cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ultrasonic analysis of acute thermal and radiation injury—A pilot study

Abstract Medical injury from a terrorist event (IND, RDD) is likely to involve both radiation damage and thermal trauma (combined injury). A high-frequency ultrasound technique has previously been developed to function as a clinical tool to distinguish partial-thickness from full-thickness thermal burns in a porcine model and the method was later extended for use in clinical burn units. In a traditional clinical setting, the technique has shown sufficient sensitivity to quantitate extension of a partial-thickness burn to a full-thickness burn through cutaneous infection. The ultrasound method has been extended in a pilot study to analyze radiation-induced cutaneous injury. Analysis of radiation-induced skin injury is more difficult than for thermal injury. However, further development of the method has shown a time-dependent response curve for the scattered ultrasound signal after irradiation of Wistar rat tails to 40 Gy with a 120 KeV X-ray spectrum. Statistically significant changes ( p 0.05 ) in the magnitude of the reflected ultrasound spectrum have been noted less than 6 h-post-irradiation. The scattered intensity response curve peaks near the appearance of the first clinical sign (erythema) at 12 days post-irradiation. The mechanism of ultrasound sensitivity appears to involve changes in the tissue acoustic impedance post-irradiation possibly due to hyperemia, vascular damage and leakage. Because of the penetrating power and resolution of recent ultrasound equipment, this technique is expected to be extendable to analysis of irradiated deep organs, of large- and medium-size blood vessels, and to possible analysis of combined injury.
Characterization and Localization of Acid Phosphatase Activity of Trypanosoma gambiense

SYNOPSIS. Properties and cellular location of acid phosphatase in Trypanosoma gambiense were studied. Activity was found in both the sediment (32,000 ×g) and the supernatant of homogenates. Cenrifugation in 0.3 M sucrose showed activity principally in the lowspeed fraction (4,000 ×g). One min of sonication released most of this activity. Several phosphomonoesters were hydrolyzed at acid H's. Enzymatic activity was relatively specific for pyrophosphate and p-nitrophenylphosphate at pH 3.6. At pH 5.2, purine and pyimidine nucleotide 5′-triphosphates as well as adenosine di- and ono-5′-phosphates were hydrolyzed nonspecifically. Activity with yrophosphate at pH 3.6 had a temperature optimum of 60-70 C while that for adenosine 5′-triphosphate (pH 5.2) was 50 C. These ctivities of the sediment required no metal co-factors and were inibited by Fe++, inhibition at the lower pH being greater. Glucose 6-phosphate was hydrolyzed by the supernatant with maximum activity between pH 6.0 and 7.2 and a temperature optimum of 50 C. This pH range showed a broad plateau with 2 or 3 minor peaks. The hydrolysis of p-nitrophenylphosphate showed a similar pH curve. In glucose 6-phosphate hydrolysis, Mg++ was a required co-factor but could be replaced by Ni++ or Co++. Ammonium sulfate fractionation precipitated most of the supernatant activity between 50 and 75% saturation. A modified Gomori technic produced spherical deposits of PbS thruout the cytoplasm of the intact cell. With the electron microscope, Pb phosphate deposition was observed in membrane-bound vesicles (i.e., lysosomes) approximately 100-150 mμ in diameter. These organelles were common in the region of the reservoir at the base of the flagellum. Acid phosphatase activity specific for glucose 6-phosphate as substrate was localized within this basal pocket.
The bake-out of an office building: A case study

Abstract To reduce concentration of volatile organic compounds (VOC) emitted by building materials and furnishings, it has been suggested that new buildings undergo a bake-out. This paper reports the results of the bake-out of a newly renovated office building at temperature ranging from 32 to 39°C for 24 hours at a ventilation rate of 1.59 h−1. Based upon the 14 VOC quantified, the total VOC concentration increased to more than four times the original concentration during the bake-out and was reduced to 71% of the original concentration after the bake-out.
Cluster form factor calculation in the ab initio no-core shell model

We derive expressions for cluster overlap integrals or channel cluster form factors for ab initio no-core shell model (NCSM) wave functions. These are used to obtain the spectroscopic factors and can serve as a starting point for the description of low-energy nuclear reactions. We consider the composite system and the target nucleus to be described in the Slater determinant (SD) harmonic oscillator (HO) basis while the projectile eigenstate to be expanded in the Jacobi coordinate HO basis. This is the most practical case. The spurious center of mass components present in the SD bases are removed exactly. The calculated cluster overlap integrals are translationally invariant. As an illustration, we present results of cluster form factor calculations for $⟨^{5}\mathrm{He}\ensuremath{\mid}^{4}\mathrm{He}+n⟩$, $⟨^{5}\mathrm{He}\ensuremath{\mid}^{3}\mathrm{H}+d⟩$, $⟨^{6}\mathrm{Li}\ensuremath{\mid}^{4}\mathrm{He}+d⟩$, $⟨^{6}\mathrm{Be}\ensuremath{\mid}^{3}\mathrm{He}+^{3}\mathrm{He}⟩$, $⟨^{7}\mathrm{Li}\ensuremath{\mid}^{4}\mathrm{He}+^{3}\mathrm{H}⟩$, $⟨^{7}\mathrm{Li}\ensuremath{\mid}^{6}\mathrm{Li}+n⟩$, $⟨^{8}\mathrm{Be}\ensuremath{\mid}^{6}\mathrm{Li}+d⟩$, $⟨^{8}\mathrm{Be}\ensuremath{\mid}^{7}\mathrm{Li}+p⟩$, $⟨^{9}\mathrm{Li}\ensuremath{\mid}^{8}\mathrm{Li}+n⟩$, and $⟨^{13}\mathrm{C}\ensuremath{\mid}^{12}\mathrm{C}+n⟩$, with all the nuclei described by multi-$\ensuremath{\hbar}\ensuremath{\Omega}$ NCSM wave functions.
Current hypotheses for the underlying biology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

