cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Utility of Remote Video Technology in Continuing Neurosurgical Care in the COVID-19 Era: Reflections from the Past Year.

Objective In 2020, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic exposed existing stressors in the neurosurgical care infrastructure in the United States. We aimed to detail innovative technologic solutions inspired by the pandemic-related restrictions that augmented neurosurgical education and care delivery. Methods Several digital health and audiovisual innovations were implemented, including use of remote video technology to facilitate inpatient consultations and outpatient ambulatory virtual visits, optimize regional hospital neurosurgical coverage, expand interdisciplinary patient management conferences (i.e., tumor board), and further enhance the neurosurgical resident education program. Enterprise patient experience data were queried to evaluate patient satisfaction following the switch to virtual visits. Results Between January 2020 and April 2021, use of virtual visits more than doubled in the Department of Neurosurgery. A survey of 10,772 patients following ambulatory visits showed that virtual visits were equal if not better in providing satisfactory patient care than in-person visits. After switching our interdisciplinary spine tumor board to a virtual meeting, we increased surgeon participation and attendance by 49.29%. Integration of remote audiovisual technology in resident didactics and clinical training improved our ability to provide comprehensive and personalized educational experiences our trainees. Conclusions Digital health technology has improved neurosurgical care and comprehensive training at our institution. Investment in the technologic infrastructure required for these remote audiovisual services during the COVID-19 pandemic will facilitate the expansion of neurosurgical care provision for patients across the United States in the future. Governing bodies within organized neurosurgery should advocate for the continued financial and licensing support of these service on a national fiscal and policy level.
Management of Lumbar Spondylolisthesis

Spondylolisthesis is defined as anterior or posterior displacement of one vertebral body over another. In the adult, this occurs as the result of abnormalities of bony architecture, degeneration of the spinal elements or trauma. Degenerative spondylolisthesis, probably the most frequently seen type of spondylolisthesis, was first described by Junghanns [3]. Mac Nab further defined the clinical and pathologic features of this condition [6].
The Principle of Legality in International and Comparative Criminal Law Chapter 3: Nuremberg and Tokyo

This is a draft Chapter 3 of a book, Kenneth S. Gallant, The Principle of Legality in International and Comparative Criminal Law (Cambridge Univ. Press 2009). Chapter 3 covers World War II and the Nuremberg, Tokyo, and other post-War trials. It emphasizes the issues of legality/retroactivity that were raised during the War concerning war crimes and international prosecutions, and that were raised in the negotiations leading up to the London Charter. This chapter also focuses particularly on the French view of legality in the London negotiations and at Nuremberg and Tokyo - which has been far more influential than it has been given credit for being. The Chapter will also cover legality as dealt with by a number of different nations in the aftermath of World War II. The discussion of the Judgment focuses on the claim in the Judgment that nullum crimen was not a limitation of sovereignty or law-making authority at the time. It concludes that this was correct at the end of World War II - and one of the points of the book is that this is no longer so.
Cigarette smoke = radiation hazard.

Recent articles1-4 have described the dangers to children and adults of secondhand cigarette smoke. However, it is not widely known that cigarette smoke is substantially radioactive.5-14 Tobacco plants in the United States are grown in soils and with high-phosphate fertilizers which are naturally contaminated with the α-emitting radionuclide polonium-210 (210Po).13,14 In addition, evidence exists that other atmospheric radon-222 (222Rn daughter products are also incorporated into the plant.10,15 The average cigarette contains 0.3 pCi of 210Po, 7 which is melted, vaporized, inhaled, and ultimately deposited along the tracheobronchial epithelial linings of smokers.16-19 In 1 year, a smoker of 1 to 2 packs per day will irradiate portions of his or her bronchial epithelium with about 8 to 9 rem.8,16,18
Reaction of OH* radicals with H2 in sub-critical water

The rate constant for the reaction of hydroxyl radicals (OH) with hydrogen in aqueous solutions has been measured from 200 to 350 C by competition kinetics using nitrobenzene as a competing OHscavenger. Measurements below 250 C agree with previous results in other laboratories. At higher temperatures, the rate constant undershoots an extrapolation of the Arrhenius plot and actually decreases in value above 275 C. At 350 C, the measured rate constant is more than a factor of 5 below the Arrhenius extrapolation. We propose an explanation based largely on the hy- drophobic solvation properties of the H2 molecule. 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Atypical megakaryocytes in preleukemic phase of acute myeloid leukemia.

