cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Laryngeal abscess after injection laryngoplasty with micronized AlloDerm.

Objective: Patients with unilateral vocal cord paralysis usually present with dysphonia and occasionally with swallowing problems. Operative management includes thyroplasty type I, injection laryngoplasty, arytenoid adduction, and reinnervation. Recent publications have documented the safety of micronized AlloDerm (Cymetra, LifeCell Corporation, Branchburg, NJ) for injection laryngoplasty, but we report the first documented case of a laryngeal abscess after injection laryngoplasty with Cymetra. Study Design: Single case report of a laryngeal abscess after injection laryngoplasty with Cymetra. Methods: The patient's clinical course is presented and discussed, and the pertinent literature is reviewed. Results: Prompt hospital admission with intravenous antibiotics and steroids resolved this airway emergency. Follow-up visits showed a significantly improved postoperative voice with an intact airway. Conclusion: A review of the literature reveals that this case of a laryngeal abscess after injection laryngoplasty with Cymetra is the first of its kind. Studies have shown that the use of AlloDerm in the head and neck region is safe, but otolaryngologists need to be cognizant of potential complications when working with this material.
Patterns of Movement and Habitat Use by Northern Hog Suckers in an Ozark Stream

Abstract Although the northern hog sucker Hypentelium nigricans is widely distributed throughout the Mississippi and Ohio river basins and is both ecologically and recreationally important, much of its basic ecology is not known. We determined movement and habitat use for 25 fish in the Current River, Missouri, for 1 year using radio telemetry. Seasonal movements were recorded two or three times each week during daylight hours from January to November 1988. Diet movement and habitat use were recorded once each hour for 17 d in winter and 12 d in summer. Mean daily distance traveled was greater in summer (425 m) than in winter (276 m). Home range was greater in winter and spring (812 m) than in summer and fall (426 m). Habitat use changed seasonally from slower, deeper water and smaller substrates during winter to increasing use of taster, shallower water and larger substrates through warmer-water periods. In both seasons, fish had a consistent daily pattern, moving more during the day than at night. Diet ...
Reductions in diabetic cardiovascular risk by community primary care providers.

Objective. To evaluate a community-based, not-for-profit medical group’s effectiveness with diabetic management while using an electronic medical record and financial incentives. Design. Descriptive retrospective study over 2 years with published reference standards. Methods. There were 5,316 diabetic patients in the medical group (MG) compared with 5,069 diabetic patients reported in the literature (CT). The main outcome measures included serum hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C), total (TC), low density lipoprotein (LDL-C) and high density lipoprotein (HDL-C) cholesterol, and clinic measures of systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure. We determined a mean 10-year composite multivariable cardiovascular risk score based upon these parameters. Results. The mean MG serum HbA1C (7.10±0.02; 8.18±0.23%), TC (193.2±0.64; 218.3±6.09 mg/dl), LDL-C (109.2±0.52; 137.8±4.24 mg/dl), and SBP (132.8±0.25; 141.6±2.36 mmHg) were below those for the CT (p<0.001). The MG mean overall coronary heart disease risk of 14.9±1.4% over 10 years was below that for the CT group of 22.7±2.3%, representing a 34.7±4.4% reduction (p<0.0002). The electronic medical record and the use of a financial award may have contributed to these results. Conclusion. Improvement of cardiovascular risk variables can be achieved in the primary care setting. Electronic tools and incentives may facilitate this improvement. (Int J Circumpolar Health 2005; 64(1):26-37) Keywords: cardiovascular, community, Diabetic, medical group, multivariable
Further observations on diurnal variation in standing height.

SummaryA total of 328 daily assessments of standing height were made on one boy between the ages of 12·83 and 13·95 years; 292 of these were replicates to establish reliability of measurement. On 300 days, measurements were taken in the morning within ½ h of rising (which varied between 0700 and 1100 h) and repeated before bed on the same day, between 2100 and 2300 h. The standard error of measurement from 292 duplicate measurements was 0·12 cm. A mean of 0·98 ± 0·2 cm decrease in stature occurred during the course of the day. A similar decrease was found on three occasions after 2–3 h naps.
Experiments in discrimination and classification

Abstract A nonparametric discrimination method, based on estimating the probability densities of two populations, is available which appears generally applicable to discrimination problems. This nonparametric method is combined with Gamba's “learning without teacher” or classification procedure to obtain a new classification technique which considers all variates simultaneously. Experiments applying this technique are described.
The ontogeny and developmental physiology of gastric acid secretion

The production of acid by the stomach is a tightly controlled physiological process that involves neural and hormonal mechanisms and the input of several epithelial cell types. The past several years have seen significant advances in our understanding of the molecular ontogenesis of the stomach and the factors controlling stomach innervation, as well as the differentiation of gastric epithelial cell lineages and their respective hormones/factors that influence acid production. The programmed development of each of these elements is exquisitely regulated and allows human neonates to produce gastric acid; it also helps us define expectations of acid production in preterm infants at all gestational ages.
New developments in comet-FISH