The mechanisms involved in selective motor neuron degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis remain unknown more than 135 years after the disease was first described. Although most cases have no known cause, mutations in the gene encoding Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) have been implicated in a fraction of familial cases of the disease. Transgenic mouse models with mutations in the SOD1 gene and other ALS genes develop pathology reminiscent of the disorder, including progressive death of motor neurons, and have provided insight into the pathogenesis of the disease but have consistently failed to predict therapeutic efficacy in humans. However, emerging research has demonstrated that mutations and pathology associated with the TDP-43 gene and protein may be more common than SOD1 mutations in familial and sporadic ALS. Putative mechanisms of toxicity targeting motor neurons include oxidative damage, accumulation of intracellular aggregates, mitochondrial dysfunction, defects in axonal transport, growth factor deficiency, aberrant RNA metabolism, glial cell pathology, and glutamate excitotoxicity. Convergence of these pathways is likely to mediate disease onset and progression.
Nature of Oxidation of the Au(111) Surface: Experimental and Theoretical Investigation

The Au(111) surface is the prototypical inert metal substrate, whose interaction with oxygen remains a controversial issue. Here, we study the effect of dosing temperature and coverage on the absorption of atomic oxygen on this surface, using ab initio molecular dynamics and high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy. Two vibrational peaks are observed experimentally at 380 and 580 cm−1. The lower frequency peak is predominant at low oxygen coverages, while the higher frequency peak grows more pronounced with increasing oxygen coverage. Our simulations reproduce these results and show that oxygen chemisorbed on the surface is the primary species at low coverages or low surface temperatures. An oxide-like species, both on the surface and under the top layer of gold, becomes dominant at higher coverages or temperatures. These results elucidate the nature of oxidation of the Au(111) surface.
Diagnosis of Thymic Clear Cell Carcinoma by Cytology

Clear cell carcinoma of the thymus is a rare tumor. Few cases of clear-cell carcinoma of thymus have been documented (Truong et al., 1990 and Wolfe III et al., 1983). All these cases were diagnosed by histopathological examination of the tissue. Diagnosis of thymic clear cell carcinoma on cytology is extremely challenging. Here we report the first case of thymic clear cell carcinoma diagnosed by cytological examination of the pericardial fluid with the help of immunocytochemistry. Differential diagnosis included adenocarcinoma, mesothelioma, and thymic clear cell carcinoma. Thymic carcinoma with clear cell features has an aggressive clinical behavior including our case, where it was already metastasized at the time of presentation.
Bax, along with Lipid Conspirators, Allows Cytochrome c to Escape Mitochondria

Abstract Bax and cleaved Bid trigger cytochrome c release from mitochondria during apoptosis. Recent work demonstrates that mitochondrial lipid rather than protein composition is the key determinant in the permeabilization process via a supramolecular complex, suggesting a reevaluation of current paradigms.
A chemical defense mechanism for the nudibranch cadlina luteomarginata

Abstract The nudibranch Cadlina luteomarginata from San Diego, California, concentrates selected metabolites from the sponges that constitute its diet. Gut analyses revealed that C. leutomarginata consumes at least ten sponges although Axinella sp. and Myxilla incrustans are most frequently eaten. Field observations and analysis of metabolites suggest that keratose sponges Leiosella idia (= Spongia idia ) and Dysidea amblia are also consumed. Three novel compounds, the furan 20 , the isonitrile 23 and the isothiocyanate 24 were identified by analysis of spectral data. The secondary metabolites of C. leuteomarginata were found only in the dorsum, which is exposed to potential predators. Five metabolites of C. luteomarginata were screened for antifeedant activity against fish and all showed some activity at 10–100 μ/mg in food pellets.
Clear cell adenocarcinoma of the cervix and vaginal vault of mesonephric origin.

