cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Method for the isolation and liquid chromatographic determination of eight sulfonamides in milk

A method for the isolation and liquid chromatographic determination of eight sulfonamides in milk is presented. Fortified or blank milk samples (0.5 ml) were blended with octadecylsilyl (C18T) derivatized silica (2 g). A column made from the sample C18T matrix was first washed with hexane (8 ml) following which the sulfonamides were eluted with methylene chloride (8 ml). The eluate contained sulfonamide analytes which were free from interferences when analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) utilizing UV detection (270 nm, photodiode array). Standard curve correlation coefficients (range, 0.998 +/- 0.002 to 0.999 +/- 0.001), average percentage recoveries (73.1 +/- 7.4 to 93.7 +/- 2.7%), and the inter-(3.9-9.6%) and intra-assay (2.2-6.7%) variabilities, were determined for the concentration range examined (62.5-2000 ng/ml) and resulted in a minimal detectable limit of 1.25 ng on column (62.5 ng/ml, 20 microliters injection from a final sample volume of 0.5 ml). Savings in terms of time and solvent make this procedure attractive when compared to classical isolation techniques for sulfonamides.
5-methyltetrahydrofolate homocysteine cobalamin methyltransferase in human bone marrow and its relationship to pernicious anemia.

Abstract Dialyzed extracts from human bone marrow catalyze [5- 14 C]methyltetrahydrofolate homocysteine transmethylation at slow but significant rates which can be detected by using substrate with a very high specific radioactivity. Enzymatic activity is associated with nucleated marrow cells rather than mature, nondividing erythrocytes. Extract transmethylase activities in 15 marrow specimens from patients without B-12 deficiency ranged from 157–1020 pmoles of [ Me - 14 C]methionine formed/hr/10 7 nucleated cells. Catalysis is dependent on S -adenosyl- l -methionine and a flavin-reducing system, typical for the presence of a cobalamin (B-12) methyltransferase. No in vitro requirement for exogenous B-12 was observed except for the marrow extracts from two patients known to be B-12 deficient. One of these extracts was markedly stimulated by methyl-B-12 indicative that mostly apomethyltransferase was present. These tracer assays with cell-free extracts provide the first direct evidence that human bone marrow contains B-12 methyltransferase; they also afford further evidence for a 5-methyltetrahydrofolate trap in B-12 deficiency with its associated megaloblastic anemia. In addition, we have observed that in normal peripheral blood leukocytes the mononuclear fraction contains 10–30 times as much B-12 methyltransferase per nucleated cell as the polymorphonuclear granulocyte fraction.
Combined obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and stenotic congenitally bicuspid aortic valve

Abstract Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC) is a congenital heart disease. Persons with 1 type of congenital heart disease are more prone to a second congenital heart condition than are persons without any congenital cardiac condition. The frequency of the congenitally bicuspid aortic valve in the general population is believed to be about 1%. 1 Therefore, it might be expected to be present in an occasional patient with a more uncommon condition, such as HC. The present report describes findings in 4 patients with coexisting HC and a congenitally bicuspid aortic valve.
Isolation of Chlorpromazine Pigments in Man

OCULOCUTANEOUS pigmentation occurs in man during long-term chlorpromazine therapy1,2, diffuse purple pigmentation of the skin of the face, neck and dorsum of the hands being the most characteristic finding. The distribution and intensity of the skin pigmentation correlate with exposure to sunlight. Corneal and lenticular opacities are frequently also present in these patients1.
Pharmacokinetics of oxytetracycline in the red pacu (Colossoma brachypomum) following different routes of administration

Oxytetracycline (OTC) pharmacokinetics were studied in the red pacu (Colossoma brachypomum) following intravenous (i.v.) and intramuscular (i.m.) administration at a dose of 5 mg/kg body weight. OTC plasma concentrations were determined by high-performance-liquid-chromatography (HPLC). A non-compartmental model was used to describe plasma drug disposition after OTC administration. Following i.m. administration, the elimination half-life (t1/2) was 62.65 +/- 1.25 h and the bioavailability was 49.80 +/- 0.01%. After i.v. administration the t1/2 was 50.97 +/- 2.99 h, the Vd was 534.11 +/- 38.58 mL/kg, and CI(b) was 0.121 +/- 0.003 mL/min x kg. The 5 mg/kg i.v. dose used in this experiment resulted in up to 48 h plasma concentrations of OTC above the reported MIC values for some strains of fish pathogens such as Aeromonas hydrophila, A. liquefaciens, A. salmonicida, Cytophaga columnaris, Edwardsiella ictaluri, Vibrio anguillarium, V. ordalii, V. salmonicida and Yeersinia ruckeri. These MIC values are below the susceptible range (4 microg/mL) listed by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) as determined by the NCCLS susceptibility interpretive criteria.
Comparison of Glenohumeral Contact Pressures and Contact Areas After Posterior Glenoid Reconstruction With an Iliac Crest Bone Graft or Distal Tibial Osteochondral Allograft

