cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Treatment of Patellar Tendinopathy Refractory to Surgical Management Using Percutaneous Ultrasonic Tenotomy and Platelet-Rich Plasma Injection: A Case Presentation

Chronic proximal patellar tendinopathy is a common condition in sports medicine that may be refractory to nonoperative treatments, including activity modification, medications, and comprehensive rehabilitation. Percutaneous ultrasonic tenotomy is a recently developed technique designed to cut and debride tendinopathic tissue, thus promoting pain relief and functional recovery. We present a case of a collegiate athlete with chronic proximal patellar tendinopathy who was effectively treated with percutaneous ultrasonic tenotomy after not responding to extensive nonoperative treatment, surgical debridement, and platelet-rich plasma injections. Percutaneous ultrasonic tenotomy can be considered as a treatment option in patients presenting with refractory proximal patellar tendinopathy, including those who do not respond to previous operative intervention.
Evidence for induction of a phosphate appetite in juvenile rats

This study examined whether dietary phosphate (Pi) restriction stimulates an appetite for Pi in the juvenile rat, which normally has a high metabolic Pi demand for growth. Juvenile Wistar rats were...
Health coaching: a concept analysis.

OlsenPurpose Variations in the use of health coaching documented in the literature indicate a lack of conceptual clarity. The purpose of this article was to clarify the meaning of health coaching and propose an operational definition. Conclusions Seven attributes were identified and used to propose an operational definition of health coaching as a goal-oriented, client-centered partnership that is health-focused and occurs through a process of client enlightenment and empowerment. Practice Implication This operational definition and the proposed empirical measures of each attribute can be used to validate the presence of health coaching, develop theory-based applications, and consistently test the effectiveness of interventions using this concept. Olsen
‘Special offices’: parenthood of disabled children on public display

Based on my own experience of parenting a child with mental disability, I raise the question of how disability unfolds in the spatial organization of work environments, specifically that of academic offices. I scrutinize the role of family pictures placed in offices for public display, and the way this element functions when pictures show your child is disabled. I do so in a provocative and contrasting manner to highlight the point that families with a disabled relative, especially a child, are deprived of a presence in a collectively shared symbolic reality that supplies structure, meaning, and meaningfulness to individual workplace lives. I argue that non-disabled spaces require daily repeated practices and narratives which images of disabled children disrupt.
Parents' perception of adolescent behavior problems

Fifty-seven parents, usually mothers, rated their adolescent sons and daughters on the Walker Checklist at the time of their initial clinic appointment. Parents perceived this group of adolescents as more disturbed than the elementary school age normative group on three of the scales, Immaturity, Acting Out, and Distractibility. The results support an increase in behavior problems at adolescence which is more marked for the younger females and younger males. Neither gender nor age, separately, determines the degree of behavioral disturbance, with one exception. The scores of both the younger and older male groups are significantly higher than the scores of their corresponding female groups on the school-related Distractibility scale.
Computation of Local Fractal Dimension Values of the Human Cerebral Cortex

Objectives: The purpose of this paper is to describe a technique for computing the local fractal dimension of the human cerebral cortex as extracted from high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging scans. Methods: 3D models of the human cerebral cortex were extracted from high resolution magnetic resonance images of 10 healthy adult volunteers using FreeSurfer. The local fractal dimension of the cortex was computed using a custom-written cube-counting algorithm. The effect of constraining the maximum region size on the measured value of local fractal dimension was examined. A proof of principle was demonstrated by comparing an individual with Alzheimer’s disease to a healthy individual. Results: Local values of cortical fractal dimension can be obtained by constraining the size of the region over which the cube counting is performed. Cubic regions of intermediate size (30 × 30 × 30 mm) yielded a profile that demonstrated greater regional variability compared to smaller (15 × 15 × 15 mm) or larger (60 × 60 × 60 mm) region sizes. Conclusions: Local fractal dimension of the cerebral cortex is a novel measure that may yield additional, quantitative insight into the clinical meaning of cortical shape changes.
Genetic exclusion and stable complementation of Sindbis virus.

In an effort to enhance genetic interactions by eliminating spatial or physical barriers between variants of Sindbis virus, MgCl2 was used to aggregate infecting viral particles. Mixing viral samples in a 1:1 ratio with 0.5m MgCl2 produced maximal reduction in plaque forming units (PFU) with minimal cell damage due to MgCl2. Aggregate size was determined to be about 7 PFU. Samples taken at 3, 5 and 10 hours after infection with mixed aggregates composed of large and small plaque forming virus indicated that only one type of genome was represented among the progeny particles. In addition, aggregation enhanced complementation and the progeny were stable after several cycles of sonication and passage.
Specificity studies on human intestinal alkaline phosphatase

Abstract Studies were conducted on an alkaline phosphatase (orthophosphoric monoester phosphohydrolase, EC 3.1.3.1) purified from human intestinal mucosa using substrates recorded as specific for the specific phosphatases. The data obtained from Michaelis constant determinations, mixed-substrate experiments, response to specific inhibitors, nonspecific inhibition by 6 M urea and heat treatment, indicated that at the physiological pH (in which range these studies were performed), the alkaline phosphatase can perform efficiently the functions attributed to specific phosphatases.
Development of intestinal brush border membrane proteins in the rat

