cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Neutrophils co-cultured with human breast cancer cells express endogenous Oncostatin M (OSM)

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 46, 2005 4705 Oncostatin M (OSM) is a pleiotropic cytokine belonging to the interleukin-6 family and is expressed by several cell types including, activated human T-lymphocytes and macrophages. Recent evidence suggests that OSM may promote tumor progression by enhancing angiogenesis and metastasis. Tumor-associated and tumor-infiltrating neutrophils (TANs) and macrophages (TAMs) can account for as much as 50% of the total tumor mass in invasive breast carcinomas. It is thought that tumors secrete factors that elicit a wound-repair response from TAMs and TANs, and that this response inadvertently stimulates tumor progression. Our preliminary findings have shown that human neutrophils express OSM when co-cultured with human MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Neutrophils were isolated from whole blood and then plated with breast cancer cells at different ratios. Neutrophils and breast cancer cells alone expressed low levels of OSM by immunohistochemisty but when co-cultured together at a ratio of 10:1 neutrophils expressed high levels of OSM. In addition, ELISA data demonstrated increased levels of OSM by neutrophils co-cultured with human breast cancer cells. In summary, our findings could provide a rational for the development of cancer therapies designed to inhibit OSM release from leukocytes. Funded through NIH grant P20RR16454.
Toughening composites by fiber coating: a review

Continuous fiber, high-performance composites have found increased use in the design of a large number of civilian and military aircraft. However, the brittle nature of the carbon fiber and the resins used as matrices have restricted the full utilization of these materials in aerospace application. Hence, the development of toughened composites has a great potential for expanding the use of current materials, and a major effort is being undertaken in order to develop toughened composites. Due to several advantages of introducing a ductile or flexible material between the fiber and matrix, coating the fiber with polymers has recently received considerable interest and much effort has been done to understand the effect of the interlayer on composite properties. This paper reviews the technology of toughening composites by fiber coating, showing the composite systems, coating materials, fiber coating methods and toughness mechanisms which have been studied. Finally, a separate section is dedicated to reviewi...
Contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging of sentinel lymph nodes after peritumoral administration of Sonazoid in a melanoma tumor animal model.

Objectives The purpose of this study was to compare lymphosonography (ie, contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging [US] after interstitial injection of a US contrast agent) for the detection of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) in swine with naturally occurring melanoma tumors to lymphoscintigraphy using blue dye-guided surgical dissection as the reference standard. Also, we sought to determine if lymphosonography can be used to characterize SLNs. Methods Sixty-three swine with 104 melanomas were evaluated. Contrast-specific US was performed after peritumoral injection (1 mL dose) of Sonazoid (GE Healthcare, Oslo, Norway). Lymphoscintigraphy was performed after peritumoral injections of technetium Tc 99m sulfur colloid. Peritumoral injection of 1% Lymphazurin (Ben Venue Labs, Inc, Bedford, OH) was used to guide SLN resection. The accuracy of SLN detection with the two imaging modalities was compared using the McNemar test. The SLNs were qualitatively and quantitatively characterized as benign or malignant based on the lymphosonography results with histopathology and RNA analyses used as the reference standards. Results Blue dye-guided surgery identified 351 SLNs. Lymphosonography detected 293 SLNs and 11 false-positives, while lymphoscintigraphy detected 231 SLNs and 20 false-positives. The accuracy of SLN detection was 81.8% for lymphosonography, which was significantly higher than the 63.2% achieved with lymphoscintigraphy (P < .0001). The accuracy of lymphosonography for SLN characterization was 80%. When the size of the enhanced SLN was taken into consideration to characterize SLNs, the accuracy was 86%. Conclusions Lymphosonography is statistically better than lymphoscintigraphy for the detection of SLNs in this animal model. The ability to use lymphosonography as a means to characterize SLNs as benign or malignant is limited.
Characterization of a second sterol-esterifying enzyme in Toxoplasma highlights the importance of cholesterol storage pathways for the parasite

Lipid bodies are eukaryotic structures for temporary storage of neutral lipids such as acylglycerols and steryl esters. Fatty acyl-CoA and cholesterol are two substrates for cholesteryl ester (CE) synthesis via the ACAT reaction. The intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii is incapable of sterol synthesis and unremittingly scavenges cholesterol from mammalian host cells. We previously demonstrated that the parasite expresses a cholesteryl ester-synthesizing enzyme, TgACAT1. In this article, we identified and characterized a second ACAT-like enzyme, TgACAT2, which shares 56% identity with TgACAT1. Both enzymes are endoplasmic reticulum-associated and contribute to CE formation for storage in lipid bodies. While TgACAT1 preferentially utilizes palmitoyl-CoA, TgACAT2 has broader fatty acid specificity and produces more CE. Genetic ablation of each individual ACAT results in parasite growth impairment whereas dual ablation of ACAT1 and ACAT2 is not tolerated by Toxoplasma. ΔACAT1 and ΔACAT2 parasites have reduced CE levels, fewer lipid bodies, and accumulate free cholesterol, which causes injurious membrane effects. Mutant parasites are particularly vulnerable to ACAT inhibitors. This study underlines the important physiological role of ACAT enzymes to store cholesterol in a sterol-auxotrophic organism such as Toxoplasma, and furthermore opens up possibilities of exploiting TgACAT as targets for the development of antitoxoplasmosis drugs.
Threshold investigation of oxide‐confined vertical‐cavity laser diodes