The embryologic background and histologic types of genital tumors arising from mesonephric remnants are discussed. The differing views on the true histogenesis of the group of tumors arising near the ovary are described but, where origin is from the cervix and vagina, it is concluded that there can be little debate as to the mesonephric origin. Two cases are described arising in the cervix and vagina and treated by Radiation Therapy at the Upstate Medical Center, State University Hospital of New York, Syracuse, New York. The authors believe that these tumors exhibit a radiosensitivity that is not uncommon for adenocarcinoma in the genital tract but is uncommon in other parts of the body. Radiocurability is harder to assess but there is some limited evidence in the literature to suggest that they may be curable by radiation.
Laser and particle beam irradiation effects in amorphous metals

In view of the potential use of amorphous magnets as radiation-resistant materials, we performed a comparative study between laser and particle beam induced effects in amorphous alloy systems. We irradiated Fe81B13.5 Si3.5C2, Fe40Ni38Mo4B18, Fe66Co18B15Si1 and Fe72.6Cr22Al4.8Si0.3Y0.3 with pulsed laser radiation as well as with high (W=7 MeV) and low energy (W=30 and 50 keV) electrons and with 2.8 MeV alpha particles. The irradiation effects in these systems were investigated using several complementary techniques: transmission and conversion electron Mossbauer spectroscopy, magnetometry and electron microscopy. We were able to deduce details of the mechanism of magnetic texture formation and of the amorphous-to-crystalline phase transformations in the studied amorphous alloys.
Opioids in cardiac surgery: Cardiopulmonary bypass and inflammatory response

After a brief overview of the history of narcotic use in anesthesia, the various opiates are reviewed mainly from a stress-reducing, antiinflammatory and hemodynamic perspective. The emphasis is placed on cardiac anesthesia.
A bioeconomic decision model comparing composted and fresh litter for winter squash

Abstract Decision aids are needed to identify management strategies for complex agricultural problems affecting numerous stakeholders. Our objective was to develop a bioeconomic decision aid examining poultry litter application to winter squash, Cucurbita maxima , on the basis of multiple goals: enhancing environmental and soil quality, maximizing waste recycling, and maximizing net revenues. Because farm-level decisions about waste management may conflict with community goals, the decision aid balances the preferences of squash growers, poultry producers, and community-level decision makers. The aid utilizes a simulation model that compares four litter management alternatives: (1) fresh poultry litter applied to meet crop nitrogen (N) needs; (2) fresh poultry litter applied to meet crop phosphorus (P) needs; (3) composted poultry litter to meet crop N needs; and (4) composted poultry litter to meet crop P needs. Output from biophysical submodels compares well to literature data. Sensitivity tests show strong correlation between nutrient accumulation in soil pools and estimates of potentially available nutrients in fresh and composted litter. The decision model outcome, when averaged across stakeholder groups, clearly favors composted litter applied to meet crop P needs. Decision aids can help various stakeholder groups see how their priorities interact as well as demonstrate the importance of long-term analysis to assess alternative management strategies.
Introducing a terrestrial carbon pool in warm desert bedrock mountains, southwestern USA

Growth of the Phoenix metropolitan area led to road cut or house platform exposures of the internal bedrock material of surrounding semiarid mountain ranges. Similar exposures in the surrounding Sonoran and Mojave Deserts reveal the presence of sedimentary calcium carbonate infilling the preexisting fracture matrix of the bedrock. Field surveys at 31 sites with bedrock fractures filled with carbonate, referred to as BFFC in the following text, reveal an average of 0.079 ± 0.036 mTC/m2 stored in the upper 2 m of analyzed bedrock exposures. Backscattered electron microscopy images indicate the presence of carbonate at the micron scale, not included in this estimate of carbon storage. Pilot radiocarbon and Sr isotope analyses suggest that one of the surveyed BFFC veins was flushed into the bedrock from a nonbedrock source during the wetter last glacial period in the late Pleistocene.
Mentally retarded admitted to psychiatric hospitals in Denmark.

– Computerized register linkage and a questionnaire survey showed that the number of mentally retarded admitted to psychiatric hospitals in Denmark is rapidly increasing. This development is highly deplorable. Diagnosis and treatment are frequently complicated by the nature of the mental handicap and, especially, the often diverging clinical appearance of the psychiatric disorders in these persons. Mentally retarded with a psychiatric disorder should, in general, be treated in special institutions or outpatient clinics, by specially trained social psychiatrists and staffs.
Comparison of the phytoplankton species composition and structure in the Climax area (1973–1985) with that of station ALOHA (1994)

In August 1994, water samples were collected from seven depths on each of two casts at the Hawaiian Ocean Time-series station (ALOHA; 22°45'N, 158°W). These samples allowed a comparison between the larger phytoplankton taxa at ALOHA and those in the Climax area (near 28°N, 155°W) that were collected during summers between 1973 and 1985. Of the 142 species found at ALOHA, all but 6 have been seen in the Climax area. The two-layered structure that is typical of the Climax area was also found at station ALOHA, where the break between shallow and deep associations occurred between 100- and 135-m depth. However, abundances of the deep species at ALOHA were lower than in the Climax area. The correlations between the rank order of abundances of phytoplankton from Sta. ALOHA and from the Climax area fell within the spectrum of correlations between pairs of stations from the Climax area. These results indicate that in August 1994 the phytoplankton at Sta. ALOHA was indistinguishable from that in the Climax area between 1973 and 1985. Nevertheless, many additional studies are needed before results from the Climax area or results from the Hawaiian Ocean Time-series program can be unconditionally generalized.
The Infant Day Care Controversy: Current Status and Future Directions.