1. 1. The proteins of the intestinal microvillus membrane have been studied during post-natal development in the rat (days 12–37). 2. 2. In suckling animals (up to age 20 days), the majority of alkaline phosphatase, glucoamylase and lactase activities in the distal half of the intestine were located in the supernatant fraction (100 000 × g, 60 min). These enzymes were attached to the membrane from the proximal intestine at all ages. 3. 3. Alkaline phosphatase, maltase and lactase activities in the supernatant fractions chromatographed in Sephadex G-200 in positions similar to the corresponding membrane enzyme. Corresponding activities for lysosomal counterparts of maltase and lactase present in the supernatant fraction chromatographed differently. Moreover, pH optimum of the soluble enzymes was 9.2 for phosphatase and 5.5–6.0 for glycoamylase and lactase. The soluble lactase and alkaline phosphatase were inhibited minimally by p-chloromercuribenzoate, and sodium fluoride respectively. L-Phenylalanine (20 mM) did inhibit the soluble phosphatase by 90%. Thus, the soluble enzymes are not mainly of lysosomal origin, but have characteristics of membrane-bound enzymes. 4. 4. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate revealed 18 protein bands which were present in adult membranes. Two other proteins were unique for membranes of distal intestine in suckling rats. The proteins corresponding to known enzyme activity changed as expected with age (e.g. sucrase, maltase increased, lactase decreased). Most of the other proteins were also altered in amount during development. Thus, the changes in the microvillus membrane during development in the rat are not limited to specific enzymes.
Isokinetic strength testing in older women: a comparison of two systems.

Isokinetic equipment is used for measuring muscular strength for both experimental and rehabilitative purposes. In this study two LIDO® isokinetic dynamometer systems, the LIDO-digital and the LIDO-active, were compared at 60, 180, 240, and 300° /see for peak torque (PT) and average work output (WO) of knee flexion and extension. Twenty-five elderly women (age range = 65–86) were tested on both systems within seven days. The data were compared by using a repeated measures ANOVA followed by a Dunn-Bonferroni posthoc comparison (p ≤ .0125). Knee flexion PT was significantly different (p ≤.0125) at all angular velocities tested. Knee extension PT was significantly different (p ≤ .0125) at all speeds except 180°/ sec. Knee flexion WO was significantly different p ≤ .0125) at all angular velocities except 60°/sec; whereas, knee extension WO was not significantly different. The data indicate that for healthy women over 65, these two systems are not totally comparable for knee extension and flexion. Therefore, i...
Thermodynamic model for aqueous Cd2+-Co32- ionic interactions in high-ionic-strength carbonate solutions, and the solubility product of crystalline CdCO3

The aqueous solubility of CdCO3(c) was studied in 0.01M NaClO4, in solutions equilibrated with N2-CO2(g) mixtures that contained 0.0003, 0.001, or 0.138 atmospheres of CO2(g). The pH ranged from about 4.5 to 9, and the studies were conducted from both the oversaturation and the undersaturation directions, with the equilibration periods ranging from 6 to 57 d. To determine the carbonato complexes of Cd(II), the solubility of CdCO3(c) was also studied in 0.0016 to 1.00M Na2CO3 solutions at fixed hydroxide ion concentration, and in solutions with fixed aqueous C concentrations (0.1 and 0.01M C) over a range of OH− from 1×10−5 to 1.0M. The equilibrium Cd concentrations were reached in less than about 6 d. Pitzer's ion-interaction model was used to interpret these solubility data, as well as CdCO3(c) solubility data reported in the literature, which extended to 5.0M K2CO3 with an ionic strength of approximately 18.6 m. Our thermodynamic model required the introduction of two aqueous Cd2+-CO32− complexes, CdCO3(aq) and Cd(CO3)22−, as well as ion-interaction parameters for Cd(CO3)22− with the bulk cations Na+ and K+. This model gave excellent agreement with all available experimental data extending to 5.0M K2CO3. The logarithms of the thermodynamic equilibrium constants for the reactions: $$\begin{gathered} CdCO_3 \left( c \right) \rightleftarrows Cd^{2 + } + CO_3^{2 - } \hfill \\ Cd^{2 + } + CO_3^{2 - } \rightleftarrows CdCO_3 \left( {aq} \right) \hfill \\ Cd^{2 + } + 2CO_3^{2 - } \rightleftarrows Cd\left( {CO_3 } \right)_2^{2 - } \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ were found to be −12.24±0.1, 4.71±0.1, and 6.49±0.1, respectively. The β0 ion-interaction parameters for Cd(CO3)22−−Na+ and Cd(CO3)22−−K+ were found to be −0.14 and −0.06, respectively.
The automation of clinical trial serious adverse event reporting workflow

Background The reporting of serious adverse events is a requirement when conducting a clinical trial involving human subjects, necessary for the protection of the participants. The reporting proces...
A Light Transmission Based Liquid Crystal Thermography System

