cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adsorption of coliphages T1 and T7 to host and non-host microbes and to clay minerals

The clay minerals, kaolinite (K) and montmorillonite (M), suspended in either distilled water (DW) or a minimal medium (M-9), were better adsorbents for coliphages T1 or T7 than were bacteria (including early log, late log, or stationary phase cultures of the hosts), actinomycetes, and yeasts. Except for the host bacteria, the microbial cells (regardless of their type, phase of growth, viability, weight or number of cells, and volume of the suspension medium) adsorbed few or no coliphages. Although early log phase cultures (3 h) ofEscherichia coli B, suspended in DW, adsorbed an appreciable amount of T1 (94%), washing the cells with DW reduced the amount of T1 adsorbed (48%); 3-h cultures ofE. coli B/1,5, suspended in DW, adsorbed 15% of a T7 inoculum, and washing the cells with DW reduced the amount of T7 adsorbed to 1%. There was appreciable adsorption (35 to 97%) of both coliphages (with the exception of T1 on K) to 1 mg K or M suspended in either DW or M-9. These results suggest that clays are more important than microbes as adsorbents of viruses in environments of low ionic strength and that microbes do not inactivate coliphages T1 and T7.
Delayed Emergence, Stem Distortion, Stunting, and Foliar Symptoms Associated with Tobacco Rattle Virus and Paratrichodorus Allius in Potatoes Grown in the Pacific Northwest

This is the first report of stunting, stem distortion, delayed emergence and foliar TRV symptoms on potato in the Pacific Northwest where approximately 50% of the US potato crop is grown. The shift in use from 1,3 dichloropropene to oxamyl may suggest these symptoms will be more frequently observed in the future.
Analytical synthesis of MIMO fault-tolerant control systems with simplified circuit implementation

Synthesis of MIMO fault-tolerant control systems under controls failures is considered. The solution is written in an analytical form, which makes it possible to synthesize simplified circuit implementations and adjust coefficients of the fault-tolerant control system in the case of a nonstationary object.
Stochastic Modeling of B Lymphocyte Terminal Differentiation and Its Suppression by Dioxin

Background Upon antigen encounter, naive B lymphocytes differentiate into antibody-secreting plasma cells. This humoral immune response is suppressed by the environmental contaminant 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and other dioxin-like compounds, which belong to the family of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) agonists.
An economic analysis of the medical malpractice system

The purpose of professional liability is viewed as the deterrence of negligence. Conditions necessary for the malpractice system to provide appropriate incentives for injury prevention are described. The operation of the system is compared to this theoretical ideal. Evidence is presented on the number of claims relative to injuries; the disposition of claims through the courts; the effects of tort reforms: the efficiency of insurance mechanisms; and causes and solutions of the 1975 malpractice insurance crisis. The overall efficiency of the system is evaluated and proposals for reform are discussed.
Micromide and guamamide: cytotoxic alkaloids from a species of the marine cyanobacterium Symploca.

Two new cytotoxins have been isolated from a species of marine cyanobacterium belonging to the genus Symploca that was collected in Guam. These new compounds, micromide (1) and guamamide (2), were accompanied by the known lipopeptides apramides A (3), B (4), and G (5). The planar structures of both alkaloids were elucidated by standard 2D NMR techniques, and the configurations of the amino acid-derived units in 1 were determined by chiral HPLC. The stereochemistry of the β-methoxyhexanoic acid in 1 was determined by derivatization with methyl d-mandelate, after acid hydrolysis, and comparison with synthetic standards.
Ultrasonic Mixing in Microfluidic Channels Using Integrated Transducers

This paper presents a microfluidic mixer that uses acoustic stirring created by ultrasonic waves. The ultrasound is introduced into the channel by integrated piezoelectric transducers. The transducers are made of a zinc oxide thin film, which is deposited on the bottom surface of a quartz substrate. The poly(dimethylsiloxane) channel is aligned to the transducers on the top surface of the substrate. The transducers are designed for operation around 450 MHz. The main mechanism of the mixing is the acoustic stirring of the fluid perpendicular to the flow direction. The radiation pressure that is generated by the transducer causes the stirring inside the microfluidic channel. The performance of the mixer is characterized by mixing phenolphthalein solution and sodium hydroxide dissolved in ethyl alcohol. Flow rates on the order of 1−100 μL/min are used. The transducers are driven by 1.2 Vrms sinusoidal voltages at 450 MHz.
Pricing and Acquisitions Policies for Electronic Resources: Is the Market Stable Enough to Establish Local Standards?