Under what circumstances are what outcomes associated with what patterns of early nonmaternal care, to what extent, and why? When the day care studies reviewed by Belsky are evaluated with this manifold question in mind, it becomes clear that precious little is known at this point; infant day care research is itself still in infancy. This commentary begins with a conceptual and methodological critique of Belsky's infant day care position. There follows a consideration of alternative models of influence that may account for the putative association of day care and maladjustment, and a description of some data analytic strategies that may be useful in exploring the models. The manifold day care question is recommended as a template for the guidance, interpretation and public discussion of infant day care research.
Assessing Gender Interactions in the Prediction of Mortality in Alcoholic Men and Women: A 20‐Year Follow‐Up Study

This study investigates the predictors of mortality in 259 male and female alcoholics who were psychiatrically hospitalized between 1967 and 1968 and followed for > 20 years. The findings showed that, in addition to age, marital status, medical complications, and non-antisocial personality comorbidity were important independent predictors of time to death. Data pointed to gender interactions, in that marital disruption tended to be a stronger predictor of mortality in men, and delirium tremens tended to be a stronger predictor of mortality in women. Knowing and understanding that certain events and processes may differentially affect the survival of male and female alcoholics will allow for the development of more individualized and gender-specific therapeutic interventions.
An Analysis of Hotel-Impact Studies

Abstract The success of a franchisor's new units and the continued prosperity of existing franchisees often depend on the accuracy of an impact analysis. But the content of that study may not always be sufficiently comprehensive to be predictive.
Schenker’s Brahms: Composer, Critic, and the Problem of Creativity in Late Nineteenth-Century Vienna

Analysis of Schenker’s early statements about the creative process reveals a shift in his thinking that occurred as he concluded his studies with Brahms. Whereas Schenker’s statements published before his work with the composer document his experimentation with a variety of speculative approaches to the subject, those of 1896–1897 reveal a new, self-consciously realistic assessment of the compositional process and the creative mind that echoes Brahms’s teachings as recorded by students and friends. Schenker’s articulation of this view constitutes his first substantive break from the critical mainstream of the period and, moreover, anticipates an array of remarks made on the subject by Arnold Schoenberg after 1900. I wish to thank Daniel Beller-McKenna, Ian Bent, Allan Keiler, Margaret Notley, Jessie Ann Owens, and Silvio dos Santos for their invaluable comments on earlier versions of this article, and William Pastille, and Silvio dos Santos for his advice, especially regarding the translations, and the Na...
Quantum mechanics versus spectral differential geometry

Abstract We relate the Schrodinger equation for any two-dimensional natural mechanical system to the eigenvalue equation for the Laplace-Beltrami operator associated with the Jacobi metric of the given system, thereby connecting quantum mechanics and spectral geometry. The harmonic oscillator and the Pullen-Edmonds potential are discussed in this context.
Cardiac dose evaluation for 3Dimensional conformal partial breast irradiation compared with whole breast irradiation

Purpose: To compare the radiation dose to normal cardiac tissue for 3-dimensional (3-D) conformal external beam partial breast irradiation (PBI) and standard whole breast irradiation (WBI) and examine the effect of tumor bed location. Methods: For 14 patients with left breast tumors randomized on the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project B-39 protocol, computer-generated radiotherapy treatment plans were devised for WBI and PBI. Tumor bed location was designated according to whether more than 50% of the excision cavity was medial or lateral to the nipple line. The plans were then compared using dosimetric parameters below. Results: Of 14 patients, 8 had lateral tumor beds, and 6 had medial tumor beds. The volume of heart receiving 2.5, 5, 10, and 20 Gy was 2.4%, 1.3%, 0.6%, and 0.1%, respectively, for the lateral tumor beds and 13.2%, 8.2%, 2.3%, and 0.4%, respectively, for the medial tumor beds. Mean doses to 5% of the heart volume (D5) for lateral PBI, medial PBI, and WBI were 1.67 Gy, 5.10 Gy, and 5.69 Gy, respectively. Mean heart doses for lateral PBI, medial PBI, and WBI were 0.48 Gy, 1.31 Gy, and 1.68 Gy, respectively. Conclusion: Both 3-D conformal PBI and standard WBI can be delivered with relatively low doses to the heart. For patients with lateralized tumor beds, PBI offers significant sparing of cardiac tissue compared with WBI. Patients with medial lesions have relatively similar heart dosimetry with PBI and WBI.
ISOLATING COSTS IN SHARED MEMORY COMMUNICATION BUFFERING

Communication in parallel applications is a combination of data transfers internally at a source or destination and across the network. Previous research focused on quantifying network transfer costs has indirectly resulted in reduced overall communication cost. Optimized data transfer from source memory to the network interface has received less attention. In shared memory systems, such memory-to-memory transfers dominate communication cost. In distributed memory systems, memory-to-network interface transfers grow in significance as processor and network speeds increase at faster rates than memory latency speeds. Our objective is to minimize the cost of internal data transfers. The following examples illustrating the impact of memory transfers on communication, we present a methodology for classifying the effects of data size and data distribution on hardware, middleware, and application software performance. This cost is quantified using hardware counter event measurements on the SGI Origin 2000. For the SGI O2K, we empirically identify the cost caused by just copying data from one buffer to another and the middleware overhead. We use MPICH in our experiments, but our techniques are generally applicable to any communication implementation.
Enhanced cholinergic cutaneous vasodilation in Raynaud's phenomenon.