Mono- and binucleated megakaryocytes appeared in the bone marrow of a 6-yr-old white male 9 mo prior to the development of acute myeloid leukemia; in addition, leukopenia and anemia antedated the diagnosis by 3½ and 9 mo, respectively. The report suggests that mono- and binucleated megakaryocytes may be a useful diagnostic finding in early leukemia.
Incremental information extraction from Grover's algorithm

The iterative nature of Grover's quantum search algorithm may limit the feasibility of its implementation on quantum computers having relatively short coherence times. It may be possible to make a parallel version of the algorithm by extracting partial information about the solution after a limited number of iterations. Here we investigate the use of positive operator value measurements to reduce the coherence time requirements of Grover's algorithm. The utilization of single qubit measurements on multiple copies of the output after a single iteration is analyzed.
The Role of Long Base-Line Interferometry in the Measurements of Earth’s Rotation

The principles of radio interferometry utilizing an independent time and frequency standard at each station is treated. The application of this technique to the measurement of the earth’s rotation rate and the advantages and limitations is discussed.
Performance of quadrature overlapped raised-cosine modulation over nonlinear satellite channels

This paper considers the performance evaluation of Staggered Quadrature Overlapped Raised Cosine (SQORC) signal transmission through wideband nonlinear satellite channels in the presence of uplink and downlink additive Gaussian noise. Expressions for the bit error rate are derived for a general transponder model with AM-AM and AM-PM conversion. It is shown that the bit error rate of SQORC is one-half of the sum of the bit error rate of MSK at 2/3 of the uplink signal-to-noise ratio and the bit error rate of Quadriphase Phase-Shift Keying QPSK at 4/3 of the uplink signal-to-noise ratio, whereas the spectrum of SQROC is the product of MSK and QPSK spectra. Numerical results are presented for a transponder which is modelled as a hard limiter.
Destruction of gram-negative food-borne pathogens by high pH involves disruption of the cytoplasmic membrane.

High pH has been shown to rapidly destroy gram-negative food-borne pathogens; however, the mechanism of destruction has not yet been elucidated. Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella enteritidis ATCC 13706, and Listeria monocytogenes F5069 were suspended in NaHCO3-NaOH buffer solutions at pH 9, 10, 11, or 12 to give a final cell concentration of approximately 5.2 x 10(8) CFU/ml and then held at 37 or 45 degrees C. At 0, 5, 10, and 15 min the suspensions were sterilely filtered and each filtrate was analyzed for material with A260. Viability of the cell suspensions was evaluated by enumeration on nonselective and selective agars. Cell morphology was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. A260 increased dramatically with pH and temperature for both E. coli and S. enteritidis; however, with L. monocytogenes material with A260 was not detected at any of the pHs tested. At pH 12, numbers of E. coli and S. enteritidis decreased at least 8 logs within 15 s, whereas L. monocytogenes decreased by only 1 log in 10 min. There was a very strong correlation between the initial rate of release of material with A260 and death rate of the gram-negative pathogens (r = 0.997). At pH 12, gram-negative test cells appeared collapsed and showed evidence of lysis while gram-positive L. monocytogenes did not, when observed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. It was concluded that destruction of gram-negative food-borne pathogens by high pH involves disruption of the cytoplasmic membrane. Images
Syndromes with focal femoral deficiency: strengths and weaknesses of prenatal sonography.

Objective. To further characterize the prenatal diagnosis of proximal focal femoral deficiency and to contrast this entity with a variety of other "syndromes" in which the femur may be deficient. Methods. We report 2 cases of proximal focal femoral deficiency and a case of femoral-facial syndrome. Results. A series of 3 women whose fetuses had deficiency of 1 or both femurs were carefully analyzed for severity and for similarities and differences with other syndromes in which the femur may be deficient, as well as syndromes showing global skeletal abnormalities. Conclusions. Prenatal sonography is a valuable tool both for detecting cases of proximal focal femoral deficiency, separating them from syndromes showing global skeletal abnormalities, and for stratifying them according to severity.
Cytomegalovirus Infection in Transplantation

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) latency exists in numerous cells, including leukocytes, endothelial cells, and epithelial cells, among others, which are important reservoirs for the transmission of the virus to susceptible individuals. Likewise, these cells serve as the initial sites of endogenous viral reactivation during critical illness and periods of immune compromise, such as following solid organ transplantation (SOT) and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). CMV is the most common viral pathogen that causes clinical infection after transplantation. CMV is described to modulate the immune system and increase the predisposition to develop bacterial and opportunistic fungal infections after transplantation. The major indication for CMV serology in transplantation is in the pretransplant evaluation to assess prior infection among candidates and their donors. Among various anti-CMV prevention strategies, the most common is the use of antiviral drugs as either antiviral prophylaxis or preemptive therapy. There is an ongoing debate about whether antiviral prophylaxis or preemptive therapy is the optimal strategy for preventing CMV disease after transplantation. The rates of virological decline and clinical resolution by the end of a predefined 21-day treatment course and by the end of maintenance valganciclovir treatment were similar between the treatment arms. The results of this study may simplify the current treatment paradigms, as an oral agent is now available for treatment, thereby facilitating outpatient management. The major adverse effects of foscarnet are nephrotoxicity, anemia, hyperphosphatemia, hypophosphatemia, hypercalcemia, hypocalcemia, nausea, vomiting, and seizures.
Festschrift: Short Shrift?

