cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Discounting health and cost-effectiveness analysis: a response to Nord.

SUMMARY Nord (2011) criticizes standard arguments which assert that consistency requires that future health benefits must be discounted at the same rate as future costs in cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA). He suggests these arguments are misguided because they require transitivity of preferences across decision contexts and that it can be appropriate to discount health at different rates depending on the programs to be compared. I claim that rejecting transitivity is unwarranted and would sharply diminish the utility of CEA. Factors that tempt Nord to reject consistency can be accommodated by recognizing that CEA does not perfectly mimic normative social preferences because it omits factors (like distribution of health in a population) that can be normatively significant. A better approach is to maintain consistency in application of CEA but authorize decision makers to depart from rankings implied by CEA when justified and to explain which specific factors justify the decision. Finally, the assertion that health must be discounted at the same rate as costs requires the additional assumption that the dollar value of health does not change over time, a point that is not always recognized in standard arguments. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Emerging Therapies for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent disorder often associated with daytime sleepiness, cognitive dysfunction, and adverse cardiovascular consequences. Available therapies are limited by either lack of long-term adherence or low response rates. Two emerging therapies hold promise in providing alternatives to patients with OSA. The first stems from the importance of the upper-airway dilator muscles in maintaining pharyngeal stability. Electrical stimulation of the genioglossus muscle improves both upper-airway diameter and ameliorates pharyngeal obstruction. The results of phase I and II clinical trials hold promise, but the reported improvements in the apnea–hypopnea index vary between subjects and concerns about long-term safety await long-term studies. The second technology relies on creating an increased expiratory nasal resistance via a bidirectional valve designed to be worn just inside the nostrils. Initial findings of clinical trials suggest reduction in severity of sleep apnea and subjective daytime sleepiness. Considerable heterogeneity in response to the nasal device was noted despite the high adherence rates. It remains unclear which patients will likely benefit a priori from these devices.
Broadband circular polarizer using stacked chiral polymer films.

A scattering-free broadband (~120 nm bandwidth) circular polarizer is demonstrated by stacking three chiral polymer films with different pitch lengths. Using 4×4 matrix method, we have theoretically simulated the transmission spectra of each chiral polymer film and the three stacked films. Simulation results agree well with experiment. A broadband circular polarizer with bandwidth ranging from 400 to 736 nm can be achieved by stacking 8 such chiral polymer films together. Simulation results indicate that if a high birefringence (∆n~0.35) polymer film is employed the number of films can be reduced to three. Potential applications of these circular polarizers for liquid crystal displays, optical communications, and optical remote sensors are discussed.
Nemaline myopathy: a possible late complication of Hodgkin’s disease therapy

Patients who have undergone "mantle" field irradiation for Hodgkin's disease may develop symptomatic muscle atrophy in the treatment portal. This complication has received only scant attention in the clinical literature and its pathologic substrate has not been elucidated. We report the finding of nemaline myopathy in the previously irradiated and atrophic trapezius muscle of such a patient. Biopsy of clinically uninvolved gracilis muscle outside of the radiation portal revealed normal histology and ultrastructure. We are unaware of previous reports documenting such a phenomenon, which suggests that nemaline myopathy may evolve as a radiation-related disorder.
Repeated course antenatal steroids, inflammation gene polymorphisms, and neurodevelopmental outcomes at age 2

Objective We sought to evaluate the interaction between repeated-course antenatal corticosteroids and inflammation gene polymorphisms with neurodevelopmental outcomes at age 2 years. Study Design We conducted nested case-control analysis of a randomized controlled trial of single- vs repeated-course antenatal corticosteroids. Cases had mental and/or psychomotor delay at age 2 years. Controls had normal neurodevelopment. Previous analyses of 125 cases and 147 controls identified 4 inflammation gene polymorphisms associated with neurodevelopmental delay at age 2 years. Results The interaction between repeated-course corticosteroids and the interleukin (IL)-6 –174 genotype with neurodevelopmental delay was significant ( P = .046). The IL-6 –174 GG genotype was associated with neurodevelopmental delay at age 2 years in the single-course corticosteroid group (odds ratio, 6.47; 95% confidence interval, 1.86–22.50). Exposure to repeated-course antenatal corticosteroids abrogated this genotype effect (odds ratio, 1.30; 95% confidence interval, 0.48–3.54). Results were unchanged after controlling for potential confounders. Conclusion Repeated-course antenatal steroids may reduce the increased risk of neurodevelopmental delay at age 2 years associated with IL-6 –174 GG genotype.
Time-resolved luminescence and decay characteristics of Gd3+ in fluoroarsenate and fluorophosphate glasses☆