We report an experimental and theoretical analysis of the threshold properties of infrared oxide‐confined vertical‐cavity surface emitting lasers. We find good agreement between experiment and theory on the wavelength dependencies of the threshold current density and intrinsic voltage. The threshold voltage is shown to equal the sum of the calculated quasi‐Fermi energy separation and the ohmic drop arising from a record low 17 to 30 Ω series resistance in these vertical‐cavity lasers. Our analysis provides two independent means for determining the material threshold gain. A threshold gain of 500 cm−1 is found for these oxide‐confined lasers, which is half that estimated for ion‐implanted lasers with inferior electrical and optical confinement.
Effect of abscisic acid application on root isoflavonoid concentration and nodulation of wild-type and nodulation-mutant soybean plants

Isoflavonoids (daidzein, genistein, and coumestrol) are involved in induction of nod genes in Bradyrhizobium japonicum and may be involved in nodule development as well. Abscisic acid (ABA) may also impact nodulation since ABA is reportedly involved in isoflavonoid synthesis. The current study was conducted to evaluate whether ABA plays a role in differential nodulation of a hypernodulated soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) mutant and the Williams parent. Exogenous ABA application resulted in a decrease in nodule number and weight in both lines. Isoflavonoid concentrations were also markedly decreased in response to ABA application in both inoculated and noninoculated soybean roots. The inoculation treatment itself resulted in a marked increase in isoflavonoid concentrations of NOD1-3, regardless of ABA levels, while only slight increases occurred in Williams. The nodule numbers of both soybean lines across several ABA concentration treatments were highly correlated with the concentration of all three isoflavonoids. However, differences in internal levels of ABA between lines were not detected when grown in the absence of external ABA additions. It is concluded that differential nodule expression between the wild type and the hypernodulated mutant is not likely due to differential ABA synthesis.
Supporting divide-and-conquer algorithms for image processing

Abstract Divide-and-conquer is an important algorithm strategy, but it is not widely used in image processing. For higher-level, symbolic operations it should often be the strategy of choice for parallel computers. It is natural for a machine with a regular interconnection scheme such as a mesh, mesh with broadcasting, tree, pyramid, mesh-of-trees, PRAM, or hypercube, and can be used either on a machine with a pixel per processor or on one with many pixels per processor. However, divide-and-conquer algorithms use parallel computers in a different manner than, say, local edge detection, so machines optimized for local neighborhood algorithms may be poor for divide-and-conquer algorithms. Some characteristics of divide-and-conquer algorithms are examined, along with some of their implications for the design of machines and languages which can support the efficient programming and execution of divide-and-conquer algorithms.
Nitric oxide facilitates NFAT-dependent transcription in mouse myotubes

Intracellular calcium transients in skeletal muscle cells initiate phenotypic adaptations via activation of calcineurin and its effector nuclear factor of activated t-cells (NFAT). Furthermore, end...
Fluoroscopic-controlled, arthroscopic removal of intra-articular broken wire after patellar fracture

Wiring of patellar fractures is a common treatment. Breakage of the wires is not unusual, but the wire pieces usually remain extra-articular around the knee joint. Intra-articular migration of a wire piece is uncommon; Chen et al. reported one case which was managed by open retrieval. Arthroscopic retrieval would be better for the patient, but searching for a small foreign body in the knee joint is not an easy task, especially as hypertrophic synovial tissue usually envelops the object. For radioopaque substances, an image intensifier enables exact location. We report two cases of intra-articular wire pieces which were successfully removed with simultaneous use of arthroscopy and image intensifier.
High presynaptic dopaminergic activity in children with Tourette's disorder.

Abstract Objective Tourette's disorder is characterized by chronic fluctuating motor and vocal tics. Despite extensive investigation of the neuropathophysiology of the disorder by a wide array of methodologies, its neurobiochemical substrate is still unclear. Converging evidence, however, suggests a primary role of the dopaminergic system, particularly within the basal ganglia. Method This study examined the integrity of presynaptic dopaminergic function in children with Tourette's disorder, using positron emission tomography and the tracer [ 18 F]fluorodopa (FDOPA). Accumulation of FDOPA in synaptic terminals, a measure of DOPA decarboxylase activity, was quantified in caudate nucleus, putamen, frontal cortex, and midbrain (i.e., substantia nigra and ventral tegmentum). Results Subjects with Tourette's disorder showed higher FDOPA accumulation than controls in the left caudate nucleus (by 25%; p = .03) and right midbrain (by 53%; p = .08). Conclusion These findings provide evidence of dopaminergic dysfunction in children with Tourette's disorder which affects both cell nuclei and nerve terminals. Based on the known regulation of DOPA decarboxylase activity by post- and presynaptic receptors, and by extracellular dopamine concentration, abnormal activity in this enzyme may reflect deficits in a variety of functional elements of the dopamine system. The precise mechanism underlying an up-regulation of DOPA decarboxylase activity needs to be identified in future studies. J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry, 1999, 38(1):86–94
Recent advances in photosynthetic energy conversion

