cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enfermedades físicas y uso de sustancias comórbidas en el trastorno bipolar

Resumen Objetivo Los datos del National Comorbidity Survey indican que el trastorno bipolar se caracteriza por tasas elevadas durante la vida de trastornos de ansiedad y uso de sustancias (TUS) comorbidos. Aunque pruebas convincentes sugieren que la comorbilidad de un TUS predice la falta de respuesta al tratamiento, la relacion entre la comorbilidad medica y la respuesta al tratamiento no se ha estudiado lo suficiente. En una tentativa de entender la influencia de la comorbilidad medica en el resultado del tratamiento, se efectuo un analisis para obtener informacion sobre la relacion entre una enfermedad fisica comorbida, la fenomenologia del trastorno bipolar y la respuesta al tratamiento con estabilizadores del humor. Metodo Un total de 98 pacientes adultos ambulatorios con un trastorno bipolar I o II asociado a ciclacion rapida y un TUD comorbido se trato prospectivamente con la combinacion de litio y valproato durante 24 semanas. Se efectuo un analisis de regresion logistica para examinar la relacion entre la fenomenologia, la respuesta a los estabilizadores del humor y la comorbilidad medica segun lo valorado mediante la Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (CIRS). La carga de comorbilidad medica alta y baja se definio como una puntuacion total de 4 y 3, respectivamente, en la CIRS. Resultados Cada paciente reclutado en este estudio experimentaba, como minimo, una enfermedad fisica (con mas frecuencia respiratoria, 72%) y, como media, presentaba 4,9 enfermedades diferentes. Mas de la mitad de pacientes (52%) manifestaba enfermedades de 4 o mas sistemas organicos diferentes, un 24% experimentaba una enfermedad no controlable y la puntuacion total global media en la CIRS fue de 5,56. El indice de masa corporal (IMC) era de 28,1, el 38% presentaba sobrepeso y el 29%, obesidad. Se observo una carga medica elevada en el 64%, que se predijo mas potentemente por un diagnostico de trastorno bipolar I ( odds ratio [OR]: 34,9; p=0,002; intervalo de confianza [IC] del 95%, 3,9–316,1). Asimismo, los antecedentes de intentos de suicidio (OR: 10,3; p=0,01; IC del 95%, 1,7–62,0), los de malos tratos fisicos (OR: 7,6; p=0,03; IC del 95%, 1,3–45,7) y la edad avanzada (OR: 1,2; p Conclusion La ciclacion rapida con un TUS comorbido no solo se asocia con una falta de respuesta a los estabilizadores del humor sino que tambien predice problemas medicos de gravedad. Una carga elevada de comorbilidad medica se asocio con el subtipo I del trastorno bipolar, antecedentes de intento de suicidio, antecedentes de malos tratos fisicos y la edad avanzada.
Epidemiology of pyridoxine dependent and pyridoxine responsive seizures in the UK

OBJECTIVE—To study the epidemiology of pyridoxine dependent seizures and other forms of pyridoxine responsive seizures. DESIGN—Monthly notifications to the British Paediatric Surveillance Unit over two years. Questionnaire follow up. SETTING—UK and the Republic of Ireland. PATIENTS—Children aged 15 years or younger whose seizures respond to pyridoxine. INTERVENTIONS—None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES—Numbers of children with definite, probable, and possible pyridoxine dependent seizures or other seizures responsive to pyridoxine. RESULTS—Point prevalence and birth incidence: 1/687 000 and 1/783 000, respectively (definite and probable cases); 1/317 000 and 1/157 000, respectively (all types of pyridoxine responsiveness). NOTIFICATIONS—Pyridoxine dependency: 14 definite, 9 probable, and 10 possible cases; neonatal seizures not meeting case definitions: 7; infantile spasms: 5. Eight of 18 families of definite/probable cases had 2 affected siblings. Just over a third had atypical presentations and just under a third had features and/or initial diagnoses of birth asphyxia and neonatal hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy. CONCLUSIONS—Pyridoxine dependency is rare. Atypical presentations are relatively frequent. A trial of pyridoxine is justified in all cases of early onset intractable seizures or status epilepticus, whatever the suspected cause.
Glide matching with binary and ternary zeotropic refrigerant mixtures Part 1. An experimental study

Abstract An improvement of the coefficient of performance (COP) of the refrigeration cycle can be realized when temperature profiles of the refrigerant mixture and the heat transfer fluid (HTF) are matched. For the same temperature lift, the benefit of glide matching increases as the application glide increases. High-glide binary mixtures composed of components far apart in boiling points tend to have a non-linear relationship between temperature and enthalpy in the two-phase region. The introduction of an intermediate boiler as a third component can linearize this relationship and, theoretically, increase the cycle COP when heat-source and heat-sink fluids are substantially linear (e.g. water, brines, dry air). The research described in this paper was directed at exemplifying this characteristics of ternary mixtures by experimental evaluation of the performance of an R23/142b binary mixture and an R23/22/142b ternary mixture in a generic laboratory breadboard refrigeration system.
The Association of Positive and Negative Events with Depressive Symptomatology among Caregivers