SUMMARY Librarians establish pricing policies for traditional acquisitions to systematize what can be an unpredictable process. This article discusses whether the electronic resource market is currently stable enough for librarians to apply similar policies to their electronic acquisitions. It also examines the history and current state of electronic resource pricing, and relates electronic resource pricing policy preferences as articulated by professionals who work closely with electronic resource acquisitions.
Perceptions of a forensic pathology rotation by a small cohort of medical students and first year residents

Forensic Pathology programs have long faced challenges in recruiting suitably qualified medical students or uncommitted interns into the subspecialty. At the Marion County Coroners Office (MCCO) in Indianapolis in Indiana, between 20 and 24 trainees rotate through the facility annually. These include pathologist assistant students at the masters degree level, pathology residents, 3rd and 4th year medical students, and transitional (first year) postgraduate interns. The purpose of this study was to determine how the learning experiences of medical students and first year residents could be improved and to identify the implications their responses may hold for recruitment of future forensic pathologists. They were selected because unlike the pathology residents (most of whom have interests in other areas of pathology), medical students and transitional year residents are trainees at earlier points in their careers. Their rotations are dedicated to forensic pathology and generally last a month.
Technical change and metropolitan adjustments Some Policy and Analytical Implications

Abstract The objective of this paper is to highlight important elements of models of metropolitan evolution in developed countries and thus outline the emerging agenda of metropolitan modeling. The advent of the mature metropolis is analyzed in a historical context of technical change, structural adjustments, and rigidities in change management. Four classes of issues are addressed: (i) dynamic adjustment processes, (ii) distributional issues, (iii) links of the urban system to the nation, and (iv) the modeler-decision maker system.
Primary dendrite spacing: Part II. Experimental studies of Pb-Pd and Pb-Au alloys

Directional solidification experiments have been extended to Pb-Pd and Pb-Au alloys. The primary spacing, λ, has been determined over a wide range of temperature gradients,G, and solidification velocities,V. The dependence of the spacing on bothG andV is found to undergo a transition as the values ofV andG are lowered. The transition withG is not correlated with the dendritic to cellular transformation. However, the transition withV appears to correlate with duplex microstructures which are observed in the dendritic to cellular transition region.
Injury Prevention: A Crucial Aspect of Travel Medicine

Every year, thousands of international travelers die or become disabled from injuries during international travel.’-3 Motor vehicle crashes, drownings, aircraft crashes, homicides, and burns constitute the majority of fatal injury deaths to travelers every year.’ Falls and recreational injuries, in addition to motor vehicle accidents, are common causes of serious injuries to trave1e1-s.~Depending on the destination, injuries have been identified as the number one cause of travel-related death and the most common cause of air medical evac~a t ion .~ -~ As travel to less developed countries increases, and as less developed countries become more industrialized, injuries such as motor vehicle crashes increase not only to the host country population but also to travelers. Less developed countries consistently have higher motor vehicle crash death rates and are experiencing increasing death rates from motor vehicle crashes, whereas industrialized countries are experiencing declines in motor vehicle crash death rates.’ Travelers staying at hotels in less developed countries may be at increased risk of burns due to high water temperatures.8
Field match verification during combination proton, photon, and electron therapy for oligometastatic inflammatory breast cancer

Postmastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) has been shown in randomized trials to improve overall survival for patients with locally advanced breast cancer. The standard PMRT clinical target volume (CTV) encompasses the chest wall and undissected regional lymphatics. Conformal isodose distributions covering the standard CTV with acceptable dose limits to normal tissue can typically be achieved with a combination of photon and electron fields. Field borders are marked on the patient's skin using a light field projection of each beam and are subsequently used to verify daily field matching clinically. Initial imaging of a patient with oligometastatic inflammatory breast cancer demonstrated direct extension of disease from the involved internal mammary lymph node chain into the anterior mediastinum as the only site of metastatic disease. The patient achieved a pathologic complete response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and underwent mastectomy. The initial sites of gross disease, including the anterior mediastinal node was included in the CTV for PMRT, and treatment planning demonstrated a clear advantage to the inclusion of proton fields in this case. The absence of a light source on the proton delivery system that accurately projects proton field edges onto the patient's skin posed a significant challenge for daily verification of proton-to-photon and -electron field matching. Proton field-specific radiographic imaging devices were designed and used such that proton field edges could be delineated on the patient's skin and used for daily matching with photon and electron fields. Manufacture of the imaging devices was quick and inexpensive. Weekly verification of proton field alignment with the proton field delineation on the skin demonstrated agreement within 3-mm tolerance. The patient remains with no evidence of disease 18 months after completing radiation. Other patients with similar indications may benefit from multimodality radiation therapy.
Affine equivalence of quartic monomial rotation symmetric Boolean functions in prime power dimension

In this paper we analyze and exactly compute the number of affine equivalence classes under permutations for quartic monomial rotation symmetric functions in prime and prime power dimensions.
The Effects of a Disease Management Program on Self-Reported Health Behaviors and Health Outcomes: Evidence From the “Florida: A Healthy State (FAHS)” Medicaid Program

Premature morbidity and mortality from chronic diseases account for a major proportion of expenditures for health care cost in the United States. The purpose of this study was to measure the effects of a disease management program on physiological and behavioral health indicators for Medicaid patients in Florida. A two-year prospective study of 15,275 patients with one or more chronic illnesses (congestive heart failure, hypertension, diabetes, or asthma) was undertaken. Control of hypertension improved from baseline to Year 1 (adjusted odds ratio = 1.60, p < .05), with maintenance at Year 2. Adjusted cholesterol declined by 6.41 mg/dl from baseline to Year 1 and by 12.41 mg/dl (p < .01) from baseline to Year 2. Adjusted average medication compliance increased by 0.19 points (p < .01) in Year 1 and 0.29 points (p < .01) in Year 2. Patients in the disease management program benefited in terms of controlling hypertension, asthma symptoms, and cholesterol and blood glucose levels.
Transition-metal directed self-assembly of admantanoid-shaped supramolecules incorporating ferrocenyl moieties

