cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Same-day discharge after laparoscopic appendectomy for non-perforated appendicitis is safe and cost effective

To compare the outcomes and hospital charges of patients who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy for non-perforated appendicitis and were discharged home either shortly after the operation after being admitted for overnight observation. Postoperative (30-day) emergency department (ED) visits, hospital readmissions, and reoperations were compared between patients who were discharged shortly after surgery (same-day discharge [SDD] group) and patients who were discharged after spending one night in the hospital (overnight observation group). Study period: July/2015 to June/2019. Patients with perforated appendicitis and/or who spent > 1 night in the hospital were excluded from the study. We did 1957 laparoscopic appendectomies within the 4-year study period. After excluding all non-eligible cases, 930 patients were included in the overnight observation group, and 511 in the SDD group. Mean age and mean operative time were similar in both groups: 11.5 (SD 3.6)/11.8 (SD 3.5) years, and 35 (SD 13)/33 (SD 12) minutes, respectively. There were 24 (2.6%) ED visits within the overnight observation group. Sixteen patients (1.7%) were discharged from the ED, and 8 (0.9%) required a re-admission. There were 11 (2.1%; P = 0.61) ED visits within the SDD group. Six patients (1.1%; P = 0.41) were discharged from the ED, and 5 (1%; P = 0.82) required a readmission. Six of the 11 ED visits within the SDD group occurred on the 5th postoperative day or later, whereas five (1%) occurred within the first 3 days post appendectomy. These five patients would have likely benefited from an overnight admission and were erroneously discharged on the same day of the appendectomy. There were no reoperations in the overnight observation group, but there were 3 reoperations in the SDD group (0.6%, P = 0.01). The reasons for the reoperations (two bowel obstructions and one bowel perforation) were in no way related to the time of the original discharge. The mean hospital charges per patient in the SDD group and the overnight observation group were significantly different: $32,450 and $35,420, respectively (> 9% margin, P < 0.01). Healthy children who undergo laparoscopic appendectomy for non-perforated appendicitis can be discharged home during the same day of the operation after a short period of observation. This approach is safe and does not result in more postoperative ED visits or hospital readmissions. In addition, there is a significant financial benefit when patients are discharged early. Level III–retrospective comparative treatment study
Assessing the Relationships Between Past Victimization, Perceived Risk of Future Victimization, and Controversial Criminal Justice Policies Using Structural Equation Modeling:

Several decades of research show a strong relationship between past victimization and perceived risk of future victimization. Yet, few studies have explored the potential connection to individuals’...
Mechanics and Design of Topologically Interlocked Irregular Quadrilateral Tessellations

Abstract Topologically Interlocked Material (TIM) systems are assemblies of individual building blocks shaped such that individual elements cannot be removed from the assembly with disassembly of the entire system. Here, TIM systems based on irregular quadrilateral square tessellations are considered. The mechanical properties of such TIM assemblies are investigated and compared to those of the periodic reference TIM system. Finite element computations are performed to obtain force - deflection curves and to extract stiffness, strength, and toughness. We discover that a significant fraction (about 30 % ) of all randomly generated architectures possess properties exceeding those of the TIM with an underlying regular tessellation. We validate this finding by experiments on 3D printed physical realizations. Design parameters to represent the mechanical properties are studied by the use of Pearson correlation coefficients. In this process, dominant variables are determined and regression models for the properties are defined from the underlying design variables. By considering the dominant variables, network patterns in the assembly are discovered, which are strongly associated with each of the mechanical properties. The findings of this study enable the design of architectured material systems with exceptional stiffness-strength-toughness combinations.
Free Space Propagation

Electromagnetic waves differ in energy according to their wavelength. Their ability to propagate is also different in different propagation environments. In free space (vacuum) they are characterized by their ability to propagate without obstruction and without atmospheric effects. The path loss under these conditions is said to be free space path loss.
Using Asynchronous Activities to Promote Sense of Community and Learning in an Online Course

The purpose of this case study was to explore three asynchronous communication activities with graduate students in an online course. Asynchronous discussions transcripts, a sense of community survey, and a course evaluation questionnaire were used to collect and analyze data. The results of this study may have implications for an effective design of asynchronous communication and interactions between student and instructor, student and student, and students and content. Results indicate that well-designed asynchronous activities can help to promote sense of community among online students. Implications and challenges in implementing asynchronous activities to foster sense of community and learning in an online learning environment are also discussed.
The effect of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol on the chromosomes of human lymphocytes in vitro.