Book reviewed in this article: From Tzintzuntan to the “Image of Limited Good”: Essays in Honor of George M. Foster. M. Clark, R. Kemper, and C. Nelson. Essays in Humanistic Anthropology: A Festschrift in Honor of David Bidney. Bruce T. Grindal and Dennis M. Warren. Cross-Examinations. P. H. Gulliver. Currents in Anthropology: Essays in Honor of Sol Tax. Robert Hinshaw.
Nickel complexes containing catecholate, benzoquinone and semiquinone radical ligands

Abstract Quinone complexes of nickel have been prepared by treating Ni(CO)4 with 3,6-di-tert-butyl-1,2-benzoquinone (3,6-DBBQ). Reactions carried out with stoichiometric quantities of 3,6-DBBQ lead to the formation of monomeric, square planar Ni(3,6-DBSQ)2. Spins of the radical semiquinone ligands are coupled antiferromagnetically to result in near diamagnetism. Electrochemical characterization has shown that the complex undergoes reduction in two one-electron steps. Chemical reduction with CoCp2 results in the formation of (CoCp2)[Ni(3,6-DBCat)2]. EPR spectra recorded on this product show anisotropy that is consistent with the Ni(III) formulation. Reactions carried out with Ni(CO)4 and an excess of 3,6-DBBQ lead to the formation of Ni)3,6-DBBQ)(3,6-DBCQ)2. Crystalligraphic characterization Ni(3,6-DBBQ)(3,6-DBSQ)2. Crystallographic characterization (Ni(3,6-DBBQ) (3,6-DBSQ)2: orthorhombic, Ccca, a = 20.092(6), b = 24.335(8), c = 18.340(4) A , V = 8967(4) A 3 , Z = 4 ) has shown that the metal is octahedral and that the benzoquinone and semiquinone ligands are differentiable by characteristic CO, CC and Ni bond lengths. Magnetic properties are slightly temperature dependent due to either weak antiferromagnetic NiSQ exchange or offsetting NiSQ (ferromagnetic) and SQSQ (antiferromagnetic) exchange interactions.
Deterministic Raman crosstalk effects in amplified wavelength division multiplexing transmission

Abstract We study the deterministic effects of inter-pulse Raman-induced crosstalk in amplified wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) optical fiber transmission lines. We show that the dynamics of pulse amplitudes in an N-channel transmission system is described by an N-dimensional predator–prey model. We find the equilibrium states with non-zero amplitudes and prove their stability by obtaining the Lyapunov function. The stability is independent of the exact details of the approximation for the Raman gain curve. Furthermore, we investigate the impact of cross phase modulation and Raman self and cross frequency shifts on the dynamics and establish the stability of the equilibrium state with respect to these perturbations. Our results provide a quantitative explanation for the robustness of differential-phase-shift-keyed WDM transmission against Raman crosstalk effects.
Cigarette reduction: An intervention for adolescent smokers

Abstract This observational study examined whether adolescents who were not interested in quitting could reduce cigarette smoking and if cigarette reduction led to a corresponding and significant reduction in biomarkers of exposure. The study design was a randomized, open-label trial of nicotine patch and nicotine gum with an added placebo control. Participants ( n = 103) attended 4 treatment visits over 4 weeks and follow-up visits at 3- and 6-months. Participants were told to reduce their smoking by 25% of baseline smoking during the 1st week and by 50% of baseline smoking during the subsequent 3 weeks. Of consented participants, 91.3% ( n = 94/103) completed the study until the end-of-treatment, 85.1% ( n = 80/94) completed the 3-month follow-up visit and 71.3% ( n = 67/94) completed the 6-month follow-up visit. Participants had a very high prevalence of co-morbidity. With regard to the percentage of participants who achieved a 50% reduction of baseline smoking, there were no significant differences among treatment groups ( p = .89). At the end-of-treatment, 49.4% of participants ( n = 41) had reduced smoking by at least 50%. Additionally, there was no significant group, visit or interaction effect of a biomarker measure for carcinogen exposure ( p > .05). The results suggest that reduction may be a potential aid to engage adolescents who are unable or unwilling to quit, but should not be an end goal. The effect of treatment methods on outcome measures did not differ significantly.
Improved resistive-vee dipole based arbitrary polarization antenna system for ground penetrating radar

A broadband arbitrary polarization antenna system for ground penetrating radar applications is modified to improve its performance. The antenna system uses four, crossed, resistive-vee dipole (RVD) antennas operating bistaticly to measure the simultaneous transmission and reception of multiple polarizations. The RVD has low self clutter, low radar cross section and wideband performance. The RVD is a linearly polarized antenna, but other polarizations can be synthesized through the use of two orthogonal RVDs to transmit or receive orthogonal field components. The antenna system is able to distinguish rotationally symmetric and linear targets with its ability to transmit and receive both senses of circular polarization. For example, linear targets such as wires or pipes can be identified by even scattering of both senses of circular polarization. The RVDs in the previous RVD-based CP (circularly polarized) antenna were not designed for CP synthesis. The shape and resistive profile of the RVD were modified to improve dual CP performance. The design of the RVD was optimized through simulation to improve CP synthesis and forward gain, while maintaining low self clutter, low radar cross section, and wide bandwidth. Additional simulations demonstrate that the improvements to the RVD may help to correctly discriminate targets based on their geometries.
Ristocetin-mediated interaction of human von Willebrand factor with platelet glycoprotein Ib evokes a transient calcium signal : Observations with Fura-PE3