A series of transition-metal-directed self-assembled admantanoid-shaped supramolecules incorporating ferrocenyl moieties has been prepared in virtually quantitative yields. They have been fully characterized by a variety of techniques including NMR, elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, and absorption spectroscopy. These new complexes show no luminescence in room temperature solution, presumably due to the presence of the ferrocene moiety which quenches the potential emission.
Transient Nonlinear Disturbances and Shelves in a Stratified Fluid Layer

We revisit the classical problem of internal wave propagation in a stratified fluid layer bounded by rigid walls and point out a mechanism by which unsteady locally confined disturbances generate far-field shelves. Carrying the standard expansion procedure to fourth order in the wave amplitude reveals that weakly nonlinear long waves of a certain mode shed, in general, lower- and higher-mode shelves, which propagate upstream and downstream with the corresponding long-wave speeds. This phenomenon is brought about by the combined effect of nonlinear interactions and the presence of transience in the main disturbance. While the shelves accompanying small-amplitude waves are relatively weak, numerical solutions of the full Euler equations indicate that shelves induced by unsteady disturbances of finite amplitude close to breaking can be quite significant.
Captopril inhibits the 72 kDa and 92 kDa matrix metalloproteinases

Captopril inhibits the 72 kDa and 92 kDa matrix metalloproteinases. Gelatinases are metalloproteinases in the kidney which can cleave type IV collagen as well as gelatin. We partially purified the 72 kDa and 92 kDa gelatinases. The gelatinolytic activity was measured by zymography and a quantitative biotin-avidin assay. By zymography, captopril in concentrations of 20 mM and 40 mM added to the incubation buffer reduced the gelatinolytic activity in a dose-dependent manner. The addition of zinc in a concentration of 50 to 100 µM reversed most of the inhibitory effect of captopril. By the biotin-avidin assay, captopril in a concentration of 30 to 50 nM reduced half of either the 72 kDa or 92 kDa gelatinolytic activity. Zinc in a concentration of 50 µM completely reversed the inhibitory effect of 1 µM captopril on both gelatinases. Lisinopril, a non-sulfhydryl ACE inhibitor, similarly inhibited the gelatinases, but a 1000-fold higher concentration of the drug was needed. These findings suggest that captopril reversibly inhibits the 72 kDa and 92 kDa metalloproteinases by interacting with the zinc ion at their active sites. This inhibitory effect is observed with captopril levels comparable to the concentrations needed to inhibit the angiotensin converting enzyme in vivo and may at least partially explain some of the renoprotective effects seen with this drug.
Experiments on a shrouded, parallel disk system with rotation and coolant throughflow

Abstract The heat transfer and fluid flow characteristics of a cylindrical enclosure having both rotating and stationary walls have been investigated in the presence of coolant throughflow. The research was motivated by cooling applications in cavities and enclosures which may be situated adjacent to the rotating shaft in gas turbines, compressors, and similar devices. The test section walls consisted of a heated rotating disk, a heated stationary cylindrical shroud, and an insulated stationary disk. The coolant passing through the enclosure was air. The experiments were performed over a range of disk rotational speeds, coolant flow rates and spacings between the disks. The local heat transfer coefficients on the rotating disk were found to increase with increasing rotational speed, increasing coolant flow rate, and decreasing spacing. The shapes of the radial distributions of the transfer coefficients suggested the existence of laminar, transition, and turbulent regimes. In the laminar regime, the transfer coefficients were relatively insensitive to the coolant flow rate. For the shroud, the trends with rotational speed, coolant flow, and spacing were generally similar to those for the rotating disk. However, owing to backflows along the shroud at the lower rotational speeds, the trends were more complex in that range. Flow visualization, accomplished by smoke injection, revealed a succession of flow patterns which could be ordered according to the ratio of the coolant flow rate to the disk rotational speed.
Modular control of human walking: Adaptations to altered mechanical demands