Abstract Human leukocytes from 4 healthy donors were exposed to concentrations of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in 72 hour tissue cultures. Concentrations studied were 100.0, 10.0, 1.0, and 0.1 μg per milliliter of culture material. For each experiment a control culture was evaluated. There was no increase in the incidence of chromosome breaks or gaps in any of the study cultures when compared to controls. The 100.0 μg cultures did not grow in tissue culture, and no cells in mitosis were noted in any preparations from this concentration. The significance of these negative data is discussed.
The Nature of Children's Singing Voices: Characteristics and Assessment

Singing is often the window to the young child's musical life. Children sing during play, alone and with others, and group singing activities are encouraged in day care centers and preschool settings. However, some children seem to have difficulty using their singing voices and that musical window, unfortunately, becomes closed for them. Over the past 50 years, numerous studies have investigated topics related to the child singing voice and its development. Terminology used to describe the various stages of development of the child voice and/or the types of problem singers, however, have been inconsistent. Terms such as "inaccurate singers" (Anderson in Welch, 1979; Reuter; 1956a, 1956b), "backward singers" (Fieldhouse in Welch, 1979), and "non-singer" (McKenzie, 1948) have been utilized. Bentley (1968) disliked the term "monotone" since most of these children did produce more than one tone, but used the term stating that it was less derogatory than other labels presently in use.
Locating complex named entities in web text

Named Entity Recognition (NER) is the task of locating and classifying names in text. In previous work, NER was limited to a small number of pre-defined entity classes (e.g., people, locations, and organizations). However, NER on the Web is a far more challenging problem. Complex names (e.g., film or book titles) can be very difficult to pick out precisely from text. Further, the Web contains a wide variety of entity classes, which are not known in advance. Thus, hand-tagging examples of each entity class is impractical. This paper investigates a novel approach to the first step in Web NER: locating complex named entities in Web text. Our key observation is that named entities can be viewed as a species of multiword units, which can be detected by accumulating n-gram statistics over the Web corpus. We show that this statistical method's F1 score is 50% higher than that of supervised techniques including Conditional Random Fields (CRFs) and Conditional Markov Models (CMMs) when applied to complex names. The method also outperforms CMMs and CRFs by 117% on entity classes absent from the training data. Finally, our method outperforms a semi-supervised CRF by 73%.
Effects of hyperthermia on Tetrahymena. I. Localization of acid hydrolases and changes in cell ultrastructure.

Abstract The effects of hypothermia on Tetrahymena pyriformis (E) were studied. Protein synthesis was greatly inhibited at elevated temperatures (33.5–34 °C), although the rate of protein turnover was not initially greater than in controls. There was no evidence that cellular lesions induced by temperature shock resulted from a solubilization of lysosomal enzymes. More than 80% of both acid phosphatase and acid proteinase activity remained particle-bound, even in cells incubated at 34 °C for prolonged periods. Ultrastructural studies revealed gross lesions in all types of cell organelles. These included a loss of tubules from mitochondria, disappearance of the rough endoplasmic reticulum, nuclear abnormalities, and a swelling of bodies tentatively identified as peroxisomes or primary lysosomes. Autophagic vacuoles which contained considerable membranous material seemed to accumulate during treatment, and membranous whorls and smooth-walled vesicles became quite common in the cytoplasm. Our studies are consistent with the suggestion [28] that, supraoptimal temperatures affect phospholipid-containing membranes in Tetrahymena .
Abstract 3983: The role of UBE4B in neuroblastoma pathogenesis

Background: Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid malignancy in children. Children with aggressive neuroblastoma have an overall survival rate of 30% using current treatment regimens. We recently identified an association between UBE4B gene expression and neuroblastoma patient outcomes. The UBE4B gene is found in the chromosome 1p36 region frequently deleted in neuroblastoma. UBE4B is an E3/E4 ubiquitin ligase involved in the degradation of membrane proteins, including growth factor receptors, and p53. Although the p53 pathway has been shown to be involved in neuroblastoma, the mechanisms underlying the role of UBE4B in neuroblastoma pathogenesis are not known. We previously identified an inverse correlation between EGFR and UBE4B protein expression in neuroblastoma patient tumor samples, suggesting that UBE4B-mediated protein degradation may be critical for neuroblastoma pathogenesis. Additionally, we identified an association between UBE4B gene expression and MYCN amplification, one of the strongest prognostic factors for high-risk neuroblastoma. Previous studies on UBE4B were based on mRNA and Western blotting analysis of frozen tissue specimens, and without addressing potential tumor heterogeneity, a striking feature of neuroblastoma. The purpose of this study was to further explore the role of UBE4B in pathogenesis and its association with other known prognostic factors in neuroblastoma tumors. Experimental design and Results: Using immunohistochemistry, we evaluated UBE4B and EGFR protein expression in tissue specimens from neuroblastoma patient tumor samples. UBE4B expression was reduced in eighteen cases (51%). This reduction was only seen in poorly differentiated or undifferentiated tumors, or the poorly differentiated component of intermixed tumors. Additionally, tissue microarrays containing primary neuroblastoma tumors were analyzed for EGFR expression. Approximately 80% of the tumor samples contained high EGFR expression. Lastly, using coimmunoprecipitation analysis, we identified a potential interaction between UBE4B and p53. Conclusions: We found reduced protein UBE4B expression to be a common event in neuroblastoma tumors. This reduced UBE4B expression was associated with a lack of differentiation in neuroblastoma tumors, a hallmark of aggressive malignancies. Furthermore, the potential interaction of UBE4B and p53 represents a novel mechanism to explain the association of UBE4B gene expression with neuroblastoma patient outcomes. Additional studies are underway to further explore these roles of UBE4B in neuroblastoma pathogenesis. Citation Format: Sandra M. Indiviglio, Sarah E. Woodfield, Linna Zhang, Rongjun Guo, Dolores Lopez-Terrada, Andrew J. Bean, Peter E. Zage. The role of UBE4B in neuroblastoma pathogenesis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 3983. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-3983
Effect of high osmolality on Na+/H+ exchange in renal proximal tubule cells.

