cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modifying nanoscale silica with itself: a method to control surface properties of silica aerogels independently of bulk structure

Abstract A nanoscale morphological composite of silica can be prepared in which the bulk properties (density, transparency) of the rough colloidal silica network are retained while the surface properties are dictated by a ramified form of nanoscale acid-catalyzed silica. This silica-modified silica composite is created by chemically modifying a base-catalyzed silica gel with a silica sol prepared by acid-catalyzed hydrolysis and condensation. Such structural nanocomposites of base-catalyzed, acid-modified (BCAM) silica gels can be supercritically dried to create BCAM aerogels in which the nanoscale mesoporous material is transparent to visible light while the surface of the silica network adopts the chemical nature (silanol-rich, hydrophilic) typical of an acid-catalyzed silica aerogel. Allowing an acid-catalyzed silica sol to gel about a base-catalyzed silica gel creates BCAM gels-in-gels that retain high porosity (>85%), yet which permit non-covalent entrapment of molecules at the base-catalyzed interface under conditions in which they would otherwise freely diffuse out of the gel or aerogel structure. The BCAM approach may be extended to create morphological nanocomposites other than SiO2/SiO2 and is demonstrated for a titania-modified silica gel and aerogel.
Gap filling during postreplication repair of DNA in recombination deficient Escherichia coli

POSTREPLICATION repair of DNA is one pathway for repair of damage inflicted on DNA by physical and chemical agents in the environment1. Postreplication repair can involve error-prone repair of pyrimidine dimers in Escherichia coli2, and as such may be particularly relevant to the understanding of the alteration of initial damage in DNA to a transformed or mutant DNA. The assignment of gene products to essential roles for completion of postreplication repair gap filling after ultraviolet light (UV) damage in E. coli cells3–7 has been complemented by consideration of their respective roles in error-prone repair of UV damage8–11. We have used column chromatography, which separates double-stranded DNA containing single regions from completely double-stranded DNA, to observe the gap filling during postreplication repair of UV damage to DNA. In addition, analysis of E. coli recA or lex mutants demonstrated that the recA+ or the lex+ gene products must control steps exclusive of the initial gap filling process during postreplication repair.
The relative significance of norepinephrine, dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine in electroshock seizure in the rat ☆

Abstract The effects, of various treatments on brain norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) were compared to the effects of these same treatments on electroshock seizure (ES) intensity. The data indicate that depletion of all three biogenic amines by reserpine or the benzoquinolizine Ro 4-1284, enhances ES intensity and that treatments which protect against depletion of NE and/or DA antagonize ES enhancement. However, protection of 5-HT stores against depletion does not protect against ES enhancement. Additional studies showed that, following depletion of all three amines by Ro 4-1284, subsequent repletion of NE and DA singly or in combination is sufficient to antagonize Ro 4-1284-induced ES enhancement. However, repletion of DA stores alone did not antagonize Ro 4-1284 seizure enhancement in animals treated with pimozide, a central DA receptor blocking agent. Thus, it appears that both NE and DA exert central nervous system inhibitory effects which limit the spread of the electroshock seizure discharge and consequently regulate intensity of ES. The data indicate that 5-HT does not play a significant role in the modulation process.
Occurrence of whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) in Madagascar

Whale sharks are known to occur in Malagasy waters although very little research has been completed to further document the species. In order to increase the current national knowledge of the species, it is planned to conduct whale shark surveys in Madagascar. An initial investigation based on interviews of local fishers and dive operators was completed to establish the logistical baseline for such surveys. It was found that whale sharks are present around the majority of the Madagascar coastline but most known sightings have occurred along the north-western coast. In Nosy Be, it appears whale sharks occur all year round, particularly during planktonic blooms. Plans for further assessment involving a combination of boat based observations, photo identification, and acoustic and satellite tagging are described.
Existence of a Ca2+-dependent K+ channel in synaptic membrane and postsynaptic density fractions isolated from canine cerebral cortex and cerebellum, as determined by apamin binding.