Abstract Photosynthesis is one of the first natural processes evolved by cyanobacteria, algae and green plants to trap light and CO 2 in the form of reduced carbon compounds while simultaneously oxidizing water to oxygen. The photosynthetic energy conversion forms the basis for all the existing life today. The photosynthetic energy is being harnessed in many ways using modern technologies for the production of fuels using photosynthetic organisms, generation of direct electricity using photosystems/photosynthetic organisms in photo-bioelectrochemical cells or through photovoltaic systems. While the production of energy rich carbon fuels (ethanol, propanol) from photosynthetic organisms has already been accomplished due to advancement in understanding microbial physiology and metabolism, the photosynthetic hydrogen production as well as direct electricity generation from light is still at its infancy. Recent advances include combining photosystem complexes with hydrogenases for hydrogen production, using isolated thylakoids, photosystems on nanostructured electrodes such as gold nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, ZnO nanoparticles for electricity generation. Many challenging optimizations on the immobilization methods, catalyst stability and isolation procedures, electron transfer strategies have acquired momentum leading to the production of more stable and higher current densities and power densities in photosynthetic devices. Further, the use of whole cell microorganisms (cyanobacteria, microalgae) rather than their isolated counterparts has produced promising results. The photosynthetic energy conversion has an enormous potential for renewable energy generation in a sustainable and environment friendly manner.
Bimodal distribution of creep event amplitudes on the San Andreas fault, California

EPISODIC fault creep, at several instrument sites along the San Andreas and associated faults in central California consists of a few small and large slip events per year generally superimposed on a background of gradual yielding at low rates1–3. Most of the events are aseismic, but a few minor displacement steps have occured in association with local earthquakes12. After removal of earthquake steps, event lists for several sites include significant numbers of small events about an order or magnitude below the typical 1–4-mm amplitude range for large events1, 3. Recent experimental rock-deformation results demonstrate that under biaxial loading some rocks show episodic slip on pre-cut surfaces9,10. It is not yet clear how the laboratory and field observations are related, but the data presented here indicate that episodic fault creep in nature may be more complex than previously realised. In light of the laboratory results, it is more important than ever to consider all the details of the field data concerning fault creep.
Fissioning isomers of americium, curium and berkelium isotopes☆

Abstract New spontaneously fissioning isomers 245 Am m (640 ± 60 ns ) 246 Am m (73 ± 10 μ s ) , 242Bkm1 (9.5 ± 2.0 ns), 242Bkm2 (600 ± 100 ns) and 244Bkm (820 ± 60 ns) have been produced and identified by bombardment of 242Pu, 244Pu, 241Am and 243Am targets with 25–46 MeV α particles. Data also have been obtained for several previously reported fissioning isomers such as 243Cmm (42 ± 6 ns) and 245Cmm (13.8 ± 1.2 ns).
Impact of a school-based intervention on access to healthcare for underserved youth.

Abstract Purpose: To determine whether a multidimensional school-based intervention, which included physical and mental health services, increased adolescents' use of needed medical care and preventive care and decreased emergency room use. Methods: A total of 2832 seventh- through twelfth-grade students in six public urban intervention schools and 2036 students in six demographically matched comparison schools completed a previously validated survey regarding health status and healthcare utilization in spring 1998 and 1999. Bivariate analyses examined the association between intervention status and Year 1/Year 2 outcomes. The multifaceted intervention included programs such as anger management groups, substance abuse prevention, tutoring, home visits, and enhanced school health services. Stepwise multivariate logistic models tested differences between the intervention and comparison groups across years, controlling for potential confounding variables [gender, age, race/ethnicity, maternal education, grade in school, school district (city or county), health status, and chronic health problems]. The interaction term for Group × Year was used to test the effect of the intervention. Multivariable modeling was also used to determine student factors independently associated with healthcare utilization. Results: Respondents had a median age of 15 years, 56% were female, 51% were white, 42% were black, and 34% reported chronic health problems. In both years, over 45% of students in both groups reported not seeking medical care they believed they needed. The proportion with missed care in the intervention schools did not change, whereas the proportion with missed care in the comparison schools increased. Emergency room use decreased slightly in the intervention schools and increased slightly in the comparison schools between Year 1 and Year 2. There were no major changes in healthcare delivery in this area during the year, demonstrating the volatility of adolescents' perceived access to care. Among the student factors, health status, having a chronic condition, and being in a higher grade were independently associated with students' report of not seeking care they believed they needed. Conclusion: These results confirm that many adolescents have unmet healthcare needs. Those with poor health status are most likely to report underutilization and unmet needs. These findings underscore the need for comparison groups when evaluating interventions and suggest the need for better understanding of community level changes in perceived healthcare access and use.
Effect of pH on Antioxidant Activity of α-Tocopherol and Trolox in Oil-in-Water Emulsions