Na+/H+ exchanger isoform and the effect of high osmolality on its function was studied in cultured renal epithelial cells (LLC-PK1 and OK). Using NHE-3-specific antibody, immunoblots of luminal membranes from LLC-PK1 and OK cells specifically labeled proteins with molecular masses 90 and 95 kDa, indicating that NHE-3 is the isoform expressed on the luminal membranes of these epithelia. Proximal tubular suspensions from rabbit kidney cortex were incubated in control (310 mosm/liter) or high osmolality (510 mosm/liter) medium for 45 min and utilized for brush border membrane vesicle preparation. Influx of amiloride-sensitive 22Na+ at 10 s (pHo 7.5, pHi 6.0) into brush border membrane vesicles was 37% lower in the high osmolality group (p
SU-E-T-109: An Investigation of Including Variable Relative Biological Effectiveness in Intensity Modulated Proton Therapy Planning Optimization for Head and Neck Cancer Patients

Purpose: The current practice of considering the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of protons in intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT) planning is to use a generic RBE value of 1.1. However, RBE is indeed a variable depending on the dose per fraction, the linear energy transfer, tissue parameters, etc. In this study, we investigate the impact of using variable RBE based optimization (vRBE-OPT) on IMPT dose distributions compared by conventional fixed RBE based optimization (fRBE-OPT). Methods: Proton plans of three head and neck cancer patients were included for our study. In order to calculate variable RBE, tissue specific parameters were obtained from the literature and dose averaged LET values were calculated by Monte Carlo simulations. Biological effects were calculated using the linear quadratic model and they were utilized in the variable RBE based optimization. We used a Polak-Ribiere conjugate gradient algorithm to solve the model. In fixed RBE based optimization, we used conventional physical dose optimization to optimize doses weighted by 1.1. IMPT plans for each patient were optimized by both methods (vRBE-OPT and fRBE-OPT). Both variable and fixed RBE weighted dose distributions were calculated for both methods and compared by dosimetric measures. Results: The variable RBE weighted dose distributions were more homogenous within the targets, compared with the fixed RBE weighted dose distributions for the plans created by vRBE-OPT. We observed that there were noticeable deviations between variable and fixed RBE weighted dose distributions if the plan were optimized by fRBE-OPT. For organs at risk sparing, dose distributions from both methods were comparable. Conclusion: Biological dose based optimization rather than conventional physical dose based optimization in IMPT planning may bring benefit in improved tumor control when evaluating biologically equivalent dose, without sacrificing OAR sparing, for head and neck cancer patients. The research is supported in part by National Institutes of Health Grant No. 2U19CA021239-35.
7.1.2 Abatement Of Nonpoint Source Pollution: A Systems Engineering Model

Nonpoint source pollution prevention management, primarily consisting of education and regulatory efforts, has met little success to date. Indeed, nonpoint pollution is getting worse, not better, and the Environmental Protection Agency rates it as the leading cause of water quality problems. We must deal with the problems through a systems approach to achieve workable, feasible solutions. Unlike point source input, where the levels, quantities, and consistency of loading are known, nonpoint source pollution must be modeled as an environmentally open system that is constantly changing. Successful nonpoint pollution management requires a systems approach for applying general land management practices to specific unique watersheds focusing on identifying the specific objectives, increasing participation of the affected people in the development process, and applying continuous refinements and improvements once the watershed's management system is implemented. This paper proposes a more holistic approach that will result in robust methods for modeling, implementing, and assessing the control and abatement of nonpoint source pollution.
Sounds of Silence: The Latter-Day Saints and Medical Ethics

Although The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) has a long tradition of reflection on questions of practical ethics, it was not until the mid-1970s that formalized ecclesiastical policy was proposed and adopted on ethical issues arising out of the intersection of religious convictions, medical practice, and applied biomedical technology. First promulgated in 1974 as “Attitudes of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Toward Certain Medical Problems” [5] and subsequently incorporated in 1976 into the Church’s authoritative General Handbook of Instructions (hereafter Instructions), these initial documents addressed such “problems” as abortion, artificial insemination, contraception, cremation, experimentation, hypnosis, organ transplants, prolongation of life and the right to die, sterility tests, and sterilization. The conclusions presented in these short statements of general policy often did not identify or elaborate underlying theological rationales or ethical principles, or indicate, with some exceptions, as in the case of abortion, how binding these positions were on the practical conduct of Latter-day Saints.
GLYCOGEN IN ERYTHROCYTES OF PATIENTS WITH GLYCOGEN STORAGE DISEASE