Studies have suggested that the nervous system may adopt a control scheme in which synergistic muscle groups are controlled by common excitation patters, or modules, to simplify the coordination of movement tasks such as walking. A recent computer modeling and simulation study of human walking using experimentally derived modules as the control inputs provided evidence that individual modules are associated with specific biomechanical subtasks, such as generating body support and forward propulsion. The present study tests whether the modules identified during normal walking could produce simulations of walking when the mechanical demands were substantially altered. Walking simulations were generated that emulated human subjects who had their body weight and/or body mass increased and decreased by 25%. By scaling the magnitude of five module patterns, the simulations could emulate the subjects' response to each condition by simply scaling the mechanical output from modules associated with specific biomechanical subtasks. Specifically, the modules associated with providing body support increased (decreased) their contribution to the vertical ground reaction force when body weight was increased (decreased) and the module associated with providing forward propulsion increased its contribution to the positive anterior-posterior ground reaction force and positive trunk power when the body mass was increased. The modules that contribute to controlling leg swing were unaffected by the perturbations. These results support the idea that the nervous system may use a modular control strategy and that flexible modulation of module recruitment intensity may be sufficient to meet large changes in mechanical demand.
Biochemical and genetic analyses provide insight into the structural and mechanistic properties of actin filament disassembly by the Aip1p cofilin complex in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Explication of the Aip1p/cofilin/actin filament complex may lead to a more detailed understanding of the mechanisms by which Aip1p and cofilin collaborate to rapidly disassemble filaments. We further characterized the actin–Aip1p interface through a random mutagenic screen of ACT1, identifying a novel Aip1p interaction site on actin. This finding is consistent with our current ternary complex model and offers insights into how Aip1p may disturb intersubunit contacts within an actin filament. In addition, site-directed mutagenesis aimed at interfering with salt bridge interactions at the predicted Aip1p–cofilin interface revealed hyperactive alleles of cof1 and aip1 that support the ternary complex model and suggest that conformational changes in cofilin structure may be transmitted to actin filaments, causing increased destabilization. Furthermore, these data support an active role for Aip1p in promoting actin filament turnover.
Probing compositional variation within hybrid nanostructures.

We present a detailed analysis of the structural and magnetic properties of solution-grown PtCo−CdS hybrid structures in comparison to similar free-standing PtCo alloy nanoparticles. X-ray absorpti...
Loss of superficial femoral artery relaxation following ischemia-reperfusion.

Abstract Acute ischemia followed by reperfusion in skeletal muscle is associated with tissue edema and necrosis. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate superficial femoral artery endothelial injury following complete ischemia with reperfusion. New Zealand white rabbits underwent total devascularization of one hindlimb for 3 hr followed by 0, 1, and 2 hr of reperfusion. Control rabbits underwent a sham operation. Superficial femoral artery rings were then studied for acetylcholine induced relaxation in vitro. The response to acetylcholine was measured as percentage relaxation at three incremental doses (1 × 10 −7 , 3 × 10 −7 , and 5 × 10 −7 M ). The ischemia-only (26.30 ± 7.07, 62.63 ± 8.64, 88.08 ± 5.25%) and the 1-hr reperfusion group (19.35 ± 12.99, 39.24 ± 15.78, 62.01 ± 14.03%) showed no significant difference ( P ≥ 0.05, Student's t test) in relaxation as compared to the control group (13.73 ± 2.11, 47.88 ± 7.23, 72.44 ± 9.00%). The 2-hr reperfusion group (6.10 ± 1.02, 15.33 ± 2.56, 34.67 ± 6.31%), however, had a significant loss of relaxation at all three doses of acetylcholine compared to that seen in the control group ( P ≤ 0.05, Student's t test). In this model of complete ischemia, superficial femoral artery rings lose their ability to relax in response to acetylcholine following 3 hr of ischemia and 2 hr of reperfusion, demonstrating endothelial injury. However, immediately after 3 hr of ischemia or ischemia followed by only 1 hr of reperfusion, superficial femoral artery rings did not lose their ability to relax in response to acetylcholine. This study identifies a window of opportunity for therapeutic intervention after ischemia and prior to endothelial injury from reperfusion.
SafeNet: A methodology for integrating general-purpose unsafe devices in safe-robot rehabilitation systems

Robot-assisted neurorehabilitation often involves networked systems of sensors (''sensory rooms'') and powerful devices in physical interaction with weak users. Safety is unquestionably a primary concern. Some lightweight robot platforms and devices designed on purpose include safety properties using redundant sensors or intrinsic safety design (e.g. compliance and backdrivability, limited exchange of energy). Nonetheless, the entire ''sensory room'' shall be required to be fail-safe and safely monitored as a system at large. Yet, sensor capabilities and control algorithms used in functional therapies require, in general, frequent updates or re-configurations, making a safety-grade release of such devices hardly sustainable in cost-effectiveness and development time. As such, promising integrated platforms for human-in-the-loop therapies could not find clinical application and manufacturing support because of lacking in the maintenance of global fail-safe properties. Under the general context of cross-machinery safety standards, the paper presents a methodology called SafeNet for helping in extending the safety rate of Human Robot Interaction (HRI) systems using unsafe components, including sensors and controllers. SafeNet considers, in fact, the robotic system as a device at large and applies the principles of functional safety (as in ISO 13489-1) through a set of architectural procedures and implementation rules. The enabled capability of monitoring a network of unsafe devices through redundant computational nodes, allows the usage of any custom sensors and algorithms, usually planned and assembled at therapy planning-time rather than at platform design-time. A case study is presented with an actual implementation of the proposed methodology. A specific architectural solution is applied to an example of robot-assisted upper-limb rehabilitation with online motion tracking.
Making sense of an alphabet soup: the use of a new bioinformatics tool for identification of novel gene islands. Focus on "identification of genomic islands in the genome of Bacillus cereus by comparative analysis with Bacillus anthracis".

