cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Current Overview of Obesity-Induced Lymphedema

Significance: Obesity affects one-third of the U.S. population and lymphedema is a chronic disorder without a cure. The relationship between obesity and lymphedema has important implications for public health. Recent Advances: Extreme obesity can cause lower extremity lymphedema, termed "obesity-induced lymphedema (OIL)." OIL is a form of secondary lymphedema that may occur once an individual's body mass index (BMI) exceeds 40. The risk of lymphatic dysfunction increases with elevated BMI and is almost universal once BMI exceeds 60. Patients with OIL also may develop areas of massive localized lymphedema (MLL). Critical Issues: Individuals with OIL are in an unfavorable cycle of weight gain and lymphatic injury. As BMI increases lymphedema worsens, ambulation becomes more difficult, and BMI further rises. The fundamental treatment for OIL is weight loss. Resection of areas of MLL and lower extremity volume reduction are performed when the BMI is lowered to <40 to reduce complications and recurrence. Future Directions: The mechanisms by which obesity causes lymphedema are still being elucidated. Although lymphatic function can improve following weight loss, it is unclear whether lymphedema may be completely reversed.
Nonhuman primate models for SARS-CoV-2 Research: Managing demand for specific-pathogen-free (SPF) animals.

The SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 pandemic has significantly increased the demand for specific-pathogen-free (SPF) nonhuman primates (NHPs) for development of vaccines and therapeutics, thus straining the supply of these animals for biomedical research studies. Non-SPF animals, which are available in greater numbers and include well-characterized primate species, should be considered in lieu of limited SPF animals for appropriate research studies.
Novel Treatment Pathways in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a severe and progressive vascular disease characterized by pulmonary vascular remodeling, proliferation, and inflammation. Despite the availability of effective treatments, PAH may culminate in right ventricular failure and death. Currently approved medications act through three well-characterized pathways: the nitric oxide, endothelin, and prostacyclin pathways. Ongoing research efforts continue to expand our understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of this complex and multifactorial disease. Based on recent discoveries in the pathobiology of PAH, several new treatments are being developed and tested with the goal of modifying the disease process and ultimately improving the long-term prognosis.
Thomae's function on a Lie group.

Let $\mathfrak g$ be a simple complex Lie algebra of finite dimension. This paper gives an inequality relating the order of an automorphism of $\mathfrak g$ to the dimension of its fixed-point subalgebra, and characterizes those automorphisms of $\mathfrak g$ for which equality occurs. This is amounts to an inequality/equality for Thomae's function on the group of automorphisms of $\mathfrak g$. The result has applications to characters of zero weight spaces, graded Lie algebras, and inequalities for adjoint Swan conductors.
Reduced Error Recognition Explains Post-Error Slowing Differences among Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Objective Youth with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often show reduced post-error slowing (PES) compared to typically developing controls. This finding has been interpreted as evidence that children with ADHD have error recognition and adaptive control impairments. However, several studies report mixed results regarding PES differences in ADHD, and among healthy controls, there is considerable debate about the cognitive-behavioral origin of PES. Methods We tested competing hypotheses aimed at clarifying whether reduced PES in children with ADHD is due to impaired error detection, deficits in adaptive control, and/or attention orienting to novelty. Children aged 7-11 years with a diagnosis of ADHD (n = 74) and controls (n = 30) completed four laboratory-based computer tasks with variable cognitive loads and error types. Results ADHD diagnosis was associated with shorter PES only on a task with high cognitive load and low error-cuing, consistent with impaired error recognition. In contrast, there was no evidence of impaired adaptive control or heightened novelty orienting among children with ADHD. Conclusions The cognitive-behavioral origin of PES is multifactorial, but reduced PES among children with an ADHD diagnosis is due to impaired error recognition during cognitively demanding tasks. Behavioral interventions that scaffold error recognition may facilitate improved performance among children with ADHD.
Contraceptive use among women with kidney transplants in the United States.

Background Kidney transplant improves reproductive function in women with end-stage kidney disease. Little is known about contraceptive use in women with history of kidney transplants. Methods Using data from the United States Renal Data System, we evaluated for each calendar year women with kidney transplantation between 1/1/2005 and 12/31/2013 who were aged 15-44 years with Medicare as the primary payer and linked data from the United Network for Organ Sharing, for up to three entire years after the date of transplantation. We determined rates of contraceptive use and used multivariable logistic regression to identify factors associated with contraceptive use. Results The study cohort included 13,150 women and represented 26,624 person-years. The rate of contraceptive use was 9.5%. Compared to women aged 15-24 years, contraceptive use was lower in women aged 30-34 years (OR 0.67; CI 0.58-0.78), 35-39 years (OR 0.36; CI 0.31-0.43), and 40-44 years (OR 0.23; CI 0.19-0.28). Compared to white women, contraceptive use was higher both in black women (OR 1.26; CI 1.10-1.43) and Native American women (OR 1.52; CI 1.02-2.26). Women had lower rates of contraceptive use in the second-year post-transplant (OR 0.87; CI 0.79-0.94) and the third-year post-transplant (OR0.69; CI 0.62-0.76) than in the first-year post-transplant. Women with a history of diabetes had a lower likelihood of contraceptive use (OR 0.80; CI 0.65-0.99). Conclusion Among women with kidney transplants, contraceptive use remains low at 9.5%. Factors associated with a higher likelihood of contraceptive use include younger age and black and Native American race/ethnicity; and second- and third-year post-transplant. The history of diabetes is associated with a lower likelihood of contraceptive use. The study highlights the need of increasing awareness for safe and effective contraceptive use in women with kidney transplants.
iPRIDE: a parallel integrated circuit simulator using direct method