The erythrocyte glycogen concentration has been determined in 63 normal persons and 18 patients with glycogen storage disease. Erythrocyte glycogen from normal patients and from those with glycogenosis has been isolated and characterized by beta-amylase degradation and the iodine spectrum. By these techniques patients with Type III glycogenosis could be distinguished both by the concentration of glycogen in the erythrocyte and characterization of the glycogen. One patient with amylo-1,4→1,6-transglucosidase deficiency (Type IV) was found to have a normal concentration of glycogen in the erythrocytes but the glycogen from the cellular elements of the blood was shown to be abnormal, being amylopectin-like in structure. The concentration of glycogen in the erythrocytes of Types I and II glycogenosis was found to be within the normal range. The etiologic diagnosis can be made in approximately 50% of the patients with glycogenosis by assay of the concentration and characterization of erythrocyte glycogen, thereby obviating the necessity for biopsy. The erythrocyte glycogen in Type III glycogenosis offers another parameter which may be followed in evaluating the response of the patient to therapy.
The Selenium-Coxsackievirus Connection: Chronicle of a Collaboration

This review provides a historical account of a collaboration established between a nutritionist and a virologist to investigate the interrelationship of host nutritional status and viral virulence. The parties to this collaboration consider themselves specialists in the fields of antioxidant nutrition and viral immunology, respectively. The advantages of such talent pooling are discussed (rapid startup, well-focused experimentation, ability to visualize the "big picture"), as are some of the disadvantages (limited common scientific vocabulary, proper apportioning of credit, lack of institutional infrastructure to house such efforts). The common perception that some of the most exciting science occurs when the advancing edges of two disparate disciplines intersect is borne out by this project because host nutriture was shown for the first time to influence the genetic make-up of an invading viral pathogen. Encouragement of joint cooperative ventures should have a high priority as demanded by increasingly difficult scientific problems and as desired by scientists themselves who wish to see their research progress more quickly.
Properties of BiSrCaCuO high Tc superconductors by coprecipitation processing

Abstract The new BiSrCaCuO high T c superconductor has been processed by coprecipitation from aqueous nitrate solutions. This technique results in nearly atomic scale mixing of the starting constitutions and a more reactive starting powder than conventional processing (grinding oxide and carbonate powders). According to SEM, EDS, optical microscopy, and x-ray diffraction, the resulting samples are homogeneous and dense. The onset of superconductivity was observed to occur at 120K.
Thick-Target Bremsstrahlung and Target Considerations for Secondary-Particle Production by Electrons

Bremsstrahlung spectra as a function of target thickness up to several radiation lengths, to be used for particle production in high-energy electron machines, are investigated. The shower equations are cast in integral forms which are then solved by iteration. The iterations are performed up to the second-generation photons; and the numerical results show that for most experiments the first-generation photons alone will give sufficiently accurate results. For example, for a target thickness of two radiation lengths and for $\frac{k}{{E}_{0}}=0.5$, where $k$ is the photon energy and ${E}_{0}$ is the incident electron energy, the ratio of the second- to the first-generation photon intensity is 8%. This ratio decreases rapidly as one increases $\frac{k}{{E}_{0}}$ and decreases the target thickness. A very simple formula which approximates the first-generation photon spectra as a function of target thickness is derived. This approximate formula is shown to be accurate enough for estimating the secondary-beam production by electrons. As by-products of our investigation the first- and the second-generation electron and positron spectra were obtained as functions of target thickness. These spectra are useful in estimating the electron and positron background. Some aspects of target considerations for the secondary-beam production are given as an illustration of the use of our formulas.
Self-organization in convective magma mixing

Abstract Convective magma mixing is driven by thermal and compositional effects on melt density. We investigated the role of compositional buoyancy in convective magma mixing by means of two-dimensional numerical simulation. Two kinds of self-organization phenomena were observed in our simulations: (1) temporally-local unmixing events associated with flow reversals; and (2) long-lived segregations (ocular structures) in the center of convection cells. Statistical quantities of scale, scale ratio, and intensity of segregation are useful abstractions of the composition field for quantifying mixing and self-organization phenomena. The trajectory of scale ratio and intensity exhibits attractor behavior and provides a compact way of monitoring the evolution of mixing and self-organization. The ratio of compositional buoyancy to thermal buoyancy is given by the parameterRr, where Rr = 0 implies passive mixing andRr > 0 implies dynamic mixing. Ocular structures which form in both passive and dynamic mixing tend to decrease the mixing rate. Flow reversals and associated unmixing events which occur only in dynamic mixing further slow mixing. However, passive mixing is slower in our simulations than is mixing with smallRr because a strong and persistent ocular structure forms in passive mixing. At high Rr (Rr > 1), however, mixing is generally inhibited by compositional buoyancy because of the gravitational stability of the initial state.
Preparation and Surface Properties of Acrylic Polymers Containing Fluorinated Monomers