Background:Posterior glenoid bone deficiency in the setting of posterior glenohumeral instability is typically addressed with bone block augmentation with iliac crest bone grafts (ICBGs). Reconstruction with fresh distal tibial allograft (DTA) is an alternative option, with the theoretical advantages of restoring the glenoid articular surface, improving joint congruity, and providing the biological restoration of articular cartilage loss.Hypothesis:Reconstruction with an ICBG and DTA would more effectively restore normal glenoid contact pressures, contact areas, and peak forces when compared with the deficient glenoid.Study Design:Controlled laboratory study.Methods:Eight fresh-frozen human cadaveric shoulders were tested in 4 conditions: (1) intact glenoid, (2) 20% posterior-inferior defect of the glenoid surface area, (3) 20% defect reconstructed with a flush ICBG, and (4) 20% defect reconstructed with a fresh DTA. For each condition, a 0.1 mm–thick dynamic pressure-sensitive pad was placed between the ...
Dynamics of Myoglobin-CO with the Proximal Histidine Removed: Vibrational Echo Experiments

Picosecond infrared vibrational echo measurements from 60 to 300 K on CO bound to the active site of a mutant myoglobin, H93G(N-MeIm), are presented and compared to measurements on native myoglobin and on the mutant H64V. Although in H93G(N-MeIm) (the proximal histidine replaced by glycine, with exogenous N-methylimidazole in the proximal histidine pocket, covalently bound to Fe), the only covalent linkage between heme−CO and the protein is broken, there is no change in the temperature-dependent vibrational pure dephasing time, T2*. The results demonstrate that severing the only covalent bond between the heme and the globin has little or no effect on the protein dynamics detected by vibration of the CO at the active site of myoglobin.
Building knowledge-based systems for detecting man-made structures from remotely sensed imagery

In this paper we review and discuss several emerging themes in the area of image-interpretation for automated cartography and digital mapping. Our primary observations are that the detection, interpretation, and analysis of man-made structures by remotely sensed imagery requires the integration of spatial knowledge with image-analysis and interpretation techniques. General knowledge of structural and spatial layouts for man-made structures, as well as a priori map knowledge, can be expected to constrain search during image analysis. Spatial databases consisting of geographically referenced facts should form the basis of a priori knowledge necessary to perform interpretation and have a dual role as the repository of partially compiled facts acquired during scene-analysis.
Fermentation of cellulose and fatty acids with enrichments from sewage sludge

A mixed culture enriched from sewage sludge and anaerobic digestor effluent was able to degrade cellulose and acetate rapidly and quantitatively to methane and carbon dioxide. The maximum specific rate of gas production was 87 ml/gm cell-h, corresponding to a rate of cellulose utilization of 0.1 g/g cells-h. Acetate, an intermediate in cellulose degradation, was fermented much more rapidly than butyrate or propionate; its maximum utilization rate was first order with a rate constant of 0.34 h−1. Addition of 2-14C-acetate to a digestor fed cellulose showed tht 2% of the methyl groups were oxidized to carbon dioxide. When 1-14C-acetate was added to a similar digestor, 51% of the carboxyl groups were reduced to methane, suggesting that not all the carbon dioxide during simultaneous cellulose and acetate utilization is treated equally. The pulse addition of large amounts of acetate, propionate and butyrate to a cellulose fed digestor was also examined.
Growing form-filling tensegrity structures using map L-systems

Tensegrities are unique, space-filling structures consisting of disjoint rigid elements (rods) connected by tensile elements (strings), which hold their shape due to a synergistic balance of opposing forces. Due to their complexity there are few effective analytical methods for discovering new, and particularly, large irregularly shaped tensegrity structures. Recent efforts using evolutionary search have been moderately successful, but have relied upon a direct encoding of the structure, and therefore face scalability issues [3]. By contrast we employ to a developmental representation grammatically “grow” tensegrity structures, and as such, issues of scalability, both in terms of representation and of performance, are addressed. Specifically we evolve map L-systems [4] which produce planar graphs [1, 2] corresponding to the structural elements of a tensegrity. Each tensegrity is then reproduced within the Open Dynamics Engine (ODE), and the volume of the convex hull described by the final location of the rigid element endpoints used as fitness. As shown in Figure 1, the map L-system significantly outperforms the direct encoding across all runs. Figure 2 shows a representative evolved tensegrity.
Linear magnetic holes in a unipolar region of the heliosheath observed by Voyager 1

[1] Voyager 1 (V1) observed a unipolar interval in the heliosheath from day of year (DOY) 146–204, 2006, in which the magnetic field B was directed toward the Sun nearly along the spiral field direction. The direction of B was nearly constant in this interval (the 1-σ fluctuations in the hour averages and 48-s averages of the azimuthal and elevation angles being ≈±8° and ≈±5°, respectively). The average magnetic field strength was relatively large, B ≈ 0.21 nT. The fluctuations in both the hour averages and 48-s averages of B were non-Gaussian, being skewed toward small values of B, primarily by the presence of numerous linear magnetic holes. The magnetic holes moved past V1 at a rate of the order of 2/day. The characteristics of nine magnetic holes were analyzed by fitting the magnetic field strength profiles to a Gaussian distribution. The radial extent of the magnetic holes was of the order of 650,000 km, which is ≈80 RL, where RL is the Larmor radius of the pickup protons in the heliosheath. Although the magnetic holes in the heliosheath are much larger than those at 1 AU, the size in units of RL is of the same order of magnitude in the two locations, suggesting a common physical nature.
Phase-Changing Sacrificial Materials for Solvent Bonding of High-Performance Polymeric Capillary Electrophoresis Microchips