This paper presents results from a study aimed at developing a novel thermochromic liquid crystal (TLC) temperature measurement system that uses light transmission instead of light reflection to measure surface temperature fields. In previous work, we reported on the effect of temperature on light transmission through TLCs as measured with a spectrophotometer [Roth, T. B., and Anderson, A. M., 2005, “Light Transmission Characteristics of Thermochromic Liquid Crystals ,” Proceedings of IMECE2005, Orlando, FL, Paper No. IMECE2005-81812;Roth, T. B., and Anderson, A. M., 2007, “The Effects of Film Thickness, Light Polarization and Light Intensity on the Light Transmission Characteristics of Thermochromic Liquid Crystals ,” ASME J. Heat Transfer, 129(3), pp. 372–378]. Here we report on results obtained using a charge coupled device (CCD) camera and polychromatic light setup that is similar to the type of equipment used in TLC reflection thermography. We tested three different light sources, a white electroluminescent light, a green electroluminescent light, and a halogen fiber optic light, using both direct and remote lighting techniques. We found that the green signal (as detected by the CCD camera) of the green electroluminescent light makes the best temperature sensor, because under remote lighting conditions it showed a 500% linear signal increase as the temperature of the R25C10W TLCs was raised from 30°to48°C. We further found that the angle of the CCD camera relative to the light did not significantly affect the results for angles up to 10deg for remote lighting and 15deg for direct lighting. The effect of light intensity variation was not significant for intensities up to 40% of the original level when normalized on the intensity at 19°C (a temperature outside the active range of the TLCs). The use of light transmission results in a larger range of temperature over which the TLCs can be calibrated and offers opportunities for more uniform lighting conditions, which may help overcome some of the problems associated with light reflection.
"Educational" advertisements--I haven't seen one yet!

Since perestroika, Russians have been exposed to freemarket advertising. Russian physicians are no exception, and pharmaceutical companies have rushed in with advertisements to fill the void in information on current drug therapies. The pharmaceutical industry has long argued that advertising and other promotional efforts can be educational. However, as Vlassov and colleagues show, pharmaceutical ads in Russian medical journals are characterized by a lack of information on indications, safety, drug interactions, and supporting resources. This is not surprising because pharmaceutical ads in the United States and other countries also have a poor record. Earlier studies have shown that drug ads contain misleading and incorrect information,1 and this information is associated with inappropriate prescribing.2 Herxheimer and colleagues examined drug ads from 18 countries and found that those from journals in developed and developing countries lacked essential information.3 Thus, advertisements in countries like Russia, where physicians are eager for educational information on new products, are no more informative than those in other countries. One way that pharmaceutical companies could carry through on their promise to educate physicians would be to link ads to resources with more detailed information. In practice, however, advertisers respond to requests for additional information slowly or not at all.4 In addition, when supplemental technical information is provided, it is often from non-peer-reviewed, drug industry-sponsored studies. Ads are only 1 aspect of drug promotion. Other promotional activities are even more likely to be disguised as education. The authors could do an interesting follow-up to their current study by assessing the types of promotional materials that are distributed to Russian physicians, such as journal reprints, pamphlets, and reminder items. Although not labeled as advertisements, these materials also tend to be promotional rather than educational and often fail to convey important information about drugs.5 Why do researchers spend their time documenting that drug ads are incomplete, unbalanced, and inaccurate? Isn't it naive to ever expect that an advertisement, which focuses on a single product, can be educational? Studies such as this show that drug ads do not meet the standard put forth by the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association. Other studies have shown that drug ads also fail to meet the standards required by regulatory bodies such as the Food and Drug Administration or advisory organizations such as the World Health Organization.3,5 Thus, people who are exposed to drug ads must realize that voluntary and regulatory guidance has little influence on their content. As inaccuracies and unbalance in drug ads are exposed, physicians must learn to seek information elsewhere. By critically appraising drug ads, as well as other sources of information on drugs, physicians can use their time efficiently to keep up-to-date on drug therapies.
Air Pollution Asthmatic-Bronchitis among United States Personnel in Japan

Asthmatic-bronchitis, presumably due to air pollution, has been a major cause of sickness among U.S. Forces personnel in the Tokyo-Yokohama area. The most prominent symptoms are nocturnal cough, wheezing, and shortness of breath. The disease seems to differ from typical bronchial asthma in the following ways: (1) Onset in early adult life. (2) Absence of allergy history. (3) Persistent shortness of breath between attacks. (4) Persistent abnormal pulmonary function tests between attacks. (5) Resistance to treatment early in the course of the disease. (6) No improvement of pulmonary function studies after Intermittent Positive Pressure Breathing (IPPB) using Isuprel or epinephrine. Perhaps most characteristic of this disease is the marked subsidence of symptoms when the patient leaves the Kanto Plain. Treatment has been outlined with special emphasis on bronchodilators, hydration, and liquefaction of bronchial secretions. Steroids are used in the seriously ill patient, but they do not completely relieve him of exertional dyspnea. Patients with marked shortness of breath with air flow obstruction by pulmonary function studies and with frequent occurrence of coughing and wheezing, should not be maintained on long-term steroids but should move out of the Kanto Plain. A simple test would be to have the patient go for a few days out of the Kanto Plain and see if he gets relief of his symptoms. If he does get relief, then he should consider moving. It is reasonable to assume that, with increasing industrialization in the Kanto Plain and accompanying increased air pollution, the incidence rate of this disease will increase. With increased smog in other areas of the world, it may be that this disease will be found elsewhere.
Hypernasality in the presence of adequate' velopharyngeal closure