A pilot study of eighty-two caregivers was conducted in South Carolina in 1991 to identify positive and negative factors associated with caregiving. Through home visits, interviewers obtained data on a variety of physical and mental health measures, including two new scales designed to measure perceived "positive" and "negative" events that had occurred in the previous month. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale was used as a measure of depressive symptomatology. For the new scales, only items that were significantly correlated with depressive symptomatology (p < 0.01) were retained. The new "positive" event scale (8 items) and the new "negative" event scale (16 items) had alpha coefficients of 0.79 and 0.86, respectively. These scales may be useful to researchers in sorting out mediating factors related to the burden of caregiving and in providing points for intervention.
Classroom behavior patterns of EMH, LD and EH students

Abstract This investigation determined whether classroom teachers could differentiate among EMH, LD and EH students based on their perception of classroom behavior patterns. Ratings were obtained on 10 scales from the Classroom Behavior Inventory for each of 20 exceptional students from each category of handicap and a comparison child of the same race and sex from the same regular classroom. As predicted from Schaefer's model of adaptive behavior, EMH students were distinguished by low intelligence, creativity and independent functioning. LD and EMH students showed a similar pattern of behavior when compared to typical students in the same classes but EMH students were regarded as more severely handicapped in their behavior. Although poor task-orientation was common to both EMH and EH students, the latter were evaluated as more distractible and were differentiated from both EMH and LD students on ratings of considerateness and hostility. The results are interpreted in relation to implications for screening and program planning based on the Classroom Behavior Inventory.
Collection of mouse semen by electroejaculation

Liquid and coagulated ejaculates were collected separately from mice by electroejaculation. Sperm concentrations in the liquid ejaculates from 51 animals ranged between 25,000 and 2,228,000/mm3 and total number of spermatozoa per ejaculate between 60,000 and 5,464,000. This method is suggested as a practical means of obtaining ejaculated spermatozoa free of coagulum for reproduction research.
Radioactivity of hydroxyproline from urine and collagens of normal and cortisone-treated rats.

Abstract Twelve weanling male rats each received 15μc of l -proline- 14 C in 3 equal and consecutive daily i.p. injections. Fourteen days after the third isotope injection, 4 of the animals were sacrificed (0-day control). Four of the remaining rats each received 9 daily injections of 10 mg cortisone acetate/kg body wt. and then were sacrificed with the other animals (9-day control) 24 hr after the final steroid injection. Salt-soluble skin collagen represented a significantly lower fraction of the total skin collagen in the cortisone-treated rats than in the 9-day control animals. The sp. act. of hydroxyproline from salt-soluble skin collagen, mature skin collagen, and total femur collagen from the cortisone-treated rats were each significantly greater than those of the 9-day control animals. The mean urinary hydroxyproline excretion of the steroid-treated rats was significantly less after 4 days of treatment until termination of the experiment. Slightly greater urinary hydroxyproline specific activities of the cortisone-treated rats reflected the higher sp. act. of the collagen hydroxyproline pool of the steroid-treated rats. No significant differences were observed between the 24-hr urinary hydroxyproline radio-activities of control and cortisone-treated rats. The above observations, in conjunction with additional data given in this report and the findings of earlier experiments, were interpreted as providing further evidence in agreement with anti-anabolic changes in collagen metabolism (decreased collagen synthesis) resulting from the administration of pharmacologie quantities of cortisone to rats which would normally undergo rapid body growth. Although the data from the various experiments indicate that the steroid had an anticatabolic effect on femur collagen (decreased collagen degradation), urinary hydroxyproline excretions and radioactivities were inconclusive for the demonstration of an anticatabolic effect of the hormone on the total body pool of collagen.
The Asset Price Meltdown, Rising Leverage, and the Wealth of the Middle Class

This article investigates wealth trends from 1983 to 2010. The most telling finding is that median wealth plummeted by 47 percent over the years from 2007 to 2010. The inequality of net worth, following two decades of little movement, was up sharply between 2007 and 2010. Relative indebtedness continued to expand during the late 2000s for the middle class, although the proximate causes were declining net worth and income, rather than an increase in absolute indebtedness. In fact, the average debt of the middle class in real terms was down by 25 percent. The sharp fall in median net worth and the rise in its inequality from 2007 to 2010 are traceable to the high leverage of middle class families and the high relative importance of homes in their portfolio.
High spatial resolution 1H‐MRSI and segmented MRI of cortical gray matter and subcortical white matter in three regions of the human brain

High-resolution MR imaging and spectroscopic imaging were used to study differences in proton spectra between cortical gray matter and subcortical white matter in 23 normal volunteers using a 1.5 T scanner and surface coil receivers. A point-resolved spectroscopy (PRESS) volume with an 8 x 8 x 8 phase-encoding matrix was used to acquire over 1900 0.09-0.2 cc spectral voxels. The high-resolution (0.7 x 0.7 x 0.8 mm3 or 0.8 x 0.8 x 1 mm3) images were corrected for the surface coil reception profile and segmented into cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and gray and white matter to correlate with the spectra. The data showed that N-acetyl aspartate (NAA) and creatine (Cr) were higher in the gray matter than in the white matter (NAA(g/w) = 1.4+/-0.36, Cr(g/w) = 1.4+/-0.41). Choline was significantly lower in the gray matter of the occipital lobe than in the white matter (0.73+/-0.19), but not significantly different in the other regions. NAA/Cho was found to be significantly higher in the occipital lobe than in the left frontal or vertex regions.
A pilot study of human brain tissue post-magnetic resonance imaging: information from the National Deep Brain Stimulation Brain Tissue Network (DBS-BTN).