Light excitation of Gd3+ in fluoroarsenate and fluorophosphate glasses to the 6Ij and 6DJ multiplets leads to luminescence, originating from the 6P72 and 6P52 levels, with an evolution time dependent on the nature of the glass (1.3−1.4 ms and 1.1−1.2 ms respectively) and a lifetime (9.2 ms) independent of the host lattice. The luminescence rise time, which relates to the relaxation time of the 6IJ and 6DJ multiplets, leads to values of k1 + kr for the 6IJ multiplet equal to 2.7 × 103s−1 (fluoroarsenate) and 3.9 × 103s−1 (fluorophosphate). Slightly shorter luminescence rise times were observed following excitation of Gd3+ to the 6DJ multiplet. Direct excitation of Gd3+ to the 6PJ levels leads to luminescence with no measurable rise time and with a lifetime equal to 9.2 ms.
Environmental capital flight and pollution tax

This paper analyzes the impacts of a production pollution tax on environmental capital flight and national product in a two-country static general equilibrium model with two-way foreign investment. It is assumed that the capital input in both countries is a composite good of domestic and imported capital. And pollution is assumed to originate in the production process. The productivity of capital in each country is negatively (or positively) related to the worldwide aggregate emissions.
Expanding The Applicability Of The Multi-photon Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching Technique In Vivo Using A New Convective Flow Model

Multi-photon fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (MP-FRAP) is a well-established microscopy technique that is finding its way into a host of in vivo applications. In this poster, we present the derivation of a new fluorescence recovery model that explicitly accounts for the possibility of convective flows in a system. We test this “flow” model through both simulations and in vitro experimentation, and demonstrate the new model in vivo. Results from our work show that the flow model significantly improves the capabilities of MP-FRAP in vivo, by yielding an accurate value for the diffusion coefficient, even when significantly large flow velocities are present.
Design and laboratory testing of a chamber device to measure total flux of volatile organic compounds from the unsaturated zone under natural conditions

To determine if an aquifer contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) has potential for natural remediation, all natural processes affecting the fate and transport of VOCs in the subsurface must be identified and quantified. This research addresses the quantification of air-phase volatile organic compounds (VOCs) leaving the unsaturated zone soil gas and entering the atmosphere-including the additional flux provided by advective soil-gas movement induced by barometric pumping. A simple and easy-to-use device for measuring VOC flux under natural conditions is presented. The vertical flux chamber (VFC) was designed using numerical simulations and evaluated in the laboratory. Mass-balance numerical simulations based on continuously stirred tank reactor equations (CSTR) provided information on flux measurement performance of several sampling configurations with the final chamber configuration measuring greater than 96% of model-simulated fluxes. A laboratory device was constructed to evaluate the flux chamber under both diffusion-only and advection-plus-diffusion transport conditions. The flux chamber measured an average of 82% of 15 diffusion-only fluxes and an average of 95% of 15 additional advection-plus-diffusion flux experiments. The vertical flux chamber has the capability of providing reliable measurement of VOC flux from the unsaturated zone under both diffusion and advection transport conditions.
Determining the thermodynamic electrode potential in the presence of a mixed potential using EQCM technique

Abstract We give the theory explaining how to use Electrochemical Quartz Crystal Microbalance (EQCM) to determine the thermodynamic equilibrium electrode potential in a system where the open circuit potential is a mixed potential. The approach is applicable to electrodes of the first or the second kind in the presence of one or more soluble redox couples, at least one of which is irreversible. The key insight to be gained is that if the mass of an electrode of the first or the second kind does not change, its electrode potential is the thermodynamic equilibrium potential. This is true regardless of any other redox processes involving only soluble species that may be occurring at the electrode/solution interface. The model system used to test and confirm the theory was an electrode of the first kind, NiH x ,solid /Ni(II) undergoing active corrosion caused by hydrogen peroxide. The electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance method can be applied in fundamental and applied studies, e.g., of electroless deposition and corrosion systems containing multiple redox systems.
An fNIRS investigation of associative recognition in the prefrontal cortex with a rapid event-related design.

Abstract Background Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) measures hemodynamic changes at the cortical level. The use of fNIRS is growing in popularity for studying cognitive neuroscience in which event-related designs are widely used with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). However, the applicability of event-related designs with fNIRS has not been fully understood. Therefore, the present study employed fNIRS with a rapid-presentation event-related design for investigating prefrontal cortical activity during complex associative recognition. New method Participants studied a list of word pairs and were later given an associative recognition test. Throughout the experiment, each event was presented rapidly (∼4 s). Data were sorted based on accuracy of associative memory judgments and analyzed using the general linear model (GLM) with an event-related design. Results During retrieval, significant increases in oxygenated hemoglobin concentrations were observed in dorsolateral and ventrolateral prefrontal regions for successful associative recognition. When comparing retrieval to encoding, significant increases in oxygenated hemoglobin concentrations were also observed in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Comparison with existing method The current fNIRS results corroborate previous fMRI findings that have demonstrated the involvement of dorsolateral and ventrolateral prefrontal cortex in associative recognition. Therefore, the present study validates versatile use of fNIRS with a rapid-presentation event-related design in the investigation of neural mechanisms of associative memory. Conclusion The findings of this study provide evidence that fNIRS can be a viable research method for investigating complex cognitive processes commonly of interest in cognitive neuroscience. Taken together, these results demonstrate that fNIRS can be a cost-effective and accessible experimental tool for cognitive neuroscience.
Analysis of pulsatile secretion of thyrotropin and growth hormone in the hypothyroid rat.