BACKGROUNDVasodilator function was determined in patients with Raynaud's phenomenon during intra-arterial infusions of the endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilators, methacholine and sodium nitroprusside, respectively. Reactive hyperemia, induced by 5 minutes of arterial occlusion with exercise, was also measured.METHODS AND RESULTSTotal blood flow was measured in the fingertip and forearm by venous occlusion plethysmography, and blood flow in the forearm skin was determined with laser Doppler flowmetry. Basal fingertip blood flow was not significantly different between control subjects and patients with Raynaud's phenomenon. Infusions of methacholine had no significant effect on fingertip blood flow in control subjects, whereas patients with Raynaud's phenomenon showed a significant increase in fingertip blood flow. Basal total forearm blood flow was significantly lower in patients with Raynaud's phenomenon than in control subjects. Infusions of methacholine and sodium nitroprusside produced do...
Characterizing the Promiscuity of LigAB, a Lignin Catabolite Degrading Extradiol Dioxygenase from Sphingomonas paucimobilis SYK-6

LigAB from Sphingomonas paucimobilis SYK-6 is the only structurally characterized dioxygenase of the largely uncharacterized superfamily of Type II extradiol dioxygenases (EDO). This enzyme catalyzes the oxidative ring-opening of protocatechuate (3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid or PCA) in a pathway allowing the degradation of lignin derived aromatic compounds (LDACs). LigAB has also been shown to utilize two other LDACs from the same metabolic pathway as substrates, gallate, and 3-O-methyl gallate; however, kcat/KM had not been reported for any of these compounds. In order to assess the catalytic efficiency and get insights into the observed promiscuity of this enzyme, steady-state kinetic analyses were performed for LigAB with these and a library of related compounds. The dioxygenation of PCA by LigAB was highly efficient, with a kcat of 51 s(-1) and a kcat/KM of 4.26 × 10(6) M(-1)s(-1). LigAB demonstrated the ability to use a variety of catecholic molecules as substrates beyond the previously identified gallate and 3-O-methyl gallate, including 3,4-dihydroxybenzamide, homoprotocatechuate, catechol, and 3,4-dihydroxybenzonitrile. Interestingly, 3,4-dihydroxybenzamide (DHBAm) behaves in a manner similar to that of the preferred benzoic acid substrates, with a kcat/Km value only ∼4-fold lower than that for gallate and ∼10-fold higher than that for 3-O-methyl gallate. All of these most active substrates demonstrate mechanistic inactivation of LigAB. Additionally, DHBAm exhibits potent product inhibition that leads to an inactive enzyme, being more highly deactivating at lower substrate concentration, a phenomena that, to our knowledge, has not been reported for another dioxygenase substrate/product pair. These results provide valuable catalytic insight into the reactions catalyzed by LigAB and make it the first Type II EDO that is fully characterized both structurally and kinetically.
Protein translocation: Rehearsing the ABCs

Recent evidence that vacuolar enzymes in yeast can be delivered directly from the cytosol, rather than via the secretory pathway, alerts us to the increasing evidence for 'non-classical' forms of protein translocation that may involve ABC transporters.
Simple models of antibiotic cycling

The use of environmental heterogeneity is an old but potentially powerful method for managing biological systems. Determining the optimal form of environmental heterogeneity is a difficult problem. One family of heterogeneous management strategies that has received attention in the medical community is the periodic cycling of antibiotic usage to control antibiotic resistance. This paper presents a theory for the optimization of antibiotic cycling based on a density-independent model of transmission and immigration of evolutionarily static strains. In the case of two pathogen strains, I show that the population's asymptotic growth rate is a monotonically increasing function of the oscillation period under certain common assumptions. Monte Carlo simulations show that this result fails in more general settings, but suggest that antibiotic cycling seldom provides a significant improvement over alternative mixing practices. The results support the findings of other researchers that antibiotic cycling does not offer significant advantages over idealized conventional practice. However, cycling strategies may be preferable in some special cases.
Drug insight: anti-tumor necrosis factor therapies for the vasculitic diseases.

The introduction of targeted biologic agents directed against tumor necrosis factor (TNF) has represented a novel and exciting avenue for investigation into therapies for the vasculitic diseases. In vasculitic diseases that are associated with granuloma formation, anti-TNF agents are a particularly attractive approach to treatment in that their mechanism of action targets immunologic pathways that are thought to have a role in disease pathogenesis. To date, a number of important trials have investigated the use of anti-TNF agents in patients with a vasculitic disease: most notably, Wegener's granulomatosis, giant-cell arteritis, Takayasu's arteritis, and Behcet's disease. Randomized, placebo-controlled trials of anti-TNF therapies for vasculitic diseases have advanced our knowledge not only in terms of their clinical results but also by demonstrating that networks of researchers can conduct multicenter trials in these uncommon diseases. Experience with the use of anti-TNF agents in patients with Wegener's granulomatosis or giant-cell arteritis has emphasized the crucial role of randomized trials in determining whether a treatment is effective, even in the face of promising preliminary data. Caution is necessary in clinical practice until such data become available.
New intermediates of dealkylation of [14C]atrazine by mouse liver microsomes