Abstract Introduction The safety of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for deep brain stimulation (DBS) patients is of great importance to both movement disorders clinicians and to radiologists. The present study utilized the Deep Brain Stimulation Brain Tissue Network's (DBS-BTN's) clinical and neuropathological database to search for evidence of adverse effects of MRI performed on implanted DBS patients. Hypothesis Performing a 1.5 T MRI with a head receive coil on patients with implanted DBS devices should not result in evidence of adverse clinical or pathological effects in the DBS-BTN cohort. Further, exposing post-mortem DBS-BTN brains with DBS leads to extended 3 T MRI imaging should not result in pathological adverse effects. Methods An electronic literature search was performed to establish clinical and neuropathological criteria for evidence of MRI-related adverse reactions in DBS patients. A retrospective chart review of the DBS-BTN patients was then performed to uncover potential adverse events resulting from MRI scanning. DBS patient characteristics and MRI parameters were recorded for each patient. In addition, 3 T MRI scans were performed on 4 post-mortem brains with DBS leads but without batteries attached. Detailed neuropathological studies were undertaken to search for evidence of MRI-induced adverse tissue changes. Results No clinical signs or symptoms or MRI-induced adverse effects were discovered in the DBS-BTN database, and on detailed review of neuroimaging studies. Neuropathological examination did not reveal changes consistent with MRI-induced heating damage. The novel study of four brains with prolonged 3 T post-mortem magnetic field exposure (DBS leads left in place) also did not reveal pathological changes consistent with heat related damage. Discussion The current study adds important information to the data on the safety of MRI in DBS patients. Novel post-mortem MRI studies provide additional information regarding the safety of 3 T MRI in DBS patients, and could justify additional studies especially post-mortem scans with battery sources in place. Conclusion The lack of pathological findings in the DBS-BTN database and the lack of tissue related changes following prolonged exposure to 3 T MRI in the post-mortem brains suggest that MRI scanning in DBS patients may be relatively safe, especially under current guidelines requiring a head receive coil. Subsequent studies exploring the safety of 1.5 T versus 3 T MRI in DBS patients should utilize more in depth post-mortem imaging to better simulate the human condition.
Integrated platform for automated sustainable demand response in smart grids

Demand Response(DR) is a common practice used by utility providers to regulate energy demand. It is used at periods of high demand to minimize the peak to average consumption ratio. Several methods have been proposed over the previous years on how to formulate and deal with the problem of excess demand. Following these methods automated systems for initiating and regulating demand response events have emerged. In this paper we present an automated system for providing an estimated demand response schedule of participating customers. We quantify the achieved energy reduction using information about the baseline consumption and the consumption during DR. Our goal is to provide a sustainable reduction to ensure the elimination of peaks in demand. The proposed system includes an adaptation mechanism for when the provided solution does not meet the DR requirements. We conducted a series of experiments using consumption data from a real life micro grid to evaluate the efficiency as well as the robustness of our solution.
Apoptosis induced by oxysterol in CEM cells is associated with negative regulation of c-myc.

Previously we have demonstrated that treatment of the human lymphoblastic leukemic CEM cells with 25-hydroxycholesterol (25OHC) induces apoptosis. In the present study, we show that both c-myc mRNA and c-Myc protein levels are reduced only in oxysterol-sensitive and not in oxysterol-resistant cells after treatment with concentrations of 25OHC that kill the sensitive CEM cells. The repression of c-Myc protein precedes c-myc mRNA reduction, and both events occur before the onset of cell death. Our data suggest that 25OHC-induced suppression of c-myc gene expression in CEM cells results from posttranscriptional regulation. These results demonstrate the regulation by an oxysterol of a gene/gene product important for cell growth and viability and an association between oxysterol-induced apoptosis of CEM cells and the negative regulation of c-myc.
Chromatin remodelling at a DNA double-strand break site in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) is crucial for maintaining genome stability. Eukaryotic cells repair DSBs by both non-homologous end joining and homologous recombination. How chromatin structure is altered in response to DSBs and how such alterations influence DSB repair processes are important issues. In vertebrates, phosphorylation of the histone variant H2A.X occurs rapidly after DSB formation1, spreads over megabase chromatin domains, and is required for stable accumulation of repair proteins at damage foci2. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, phosphorylation of the two principal H2A species is also signalled by DSB formation, which spreads ∼40 kb in either direction from the DSB3. Here we show that near a DSB phosphorylation of H2A is followed by loss of histones H2B and H3 and increased sensitivity of chromatin to digestion by micrococcal nuclease; however, phosphorylation of H2A and nucleosome loss occur independently. The DNA damage sensor MRX4 is required for histone loss, which also depends on INO80, a nucleosome remodelling complex5. The repair protein Rad51 (ref. 6) shows delayed recruitment to DSBs in the absence of histone loss, suggesting that MRX-dependent nucleosome remodelling regulates the accessibility of factors directly involved in DNA repair by homologous recombination. Thus, MRX may regulate two pathways of chromatin changes: nucleosome displacement for efficient recruitment of homologous recombination proteins; and phosphorylation of H2A, which modulates checkpoint responses to DNA damage2.
Complexation of aluminate anion by bis-tris in aqueous media at 25–50°C