To characterize the role of TRH in the generation of TSH pulsatility as well as the effect of hypothyroidism on episodic GH secretion, blood was constantly withdrawn (30-60 microliters/min) from rats treated with 0.02% methimazole in the drinking water for 8-10 days. This treatment significantly reduced circulating levels of both T3 and T4 and elevated plasma TSH; however, since thyroid hormone titers were still detectable (T3, 39.6 +/- 5.3 vs. 89.8 +/- 5.3 ng/dl in euthyroid animals), methimazole-treated rats were referred to as being mildly hypothyroid. TSH was found to be secreted in secretory bursts, consisting of one to several peaks in these rats. Pulsar analysis of TSH secretory profiles revealed a mean pulse frequency of 2.8 pulses/h, a mean pulse amplitude of 10 ng/pulse, and a mean pulse duration of 0.2 h. Euthyroid rats exhibited similar fluctuations of circulating TSH levels; however, due to the variability of the TSH RIA in the range of euthyroid TSH titers, no significant pulsatility was det...
Obtaining solid Raman spectra by pelletizing techniques

Abstract Enhancement of Raman spectra of finely divided powders is accomplished by pelletization techniques. Comparisons of spectra of powders versus pellets are presented.
Biosynthesis and Electron Microscopy Characterization of Diatom Nanocomposites

The fabrication of Si-Ge oxide composites in a two-stage photobioreactor cultivation process was systematically optimized by increasing the amount of germanium assimilated into the diatom cells. In this optimization process of the synthesis of Si-Ge oxides that maintain the original morphology of the diatoms, high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) both equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer were extensively used to characterize the evaluation of the chemical composition and structural properties of the processed diatoms.
Direct Study of C12E5 Aggregation on Mica by Atomic Force Microscopy Imaging and Force Measurements

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to study the aggregation structure and kinetics of nonionic surfactant penta(oxyethylene) dodecyl ether (C12E5) on mica as a function of temperature. Surface forces and topographical images of surfactant aggregates at the liquid/solid interface were captured in the vicinity of 21 °C. The surfactant molecular aggregates were imaged by choosing an imaging force in the steric repulsion region so that the AFM tip was just outside the surface of the aggregates. At below 21 °C, C12E5 adsorbed as fragments of tens of nanometers in size. The fragments consist of 1−2 nm thick strongly adsorbed species and weakly adsorbed species extending as far as 15 nm from the substrate surface. The fragments gradually increased in number and attached to each other to form clusters connected in one dimension (strings) and two dimensions (networks). With increasing surface coverage, the surface force changed from a purely attractive one to one showing a repulsive force barrier. At above 21 ...
Fractionation of unfixed chromatin by buoyant-density centrifugation

Abstract Soluble chromatin can be banded isopycnically in metrizamide gradients without prior fixation. The chromatin—DNA of minimally sheared chromatin (750–1000 base-pairs) bands as a single, sharp peak, almost completely separated from the chromatin ribonucleoprotein particles. More extensive shearing (to about 360 base-pairs) leads to a bimodal distribution of the chromatin—DNA in the gradients; all of the DNA is complexed with proteins. Examination of some of the properties of the two fractions of extensively sheared chromatin showed that the major difference between them is in the proportion of protein complexed with the DNA. Escherichia coli RNA polymerase binds to both fractions, but there is no more than a 2-fold difference in their template activities. Also, comparison of the concentrations of globin genes in both fractions of chromatin from cells synthesising haemoglobin and a tissue which does not synthesise haemoglobin showed no significant difference. These findings are incompatible with the two fractions being heterochromatin and euchromatin, as these are usually defined. The data presented, in agreement with those from other studies, show that soluble chromatin contains short protein-rich regions, the function of which is unknown at present.
Induction of Plasma Cell Tumours in BALB/c Mice with 2,6,10,14-Tetramethylpentadecane (Pristane)

THE induction of monoclonal, plasma cell tumours which produce immunoglobulin in the inbred BALB/c strain of mice is a unique form of carcinogenesis1,2. Mouse plasma cell tumours have been produced by intraperitoneal implantation of solid materials, such as plastic diffusion chambers, polymethylmethacrylate plastic shavings3,4 and circular disks4, and by intraperitoneal injection of various high and low viscosity white mineral oils1,2,5. White mineral oils comprise a poorly defined mixture of saturated hydrocarbons, including normal and iso-paraffins, and naphthenes6, and such oils contain many hundreds of different molecular species (C. Steenbergen, personal communication). Because of the chemical heterogeneity of the oils used, it has been impossible to identify or trace the particular chemical species involved in plasma cell tumour induction. Since the discovery that the immunoglobulin products of some human Waldenstrom macroglobulinaemias7, multiple myelomas8 and some mouse plasma cell tumours2,9,10 exhibit antibody activity, it has become important to elucidate more fully the factors involved in the carcinogenesis of the murine plasma cell tumours.
Sunflower alcohol dehydrogenase genotypes: Germination rates and response to flooding