In some instances, hypernasality occurs despite an instrumental assessment of "adequate" velopharyngeal closure. The pressure-flow technique was used to assess the timing characteristics associated with velopharyngeal closure in 11 such subjects. The group's performance was compared to the aerodynamic characteristics of two other subject groups. One was comprised of 13 cleft palate subjects with adequate closure and normal nasal resonance, while the second group consisted of 16 noncleft subjects who also manifested normal speech. The data indicate that there are several unique timing features that differentiate the hypernasal but "adequate" group from the two control groups. These include a delay of about 50 ms in achieving closure, a longer interval of nasal emission, and a shorter duration of actual closure. Hypernasality seems to be associated with the actual time the velopharyngeal mechanism is open, rather than the volume of air escaping from the nasal chamber.
Partial reassembly of yeast 60 S ribosomal subunits in vitro following controlled dissociation under nondenaturing conditions.

Abstract Previously it has been shown that 12 of the yeast ribosomal proteins were extractable from 60 S subunits under a specific nondenaturing condition [ J. C. Lee, R. Anderson, Y. C. Yeh, and P. Horowitz (1985) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 237 , 292–299]. In the present paper, we showed that these proteins could be reassembled with the corresponding protein-deficient core particles to form biologically active ribosomal subunits. Effects of time, temperature, and varying concentrations of monovalent cations, divalent cations, cores, and ribosomal proteins on reconstitution were examined. Reconstitution was determined by binding of radiolabeled proteins to the nonradiolabeled cores as well as activity for polypeptide synthesis in a cell-free protein-synthesizing system. The optimal conditions for reconstitution were established. Whereas the core particles were about 10–20% as active as native 60 S subunits in an in vitro yeast cell-free protein-synthesizing system, the reconstituted particles were 80% as active. The activity of the reconstituted particles was proportional to the amount of extracted proteins added to the reconstitution mixture. About 55 ± 7% of the core particles recombined with the extracted proteins to form reconstituted particles. These reconstituted particles cosedimented with native 60 S subunits in glycerol gradients and contained all of the 12 extractable proteins.
Convergence of Intermolecular Force Series

The commonly used perturbation method of estimating the Van der Waals forces between atoms is shown to lead, when carried to the extreme, to divergent results. The method employs an expansion of the classical electrostatic interaction between the atoms in a series of inverse powers of the internuclear distance. The divergence arises because this expansion is utilized in regions of configuration space where it is not convergent. In this paper, the resulting divergent intermolecular force series are shown to be asymptotic to the true molecular interaction. The divergence is removed in an approximate way and the second-order attractive energy so obtained is added to the first-order exchange energy between the atoms. The method results in an electronic energy curve for $\mathrm{H}_{2}^{+}$ in reasonable accord with the exact result of Hylleraas and in a new interaction between helium atoms in good agreement with recent low temperature experiment.
Comment on Abrutyn’s “Time Crunch” Problem in Teaching Classical and Contemporary Sociological Theory: Time for the Dichotomy to become a Trichotomy?

In “Teaching Sociological Theory for a New Century: Contending with the Time Crunch,” Abrutyn argues that it is time to re-think how sociological theory is taught in the university due to time constraints that make it increasingly difficult to cover the expanding canon of sociological theory. In this article I revisit Abrutyn’s position on the state of teaching sociological theory. I analyze sociological theory course syllabi across the discipline to provide further evidence that illustrates the problem of the time crunch. From this investigation I argue that the best strategy to deal with the “time crunch” is to re-think the way theory is taught and add an additional course to current curricula. Only by adding an additional course and trichotomizing the current classical and contemporary dichotomy can the time crunch be corrected.
Eosinophilia in duck embryos induced by an apathogenic strain of duck enteritis virus.

Abstract An apathogenic strain of duck enteritis virus was injected into the allantoic cavity of duck embryos at 17 or 18 days of incubation. Four to 6 days later, the embryos showed massive infiltration of eosinophilic granulocytes in the spleen. Peroxidase and immunohistochemical labelling showed that the granulocytes were peroxidase-positive and contained major basic protein, and were most likely eosinophils. UltraIstructural examination of the eosinophils demonstrated granules of various sizes and shapes, and granules within the granules. Electron microscopy also showed that splenic macrophages were capable of phagocytosis, indicating that duck embryos, even at 23–24 days of incubation, were capable of responding to infection.
On the functional dimension of the space of solutions of partial differential equations

Abstract Given a differential polynomial P(D) in Rn with constant coefficients, consider the functional dimension df N of the space N = {u∈C(Rn):P(D)u = 0} endowed with the topology of uniform convergence on compact subsets of Rn. If P(D) is elliptic then df N = n, by a theorem of Y. Kōmura. We prove the converse: If df N = n then the differential polynomial P(D) must be elliptic.
Induction chemotherapy in the management of head and neck cancer.