Gibbsite, Al(OH)3, solubility studies in aqueous NaCl solutions at pH 9 demonstrate that the aluminate anion forms a strong complex with the neutral Bis-tris molecule 2,2-Bis(hydroxymethyl)-2,2′,2″-nitrilotriethanol, at low temperatures. The logarithm of the molal concentration quotient for the reaction $$Al(OH)_4^ - + H_2 [Bis - tris] _ \leftarrow ^ \to Al(OH)_2 [Bis - tris]^ - + 2H_2 O$$ in aqueous NaCl solutions at 0.1 molal ionic strength is 2.63±0.03 at 25°C and 2.6±0.1 at 50°C. Raman spectroscopy of NaOH−NaAl(OH)4 solutions at 25°C quantitatively verifies these results and indicates that a complex with symmetrical vibrational frequencies at 498 and 574 cm−1 is stabilized in the presence of excess Bis-tris in these solutions. Gibbsite solubility and Raman spectroscopy also indicate that a similar complexation reaction between the aluminate anion and dextrose occurs, with a molal equilibrium quotient of 100.65 at 25°C, 0.1 molal ionic strength. These complexation reactions are suggested to be equivalent to the wellknown reactions involving the borate anion and polyhydroxyl sugar-like molecules. Experiments with ethylene glycol, glycerol, mannitol and sucrose indicate no significant complexing of these compounds with the aluminate anion.
Retention Characteristics of Polybutadiene-Coated Zirconia and Comparison to Conventional Bonded Phases

This paper presents a detailed study of retention on a reversed-phase material made by coating polybutadiene (PBD) on porous zirconia. PBD-coated zirconia particles with six different carbon loads (0.25−5.6% carbon by weight) were prepared by evaporatively depositing and cross-linking PBD on microparticulate porous zirconia. Retention data of a homologous series of alkylbenzenes were obtained on the six PBD phases as a function of mobile phase composition in methanol−water and acetonitrile−water mixtures from 20 to 50% (v/v). The results obtained for the phase were compared to those for conventional octadecylsilane (ODS) bonded phases, and the effect of the amount of PBD on retention was studied in detail. We find that, per amount of bonded phase, the PBD phase is less retentive than is the ODS phase, but it has comparable hydrophobic selectivity. Furthermore, the PBD phase has about the same sensitivity toward changes in mobile phase composition as does the ODS phase, and its solute shape selectivity is ...
Optical sectioning of HRP-stained molluscan neurons.

Abstract The use of high-resolution differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy on cleared whole-mounts of the circumesophageal nervous system from Hermissenda crassicornis permits visualization of neuronal morphology in detail without the need for physical sectioning. Such optical sectioning, when preceded by intracellular iontophoresis of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) permits rapid and accurate examination of the arborization of electrically characterized neurons. Details such as varicosities and terminal swellings can readily be resolved. This method has revealed new morphological features of neurons implicated in training-specific behavioral modification in Hermissenda , and promises to be of further general use for the quantitative morphometry of electrically identified neurons.
Brimonidine tartrate 0.2% twice daily vs timolol 0.5% twice daily: 1-year results in glaucoma patients

PURPOSE: To compare the long-term efficacy and safety of brimonidine 0.2% twice daily with timolol 0.5% twice daily in patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension. METHODS: Of the 926 patients enrolled in the study, 837 met the protocol entry criteria and received either brimonidine 0.2% twice daily (n = 466) or timolol 0.5% (n = 371) twice daily in each eye for 1 year. RESULTS: Brimonidine and timolol significantly reduced mean intraocular pressure (P < .001) from baseline levels at every scheduled follow-up visit, both at hour 2 (peak) and hour 12 (trough). At weeks 1 and 2 and months 3 and 12, significantly greater mean decreases in intraocular pressure (P < .040) at peak were observed in patients treated with brimonidine than those treated with timolol. The mean intraocular pressure decrease at trough was significantly greater for timolol than for brimonidine at each follow-up visit (P < .001). With the exception of ocular allergy (in 11.5% of patients using brimonidine and less than 1% using timolol), fewer than 3% of patients in either treatment group withdrew from the study prematurely as a result of a specific adverse event. Patients receiving timolol experienced significant decreases in heart rate (P < .001) from baseline at all follow-up visits. No significant changes in heart rate were seen in patients treated with brimonidine. Neither medication produced clinically significant changes in blood pressure. CONCLUSION: Brimonidine is safe and effective in the long-term lowering of intraocular pressure in patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension, with efficacy comparable to that of timolol but without a notable negative chronotropic effect on the heart.
What are the functions of kinesin