Abstract Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) in sunflowers (Helianthus annus L.) is specified by two unlinked genes, Adh-1 and -2. Adh-2 is nearly fixed as S/S. The E allele of Adh-1, unlike the usual F, results in a precocious cessation of enzyme activity during seed development and was found in higher frequency in local populations of wet habitats than in those of dry. Seed supplies representing the six combinations of the two habitats of origin and three Adh-1 genotypes were produced through controlled crosses to examine the possible relationship between genotype, germination rates and flood response. Seeds of genotype E/E germinated more slowly than those of F/F (the common genotype) or F/E. Malate concentrations rose to high levels in control plants, peaking at about nine weeks, but remained low in flooded plants. Ethanol concentrations in flooded and nonflooded controls were relatively low and very similar throughout the life cycle. A notable morphological response in flooded sunflowers was the formation of an extensive adventitious root system at the water surface. The F/E heterozygotes which originated in wet habitats accumulated more biomass relative to sibling controls under flood conditions than either homozygote and apparently have an associated gene complex which optimizes their adaptive value. The results suggest trends of heterozygote superiority but no definitive causal relationships were found. Flooding in all genotypes retarded flowering.
A Simple Method to Selectively Expand HIV-1 Specific Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes in Vitro

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) may play a critical role in controlling the progression of HIV-1 disease. Conventional assays for demonstration of CTL against HIV-1 have used either fresh PBMC or T cell lines and clones generated by non-specific stimulation. These methods are limited in their sensitivity since without specific secondary stimulation in vitro, epitopes recognized at low frequency may not be detected. Moreover, derivation of CTL clones is labor intensive and not practical for studying a large number of patients. We have developed a simple method to enrich HIV-1 specific CTL in vitro. Autologous antigen presenting cells (APC), either adherent macrophages or EBV transformed B-lymphoblastoid cells, are infected with recombinant vaccinia virus encoding individual HIV-1 proteins and after overnight culture the vaccinia virus is inactivated by uv irradiation in the presence of psoralin. The infected APC are then cultured with patient's T cells and CTL activity determined 10–14 days later. We have us...
Search for dark matter axions with the Orpheus experiment

Axions are well motivated particles that could make up most or all of the dark matter if they have masses below $100\text{ }\text{ }\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{eV}$. Microwave cavity techniques comprised of closed resonant structures immersed in solenoid magnets are sensitive to dark matter axions with masses of a few $\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{eV}$ but face difficulties scaling to higher masses. We present the a novel detector architecture consisting of an open, Fabry--P\'erot resonator and a series of current-carrying wire planes and demonstrate this technique with a search for dark matter axionlike particles called Orpheus. This search excludes dark matter axionlike particles with masses between 68.2 and $76.5\text{ }\text{ }\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{eV}$ and axion-photon couplings greater than $4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}1{0}^{\ensuremath{-}7}\text{ }\text{ }{\mathrm{GeV}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. We project that the fundamental sensitivity of this technique could be extended to be sensitive to couplings below $1\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}1{0}^{\ensuremath{-}15}\text{ }\text{ }{\mathrm{GeV}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$, consistent with the DFSZ model of QCD axions.
An intersection between the self-reactive regulatory and nonregulatory T cell receptor repertoires.

An intersection between the self-reactive regulatory and nonregulatory T cell receptor repertoires
Atlas of Nuclear Cardiology: Imaging Companion to Braunwald’s Heart Disease

Ami E. Iskandrian, MD, MACC, FASNC, FAHA, and Ernest V. Garcia, PhD, FASNC, FAHA, eds 453 pages. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2012. $179.00. ISBN: 978-1-4160-6134-2 The main purpose of an atlas devoted to a cardiac imaging technology is to teach using clinical images from real patients with accompanying text of a didactic nature. For an imaging technology, a comprehensive and well-illustrated atlas is a welcome contribution to teaching the principles and fine points of image analysis, diagnostic interpretation, and reporting. In this outstanding Atlas of Nuclear Cardiology , Iskandrian and Garcia and the other contributing authors successfully achieve the major goals of highly effective teaching via use of clinical images and accompanying text. The text of each chapter starts with a pertinent background section and ends with a Comments paragraph and Selected Readings, comprising references as current as 2011. This volume is intended to serve as a companion to Braunwald’s Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine . It contains high-quality radionuclide images related to typical clinical cases encountered in cardiology. The color scale employed for the perfusion images, which ranges from yellow to orange to blue, is excellent and is the standard for the field. All of the contributors are well-recognized experts in the field of nuclear cardiology and provide the reader with a compendium of all major clinical applications of radionuclide imaging. A positive feature of each chapter is the bulleted list of Key Points. These are set right after the title of the chapter and serve to guide the reader to the main teaching points …
The Relationship between National-Level Carbon Dioxide Emissions and Population Size: An Assessment of Regional and Temporal Variation, 1960–2005