High shear stress in narrowed arteries causes von Willebrand factor (vWf) to bind to its platelet receptor, glycoprotein Ib (GpIb). This binding is reported to promote an increase in intracellular free calcium concentration ((Ca2+)i), which may be responsible for platelet activation. The present study examined the platelet (Ca2+)i signal that arises when ristocetin mediates vWf-GpIb binding. Platelet (Ca2+)i was monitored with Fura-PE3 (Vorndran C, Minta A, Poenie M. Biophys J 1995;69:2112-24), a new ratiometric calcium indicator. Fura-PE3 has calcium-binding characteristics (Kd = 146 nmol/L) and fluorescent properties similar to those of Fura-2. However, its zwitterionic nature ensured much slower extrusion from the platelet (0.2% per minute) than that for Fura-2. This eliminated one of the technical problems that seriously distorted previous measurements of vWf-induced changes in platelets (Ca2+)i. Design of a novel stirring arrangement avoided the other major problem, which is the tendency of platelet aggregates to settle to the bottom of the cuvette, beneath the detection zone of the spectrofluorometer. With Fura-PE3 and the new stirrer used in the present study, vWf-induced changes in (Ca2+)i could be measured reliably in aggregating platelets. Ristocetin-mediated vWf-GpIb binding induced a transient increase in platelet (Ca2+)i. This increase occurred after a significant lag phase; platelet (Ca2+)i rose gradually, followed by a decline to almost the resting level. Binding of vWf to platelet Gplb was responsible for the (Ca2+)i signal. A similar signal was found in the absence of extracellular calcium. These characteristics differ substantially from those described in previous reports, in which the vWf-induced rise in (Ca2+)i was attributed to calcium influx through channels in the plasma membrane. Data from those earlier studies, however, were severely distorted by indicator extrusion and loss of platelet aggregates. The present findings are a more accurate representation of the vWf-induced platelet (Ca2+]i signal.
Individualizing analgesic prescription Part I: pharmacogenetics of opioid analgesics

The current use of analgesics is based on the empiric administration of a given drug with clinical monitoring for efficacy and toxicity. However, individual responses to drugs are influenced by a combination of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes, and each of these components, in addition to pain perception and processing, seem to be regulated by genetic factors. Whereas polymorphic drug-metabolizing enzymes and drug transporters may affect the pharmacokinetics of drugs, polymorphic drug targets and disease-related pathways may influence the pharmacodynamic action of drugs. After usual dose, drug toxicity, as well as inefficacy, can be observed depending on the polymorphism, the analgesic considered and the presence or absence of active metabolites. Thus, cytochrome P450 (CYP)2D6 polymorphism influences codeine and tramadol analgesic effects, CYP2C9 has an impact on the disposition of some nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and opioid receptor polymorphism (118A>G) may reduce morphine potency...
Progressive failure of triaxial woven fabric (TWF) composites with open holes

Abstract Progressive failure of triaxial woven fabric (TWF) composite panels subjected to uniaxial extension is studied numerically and experimentally. In numerical study, TWF panel is discretized respectively using linear and nonlinear super-finite-elements proposed here. Tensor polynomial progressive failure procedure is employed with maximum stress criterion, Hoffman criterion and Tsai–Wu criterion. Two displacement–loading cases are considered. The first and ultimate failure loads, maximum extension displacement, locations and modes of failure are estimated and compared with experimental data.
Effect of Insulin on Potassium Flux and Water and Electrolyte Content of Muscles from Normal and from Hypophysectomized Rats

It was reported previously that insulin hyperpolarized rat skeletal muscle and decreased K+ flux in both directions. The observations on K+ flux are now extended to take advantage of the greater sensitivity to insulin of hyperphysectomized rats. Insulin caused a shift of water from extracellular to intracellular space if glucose was present, but not in its absence. Insulin caused net gain of muscle fiber K+, though not necessarily an increase in K+ concentration in fiber water. It probably also decreased intrafiber Na+ and Cl-. Insulin decreased K+ efflux. The effect was dose-dependent. Muscles from hypophysectomized rats were more sensitive to the action of insulin on K+ flux than were those from normal rats. The effect was demonstrable within the time resolution of the system, suggesting that insulin's action is on cell surfaces. K+ influx was also decreased by insulin. Bookkeeping suggests that some K+ influx be called active. Insulin seemed to decrease active K+ influx and passive K+ efflux. It is not resolved whether insulin has a true dual effect or whether it acts only on passive fluxes in both directions (the apparent action on active K+ influx being an artefact of incomplete definition of passive flux) or whether a single alteration in the membrane may affect both active and passive fluxes.
Acute lower limb ischemia: pathogenesis and management.

Acute lower limb ischemia continues to be a problem both in diagnosis and management. The high mortality rate appears to be related to the metabolic consequences of ischemia, a function not only of time, but also of severity. The etiology of acute ischemia is reviewed along with the pathophysiological response. The management of the patient centers on diagnosis of cause and estimation of the severity of ischemia. Correction of metabolic disturbances and early restoration of flow is the preferred treatment, although there remains a place for late operative intervention in patients with less severe symptoms. Despite improved diagnostic and operative techniques, the thrombotic and metabolic changes that occur in the small vessels and muscular tissues appear to limit the success rate, with mortality rates remaining around 25%.
Revisiting occupational sex segregation in the United States, 1910–1990: Results from a log-linear approach