A variety of intracellular motile processes involve the directed movement of particles along microtubules, including organelle transport, endoplasmic reticulum extension, and movements in mitosis. Recently, a microtubule-dependent motor protein, kinesin, was purified and was found to be present in a soluble form in a wide variety of organisms and tissues. Because microtubules provide polar pathways over long distances within cells, kinesin and the motors which move in the opposite direction to kinesin on microtubules provide a mechanism for directed communications within cells. The possible roles of kinesin and other soluble microtubule-dependent motors in intracellular motile functions are discussed in the light of recent studies of the reconstitution of organelle motility with isolated components.
Thin-film microcircuit technologyߞv.h.f. to microwave

Despite the currently depressed state of the electronic components industry, one potential growth area is in hybrid thin-film microwave circuits, which are already beginning to find new applications
Experimental verification of semiactive damping of stay cables

Stay cables, such as are used in cable-stayed bridges, are prone to vibration due to their low inherent damping characteristics. Transversely-attached passive viscous dampers have been implemented in many bridges to dampen such vibration. However, only minimal damping can be added if the attachment point is close to the deck. For longer bridge cables, passive damping is insufficient. A recent study by the authors demonstrated that "smart" semiactive damping can provide significantly superior supplemental damping. This paper experimentally verifies a smart damping control strategy for an inclined flat-sag cable. Cable response is seen to be substantially reduced by the smart damper.
Circulating tumor cell detection using a parallel flow micro-aperture chip system

We report on-chip isolation and detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from blood samples using a system that integrates a microchip with immunomagnetics, high-throughput fluidics and size-based filtration. CTCs in a sample are targeted via their surface antigens using magnetic beads functionalized with antibodies. The mixture is then run through a fluidic chamber that contains a micro-fabricated chip with arrays of 8 μm diameter apertures. The fluid runs parallel to the microchip while a magnetic field is generated underneath to draw the beads and cells bound to them toward the chip surface for detection of CTCs that are larger than the apertures and clear out free beads and other smaller particles bound to them. The parallel flow configuration allows high volumetric flow rates, which reduces nonspecific binding to the chip surface and enables multiple circulations of the sample fluid through the system in a short period of time. In this study we first present models of the magnetic and fluidic forces in the system using a finite element method. We then verify the simulation results experimentally to determine an optimal flow rate. Next, we characterize the system by detecting cancer cell lines spiked into healthy human blood and show that on average 89% of the spiked MCF-7 breast cancer cells were detected. We finally demonstrate detection of CTCs in 49 out of 50 blood samples obtained from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients and pancreatic cancer (PANC) patients. The number of CTCs detected ranges from 2 to 122 per 8 mL s of blood. We also demonstrate a statistically significant difference between the CTC counts of NSCLC patients who have received therapy and those who have not.
Timing model extraction of hierarchical blocks by graph reduction

A timing model extractor builds a timing model of a digital circuit for use with a static timing analyzer. This paper proposes a novel method of generating a gray box timing model from a gate-level netlist by reducing a timing graph. Previous methods of generating timing models sacrificed accuracy and/or did not scale well with design size. The proposed method is simple, yet it provides model accuracy including arbitrary levels of latch time borrowing and the capability to support timing constraints that span multiple blocks. Also, cpu and memory resources required to generate the model scale well with size of the circuit. The generated model can provide a capacity improvement in timing verification by more than two orders of magnitude.
Comments on “Sigma-Point Kalman Filter Data Assimilation Methods for Strongly Nonlinear Systems”

Ambadan and Tang (2009, hereinafter AT09) recently performed a study of several varieties of a ‘‘sigma-point’’ Kalman filter (SPKF) using two strongly nonlinear models, Lorenz (1963, hereinafter L63) and Lorenz (1996, hereinafter L96). In this comparison, a reference benchmark was the performance of a standard ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) of Evensen (1994, 2003), presumably with perturbed observations following Houtekamer and Mitchell (1998) and Burgers et al. (1998). We have identified problems in the description of the EnKF as well as its application with the L63 and L96 models.
Brain-targeted delivery of doxorubicin using glutathione-coated nanoparticles for brain cancers.

AbstractObjectives: To prepare and characterize in vitro a novel brain-targeted delivery of doxorubicin using glutathione-coated nanoparticles (NPs) for the treatment of brain cancer.Methods: Doxorubicin-loaded NPs were prepared by the nanoprecipitation method using PLGA-COOH (dl-lactide-co-glycolide). The NPs were coated with a glutathione-PEG conjugate (PEG-GSH) in order to target delivery to the brain. The NPs were characterized via in vitro studies to determine particle size, drug release, cellular uptake, immunofluorescence study, cytotoxic assay, and in vitro blood–brain barrier (BBB) assay.Results: The NPs showed a particle size suitable for BBB permeation (particle size around 200 nm). The in vitro release profile of the NPs exhibited no initial burst release and showed sustained drug release for up to 96 h. The immunofluorescence study showed the glutathione coating does not interfere with the drug release. Furthermore, in vitro BBB Transwell™ study showed significantly higher permeation of the d...
Generalized spline signal interpolation and smoothing with simultaneous optimization in time and frequency domains

A framework and method of solution is presented for interpolation and smoothing of signals by simultaneous optimization of time- and frequency-domain criteria. The solution invariably takes form of an appropriate generalized spline.
Retrovirus-delivered siRNA.