in the short time since the first bacterial genome was sequenced ([3][1]), additional bacterial genomes from over 70 genera in 12 different phyla have been sequenced, resulting in over 500 Mb of sequence data. Even as the scientific community sequences ever more genomes, the avalanche of data we
Synthesis of chicken hemoglobins during erythrocyte differentiation

Abstract 1. Nucleated avian erythrocytes have been fractionated on the basis of buoyant density in linear bovine serum albumin density gradients. An inverse relationship has been observed between cell buoyant density, on the one side, and average RNA content, RNA- and protein-synthesizing activity of chicken and duck erythrocytes, on the other. From the known relationship between these biochemical parameters and the erythrocyte maturation process, and from the autoradiographic analysis of the distribution of protein-synthesizing activity in the erythrocyte population, it is concluded that buoyant-density centrifugation in bovine serum albumin gradients separates bird erythrocytes of increasing degree of maturity from the top to the bottom of the gradient. 2. The synthesis of the two chicken hemoglobins appears to occur at high rate in the cells at relatively early stages of maturation present in the blood from anemic animals, and declines progressively in the late stages. On the contrary, the ratio of the rates of synthesis of the two hemoglobin components remains constant in all developmental stages. This suggests that the factors involved in the regulation of synthesis of the two proteins operate in a coordinate manner throughout cell development. 3. Actinomycin D has no significant influence on the formation of either hemoglobin by erythrocytes from anemic chickens during a 24-h incubation in vitro.
Laws of concurrent programming

The talk extends the Laws of Programming [1] by four laws governing concurrent composition of programs. This operator is associative and commutative and distributive through union; and it has the same unit (do nothing) as sequential composition. Furthermore, sequential and concurrent composition distribute through each other, in accordance with an exchange law; this permits an implementation of concurrency by partial interleaving.
Absorption spectra and photochemistry of the toluene cation and benzyl radical in solid argon

Abstract Toluene diluted in argon subjected to continuous argon discharge radiation during condensation at 21 K revealed absorptions at 310.5 and 449.6 nm due to benzyl radical, and 317 nm due to a C 7 7H 9 radical. A photosensitive 430 nm band, in agreement with photodissociation spectra of the toluene parent cation, is assigned to this species.
Prevention of falls in patients with osteoporosis.

Falls are a significant problem among elderly individuals. Approximately 30% of elderly persons fall each year. The clinical effect of falls also is important. Falls are the leading cause of nonfatal and fatal injuries among elderly individuals. Hip fractures are one of the most disabling consequences of falls; falls contribute to more than 90% of the 250,000 hip fractures each year in the United States.Much has been learned about risk factors for falls among elderly persons. The major risk factors are diseases or impairments that affect balance, gait, or muscle strength. Impaired visual acuity and diminished sensory function also are important causes of falls. Specific medications and the number of medications also have been well documented to correlate with the risk of falling. Prevention of falls is now a clinical reality. Several interventions have been shown to reduce the rate of falling or fallrelated osteoporotic fracture. Exercise, including exercises to improve muscle strength, aerobic capacity, and balance, reduce the rate of falls and improve bone strength. Environmental modifications or extrinsic factors also may prevent specific fall-related fractures, such as the use of hip pads to prevent hip fractures. Healthcare providers should include assessments of fall risk factors and counseling about preventive measures in the routine care of all elderly persons, but particularly among those with osteoporosis.
Effect of cellular desialylation on choline high affinity uptake and ecto-acetylcholinesterase activity of cholinergic neuroblasts

Abstract It is not definitely established whether choline can be synthesized by nerve tissue (1,2). Its uptake by the neuronal membrane may be an important regulator of neuronal phosphatidylcholine and acetylcholine metabolism. An energy-dependent component of the choline uptake system has recently been found in neuroblastoma cell cultures (3). Choline uptake in cholinergic neuroblasts is markedly reduced by inhibition of cholinesterase activity (4). Further information about the system for choline transport still is lacking. To gain insight into the biochemical mechanism(s) at the cell surface which are involved in choline uptake by nerve cells, cultured cholinergic neuroblasts in the present study were subjected to gentle sialidase treatment, and choline uptake and acetylcholinesterase activities (AChE, EC 3.1.1.7) were determined in parallel. Removal of a portion of the cell surface sialic acid markedly reduced choline uptake and concurrently enhanced AChE activity. These findings suggest an interrelatedness of choline uptake and acetylcholinesterase activity mediated by sialic acid components in the outer surface of the cell.
A simpler 100-V polysilicon TFT with improved turn-on characteristics