A new method for solvent bonding polymeric substrates to form microfluidic systems has been demonstrated. Prior to device sealing, channels in an embossed poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) piece are filled with a heated liquid (paraffin wax) that forms a solid sacrificial layer at room temperature. The sacrificial material prevents the bonding solvent (acetonitrile) and softened PMMA from filling the channels. Once the sealing step is complete, the sacrificial layer is melted and removed, leaving enclosed microfluidic channels. We found that PMMA substrates welded together using this method could withstand internal pressures of >2250 psi, more than 1 order of magnitude higher than their thermally bonded counterparts. To demonstrate the usefulness of this method, microchip capillary electrophoresis (CE) devices in PMMA were created and tested. Amino acid and peptide mixtures were separated in 40 000 theoretical plates in a 2.5-cm separation distance. Electric fields as high as 1.5 kV/cm were ap...
Glacial to interglacial changes in carbonate and clay sedimentation in the Atlantic Ocean estimated from 230Th measurements

Abstract The cause of the climatically controlled fluctuations in the carbonate content of deep-sea sediments remains the subject of uncertainty and debate. Three variables are involved: supply of biogenic carbonate, loss by dissolution, and dilution by non-carbonate phases. It is suggested that 230 Th, which is produced in the ocean at a constant rate provides a reliable reference for measuring variations in rate of sedimentation on a regional scale. Results of a preliminary analysis based on published data indicate that, for depths at and above the lysocline, the carbonate fluctuations observed in cores from the North Atlantic Ocean are due primarily to variations in the terrigenous clay input, which was 2–5 times higher during glacials than during interglacials. Carbonate deposition appears to have been somewhat reduced during glacials, but probably not by more than a factor of 2. From published 230 Th 232 Th profiles it appears that the South Atlantic Ocean also received increased inputs of terrigenous clay during glacial periods.
Ausdehnung des Enzym‐Universums: Zugang zu nicht‐natürlichen Reaktionen durch mechanismusgeleitete, gerichtete Evolution

Hohe Selektivitaten und ausgezeichnete Kontrolle des Reaktionsverlaufs regen Chemiker dazu an, in der organischen Synthese Biokatalysatoren einzusetzen. Viele nutzliche Reaktionen sind auf diese Weise jedoch nicht zuganglich, weil sie im Repertoire der Natur nicht vorkommen. In diesem Aufsatz werden wir einen evolutiven Ansatz zur Entwicklung von Enzymen beschreiben, die solche nicht-naturlichen Reaktionen katalysieren. Wir beginnen mit Beispielen dafur, wie die Natur neue katalytische Funktionen entdeckt hat und wie solche evolutiven Fortschritte im Labor nachvollzogen wurden, indem man von existierenden Enzymen ausging. Wir untersuchen dann nicht-naturliche Enzymaktivitaten, die fur die chemische Synthese entdeckt und verwendet wurden, wobei wir uns auf Reaktionen ohne naturliches Pendant konzentrieren. Wir zeigen Beispiele, wie nicht-naturliche Aktivitaten durch gerichtete Evolution verbessert wurden, indem der Prozess nachgeahmt wurde, mit dem die Natur neue Katalysatoren erzeugt. Zum Schluss beschreiben wir noch Entdeckungen nicht-naturlicher katalytischer Funktionen, die kunftig Chancen auf eine Ausdehnung des enzymatischen Universums bieten konnen.
Physicochemical properties of the triiodothyronine nuclear receptor from tadpole liver, intestine and tail fin

Abstract The binding of triiodothyronine (T3) to tadpole liver, intestine, and tail fin nuclei was consistent with a single class of binding sites. The K D for the binding of T3 to isolated nuclei from the liver (1.02 nM), intestine (1.40 nM), and tail fin (0.831 nM) nuclei were not significantly different. The number of binding sites for T3 in the nuclei isolated from each tissue were also not significantly different. Sucrose gradient centrifugation of the salt-extracted nuclear T3-receptor complex revealed that the s 20,w was not significantly different for the complex from the liver (3.7 S), intestine (3.9 S), or tail fin (3.9 S). Similarly, the Stokes radii of the complex from the liver (3.65 nm), intestine (3.84 nm), and tail fin (3.99 nm) were not significantly different. Molecular weights of 57000, 64000, and 67000 were calculated from the sedimentation coefficients and Stokes radii for the T3-receptor complex from the liver, intestine, and tail fin, respectively. The similarity of the physicochemical properties of the T3-receptor complex from each of the tissues studied is consistent with the hypothesis that the same receptor is capable of inducing tissue-specific biochemical changes.
Heavy alcohol use in lung donors increases the risk for primary graft dysfunction.