I reexamine trends in the strength and structure of occupational sex segregation in the United States from 1910 to 1990. Log-multiplicative models show significant change in the association between gender and occupation. Contrary to conventional characterizations, a substantial proportion of this change occurred before 1970. Likewise, a margin-free index shows more integration over the century than do conventional indices. These discrepancies arise from occupation-specific variations in the trajectory of sex segregation: Highly segregated occupations were especially likely to integrate between 1930 and 1940. I identify regions of the occupational structure and pivotal periods in which shifts in segregation occurred and compare these results with conventional historical accounts.
EXCHANGE OF ATP FOR ADP ON HIGH-FORCE CROSS-BRIDGES OF SKINNED RABBIT MUSCLE FIBERS

The contractile properties of rabbit skinned muscle fibers were studied at 1–2 degrees C in different concentrations of MgATP and MgADP. Double-reciprocal plots of maximum velocity against MgATP concentration at different MgADP concentrations all extrapolated to the same value. This finding suggests that MgATP and MgADP compete for the same site on the cross-bridge, and that the exchange of MgATP for MgADP occurs without a detectable step intervening. The K(m) for ATP was 0.32 mM. The K(i) for MgADP was 0.33 mM. Control experiments suggested that the tortuosity of diffusion paths within the fibers reduced the radial diffusion coefficients for reactants about sixfold. Increasing MgADP from 0.18 to 2 mM at 5 mM ATP or lowering MgATP from 10 to 2 mM at 0.18 mM MgADP, respectively, increased isometric force by 25% and 23%, increased stiffness by 10% and 20%, and decreased maximum velocity by 35% and 31%. Two mechanisms appeared to be responsible. One detained bridges in high-force states, where they recovered from a length step with a slower time course. The other increased the fraction of attached bridges without altering the kinetics of their responses, possibly by an increased activation resulting from cooperative effects of the detained, high-force bridges. The rigor bridge was more effective than the ADP-bound bridge in increasing the number of attached bridges with unaltered kinetics.
Harm reduction as anarchist practice: a user's guide to capitalism and addiction in North America

In spite of its origins as an illegal, clandestine, grassroots activity that took place either outside or in defiant opposition to state and legal authority, there is growing evidence to suggest that harm reduction in North America has become sanitized and depoliticized in its institutionalization as public health policy. Harm reduction remains the most contested and controversial aspect of drug policy on both sides of the Canada–US border, yet the institutionalization of harm reduction in each national context demonstrates a series of stark contrasts. Drawing from regional case study examples in Canada and the US, this article historically traces and politically re-maps the uneasy relationship between the autonomous political origins of harm reduction, contemporary public health policy, and the adoption of the biomedical model for addiction research and treatment in North America. Situated within a broader theoretical interrogation of the etiology of addiction, this study culminates in a politically enga...
Emerging Views on the CTD Code

The C-terminal domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) consists of conserved heptapeptide repeats that function as a binding platform for different protein complexes involved in transcription, RNA processing, export, and chromatin remodeling. The CTD repeats are subject to sequential waves of posttranslational modifications during specific stages of the transcription cycle. These patterned modifications have led to the postulation of the “CTD code” hypothesis, where stage-specific patterns define a spatiotemporal code that is recognized by the appropriate interacting partners. Here, we highlight the role of CTD modifications in directing transcription initiation, elongation, and termination. We examine the major readers, writers, and erasers of the CTD code and examine the relevance of describing patterns of posttranslational modifications as a “code.” Finally, we discuss major questions regarding the function of the newly discovered CTD modifications and the fundamental insights into transcription regulation that will necessarily emerge upon addressing those challenges.
Assessment of acute kidney injury with modified RIFLE criteria in critically ill pediatric burn patients

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the incidence, risk factors and outcome associated with acute kidney injury (AKI) as defined by the modified pediatric version of RIFLE criteria (pRIFLE) in children with severe burn injury.
Wide-mouthed sacculation of the esophagus: a cause of dysphagia after radiation therapy.

We describe a patient who presented with dysphagia after radiation therapy for Hodgkin’s lymphoma secondary to wide-mouthed sacculation of the upper esophagus on barium esophagography, most likely resulting from localized radiation necrosis of the muscular layer of the esophageal wall. Despite its rarity, radiologists should be aware of this finding as a potential cause of dysphagia after radiation therapy to the neck or chest. Unlike radiation strictures, radiation-induced sacculation of the esophagus probably can be managed conservatively without need for endoscopic dilatation procedures.
Emily Jeremiah. Nomadic Ethics in Contemporary Women's Writing in German: Strange Subjects. Rochester, NY: Camden House, 2012. 232 pp.