The comet assay combined with fluorescence in-situ hybridisation (FISH) is a powerful technique for comparative analyses of damage induction and repair in genomes and in specific DNA sequences within single cells. Recent advances in the methodology of comet-FISH will be considered here, with particular attention to the design and generation of fluorescent probes. In general, all the approaches must fulfil a few basic requirements: the probes should be no longer than ~300 nucleotides in length (single or double stranded) to be able to penetrate the gel in which the target genomic DNA is embedded, they should be sequence-specific, and their signal should be detectable and distinct from the background fluorescence and the dye used to stain the DNA.
Reengineering Clinical Research with Informatics

The future success of the translational research spectrum depends on the clinical research enterprise9s ability to break through the barriers that constrain its productivity. As more basic science discoveries emerge, our ability to effectively translate this knowledge into improved patient care rests squarely on the manner in which we answer clinical questions. Informatics—the science of effective information use—is poised to help advance the conduct of science. However, incorporating informatics into the enterprise comes with its own set of challenges. To harness the benefits of improved information use, it is important to first establish how information flows within research. A thoughtful implementation of informatics—one that factors in social and organizational nuances—will undoubtedly lead to a more efficient and effective clinical research enterprise.
Localization of the ammonium transporter proteins RhBG and RhCG in mouse kidney

Ammonia is both produced and transported by renal epithelial cells, and it regulates renal ion transport. Recent studies have identified a family of putative ammonium transporters; mRNA for two members of this family, Rh B-glycoprotein (RhBG) and Rh C-glycoprotein (RhCG), is expressed in the kidney. The purpose of this study was to determine the cellular location of RhBG and RhCG protein in the mouse kidney. We generated RhBG- and RhCG-specific anti-peptide antibodies. Immunoblot analysis confirmed that both proteins were expressed in the mouse kidney. RhBG localization with immunohistochemistry revealed discrete basolateral labeling in the connecting segment (CNT) and in the majority of initial collecting tubule (ICT) and cortical collecting duct (CCD) cells. In the outer medullary collecting duct (OMCD) and inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) only a subpopulation of cells exhibited basolateral immunoreactivity. Colocalization of RhBG with carbonic anhydrase II, the thiazide-sensitive transporter, and the anion exchangers AE1 and pendrin demonstrated RhBG immunoreactivity in all CNT cells and all CCD and ICT principal cells. In the ICT and CCD, basolateral RhBG immunoreactivity is also present in A-type intercalated cells but not in pendrin-positive CCD intercalated cells. In the OMCD and IMCD, only intercalated cells exhibit RhBG immunoreactivity. Immunoreactivity for a second putative ammonium transporter, RhCG, was present in the apical region of cells with almost the same distribution as RhBG. However, RhCG immunoreactivity was present in all CCD cells, and it was present in outer stripe OMCD principal cells, in addition to OMCD and IMCD intercalated cells. Thus the majority of RhBG and RhCG protein expression is present in the same epithelial cell types in the CNT and collecting duct but with opposite polarity. These findings suggest that RhBG and RhCG may play important and cell-specific roles in ammonium transport and signaling in these regions of the kidney.
Anticipatory Deaccenting in Language Comprehension.

We evaluated the hypothesis that listeners can generate expectations about upcoming input using anticipatory deaccenting, in which the absence of a nuclear pitch accent on an utterance-new noun is licensed by the subsequent repetition of that noun (e.g. Drag the SQUARE with the house to the TRIangle with the house). The phonemic restoration paradigm was modified to obscure word-initial segmental information uniquely identifying the final word in a spoken instruction, resulting in a stimulus compatible with two lexical alternatives (e.g. mouse/house). In Experiment 1, we measured participants' final interpretations and response times. In Experiment 2, we used the same materials in a crowd-sourced gating study. Sentence interpretations at gated intervals, final interpretations and response times provided converging evidence that the anticipatory deaccenting pattern contributed to listeners' referential expectations. The results illustrate the availability and importance of sentence-level accent patterns in ...
The Lipid-Droplet Proteome Reveals that Droplets Are a Protein-Storage Depot

Summary Background Lipid droplets are ubiquitous organelles that are among the basic building blocks of eukaryotic cells. Despite central roles for cholesterol homeostasis and lipid metabolism, their function and protein composition are poorly understood. Results We purified lipid droplets from Drosophila embryos and analyzed the associated proteins by capillary LC-MS-MS. Important functional groups include enzymes involved in lipid metabolism, signaling molecules, and proteins related to membrane trafficking. Unexpectedly, histones H2A, H2Av, and H2B were present. Using biochemistry, genetics, real-time imaging, and cell biology, we confirm that roughly 50% of certain embryonic histones are physically attached to lipid droplets, a localization conserved in other fly species. Histone association with droplets starts during oogenesis and is prominent in early embryos, but it is undetectable in later stages or in cultured cells. Histones on droplets are not irreversibly trapped; quantitation of droplet histone levels and transplantation experiments suggest that histones are transferred from droplets to nuclei as development proceeds. When this maternal store of histones is unavailable because lipid droplets are mislocalized, zygotic histone production starts prematurely. Conclusions Because we uncover a striking proteomic similarity of Drosophila droplets to mammalian lipid droplets, Drosophila likely provides a good model for understanding droplet function in general. Our analysis also reveals a new function for these organelles; the massive nature of histone association with droplets and its developmental time-course suggest that droplets sequester maternally provided proteins until they are needed. We propose that lipid droplets can serve as transient storage depots for proteins that lack appropriate binding partners in the cell. Such sequestration may provide a general cellular strategy for handling excess proteins.
Surface enhanced Raman spectrometry on silver hydrosols studied by flow injection analysis

Surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) corresponds to the increase of the Raman scattering cross section of organic molecules (five to six orders of magnitude) when molecules are adsorbed onto metal surfaces. The use of silver hydrosols, obtained by chemical reduction of silver nitrate solutions, is convenient. An important drawback is irreproducibility of hydrosol preparation procedures and the nonlinearity between the SERS response and the analyte concentration. In order that these problems could be overcome, flow injection analysis (FIA) has been used. With FIA, constant, reproducible silver hydrosol formation results. SERS signals of para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) were measured over four orders of magnitude of concentration range and over three pH units. The precision of FIA-SERS signals for PABA was 5%, and the limit of detection of PABA was in the ppb range with the use of the Raman band at 1605 cm−1 with an Ar+ laser at 514.5 nm.
Effects of Combustion Gases On Escape Performance of the Baboon and the Rat

In postcrash aircraft fires, only a few minutes are often available for egress. To assess the potential of selected combustion gases (CO, acrolein and HCl) to impair human escape, a signalled avoid...
Spatial power combining for two-dimensional structures

The two-dimensional (2-D) hybrid dielectric slab-beam open and closed waveguide systems are suitable for the design of planar quasi-optical integrated circuits and devices. An open system consisting of an active E-plane amplifier array consisting of Vivaldi-type antennas with MESFET and monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) devices was investigated. The 4/spl times/1 MESFET amplifier array generated 11 and 4.5 dB of amplifier and system gain, respectively, at 7.12 GHz, and the cascade MMTC Vivaldi-type antenna produced 24 dB of amplifier gain at 8.4 GHz. Also, experiments on a new 2-D H-plane parallel-plate closed system with a stripline slot antenna is introduced, and the wavebeam-mode theory is presented. The new system minimizes scattering and isolation losses associated with open structures. The amplifier gain of the closed system based on slot antennas is compared to the open system based on Vivaldi antennas.
Diversion of the Immune Response to Neisseria gonorrhoeae from Th17 to Th1/Th2 by Treatment with Anti-Transforming Growth Factor β Antibody Generates Immunological Memory and Protective Immunity

ABSTRACT The immune response to Neisseria gonorrhoeae is poorly understood, but its extensive antigenic variability and resistance to complement are thought to allow it to evade destruction by the host’s immune defenses. We propose that N. gonorrhoeae also avoids inducing protective immune responses in the first place. We previously found that N. gonorrhoeae induces interleukin-17 (IL-17)-dependent innate responses in mice and suppresses Th1/Th2-dependent adaptive responses in murine cells in vitro through the induction of transforming growth factor β (TGF-β). In this study using a murine model of vaginal gonococcal infection, mice treated with anti-TGF-β antibody during primary infection showed accelerated clearance of N. gonorrhoeae, with incipient development of Th1 and Th2 responses and diminished Th17 responses in genital tract tissue. Upon secondary reinfection, mice that had been treated with anti-TGF-β during primary infection showed anamnestic recall of both Th1 and Th2 responses, with the development of antigonococcal antibodies in sera and secretions, and enhanced resistance to reinfection. In mouse knockout strains defective in Th1 or Th2 responses, accelerated clearance of primary infection due to anti-TGF-β treatment was dependent on Th1 activity but not Th2 activity, whereas resistance to secondary infection resulting from anti-TGF-β treatment during primary infection was due to both Th1- and Th2-dependent memory responses. We propose that N. gonorrhoeae proactively elicits Th17-driven innate responses that it can resist and concomitantly suppresses Th1/Th2-driven specific adaptive immunity that would protect the host. Blockade of TGF-β reverses this pattern of host immune responsiveness and facilitates the emergence of protective antigonococcal immunity. IMPORTANCE Pathogen-host interactions during infectious disease are conventionally thought of as two-way reactions, that of the host against the pathogen and vice versa, with the outcome dependent on which one ultimately prevails. We propose that Neisseria gonorrhoeae, a pathogen that has become extremely well adapted to its exclusive human host, proactively directs the manner in which the host responds in ways that are beneficial to its own survival but detrimental to the host. Gonorrhea is a widely prevalent sexually transmitted infection, and naturally occurring gonococcal strains are becoming resistant to most available antibiotics, yet no effective vaccine has been developed. These new insights into the immune response to N. gonorrhoeae should lead to novel therapeutic strategies and facilitate new approaches to vaccine development.
High Rate of Large Deletions in Caenorhabditis briggsae Mitochondrial Genome Mutation Processes