A parallel circuit simulator, iPRIDE, which uses a direct solution method and runs on a shared-memory multiprocessor is described. The simulator is based on a multilevel node tearing approach which produces a nested bordered-block-diagonal (BBD) form of the circuit equation matrix. The parallel solution of the nested BBD matrix is described. Its efficiency is shown to depend on how the circuit is partitioned as well as the sequence in which the concurrent tasks (scheduling) are solved. A partitioning heuristic is proposed, assuming that an arbitrary number of processors is available. Scheduling methods are studied when the number of processors is fixed. A method for determining the optimal level of partitioning, which depends on the number of processors as well as the scheduling methods, is described. The program is implemented on an ALLIANT FX/8 multiprocessor with shared memory. The performance of the program is reported. >
Single-molecule Fluorescence Imaging Techniques

The past decade has been witnessed to exciting developments in advanced fluorescence microscopy techniques that rely on visualizing single emitting fluorophores. The proliferation of single-molecule fluorescent imaging techniques and their application in biological research have the potential to revolutionize how research is performed and greatly increase our understanding of biological systems. Presently, these techniques are still relatively niche owing to technological barriers, but it is foreseeable that they will become an increasingly common way in which insights are sought in biology. Here, we review the basic principles of key single-molecule techniques and their recent biological applications. Keywords: single-molecule microscopy; smFRET; super-resolution microscopy; TIRF; photobleaching; single-molecule tracking; FIONA; STORM; PALM; fluorescence microscopy
Quaternary interactions in hemoglobin beta subunit tetramers. Kinetics of ligand binding and self-assembly.

Abstract We have investigated the rates of monomer in equilibrium with tetramer self-association of oxygenated beta SH subunits of human hemoglobin A as well as the influence of self-association on the binding kinetics for O2 and CO. A 4 beta in equilibrium with 2 beta 2 in equilibrium with beta 4 assembly pathway can be used to describe the association equilibria and kinetics. We have determined all four elementary rate constants for this assembly pathway at 15 degrees C in 0.1 M Tris-HCl, 0.1 M NaCl, 1 mM Na2EDTA, pH 7.4. These data imply that a significant amount (approximately 17%) of beta 2 can be present. Laser photolysis kinetic studies of O2 binding indicate that the O2 association rate constant is unaffected by the degree of self-association. In contrast, photolysis of beta CO solutions shows an overall rate of CO binding that increases at higher protein concentrations. These data are consistent with a concentration-dependent equilibrium between two protein species with CO association rates differing by a factor of 2.5, but they do not appear to be compatible with a direct assignment of different CO binding rates to the different assembly states. Rather, we believe the data imply that CO binding to beta oligomers is heterogeneous, with both a fast binding and a slow binding form being present in single association states. The fast binding form predominates (approximately equal to 87%) in beta 4, while the beta monomer has very little or none of the fast binding form. We propose that the slow binding component within beta 4 may be those subunits with rotationally disordered hemes (La Mar, G. N., Yamamoto, Y., Jue, T., Smith, K. M., and Pandey, R. K. (1985) Biochemistry 24, 3826-3831). The implications of these findings for the use of isolated subunits as models for the subunits within "R state" hemoglobin tetramers are discussed.
Alkyl lysophospholipids inhibit phorbol ester-stimulated phospholipase D activity and DNA synthesis in fibroblasts.

The antineoplastic alkyl lysophospholipids (ALP) 1-O-octadecyl-2-O-methyl-rac-glycero-3-phosphocholine (ET-18-OCH3) and 1-S-hexadecylthio-2-methoxymethyl-2-deoxy-rac-glycero-3-phosphocholine (BM 41.440) were found to alter phospholipase D (PLD)-mediated phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PtdEtn) hydrolysis in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts. After a shorter (50 min) treatment, 2.5–7.5 μg/ml concentrations of ALP stimulated PtdCho, but not PtdEtn, hydrolysis 2–4-fold. At the same time, 7.5–25 μg/ml concentrations of ALP significantly inhibited the larger (5.8–6.5-fold) stimulatory effects of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) on both PtdCho and PtdEtn hydrolysis. When a brief (30 min) exposure of cells to 1–2.5 μg/ml concentrations of BM 41.440 was followed by incubation of washed cells for 3–16 h prior to the assay of PLD activity or DNA synthesis, the treated cells exhibited no increased PtdCho hydrolysis, while their responses to the stimulatory PMA effects on both PLD activity and DNA synthesis were strongly reduced. The results suggest that the PLD and protein kinase C systems may be important cellular targets of ALP actions.
Mid-Infrared Emission from the Galactic Center