Background Heavy alcohol use is known to increase the risk of acute lung injury and the acute respiratory distress syndrome. This is in part due to increased production of reactive oxygen species. We hypothesized that recipients of lungs from heavy drinkers would be more susceptible to lung injury following transplantation. Methods In this retrospective cohort study, donor histories and transplant outcomes were reviewed in 192 consecutive lung transplant recipients. Donors were classified as No Alcohol Use, Moderate Alcohol Use, or Heavy Alcohol Use based on documented donor histories. Results Freedom from mechanical ventilation took longer in the lung transplant recipients whose donors had Heavy Alcohol Use, compared with those whose donors had No Alcohol Use or Moderate Alcohol Use (p = 0.01). At admission to the intensive care unit, the Heavy Alcohol Use group had median PaO2/FiO2 ratio 219 (interquartile range [IQR]: 162 to 382), compared with 305 (IQR: 232 to 400) in the Moderate Alcohol Use group and 314 (IQR: 249 to 418) in the No Alcohol Use group (p = 0.005). The odds of developing severe primary graft dysfunction (PGD) in the Heavy Alcohol Use group versus the No Alcohol Use group were 8.7 times greater (95% confidence interval 1.427 to 53.404, p = 0.019) after controlling for factors known to be associated with PGD. Conclusions Recipients of donors with a heavy alcohol use history had an over 8 times greater risk of developing severe PGD following lung transplant. The increase in PGD resulted in poorer gas exchange in the recipients of donor lungs from heavy alcohol users, and these recipients subsequently required mechanical ventilation for a longer time following transplant. Further investigation into lung donors with heavy alcohol use histories is necessary to determine those at highest risk for PGD following transplant.
Theoretical Prediction of Erosive Burning Characteristics of Solid Propellant

HE aim of this paper is to provide the designer of modern solid propellant motors with a successful theoretical basis for predicting the erosive burning effects that are already in the designing phase. This is done by means of modified Lenoir-Robillard formulas and theoretically determined unkown parameters. In up-to-date practice, a great deal of experimental investigation had to be done to define those constants. The application range of this theory has been extended on plateaunized propellants with negative erosion effects. The only experimental constants required by this method are the linear burning rate law and initial temperature sensitivity.
Development of a symptomatic intracranial meningioma in a male-to-female transsexual after initiation of hormone therapy

Transsexual patients are routinely treated with sex hormone therapy, which may be a risk factor for meningiomas, although the data are largely inconclusive. Here we describe a male-to-female transsexual patient treated with estradiol patches, who developed an occipital meningioma causing generalized seizures. This is the second report of a male-to-female transsexual patient who developed a symptomatic meningioma after sex hormone treatment, adding to the growing evidence that sex hormones contribute to the pathogenesis of meningiomas. Meningiomas may therefore complicate hormone therapy and sex hormones may be contraindicated in transsexual candidates with meningiomas identified upon screening.
Assessment of herbal weight loss supplement counseling provided to patients by pharmacists and nonpharmacists in community settings

Abstract Objective To assess the extent of appropriate counseling provided to patients by pharmacists and nonpharmacists in retail settings regarding herbal dietary supplements for weight loss. Design Descriptive, exploratory, nonexperimental study. Setting Phoenix, AZ, metropolitan area, from June 2008 to January 2009. Participants Pharmacists and nonpharmacists (e.g., cashiers, sales clerks, pharmacy technicians) working in retail locations selling herbal dietary supplements (e.g., grocery stores, health food stores, pharmacies). Intervention Investigators posing as patients sought herbal weight loss supplement product recommendations and counseling on potential safety, drug interaction, and adverse effect issues from pharmacists or nonpharmacists. Main outcome measures Level of knowledge regarding safety and efficacy of herbal dietary supplements for weight loss. Results 52 sites were visited, and 27 unique product recommendations were given. In general, counseling provided to investigators/patients by pharmacists versus nonpharmacists varied significantly ( P P = 0.39) or use of herbal supplements during pregnancy ( P = 0.07) and breast-feeding ( P = 0.48). Pharmacists were more reluctant to recommend herbal products for weight loss than nonpharmacists and tended to question the safety and/or efficacy of these products or refer the patient to an alternate health care provider. Conclusion The counseling that investigators/patients received regarding herbal products for weight loss in various retail settings from both pharmacists and nonpharmacists varied greatly. Efforts are needed from the medical and herbal communities to ensure that patients are adequately informed about herbal products at the point of purchase.
Environmental record of Devonian-Mississippian carbonate and low-oxygen facies transitions, southernmost Canadian Rocky Mountains and northwesternmost Montana