Background The ability of transfected synthetic small interfering (si) RNAs to suppress the expression of specific transcripts has proved a useful technique to probe gene function in mammalian cells. However, high production costs limit this technology's utility for many laboratories and experimental situations. Recently, several DNA-based plasmid vectors have been developed that direct transcription of small hairpin RNAs, which are processed into functional siRNAs by cellular enzymes. Although these vectors provide certain advantages over chemically synthesized siRNAs, numerous disadvantages remain including merely transient siRNA expression and low and variable transfection efficiency.
Denitrification rates in a Lake Superior coastal wetland

The amount of excess fixed nitrogen removed from the freshwater aquatic nitrogen cycle, particularly by freshwater wetlands, through denitrification (DNF) is largely unknown. Typically, DNF rates increase within sediments that have higher organic content and a source of sufficient NO3 −, in this context we measured DNF in organic-rich sediments of Lost Creek wetland on the south shore of Lake Superior, where NO3 − concentrations have increased dramatically over the last century. The concentrations of N2, O2, and Ar were determined on intact water-sediment cores. Denitrification and respiration rates were determined using membrane inlet mass spectrometry and N2:Ar and O2:Ar ratios. Nitrogen flux rates measured in August 2000 and 2001 using overlying ambient wetland water, Lake Superior water, and nitrate augmented wetland water ranged from <10 to 78 μmol N m−2 h−1. These rates are low compared to those published for a variety of wetland and aquatic ecosystems. Nonetheless these are the first DNF measuremen...
Heterogeneous trajectories of depressive symptoms: adolescent predictors and adult outcomes.

Background Depressive symptoms display heterogeneous trajectories across adolescence and early adulthood. Identifying risk and protective factors for distinct trajectory groups, and their respective outcomes, may provide insight into the etiological underpinnings of different symptom courses and inform the targets and timing of intervention.
Relative abundance of two cuticular hydrocarbons indicates whether a mosquito is old enough to transmit malaria parasites.

Abstract Temporal changes in the cuticular hydrocarbons of female Anopheles stephensi (Liston) (Diptera: Culicidae) were quantified using gas-liquid chromatography with flame-ionization detection. The ratio of two prominent hydrocarbons, nonacosane (C29) and hentriacontane (C31), was found to change significantly with respect to mosquito age over a period of 15 d. A regression model was developed using this ratio, C29/C31 = 3.96 − 1.63 log (age), and prediction intervals, based on a 12-d developmental interval necessary for females to transmit malaria, were generated using confidence levels for one-sided tests. The model predicted that females that had a C29/C31 ratio of 2.6 or greater were only 10% probable to be old enough to transmit malaria, whereas females with ratios of 1.8 or less were 90% probable.
Paraconsistency and Topological Semantics

The well-studied notion of deductive explosion describes the situation where any formula can be deduced from an inconsistent set of formulas. Paraconsistent logic, on the other hand, is the umbrella term for logical systems where the logical consequence relation is not explosive. In this work, we investigate the relationship between some different topological spaces and paraconsistency.
A Cognitive Model of People’s Usage Estimations

Abstract The author explores how consumers anticipate product or service usage during the purchase deliberation and develops a descriptive model of the decision process in which consumers integrate their usage expectations into the choice between paying a flat fee for unlimited access or paying per use. The model helps explain why consumers habitually overestimate the likelihood of using enough to justify the flat fee and how this misperception depends on the perceived range of usage anticipated by the user.
Powdery mildew resistance in the Japanese domestic tobacco cultivar Kokubu is associated with aberrant splicing of MLO orthologues

The Japanese domestic tobacco cultivar Kokubu (syn. Kou-fan) is highly resistant to powdery mildew, and this trait is controlled by recessive alleles at two loci. To show the molecular mechanism of powdery mildew resistance of Kokubu, the transcripts and genomic sequences of tobacco Mildew resistance locus O (MLO) orthologues were compared between powdery mildew-resistant and -susceptible cultivars. Two MLO orthologues (NtMLO1 and NtMLO2) corresponding to powdery mildew susceptibility were expressed in tobacco leaves. However, the transcripts of both NtMLO genes in the powdery mildew-resistant cultivars harboured partial deletions or insertions. In a genomic DNA sequence alignment analysis, mutations in intron regions were detected in both NtMLO genes of powdery mildew-resistant cultivars, and these mutations were linked to the powdery mildew-resistant phenotype. Transgenic Kokubu expressing wildtype NtMLO1 or NtMLO2 exhibited severe disease symptoms, the same as those in susceptible cultivars. These results indicate that mutations of intron regions of two NtMLO genes in powdery mildew resistant cultivar Kokubu trigger the aberrant splicing of MLO transcripts and the subsequent inhibition of functional MLO protein synthesis, and that NtMLO1 and NtMLO2 are functionally redundant.
Good science or good business