Abstract Apamin, a 18-amino acid neurotoxin isolated from bee venom, is a specific blocker of one class of the Ca2+-dependent K+ channels. The monoiodo derivative of the toxin with high specific radioactivity (1600 Ci/mmol) has been used to study its binding to synaptic. membrane (SM) and postsynaptic density (PSD) fractions isolated from cerebral cortex (CTX) and cerebellum (CL) of canine brains. The Bmax (30.2 fmol/mg protein) for CTX-PSD is about twice that for CTX-SM (17.3 fmol/mg protein), suggesting a concentration of the apamin receptor protein in CTX-PSD over CTX-SM fractions. The lower value of Bmax for CL-PSD (12.3 fmol/mg protein), and the higher Kd value (51 pM) than for CTX-SM (33 pM), CTX-PSD (24 pM), and and CL-SM (39 pM), may reflect the disruptive effect of Triton X-100 on these thin structures. The values of Bmax and Kd for CTX-SM are similar to those (22.0 fmol/mg protein and 33 pM) for rat CTX-SM33. Both Ca2+ and NA+ inhibit apamin binding to CTX-PSD with K0.5 values of 14 and 31 mM, respectively, while the optimum concentration of KCl for activation is 5 mM. All these values are similar to those found for rat synaptosomes 30. Covalent labeling of the apamin binding protein, using the non-cleavable cross-linker, disuccinimidyl suberate, reveals an apamin binding polypeptide of 27 kdaltons under reducing and denaturing conditions in both the CTX-SM and CTX-PSD preparations, similar to that (28 kdaltons) reported for rat CTX-SM fractions 33. Prior phosphorylation of isolated CTX-PSD had no effect on apamin binding, nor did apamin binding influence subsequent phosphorylation of CTX-PSD. Calmodulin, an intrinsic PSD protein, may not play a role in apamin binding to PSD, since addition of calmodulin, or removal of the calmodulin by EGTA treatment, resulted in no change in the binding capacity of the PSD. The apamin binding protein seems to be bound quite firmly in the CTX-PSD fraction since treatments with 0.5% deoxycholate, 1% N-lauroyl sarcosinate, 4 M guanidine-HCl, pH 7.0, 0.5 M KCl, could only remove the apamin-receptor complexes from CTX-PSD by 40, 55, 52, 12 and 15%, respectively. These results contrast with the findings that the two detergents mentioned solubilize 80–93% of the receptor from the synaptosomal or synaptic membrane fractions, indicating that a good deal of the receptor in these fractions is membrane-bound and not connected to the PSD. The results suggest that the apamin binding protein, which spans the postsynaptic membrane, is an intrinsic PSD component. This finding is the first instance of a channel protein being found in a PSD fraction. The present results, together with previous ones showing the presence of GABA, flunitrazepam, and glutamate binding sites in the isolated PSD fraction, indicate that the PSDs are involved in not only the anchoring of membrane receptor proteins, but also in the anchoring of membrane channel proteins, and suggest a mediating role for the PSD in synaptic events.
Management of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Objective:Acute aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a complex multifaceted disorder that plays out over days to weeks. Many patients with SAH are seriously ill and require a prolonged intensive care unit stay. Cardiopulmonary complications are common. The management of patients with SAH focu
On a duality principle in processes of servicing machines with double control

This paper examines a doubly controlled process of servicing machines. The classical system treated by Takacs is equipped with m
Philanthropy: the difficult art of giving.

William H. Schneider reflects on the centenary of the Rockefeller Foundation, which began the postdoc and the grant, and led to the World Health Organization.
Pan-sharpening of spectral image with anisotropic diffusion for fine feature extraction using GPU

Feature extraction from satellite imagery is a challenging topic. Commercial multispectral satellite data sets, such as WorldView 2 images, are often delivered with a high spatial resolution panchromatic image (PAN) as well as a corresponding low-resolution multispectral spectral image (MSI). Certain fine features are only visible on the PAN but difficult to discern on the MSI. To fully utilize the high spatial resolution of the PAN and the rich spectral information from the MSI, a pan sharpening process can be carried out. In this paper, we propose a novel and fast pan sharpening process based on anisotropic diffusion with the aim to aid feature extraction that enhances salient spatial features. Our approach assumes that each pixel spectrum in the pan-sharpened image is a weighted linear mixture of the spectra of its immediate neighboring superpixels; it treats spectrum as its smallest element of operation, which is different from most existing algorithms that process each band separately. Our approach is shown to be capable of preserving salient features. In addition, the process is highly parallel with intensive neighbor operations and is implemented on a general purpose GPU card with NVIDIA CUDA architecture that achieves approximately 25 times speedup for our setup. We expect this algorithm to facilitate fine feature extraction from satellite images.
Financial Responsibility of Hospitalized Patients Who Left Against Medical Advice: Medical Urban Legend?