New images of the central parsec of the Galaxy made with a 58 × 62 pixel array camera system at eight wavelengths between 5 and 18 µm provide a fresh perspective on physical conditions in the remarkable luminous dust and gas cloud complex at the Galactic Center. Simple array arithmetic with the images is used to calculate the color temperature and opacity of the emitting dust, and the silicate extinction distribution, with 1 arcsecond spatial resolution and sub-aresecoud astrometric accuracy. The infrared array images are compared to radio continuum maps of ionized gas emission and re-analyzed NeII velocity data. Fully sampled imaging polarization observations at. 12.4 pin are used to determine the influence and spatial arrangement of individual sources near the Galactic Center. We establish a direct physical connection between dust. color temperature or 12.4 tem emission features and recently detected helium 1 emission line stars (Krabbe ct al. 1992). The lief stars are found to be co-located with the dust clouds, either as embedded luminous objects providing internal heating or as nearby external heat sources, and can account for the observed luminosity of Sgr A West. The present observational picture does not require that. an exotic “central engine” he invoked to account for the infrared luminosity of the Galactic Center.
A dataflow language for scriptable debugging

Debugging is a laborious, manual activity that often involves the repetition of common operations. Ideally, users should be able to describe these repetitious operations as little programs. Debuggers should therefore be programmable, or scriptable. The operating environment of these scripts, however, imposes interesting design challenges on the programming language in which these scripts are written. This paper presents our design of a language for scripting debuggers. The language offers powerful primitives that can precisely and concisely capture many important debugging and comprehension metaphors. The paper also describes a debugger for the Java language built in accordance with these principles. We have implemented this debugger to run alongside the Java virtual machine. The paper includes concrete examples of applying this debugger to programs
Maximized mutual information using macrocanonical probability distributions

A maximum entropy formulation leads to a neural network which is factorable in both form and function into individual neurons corresponding to the Hopfield neural model. A maximized mutual information criterion dictates the optimal learning methodology using locally available information.
A full plane block Kalman filter for image estimation

A method of two-dimensional block Kalman filtering using a full plane model is presented. The filter uses a full plane model, yet it maintains causality within the actual filter by using multiple estimators. Using this method the sizes of the state and error covariance matrices are reduced to a computationally feasible size. Simulation results are provided for the case of filtering an image corrupted by 5-dB additive Gaussian noise. >
African American English and Spelling: How Do Second Graders Spell Dialect-Sensitive Features of Words?.

This study explored the spelling skills of African American second graders who produced African American English (AAE) features in speech. The children (N = 92), who varied in spoken AAE use and wo...
Dissolution of Metal Species in Supercritical FluidsPrinciples and Applications

Metal species in solid and liquid materials can be extracted into supercritical CO2 containing organic complexing agents. The solubility of metal complexes in CO2 is an important factor in determining the extraction efficiency. A spectroscopic method utilizing a high-pressure fiber optic system for determination of solubility of metal complexes in supercritical CO2 is described. Fluorination of the ligand, replacement of the coordinated H2O with a lipophilic Lewis base, and formation of ion pairs with a fluorinated counteranion are some of the techniques that can be used to enhance the solubility of metal complexes in supercritical CO2. Direct dissolution of uranium oxides and selective extraction of aqueous strontium are two examples given in this paper to illustrate the capability of this in situ chelation/supercritical fluid extraction technology. Potential applications of the extraction technology for treatment of metal-contaminated wastes including mixed wastes and nuclear wastes are discussed.
Preventing insect diapause with hormones and cholera toxin.

Abstract The decision to enter pupal diapause can be reversed in the flesh fly Sarcophaga crassipalpis by treatment with a juvenile hormone analogue, ecdysterone, or cholera toxin. A topical application of juvenile hormone analogue (10μg) is effective in preventing diapause if applied to newly ecdysed 3rd instar larvae. An ecdysterone injection (1μg) into post-fed 3rd instar larvae can avert diapause, and even lower dosages (0.01μg) are effective if injected into young pupae immediately before the onset of diapause. Cholera toxin, a stimulant of adenylate cyclase, can prevent diapause if 1μg is injected into larvae 24 hrs. prior to pupariation. This is the first report of an effect of cholera toxin on insects. A 2-day exposure to 33°C was the only physical manipulation shown to be capable of reversing the previous commitment to enter pupal diapause.
Care for the cancer caregiver: A systematic review