A series of novel polymers have been prepared by free radical solution polymerization of a variety of hydrocarbon monomers with the (perfluoroalkyl)ethyl methacrylate monomer H2CC(CH3)CO2(CH2)2(CF2)nF, 1 (n ≈ 7.7). Polymers prepared using two different methods of feeding 1 into the reaction mass are discussed. Through a judicious choice of reaction conditions, some control of polymer architecture was exhibited. The resultant (perfluoroalkyl)ethyl methacrylate-containing acrylic polymers were shown to be quite surface active in the solid state. The magnitude of surface activity depends on the monomer 1 feed method. The polymers were formulated into thin films and applied to a variety of surfaces. With levels at 1.5 wt % of 1, water and oil repellent surfaces were created. Water contact angles (advancing) of ∼80−115° and hexadecane contact angles (advancing) of ∼60−70° were observed routinely. In addition, it was observed that the concentration profile of fluorine in the films exhibited a steep gradient no...
How Pancreatic β-Cells Discriminate Long and Short Timescale cAMP Signals

The translocation of catalytic protein kinase A (cPKA) in response to cyclic-adenosine mono-phosphate (cAMP) depends on the pattern of stimulus applied to the cell. Experiments with IBMX have shown that 1), sustained cAMP elevation is more effective than oscillations of cAMP at getting cPKA into the nucleus; and 2), cPKA enters the nucleus by diffusion. We constructed mathematical models of cAMP activation of cPKA and their diffusion in order to study nuclear translocation of cPKA, and conclude that hindered diffusion of cPKA through the nuclear membrane by a rapid-binding process, but not globally reduced diffusion, can explain the experimental data. Perturbation analysis suggests that normal physiological oscillations of glucose would not result in nuclear translocation, but chronically high glucose that produces extended calcium plateaus and/or chronic glucagonlike peptide-1 stimulation could result in elevated levels of nuclear cPKA.
Influence of Tension, Weight, and Hydrostatic Pressure on Deepwater TLP Tendons

The effect of increasing water depth on the performance of deep water tendons of tension leg platforms (TLP) is examined. Equations to determine limits on water depths for tendon systems based on strength and hydrostatic collapse requirements are presented. Relations between tendon tensions and reactions on a TLP hull are derived. Conditions for which neutrally buoyant tendons can be utilised are presented. For very deep water, the limiting diameter to thickness ration (D/t) is presented for different tendon variables. For a water depth of 5,000ft, the D/t ratio is limited to about fifteen due to hydrostatic collapse constraints. Composite tendons can provide reduced pretension, improved restoring force, and reduced drag forces. Weight and economic benefits of using light weight composite tendons for a TLP are presented as a function of water depth.
Conceptual framework of the Controlling Asthma in American Cities Project.

The Controlling Asthma in American Cities Project (CAACP) was designed to improve the control of asthma in inner-city populations of children with a disparate burden of symptoms and adverse outcomes. As with many chronic diseases, asthma is the manifestation of multiple biologic, environmental, and social determinants. In addition to appropriate medical management, individuals with asthma must have logistical, financial, and cultural access to environments that allow avoidance of asthma triggers and encourage good asthma management practices. In recognition of this complexity, the CAACP required the seven project sites to coordinate and synchronize multiple interventions (education, healthcare access, medical management, trigger reduction) at multiple levels (individual, home, school, community, and policy) through the collaboration of relevant groups, institutions, and individuals. This paper describes the “program theory” of the CAACP project—the assumptions about how the project worked, how the components were linked, and what outcomes were anticipated. It relates the subsequent papers in the supplement to the program theory and describes how the papers can inform and guide other community-based interventions, and advance the translation of scientific knowledge to effective interventions in communities of need.
Unit Refutations and Horn Sets

The key concepts for this automated theorem-proving paper are those of Horn set and strictly-unit refutation. A Horn set is a set of clauses such that none of its members contains more than one positive literal. A strictly-unit refutation is a proof by contradiction in which no step is justified by applying a rule of inference to a set of clauses all of which contain more than one literal. Horn sets occur in many fields of mathematics such as the theory of groups, rings, Moufang loops, and Henkin models. The usual translation into first-order predicate calculus of the axioms of these and many other fields yields a set of Horn clauses. The striking feature of the Horn property for finite sets of clauses is that its presence or absence can be determined by inspection. Thus, the determination of the applicability of the theorems and procedures of this paper is immediate.In Theorem 1 it is proved that, if S is an unsatisfiable Horn set, there exists a strictly-unit refutation of S employing binary resolution alone, thus eliminating the need for factoring; moreover, one of the immediate ancestors of each step of the refutation is in fact a positive unit clause. A theorem similar to Theorem 1 for paramodulation-based inference systems is proven in Theorem 3 but with the inclusion of factoring as an inference rule. In Section 3 two reduction procedures are discussed. For the first, Chang's splitting, a rule is provided to guide both the choice of clauses and the way in which to split. The second reduction procedure enables one to refute a Horn set by refuting but one of a corresponding family of simpler subproblems.
Central action of somatostatin analog, SMS 201-995, to stimulate gastric acid secretion in rats.