BACKGROUND Physicians may counsel patients who leave against medical advice (AMA) that insurance will not pay for their care. However, it is unclear whether insurers deny payment for hospitalization in these cases.
AGU Fellows Elected for 2012

The AGU Fellows program recognizes members who have made exceptional contributions to the Earth and space sciences. The first class of AGU Fellows was elected in 1962, and AGU bylaws require that the size of a Fellows class be limited to no more than 0.1% of the total AGU membership. During the 2011 Fall Meeting, the AGU Council voted to align the nomination cycles for all Union honors. AGU will accept Fellows nominations for the class of 2013 from 15 January to 15 March 2013 and will announce elected Fellows in July 2013. The individuals listed below have been elected as the 2012 class of Fellows and will be recognized during the honors ceremony at the 2012 AGU Fall Meeting, 6–10 December.
Mitral insufficiency after pericardiectomy for constrictive pericarditis

Abstract We report the case of a 24-year-old man in whom a clinical syndrome developed while he was on active military duty in Saudi Arabia that was subsequently diagnosed as constrictive pericarditis. Phrenic nerve to phrenic nerve pericardiectomy and posterior pericardial release successfully relieved the ventricular constriction with a resultant increase in the cardiac index from 1.9 to 3.8 L · min −1 · m −2 . Transesophageal echocardiographic monitoring during the operation disclosed trace mitral regurgitation before median sternotomy. The severity of the regurgitation noticeably increased to the moderate level immediately after pericardial resection. This echocardiographic finding had improved 1 week later, but the regurgitation still was greater than baseline. Mitral valve function had returned to baseline by 4 weeks after the operation. Possible mechanisms of this evolving pattern of perioperative mitral valve dysfunction are discussed.
A Multi-Criteria Approach to Camera Motion Design for Volume Data Animation

We present an integrated camera motion design and path generation system for building volume data animations. Creating animations is an essential task in presenting complex scientific visualizations. Existing visualization systems use an established animation function based on keyframes selected by the user. This approach is limited in providing the optimal in-between views of the data. Alternatively, computer graphics and virtual reality camera motion planning is frequently focused on collision free movement in a virtual walkthrough. For semi-transparent, fuzzy, or blobby volume data the collision free objective becomes insufficient. Here, we provide a set of essential criteria focused on computing camera paths to establish effective animations of volume data. Our dynamic multi-criteria solver coupled with a force-directed routing algorithm enables rapid generation of camera paths. Once users review the resulting animation and evaluate the camera motion, they are able to determine how each criterion impacts path generation. In this paper, we demonstrate how incorporating this animation approach with an interactive volume visualization system reduces the effort in creating context-aware and coherent animations. This frees the user to focus on visualization tasks with the objective of gaining additional insight from the volume data.
Multimaterial Fiber Devices and Systems

Recent advances in the development of optoelectronic fibers enabled the fabrication of semiconductor devices over meters-long fiber resulting in a momentous increase in device density, paving the way to unprecedented complex functionalities of fiber systems.
New Perspectives in the Drug Treatment of Kawasaki Disease

Kawasaki disease (KD) has become the leading cause of acquired heart disease in developed countries. Conventional therapy for KD includes intravenous gammaglobulin (2 g/kg as a single dose over 12 hours) and aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid; high dose until the fourteenth day of illness then low dose). Therapy administered within the first 10 days of the onset of the illness has been shown to reduce arterial wall inflammation and thereby prevent the development of coronary artery aneurysm formation. The majority of patients with KD will respond to conventional therapy. However, the management of nonresponders and patients with complications (such as acute thrombosis and chronic coronary artery changes) remains controversial. In this review article, we address some of these controversies and also describe newer treatment modalities that have been used in the management of patients with KD, both in the acute and convalescent stages of the disease.
Unsupervised hierarchical modeling of locomotion styles

This paper describes an unsupervised learning technique for modeling human locomotion styles, such as distinct related activities (e.g. running and striding) or variations of the same motion performed by different subjects. Modeling motion styles requires identifying the common structure in the motions and detecting style-specific characteristics. We propose an algorithm that learns a hierarchical model of styles from unlabeled motion capture data by exploiting the cyclic property of human locomotion. We assume that sequences with the same style contain locomotion cycles generated by noisy, temporally warped versions of a single latent cycle. We model these style-specific latent cycles as random variables drawn from a common "parent" cycle distribution, representing the structure shared by all motions. Given these hierarchical priors, the algorithm learns, in a completely unsupervised fashion, temporally aligned latent cycle distributions, each modeling a specific locomotion style, and computes for each example the style label posterior distribution, the segmentation into cycles, and the temporal warping with respect to the latent cycles. We demonstrate the flexibility of the model on several application problems such as style clustering, animation, style blending, and filling in of missing data.
Transmission Electron Microscopy of Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3