The strategy of induction chemotherapy prior to planned definitive local therapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma has been studied for over 30 years, and appears to have a role in select clinical situations. Here we review landmark studies regarding induction chemotherapy, both in the pre-taxane era and in the current taxane era, and we address some of the unresolved questions regarding the role of induction chemotherapy in head and neck cancer. J. Surg. Oncol. 2010; 101:292–298. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Protection against influenza virus infection by nasal vaccination in advance of sublethal irradiation.

The effect of sublethal γ-ray irradiation on the protection conferred by a nasal influenza vaccine was investigated in BALB/c mice. A radiation dose of 7 Gy was selected as the sublethal dose as this caused exacerbation of the influenza but was not lethal in the mouse model. Mice were irradiated 7 days before, on the same day as, and 7 days after, administration of a nasal influenza vaccine, and were then infected with a lethal dose of the virus 4 weeks after vaccination. Almost all mice irradiated 7 days before or on the same day as vaccination died from viral pneumonia around 7 days after the challenge infection, whereas all mice irradiated 7 days after vaccination survived with no sign of infection. In mice irradiated 7 days after vaccination, both local anti-viral IgA and systemic IgG antibodies were produced in parallel with a marked reduction in lung viral titer, although no antibody production and no reduction in lung viral titer were detected in mice irradiated 7 days before, or on the same day as, vaccination. These results clearly demonstrate that vaccination with influenza virus before irradiation can protect mice from subsequent infection. This may be applicable to patients due to receive sublethal irradiation for bone marrow transplantation.
Astronomical infrared spectroscopy with a Connes-type interferometer: II-Mars, 2500–3500 cm−1

Abstract New spectra of Mars in the 3–4 micron region at significantly higher resolution than previously available were obtained near the 1969 opposition. No features positively identifiable as being due to the Martian atmosphere could be detected. The existence of an albedo drop, probably due to surface water of hydration, is confirmed.
Nondirected Light Signals and the Structure of Time

‘Temporal betweenness’ in space-time is defined solely in terms of light signals, using a signalling relation that does not distinguish between the sender and the receiver of a light signal. Special relativity and general relativity are considered separately, because the latter can be treated only locally. We conclude that the (local) coherence of time can be described if we know only which pairs of space-time points are light-connected. Other consequences in the case of special relativity: (1) a categorical axiom system exists in terms of nondirected light connection alone, with neither ‘particle’ nor ‘time order’ as a primitive concept, though we do not actually present the axioms; (2) any concept definable by coordinates is also definable in terms of nondirected light signals if and only if it is invariant under Lorentz transformations, translations, dilations, space reflections, and time reflections; and (3) any transformation of space-time (not necessarily continuous) which preserves nondirected light connection is a product of transformations just listed above. The bulk of the paper is devoted to proving that the definitions we give correspond to their intended interpretations in the usual space-time continua.
The effect of probenecid on acute N-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)succinimide-induced nephrotoxicity in the Fischer 344 rat.

Abstract N -(3,5-Dichlorophenyl)succinimide (NDPS), an experimental agricultural fungicide, has bee shown to produce selective nephrotoxicity in rats. Previous studies have shown that a metabolite(s) of extrarenal origin contributes to acute NDPS-induced nephrotoxicity. The purpose of this study was to determine if the organic acid transport inhibitor probenecid could modify the renal toxicity produced by NDPS administration. Male Fischer 344 rats were administered a single intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of probenecid (60, 90 and 120 mg/kg) or 0.9% saline (1.0 ml/kg) followed 30 min later by NDPS (0.4 or 1.0 mmol/kg, i.p.) or sesame oil (2.5 ml/kg, i.p.) Renal function was monitored at 24 h and 48 h. Probenecid (60 mg/kg) did not markedly alter NDPS-induced renal effects on either post-treatment day. However, pretreatment with probenecid (90 or 120 mg/kg) blocked or attenuated the diuresis, increased proteinuria, decrease tetrathylammonium (TEA), uptake, elevation in blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentration and icreased kidney weight produced by NDPS (0.4 mmol/kg) administration. Only increased kidney weight and BUN concentration, and decreased lactate-stimulated p -aminohippurate (PAH) uptake were altered by probenecid (120 mg/kg) pretreatment when NDPS (1.0 mmol/kg) was given. NDPS-induced changes in renal morphology were not prevented by pretreatment with any probenecid dose. These results suggest that at least one nephrotoxic metabolite of NDPS is an organic acid. However, this acidic metabolite might not be the major nephrotoxic metabolite or a precursor to the major nephrotoxic metabolite(s). The identity of these metabolites remains to be determined.
Effect of a brief hypoxic/hypotensive episode on the in vivo release of cerebral cortical γ-aminobutyric acid and glycine

Abstract γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glycine levels in rat cerebral cortical superfusates rose during a 10-min period to reach stable concentrations of ∼0.55 μM and ∼12.3 μM, respectively. In cerebrospinal fluid withdrawn from the fourth ventricle, the GABA concentration was 0.1 μM, and that of glycine, 10.55 μM. GABA, and to a lesser extent glycine, concentrations increased in the cortical superfusates during and immediately following exposure of the rats to a 5-min period of 5% oxygen in nitrogen inhalation.
Effects on GLP-1, PYY, and leptin by direct stimulation of terminal ileum and cecum in humans: implications for ileal transposition.