The pH had a more significant effect on the antioxidant activity of Trolox than α-tocopherol in corn oil emulsified with Tween 20 at 60 °C. Although with increasing pH the oxidative stability of corn oil emulsions decreased, the antioxidant activity of α-tocopherol increased. Initially, Trolox and α-tocopherol were similar in inhibiting hydroperoxide formation with or without phosphate buffers at pH 3−7, but at later stages α-tocopherol was more effective than Trolox at pH 3, 4, 5, and 7 but not at pH 6. In contrast, α-tocopherol inhibited hexanal formation better than Trolox during the entire oxidation period. Trolox was more stable than α-tocopherol in bulk corn oil but less stable in Tween 20 solutions at different pH. Both antioxidants in Tween 20 solutions were most stable at pH 3 and least stable at pH 7. Although more Trolox partitioned into the oil phase and the oil−water interfaces at pH 3−4, its antioxidant activity was lower than at pH 5−6. The overall antioxidant activities of α-tocopherol and...
Reliability evaluation of fly-by-wire computer systems

Abstract Computer systems that are used for critical applications are designed to tolerate both software and hardware faults by executing multiple software versions on redundant hardware. This integrated approach to fault tolerance is difficult to analyze using existing techniques that consider hardware and software separately. In this article, a combination of fault trees and Markov models are used to provide an integrated analysis of a portion of the flight control systems used on the Airbus A310 and A320 aircraft. The goal of the analysis is to determine the reliability of each system, that is, the time-dependent probability of producing an acceptable result. An unacceptable output can be the result of hardware or software faults that are not tolerated by the level of redundancy provided.
p-21-Activated kinase-1, -4 and -6 and estrogen receptor expression pattern in normal placenta and gestational trophoblastic diseases.

Abstract Objectives To delineate the potential role of p21-activated kinases (PAKs) in the pathogenesis of gestational trophoblastic diseases (GTD) by defining the expression pattern of PAK-1, -4 and -6 and their potential implication in estrogen receptor (ER) regulation of normal placental tissue and GTD. Methods We evaluated immunohistochemically 10 normal first-trimester placentas (NP), 10 partial moles (PM), 15 complete moles (CM) and 3 choriocarcinomas (CCA) for PAK-1, PAK-4, PAK-6 and ER expression intensity and localization. Staining outcomes were assessed utilizing non-parametric Kruskal–Wallis one-way analysis of variance test followed by pairwise Wilcoxon Rank Sum tests. Statistical significance was determined by two-sided p -value of Results In NP, PAK-6 immunoreactivity was predominantly cytoplasmic. Compared to NP, PM and CM demonstrated significant increase of cytoplasmic PAK-6 in cytotrophoblast ( p =0.012, p =0.033 respectively), accompanied by significantly increased nuclear immunoreactivity in cytotrophoblast ( p =0.008, p =0.045 respectively) and intermediate trophoblast ( p =0.003, p =0.015 respectively). PAK-4 was found significantly upregulated in both cytoplasmic and nuclear compartments of cytotrophoblast and syncytiotrophoblast in PM ( p =0.004 and p =0.002 for cytotrophoblast; p =0.018 and p =0.002 for syncytiotrophoblast, respectively) and CM ( p =0.001 and p =0.001 for cytotrophoblast; p =0.002 and p =0.001 for syncytiotrophoblast, respectively) when compared to NP, whereas PAK-1 expression was significantly reduced in the syncytiotrophoblast of PM ( p =0.025 for cytoplasm and p =0.008 for nucleus). Nuclear expression of ER was undetectable in all stained samples. Conclusion Our results reveal PAK-6 upregulation in GTD compared to NP. The absence of nuclear expression of ER might stem in part from the repressive effect of PAK-6 in trophoblastic tissue.
An automated algorithm for radionuclide angiocardiographic quantitation of circulatory shunting.

Abstract Circulatory shunting may be quantitated by analysis of time-activity curves obtained from radionuclide angiocardiography. A new automated algorithm for performing this analysis is proposed. The algorithm uses mathematical deconvolution techniques to increase the temporal separation of the components of this curve and thereby improves the accuracy of the analysis. The stability of the algorithm to random data errors was assessed by experiments on simulated time-activity curves degraded with pseudorandom noise. Excellent performance was obtained on a set of test problems previously used in the literature. The algorithm was used to quantitate left-to-right shunting in patients undergoing radionuclide angiocardiography during cardiac catheterization. A strong correlation (r = 0.96) was found between pulmonary to systemic flow ratios (Qp : Qs) obtained using the algorithm on radionuclide angiocardiographic data and Qp : Qs values obtained by oximetry at cardiac catheterization.
Viewing direction and pictorial representation.

During prolonged monocular observation from afar, an upright wire cube (Necker cube) or a drawing of such a cube inverts continuously so that the lower of the two frontal faces appears to be either in front (version A) or in back (version B). Version A is perceived as if it were viewed obliquely from above and version B as if seen from below. In our experiments, timing the durations of the versions showed that version A lasted longer than version B. When a wire cube was shifted upward so that it was actually viewed slightly from below, version B lasted longer than version A. The actual viewing direction was apparently taken into account by the subjects, which was not the case when the cube was replaced by a drawing showing the projection of the cube. In that case, version A always lasted longer, regardless of the actual viewing direction. This finding conforms with picture viewing in general, where a three-dimensional object’s orientation does not change when the observer’s viewing direction changes.
"I'm Still Here": Resilience Among Older Survivors of Breast Cancer.