Abstract The metabolism of 50 μ M [2,4,6- 14 C]atrazine by liver microsomes from ICR strain mice produced metabolites not previously described which account for about 25% of total transformation products, plus 10-14% deethylatrazine and 13-15% deisopropylatrazine, based on the total radioactivity injected into an analytical high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) system. The unknown metabolites were observed by HPLC of products from atrazine incubations with liver microsomes from both untreated mice and mice treated with phenobarbital. Two major unidentified peaks (Unknowns 1 and 2) were isolated and collected by HPLC and characterized by gas chromatography-electron-impact ionization-mass spectrometry. Unknown 1 was an unstable intermediate, likely a mixture of carbinolamines, that decomposed into deethylatrazine, and Unknown 2, a mixture of compounds unseparated by HPLC probably with N -vinyl substituents at the location of the N -isopropyl and N -ethyl groups of the atrazine molecule with M + at m / z 213. While microsomal oxidation did produce a mixture of trace amounts of breakdown products of atrazine, the method was impractical for the initial goal of preparing pure dealkylated atrazine derivatives for environmental degradation studies.
Harnessing Hansen solubility parameters to predict organogel formation

Hansen solubility parameters predict the capacity of molecular gels to form in a vast array of organic solvents. The prediction ability for 12-hydroxystearic acid is closely associated with the hydrogen-bonding Hansen solubility parameter (δh). Solvents with a hydrogen-bonding Hansen solubility parameter less than 4.7 MPa1/2 produce clear organogels, opaque organogel formed between 4.7 < δh < 5.1 MPa1/2 and solutions remained when the hydrogen-bonding Hansen solubility parameter is greater than 5.1 MPa1/2. Furthermore, the critical gelator concentration is linearly correlated with the hydrogen-bonding Hansen solubility parameter. Solvents with the same functional group, which varied only by chain length, have correlations between the static relative permittivity, Hansen solubility parameter, dispersive HSP, polar HSP and hydrogen-bonding HSP and the critical gelator concentration.
The natural histories of bone dysplasias in adults—Vignettes, fables and just‐so stories

The bone dysplasias are a heterogeneous group of disorders arising from intrinsic abnormality of bone and cartilage growth and function. All are genetic. Most result in extreme small stature (dwarfism). Historically, emphasis was primarily on diagnostic identification of specific disorders in infants (including differentiating lethal and non-lethal forms), and on the clinical history to be anticipated in infants and children with each of these specific processes. Even in children there is exceedingly limited information of quality and virtually no controlled studies of the effects of intervention. For the most part, information about affected adults is even less complete and even less rigorous. Presented here are a series of examples of medical and adaptive issues in adults affected by one or another of the genetic skeletal dysplasias. Topics discussed include: approach to adults with no specific diagnosis; medical issues that cross diagnostic boundaries (osteoarthritis in the "E" disorders, obstructive apnea, issues in pregnancy in women with dwarfing disorders, activities of daily living, and quality of life assessments); diagnosis-specific problems of adulthood (spinal stenosis in achondroplasia, hearing loss in osteogenesis imperfecta, and malignancy risk in multiple exostoses); adult problems that must be addressed in childhood in order to be prevented (achondroplasia and kyphosis, and cervical spine abnormalities in Morquio syndrome); survival conundrums (why some live unexpectedly and others die unexpectedly). Emphasis is placed on the difficulties intrinsic to trying to learn about needs and expectations in generally rare genetic processes.
Operating characteristics of high performance commercial metal hydride heat exchangers

Abstract An experimental study of charging rates was performed on cylindrical containers of LaNi5 hydride (with inside diameters of 2.0, 2.7 and 3.8 cm) in a transverse flow of water. The reaction is shown to proceed radially inward within a relatively thin zone. The data are suspected of having been influenced significantly by hydrogen pressure gradients caused by the very restrictive flow properties of the hydride powders. Although a considerable effort was made to avoid problems with container strain due to hydride expansion, only the tube (inside diameter 2.7 cm) containing capsules survived the testing without rupture. Several fullscale applications of the test data are briefly discussed.
Reconstruction of extensive scalp defects with rectus free flaps.

This review represents the largest reported series involving reconstruction of complex scalp and calvarial defects with rectus abdominis free flaps. Sixteen patients presented with extensive (up to 300 cm2) scalp and calvarial defects requiring free tissue transfer for closure. All of the 11 patient
Increased infarct wall thickness by a bio-inert material is insufficient to prevent negative left ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction.