Objective:Informal caregivers (ICs) are relatives, friends, and partners who have a significant relationship with and provide assistance (i.e., physical, emotional) to a patient with a life- threatening, incurable illness. The multidimensional burden that results from providing care to a patient with cancer is well documented, and as a result, a growing number of psychosocial interventions have been developed specifically to address this burden. The purpose of the present study was to characterize the state of the science of psychosocial interventions for informal cancer caregivers.Method:A comprehensive systematic review of interventions for cancer caregivers was conducted via an electronic literature search of publications between 1980 and January 13, 2011. A final sample of 49 interventions was reviewed in detail.Results:The interventions, which varied in terms of modality and patient population, fell into the following eight categories: psychoeducation, problem-solving/skills building interventions, supportive therapy, family/couples therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, complementary and alternative medicine interventions, and existential therapy. Benefits and disadvantages of each of the categories are discussed, with special attention given to studies that produced null findings.Significance of results:Beyond specific techniques, structured, goal-oriented, and time-limited interventions that are integrative appear to be the most feasible and offer the greatest benefits for ICs of cancer patients. Future studies are needed to examine the specific benefits and challenges of delivering interventions in alternative modalities (Internet, Skype) so that the needs of a greater number of ICs may be addressed.
Different minimally important clinical difference (MCID) scores lead to different clinical prediction rules for the Oswestry disability index for the same sample of patients

AbstractBackground: Minimal clinically important difference (MCID) scores for outcome measures are frequently used evidence-based guides to gage meaningful changes. There are numerous outcome instruments used for analyzing pain, disability, and dysfunction of the low back; perhaps the most common of these is the Oswestry disability index (ODI). A single agreed-upon MCID score for the ODI has yet to be established. What is also unknown is whether selected baseline variables will be universal predictors regardless of the MCID used for a particular outcome measure.Objective: To explore the relationship between predictive models and the MCID cutpoint on the ODI.Setting: Data were collected from 16 outpatient physical therapy clinics in 10 states.Design: Secondary database analysis using backward stepwise deletion logistic regression of data from a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to create prognostic clinical prediction rules (CPR).Participants and Interventions: One hundred and forty-nine patients with low ...
Simplification of the Mitsunobu reaction. Di-p-chlorobenzyl azodicarboxylate: a new azodicarboxylate.

Di-p-chlorobenzyl azodicarboxylate (DCAD) is introduced as a novel, stable, solid alternative to DEAD and DIAD for a variety of Mitsunobu couplings. DCAD/Ph3P-mediated reactions in CH2Cl2 generate a readily separable hydrazine byproduct.
The health benefits of moderate alcohol consumption: A review of the literature

A review of the literature on the positive benefits of light and moderate alcohol consumption suggests the following: Alcoholic beverages are food, containing approx. 7 calories per gram of ethanol. Beer contains small percentages of the recommended daily allowance of vitamins and significant proportions of the recommended daily allowance of trace metals and minerals. Wine, while possessing significantly smaller amounts of vitamins and minerals than beer, has considerably more iron. Both beer and wine have a favorable potassium to sodium ratio. Coronary heart disease (CHD) seems to have a negative association with regular alcoholic beverage use. While some report a linear relationship, most studies agree that the relationship is U-shaped. Many studies have suggested that this inverse relationship is due to alcohol's effect of increasing levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), which acts in the removal of cholesterol from tissue. Other explanations for moderate alcohol's cardioprotective effect include: associated diet changes in moderate drinkers, the silicon content in wine and beer, decreased platelet aggregation and coagulation, and the ability to lessen stress and/or alter personality patterns associated with CHD risks. Dry non-sweet wines and diluted distilled spirits have been recommended in the treatment of diabetes. It has been suggested that alcohol may improve glucose tolerance and blood glucose response to ingested carbohydrates. Due to reported decreased HDL values in diabetics, alcohol has been suggested as useful for its HDL-increasing function.
The maximum principle and biharmonic functions

Abstract This note concerns the maximum principle which applies to solutions of partial differential equations of elliptic type. This principle asserts that the maximum of a solution occurs on the boundary of a region. Consideration of the ratio of solutions of an elliptic equation shows that the ratio satisfies the same maximum principle. This result is then used to obtain a maximum principle relating to biharmonic functions. These maximum principles give inequalities which biharmonic functions must satisfy. The relations and concepts developed in this note have application in elasticity and in hydrodynamics.
Direct effect of percutaneous electric stimulation during gait in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy: a report of 2 cases

The feasibility of using percutaneous intramuscular functional electric stimulation (FES) in children with cerebral palsy (CP) as a method to improve ankle kinematics and kinetics during gait was investigated. Two children with right hemiplegic CP had percutaneous intramuscular electrodes implanted into the gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior muscles of the involved limb. FES was provided during the gait cycle using force-sensing foot switches to detect gait phase transitions. The children ambulated using FES under 3 conditions (gastrocnemius on, tibialis anterior on, gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior on). For each condition, two 45-minute walking sessions were conducted per day for 1 week. Immediately after each week of practice, a gait analysis was performed at the subject's self-selected walking speed for that stimulation condition and without stimulation. Both children demonstrated improvements in ankle dorsiflexion angle at initial contact, peak dorsiflexion during swing, mean dorsiflexion during swing, and ankle work during early stance with tibialis anterior stimulation alone and combined gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior stimulation. Improvements in ankle work were found during late stance for both children with all stimulation conditions. These results suggest that percutaneous intramuscular FES was effective in improving aspects of ankle kinematics and kinetics of 2 children with hemiplegic CP.
Differential single- versus double-strand DNA breakage produced by doxorubicin and its morpholinyl analogues