This study examines the regional and temporal differences in the statistical relationship between national-level carbon dioxide emissions and national-level population size. The authors analyze panel data from 1960 to 2005 for a diverse sample of nations, and employ descriptive statistics and rigorous panel regression modeling techniques. Initial descriptive analyses indicate that all regions experienced overall increases in carbon emissions and population size during the 45-year period of investigation, but with notable differences. For carbon emissions, the sample of countries in Asia experienced the largest percent increase, followed by countries in Latin America, Africa, and lastly the sample of relatively affluent countries in Europe, North America, and Oceania combined. For population size, the sample of countries in Africa experienced the largest percent increase, followed countries in Latin America, Asia, and the combined sample of countries in Europe, North America, and Oceania. Findings for two-way fixed effects panel regression elasticity models of national-level carbon emissions indicate that the estimated elasticity coefficient for population size is much smaller for nations in Africa than for nations in other regions of the world. Regarding potential temporal changes, from 1960 to 2005 the estimated elasticity coefficient for population size decreased by 25% for the sample of Africa countries, 14% for the sample of Asia countries, 6.5% for the sample of Latin America countries, but remained the same in size for the sample of countries in Europe, North America, and Oceania. Overall, while population size continues to be the primary driver of total national-level anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions, the findings for this study highlight the need for future research and policies to recognize that the actual impacts of population size on national-level carbon emissions differ across both time and region.
Oxidation of Olefins by Palladium(II). 16. A New Palladium(II)-Catalyzed Asymmetric Chlorohydrin Synthesis

Previous studies showed that palladium(II) catalysts containing a pyridine ligand give mainly ethylene chlorohydrin as a product of the oxidation of ethene in the presence of CuCl2 at [Cl-] = 0.2 M...
Anticipatory smiling: linking early affective communication and social outcome.

In anticipatory smiles, infants appear to communicate pre-existing positive affect by smiling at an object and then turning the smile toward an adult. We report two studies in which the precursors, development, and consequences of anticipatory smiling were investigated. Study 1 revealed a positive correlation between infant smiling at 6 months and the level of anticipatory smiling at 8 and 10 months during joint attention episodes, as well as a positive correlation between anticipatory smiling and parent-rated social expressivity scores at 30 months. Study 2 confirmed a developmental increase in the number of infants using anticipatory smiles between 9 and 12 months that had been initially documented in the Study 1 sample [Venezia, M., Messinger, D. S., Thorp, D., & Mundy, P. (2004). The development of anticipatory smiling. Infancy, 6(3), 397–406]. Additionally, anticipatory smiling at 9 months positively predicted parent-rated social competence scores at 30 months. Findings are discussed with regard to the importance of anticipatory smiling in early socioemotional development.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Preliminary Host-Guest Binding Studies of Porphyrinic Molecular Squares Featuring fac-Tricarbonylrhenium(I) Chloro Corners

Luminescent multiporphyrin molecular square assemblies have been synthesized in high yield from Re(CO)5Cl and a highly soluble dipyridylporphyrin ligand. Both free-base and ZnII-metalated variants of squares have been synthesized. The ZnII-containing squares are capable of strongly binding selected polyimine ligands in CH2Cl2 solution. Advantage has been taken of the effect to construct pentaporphyrin host−guest assemblies.
pH-tunable endosomolytic oligomers for enhanced nucleic acid delivery

Oligomeric sulfonamides (OSAs) are explored as a tool for the effective endosomal release of polyplexes or delivery of nucleic acid. The OSAs tested in this study show varying proton-buffering regions and pH-dependent solubility transitions within the endosomal pH range, and are influenced by the pK a value and hydrophobicity of a given sulfonamide group. In addition, OSA presents negligible toxicity. The oligomers are added to the nucleic acid solution for polyplex formation with positively charged polymeric nucleic acid carriers. The resulting nanoscale, positively charged, and OSA-incorporated poly(L-lysine) (PLL)/DNA complexes (OSA-polyplexes) show a 4-55-fold increase in in vitro gene expression compared to PLL/DNA (control), depending upon the cell line and the nature of the used OSA. In cellular uptake and intracellular trafficking studies using pH-sensitive or pH-insensitive dye-labeled DNAs, there is no significant difference in the amount of DNA uptake using OSA polyplexes and PLL/DNA. However, OSA-polyplexes induce a broader intracellular distribution of the DNA than PLL/DNA complexes do. These results, coupled with the enhanced DNA transfection using OSA-polyplexes, indicate a mechanism by which OSA induces endosomal release of polyplexes and/or nucleic acids. The findings suggest that OSA could enhance polymer-based nucleic acid delivery. Furthermore, such materials offer significant potential for effective cytosolic delivery of chemical, biological, and diagnostic therapeutics.
Particles fluxes and moving fluids: experience from synchronous trap collection in the Sargassso sea