Review of Emily Jeremiah. Nomadic Ethics in Contemporary Women’s Writing in German: Strange Subjects. Rochester, NY: Camden House, 2012. 232 pp.
Coupling of Titania Inverse Opals to Nanocrystalline Titania Layers in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells†

We report a quantitative comparison of the photoaction spectra, short circuit current densities, and power conversion efficiencies of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) that contain bilayers of nanocrystalline TiO2 (nc-TiO2) and titania inverse opal photonic crystals (PCs). Cells were fabricated with PC/nc-TiO2 and nc-TiO2/PC bilayer films on glass/tin oxide anode of the cell, as well as in a split configuration in which the nc-TiO2 and PC layers were deposited on the anode and cathode sides of the cell, respectively. Incident photon current efficiencies at single wavelengths and current-voltage curves in white light were obtained with both cathode and anode side illumination. The results obtained support a model proposed by Miguez and co-workers, in which coupling of the low refractive index PC layer to the higher index nc-TiO2 layer creates a standing wave in the nc-TiO2 layer, enhancing the response of the DSSC in the red region of the spectrum. This enhancement is very sensitive to the degree of physical contact between the two layers. A gap on the order of 200 nm thick, created by a polymer templating technique, is sufficient to decouple the two layers optically. The coupling of the nc-TiO2 and PC layers across the gap could be improved slightly by treatment with TiCl4 vapor. In the bilayer configuration, there is an enhancement in the IPCE across the visible spectrum, which is primarily caused by defect scattering in the PC layer. There is also an increase of 20-50 mV in the open circuit photovoltage of the cell. With anode side illumination, the addition of a PC layer to the nc-TiO2 layer increased the efficiency of DSSCs from 6.5 to 8.3% at a constant N719 dye loading of 155-160 nmol/cm2.
Adolescent nicotine exposure disrupts context conditioning in adulthood in rats.

Despite the prevalence of smoking among adolescents, few studies have assessed the effects of adolescent nicotine exposure on learning in adulthood. In particular, it remains unclear whether adolescent nicotine exposure has effects on hippocampus-dependent learning that persist into adulthood. The present experiment examined whether there were effects of adolescent nicotine exposure on context conditioning, a form of learning dependent on the integrity of the hippocampus, when tested during adulthood. Rats were exposed to nicotine during adolescence (postnatal days [PD] 28–42) via osmotic minipump (0, 3.0 or 6.0 mg/kg/day). Context conditioning occurred in early adulthood (PD 65–70). Animals were exposed to an experimental context and were given 10 unsignaled footshocks or no shock. Additional groups were included to test the effects of adolescent nicotine on delay conditioning, a form of learning that is not dependent upon the hippocampus. Conditioning was assessed using a lick suppression paradigm. For animals in the context conditioning groups, adolescent nicotine resulted in significantly less suppression of drinking in the presence of context cues compared with vehicle-pretreated animals. For animals in the delay conditioning groups, there was a trend for adolescent nicotine (3.0 mg/kg/day) to suppress drinking compared to vehicle-pretreated animals. There were no differences in extinction of contextual fear or cued fear between rats previously exposed to vehicle or nicotine. The data indicate that adolescent nicotine administration impairs context conditioning when animals are trained and tested as adults. The present data suggest that adolescent nicotine exposure may disrupt hippocampus-dependent learning when animals are tested during adulthood.
Quality control and reference guidelines for CLSI broth microdilution method (M38-A document) for susceptibility testing of anidulafungin against molds

The CLSI (formerly NCCLS) M38-A document for antifungal susceptibility testing of filamentous fungi does not describe guidelines for echinocandins. A multicenter study (eight centers) evaluated inter- and intralaboratory reproducibilities of two reading times (24 and 48 h or 48 and 72 h) and two end points (MICs and minimum effective concentrations [MECs]) for evaluating anidulafungin against molds. Anidulafungin MICs (≥50% inhibition) and MECs (morphological hyphal changes) were determined for seven Aspergillus isolates (four species) and one isolate each of Fusarium moniliforme, Fusarium solani, and Paecilomyces variotii and for two Scedosporium apiospermum isolates. The inter- and intralaboratory reproducibilities of 10 replicate tests performed in each laboratory on 10 different days for each isolate was 100% at 24 h (MECs, ≤0.015 μg/ml) for six Aspergillus and P. variotii isolates. The reproducibility was 94 to 96.7% at 72 h (MECs, 1 to 8 μg/ml) for S. apiospermum and 96.7 to 97.5% at 48 h (MICs, ≥32 μg/ml) for both Fusarium isolates. Introduction of these identified optimum testing conditions for anidulafungin into future versions of the M38 document is warranted.
Light stimulation of conidiation in Neurospora crassa: Studies with the wild-type strain and mutants wc-1, wc-2 and acon-2

Abstract Blue light influences several events in the life cycle of the ascomycete Neurospora crassa . It has been shown previously that light stimulates asexual sporulation (conidiation) in the double mutant strain, albino-2, band ( al-2 bd ) ( E. Klemm and H. Ninnemann, Correlation between absorbance changes and a physiological response induced by blue light in Neurospora, Photochem. Photobiol., 28 (1978) 227–230 ; E. Klemm and H. Ninnemann, Nitrate reductase—a key enzyme in blue light-promoted conidiation and absorbance change in Neurospora, Photochem. Photobiol., 29 (1979) 629–632 ; H. Ninnemann, Photostimulation of conidiation in mutants of Neurospora crassa, J. Photochem. Photobiol. B: Biol., 9 (1991) 189–199 ; H. Ninnemann, Some aspects of blue light research during the last decade, Photochem. Photobiol., 61 (1995) 22–31 ). In this paper, we report that light is also essential for maximal conidiation by the wild-type strain. Consistent with this finding, two mutants which are defective in other light responses, wc-1 and wc-2 , conidiate as efficiently as the wild-type strain in the dark, but show no incremental response to light. Light has a profound effect on conidiation in acon-2 , a mutant which is temperature sensitive for conidiation. At the permissible temperature, this mutant produces approximately 500-fold more conidia in the light than in the dark. In addition, the double mutants acon-2 wc-1 and acon-2 wc-2 conidiate very poorly, even in the light. Microscopic studies have shown that the majority of aerial hyphae produced by the acon-2 wc-1 and acon-2 wc-2 double mutants at the non-permissible temperature are blocked at the same stage of development as observed for their single mutant parent acon-2 , namely at the stage leading to minor constriction chain formation. Northern blot analyses examining the expression of two conidiation-specific genes are consistent with this conclusion.
Preliminary exploration of the relationships between soil characteristics and PAH desorption and biodegradation.