Abstract The effects of intracisternal and intravenous injections of the somatostatin analog, SMS 201-995, on gastric acid secretion were investigated in rats with pylorus ligation or gastric cannula. Intracisternal injection of SMS 201-995 induced a dose-related (0.1–0.3 μg) and long-lasting stimulation of gastric acid output with a peak response at 3 h postinjection in conscious, pylorus-ligated rats. Intracisternal SMS 201-995 increased histamine levels in the portal blood, whereas plasma gastrin levels were not modified. Atropine, cimetidine and adrenalectomy abolished the stimulatory effect of intracisternal SMS 201-995 (0.3 μg). SMS 201-995 (0.03 μg), microinjected unilaterally into the dorsal vagal complex, increased gastric acid output in urethane anesthetized rats. SMS 201-995, injected intravenously at 0.5 μg, did not alter gastric secretion, whereas higher doses (5–20 μg) resulted in a dose-related inhibition of gastric acid secretion in conscious pylorus-ligated rats. These data indicate that SMS 201-995, a selective ligand for somatostatin-1 receptor subtype, induces a centrally mediated stimulatory effect on gastric acid secretion in rats. The central action involves the parasympathetic system, muscarinic and H 2 receptors as well as adrenal-dependent pathways.
Direct Modulation of Microtubule Stability Contributes to Anthracene General Anesthesia

Recently, we identified 1-aminoanthracene as a fluorescent general anesthetic. To investigate the mechanism of action, a photoactive analogue, 1-azidoanthracene, was synthesized. Administration of ...
Wave patterns, stability, and slow motions in inviscid and viscous hyperbolic equations with stiff reaction terms

We study the behavior of solutions to the inviscid ðA ¼ 0Þ and the viscous ðA > 0Þ hyperbolic conservation laws with stiff source terms ut þ f ðuÞx ¼� 1 e W 0 ðu Þþ eAuxx
Improved approximation algorithms for embedding hyperedges in a cycle

Approximation algorithms for embedding hyperedges in a cycle so as to minimize the maximum congestion are presented. Our algorithms generate an embedding by transforming the problem into another problem solvable in polynomial time. One algorithm transforms it to a linear programming problem, and the other one to the problem of embedding edges in a cycle. Both algorithms generate an embedding with congestion at most twice of that in an optimal solution. Our problem has applications in CAD and parallel computation.
Annual modulation of triggered seismicity following the 1992 Landers earthquake in California

The mechanism responsible for the triggering of earthquakes remains one of the least-understood aspects of the earthquake process. The magnitude-7.3 Landers, California earthquake of 28 June 1992 was followed for several weeks by triggered seismic activity over a large area, encompassing much of the western United States1. Here we show that this triggered seismicity marked the beginning of a five-year trend, consisting of an elevated microearthquake rate that was modulated by an annual cycle, decaying with time. The annual cycle is mainly associated with several hydrothermal or volcanic regions where short-term triggering was also observed. These data indicate that the Landers earthquake produced long-term physical changes in these areas, and that an environmental source of stress—plausibly barometric pressure—might be responsible for the annual variation.
Advantages of using imaged-based fluorescent analysis for nanomaterial studies

Currently, there is no standardised method for making nanomaterials or evaluating their toxicity. Studies show great variability and lack of reproducibility in results, with the discrepancies being caused due to assays used to evaluate exposure toxicity. While the traditional biochemical methods for evaluating toxicity have been employed, there is an issue of how the nanomaterials themselves interact with the dyes, which has created some issues. The current methodologies need to be evaluated to determine the toxicity of the nanomaterials and ensure that there is no interaction between the nanomaterials and the reagents used to complete the assays. This study evaluated the mechanisms of nanomaterial toxicity using mitochondrial function, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and formation of reactive oxygen species as indicators of toxicity, and compared the data obtained on the BD Pathway 435 confocal to data from a plate reader. Furthermore, nanoparticle uptake and localisation were evaluated using th...
Biological Control of Annual Bluegrass (Poa annuaL.) with a Japanese Isolate ofXanthomonas campestrispv.poae(JT-P482)