A series of synchronous, 24-h experiments using sensor-equipped sediment traps revealed that higher particle collection rates were associated with higher approach velocieties. Surface-tethered traps with variable drag configurations provided distinct differences in approach velocities for paired 400 m deployments and paired 1500 m deployments. Small-scale hot-film hydrodynamics sensors located both inside and outside the sediment traps detected flow cells within the traps with velocities between 50 and 100% of the external fluid approach velocities. In conjunction with laboratory flume simulations, these observations reveal that particles do not settle gravitationally across trap apertures. Intead, particles are swept advectively into traps at the downstream portion of trap apertures, and most are then expelled at the upstream portions of trap apertures. Fluid flows detected inside the drifting traps, which ranged from 1.2 to 31 cm s−1,l probably overwhelm all but the strongest “swimmers” that interact with these sampling divices. At our two sampling horizons (400 and 1500 m), tether-line motions generated trap depth oscillations with a period of the order of 10 s and an amplitude of about 0.5 m. Such effects have not been accounted for in flume simulated of sediment traps collection experiments.
Basal anxiety-like behavior predicts differences in dendritic morphology in the medial prefrontal cortex in two strains of rats

Basal differences in the brain may account for why some individuals are more vulnerable to stress than others. Although trait anxiety behavior varies greatly in human populations, most animal models of anxiety disorders tend to focus on the development of anxiety after a stressful experience. In this study, adult male Sprague-Dawley and Lewis rats were grouped according to baseline anxiety-like behavior in the open field, measured by time spent and distance traveled in the center. Individuals that fell one standard deviation above and below the mean, approximately the top and bottom 15%, were selected for the Low and High Anxiety groups. Pyramidal neurons from layer II/III of the prelimbic region of the medial prefrontal cortex were iontophoretically loaded with Lucifer yellow dye and reconstructed. In both strains, animals in the High Anxiety group had smaller apical dendrites than those in the Low Anxiety group. No difference was found in basal dendrites. Sholl analysis revealed a strain difference in the distribution of dendritic material between anxiety groups. These results illustrate significant variability in dendritic morphology in the prefrontal cortex of healthy adult male rats prior to experimental manipulation that correlates with baseline levels of anxiety-like behavior.
Development of a stereo camera system for monitoring hydrokinetic turbines

The implementation of a hybrid optical-acoustic imaging system is described and evaluated for environmental monitoring of a hydrokinetic turbine. This monitoring system is intended to provide real time stereographic imagery in the near field (≥10 m) of tidal turbines proposed for deployment in Admiralty Inlet, Puget Sound, Washington. Post deployment observations will provide valuable information about the frequency and character of interactions of marine animals with the turbine. Optical camera effectiveness is evaluated under realistic field conditions in order to determine the range within which it is able to detect, discriminate, and classify targets. These field evaluations serve to inform optimal system placement relative to the turbine. Preliminary assessment of image quality and measurements taken by the stereographic cameras show that it will likely be able to discriminate and classify targets at ranges up to 3.5 m and detect targets at ranges up to and potentially beyond 4.5 m.
Incorporating inferences in narrative representations: A study of how and why

Four experiments examined the conceptual organization of narrative passages and the extent to which these representations were explanatory in a variety of experimental tasks. The conceptual representation of a passage consisted of a graph of labeled nodes and labeled, directed arcs which were adopted from the Conceptual Dependency Theory. These representations included both explicitly stated information and inferences which had been empirically extracted by a question-answering procedure. Symbolic procedures for answering how- and why-questions were also delineated. The conceptual representations and the symbolic procedures that operate on these representations together accounted for 91% of the answers generated from question-answering protocols in Experiment 1, and also the rated quality of specific answers to specific questions in Experiment 2. Experiments 3 and 4 supported the hypothesis that structural properties of the representations can predict recall of explicitly stated nodes and verification ratings of inference nodes. The results provide encouraging support for the proposed graphic representations and also for the use of question-answering protocols in uncovering prose inferences.
Tip Refinement Grafts: The Designer Tip

In cosmetic rhinoplasty, the patient's satisfaction is most often determined by the quality of the tip surgery, but perfecting a technique for consistently attractive tips can be challenging. As a result, rhinoplasty surgery is now entering a new era of “designer tip” operations, wherein surgeons can employ a combination of open suture tip techniques and tip refinement grafts to achieve consistent results. The grafts are made from excised lateral crural cartilage and, depending upon the specific aesthetic goals, the shape can include the following: domal, shield, diamond, folded, or combination. It is possible to alter dome-defining points, tip point, projection, definition, volume, and size and shape. A study of 100 consecutive female rhinoplasties indicated that tip sutures alone were used in 36% of cases, while a tip refinement graft was added to a sutured tip in 59% of cases.
Giant desiccation fissures filled with calcareous eolian sand, Hermosa Formation (Pennsylvanian), southeastern Utah