The morpholinyl analogues of doxorubicin (DOX) have previously been reported to be non-cross-resistant in multidrug resistant (MDR) cells due to a lower affinity for P-glycoprotein relative to the parent compound. In order to further investigate the mechanisms of action of these morpholinyl anthracyclines, we examined their ability to cause DNA single- and double-strand breaks (SSB, DSB) and their interactions with topoisomerases. Alkaline elution curves were determined after 2-h drug treatment at 0.5, 2 and 5 μM, while neutral elution was conducted at 5, 10 and 25 μM in a human ovarian cell line, ES-2. A pulse-field gel electrophoresis assay was used to confirm the neutral elution data under the same conditions. Further, K-SDS precipitation and topoisomerase drug inhibition assays were used to determine the effects of DOX and the morpholinyl analogues on topoisomerase (Topo) I and II. Under deproteinated elution conditions (pH 12.1), DOX, morpholinyl DOX (MRA), methoxymorpholinyl DOX (MMDX) and morpholinyl oxaunomycin (MX2) were equipotent at causing SSB in the human ovarian carcinoma cell line, ES-2. However, neutral elution (pH 9.6) under deproteinated conditions revealed marked differences in the degree of DNA DSB. After 2-h drug exposures at 10 μM, DSBs were 3300 rad equivalents for MX2, 1500 for DOX and 400 for both MRA and MMDX in the ES-2 cell line. Pulse-field data substantiated these differences in DSBs, with breaks easily detected after MX2 and DOX treatment, but not with MRA and MMDX. DOX and MX2 thus cause DNA strand breaks selectively through interaction with Topo II, but not Topo I. In contrast, MRA and MMDX cause DNA breaks through interactions with both topoisomerases with a predominant inhibition of Topo I.
The Effect of Law on Hate Crime Reporting: The Case of Racial and Ethnic Violence

Drawing on Jenness and Grattet’s (2001) typology of hate crime law as well as theories about the relationship between minority group status and victimization, this analysis examines how different definitions of hate crime produce variation in the reported prevalence of anti-racial and anti-ethnic hate crime. This study uses data from the Uniform Crime Reports and a panel modeling structure to examine the factors that contribute to reported anti-Black and anti-Hispanic hate crime levels. It was hypothesized that broader hate crime definitions would result in greater levels of reported hate crime; however, the results suggest that the definition of hate crime influences the reported prevalence of anti-Hispanic hate crime, but that variation in law does not affect anti-Black hate crime once demographic and other structural characteristics are taken into account. Future research and policy should consider how these differences in definition could influence the handling of hate crime cases at all levels.
Use of syntactic context to produce term association lists for text retrieval

One aspect of world knowledge essential to information retrieval is knowing when two words are related. Knowing word relatedness allows a system given a user's query terms to retrieve relevant documents not containing those exact terms. Two words can be said to be related if they appear in the same contexts Document co-occurrence gives a measure of word relatedness that has proved to be too rough to be useful. The relatively recent apparition of on-line dictionaries and robust and rapid parsers permits the extraction of finer word contexts from large corpora. In this paper, we will describe such an extraction technique that uses only coarse syntactic analysis and no domain knowledge. This technique produces lists of words related to any work appearing in a corpus. When the closest related terms were used in query expansion of a standard information retrieval testbed, the results were much better than that given by document co-occurence techniques, and slightly better than using unexpanded queries, supporting the contention that semantically similar words were indeed extracted by this technique.
Social and non-social knowledge in vervet monkeys

The social knowledge of East African vervet monkeys is striking. W ithin a local population the monkeys recognize individuals, and associate each individual with its particular group. W ithin groups, the monkeys recognize dominance relations, rank orders, and matrilineal kinship, and they remember who has behaved affinitively towards them in the past. Outside the social domain, however, vervets appear to know surprisingly little about other aspects of their environment. Although they do distinguish the different alarm calls given by birds, vervets do not seem to recognize the fresh tracks of a python, or indirect evidence that a leopard is nearby. Similarly, although cooperation and reciprocity seem common in social interactions, comparable behaviour has apparently not evolved to deal with ecological problems. Results support the view that primate intelligence has evolved mainly to solve social problems. As a result, vervet monkeys make excellent primatologists but poor naturalists.
Automated PO2, PCO2 and pH monitoring of infants

A system has been developed for monitoring PaO2, PaCO2, and pH, which can be connected to an infant for automatic and frequent monitoring while servicing the Intensive Care Unit. The system, called CABAS (Computerized Automated Blood Analysis System) was primarily designed for pediatric monitoring, but could be used for adult monitoring as well. CABAS incorporates the following functions: 1. 1. Patient blood loss is 0.3 ml per determination of PO2, PCO2 and pH. 2. 2. The blood sampling catheter (or catheters) is also used for pressure monitoring, infusing, sampling, etc. 3. 3. Blood from other patients can be manually inserted into CABAS for analysis while connected to a patient without damage or cross-contamination. 4. 4. Monitored data is recorded chronologically in the patient's computerized file. Initial clinical experience with CABAS has proven it to be very useful in the management of infants with respiratory distress syndrome.
Organ culture of the terminal abdominal segment of an adult female lepidopteron.