Abstract Background We do not have a unified, scientifically tested theory of causation for obesity and its co-morbidities, nor do we have explanations for the mechanics of the metabolic/bariatric surgery procedures. Integral to proffered hypotheses are the actions of the hormones glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), peptide YY (PYY), and leptin. The objective of this study was to obtain blood levels of GLP-1, PYY, and leptin after stimulation of the terminal ileum and cecum by a static infusion of a food hydrolysate in morbidly obese patients undergoing a duodenal switch procedure. Setting University Hospital. Methods Plasma levels of GLP-1, PYY, and leptin were obtained at 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes after instillation of 240 mL of a food hydrolysate into the ileum or cecum. Results The mean±SD GLP-1 values by cecal stimulation for 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes were: 41.3±23.2; 39.6±21.8; 38.9±19.1; 47.4±22.3; 51.7±27.3 pM, and by ileal stimulation: 55.0±32.8; 83.4±16.1; 78.7±23.8; 84.7±23.5; 76.4±25.6. The mean±SD PYY values by cecal stimulation were: 62.1±24.8; 91.1±32.8; 102.1±39.6; 119.6±37.5; 130.3±36.7, and by ileal stimulation: 73.8±41.6; 138.1±17.7; 149.5±23.3; 165.7±24.3; 155.5±29.1. Percent change in PYY levels increased ~150%, GLP-1 increased ~50%, and leptin decreased ~20%. Conclusion Direct stimulation of the human terminal ileum and cecum by a food hydrolysate elicits significant plasma GLP-1 and PYY elevations and leptin decreases, peaking at 90–120 minutes. The ileal GLP-1 and PYY responses exceed those of the cecum, and the PYY effect is about 3-fold that of GLP-1. The results of this study question the satiety premise for ileal transposition.
Constraining the dark GRB mystery with HETE-2 SXC localizations

Abstract Over 85% of the long GRBs fully localized by HETEs soft X-ray camera (SXC) have an associated fading optical counterpart, suggesting that we are close to solving the mystery of “dark” bursts. SXC localizations are characterized by small error boxes (∼1 arcmin) sent out within a few hours after the burst. Are there selection effects that may account for this favorable statistic? Examining and comparing the list of SXC detections with the overall HETE sample, we find no spectral differences between the two sets, e.g., the SXC sample spans both X-ray bright and dim bursts similar to the overall HETE sample. SXC localizations, however, have prompted fast, and deep counterpart searches over highly constrained error boxes. A large fraction of optically dark bursts are probably classified as such due to inadequate follow-up observations, and most GRBs should have a detectable optical counterpart.
Acquired cancer stem cell phenotypes through Oct4-mediated dedifferentiation

There is enormous interest to target cancer stem cells (CSCs) for clinical treatment because these cells are highly tumorigenic and resistant to chemotherapy. Oct4 is expressed by CSC-like cells in different types of cancer. However, function of Oct4 in tumor cells is unclear. In this study, we showed that expression of Oct4 gene or transmembrane delivery of Oct4 protein promoted dedifferentiation of melanoma cells to CSC-like cells. The dedifferentiated melanoma cells showed significantly decreased expression of melanocytic markers and acquired the ability to form tumor spheroids. They showed markedly increased resistance to chemotherapeutic agents and hypoxic injury. In the subcutaneous xenograft and tail vein injection assays, these cells had significantly increased tumorigenic capacity. The dedifferentiated melanoma cells acquired features associated with CSCs such as multipotent differentiation capacity and expression of melanoma CSC markers such as ABCB5 and CD271. Mechanistically, Oct4-induced dedifferentiation was associated with increased expression of endogenous Oct4, Nanog and Klf4, and global gene expression changes that enriched for transcription factors. RNAi-mediated knockdown of Oct4 in dedifferentiated cells led to diminished CSC phenotypes. Oct4 expression in melanoma was regulated by hypoxia and its expression was detected in a sub-population of melanoma cells in clinical samples. Our data indicate that Oct4 is a positive regulator of tumor dedifferentiation. The results suggest that CSC phenotype is dynamic and may be acquired through dedifferentiation. Oct4-mediated tumor cell dedifferentiation may have an important role during tumor progression.
Contribution of l- and non-l-type calcium channels to voltage-gated calcium current and glucose-dependent insulin secretion in hit-t15 cells

The pharmacological properties of voltage-gated Ca current and glucose-dependent insulin secretion were determined using the HIT insulinoma line to understand the role of Ca channels in stimulus-secretion coupling. The L-type Ca channel antagonist nimodipine inhibited a maximum of 50-55% of the peak Ca current, suggesting that L- and non-L-type channels contribute to Ca current. The L-agonist BAY K 8644 increased Ca current by 155%, whereas the N-channel blocker omega-conotoxin MVIIA reversibly blocked 35% of the peak Ca current. Total block with nimodipine and MVIIA was additive. Conotoxin MVIIC did not affect HIT Ca current. Prolonged depolarizations elicited rapidly and slowly inactivating Ca currents. Nimodipine partially inhibited transient current, but fully inhibited slowly inactivating current, suggesting that the former is mediated by L- and N-channels, and the latter is mediated by L-channels. Like slowly inactivating Ca current, glucose-dependent insulin secretion was fully inhibited by nimodip...
Investigation of Granular Damping in Transient Vibrations Using Hilbert Transform Based Technique