Background Several injectable materials have been shown to preserve or improve cardiac function as well as prevent or slow left ventricular (LV) remodeling post-myocardial infarction (MI). However, it is unclear as to whether it is the structural support or the bioactivity of these polymers that lead to beneficial effects. Herein, we examine how passive structural enhancement of the LV wall by an increase in wall thickness affects cardiac function post-MI using a bio-inert, non-degradable synthetic polymer in an effort to better understand the mechanisms by which injectable materials affect LV remodeling. Methods and Results Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) gels of storage modulus G′ = 0.5±0.1 kPa were injected and polymerized in situ one week after total occlusion of the left coronary artery in female Sprague Dawley rats. The animals were imaged using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 7±1 day(s) post-MI as a baseline and again post-injection 49±4 days after MI. Infarct wall thickness was statistically increased in PEG gel injected vs. control animals (p<0.01). However, animals in the polymer and control groups showed decreases in cardiac function in terms of end diastolic volume, end systolic volume and ejection fraction compared to baseline (p<0.01). The cellular response to injection was also similar in both groups. Conclusion The results of this study demonstrate that passive structural reinforcement alone was insufficient to prevent post-MI remodeling, suggesting that bioactivity and/or cell infiltration due to degradation of injectable materials are likely playing a key role in the preservation of cardiac function, thus providing a deeper understanding of the influencing properties of biomaterials necessary to prevent post-MI negative remodeling.
Microfluidic artificial “vessels” for dynamic mechanical stimulation of mesenchymal stem cells

Cells in the cardiovascular system are constantly exposed to complex mechanical stimulation due to the pulsatile nature of blood flow and the haemodynamic forces that are key to the regulation of vascular development, remodeling and pathophysiology. Mechanical stretch can also modulate the differentiation of stem cells toward vascular cell lineages (i.e., vascular smooth muscle cells), and represent a critical factor in vascular tissue engineering. Here we report on the development of a microchip platform that can emulate several key aspects of the vascular mechanical environment, such as cyclic stimulation and circumferential strain. This chip consists of an array of microfluidic channels with widths ranging from 20 to 500 micrometers. These channels are covered by suspended deformable membranes, on which cells are cultured and stimulated by cyclic circumferential strain of up to 20% via hydrodynamic actuation of the fluid in the microfluidic channels, thereby mimicking the biomechanical conditions of small blood vessels. We show that human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be cultured and continuously stimulated by cyclic stretch over a period of 7 days with no evidence of device fatigue or performance degradation. We observed localization and alignment of MSCs when mechanical stretch is larger than 10%, indicating the importance of mechanical stimulation in modulating cellular behavior. We further demonstrated simultaneous detection of proteins in multiple signaling pathways, including SMAD1/SMAD2 and canonical Wnt/β-catenin. This microchip represents a generic and versatile platform for high-throughput and rapid screening of cellular responses, including signal transduction cascades, in response to mechanical cues. The system emulates the physiological conditions of blood vessels and other tissues that are subject to cyclic strain, and may have a wide range of applications in the fields of stem cell mechanobiology, vascular tissue engineering, and other areas of regenerative medicine.
Dilute estimates of inelastic deformation in metal-matrix composites

Abstract A micromechanical model is utilized to estimate the elastic-plastic deformation characteristics of a discontinuously reinforced composite consisting of an elastic-plastic matrix material reinforced with a dilute concentration of axisymmetric elastic inclusions. By neglecting interactions between neighbouring inclusions, the composite is modeled by considering the problem of a single inclusion embedded in an infinite matrix material. The matrix material is assumed to obey J2 flow theory with isotropic hardening. The finite element method is utilized to solve the nonlinear boundary value problem. Results are presented which illustrate the effect of reinforcement geometry on the magnitude and distribution of local matrix field quantities, both prior and subsequent to local matrix yielding. The effect of matrix yielding on the distribution of axial stress in the inclusion is also examined. A volume averaging scheme is then employed to obtain dilute estimates for the macroscopic response. Results showing the effect of reinforcement shape and volume fraction on the predicted stress-strain response of the composite are presented. It is shown that the reinforcement shape can have a significant effect on the effective properties of the composite material.
European Corn Borer (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) Damage to Maize in Eastern North Carolina

Field survey experiments were conducted in 1981, 1982, and 1983 in eastern North Carolina to assess level of damage done by Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner) to commercial maize. There was a significant relationship between grain weight and cavities per plant in 10 of 12 fields surveyed. In controlled experiments in 1982 and 1983, a more significant relationship was observed between grain weight and cavities per plant. Reduction in maize yield by O. nubilalis ranged from 102.72 to 465.79 kg/ha per cavity. Yield reduction was affected by infestation date, infestation level, and year (rainfall). In these experiments, variation in maize yield accounted for by cavities ranged from 4.1 to 54.3%. Damage potential of O. nubilalis to maize was not significantly different at 49,000 and 69,000 plants per ha.
Beyond chemotherapy: new agents for targeted treatment of lymphoma

An improved understanding of the molecular biology of cancer cell growth and survival and the role of the microenvironment in supporting the survival of cancer cells, including lymphoma cells, has led to the identification of a number of potential therapeutic targets. Despite these advances, drug development for lymphoma remains slow, inefficient, and frequently unfocused. Future work should focus on identifying 'driver' molecular defects of oncogenic pathways that can be targeted therapeutically, discovering predictive biomarkers for treatment response, and prioritizing promising drugs to accelerate their approval. This Review summarizes the current development status of novel agents for lymphoma and discusses strategies to move the field forward.
Neurobehavioral effects of caffeine on the neonate