Abstract To select a biological control agent for annual bluegrass (Poa annua), 14 isolates ofXanthomonas campestrispv.poae,isolated from annual bluegrass in prefectures throughout Japan, were compared for pathogenicity and then examined for their safety toward desirable turf grasses such as creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris) and Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis). One isolate, JT-P482, was found to be the most effective pathogen of annual bluegrass. It did not produce any symptoms in desirable turf grasses. By applying JT-P482 suspension to precut annual bluegrass, we obtained >75% weight loss (due to plant wilting and death) compared to uninoculated controls. The optimal cell concentration used in these experiments was >108CFU/ml in an application volume of 100–400 ml/m2. Rates of infection were accelerated by applying larger volumes of inoculum. At 25°C/20°C (day/night) annual bluegrass wilted severely in 7–10 days, but lower temperatures caused a loss of efficacy, showing that temperature is an important factor for effective control. Inoculation tests in zoysia (Zoysia tenuifolia) greens, in the fall, with a rate of 109CFU/ml at 400 ml/m2, resulted in over 90% disease severity the following spring. These experiments indicated thatX. campestrispv.poaehas great potential for controlling annual bluegrass without harming desirable turf grasses.
T-cell help for the IgA response: the function of T cells from different lymphoid organs in regulating the proportions of plasma cells expressing various isotypes.

Abstract Differential distribution of IgA-specific primed Lyt 2− T cells (TH) in favor of gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) has been proposed to account for the high proportion of IgA-producing plasma cells at mucosal versus nonmucosal sites. We find, however, that GALT TH primed enterically with sheep red blood cells (SRBC) contain no more help for IgA responses than peripheral lymph node (PN) TH primed subcutaneously. Moreover, GALT TH are only poorly primed by enterically administered soluble protein antigen and therefore provide less help for all isotypes than PN TH primed subcutaneously with the same antigen. On the other hand, supernatants of GALT TH stimulated with concanavalin A (Con A) in vitro do help higher IgA:IgG plaque-forming cell (PFC) ratios in cultures with 2,4,6-trinitrophenyl-SRBC (TNP-SRBC) than supernatants from PN and spleen, indicating that, when appropriately stimulated, GALT TH are capable of promoting relatively higher IgA responses than TH from other sources. Responses elicited by either SRBC-primed TH or splenic Con A supernatants in the presence of TNP-SRBC contained higher IgA:IgG PFC ratios than those elicited by linked recognition in the presence of haptenated soluble protein carrier.
On the design of balanced carbon nanotube field-effect transistor gates

In this paper, we analyze the compact models for carbon nanotube field-effect transistors (CNTFET) and observe that the logic-gates implemented using CNTFET with unoptimized device parameter have asymmetric voltage transfer characteristic. We propose the design of a balanced inverter circuit implemented using CNTFET devices. The proposed inverter circuit is functional over a wide range of supply voltage, from sub-threshold voltage to nominal supply voltage.
Human neutrophil swelling induced by immune complexes and aggregated IgG

Using a Coulter counter method, the effects of various types of IgG-dependent phagocytic stimuli on human neutrophil (PMN) swelling were determined. Human heat aggregated IgG, ovalbumin-antiovalbumin (OV-anti-OV) immune complexes, and opsonized latex particles all induced PMN swelling. The OV-anti-OV immune, complexes were effective, whether prepared at antigen-antibody equivalence (insoluble) or at 4 or 9 times antigen excess (soluble). Swelling of PMN occurred at 37°C, but not at 4°C. Complement was not present in any of the experiments. In contrast to the above results, native IgG, OV-anti-OV F(ab′)2 immune complexes and unopsonized latex particles did not induce PMN swelling. These results suggest that the PMN swelling observed in this study is due to Fc-dependent, complement-independent membrane stimulation and/or phagocytosis.
Unilateral third nerve palsy caused by Guillain-Barré Syndrome

Background: Highly asymmetric clinical signs in a patient suggest the need for caution in making the diagnosis of Guillain-Barre Syndome (GBS). Methods: Case report and literature review. We present a case of strictly unilateral left third cranial nerve palsy in a patient with GBS, review other highly asymmetrical cranial nerve palsies previously reported in this condition, and suggest an appropriate alternative differential diagnosis. Conclusion: Unilateral third cranial nerve palsy is an exceptionally rare manifestation of GBS, expanding the spectrum of clinical signs and neuraxis involvement that may be seen in the condition.
Precise determination of isomorphous and eutectoid transformation temperatures in binary and ternary Zr alloys

Differential thermal analysis (DTA) was used to accurately determine the phase boundary temperatures in the binary and ternary phase diagrams of Zr alloys containing Fe, Cr and O. The effects of heating and cooling rates on the onset temperatures of allotropic, isomorphous and eutectoid phase transformations were investigated both experimentally and theoretically. The phase boundary temperatures were determined by extrapolating the heating or cooling rate to 0 K min−1 using a predictive equation derived in this work. Comparison of theoretical calculation with experimental data showed good agreement.
Genomics: the breast cancer landscape.