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations underlie a variety of human genetic disorders and are associated with the aging process. mtDNA polymorphisms are widely used in a variety of evolutionary applications. Although mtDNA mutation spectra are known to differ between distantly related model organisms, the extent to which mtDNA mutation processes vary between more closely related species and within species remains enigmatic. We analyzed mtDNA divergence in two sets of 250-generation Caenorhabditis briggsae mutation-accumulation (MA) lines, each derived from a different natural isolate progenitor: strain HK104 from Okayama, Japan, and strain PB800 from Ohio, United States. Both sets of C. briggsae MA lines accumulated numerous large heteroplasmic mtDNA deletions, whereas only one similar event was observed in a previous analysis of Caenorhabditis elegans MA line mtDNA. Homopolymer length change mutations were frequent in both sets of C. briggsae MA lines and occurred in both intergenic and protein-coding gene regions. The spectrum of C. briggsae mtDNA base substitution mutations differed from the spectrum previously observed in C. elegans. In C. briggsae, the HK104 MA lines experienced many different base substitution types, whereas the PB800 lines displayed only C:G → T:A transitions, although the difference was not significant. Over half of the mtDNA base substitutions detected in the C. briggsae MA lines were in a heteroplasmic state, whereas all those previously characterized in C. elegans MA line mtDNA were fixed changes, indicating a narrower mtDNA bottleneck in C. elegans as compared with C. briggsae. Our results show that C. briggsae mtDNA is highly susceptible to large deletions and that the mitochondrial mutation process varies between Caenorhabditis nematode species.
Stimulated Brillouin scattering gain variation and transient effects in a CH 4 : He binary gas mixture

Experimental measurements are presented that show that the stimulated Brillouin scattering gain of methane, and hence the nature of the competition between stimulated Brillouin scattering and stimulated Raman scattering, can be systematically varied by the addition of helium. The gain variation is explained in terms of a transient gain model in which the dominant effect of the helium is to increase the Brillouin linewidth (acoustic attenuation). Broadening mechanisms are discussed. At methane and helium partial pressures of 19 and 41.8 kTorr (25 and 55 atm), respectively, backward stimulated Raman scattering dominates stimulated Brillouin scattering when the 532-nm pump energy exceeds 160 mJ.
Manėm, kad greit grįšim: 18 pokalbių apie pasitraukimą į Vakarus, 1940–1944 (We Thought That We Could Come Back Soon: 18 Conversations about the Flight to the West in 1940–1944). Compiled by Laima Petrauskaitė VanderStoep, Dalia Stakytė Anysienė, and Dalia Cidzikaitė.

During World War II Lithuania experienced significant demographic changes, losing at least one-fifth of its prewar population. The Holocaust, mass migration, and Soviet deportations transformed the...
Maintenance of Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) Homeostasis in Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1-Infected Cells through the Association of a Viral Glycoprotein with PERK, a Cellular ER Stress Sensor

In the efforts of viruses to dominate and control critical cellular pathways, viruses generate considerable intracellular stress within their hosts. In particular, the capacity of resident endoplasmic reticulum (ER) chaperones to properly process the acute increase in client protein load is significantly challenged. Such alterations typically induce the unfolded protein response, one component of which acts through IRE1 to restore ER homeostasis by expanding the folding capabilities, whereas the other arm activates the eIF-2alpha (alpha subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 2) kinase PERK to transiently arrest production of new polypeptide clientele. Viruses, such as herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), however, go to great lengths to prevent the inhibition of translation resulting from eIF-2alpha phosphorylation. Here, we establish that PERK, but not IRE1, resists activation by acute ER stress in HSV-1-infected cells. This requires the ER luminal domain of PERK, which associates with the viral glycoprotein gB. Strikingly, gB regulates viral protein accumulation in a PERK-dependent manner. This is the first description of a virus-encoded PERK-specific effector and defines a new strategy by which viruses are able to maintain ER homeostasis.
Cooperative-Binding and Splicing-Repressive Properties of hnRNP A1

hnRNP A1 binds to RNA in a cooperative manner. Initial hnRNP A1 binding to an exonic splicing silencer at the 3' end of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) tat exon 3, which is a high-affinity site, is followed by cooperative spreading in a 3'-to-5' direction. As hnRNP A1 propagates toward the 5' end of the exon, it antagonizes binding of a serine/arginine-rich (SR) protein to an exonic splicing enhancer, thereby inhibiting splicing at that exon's alternative 3' splice site. tat exon 3 and the preceding intron of HIV-1 pre-mRNA can fold into an elaborate RNA secondary structure in solution, which could potentially influence hnRNP A1 binding. We report here that hnRNP A1 binding and splicing repression can occur on an unstructured RNA. Moreover, hnRNP A1 can effectively unwind an RNA hairpin upon binding, displacing a bound protein. We further show that hnRNP A1 can also spread in a 5'-to-3' direction, although when initial binding takes place in the middle of an RNA, spreading preferentially proceeds in a 3'-to-5' direction. Finally, when two distant high-affinity sites are present on the same RNA, they facilitate cooperative spreading of hnRNP A1 between the two sites.
A Novel Real-Time Approach to Unified Power Flow Controller Validation

This paper presents the development of a real-time hardware/software laboratory to interface a soft real-time power system simulator with multiple unified power flow controllers (UPFC) via hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) to study their dynamic responses and validate control and placement approaches. This paper describes a unique laboratory facility that enables large-scale, soft real-time power system simulation coupled with the true physical behavior of a UPFC as opposed to the controller response captured by many other real-time simulators. The HIL line includes a synchronous machine, a UPFC, and a programmable load to reproduce the physical dynamics of the UPFC sub-network.
The Role of Ethnic and National Identifications in Perceived Discrimination for Asian Americans: Toward a Better Understanding of the Buffering Effect of Group Identifications on Psychological Distress.