Desorption and biodegradation of pyrene (PYR) were investigated and their relationships to soil characteristics were addressed. The results indicated that maximum achievable desorption was 30.2, 10.4, and 1.0 mg/kg for soils that had 1.7, 2.2, and 4.4 wt.% of expandable clays (smectite and vermiculite), respectively. Neither dissolved organic matter (DOM) nor total clay amounts made a good prediction of the desorption trend. Subsequently, the ease of desorption facilitated a faster aqueous biodegradation rate. The slowest aqueous biodegradation rate, 0.02 l/h, was achieved for the soil system that had the greatest amount of expandable clays, whereas the soil containing 1.7% expandable clays only achieved 0.73 l/h. The soil with 2.2% expandable clays depicted 0.41 l/h of aqueous biodegradation rate. A good linear correlation was obtained between maximum achievable desorption and aqueous biodegradation rate (R2=0.92). Soil analysis revealed that the total (soil+water) biodegradation reached was 65%, 78.3%, and 81.8% of the initial concentration (100 mg/kg) for the sandy clay loam (Colombian), sandy loam (Ohio), and silty loam (New Mexico) soils, respectively. This biodegradation extent was also in good agreement of expandable clay amount. Although aqueous PYR bioavailability was limited due to the strong association with the expandable clays, microbial movement and adhesion to those clays seemed to result in a great extent of the soil-phase biodegradation.
In vitro morphological studies on antibody-dependent nonimmune lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity in chronic active liver disease.

Using anin vitro system of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), the killing effect of chronic liver disease sera on target Chang cells, mediated by effector nonimmune lymphocytes (NLy), was studied. NLy destroyed Chang cells in monolayers pretreated with sera of patients with chronic active liver disease (CALD). Sera from these patients with CALD, after receiving steroid therapy, demonstrated a significant decrease of the cytotoxic action of NLy. The target cells treated with sera of normal subjects or patients with chronic persistent hepatitis were only minimally affected. Morphological observations of the cytotoxic action in a CALD serum-treated group showed intimate contact between NLy and the target cells in the areas of the plaques, where large numbers of the target Chang cells were injured and were closely associated with effector NLy. The Chang cells developed cytoplasmic swelling. The surface became ruffled, and intracytoplasmic organelles displayed vesicular degeneration. Thereafter, cell rupture and fragmentation occurred. The sera in patients with CALD appear to possess a membrane reactive factor, presumably antibody, against the surface membrane of Chang cells. This immunological mode of reaction between the effectors and target cells (ADCC) may be important in the perpetuation and pathogenesis of hepatocyte death in CALD.
Batch and Tubular-Batch Crystallization of Paracetamol: Crystal Size Distribution and Polymorph Formation

The crystallization of paracetamol from ethanol and methanol solutions was used to examine the possibility of using rapid cooling in a tubular flow-through apparatus to manipulate crystal size distribution and morphology. Flow through the tubular portion of the apparatus was laminar, and hence, the device, including a receiving vessel, is referred to as a laminar-flow tubular crystallizer (LFTC). Undersaturated solution entered the tubular portion of the LFTC and was rapidly cooled to temperatures far below solubility conditions. Experimental results were also obtained using a typical batch configuration with the same solute and solvents, but with significantly lower cooling rates than in the LFTC. The crystals produced in the flow-through apparatus were of smaller mean size than those obtained from batch crystallizations, and evidence was found that using the rapid-cooling technique could lead to the generation of kinetically stable polymorphs. Moreover, the total run time required to relieve all of the ...
Calculation of Protein Conformation by the Build-up Procedure. Application to Bovine Pancreatic Trypsin Inhibitor Using Limited Simulated Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Data

Abstract Low-energy conformations of a set of tetrapeptides derived from the small protein bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) were generated by a build-up procedure from the low-energy conformations of single amino acid residues. At each stage, various-size fragments were built up from all combinations of smaller ones, the total energies were then minimized, and the low-energy conformations were retained for the next stage. The energies of the tetrapeptides were re-ordered by including the effects of hydration. No information other than the amino acid sequence was used to obtain the low-energy conformations of the hydrated tetrapeptides. The latter were then supplemented with a limited set of simulated NMR distance information, derived from the X-ray structure of BPTI, to provide a basis for building the rest of the whole protein molecule by the same procedure. A total of 189 upper bounds, plus 12 pairs of upper and lower bounds pertaining to the location of the three disulfide bonds in this molec...
Ceramic waste form for residues from molten salt oxidation of mixed wastes