Abstract At two stratigraphic intervals within the upper member of the Upper Pennsylvanian Hermosa Formation, calcareous eolian sand fills downward-tapering fissures that are as much as 18 cm wide and 5.7 m deep. Fissure fillings define orthogonal polygons 10 m or more in diameter. One of the host beds is primarily composed of subtidally deposited limestone, the other is a thinly laminated, nonmarine red siltstone. Both systems of fissure fillings are directly overlain and underlain by large-scale cross-stratified, calcareous eolianites. The limestone host bed contains chert pseudomorphs after gypsum. Compaction of host rocks contorted fissure fillings and caused doming of eolian strata over each fissure. Platy mineral grains in fissure fillings are aligned subparallel to bedding in the host rocks, supporting the view that the fissures were passively filled rather than forcefully injected. These ancient fissure systems are similar in scale and pattern to those that define giant desiccation polygons in numerous Great Basin playas. The Pennsylvanian fissures, like their Holocene counterparts, probably formed when groundwater tables dropped from shallow levels within fine-grained, impermeable deposits into underlying aquifers, greatly decreasing the extent of the capillary fringe. Our study of the fissures and host rocks supports the hypothesis that carbonate grains within the eolianites were deflated from uncemented marine sediments that were broadly exposed during regressive intervals.
Phorbol esters enhance attachment of NIH/3T3 cells to laminin and type IV collagen substrates

The effect of phorbol esters on the adhesive properties of NIH/3T3 mouse fibroblasts was investigated using plastic substrates precoated with the extracellular matrix proteins fibronectin, collagen, and laminin. Treatment with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) enhanced NIH/3T3 cell attachment to laminin and type IV collagen substrates but had little or no effect on attachment to fibronectin and type I collagen substrates. The effect of PMA in enhancing cell attachment to laminin and type IV collagen substrates was dose dependent between 10{sup {minus}9} and 10{sup {minus}7} M. PMA was effective as early as 30 min; the effect reached a maximum at 2 h and decreased gradually. Phorbol 12, 13-dibenzoate and phorbol 12, 13-diacetate were effective but to a lesser extent and phorbol 12-myristate and phorbol 13-acetate showed little or no effect. These results suggest that PMA may enhance NIH/3T3 cell adhesion through effects on laminin and type IV collagen receptors. Retinoic acid, which itself requires at least 6 h to show an effect on attachment, did not have any effect on cell attachment in 2 h and, if anything, slightly inhibited PMA-enhanced cell attachment to laminin and type IV collagen substrates.
Significance of a diagnosis of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance for Papanicolaou smears in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.

BACKGROUND The current study was conducted to determine the significance of a diagnosis of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. METHODS The reports for all Papanicolaou (Pap) smears viewed in the study institution's cytology laboratory over a 6-month period were reviewed. Women were divided into premenopausal (age ≤ 45 years), perimenopausal (ages 46–54 years), and postmenopausal (age ≥ 55 years) categories. Slide review and 2-year follow-up were obtained for selected cases diagnosed as ASCUS. ASCUS cases among the perimenopausal women were compared with an age-matched control group. RESULTS The total number of abnormal Pap smears in the premenopausal, perimenopausal, and postmenopausal categories were 770 (6.8%), 104 (4.3%), and 67 (2.9%), with 482, 83, and 41 diagnoses of ASCUS, respectively. The ratio of ASCUS to squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL) was 2.2 overall and 1.9, 7.5, and 4.1, respectively, for each group (P < 0.001). The positive predictive value for a diagnosis of SIL on subsequent Pap smears or biopsies was 22%, 12.2%, and 29.7%, respectively. Slide review showed that the premenopausal ASCUS cases appeared to have a higher percentage of nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio increase and nuclear membrane irregularities compared with the other categories (P = 0.03 and P = 0.02, respectively) and the perimenopausal group was found to have more ASCUS in metaplastic cells (P = 0.03). In perimenopausal women, slides diagnosed as ASCUS demonstrated more air-drying artifact than the control group (P = 0.004) but had less obvious atrophy (P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Despite a decreased abnormality rate with increasing age, the results of the current study show that the perimenopausal and postmenopausal groups appear to have elevated ASCUS-to-SIL ratios. ASCUS appears to have a particularly low positive predictive value for SIL in perimenopausal women, and therefore most likely is overcalled in this age group. This may be attributable in part to air-drying artifact and subtle atrophic changes. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2001;93:100–105. © 2001 American Cancer Society.
Satellite-Based Precipitation Estimation and Its Application for Streamflow Prediction over Mountainous Western U.S. Basins

AbstractRecognizing the importance and challenges inherent to the remote sensing of precipitation in mountainous areas, this study investigates the performance of the commonly used satellite-based high-resolution precipitation products (HRPPs) over several basins in the mountainous western United States. Five HRPPs [Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission 3B42 and 3B42-RT algorithms, the Climate Prediction Center morphing technique (CMORPH), Precipitation Estimation from Remotely Sensed Imagery Using Artificial Neural Networks (PERSIANN), and the PERSIANN Cloud Classification System (PERSIANN-CCS)] are analyzed in the present work using ground gauge, gauge-adjusted radar, and CloudSat precipitation products. Using ground observation of precipitation and streamflow, the skill of HRPPs and the resulting streamflow simulations from the Variable Infiltration Capacity hydrological model are cross-compared. HRPPs often capture major precipitation events but seldom capture the observed magnitude of precipitation ove...
Histone deacetylase inhibitors induce reactivation of herpes simplex virus type 1 in a latency-associated transcript–independent manner in neuronal cells