A robust relationship between perceived racial discrimination and psychological distress has been established. Yet, mixed evidence exists regarding the extent to which ethnic identification moderates this relationship, and scarce attention has been paid to the moderating role of national identification. We propose that the role of group identifications in the perceived discrimination–psychological distress relationship is best understood by simultaneously and interactively considering ethnic and national identifications. A sample of 259 Asian American students completed measures of perceived discrimination, group identifications (specific ethnic identification stated by respondents and national or “mainstream American” identification), and psychological distress (anxiety and depression symptoms). Regression analyses revealed a significant three-way interaction of perceived discrimination, ethnic identification, and national identification on psychological distress. Simple-slope analyses indicated that dual identification (strong ethnic and national identifications) was linked to a weaker relationship between perceived discrimination and psychological distress compared with other group identification configurations. These findings underscore the need to consider the interconnections between ethnic and national identifications to better understand the circumstances under which group identifications are likely to buffer individuals against the adverse effects of racial discrimination.
Dominant and nondominant negative C-erbA beta 1 receptors associated with thyroid hormone resistance syndromes augment 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate induction of the collagenase promoter and exhibit defective 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine-mediated repression.

C-erbA receptors and v-erbA have been shown to functionally interact with 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-inducible gene expression. These proteins enhance trans-activation by c-jun, and the c-erbA receptors in the presence of thyroid hormone repress TPA and c-jun induction of transcription. Also, v-erbA can abrogate T3-mediated repression. We have examined how dominant negative (S and CL) and nondominant negative (G-H) receptors cloned from various patients with thyroid hormone resistance syndromes affect expression of the collagenase promoter induced with TPA. The CL receptor (ARG315HIS mutation) has a 2-fold reduction in T3-binding affinity compared with human c-erbA beta 1 wild-type (WT) receptor, whereas the G-H receptor (ARG311HIS) and S receptor (deletion, THR codon 332) have T3-binding affinities reduced by 100-fold and greater than 100-fold, respectively. These mutant receptors were cotransfected with a collagenase promoter (-1200 to +63 base pairs) chloramphenicol acetyltransferase r...
Chitosan-based hydrogels for controlled, localized drug delivery

Hydrogels are high-water content materials prepared from cross-linked polymers that are able to provide sustained, local delivery of a variety of therapeutic agents. Use of the natural polymer, chitosan, as the scaffold material in hydrogels has been highly pursued thanks to the polymer's biocompatibility, low toxicity, and biodegradability. The advanced development of chitosan hydrogels has led to new drug delivery systems that release their payloads under varying environmental stimuli. In addition, thermosensitive hydrogel variants have been developed to form a chitosan hydrogel in situ, precluding the need for surgical implantation. The development of these intelligent drug delivery devices requires a foundation in the chemical and physical characteristics of chitosan-based hydrogels, as well as the therapeutics to be delivered. In this review, we investigate the newest developments in chitosan hydrogel preparation and define the design parameters in the development of physically and chemically cross-linked hydrogels.
Infertility and age at first coitus: a possible relationship.

Reported age at first coitus was shown to be associated with incidence and degree of infertility. Infertility patients reported later first coital ages than gynecological patients in a sample of 792 women seen in a major fertility service. Among the infertility patients those who had never conceived presented a later first coital age than those who had previously conceived. Routine gynecological patients reported the youngest first coital age of the groups studied. (Authors)
Reactive boiling of cellulose for integrated catalysis through an intermediate liquid

Advanced biomass processing technology integrating fast pyrolysis and inorganic catalysis requires an improved understanding of the thermal decomposition of biopolymers in contact with porous catalytic surfaces. High speed photography (1000 frames per second) reveals that direct impingement of microcrystalline cellulose particles (300 μm) with rhodium-based reforming catalysts at high temperature (700 °C) produces an intermediate liquid phase that reactively boils to vapors. The intermediate liquid maintains contact with the porous surface permitting high heat transfer (MW m−2) generating an internal thermal gradient visible within the particle as a propagating wave of solid to liquid conversion. Complete conversion to liquid yields a fluid droplet on the catalyst surface exhibiting a linear decrease in droplet volume with time leaving behind a clean surface absent of solid residue (char). Under specific interfacial conditions, conversion with large cellulosic particles on the length-scale of wood chips (millimeters) occurs continuously as generated liquid and vapors are pushed into the porous surface.
Acute Exposure to Methylmercury Causes Ca2+ Dysregulation and Neuronal Death in Rat Cerebellar Granule Cells through an M3 Muscarinic Receptor-Linked Pathway