Uppermost Devonian and Lower Mississippian strata in the southernmost Canadian Rocky Mountains and adjacent Montana record part of a widespread low-oxygen episode in middle Paleozoic epicontinental and shelf seas and provide critical information concerning the oceanographic setting of the western continental margin of Euramerica at this time. During early-middle Famennian time, the region was the site of a westward-deepening carbonate ramp (Palliser Formation) that was bordered to the west by a shale basin (Lussier region). Sedimentation patterns changed in middle-late Famennian time with the termination of carbonate ramp sedimentation and ultimate deposition of organicrich sediments in an oxygen-stressed, deep-water setting (Exshaw Formation). A model for the widespread deposition of these sediments entails the initial flooding of epicontinental/shelf seas with water derived from an expanded and intensified oxygen-minimum zone during a late Famennian transgression. Sedimentation of anaerobic to marginally aerobic, deep-water, lower Banff facies occurred into middle Tournaisian and, locally, late Tournaisian time prior to the westward progradation of carbonate ramp sediments of the middle and upper Banff. Quartzofeld-spathic clastic rocks in the Exshaw and Banff reflect the periodic influx of detritus from a likely western ("Antler"-age) orogenic source from late Famennian into late Tournaisian time. Degree of bottom-water oxygenation during deposition of the Exshaw and Banff low-oxygen facies was recognized using ichno-fabric, organic C and S relationships and degree of pyritization (DOP). Anaerobic, laminated black shales with high DOP values lack a macrobenthos, with the notable exception of rare concentrations of inarticulate brachiopods on bedding planes. Dysaerobic to marginally aerobic facies have intermediate DOP values and a gradient of increasing degree of bioturbation.
Convergent iterative solutions for the lowest state of a system with large perturbations

Iterative methods for the calculation of the lowest eigenvalue and the corresponding eigenvector are derived from the partitioned Schrodinger equation in matrix form. While they have a formal similarity to the Brillouin-Wigner perturbation expansion, they converge for a much wider class of matrices. The double iteration methods (DIM and DIMA) lead to a series of upper and lower bounds to the desired lowest eigenvalue in accordance with Lowdin's bracketing theorem and can be used in a strategy which insures convergence to the solution for arbitrarily large perturbations. A much more efficient single iteration method (SIMA) produces the proper solution even for numerically very ill-conditioned matrices (large offdiagonal elements and small separation of the diagonal elements from the lowest). An important feature of the iterative methods is their insensitivity toward roundoff errors which makes them especially suited for very large matrices, where direct diagonalisation, for example by the Jacobi method, is impracticable.
Formation and structure of lithospheric shear zones with damage

Shear localization is an integral part of tectonics on Earth. We examine the role of two different forms of microstructural weakening (voids and grain size reduction) in the formation of shear zones as a function of depth. The evolution of grain size and voids employed in this study is determined within the frame- work of two-phase damage theory. The shear zone model is characterized by two-dimensional simple shear, which allows for lithostatic pressure to influence the evolution of void-generating damage. We consider cases with pure void-generating damage, pure grain size reducing damage, and combined void- generating and grain size reducing damage. The introduction of lithostatic pressure alters void evolution, and specifically leads to a suppression of void-generation at depth. Grain size reducing damage produces the most significant localization. Differences in the time scale and efficacy of the two different damage mechanisms result from the mechanical constraints of viscous compaction and dilation imposed on void- generating damage. Cases with combined void-generating and grain size reducing damage lead to a more complicated interaction, with grain size reduction driving porosity to the flanks of the central shear zone. This result is proposed to be relevant for interpreting the void and grain size microstructures observed in faults on Earth.
QSAR—Origins and Present Status: A Historical Perspective

This talk presents the background development of the field now called Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationships (QSAR). The major methods (additivity model, multiple parameter analysis, substructural analysis, and pattern recognition) are briefly illustrated by examples of equations or results. A historical approach is used, and leaders in the various methodologies are identified.
Depressive symptoms and mortality in lung transplant

Evon DM, Burker EJ, Galanko JA, Dedert E, Egan TM. Depressive symptoms and mortality in lung transplant. Clin Transplant 2010 DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-0012.2010.01236.x. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Abstract: Objective: To determine whether depressive symptoms predicted survival before and after lung transplantation. We hypothesized that depressive symptoms might predict survival of wait-listed patients, but would not predict survival post-transplant. Methods: This was a prospective, longitudinal study. Participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory pre-transplant. Pre-transplant survival analyses were conducted (n = 124) based on time from list date, to death, transplant, or censoring, if still alive. Post-transplant survival analyses were conducted (n = 76) based on time from transplant, to death or censoring. Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were utilized. Results: In the unadjusted model, depressive symptoms predicted mortality for candidates awaiting lung transplant (p = 0.02); however, once models were adjusted for demographics and pulmonary status, the relationship between depressive symptoms and mortality rates was attenuated (p > 0.05). Depressive symptoms did not predict survival after lung transplant (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Pre-transplant depressive symptoms were associated with mortality among lung transplant candidates in an unadjusted model and a model fit with demographics and forced expiratory volume in one second. Depressive symptoms do not exert an independent effect when forced expiratory vital capacity is added. Depressive symptoms do not predict mortality after transplant. Future studies need to determine whether pre-transplant psychosocial characteristics confer a greater risk for poorer transplant outcomes.
Is There Truly No Benefit with Sunscreen Use and Basal Cell Carcinoma? A Critical Review of the Literature and the Application of New Sunscreen Labeling Rules to Real-World Sunscreen Practices