An improved polysilicon high-voltage thin-film transistor (HVTFT) structure for eliminating the current-pinching phenomenon often observed in the conventional offset-gate polysilicon HVTFTs is discussed. The device employs, in lieu of implantation, a metal field plate overlapping the entire offset region to control the conductivity of the offset region. By properly biasing the field plate to distribute the drain electric field at both ends, high-voltage operation of up to 100 V, suitable for many large-area applications, is achieved. Good turn-on characteristics without current pinching effects are consistently obtained. The structure also eliminates the lightly doped drain implant required in conventional offset-gate HVTFTs, resulting in a simpler and more reproducible process. >
Abdominal compartment syndrome secondary to retroperitoneal hematoma as a complication of ERCP after liver transplantation

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is frequently employed in the management of postoperative biliary complications in the liver transplant patient. Bleeding after ERCP most commonly presents as gastrointestinal bleeding and often can be managed with repeat endoscopy. ERCP can also be complicated by retroperitoneal hematoma, which in rare cases can lead to hemodynamic compromise due to relentless hemorrhage or from secondary abdominal compartment syndrome. We describe the first reported case of post-ERCP retroperitoneal hematoma in a liver transplant recipient that led to abdominal compartment syndrome and shock liver. We will present the case, discuss management, and review the complications of ERCP in the liver transplant recipient. Close post-procedure monitoring, rapid detection, and low threshold for decompressive laparotomy are keys to the successful management of the liver transplant recipient experiencing expanding retroperitoneal hematoma after ERCP.
Treatment of Urethral Strictures from Irradiation and Other Nonsurgical Forms of Pelvic Cancer Treatment

Radiation therapy (RT), external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), brachytherapy (BT), photon beam therapy (PBT), high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), and cryotherapy are noninvasive treatment options for pelvic malignancies and prostate cancer. Though effective in treating cancer, urethral stricture disease is an underrecognized and poorly reported sequela of these treatment modalities. Studies estimate the incidence of stricture from BT to be 1.8%, EBRT 1.7%, combined EBRT and BT 5.2%, and cryotherapy 2.5%. Radiation effects on the genitourinary system can manifest early or months to years after treatment with the onus being on the clinician to investigate and rule-out stricture disease as an underlying etiology for lower urinary tract symptoms. Obliterative endarteritis resulting in ischemia and fibrosis of the irradiated tissue complicates treatment strategies, which include urethral dilation, direct-vision internal urethrotomy (DVIU), urethral stents, and urethroplasty. Failure rates for dilation and DVIU are exceedingly high with several studies indicating that urethroplasty is the most definitive and durable treatment modality for patients with radiation-induced stricture disease. However, a detailed discussion should be offered regarding development or worsening of incontinence after treatment with urethroplasty. Further studies are required to assess the nature and treatment of cryotherapy and HIFU-induced strictures.
Lipolytic suppression following carbohydrate ingestion limits fat oxidation during exercise

This study determined if the suppression of lipolysis after preexercise carbohydrate ingestion reduces fat oxidation during exercise. Six healthy, active men cycled 60 min at 44 +/- 2% peak oxygen consumption, exactly 1 h after ingesting 0.8 g/kg of glucose (Glc) or fructose (Fru) or after an overnight fast (Fast). The mean plasma insulin concentration during the 50 min before exercise was different among Fast, Fru, and Glc (8 +/- 1, 17 +/- 1, and 38 +/- 5 microU/ml, respectively; P < 0.05). After 25 min of exercise, whole body lipolysis was 6.9 +/- 0.2, 4.3 +/- 0.3, and 3.2 +/- 0.5 micromol x kg(-1) x min(-1) and fat oxidation was 6.1 +/- 0.2, 4.2 +/- 0.5, and 3.1 +/- 0.3 micromol x kg(-1) x min(-1) during Fast, Fru, and Glc, respectively (all P < 0.05). During Fast, fat oxidation was less than lipolysis (P < 0.05), whereas fat oxidation approximately equaled lipolysis during Fru and Glc. In an additional trial, the same subjects ingested glucose (0.8 g/kg) 1 h before exercise and lipolysis was simultaneously increased by infusing Intralipid and heparin throughout the resting and exercise periods (Glc+Lipid). This elevation of lipolysis during Glc+Lipid increased fat oxidation 30% above Glc (4.0 +/- 0.4 vs. 3.1 +/- 0.3 micromol x kg(-1) x min(-1); P < 0.05), confirming that lipolysis limited fat oxidation. In summary, small elevations in plasma insulin before exercise suppressed lipolysis during exercise to the point at which it equaled and appeared to limit fat oxidation.
East-west patterns of Cenozoic igneous rocks, aeromagnetic anomalies, and mineral deposits, Nevada and Utah

In Nevada and western Utah, Cenozoic igneous rocks within several age increments crop out in arcuate, generally east-trending belts, each successively younger to the south. Broad aeromagnetic highs with superimposed short-wavelength anomalies are associated with some of these outcrop belts. Mineral deposits are aligned along the belts in easternmost Nevada and western Utah. The east-west patterns are the result of a southward-migrating front of igneous activity that, in Nevada and Utah, started about 43 to 34 m.y. ago near lat 40°N and ended about 17 to 6 m.y. ago near lat 37°N. During any one time interval, igneous activity was concentrated near the leading edge of the east-trending front. The volcanic front may be related to igneous activity localized along a southward-propagating transverse break or structural warp in a subducting plate.
The hedgehog pathway is a modulator of retina regeneration