Abstract When was the last time you attended a continuing education (CE) conference that was not sponsored by a pharmaceutical manufacturer?
The Use of Knowledge as a Test for Theory: The Case of Public Administration

One reason for the increasing prominence of organizational learning is the increasing sophistication of management models and techniques in all the administrative disciplines. These models have been developed largely through the increased sophistication of information-science technology. This technology depends upon generating valid knowledge to be used for managing. Truth is a good idea because, as information-science specialists are fond of saying, "garbage in, garbage out."
Simulations III: Object-Oriented Models

This chapter examines the newest types of social simulations, which are object-based to represent social entities in ways that are more explicit than through variable-oriented models. The social simulations examined in this chapter constitute a rich and growing family of generative models consisting of two main classes: cellular automata and agent-based or multi-agent models. Both are generally seen as spatial models, but they can as easily capture network aspects of social complexity. Processes of urbanization and opinion dynamics are often simulated through the use of cellular automata. Spatial or organizational agent-based models are used to simulate social complexity in an increasing variety of domains, ranging from cultural dynamics to financial crises; from regional transportation systems to public health management; from humanitarian crises to global processes, such as climate change and the rise and fall of polities and civilizations. Agent-based simulations do this by using the versatility of multi-agent systems as computational frameworks within which modelers and programmers integrate social, natural, and artificial entities and dynamics. These social simulations often make use of other methodologies, such as network analysis or geographic information systems and remote sensing data.
Review of Beyond Church and State by Matthew Scherer

This is a book review of Matthew Scherer, Beyond Church and State: Democracy, Secularism, and Conversion. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2013.
The Barrington site : A Middle Archaic cache from the St. Louis area

Two artifact concentrations were discovered during the excavation of adjacent pit features at the Barrington site (23JE600-A) in eastern Missouri. The contents of Feature I included a fragmented cvlindrical bannerstone, a galena nodule, and a large side-notched point. Feature 2 yielded five projectile points of probable Early Archaic age, including two Hardin points, two Rice Lanceolate variants, and one St. Charles point. The features were less than 15 cm apart, originate at the same depth, contain similar soils, and yielded the same type of carbonized seeds not found in any other features or site soil matrices. The artifacts are believed to have been placed in the pits by the same individual or group. Because bannerstones have riot been associated with Early Archaic assemblages in the Midwest, the site is interpreted as being Middle Archaic in origin with Feature 2 representing a collection of curated Early Archaic artifacts.
Check Check and Double Check

This case discusses the pharmacokinetic interaction between diazepam and fluvoxamine resulting in excessive sedation. Diazepam is a cytochrome P450 3A4 and 2C19 substrate and fluvoxamine is a cytochrome P450 3A4 and 2C19 inhibitor.
Simple mapping e la dimensione estetica

L’esperienza umana e come il data mapping. E al tempo stesso semplice e complesso. Le trasformazioni sono delle metafore. Le metafore sono le fondamenta della conoscenza. Sono il ponte che usiamo per mettere in relazione le novita o le nuove esperienze con cio che gia conosciamo. Attraverso le metafore colleghiamo idee disparate, cercando delle somiglianze e delle equivalenze. Spesso, con le metafore, mettiamo in relazione un’idea o una percezione con un ricordo. Combiniamo degli schemi. In sostanza, e cosi che aumentiamo la nostra conoscenza. Questo processo si chiama apprendimento comparato: quando impariamo, combiniamo con successo le informazioni ricevute con i nostri sensi attraverso quelle gia immagazzinate nella rete neuronale del nostro cervello.
Ocean Outfall Dilution: Effects of Currents

Analyses of data for the City of San Francisco, Calif., obtained from continuously recording current meters showed the most energetic current component, the first principal component, to be strongly tidal and to lie along an axis pointing approximately to the Golden Gate. The difusers were placed perpendicular to this component, where possible, to obtain the maximum beneficial effect of the currents on dilution. A mathematical model was applied to the proposed diffusers to predict dilution in the presence of currents, using measured oceanic conditions. Results show the dilution and wastefield rise height to vary widely due to the varying oceanic and discharge conditions. The median dilutions are found to depend on season and to be increased substantially over those predicted by neglecting the dynamic effect of currents on dilution. The effect of diffuser orientation was also investigated with the model, and it was found that suitable orientation to the prevailing currents can significantly affect the initial dilution.
Multiple Therapeutic Approaches in the Treatment of Brain Edema Induced by a Standard Cold Lesion

Brain edema was produced by a standard cortical freezing lesion. The temporal course of the evolution and resolution of this edema has been reported elsewhere in detail. The effects of many types of therapy, both standard and investigational, upon this model of brain edema have been employed. Osmotic diuretics were found to have no effect upon the edema itself, but a reduction in the bulk of normal brain was evident. Maintenance of hypotension after lesion production essentially eliminated brain edema whereas prolonged hypertension increased brain edema dramatically. Focal excision of the cold injury itself immediately after lesion production prevented the development of brain edema. A beneficial effect on brain edema by focal excision was evident up to 24 h after injury at all time points from 6 h on. The addition of glucosteroids to focal excision reduced edema even further. Treatment of animals with dibenzyline, dimethyl sulfoxide, and diphenyl-p-phenylenediamine also had a beneficial effect upon the development of edema. Combination of steroids and osmotic diuretics was not of value. Focal excision with acetazolamide was extremely effective in reducing brain edema. A combination of DMSO and dexamethasone was more effective than either drug alone. Detailed studies to elucidate the effects of hypotension or hypertension in each of these therapeutic regimens were carried out.
Wheel running increases hyperthermia and mortality rate following 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in rats