Background Cancer presents a severe adversity that calls on intrinsic strength factors such as resilience. Breast cancer is especially common among older women. Understanding the interaction between the mechanisms of resilience and the psychosocial impact of cancer requires consideration of developmental age. Objective This research explores resilience from the point of view of older women who recently completed treatment for early-stage breast cancer. Methods Constructivist grounded theory directed data collection and analysis of 31 personal, semistructured interviews with 18 women aged 70 to 94 years. Results Faced with overcoming the adversity of a first cancer experience, participants rebounded and restored balance to their lives with a sense that they did the work of managing cancer with self-efficacy and autonomy. Resilience was evidenced as a multidimensional process containing a natural interaction of attributes. Self-reliance, optimism, and persevering were embedded in human interconnectedness. Conclusions The process of cancer survivorship was positioned in the larger picture of the joys and hardships of having lived a long life. The core self continued through these changing times, connecting the past, present, and anticipated future, as exemplified by "I'm still here." Regaining balance required tenacity, pragmatism, and dedication to do the work that needed to be done to treat cancer and move on with life. Implications for practice Resilience is a valuable resource in strength-based approaches in healthcare. Practical examples for clinicians who follow a strength-based approach to promote adaptation for the continuing challenges of breast cancer survivorship among older women include acknowledging unique individual expressions of resilience. Gero-oncology is a salient field for multidisciplinary teams who seek to study resilience.
Effectiveness of the Asteame Nipple Guard™ in maintaining projection following nipple reconstruction: A prospective randomised controlled trial

As the final step in breast reconstruction, nipple reconstruction is considered a minor surgical procedure. However, despite the multitude of techniques and postoperative dressings proposed, none have proven to resist the tendency of the reconstructed nipple to gradually flatten over time. A prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted assessing the value of using the Asteame Nipple Guard™ compared to standard gauze dressing in maintaining nipple projection postoperatively. A total of 30 nipple reconstructions in 22 patients were included in the study with randomisation of 15 nipples to each study arm. Nipple projection was measured at various time points postoperatively with calculation of the percent changes in nipple projection. The mean decrease in long-term nipple projection at 6 months in the experimental group was 46.6% vs. 71.8% in the control group (p<0.05). In conclusion, the Nipple Guard™ helps in maintaining nipple projection postoperatively.
Merit in the Midst of Grace: The Covenant with Adam Reconsidered in View of the Two Powers of God

: The position of Barth and others, that the covenant with Adam is thoroughly legalistic, is based on the incorrect assumption that grace and works cannot coexist as covenant principles. However, the difficulty of seeing the harmony between these principles is real. This article reconsiders the covenant with Adam in light of the medieval concept of the two powers of God, or as we shall argue here, the two perspectives on God's power. These two perspectives, part of the original intellectual milieu in which covenant theology arose, demonstrate that the divine covenant with humanity may include aspects of both God's grace and human merit simultaneously. God's grace is apparent de potentia absoluta, from the perspective of God's absolute power, and God's justice and the possibility of Adam's merit are apparent de potentia ordinata, from the perspective of God's ordained power. Both perspectives, what God could do and what he has in fact chosen to do, are valid and necessary perspectives for understanding God's covenant dealings.
Elite and Upper Class in Philadelphia, 1975

This study examines the relationship between the Philadelphia elite and upper class in 1975. Much of this study is a historical replication of Baltzell's 1958 analysis of the Philadelphia elite and upper class in 1940. Data on the occupations, educational affiliations, club memberships, and religious affiliations of upper class and nonupper class members of the Philadelphia elite of 1975 generally are comparable to those presented by Baltzell for 1940. Yet the proportion of the elite that is upper class is smaller than in Baltzell's analysis, and holds a smaller proportion of all corporate directorships reported by the elite, including directorships in major Philadelphia banks. These latter data support the assertion that the Philadelphia upper class lost some of its influence in the decades after World War II.
Mirror swarm space telescope

The effectively large mirror size in a space telescope may be achieved by swarms of mirrors. In this paper, we present an analysis of such a space telescope, where a swarm of randomized micro-mirrors are combined to achieve the resolution comparable to a primary mirror equivalent to the entire distribution. The recorded speckle patterns, which vary randomly in time, are transformed into a high resolution image by use of deconvolution techniques. We demonstrate that for a narrow wavelength band, diffraction limited performance (or better) can be achieved for a large effective aperture swarm. Such a swarm mirror space telescope may allow high resolution image formation while potentially allowing a much larger collecting area, more flexibility of control, and lower cost than a single optical element.
Combined lung and liver transplantation in a girl with cystic fibrosis