Granular damping results from a combination of energy dissipation mechanisms including the impact and the friction between the vibrating structure and granules and among the granules. Although simple in concept, granular damping is very complicated and its performance depends on a number of factors, such as vibration level, granular material properties, packing ratio, etc. In this study, free vibration experiments are conducted on a cantilevered beam incorporated with granular damping. A signal analysis approach based on the Hilbert transform (HT) is then employed to identify the nonlinear damping characteristics from the acquired responses, such as the dependency of the natural frequency and damping ratio on the vibration level. This HT based analysis can produce an effective temporal-frequency amplitude/energy analysis, which provides us with physical insights of the nonlinear transient response. A direct comparison between the granular damping and the impact damping (with single impactor to dissipate vibratory energy) is performed to highlight the difference between these two and the advantages of granular damping. Finally, the validity of the proposed approach is also examined by the successful prediction of vibration response using the extracted granular damping characteristics.
A BRIEF REPORT ON THE TIME OF DAY WHEN PEOPLE VOTE

Researchers of electoral behavior have studied many major dimensions of the phenomenon. Interpersonal and mass communication influences, however, have certainly not been thoroughly investigated. Since the Lazersfeld group concluded in their 1940 study that the mass media had minimal effect on voting behavior,' little more was done until the 1960 "Great Debates". They afforded an interesting and fruitful opportunity to look into some aspects of television's role in the determination of voting decision making.2 The empirical evidence available on the subject suggests that most of the variation in the decision on which candidate to vote for is probably attributable to factors quite divorced in time from a given election day. Certainly, most of the traditional social-demographic determinants and many of the more immediate psychological determinants have effect months, if not even years or decades, before the day of voting. A number of studies of the 1964 presidential election showed that few persons changed their intended voting behavior because they had heard that Johnson was declared the victor on television some three hours before the polls closed in the Pacific Coast area.3 Despite this, it is reasonable to expect that some part of the voting population is affected in some ways by some information available on Election Day. Even the most polarized elections-those in which the issues appear clearest and the candidates farthest apart on the issues-have been found to include some voters who wait until the final days or day of the campaign before making their
Conversations in imagery

An architectural designer's mental imagery of memorable places presents essential information for design inquiry and often structures the meaning and semblance of future places. This study explores the codification and ordering of complex, memorable place-experience in the mind of the designer. The study was designed to determine if patterns of meaning vary across three groups of designers; design students entering professional education, design students exiting professional education, and practicing architects. Eight constructs were found to exist under three basic frameworks for meaning—emotive, experiential, and objective. Memorable place-experiences, stored in the designer's image bank, are explored as the appropriate content for the construction of a theory of memory and imagination in the act of design.
The Activity of Plant-Derived Antiretroviral Proteins MAP30 and GAP31 against Herpes Simplex Virus Infectionin Vitro

We examined the effect on anti-HIV proteins MAP30 and GAP31, from Momordica charantia and Gelonium multiflorum, on the infection and replication of Herpes Simplex Viruses (HSV). Human lung WI-38 fibroblasts cultured in the presence of tenfold dilutions of MAP30 or GAP31 were exposed to HSV and viral yield was measured at 24-48 hours by ELISA. The effective concentrations for 50% inhibitions (EC50) were 0.1-0.2 microM for HSV-2, and 0.3-0.5 microM for HSV-1 for MAP30 and GAP31, respectively. In comparison, the EC(50) for acyclovir (ACV), a commonly used anti-HSV drug, was 0.2 and 1.7 microM for HSV-2 and HSV-1, respectively. The cytotoxicity of all three antivirals was negligible and comparable. However, the antiherpetic activity of the plant proteins against acyclovir-resistant strains was two to three logs more potent than ACV. These results suggest that MAP30 and GAP31, previously shown to be active against HIV, may be useful for the therapy of herpesvirus infections.
A two-dimensional position-sensitive phoswich detector

Abstract A two-dimensional position-sensitive ΔEE phoswich detector, 20 cm × 20 cm, was built using the fast plastic scintillator NE 102A for the thin (0.5 mm) ΔE element, and the new, slow plastic scintillator NE 115 (measured light output 35% of anthracene, decay time 225 ns) for the thick (4.5 mm) E element. Natural light loss arising from multiple reflections at an irregular surface is responsible for the position dependence of the signals. The position resolution was found to be typically 10 mm (fwhm) in each direction. The detector is able to identify protons, deuterons and alpha particles, and exhibited an energy resolution of 5–6% (fwhm) and a time resolution of 580 ps (fwhm) in a test using 60 MeV α particles scattered from a gold target.
Quality control and relevant financial reporting questions

Abstract Hendrickson's conclusion that independence is a sham may be valid, and its absence also may be the auditors' ethical failing. However, the fault is more intellectual than ethical because non-independent audits decrease credibility and increase capital costs. If managers and auditors understood this principle, the former would engage only stringent auditors and the latter would maintain independence at all costs.
Imaging organ of Corti vibration using Fourier-domain OCT