Organ cultures containing the sex pheromone gland ofDiatraea saccharalis (F.) (sugarcane borer) were maintained for over 2 months. Juvenile hormone but not ecdysterone appeared to be essential for the maintenance of integrity of the sex pheromone gland in the organ culture system. Muscles associated with these cultures pulsated during hte entire culture period with or without juvenile hormone, suggesting that the hormone requirement was specific for the sex pheromone gland and not a general requirement of the cells of the organ-cultured segment.
Sources of bias errors in flume experiments on suspended-sediment transport

Extensive research efforts in the last few decades have only partially elucidated the complexities of suspended-sediment transport. Lacking an adequate formulation and quantification of the interac...
Demonstration of infectious agents in tissue

Abstract Detection of infectious agents in tissue sections is an important tool for the diagnosis of infectious diseases. Only the anatomic pathologist can definitively link the infectious agent and the host inflammatory response. The haematoxylin and eosin stain is the mainstay of diagnosis and in many cases is sufficient of itself. For many years histochemical stains have been used successfully to detect microbes. Recent advances that provide increased specificity and, on occasion, sensitivity include immunological and genetic techniques.
Human leukocytes express ephrinB2 which activates microvascular endothelial cells.

Abstract EphrinB2–EphB4 interaction modulates the migration/adhesion of various cell types, including endothelial cells (EC) and peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs). We hypothesize that the Ephrin/Eph signaling mechanism plays a role in mediating EC/leukocyte interactions during inflammation. PBLs were isolated from human blood, stimulated with inflammatory mediators, and total RNA or protein assayed for EphrinB2 expression. PBLs demonstrated differential expression profiles of EphrinB2 mRNA or protein, depending on cell subtype and stimulus. Human iris tissue and iris EC (HIEC) were examined for the expression of EphB4 mRNA and protein. Some blood vessels were EphB4 + , while stimulation of purified HIEC did not alter their expression of EphB4. HIEC treated with sEphrinB2/Fc from 0 to 60 min did exhibit changes in their phospho-Erk1/2 levels. These observations indicate that stimulated lymphocytes express EphrinB2, which has the potential to activate EC. This suggests a novel mechanism by which EC and lymphocytes communicate to regulate cell activation/migration during inflammation.
Synthesis of multiwalled carbon nanotubes using methane/air diffusion flames

An experimental investigation has been conducted on the synthesis of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) using methane/air laminar diffusion flames, with an emphasis on the effects of flame temperature and catalyst particle size on nanotube growth. The yield of MWCNTs occurred on a substrate consisting of a 0.4 mm Ni−Cr (60% Ni, 26% Cr, and 14% Fe) catalyst wire connected to a stainless steel grid. The self-formed catalyst particles in the flame were analyzed by energy dispersive X-ray to be mostly nickel oxide with some iron oxide. A high-resolution transmission electron microscope analysis indicates well-graphitized layers of MWCNTs consisting of continuous lattice fringes along the cylindrical section of the nanotube. We studied the effects of flame temperature on nanotube growth by changing the sampling location along the flame height and diluting methane with nitrogen. High temperature was found to favor the growth of large-diameter nanotubes, and nanotube growth was influenced by chemical species environment in the flame. Nitric acid treated Ni−Cr wire produced smaller sized catalyst particles that can be encapsulated within the nanotubes. The growth of well-aligned, bean-sprout-like bundles of nanotubes with catalyst particles pushed up at the tube top was found to occur: the mechanism of this unique synthesis is unknown and needs further study.
Polymethylglutamate as a new matrix for covalently immobilized enzymes: Preparation and properties of urease and uricase

Polymethylglutamate (PMG), a synthetic polypeptide, was used as a new carrier to immobilize urease (EC 3.5.1.5) and uricase (EC 1.7.3.3) by the azide method. The enzymes could be immobilized onto PMG in various forms, such as film, fiber, coating on various beads, and a silicon tube. The retained activities of the immobilized enzymes were excellent (more than 95%), therefore it was possible to immobilized almost all activities of the enzymes added in the coupling mixtures. Heat stabilities of the resulting immobilized enzymes were markedly improved, while the optimal pH and Km values remained almost unchanged. The urease immobilized on the PMG-coated glass beads packed in a column, was found to retain its activity more than 80% of the initial value, even after the occasional use for a year. In view of the improved retained activities and stabilities of the immobilized enzymes, PMG may therefore be a very versatile matrix for the immobilized enzymes.
Safety factor for precordial pacing: minimum current thresholds for pacing and for ventricular fibrillation by vulnerable-period stimulation.