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common human malignancy. Both epidemiological and direct evidence have established ultraviolet (UV) exposure from the sun as the most important risk factor for BCC development. There has only been one randomized and controlled study to examine sunscreen's role in the prevention of BCC, and no significant protective benefit was found. This study did not address four important concepts: sunscreen abuse, sunscreen misuse, sunscreen formulation, and cumulative UV exposure. Thus, the results of this study are difficult to interpret and extrapolate with real-world sunscreen practices.
In situ and laboratory sediment toxicity testing with ceriodaphnia dubia

Ecological assessments of sites containing hazardous wastes are improved by field testing. In situ exposures of Ceriodaphnia dubia were conducted in a stream impacted by several effluents, a combined sewer overflow and a creosote treatment operation. Sediments contained high levels of metals and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons. Fish and macroinvertebrate community indices were depressed. Ceriodaphnia dubia were placed in sediment exposure chambers in the stream for 48 h and also exposed to sediments that were simultaneously collected in the laboratory. Percent survival was generally higher in situ as compared to static laboratory exposures; however, overlying water toxicity was lower in laboratory assays. Average survival rates in elutriate fractions were slightly higher than interstitial or solid-phase exposures, and filtration reduced both elutriate and interstitial fraction toxicity. In situ sediment exposures proved to be sensitive indicators of both degraded and nondegraded stream conditions. Results show traditional sample collection and laboratory toxicity test methods may alter the water and sediment toxicity that occurs in situ. This highlights the importance of laboratory validation and in situ testing in aquatic safety assessments.
“Loss of Connections Is Death” Transnational Family Ties Among Sudanese Refugee Families Resettling in the United States

This qualitative study on Sudanese refugees’ lived experiences and perceptions of transnationalism involved face-to-face in-depth interviewing with a sample of 21 adult Southern Sudanese refugees who immigrated to San Diego in the 1990s. Through inductive analysis, the author sought an understanding of the nature and motivations of the refugees’ transnational family ties. Findings reveal the relational and affective aspects of these ties and show how social conditions and cultural imperatives drive the motivations and meanings. The author discusses the transnational behaviors of the Southern Sudanese within the context of forced migration and the Sudanese cultural value system. The author also discusses the role of trust, access, and relational context as they relate to research among refugee communities.
Nodulo pulmonar reumatoideo cavitado

Resumen Se presenta un caso de pulmon reumatoideo manifestado por nodulo unico ulcerado. Los autores hacen resaltar la escasa frecuencia de tal manifestacion pulmonar en la artritis reumatoidea y su dificultad en el diagnostico diferencial con otras imagenes radiologicas similares.
COMBINING HISTOLOGY AND BIOCHEMICAL MEASUREMENTS OF CONNECTIVE TISSUE COMPONENTS IN SMALL SAMPLES OF LUNG: APPLICATION TO BLEOMYCIN-INDUCED FIBROSIS IN THE MOUSE

Bleomycin-induced lung injury in mice was used to illustrate the plausibility of quantitating changes in elastin or protein concentration in histologically defined regions of mouse lungs. Mice were instilled by either the intranasal or intratracheal route with varying levels of bleomycin and the lungs were removed and fixed under pressure for histology and analysis. Histological sections that bracketed a defined volume of tissue was used for biochemical analysis and was limited to the alveolar region of the lung. Our studies showed that the intranasal method of instillation was as effective as the intratracheal method for inducing fibrosis. Even though distribution to the 4 major lobes of the lung was fairly uniform, there was no consistency in the degree of fibrosis between the various lobes of the same animal. The most dramatic change in biochemical parameters was protein concentration, which increased over 10-fold in some fibrotic lungs compared to normal lungs, whereas desmosine concentration increased up to 5-fold. Fibrosis scores agreed well with desmosine concentration, except with moderate desmosine increases where histologically defined fibrosis was not observed. The experiments illustrate the feasibility and desirability of comparing histology and biochemical analysis on the same fixed lung sample.
Measurement of semi-volatiles in used natural gas engine oil using thermogravimetric analysis

AbstractSemi-volatile in internal combustion engine lubricating oil may be responsible for limiting service life and can lead to in-cylinder deposit formation. In order to measure semivolatile content, a new thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) procedure has been adapted from existing soot procedures to determine the levels of semi-volatile compounds in progressively aged lubricating oil samples from a natural gas engine dynamometer test cell run. The per cent weight remaining at 550 °C, while heated at a constant rate in an inert atmosphere, varied linearly with running time, viscosity, and oxidation and nitration. The method yielded reproducible run-to-run results and showed good agreement between helium and argon atmospheres. Mass spectroscopy data confirmed increased levels of high molecular weight species during engine operation. This method may be applicable to diesel engine oil samples.
A method for calibrating molecular clocks and its application to animal mitochondrial DNA