Measuring the sound stimulated vibration from various structures in the organ of Corti is important in understanding how the small vibrations are amplified and detected. In this study we examine the feasibility of using phase‐sensitive Fourier domain optical coherence tomography (PSFD‐OCT) to measure vibration of the cellular structures of the organ of Corti. PSFD‐OCT is a low coherence interferrometry system where the interferrogram is detected as a function of wavelength. The phase of the Fourier transformation of the detected spectra contains path deference (between the sample arm and the reference arm) information of the interferometer. In PSFD‐OCT this phase is measured as a function of time and thus any time dependent change in the path difference between the sample arm and the reference arm can be detected. In the experiment, we used an in vitro preparation of the guinea pig cochlea and made a surgical opening at the apical end to access the organ of Corti. By applying tones with different frequencies via the intact middle ear, we recorded the structural vibration inside the organ of Corti. Vibration amplitude and phase of different substructures were mapped on a cross‐section view of the organ of Corti. Although the measurements were made at the apical turn of the cochlea, it will be possible to make vibration measurement from various turns of the cochlea. The noise floor of the system was 0.3 nm, calibrated using a piezo stack as a calibrator.
Desaturation of saturated fatty acids by rat liver microsomes

A method was developed for the rapid determination of the initial velocity of the desaturation of saturated fatty acids. In the reaction, DPNH was a more efficient electron donor than TPNH. Fatdeficient rats have a 2.5-fold greater level of acyl desaturase per milligram of liver microsomal protein than did animals fed lab chow. Increasing the chain length of the acyl substrate from 10∶0 to 18∶0 increases the rate of monoene formation, but 19∶0 is desaturated at a rate lower than that for 15∶0. The energy of activation (Ea) for the overall desaturation reaction has been determined for 12∶0 through 19∶0. The Ea values for desaturation of 13∶0 and 16∶0 are markedly lowr than for the other acids. An interaction between the alkyl chain of the substrate and polyunsaturated acids of the microsomal membrane-bound phospholipids is postulated to explain the recurring 3-carbon pattern of the relative reaction rates of the various acyl substrates.
Genetic and biochemical characterization of a Cat2 catalase null mutant of zea mays

In all maize inbred lines examined to date, the Cat2 gene which codes for the CAT-2 catalase is expressed primarily in the scutellum upon seed imbibition. The activity of CAT-2 increases dramatically during the initial four days after germination and subsequently declines. In contrast, we have recently identified and inbred strain (A16) of maize which does not express the Cat2 gene (i.e., the CAT-2 catalase is undetectable). Electrophoretic and immunological analyses indicate that the CAT-2 protein is not present in either an active or inactive form in line A16. Genetic analysis suggests that the absence of CAT-2 expression in line A16 is due to a null allele at the Cat2 gene locus although the possibility of a mutation at a regulatory locus, closely linked to the structural gene has not been excluded. Two other enzymes involved in H2O2 metabolism (superoxide dismutase and peroxidase) were also compared in W64A and A16 with no significant differences being observed. Aminotriazole (AT), a known inhibitor of catalase, has been used to simulate the A16 phenomenon by inhibiting catalase activity in line W64A (which has normal expression of CAT-2). AT, in very low concentrations, effectively inhibits the expression of CAT-2 in the scutellum. This inhibition of catalase by AT does not result in changes of the developmental time-course of superoxide dismutase and peroxidase.
Feedback control of soil moisture in precision-agriculture systems: Incorporating stochastic weather forecasts

Management of soil moisture in precision-agriculture systems is complicated by the high-dimensional spatio-temporal dynamics of soil water content, the limitations in (and sparsity of) sensing/actuation capabilities, and impact of uncertain precipitation and insolation (solar radiance) futures. In this article, we envision a feedback-control framework for managing soil moisture in precision-agriculture systems via irrigation, that can take advantage of stochastic precipitation and insolation forecasts. Our proposed framework comprises three components: 1) a network modeling tool for tracking soil-moisture dynamics and placing sensors; 2) algorithms for generating representative futures of relevant weather parameters (precipitation, insolation); and 3) a stochastic-receding-horizon approach for scheduling irrigation given the representative weather futures. Our focus in this exploratory article is to provide a conceptual introduction to this framework, within the context of irrigation-system controls and the broader network-contingency-management literature.
Design, development, and in-flight testing of a pointer/tracker for in-flight experiments to measure aero-optical effects over a scaled turret

We address the design, development, and testing of a pointer/tracker as a probe beam for the purpose of making high-speed, aero-optical measurements of the flow over a scaled beam director turret. The tracker uses retro-reflection of the probe beam off of a Reflexite annulus surrounding the turret. The constraints of the design required a near-total-commercial off the shelf system that could be quickly installed and removed in a rented aircraft. Baseline measurements of environmental vibrations are used to predict pointing performance; mitigation of line-of-sight jitter on the probe beam is achieved through passive isolation and the design of relay optics. Accommodation of ambient light is made with the use of wavelength filters and track algorithms. Postanalysis of measured data is compared to design estimates.