Acute exposure to low concentrations of methylmercury (MeHg) causes a severe loss of intracellular calcium (Ca 2 + i) homeostasis, which apparently contributes to neuronal death of cerebellar granule cells in culture. We examined the role of muscarinic receptors in MeHg-induced Ca 2 + dysregulation and cell death in rat cerebellar granule cells in vitro using fura-2 single-cell microfluorimetry and viability assays, respectively. The nonspecific muscarinic receptor antagonist atropine significantly delayed the onset of MeHg-induced Ca 2 + elevations and reduced the amount of Ca 2 + released into the cytosol. Depletion of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) Ca 2 + pool with thapsigargin or down-regulation of muscarinic receptors and inositol-1,3,4-triphosphate (IP 3 ) receptors with bethanechol (BCh) caused similar reductions in the amplitude of the MeHg-induced Ca 2 + increase, suggesting that MeHg interacts with muscarinic receptors to cause Ca 2 + release from the SER through activation of the IP 3 receptors. To determine whether this Ca 2 + release plays a role in MeHg-induced cell death, cells were exposed to MeHg in the presence of specific muscarinic receptor inhibitors. Acute exposure to increasing concentrations of MeHg (0.2-1.0 μM) caused a corresponding increase in cell death at 24.5 h post-exposure. Prior down-regulation of muscarinic and IP 3 receptors with BCh protected against cell death. Protection was ablated by atropine and the M3 receptor antagonist 4-diphenylacetoxyl-N-methylpiperidine methiodide (DAMP), but not by the neuronal nicotinic receptor antagonist dihydro-β-erythroidine hydrobromide (DHE). Thus activation of M3 muscarinic receptors with subsequent generation of IP 3 evidently contributes to elevated [Ca 2 + ] i and subsequent cytotoxicity of cerebellar granule cells by MeHg.
Ranger and Apollo S-IVB spacecraft impact craters

Abstract Numerous spacecraft have impacted the surface of Moon during the last several decades of lunar exploration. These impacts fall into two categories: relatively high-angle impacts formed by spacecraft on direct trajectories from the Earth and low-angle impacts formed by spacecraft in lunar orbit. The craters produced by the Ranger spacecraft and the Apollo S-IVB boosters are discussed here. The Ranger spacecraft had a mass of ~370 kg (816 lb.), impacted at 2600 km s −1 and formed craters ~14–15 m in diameter. The S-IVB boosters had masses of ~14,000 kg (30865 lb.), impacted at ~2600 km s −1 and formed craters ~35 m in diameter. These impacts are relatively unique due to the low bulk-density of the impactor (28 and 700 kg m −3 , respectively the S-IVB and Ranger spacecraft). Craters produced by the impact of the Ranger spacecraft are similar to other lunar mare craters in which the excavation process was impeded by the underlying solid basalt. Craters produced by the S-IVB impacts are non-circular and exhibit an elongate central mound. It appears that the S-IVB crater excavation also interacted with the basalt but in a more complicated manner than for the Ranger craters. Ejecta and rays associated with these craters are asymmetric and indicate that the excavation flow field varied with time and was not symmetric about the trajectory direction.
Efficient and Semiefficient Vulcanization Systems Employing 2-(Morpholinodithio)-Benzothiazole Generated in Situ

Abstract The MBTS-N-(morpholinothio)phthalimide vulcanization system has been found to be effective in producing heat resistant semi-EV and EV cures in a variety of representative rubbers. When used as a direct replacement on a molar basis for 2-(morpholinodithio)benzothiazole (MDB), improvements in processing safety were found in all cases studied. In this respect it is most effective in NR, SBR, and NBR. The experimental system also generally gave slower-curing stocks. The heat resistance of the experimental stocks was found to be equal to or better than that of the MDB control stocks. Substantial improvements in heat resistance for both SBR and IIR unexpectedly resulted from the use of the MBTS—imide system. This result suggests that the nature of the crosslinks formed by the two vulcanization systems are to some extent different in these two elastomers. This, in turn, may reflect upon the mechanisms of crosslink formation.
Habitat Association Patterns of Forest and Steppe Birds of Northern Patagonia, Argentina

I censused birds across a moisture gradient in northern Patagonia, Argentina, in the vicinity of Bariloche. Over a 60-km distance, the 12 sites ranged from grassland at lower elevations to upland climax Nothofagus forests of the eastern Andes. Here, I correlated bird abundance and diversities with various vegetation measures. Using all sites, bird diversities and abundances were positively correlated with various foliage measures. When grasslands were excluded, however, an inverse relationship was found: birds were more diverse and abundant in the lower stature shrub communities than in complex forests. Multiple regression analyses of this apparently paradoxical situation indicated that certain species of plants probably had important effects on community structure.
ALS and FTD: an epigenetic perspective