Whole-genome sequencing of breast cancers is exposing the scope of tumour diversity and helping to pinpoint avenues for precise diagnostics and targeted therapy. See Articles p.346 & p.353 , Letters p.395 , p.400 & p.405 Inherited genetic variation and acquired genomic aberrations contribute to the initiation and progression of breast cancer. This analysis of copy number and gene expression in 997 primary breast tumours, and in a further 995 tumours in a validation study, reveals that acquired somatic copy-number aberrations are associated with expression in 40% of the genes expressed in tumours. On the basis of the impact of somatic copy-number aberrations on the transcriptome, the authors identify validated novel subgroups with distinct clinical outcomes and begin to uncover how genomic aberrations can modulate subgroup-specific gene networks. Elaine Mardis and colleagues use whole-genome sequencing to gain insight into the mutational landscape of tissue samples from patients with oestrogen-receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer treated with a neoadjuvant aromatase inhibitor. They identify a number of disease-linked mutations that specifically correlate with tumour-cell histology, proliferation rates and response to treatment. Such information could be used to determine which patients will benefit from aromatase-inhibitor therapy. Samuel Aparicio et al. provide an in-depth genomic view of primary triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC), which represent approximately 16% of all breast cancers. TNBC cells are deficient in the expression of receptors for oestrogen, progesterone and epidermal growth factor. Through a combination of transcriptomic data and copy-number variation, this study shows that TNBCs vary widely and continuously in the content of clonal genotypes at the time of diagnosis. This means that future studies will need to consider individual tumour clonal genotypes. An analysis of mutated genes associated with breast cancer sampled from 100 patients reveals a wide variation in the number of mutations between individuals, highlighting the substantial genetic diversity underlying this disease. The mutation number correlates with age of diagnosis and histological grade. Multiple mutational signatures are identified, as are driver mutations in novel cancer genes. This paper reports one of the largest whole-exome sequencing efforts in human breast cancers so far, complemented by whole-genome sequences of 22 breast cancer/normal pairs. The authors analysed diverse subtypes from patients in Mexico and Vietnam and identified recurrent mutations in the CBFB transcription factor gene and deletions of its partner RUNX1, as well as a recurrent MAGI3–AKT3 fusion enriched in triple-negative breast cancers (those lacking oestrogen and progesterone receptors and ERBB2 expression). The fusion leads to constitutive activation of AKT kinase, which can be counteracted by treatment with a small-molecule inhibitor.
Lessons Learned in Research, Collaboration, and Dissemination in a National Institute of Nursing Research-Funded Research Center

This article provides the key findings of interviews and focus groups with researchers and administrators throughout a P30 Center on the issues of collaboration among researchers, multidisciplinary research, center support, and dissemination. The most notable findings confirmed throughout this process include methods of collaboration and shared strategies for subject recruitment. Specifically, the researchers participating in the P30 Center recommended that a research-intensive environment facilitate the ability of investigators to discuss their methods, struggles, and findings in ways that unite investigators toward a common goal to advance the science and improve health care. Researchers become isolated easily, thus running the risk of losing valuable time by duplicating others' work, falling short in fulfilling their commitments to scientific research, and losing opportunities to learn from each others' experiences. Especially in the realm of subject recruitment and study design, researchers often have similar problems and can benefit from both informal conversations and structured forums. Based on these findings, the authors provide recommendations for future collaborative research in schools of nursing. These include establishing certain key institutional structures and mechanisms by which established researchers can interact with junior investigators to train and mentor them.
The potential for mechanical design compilation

Significant potential exists for engineering design research to produce viable approaches to automatic compilation of mechanical systems.
Sequential hydrogen dissociation from a charged Pt13H24 cluster modeled by ab initio molecular dynamics

Platinum is one of the most valuable catalysts that have been used in the catalytic fields of hydrogenation, fuel-cell technologies, and photocatalytic water splitting. In this work, the dissociative chemisorption of hydrogen in a molecular form on a Pt13H24 cluster with cuboctahedral symmetry (Oh), which has one center Pt atom and side 12 Pt atoms (each bonded by two hydrogen), is investigated by using first-principles density functional theory calculation. After computing geometry optimization on the Pt13H24 cluster, the equilibrium distances of PtPt and PtH are inspected. Two nonequilibrium modifications, for example, addition of electrons and heat treatment were applied on the cluster, with the aim to simulate the experimental reaction of hydrogen on the Pt13 H24 cluster. An ab initio molecular dynamics (MD) is simulated after the cluster is charged and heat treated at high temperature to compute the trajectory for the positions of all the atoms. The computation results reveal that H2 desorption is observed during the MD simulation, and higher temperature is beneficial to the H2 desorption. An elementary hydrogen evolution mechanism on the charged Pt cluster can be established as 2Hads+ + 2e− + Ptads [PtadsHadsHads] H2 + Pt. A rate (fs−1) of hydrogen desorption from different cluster models is determined, together with the hydrogen dissociative activation energy as a function of total charge. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.