Abstract This study examined the behavioral effects of caffeine, measured in cord blood and saliva, on infant behavior. In order to examine these effects, 40 full-term, healthy, vaginally delivered, breast-fed neonates and their healthy, nonsmoking mothers were studied. A nutritional questionnaire was developed and given to each participating mother to determine her approximate caffeine intake during the last three days before delivery. For each infant subject, cord blood samples from delivery and saliva samples taken on the day of behavioral testing were assayed for caffeine. Statistical analyses revealed a significant effect of caffeine level on certain interactive behaviors in response to stimulation but little or no observed effect upon spontaneous sleep states.
Experimental observation of standing interfacial waves induced by surface waves in muddy water

A striking feature has been observed in a laboratory wave tank with a thin layer of clear water overlying a layer of mud. A piston-type wave maker is used to generate long monochromatic surface waves in a tank with a layer of kaolinite clay at the bottom. The wave action on the mud causes the clay particles to rise from the bottom into the water column, forming a lutocline. As the lutocline approaches the water surface, a set of standing interfacial waves form on the lutocline. The interfacial wave directions are oriented nearly orthogonal to the surface wave direction. The interfacial waves, which sometimes cover the entire length and width of the tank, are also temporally subharmonic as the phase of the interfacial wave alternates with each passing surface wave crest. These interfacial waves are the result of a resonant three-wave interaction involving the surface wave train and the two interfacial wave trains. The interfacial waves are only present when the lutocline is about 3 cm of the water surface and they can be sufficiently nonlinear as to exhibit superharmonics and a breaking-type of instability.
Higher order perturbation theory for exponential Lagrangians: Third order

We define the vacuum expectation value of the time-ordered product of four exponentials of free massless scalar fields as a continuous linear functional over a suitable test function space using minimal singularity as a criterion.
Cage design attenuates display patterns of male chimpanzees

Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) males are well known for their frequent displays toward viewers who approach and stand in front of their cages. If the front of the chimpanzees' cage is vertical and is constructed of bars or chain link framed by steel, the display includes “pant-hooting,” then lunging onto the cage's front, followed by a series of vigorous attempts to shake the entire structure. The display is intimidating and can include spitting and throwing of materials. Also, displays can incur substantial damage to the cage over time. By sloping the front of the cage toward the center of the cage, the display pattern is profoundly attenuated both in frequency and form. Additionally, it serves to make the males more tranquil. No adverse effects on their health and well-being over a 2-year period have been noted.
Amyloid Oligomers Exacerbate Tau Pathology in a Mouse Model of Tauopathy

Background: We aimed to investigate the influence of oligomeric forms of β-amyloid (Aβ) and the influence of the duration of exposure on the development of tau ph
Comparison of Carotid Bifurcation Hemodynamics in Patient-Specific Geometries at Rest and During Exercise

The ultimate goal of the present study is to determine whether investigations of flow patterns (flow reversal and flow branching) and mechanical factors (wall shear stress and normal stress) have a role in local risk factors and if flow modeling can truly rely on surrogate geometric sites (simplified geometries). Cardiovascular disease is considered to be the leading cause of morbidity and mortality across the world and improved methods of disease management are desperately needed. One of the main forms of cardiovascular disease is atherosclerosis. The presence of atherosclerotic plaques has been shown to be closely related to arterial vessel geometry and hemodynamic flow patterns. Computational fluid dynamic simulations were performed on 3 carotid bifurcation arteries to demonstrate that hemodynamic factors are significant determinants for the development of vascular pathology. Relationships between disturbed flow and various geometric factors from rest-state and exercise were examined. Wall shear stress, normal stress, and vorticity were used to verify the role of age, gender, and geometry on hemodynamic flow patterns.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Measurement strategies for estimating long-term average wind speeds

Abstract The uncertainty and bias in estimates of long-term average wind speeds inherent in continuous and intermittent measurement strategies are examined by simulating the application of the strategies to 40 data sets. Continuous strategies have the smaller uncertainties for fixed duration measurement programs, but intermittent strategies make more efficient use of instruments and have smaller uncertainties for a fixed amount of instrument use. Continuous strategies tend to give biased estimates of the long-term annual mean speed unless an integral number of years' data is collected or the measurement program exceeds 3 yr in duration. Intermittent strategies with 3 or more month-long measurement periods/yr do not show any tendency toward bias.
Surface Spectroscopic Studies of Factors Influencing Xanthate Adsorption on Coal Pyrite Surfaces

The relative adsorption of fluoroxanthates on several different coal pyrites has been found to depend on the degree to which the pyrite surfaces are oxidized. Maximum xanthate adsorption occurs in the absence of pyrite surface oxidation and is affected by the presence of polysulfides and metal-deficient sulfides on the pyrite surface. The structure and electronic properties of the xanthate molecule may also affect its adsorption. 3-(Trifluoromethyl)benzyl xanthate was found to selectively adsorb on pyrite vs. coal surfaces. Secondary ion mass spectrometry is a viable alternative to x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy for detecting xanthate adsorption.