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are two fatal neurodegenerative diseases seen in comorbidity in up to 50 % of cases. Despite tremendous efforts over the last two decades, no biomarkers or effective therapeutics have been identified to prevent, decelerate, or stop neuronal death in patients. While the identification of multiple mutations in more than two dozen genes elucidated the involvement of several mechanisms in the pathogenesis of both diseases, identifying the hexanucleotide repeat expansion in C9orf72, the most common genetic abnormality in ALS and FTD, opened the door to the discovery of several novel pathogenic biological routes, including chromatin remodeling and transcriptome alteration. Epigenetic processes regulate DNA replication and repair, RNA transcription, and chromatin conformation, which in turn further dictate transcriptional regulation and protein translation. Transcriptional and post-transcriptional epigenetic regulation is mediated by enzymes and chromatin-modifying complexes that control DNA methylation, histone modifications, and RNA editing. While the alteration of DNA methylation and histone modification has recently been reported in ALS and FTD, the assessment of epigenetic involvement in both diseases is still at an early stage, and the involvement of multiple epigenetic players still needs to be evaluated. As the epigenome serves as a way to alter genetic information not only during aging, but also following environmental signals, epigenetic mechanisms might play a central role in initiating ALS and FTD, especially for sporadic cases. Here, we provide a review of what is currently known about altered epigenetic processes in both ALS and FTD and discuss potential therapeutic strategies targeting epigenetic mechanisms. As approximately 85 % of ALS and FTD cases are still genetically unexplained, epigenetic therapeutics explored for other diseases might represent a profitable direction for the field.
Perceived role of physiological sensors impacts trust and reliance on robots

Physiological sensors can be instrumental in facilitating complex behavioral and social interactions between humans and robots. However, there is a limited understanding of the psychological implications of incorporating such sensors in the context of human-robot interaction. We show that perception of sensors' role can act as an individual difference factor that can implicitly influence trust and reliance on a robot. We argue that some people may believe in the ability of physiological sensors to facilitate mentalization (or understanding) of humans. We refer to this tendency as mentalizing propensity. Such implicit differences in mentalizing propensity may influence participants' trust and reliance on a robot, as found in the current study. We also found that trust can mediate the influence of mentalizing propensity on reliance. Furthermore, we show that social interactions with a robot influenced participants' mentalizing propensity. The current work shows that implicit understanding of sensors' role in human-robot interaction context is an important attribute to assess in future studies on trust and reliance.
EFFECT OF THE IONOPHORE A23187 UPON LYMPHOCYTE CALCIUM METABOLISM

Publisher Summary This chapter explores the effect of the ionophore A23187 upon lymphocyte calcium metabolism. The ionophore A23187 has been shown to induce lymphocyte proliferation in a calcium dependent manner, thus, lending support to the hypothesis that calcium is a critical intracellular signal in the initiation of lymphocyte transformation. A study described in the chapter investigated the effect of A23187 on human lymphocyte calcium metabolism in an effort to correlate changes in cellular calcium with initiation of transformation. Freshly isolated human peripheral lymphocytes suspended in MEM plus 10% AB serum were used in all experiments described in the chapter. Using the techniques of atomic absorption spectroscopy and 45 Ca uptake, it was determined that the mitogenic concentrations of A23187 result in a net increase in calcium content of human lymphocytes. However, the increased calcium was not retained, and over a period of many hours, the calcium content of A23187-treated lymphocytes declined to levels approaching control values. As the respiratory uncoupler FCCP was capable of blocking at least 95% of the A23187-induced 45 Ca uptake, it was concluded that most of the calcium accumulated in ionophore-treated lymphocytes was sequestered by the mitochondria.
A bioluminogenic probe for monitoring tyrosinase activity

A bioluminogenic probe based on luciferin was designed and synthesized to monitor tyrosinase activity. This probe was efficient in assessing tyrosinase activity in a buffered aqueous solution and in measuring endogenous tyrosinase activity in melanoma cells.
The Impact of Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy on Hospitalization Outcomes in the SEER-Medicare Population With Anal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Purpose We examined the impact of intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) on hospitalization rates in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)–Medicare population with anal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Methods and Materials We performed a retrospective cohort study using the SEER-Medicare database. We identified patients with nonmetastatic anal SCC diagnosed between 2001 and 2011 and treated with chemoradiation therapy. We assessed the relation between IMRT and first hospitalization by use of a multivariate competing-risk model, as well as instrumental variable analysis, using provider IMRT affinity as our instrument. Results Of the 1165 patients included in our study, 458 (39%) received IMRT. IMRT use increased over time and was associated more with regional and provider characteristics than with patient characteristics. The 3- and 6-month cumulative incidences of first hospitalization were 41.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 37.3%-46.4%) and 47.6% (95% CI, 43.0%-52.2%), respectively, for the IMRT cohort and 46.7% (95% CI, 43.0%-50.4%) and 52.1% (95% CI, 48.4%-55.7%), respectively, for the non-IMRT cohort. IMRT was associated with a decreased hazard of first hospitalization compared with 3-dimensional radiation techniques (hazard ratio, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.58-0.84; P =.0002). Instrumental variable analysis suggested an even greater reduction in hospitalizations with IMRT after controlling for unmeasured confounders. There was a trend toward improved overall survival with IMRT, with an adjusted hazard ratio of 0.77 (95% CI, 0.59-1.00; P =.05). Conclusions The use of IMRT is associated with reduced hospitalizations in elderly patients with anal SCC. Further work is warranted to understand the long-term health and cost impact of IMRT, particularly for patient subgroups most at risk of toxicity and hospitalization.
Is Difficulty Overrated?: The Effects of Choice, Novelty and Suspense on Intrinsic Motivation in Educational Games