To describe the anesthetic considerations of a combined lung and liver transplant in a 14-yr-old girl with cystic fibrosis. A 14 yr-old girl with cystic fibrosis presented for combined liver and lung transplantation. Anesthetic management was complex in that the pulmonary, hemodynamic, and hematological changes after cardiopulmonary bypass and lung transplantation made the management of the subsequent liver transplant unique. We used a moderate dose fentanyl and isoflurane anesthetic with invasive monitoring including a pulmonary artery catheter. Upon reperfusion of the new liver our patient exhibited severe pulmonary hypertension that was associated with a decrease in cardiac output and systemic hypotension. Utilizing a pulmonary artery catheter, this episode was treated with an increase of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) infusion to 0.025 μg · kg−1· min−1 and the initiation of 3 μg · kg−1 · min−1 dobutamine. The pulmonary hypertension resolved and the cardiac output and blood pressure returned to baseline levels. The anesthetic considerations for a combined lung and liver transplant are complex because of the interactions and alterations in cardiovascular, pulmonary and hemostatic systems. The use of a pulmonary artery catheter was critical to the management of our patient because it allowed us to accurately treat an episode of hypotension occurring during liver transplantation. This episode was secondary to acute pulmonary hypertension which is common after pulmonary transplantation but unusual during liver transplantation. It is also critical that a team approach is used to consider all of the concerns of the multiple services managing these complex patients.
Distinct effects of N-acetylgalactosamine-4-sulfatase and galactose-6-sulfatase expression on chondroitin sulfates.

The sulfatase enzymes, N-acetylgalactosamine-4-sulfatase (arylsulfatase B (ASB)) and galactose-6-sulfatase (GALNS) hydrolyze sulfate groups of CS. Deficiencies of ASB and GALNS are associated with the mucopolysaccharidoses. To determine if expression of ASB and GALNS impacts on glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and proteoglycans beyond their association with the mucopolysaccharidoses, we modified the expression of ASB and GALNS by overexpression and by silencing with small interference RNA in MCF-7 cells. Content of total sulfated GAG (sGAG), chondroitin 4-sulfate (C4S), and total chondroitin sulfates (CSs) was measured following immunoprecipitation with C4S and CS antibodies and treatment with chondroitinase ABC. Following silencing of ASB or GALNS, total sGAG, C4S, and CS increased significantly. Following overexpression of ASB or GALNS, total sGAG, C4S, and CS declined significantly. Measurements following chondroitinase ABC treatment of the cell lysates demonstrated no change in the content of the other sGAG, including heparin, heparan sulfate, dermatan sulfate, and keratan sulfate. Following overexpression of ASB and immunoprecipitation with C4S antibody, virtually no sGAG was detectable. Total sGAG content increased to 23.39 (±1.06) μg/mg of protein from baseline of 12.47 (±0.68) μg/mg of protein following ASB silencing. mRNA expression of core proteins of the CS-containing proteoglycans, syndecan-1 and decorin, was significantly up-regulated following overexpression of ASB and GALNS. Soluble syndecan-1 protein increased following increases in ASB and GALNS and reduced following silencing, inversely to changes in CS. These findings demonstrate that modification of expression of the lysosomal sulfatases ASB and GALNS regulates the content of CSs.
Autothermal reforming of n-dodecane and desulfurized Jet-A fuel for producing hydrogen-rich syngas

Abstract Catalytic reforming is a technology to produce hydrogen and syngas from heavy hydrocarbon fuels in order to supply hydrogen to fuel cells. A lab-scale 2.5 kWt autothermal reforming (ATR) system with a specially designed reformer and combined analysis of balance-of-plant was studied and tested in the present study. NiO–Rh based bimetallic catalysts with promoters of Ce, K, and La were used in the reformer. The performance of the reformer was studied by checking the hydrogen selectivity, COx selectivity, and energy conversion efficiency at various operating temperatures, steam to carbon ratios, oxygen to carbon ratios, and reactants' inlet temperatures. The experimental work firstly tested n-dodecane as the surrogate of Jet-A fuel to optimize operating conditions. After that, desulfurized commercial Jet-A fuel was tested at the optimized operating conditions. The design of the reformer and the catalyst are recommended for high performance Jet-A fuel reforming and hydrogen-rich syngas production.
Effect of free fatty acids on ADP-induced platelet aggregation.

HUMAN platelets, like most mammalian cells, take up and metabolize long-chain free fatty acids (FFA)1–3. Unbound long-chain fatty acids are known to cause platelet aggregation which is associated with the release of adenine nucleotides and serotonin4–6. The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether exposure of platelets to albumin-bound FFA, in concentrations that are elevated but which can occur in physiological conditions, might affect platelet function. We have studied the influence of the FFA/albumin molar ratio (ν) on the response of platelets to adenosine diphosphate (ADP), a compound which may have an important role in haemostasis and thrombosis.
A unified environment for fusion of information retrieval approaches

Prior work has shown that combining results of various retrieval approaches and query representations can improve search effectiveness. Today, many meta-search engines exist which combine the results of various search engines in the hopes of improving overall effectiveness. However, the combination of results from different search engines masks variations in parsers, and other indexing techniques (stemming, stop words, etc.) This makes it difficult to assess the utility of the fusion technique. We have implemented the two most prevalent retrieval strategies: probabilistic and vector space using the same parser and the same relational retrieval engine. First, we identified a model that enables the fusion of an arbitrary number of sources. Next, we tested various linear combinations of these two methods as well as various thresholds for identifying retrieved documents. Our results show some improvement of effectiveness, but they also provide us for a baseline from which we can continue with other retrieval strategies and test the effect of fusing these strategies.
Understanding the causes of disproportionate minority contact: Results of focus group discussions