Histone acetylation is implicated in the regulation of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) latency. However, the role of histone acetylation in HSV-1 reactivation is less clear. In this study, the well-established model system, quiescently infected, neuronally differentiated PC12 (QIF-PC12) cells, was used to address the participation of histone acetylation in HSV-1 reactivation. In this model, sodium butyrate and trichostatin A (TSA), two histone deacetylase inhibitors, stimulated production of infectious HSV-1 progeny from a quiescent state. To identify viral genes responsive to TSA, the authors analyzed representative α, β, and γ viral genes using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Only the latency-associated transcript (LAT) accumulated in response to TSA treatment, under culture conditions that restricted virus replication and spread. This led the authors to evaluate the importance of LAT expression on TSA-induced reactivation. In QIF-PC12 cells, the LAT deletion mutant virus dLAT2903 reactivated equivalently with its wild-type parental strain (McKrae) after TSA treatment, as well as forskolin and heat stress treatment. Both viruses also reactivated equivalently from latently infected trigeminal ganglia explants from rabbits. In contrast, there was a marked reduction in the recovery of dLAT2903, as compared to wild-type virus, from the eyes of latently infected rabbits following epinephrine iontophoresis. These combined in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo data suggest that LAT is not required for reactivation from latently infected neuronal cells per se, but may enhance processes that allow for the arrival of virus at, or close to, the site of original inoculation (i.e., recrudescence).
Phase II trial of the ribonucleotide reductase inhibitor 3-aminopyridine-2-carboxaldehydethiosemicarbazone plus gemcitabine in patients with advanced biliary tract cancer.

Background 3-Aminopyridine-2-carboxaldehydethiosemicarbazone (3-AP) is a novel small molecule ribonucleotide reductase (RR) inhibitor which is more potent than hydroxyurea, the prototype of RR inhibitors. 3-AP enhances the cellular uptake and DNA incorporation of gemcitabine in tumor cell lines. We evaluated the combination of 3-AP plus gemcitabine in advanced biliary tract adenocarcinoma.
Ovariectomy and Estradiol Affect Postingestive Controls of Sucrose Licking

Abstract Hrupka, B. J., G. P. Smith and N. Geary. Ovariectomy and estradiol affect postingestive controls of sucrose licking. Physiol Behav 61(2) 243–247, 1997.—Ovariectomy (OVX) has been shown to increase, and estradiol replacement to decrease, meal size in rats. Because little is known about how estradiol influences meals, we conducted two experiments to examine the effects of OVX and β -estradiol 3-benzoate (EB) replacement on the microstructure of licking behavior. In both experiments, patterns of licking were analyzed in adult female Sprague–Dawley rats during an 0.8 M sucrose test meal. In Experiment 1, meal microstructure was determined preOVX and 10–12 days postOVX. Rate of licking following OVX was not changed during min 1 of the meal, but was significantly faster during min 2–4 of the meal ( p 500 ms) were significantly increased during min 2–4 ( p p
Molecular dynamics with quantum fluctuations

A quantum dynamics approach, called Gaussian molecular dynamics, is introduced. As in the centroid molecular dynamics, the $N$-body quantum system is mapped to an $N$-body classical system with an effective Hamiltonian arising within the variational Gaussian wave-packet approximation. The approach is exact for the harmonic oscillator and for the high-temperature limit, accurate in the short-time limit and is computationally very efficient.
A Study of Heat and Mass Transfer to Uninsulated Liquid Oxygen Containers

The wide use of liquid oxygen as an oxidant in rocket engines has resulted in an increased interest in low-temperature heat transfer. Storage tanks for this type of application, being uninsulated, contain a boiling-liquid low-temperature sink, which is susceptible to environmental heat inputs and subsequent liquid loss by vaporization, Such losses are difficult to predict due to the complex combination of ambient conditions which exist and the lack of knowledge concerning their combined effects.
An open-source, extensible system for laboratory timing and control

We describe a simple system for timing and control, which provides control of analog, digital, and radio-frequency signals. Our system differs from most common laboratory setups in that it is open source, built from off-the-shelf components, synchronized to a common and accurate clock, and connected over an Ethernet network. A simple bus architecture facilitates creating new and specialized devices with only moderate experience in circuit design. Each device operates independently, requiring only an Ethernet network connection to the controlling computer, a clock signal, and a trigger signal. This makes the system highly robust and scalable. The devices can all be connected to a single external clock, allowing synchronous operation of a large number of devices for situations requiring precise timing of many parallel control and acquisition channels. Provided an accurate enough clock, these devices are capable of triggering events separated by one day with near-microsecond precision. We have achieved preci...