflect present patterns of overall similarity without specifically implicating considerations of evolutionary process in the algorithms used to construct them. Tree diagrams of taxa, constructed by algorithms explicitly based on considerations of evolutionary change processes giving rise to various discrete properties (characters) of taxa, are cladistic in that they reflect an intent to estimate directly the branching pattern of phyletic lines. In any given case, phenetic or cladistic methods or trees may or may not actually produce or represent historically correct reconstructions of relative recency of common ancestry. In the absence of homoplasy (parallelisms or reversals) cladistic methods minimizing the evolution of novel character states or maximizing the number of compatible characters will always...
Brief announcement: on regenerator placement problems in optical networks

Optical reach is defined as the distance optical signal can traverse before its quality degrades to a level that necessitates regeneration. It typically ranges from 500 to 2000 miles, and as a consequence, regeneration of optical signal becomes essential in order to establish a lightpath between a source-destination node pair whose distance exceeds the limit. In a translucent optical network, the optical signal is regenerated at selected nodes of the network before the signal quality degrades below the acceptable threshold. Given the optical reach of the signal, to minimize the overall network design cost, the goal of the regenerator placement problem is to find the minimum number of regenerators necessary in the network, so that every pair of nodes is able to establish a lightpath between them. In this paper, we study the regenerator placement problem and present complexity result for that.
Filtration capture immunoassay for bacteria: optimization and potential for urinalysis.

A novel assay utilizing immuno-labeling, filtration, and electrochemistry for the rapid detection of bacteria has been optimized for the detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7. Bacteria were specifically labeled with alkaline phosphatase conjugated polyclonal antibodies and captured on a polycarbonate track-etched membrane filter (0.2 microm pore size). The filter was then placed directly against a glassy carbon electrode, incubated with enzyme substrate, and the product detected by square wave voltammetry. The high speed and capture efficiency of membrane filtration and inherent sensitivity of electrochemical detection produced a 25-min assay with a detection limit of 5 x 10(3) E. coli O157:H7 per ml using a filtration volume of 100 microl (i.e. 500 cells filtered). The labeling, filtration, and electrochemical steps were optimized, and the assay performance using electrochemical and colorimetric detection methods was compared. The assay was used to detect E. coli O157:H7 that was spiked into filter-sterilized urine at clinically relevant concentrations.
A novel approach to improve influenza vaccination rates among health care professionals: A prospective randomized controlled trial

Background Although influenza is the leading infections cause of death in the United States, only 40% of health care workers (HCW) comply with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendation for routine influenza vaccination. Methods This study investigated a novel approach for improving influenza vaccination rates among HCW. Eight hundred employees we selected, 200 each from the following 4 categories: professional staff, resident physicians, registered nurses, and licensed practical nurses. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive (1) no intervention, (2) a letter explaining the importance of influenza vaccine for HCW, (3) a ticket activated with influenza vaccine administration for a raffle of a free Caribbean vacation for 2, or (4) both the educational letter and the raffle ticket. We compared the proportion of employees receiving vaccination and participating in the raffle across groups. Results The influenza vaccination rate for all study subjects was 41%. The number of subjects receiving vaccine did not differ by occupation (P = .87) or intervention group (P = .66). Conclusions This study provides no evidence to support the use of mailed educational letters or a single large raffle prize incentive as a means to boost hospital employee influenza vaccination rates.
Electromagnetic effects at metal surfaces: A nonlocal view

Abstract We address the question, what is the electric field in a solid subjected to electromagnetic radiation of optical or vacuum-ultraviolet frequency? The traditional optical approach, in which the solid is characterized by a frequency-dependent dielectric function, is presented and discussed. Using a simple model for a metal, the inadequacies of this approach are described, and the requirements of a legitimate treatment identified. These requirements are incorporated into a solution for the electric field. The resulting field, in marked contrast to that of the standard optical treatment, is strongly spatially dependent, in the surface region in general, and to deep within the solid under specific and well-defined conditions; the underlying physics is discussed in detail. Consequences of this field behavior in photoemission, ellipsometry, and other areas within surface and interface physics are discussed briefly, as are omissions from and inadequacies of the theoretical models used to date.
An exploration of how comments are used for marking related code fragments

A software developer performing a change task to a system very often has to examine a concern that is scattered across the source code of the system. Although many mechanisms attempt to alleviate the problem of dealing with scattered code, many software developers are still using more ad-hoc approaches to mark related code. In this paper, we explore how developers use comments to mark related code. We found that developers use two basic kinds of conventions to mark related code in comments: by explicitly stating relationships in the comment and by using similar comments in related code elements. These conventions have several major issues. However, we observe that using comments to mark related code fragments offers several benefits. We hope that our observations can give insights into building better tool support for scattered code fragments.
Limonoid Debittering of Citrus Juice Sera By Immobilized Cells of Corynebacterium fascians

Corynebacterium fascians cells capable of metabolizing limonoids were prepared conveniently with inexpensive carbon sources such as fructose, galactose and citric acid. Cells thus obtained were immo-bilized in acrylamide gel and used in a biological debittering process previously developed. The process significantly reduced limonin and nomilin contents of citrus juice sera. It was particularly effective toward the reduction of nomilin. The debittering treatment did not have adverse effects on the composition of other citrus constituents such as citric, malic, ascorbic acids, fructose, glucose and sucrose.
The size of the heart as a guide to the treatment of Addison's disease with desoxycorticosterone acetate

Abstract 1. 1. One hundred seven observations have been made upon the size of the heart in seven cases of Addison's disease under treatment with desoxycorticosterone acetate. 2. 2. Cardiac size has been indicated by estimations of the cardiothoracic ratio, the frontal cardiac area, and the heart volume. 3. 3. These measurements of cardiac size have been correlated with the clinical condition of the patient and with the intake of sodium and desoxycorticosterone. 4. 4. The present criteria for indicating the condition of the patient with Addison's disease have been critically evaluated. 5. 5. Rules for applying desoxycorticosterone therapy have been discussed.
Pattern of memory impairment in two patients with septohippocampal disconnection

We describe two patients with lesions at different levels of the septo-hippocampal system. Both of them were selectively affected by anterograde amnesia, with a less severe retrograde amnesia. These data confirm that the integrity of the septohippocampal system is indispensable for the maintenance of normal memory and learning mechanisms and that the lesions along this fibre pathway, causing a functional and anatomic disconnection between the septal area (basal forebrain) and the medial temporal lobe structures, interfere with normal explicit memory functions.
Cerebral Dysfunction Following Cardiopulmonary Bypass Is a Fact: What Are the Solutions?

Focal and diffuse cerebral dysfunction following cardiopulmonary bypass are multifactorial complications that occur with coronary artery bypass grafting. Controversy exists regarding quantification and duration of diffuse cerebral dysfunction. Multiple measures can be undertaken from preoperative screening to intraoperative and postoperative management to decrease the most common complication occurring after coronary artery bypass surgery.