Abstract Using a qualitative methods approach, this study explored the causes of disproportionate minority contact (DMC) from the clientele perspective. The data were collected via focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with the stakeholders, to examine the causes of disproportionate minority contact and determine the needs of the community. The results revealed that the causes and mechanisms of DMC were multi-faceted and complex. These causes could be classified into six categories: system, social, family/parental, educational, individual, and economic factors. Each one of these categories played a significant role in contributing to the final outcome of DMC. A significant theme that emerged from the results drew attention to the fact that in order to bring about any change and reduce DMC, all sectors of the society—law enforcement system, juvenile justice system, families, neighborhoods, and parents needed to work together and take greater responsibilities in assuring that juveniles stay out of trouble. The results also underscored that educating the communities on the existing resources for children and families would prove advantageous in reducing DMC.
SimultaneousL1 approximation of a compact set of real-valued functions

In this paper the uniqueness results found in simultaneous Chebychev approximation are extended to simultaneousL 1 approximation. In particular a sufficient condition to guarantee uniqueness of a best approximate to aL 1 compact set is given.
Scutellaria extract and wogonin inhibit tumor-mediated induction of T(reg) cells via inhibition of TGF-β1 activity.

A number of studies have implicated tumor-induced Treg cell activity in the sub-optimal response to therapeutic vaccines. Development of neo-adjuvant strategies targeting Treg cells is therefore imperative. Scutellaria extracts or constituent flavonoids have shown encouraging efficacy against various tumors, including gliomas, in both pre-clinical and clinical studies. We report here, for the first time, that Scutellaria ocmulgee leaf extract (SocL) and flavonoid wogonin could inhibit TGF-β1-induced Treg activity in malignant gliomas. F344 rats, subcutaneously transplanted with F98 gliomas, were treated with SocL. There was a significant inhibition of intra-tumoral TGF-β1 and Treg cell frequency as well as peripheral blood TGF-β1 levels in SocL-treated animals compared to the controls. SocL extract and wogonin also inhibited glioma-induced, TGF-β1-mediated Treg activity in vitro. SocL extract and wogonin also inhibited the secretion of IL-10 in Treg culture; whereas the level of IL-2 was either unchanged or marginally enhanced. We also observed an inhibition of Smad-3, GSK-3β and ERK1/2 signaling by SocL and wogonin in Treg cells, while phosphorylation of P38 MAPK was considerably enhanced, indicating that SocL or wogonin could inhibit the T cells’ response to TGF-β1 via modulation of both Smad and non-Smad signaling pathways. Overall, this study suggests that Scutellaria can potentially reverse tumor-mediated immune suppression via inhibition of TGF-β1 secretion as well as via inhibition of T cells’ response to TGF-β1. This may provide an opportunity for developing a novel adjuvant therapeutic strategy for malignant gliomas, combining Scutellaria with immunotherapy and chemo/radio-therapeutic regimen, which could potentially improve the disease outcome.
Calreticulin Is a Binding Protein for Muramyl Dipeptide and Peptidoglycan in RK13 Cells

Calreticulin (CRT) was isolated and identified as a protein in rabbit kidney RK(13) cells that binds the apoptogenic bacterial cell wall (BCW) components, muramyl dipeptide (MDP) and peptidoglycan (PG). Mannan-agarose purified RK(13) cell CRT (rCRT) selectively bound sepharose-immobilized L,D-MDP and PG, but not L,L-MDP or D,D-MDP. Purified rCRT and bovine CRT (bCRT) also bound free PG and L,D-MDP demonstrated in bioassays of RK(13) cell apoptosis. The results suggest that, in RK(13) cells, (a) CRT is a specific binding protein for both L,D-MDP and PG and (b) CRT binding L,D-MDP or PG is dependent on the stereoisomeric configuration of the dipeptide (L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine) moiety. In addition, the results also suggest that, in RK(13) cells, the binding of L,D-MDP, L,L-MDP, D,D-MDP, or PG to CRT correlates with their capacities of inducing apoptosis.
Fission track studies of xenolithic chondrites - Implications regarding brecciation and metamorphism