A generalized least-squares procedure is introduced for the calibration of molecular clocks and applied to the complete mitochondrial DNA sequences of 13 animal species. The proposed technique accounts for both nonindependence and heteroscedasticity of molecular-distance data, problems that have not been taken into to account in such analyses in the past. When sequence-identity data are transformed to account for multiple substitutions/site, the molecular divergence scales linearly with time, but with substantially more variation in the substitution rate than expected under a Poisson model. Significant levels of divergence are predicted at zero divergence time for most loci, suggesting high levels of site-specific heterozygosity among mtDNA molecules establishing in sister taxa. For nearly all loci, the baseline heterozygosity is lower and the substitution rate is higher in mammals relative to other animals. There is considerable variation in the evolutionary rate among loci but no compelling evidence that the average rate of mtDNA evolution is elevated with respect to that of nuclear DNA. Using the observed patterns of interspecific divergence, empirical estimates are derived for the mean coalescence times of organelles colonizing sister taxa.
Biomarkers in NHL

Sami N. Malek * Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Michigan, 1500 E. Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Received: April 1, 2011; Accepted: April 1, 2011; Published: April 1, 2011; Commentary On: He J, Wu J, Jiao Y, Wagner-Johnston N, Ambinder RF, Diaz LA, Kinzler KW, Vogelstein B. IgH gene rearrangements as plasma biomarkers in Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma patients. Oncotarget. 2011; 2(3): in this issue Correspondence: Sami N. Malek, e-mail: // // Abstract
The structure of carbamoyl phosphate synthetase determined to 2.1 Å resolution

Carbamoyl phosphate synthetase catalyzes the formation of carbamoyl phosphate from one molecule of bicarbonate, two molecules of Mg2+ATP and one molecule of glutamine or ammonia depending upon the particular form of the enzyme under investigation. As isolated from Escherichia coli, the enzyme is an \alpha,β-heterodimer consisting of a small subunit that hydrolyzes glutamine and a large subunit that catalyzes the two required phosphorylation events. Here the three-dimensional structure of carbamoyl phosphate synthetase from E. coli refined to 2.1 A resolution with an R factor of 17.9% is described. The small subunit is distinctly bilobal with a catalytic triad (Cys269, His353 and Glu355) situated between the two structural domains. As observed in those enzymes belonging to the \alpha/\beta-hydrolase family, the active-site nucleophile, Cys269, is perched at the top of a tight turn. The large subunit consists of four structural units: the carboxyphosphate synthetic component, the oligomerization domain, the carbamoyl phosphate synthetic component and the allosteric domain. Both the carboxyphosphate and carbamoyl phosphate synthetic components bind Mn2+ADP. In the carboxyphosphate synthetic component, the two observed Mn2+ ions are both octahedrally coordinated by oxygen-containing ligands and are bridged by the carboxylate side chain of Glu299. Glu215 plays a key allosteric role by coordinating to the physiologically important potassium ion and hydrogen bonding to the ribose hydroxyl groups of ADP. In the carbamoyl phosphate synthetic component, the single observed Mn2+ ion is also octahedrally coordinated by oxygen-containing ligands and Glu761 plays a similar role to that of Glu215. The carboxy­phosphate and carbamoyl phosphate synthetic components, while topologically equivalent, are structurally different, as would be expected in light of their separate biochemical functions.
A comparative study of MOS VCOs for low voltage high performance operation

Six 10GHz MOS VCOs were designed and fabricated in the IBM 6RF 0.25um CMOS process. Their oscillation frequency, output amplitude and phase noise performance are measured and compared, and the results confirm that replacing shielded-ground inductors with high-resistvity substrate inductors improves phase noise performance. Capacitive source degeneration has also been identified as a performance limiting mechanism in MOS based VCOs rather than performance enhancing as in BJT based VCOs.
Choosing Equality: The Correspondence Between Attitudes About Race and the Value of Equality

In the last 25 years Americans have changed many of the beliefs they hold about racial equality. Schuman, Steeh, and Bobo (1985) have noted that Americans seem to have become increasingly supportive of racial integration during the 1970s and early 1980s, but that their support of specific policies to bring about integration has been ambiguous. Rokeach and Ball-Rokeach (1988) have observed that the priority that Americans assign to equality as a terminal value fell throughout the 1970s. We argue that to more fully understand beliefs about race that seem paradoxical it is important to understand the way that beliefs are conceptualized and measured. This is especially true if one wishes to use attitudes or values as indicators of future behavior. We conclude that the concept of values developed by Rokeach (1973) offers a better basis for gauging public sentiment toward social policies and toward day-to-day living in an integrated society.
Scenario space: characterizing coverage, quality, and failure of steering algorithms

Navigation and steering in complex dynamically changing environments is a challenging research problem, and a fundamental aspect of immersive virtual worlds. While there exist a wide variety of approaches for navigation and steering, there is no definitive solution for evaluating and analyzing steering algorithms. Evaluating a steering algorithm involves two major challenges: (a) characterizing and generating the space of possible scenarios that the algorithm must solve, and (b) defining evaluation criteria (metrics) and applying them to the solution. In this paper, we address both of these challenges. First, we characterize and analyze the complete space of steering scenarios that an agent may encounter in dynamic situations. Then, we propose the representative scenario space and a sampling method that can generate subsets of the representative space with good statistical properties. We also propose a new set of metrics and a statistically robust approach to determining the coverage and the quality of a steering algorithm in this space. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach on three state of the art techniques. Our results show that these methods can only solve 60% of the scenarios in the representative scenario space.
ENaCs and ASICs as therapeutic targets

The epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC) and acid-sensitive ion channel (ASIC) branches of the ENaC/degenerin superfamily of cation channels have drawn increasing attention as potential therapeutic target...
Author's reply: "On the phase error variance of a first-order phase-locked loop in the presence of cochannel CW interference and additive noise"

The author of the original article (ibid., vol.42, p.2672, no.9, 1994) is concerned with the use of the averaged conditional phase-error variance, as a performance measure for a PLL operating in the presence of CW interferers. He correctly points out that the variance of the random variable /spl phi/ can be obtained using the equation given; however, the physics of the problem suggests that the average of the conditional variance used by Lindsey and Yoon (1982) is perhaps the more meaningful performance measure for use in loop design and performance evaluation. The author discusses this issue further in his reply. >
Hyperpolarization-Activated Cation Currents: From Molecules to Physiological Function

Hyperpolarization-activated cation currents, termed If, Ih, or Iq, were initially discovered in heart and nerve cells over 20 years ago. These currents contribute to a wide range of physiological functions, including cardiac and neuronal pacemaker activity, the setting of resting potentials, input conductance and length constants, and dendritic integration. The hyperpolarization-activated, cation nonselective (HCN) gene family encodes the channels that underlie Ih. Here we review the relation between the biophysical properties of recombinant HCN channels and the pattern of HCN mRNA expression with the properties of native Ih in neurons and cardiac muscle. Moreover, we consider selected examples of the expanding physiological functions of Ih with a view toward understanding how the properties of HCN channels contribute to these diverse functional roles.
Beyond reminders: a conceptual framework for using short message service to promote prevention and improve healthcare quality and clinical outcomes for people living with HIV

Abstract The availability of effective antiretroviral therapy has altered HIV from being an acute disease to being a chronic, manageable condition for many people living with HIV (PLWH). Because of their ubiquity and flexibility, mobile phones with short message service (SMS) offer a unique opportunity to enhance treatment and prevention for people managing HIV. To date, very few US studies using SMS for HIV self-management have been published. In this article, we review the published SMS-based intervention research that aimed to improve healthcare quality and outcomes for PLWH and other chronic health conditions, and propose a conceptual model that integrates the communication functionality of SMS with important psychosocial factors that could mediate the impact of SMS on health outcomes. We posit that an SMS-based intervention that incorporates the elements of interactivity, frequency, timing, and tailoring of messages could be implemented to encourage greater medication adherence as well as impact othe...
Early twentieth-century collection of extinct mammals from northern Siberia: the provenance of Bassett Digby's contributions to the Natural History Museum, London, and the British Museum

The origin of the biggest of two relatively rare woolly rhinoceros horns in the collections of the Natural History Museum, London, was a mystery despite its extensive use in education. The aged label had dropped off. In 2003, research on natural historian, traveller, author and foreign correspondent Bassett Digby led to the re-attachment of the yellowed label with small spidery writing that provides the horn's serial number, collector's name and geographical origin. This paper connects provenance to this sparse information. The provenance also applies to other Siberian items Digby supplied: a tusk from an immature mammoth, tusk fragments of various colours, botanical specimens, and ethnological artefacts.
Fermentation of Dilute Acid Pretreated Populus by Clostridium thermocellum, Caldicellulosiruptor bescii, and Caldicellulosiruptor obsidiansis

Consolidated bioprocessing (CBP), which merges enzyme production, biomass hydrolysis, and fermentation into a single step, has the potential to become an efficient and economic strategy for the bioconversion of lignocellulosic feedstocks to transportation fuels or chemicals. In this study, we evaluated wild-type Clostridium thermocellum, Caldicellulosiruptor bescii, and Caldicellulosiruptor obsidiansis, three thermophilic, cellulolytic, mixed-acid fermenting candidate CBP microorganisms, for their fermentation capabilities using dilute acid pretreated Populus as a model biomass feedstock. Under pH-controlled anaerobic fermentation conditions, each candidate successfully digested a minimum of 75 % of the cellulose from dilute acid pretreated Populus, as indicated by an increase in planktonic cells and end-product metabolites and a concurrent decrease in glucan content. C. thermocellum, which employs a cellulosomal approach to biomass degradation, required approximately 50 h to achieve 75 % cellulose utilization. In contrast, the noncellulosomal, secreted hydrolytic enzyme system of the Caldicellulosiruptor sp. required about 100 h after a significant lag phase to achieve similar results. End-point fermentation conversions for C. thermocellum, C. bescii, and C. obsidiansis were determined to be 0.29, 0.34, and 0.38 g of total metabolites per gram of loaded glucan, respectively. These data provide a starting point for future strain engineering efforts that can serve to improve the biomass fermentation capabilities of these three promising candidate CBP platforms.