Temporary cardiac pacing by means of rapidly applied, precordial electrodes can be of great value in selected patients suffering cardiac arrest or profound bradycardia, post-defibrillation atrioventricular block, or digitalis intoxication. This study provides data pertaining to the safety of precordial pacing measured as the ratio of the minimum current required to induce ventricular fibrillation (VF) to the minimum current required to pace the ventricular myocardium. Single rectangular pulse stimuli having durations of 1-50 ms were evaluated. In 6 anesthetized dogs, a cutaneous electrode was centered over the shaved apex beat area of the left chest and paired with a larger electrode sutured to the right chest wall. Using a specially fabricated, synchronized, high-energy pulse generator, the "most vulnerable" time in the cardiac cycle at which the least current was required to induce VF with a single shock was identified. This current was compared to the much lower current required to pace the heart in the diastolic interval. While the current required to produce either fibrillation or pacing decreased as pulse duration increased, the safety factor (i.e., the ratio of fibrillation current to pacing current) remained nearly constant, averaging 12.6 for all pulse durations examined. That is, on the average, a stimulus of any given duration between 1 and 50 ms required at least 12 times the current required for pacing to produce ventricular fibrillation. We conclude that in normal canine hearts, the risk of inducing VF during precordial pacing is small.
Improvement of Peroxide Bleaching Yield and Efficiency of TMP Using Glyoxal Crosslink Agents

Today, peroxide bleaching is the dominant bleaching process for thermomechanical pulp (TMP). The yield loss in peroxide bleaching mainly contributes to the dissolution and depolymerization of cellulose and hemicelluloses under alkaline conditions. In this research, a method that could partially crosslink cellulose and hemicelluloses to avoid the dissolution and depolymerization of carbohydrates, to increase pulp yield during the peroxide bleaching of TMP, was proposed. It was surprising that not only the bleaching yield was increased, but also the peroxide bleaching efficiency was remarkably improved. It was also determined that the proposed approach had no effect on most of the physical properties of the bleaching pulp. Effective components analysis indicated that glyoxal and modified glyoxal resins could improve the peroxide bleaching yield and efficiency of TMP. The possible mechanisms of the crosslinking agents to improve peroxide bleaching efficiency and yield were studied by ultraviolet−visible (UV−...
Regulatory T Cells in Transplantation: What We Know and What We Do Not Know

Abstract Current immunosuppressive regimens suppress alloimmunity by nonspecifically targeting T-cell proliferation, differentiation, and activation. In doing so, they have been effective in dramatically reducing rates of acute rejection and improving short-term allograft survival. However, this is often at the expense of overimmunosuppression. Furthermore, chronic rejection remains a significant problem. CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (Treg) act to counterbalance effector mechanisms in immune homeostasis. Their function has been shown to be critical in autoimmune disease, transplantation, and allergy and inflammation. In this article, we will explore the current knowledge of Treg immunobiology in experimental models, as well as in human organ transplantation. The impact of current immunosuppressive agents on Tregs will be reviewed, and future promising targets for Treg-based therapies will be explored.
A Density Functional Theory Study of the Charge State of Hydrogen in Metal Hydrides

Density functional theory and Bader charge analyses were used to investigate the charge state of hydrogen in vanadium, niobium, tantalum, palladium, and niobium−palladium alloys. Over a range of concentrations and hydrogen-site configurations, it is found that hydrogen consistently acquires a net charge of between approximately −0.51e and −0.64e in the pure group 5 metals compared with a significantly smaller value of 0.3e in palladium. Although there is indirect evidence that the electronic charge plays a role in the solubility and diffusivity of hydrogen in the group 5 metals, this is the first work to quantify the value of the charge. Hydrogen tends to migrate to regions of the metal lattice that minimize its overall charge density, which generally corresponds to the T-site in the bcc metals. It is found that the charge of hydrogen at the O-site of vanadium can be slightly lower due to lattice deformation and may explain the occupation of both T- and O-sites in vanadium hydrides.
END: an expert network designer

Professional designers with intensive knowledge and experience are needed for large computer network design and optimization. Such designers must be well informed about the most recent up-dates in this rapidly advancing field to be able to handle the available state-of-the-art technologies. Since designers of such caliber are difficult to find and usually very expensive, the present authors propose the use of expert systems to play their role and/or assist them in their task. The authors discuss: system architecture and functionality, the OPNET network simulation package. They also present various network design examples. >
Putting the person back into psychopathology: an intervention to reduce mental illness stigma in the classroom.