Fission tracks in phosphates from one gas-poor chondrite and three gas-rich ones are studied to determine their thermal history and brecciation time scales. Model fission track ages are calculated for given track densities due to Pu-244 and U-238; track densities and uranium measurements for whitlockite are shown, and possible sources of the tracks are mentioned. Details of track density and uranium measurements are discussed for each meteorite separately. Whitlockites from all the meteorites give model fission track ages of 4.4 Gyr assuming a Pu/U ratio at 4.55 Gyr of 0.045. The final brecciation event definitely did not reset the track clock in phosphates of one meteor and probably not in another two. It is concluded that the observed fission track ages date the end of metamorphic cooling in the meteorite parent bodies and support the planetesimal model for the formation of xenolithic chondrites.
EFFECTS OF PH ON NONENZYMATIC OXIDATION OF PHENYLHYDROQUINONE : POTENTIAL ROLE IN URINARY BLADDER CARCINOGENESIS INDUCED BY O-PHENYLPHENOL IN FISCHER 344 RATS

o-Phenylphenol (OPP) and its sodium salt (SOPP) are broad spectrum fungicides and antibacterials to which humans are frequently exposed. Both OPP and SOPP have been found to cause cancer in the urinary bladder of male F344 rats at high doses, and the metabolite phenylhydroquinone (PHQ) is believed to play a key role in the carcinogenicity of these compounds. Tumor formation in the treated animals has also been shown to be significantly influenced by urinary pH. To provide additional insights into the mechanisms of OPP carcinogenesis, we have investigated the autoxidation of PHQ over the pH range commonly found in the urine of OPP- and SOPP-treated rats. Over the pH range studied (6.3−7.6), a curvilinear relationship between rate of PHQ oxidation and pH was observed. Phenylbenzoquinone (PBQ) was formed during the autoxidation of PHQ, with a formation yield of 0.92 ± 0.02. In addition, the effects of PBQ and oxygen concentrations on PHQ autoxidation and the nonenzymatic conversion of PBQ to PHQ were also st...
Subspace morphing theory for appearance based object identification

Abstract Object identification techniques have wide applications ranging from industry, business, military, law enforcement, to people's daily life. This research is motivated to develop a new theory for appearance based object identification with its applications in different areas. Although many successful techniques have been proposed in certain specific applications, object identification, in general, still remains as a difficult and challenging problem. In appearance based approaches, almost all the proposed methods are based on a fundamental assumption, i.e., all the images (both in the model base and to be queried) are in the same dimensions, so that the feature vectors are all in the same feature space; if images are provided with different dimensions, a normalization in scale to a pre-determined image space must be conducted. In this research, a theory for appearance based object identification called subspace morphing is developed, which allows scale-invariant identification of images of objects, and therefore, does not require normalization. Theoretical analysis and experimental evaluation show that in the situation where images are provided in different dimensions, which is common in many applications, subspace morphing theory is superior to the existing, normalization-based techniques in performance.
Stimulation by interleukin-6 and inhibition by tumor necrosis factor of cortisol release from bovine adrenal zona fasciculata cells through their receptors

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) are synthesized and released from adrenal cells. Therefore, the effects of TNF-α and IL-6 on cortisol release from bovine zona fasciculata (ZF) cells were investigated. IL-6 (10–1000 pg/mL) significantly increased basal and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-stimulated cortisol release in a concentration-dependent manner. This stimulatory effect of IL-6 became apparent at intervals as short as 4 h and continued through 24 h. IL-6 also potentiated the cortisol release stimulated by the adenylyl cyclase activator forskolin. By contrast, TNF-α (0.1–10 ng) inhibited basal and ACTH-stimulated cortisol release in a concentration-dependent manner. The inhibitory effects of TNF-α on cortisol release were significant at time intervals as short as 4 h and continued through 24 h. TNF-α inhibited forskolin-stimulated cortisol release. Binding studies demonstrated that ZF cells have IL-6 receptors (100 receptors/cell, Kd of 7.5×10−11) and TNF receptors (200 receptors/cell, Kd of 2.4×10−9M). Immunohistochemical analysis provided evidence that the majority of ZF cells have IL-6 receptors, TNF type 1 receptors, and TNF type 2 receptors. Because IL-6 and TNF-α are released from the adrenal cortex and these cytokines modify the release of cortisol from the ZF, IL-6 and TNF-α may play a paracrine or autocrine role in the regulation of adrenal function.
Customer lifetime value approaches and best practice applications

Each customer varies in his/her lifetime value to a firm. A firm would like to estimate the lifetime value of each customer and use this information in planning differential marketing initiatives targeted at each customer. Customer lifetime value computations require different approaches depending on the business application that a firm is looking at. The authors present two approaches of computing customer lifetime value and offer some best practice applications. The authors also address challenges that firms typically face in implementing the customer lifetime value approach to marketing.
Breaking alias chains in fractional factorials

Some experimenters carry out their investigation in stages. They begin with an initial 2n-p fraction of resolution IV, in which the main effects are clean and the interactions are aliased in chains, Then, having analyzed the initial experiment, they plan further runs to isolate certain interactions by breaking the chains. In this paper a method called semifolding, for choosing the points in the second experiment, is presented.
Viscosity of copper oxide nanoparticles dispersed in ethylene glycol and water mixture

Abstract Nanofluids are new kinds of fluids engineered by dispersing nanoparticles in base fluids. This paper presents an experimental investigation of rheological properties of copper oxide nanoparticles suspended in 60:40 (by weight) ethylene glycol and water mixture. Nanofluids of particle volume percentage ranging from 0% to 6.12% were tested. The experiments were carried over temperatures ranging from −35 °C to 50 °C to demonstrate their applicability in cold regions. For the particle volume concentrations tested, nanofluids exhibited Newtonian behavior. An experimental correlation was developed based on the data, which relates viscosity with particle volume percent and the nanofluid temperature.