A ceramic waste form based on Synroc-D is under development for the incorporation of the mineral residues from molten salt oxidation treatment of mixed low-level wastes. Samples containing as many as 32 chemical elements have been fabricated, characterized, and leach-tested. Universal Treatment Standards have been satisfied for all regulated elements except two (lead and vanadium). Efforts are underway to further improve chemical durability.
Bursting for fixed tubular and restrained hydroforming

Abstract The paper presents a failure analysis of tube hydroforming under a wide range of process conditions involving internal pressure, enclosed square die, and axial end feeding. The failure analysis focuses on the onset of critical bursting conditions. Bursting is an instability phenomenon of tube hydroforming, which fails to sustain any more internal pressure. Onset of bursting depends on a number of processing parameters such as pressure and end feeding, as well as on material properties. Several analytical analyses have been conducted to determine the onset of bursting conditions for different loading paths. The critical parameters governing the onset bursting conditions are examined and discussed.
Equine Infectious Anemia Virus (EIAV) gag gene evolution in vivo

ELR1 cDNA sequence, which resulted in a premature stop signal 813 codons downstream. This translational termination was predicted truncating the receptor at the C-terminus of the transmembrane domain. The other species (ELR1-DE) had a deletion of 109 nt and caused a shift of the open reading frame and an appearance of a stop codon 312 nt downstream. Because ELR1-DE presumably encoded a peptide of mere 23 residues, only ELR1-IN was further analyzed for potential functions on EIAV infection of target cells. Firstly, the expression of the soluble form ELR1 (sELR1) by ELR1-IN was confirmed by Western-blot and immunofluorescence analysis. Like ELR1, the transcription level of ELR1-IN varied in different individuals of horse and at different time points in same individuals. The radio of ELR1-IN mRNA species to that of ELR1 was approximate 1:2. However, the expressions of both forms of the receptor were significantly regulated by the infection of EIAV. Additionally, pre-incubation of the recombinant sELR1 with EIAV significantly inhibited the infection of EIAV on equine macrophages, which is the primary in vivo target cell of the virus. Fetal horse dermal (FHD) cells are susceptible to EIAV in vitro. The replication of EIAV in FHD cells transiently transfected with ELR1-IN was markedly reduced when compared with the replication in cells transfected with the empty vector. Taken together, our data implicate that sELR1 is an important cellular factor that inhibits the infection of EIAV on host cells.
Determination of trace sodium, lithium, magnesium, and potassium impurities in colloidal silica by slurry introduction into an atmospheric-pressure solution-cathode glow discharge and atomic emission spectrometry

Trace impurities of sodium, lithium, magnesium, and potassium in colloidal silica were determined by slurry introduction into an atmospheric-pressure solution-cathode glow discharge (SCGD). The applied voltage, solution flow rate, and distance between the metal anode and surface of the solution were optimized. Emission from K (766.5 nm), Na (589.0 nm), Mg (285.2 nm) and Li (670.8 nm) demonstrated a linear range of nearly 4 orders of magnitude (R2 ≥ 0.998) and steady-state sample introduction yielded limits of detection of 0.7, 0.4, 0.5 and 0.2 ng mL−1, respectively. For an integration time of 0.3 s, relative standard deviations (RSDs) from 1000 ng mL−1 standard solutions introduced continuously were found to be better than 3% for all four elements. Transient sample introduction into the SCGD was also optimized and provided limits of detection for K, Na, Mg and Li of 3, 2, 2 and 0.8 ng mL−1, respectively, and RSDs for 1000 ng mL−1 standard solutions of better than 3%. Determined concentrations of trace impurities in colloidal silica agreed satisfactorily (accuracy from 1.3 to 7.7% and precision from 4 to 14%) with those obtained from inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry.
Endosomal generation of cAMP in GPCR signaling

It has been widely assumed that the production of the ubiquitous second messenger cyclic AMP, which is mediated by cell surface G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs), and its termination take place exclusively at the plasma membrane. Recent studies reveal that diverse GPCRs do not always follow this conventional paradigm. In the new model, GPCRs mediate G-protein signaling not only from the plasma membrane but also from endosomal membranes. This model proposes that following ligand binding and activation, cell surface GPCRs internalize and redistribute into early endosomes, where trimeric G protein signaling can be maintained for an extended period of time. This Perspective discusses the molecular and cellular mechanistic subtleties as well as the physiological consequences of this unexpected process, which is considerably changing how we think about GPCR signaling and regulation and how we study drugs that target this receptor family.
Simple BAN Estimators of Correlations for Certain Multivariate Normal Models with Known Variances

Abstract It is well-known that in certain multivariate normal models with known variances, maximum likelihood estimation of correlations is arithmetically cumbersome. For certain of these models, a relatively simple estimation technique based on the sufficient statistics is given and shown to be best asymptotically normal. The procedure uses the fact that many of the likelihood equations for these models are essentially cubic equations. A consistent, explicit solution for the associated cubic likelihood equation is found and shown to have the appropriate efficiency and normality properties. Considered in detail are the intraclass, autoregressive, and moving average models.