Objective This research aims to compare the effectiveness of two methods of teaching psychopathology in reducing stigma toward mental illness. Based on previous stigma research, a first-person, narrative approach was contrasted with traditional, diagnosis-centered education.
Effect of sex, hemodynamics, body size, and other clinical variables on the corrected Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction frame count used as an assessment of coronary blood flow

Abstract Background Compared with the conventional Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow grade system, the corrected TIMI frame count (CTFC) quantifies coronary blood flow in a more reproducible fashion. The purpose of this study was to determine if the CTFC is affected by sex, body size, hemodynamics, or other selected clinical variables. Methods and Results CTFC was measured in 534 coronary arteries from 200 consecutive patients referred for coronary angiography. CTFC in each artery was related to patient variables (sex, age, race, and body surface area), clinical variables (cardiac rhythm, medication use, diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, smoking, and left ventricular hypertrophy), angiographic variables (wall motion abnormality in each coronary artery distribution, left ventricular ejection fraction, percent stenosis in the artery, and presence of collaterals), and hemodynamic variables (aortic systolic and diastolic blood pressure and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure). By multivariate analysis, CTFC in all arteries was significantly associated with aortic systolic and diastolic pressures and body surface area. In addition, there were significant associations between CTFC and age and sex in some but not all arteries. Although significant, the absolute change in CTFC associated with these variables was small. Conclusions CTFC provides a quantitative assessment of coronary blood flow that varies only a small amount in association with body size, systemic arterial pressure, age, and sex. (Am Heart J 2000;140:308-14.)
Dietary antioxidants in young swine

Young swine obtained by hysterectomy were fed purified diets low in vitamin E and supplemented with d-α-tocopheryl acetate and ethoxyquin (SantoquinR).
Magnetic, and electronic properties of a Ba3InRu2O9 single crystal

Abstract The magnetic and transport properties of a Ba 3 InRu 2 O 9 single crystal are reported. Ba 3 InRu 2 O 9 crystallizes in a hexagonal BaTiO 3 structure, consisting of face-sharing RuO 6 octahedra interconnected by corner-sharing InO 6 octahedra. The Ru 2 4.5 + O 9 dimers form S = 1 2 spins on a distorted hexagonal lattice that frustrates antiferromagnetic interdimer interactions and results in a spin-glass transition at T g =3.5 K. The compound is a semiconductor that exhibits variable-range hopping as the transport mechanism in the temperature range 140–600 K.
The application of convolution potential sweep voltammetry at a rotating disc electrode to simple electron transfer kinetics

Abstract Convolution potential sweep voltammetry at a rotating disc electrode (CPSV-RDE) is shown to be an effective technique in the study of simple electron transfer reactions and can be applied to the measurement of kinetic parameters, in particular the standard rate constant and the transfer coefficient. A digital computer data acquisition system is employed to measure experimental current response transients to an imposed linear potential sweep. A convolution transformation, based on a mass transport model of the rotating disc electrode, affords experimental concentrations of a reacting species at the electrode surface. This information can be used to characterized a reaction in terms of kinetic model. Two experimental studies were conducted and demonstrate good agreement between the results of the present technique and those reported in the literature.
Plumhoff v. Rickard: Clarifying the Use of Deadly Force and Qualified Immunity

In a 9-0 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court addressed whether police officers were justified in using deadly force in response to a dangerous motorist who attempted to flee the officers’ arrest and whether qualified immunity should have been granted. The Court concluded that the officers used objectively reasonable force consistent with the Fourth Amendment and granted them qualified immunity. This case analysis provides an assessment of the Court’s decision, a review of prior use of force case decisions, and the requirements for awarding qualified immunity. Implications of the case decision are discussed.
Radiation fosters dose-dependent and chemotherapy-induced immunogenic cell death.

Established tumors are typified by an immunosuppresive microenvironment. Countering this naturally occurring phenomenon, emerging evidence suggests that radiation promotes a proimmunogenic milieu within the tumor capable of stimulating host cancer-specific immune responses. Three cryptic immunogenic components of cytotoxic-agent induced cell death—namely, calreticulin cell surface exposure, the release of high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) protein, and the liberation of ATP—have been previously shown to be critical for dendritic cell (DC) activation and effector T-cell priming. Thus, these immune-mobilizing components commonly presage tumor rejection in response to treatment. We initially set out to address the hypothesis that radiation-induced immunogenic cell death (ICD) is dose-dependent. Next, we hypothesized that radiation would enhance chemotherapy-induced ICD when given concomitantly, as suggested by the favorable clinical outcomes observed in response to analogous concurrent chemoradiation regimens. Thus, we designed an in vitro assay to examine the 3 hallmark features of ICD at clinically relevant doses of radiation. We then tested the immunogenic-death inducing effects of radiation combined with carboplatin or paclitaxel, focusing on these combinations to mimic chemoradiation regimens actually used in clinical trials of early stage triple negative [NCT0128953/NYU-10–01969] and locally advanced [NYU-06209] breast cancer patients, respectively. Despite the obvious limitations of an in vitro model, radiotherapy produced both a dose-dependent induction and chemotherapeutic enhancement of ICD. These findings provide preliminary evidence that ICD stimulated by either high-dose radiotherapy alone, or concurrent chemoradiation regimens, may contribute to the establishment of a peritumoral proimmunogenic milieu.