The embryonic chick has the ability to regenerate its retina after it has been completely removed. Here, we provide a detailed characterization of retina regeneration in the embryonic chick at the cellular level. Retina regeneration can occur in two distinct manners. The first is via transdifferentiation, which is induced by members of the Fibroblast growth factor (Fgf) family. The second type of retinal regeneration occurs from the anterior margin of the eye, near the ciliary body (CB) and ciliary marginal zone (CMZ). We show that regeneration from the CB/CMZ is the result of proliferating stem/progenitor cells. This type of regeneration is also stimulated by Fgf2, but we show that it can be activated by Sonic hedgehog (Shh) overexpression when no ectopic Fgf2 is present. Shh-stimulated activation of CB/CMZ regeneration is inhibited by the Fgf receptor (Fgfr) antagonist, PD173074. This indicates that Shh-induced regeneration acts through the Fgf signaling pathway. In addition, we show that the hedgehog (Hh) pathway plays a role in maintenance of the retina pigmented epithelium (RPE), as ectopic Shh expression inhibits transdifferentiation and Hh inhibition increases the transdifferentiation domain. Ectopic Shh expression in the regenerating retina also results in a decrease in the number of ganglion cells present and an increase in apoptosis mostly in the presumptive ganglion cell layer (GCL). However, Hh inhibition increases the number of ganglion cells but does not have an effect on cell death. Taken together, our results suggest that the hedgehog pathway is an important modulator of retina regeneration.
The developmental cycle of a drug epidemic: the cocaine smoking epidemic of 1981-1991

Although Americans have experienced many drug epidemics, the majority of which have ended within ten years of onset, they nevertheless believed that the use of smokable cocaine, which took the popular form of crack cocaine in 1984, would grow exponentially throughout the 1990s unless it was vigorously combated. However, in 1991 it appears that crack use is in decline even in the inner-city neighborhoods where it had been most entrenched, and that the decline is due more to natural controls than to the War on Drugs. The cyclical nature of drug epidemics, as well as their progression through regular stages, was again affirmed. The cocaine-smoking epidemic of 1981-1991 (which included crack) afforded the opportunity to research it in its entirety. In this article, the advantages of recognizing the developmental cycles of drug epidemics are outlined, the most important of which concerns the future. In the terminal stage of the developmental cycle of a drug epidemic, remaining abusers play a pivotal role. If humanely treated, they may serve as deterrents to future drug use: frustrated in current drug use, however, yet insensitively treated by the wider society, they may author the next epidemic.
Impact of Biofuel Production on World Agricultural Markets: A Computable General Equilibrium Analysis

This paper introduces biofuels sectors as energy inputs into the GTAP data base and to the production and consumption structures of the GTAP-Energy model developed by Burniaux and Truong (2002), and further modified by McDougall and Golub (2008). We also incorporate Agro-ecological Zones (AEZs) for each of the land using sectors in line with Lee et al. (2005). The GTAP-E model with biofuels and AEZs offers a useful framework for analyzing the growing importance of biofuels for global changes in crop production, utilization, commodity prices, factor use, trade, land use change etc. We begin by validating the model over the 2001-2006 period. We focus on six main drivers of the biofuel boom: the hike in crude oil prices, replacement of MTBE by ethanol as a gasoline additive in the US, and subsidies for ethanol and biodiesel in the US and EU. Using this historical simulation, we calibrate the key elasticities of energy substitution between biofuels and petroleum products in each region. With these parameter settings in place, the model does a reasonably good job of predicting the share of feedstock in biofuels and related sectors in accordance with the historical evidence between 2001 and 2006 in the three major biofuel producing regions: US, EU, and Brazil. The results from the historical simulation reveal an increased production of feedstock with the replacement of acreage under other agricultural crops. As expected, the trade balance in oil sector improves for all the oil exporting regions, but it deteriorates at the aggregate for the agricultural sectors.
Interaction of matrix with integrin receptors is required for optimal LPS-induced MAP kinase activation

Exposure of macrophages to endotoxin [lipopolysaccharide (LPS)] results in a cascade of events resulting in the release of multiple inflammatory and anti-inflammatory mediators. The Toll-like recep...
Upper Limb Ischemia Following Accidental Intraarterial Heroin Injection: A Case Report

Acute ischemia of the upper limb is a complication of intravenous drug abuse due to accidental puncture of the arterial tree. The authors report a suc cessfully treated case of hand ischemia in a heroin addict. Anticoagulant and fibrinolytic therapy appeared to be effective treatment of this type of arterial thrombosis.
Efficiency and threshold pump intensity of CW solar-pumped solid-state lasers