Many game designers aim to optimize difficulty to make games that are "not too hard, not too easy." However, recent experiments have shown that even moderate difficulty can reduce player engagement. The present work investigates other design factors that may account for the purported benefits of difficulty, such as choice, novelty and suspense. These factors were manipulated in three design experiments involving over 20,000 play sessions of an online educational game. The first experiment (n=10,472) randomly assigned some players to a particular level of difficulty but allowed other players to freely choose their difficulty. Moderately difficult levels were most motivating when self-selected; yet, when difficulty was blindly assigned, the easiest games were most motivating. The second experiment (n=5,065) randomly assigned players to differing degrees of novelty. Moderate novelty was optimal, while too much or too little novelty reduced intrinsic motivation. A final experiment (n=6,511) investigated the role of suspense in "close games", where it was found to be beneficial. If difficulty decreases motivation while novelty and suspense increase it, then an implication for educational game designers is to make easy, interesting games that are "not too hard, not too boring."
A Fault-Tolerant and Time-Step Optimal Multicasting in 2-D Meshes

We propose a fault-tolerant and time-step optimal multicast algorithm for 2-dimensional (2-D) meshes based on the concept of the extended safety level which is a vector associated with each node to capture fault information in the neighborhood. In order to minimize the total number of traffic steps, three heuristic strategies are proposed. A simulation study is conducted to measure the total number of traffic steps under different strategies. Our approach is the first attempt to address the fault-tolerant and time-step optimal multicast problem in 2-D meshes based on limited global information with a simple model and succinct information.
Options for Failed Flexor Tendon Surgery

Reconstructive flexor tendon surgery can be extremely difficult. The zone of failure will determine the potential reconstructive options that are available. For the thumb, tendon grafts as well as potential flexor digitorum superficialis tendon transfer are options for reconstruction. In the digits fusion as well as 2-stage tendon reconstructions are options. If the flexor tendon sheath is still intact, a single-stage tendon graft can sometimes be successful. These surgeries can be fraught with complications including failure of the graft to heal, rupture of the graft, scarring of the graft, and hand stiffness. These types of surgeries really should be performed by someone who performs hand surgery on a regular basis or who has specialized training in hand surgery. Both skill and creative thinking are required to succeed in these reconstructions. However, even in the best of hands, these cases may not turn out as the patient and surgeon had hoped. This chapter discusses the options available for reconstructing the finger or thumb that has failed initial repair.
Preclosure spectroscopic differences between healed and dehisced traumatic wounds

BACKGROUND The complexity and severity of traumatic wounds in military and civilian trauma demands improved wound assessment, before, during, and after treatment. Here, we explore the potential of 3 charge-coupled device (3CCD) imaging values to distinguish between traumatic wounds that heal following closure and those that fail. Previous studies demonstrate that normalized 3CCD imaging values exhibit a high correlation with oxygen saturation and allow for comparison of values between diverse clinical settings, including utilizing different equipment and lighting. METHODS We screened 119 patients at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and at Grady Memorial Hospital with at least one traumatic extremity wound of ≥ 75 cm2. We collected images of each wound during each debridement surgery for a total of 66 patients. An in-house written computer application selected a region of interest in the images, separated the pixel color values, calculated relative values, and normalized them. We followed patients until the enrolled wounds were surgically closed, quantifying the number of wounds that dehisced (defined as wound failure or infection requiring return to the operating room after closure) or healed. RESULTS Wound failure occurred in 20% (19 of 96) of traumatic wounds. Normalized intensity values for patients with wounds that healed successfully were, on average, significantly different from values for patients with wounds that failed (p ≤ 0.05). Simple thresholding models and partial least squares discriminant analysis models performed poorly. However, a hierarchical cluster analysis model created with 17 variables including 3CCD data, wound surface area, and time from injury predicts wound failure with 76.9% sensitivity, 76.5% specificity, 76.6% accuracy, and a diagnostic odds ratio of 10.8 (95% confidence interval: 2.6-45.9). CONCLUSIONS Imaging using 3CCD technology may provide a non-invasive and cost-effective method of aiding surgeons in deciding if wounds are ready for closure and could potentially decrease the number of required debridements and hospital days. The process may be automated to provide real-time feedback in the operating room and clinic. The low cost and small size of the cameras makes this technology attractive for austere and shipboard environments where space and weight are at a premium.
Das Gewährleistungsrecht in Österreich und Deutschland als Beispiele für eine holprige Harmonisierung des europäischen Kaufrechts

Die Verbrauchsguterkauf-Richtlinie sollte zu einer Harmonisierung des Gewahrleistungsrechts im Bereich B2C in der EU fuhren. Der Beitrag zeigt, dass dieses Ziel jedenfalls im Vergleich Deutschland und Osterreich nicht erreicht wurde und analysiert die Grunde dafur.