Hyperthermic responses are commonly reported in cases of human medical emergency following recreational use of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "Ecstasy"), but a precise determination of contributing environmental factors has been elusive given the relative scarcity of threatening and fatal reactions in humans. This study was conducted to determine if elevated physical activity contributes to hyperthermic responses to MDMA in a well controlled animal model. Unrestrained male Wistar rats were monitored with minimally-invasive radiotelemetry techniques following challenge with MDMA (1.0, 5.6 and 10.0 mg/kg, s.c.). Studies were conducted in low (23-25°C) and high (27°C) ambient temperature (TA), with and without access to an activity wheel. The study confirmed dose dependent effects on body temperature, chamber activity and wheel activity which were modified by different TA conditions. Increases in wheel and home chamber activity produced by 10 mg/kg MDMA increased the magnitude of hyperthermia under 27°C TA. Furthermore, greater subject mortality was observed in the wheel-access condition compared with the no-wheel condition. These data provide direct evidence that sustained physical activity increases the hyperthermic response to MDMA and that this is associated with increased lethality. This is the first direct experimental confirmation that increased physical activity may be a risk factor for adverse reactions to MDMA in human user populations.
Stop preaching to the converted

Traditional moral arguments fail to persuade conservative climate sceptics. Pope Francis' gifting of his climate encyclical to President Trump prior to his leaving the Paris Agreement shows that even a religious leader's persuasive power is constrained by how his message resonates with conservative moral values.
Universal Glove and Gown Use for the Prevention of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus (VRE)

Multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs) are common in the healthcare setting. A frequent strategy for preventing transmission between patients is the use of gloves and gowns for patients with MDROs, under the premise that contaminated gloves and gowns will be removed before a healthcare worker (HCW) exits the room, reducing the chance that the HCW will carry organisms out with them. A variation of this practice, universal glove and gown (UGG), uses gloves and gowns for all patients and room entries, regardless of patient MDRO status. Quasi-experimental and other observational studies suggest UGG may be effective in reducing transmission of MDROs but a more methodologically rigorous cluster randomized trial suggests this is limited to specific organisms on subanalysis. In addition to controversies over effectiveness of UGG, debates over its cost effectiveness and unintended effects on hand hygiene as well as patient safety also exist. Despite theoretical benefits of UGG, real-world effects for preventing infections are likely limited. Thus, UGG is likely to be adopted in hospitals only for outbreak or high-risk patient settings.
Association of participant preferences on work and school participation after a first episode of psychosis.

AIM To explore baseline ratings of importance (ROI) across life domains for participants in the Recovery After an Initial Schizophrenia Episode Connection Program (RAISE CP), and investigate whether ratings were correlated with intervention outcomes over time. METHODS At baseline, 63 participants rated the importance of reducing symptoms, side-effects, confusion, increasing energy and school/work functioning and improving social relations. ROIs were examined in relation to work/school participation (n = 41) and occupational functioning (n = 37) after 12 months. Participants' mean age was 22.3 (±4.2). RESULTS The ROI domain rated as most important was school/work functioning, and higher school/work ROI at baseline predicted work/school participation after 12 months of participation. CONCLUSIONS It is particularly important to assess participant preferences and priorities when treating psychotic disorders because most areas of life are affected. Understanding the impact of participant goals on outcomes is essential as programs design patient-centred treatment plans.
Adding reality to team projects: e-business consulting for small business entities

While hiring companies consistently emphasize the importance of communication and team skills for new IT graduates, students consistently emphasize their dislike for academic team projects. In an effort to make the team project a more interesting and valuable experience, an upper-division e-commerce course at Boise State University includes the development of prototype sites for actual businesses. In addition to concepts, strategies, and technical tools, students learn transferable consulting skills and improve necessary team skills. These skills groups are applied to real-world business problems, resulting in successful team experiences for the students and expanded horizons for the participating businesses. Part of the success is attributable to well-defined expectations, team-building exercises, and a structured client engagement process that serves the needs of the businesses as well as the student teams.
The GAP Logic Circuit Simulator tool

Digital logic circuit design involves constructing or drawing a logic circuit and verifying its operation. Introductory Computer Science or Computer Engineering courses that cover this topic can benefit from a software tool that can simulate these two fundamental aspects of digital logic circuit design. Gates and Paths (GAP) Logic Circuit Simulator is a pedagogical tool that we developed for drawing and simulating the operation of digital logic circuits -- both combinational and sequential circuits. The motivation behind the work was the need for a logic circuit simulator that was easy and fun to use; that utilized the classical gate symbols; that was flexible for circuit layout; that was extendable as needed; and that was free. This paper describes how to use the GAP tool to construct and simulate digital logic circuits and its use in the CS/CE curriculum.