The authors consider the relation between the threshold pumping intensity, the material properties, the resonator parameters, and the ultimate slope efficiencies of various solid-state laser materials for solar pumping. They clarify the relation between the threshold pump intensity and the material parameters and the relation between the ultimate slope efficiency and the laser resonator parameters such that a design criterion for the solar-pumped solid-state laser can be established. Among the laser materials evaluated, alexandrite has the highest slope efficiency of about 12.6%; however, it does not seem to be practical for a solar-pumped laser application because of its high threshold pump intensity. Cr:Nd:GSGG is the most promising for solar-pumped lasing. >
The Use of Exponential Transmission Lines In Microwave Components

This paper describes some techniques for utilizing exponential transmission lines in microwave components in order to reduce element lengths, and hence size and weight, and to significantly increase the operating frequency range. Formulas are developed which relate line length to the frequency and rate of taper for transmission line resonators, and a nomogram is included for easy determination of spurious frequencies. Additional formulas are given for the distributed representation of lumped elements using exponential sections of both coaxial and strip transmission line, and their use described in application to microwave filters and related components. In addition, the paper describes how unusually large rejection bandwidths can easily be obtained by proper selection of the individual element lengths and rates of taper.
Identification of critical amino acid residues in the plague biofilm Hms proteins.

Yersinia pestis biofilm formation causes massive adsorption of haemin or Congo red in vitro as well as colonization and eventual blockage of the flea proventriculus in vivo. This blockage allows effective transmission of plague from some fleas, like the oriental rat flea, to mammals. Four Hms proteins, HmsH, HmsF, HmsR and HmsS, are essential for biofilm formation, with HmsT and HmsP acting as positive and negative regulators, respectively. HmsH has a β-barrel structure with a large periplasmic domain while HmsF possesses polysaccharide deacetylase and COG1649 domains. HmsR is a putative glycosyltransferase while HmsS has no recognized domains. In this study, specific amino acids within conserved domains or within regions of high similarity in HmsH, HmsF, HmsR and HmsS proteins were selected for site-directed mutagenesis. Some but not all of the substitutions in HmsS and within the periplasmic domain of HmsH were critical for protein function. Substitutions within the glycosyltransferase domain of HmsR and the deacetylase domain of HmsF abolished biofilm formation in Y. pestis. Surprisingly, substitution of highly conserved residues within COG1649 did not affect HmsF function.
Human papillomavirus-16 and -18 replication in esophagus squamous cancer cell lines does not require sheterologous E1 and E2 proteins

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are doublestranded DNA viruses that replicate in the nuclei of squamous epithelial cells. HPVs can be classified into high-risk (e.g., types 16, 18, 31, and 33) or low-risk (e.g., types 6, 11, and 30), depending on their association with benign or malignant tumors. We recently described the association of HPV-16 and -18 with esophagus squamous cell cancer. HPV replication was studied in representative cell lines derived from esophagus cancers. HPV-16 and -18 genomes were independently transiently transfected into HCE-4 and HCE-7 cell lines with and without E1 and E2 genes under heterologous promoters. Southern blot analysis demonstrated that these cell lines support viral replication. However, heterologous E1 and E2 are not required for HPV replication. These findings suggest that specific host nuclear factors in esophageal squamous epithelial cells may support HPV replication. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Flow Cytometric Analysis of Phosphorylated Histone H2AX Following Exposure to Ionizing Radiation in Human Microvascular Endothelial Cells

We applied a flow cytometric method to quantify IR-induced histone H2AX phosphorylation at serine 139 (gammaH2AX) and compared those values to those obtained using a standard microscopy based foci counting method. After PFA fixation, methanol permeabilization was suitable for both FITC- or Alexa647-gammaH2AX. In contrast, Alexa647-gammaH2AX was not suitable for ethanol permeabilization. Antibody concentrations at 1-2 microg/ml yielded the highest gammaH2AX positive percentage for both antibodies. Without DAPI staining, gammaH2AX formation can be measured as a relative fold increase. Values determined by bivariant flow cytometric analysis and those obtained using microscopic foci formation exhibited a good quantitative correlation. Values obtained by both methods could vary according to the gating or threshold setting used. gammaH2AX positive cells increased as a function of radiation dose (2-16 Gy) followed by a dose-dependent decay. The free radical scavenger N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), if administered at a concentration of 4 mM 30 min before IR, was effective in reducing IR-induced gammaH2AX formation in all phases of the cell cycle. We have developed a simplified and quantitative flow cytometry based method to measure IR-induced gammaH2AX in cells and demonstrated strong correlation to values obtained by a standard automated digital microscopic foci analysis along with NIH ImageJ custom macro software.
Amantadine treatment for cocaine-dependent patients with severe withdrawal symptoms

Despite a tremendous research effort, there are no medications currently approved for the treatment of cocaine dependence. Cocaine-dependent patients vary widely in clinical characteristics and response to treatment. This heterogeneity may partially account for the inability to find an effective medication. The identification of specific traits that predict response to particular therapies would be extremely useful in the search for a medication. Cocaine withdrawal symptom severity may predict response to medications that relieve cocaine withdrawal symptoms, such as amantadine. This paper describes a method of measuring cocaine withdrawal symptom severity and presents preliminary evidence demonstrating that amantadine may assist patients with more severe cocaine withdrawal symptoms achieve abstinence from cocaine.