Transmission electron microscopy of Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 sintered with 3 wt% excess PbO indicates that there is an amorphous grain-boundary phase 10 nm thick. The grain-boundary phase has a higher Pb content than the bulk material. Influence of such a phase on sintering is discussed.
The expression of neurotrophins is differentially regulated by omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids at weaning and postweaning in C57BL/6 mice cerebral cortex

Abstract Omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and neurotrophins are pivotal to the proper functioning of the central nervous system. We investigated the effects of perinatal and postweaning n-3 PUFA diets on cerebral cortical phospholipid fatty acid composition, and the expression of neurotrophins at weaning and 16 weeks postweaning of the male offspring of C57BL/6 mice. Female C57BL/6 mice were fed semi-purified diets (20% w/w fat) containing 10% (high) and 2% (low) n-3 PUFA before mating, during pregnancy, and until weaning. Offspring were studied at weaning and 16 weeks postweaning on their mother’s designated diet. Cerebral cortical phospholipid fatty acids and mRNA expressions of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF), cAMP response element binding protein (CREB), and TrkB were measured. The protein concentration of phosphorylated CREB (pCREB) was determined by ELISA. DHA and total n-3 PUFA were significantly higher in cortical phospholipids of the high n-3 PUFA group compared to the low n-3 PUFA group (P
Technical note: detection and adjustment of abnormal test-day yields.

A method to detect and to adjust or exclude abnormally low or high milk, fat, and protein yields on test-day (TD) was developed. Predicted TD yield is calculated based on preceding and subsequent (if available) TD yields. Observed TD yields that are 150% of predicted TD yield are defined as abnormal. Most abnormal yields are adjusted to this floor or ceiling, but some are excluded. Yields of 59 kg above predicted yield. Lactation yields are calculated from the restricted TD yields. When this procedure was applied to 2002 data, 1.8% of milk, 2.4% of fat, and 1.6% of protein yields on TD were below the acceptance range and 0.1% of milk and protein and 0.8% of fat were above. Predicted TD yield was calculated as preceding TD yield plus preceding test interval multiplied by daily yield change (slope) based on days in milk (DIM), DIM2, previous normal TD yield, and interaction between DIM and previous TD yield. To accommodate changes in slope at peak yield, separate coefficients were estimated for or = 50 DIM. Herd mean was used when only one TD was recorded for a cow (or when two were recorded and the second was designated as abnormal based on the first) and to determine an acceptable range for component percentages. Predicted TD yield for first TD was based on subsequent rather than previous normal TD. To test the adjustments, lactation records with one abnormal TD yield or more were matched with subsequent lactation records. Correlation between consecutive lactations increased from 0.692 to 0.693 for milk (561,063 lactation pairs), from 0.653 to 0.660 for fat (951,387 lactation pairs), and from 0.686 to 0.694 for protein (488,653 lactation pairs). Outlier adjustment improved the correlation between consecutive lactation yields and is applied routinely to TD records of cows for calvings since 1997.
Saturation and Stark splitting of an atomic transition in a stochastic field

The authors investigate the saturation and Stark splitting of an atomic transition in (i) a phase-diffusion field and (ii) a chaotic field of arbitrary bandwidth. The theory takes into account the infinite sequence of field-correlation functions. It is shown that a chaotic field is less effective than a phase-diffusion field in saturating a single- or multiphoton transition. This is contrary to the weak-field case, where the intensity fluctuations and the associated photon bunching make the chaotic field more effective in exciting a multiphoton transition. It is also shown that the Stark splitting of an atomic transition, as observed in double resonance, is influenced dramatically by the intensity fluctuations in the chaotic field.
Mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome in adults. Differentiation from toxic shock syndrome

Since infantile mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome was first reported in the United States in 1974, a number of cases of so-called Kawasaki syndrome have been reported in adults. A patient with characteristics of both mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome and toxic shock syndrome is described, and 12 cases reported in the American literature are reviewed in an attempt to clarify the differential diagnosis. Most cases initially reported as Kawasaki syndrome are probably toxic shock syndrome.
Computational modeling of electrocardiograms: A finite element approach toward cardiac excitation

The objective of this work is the computational simulation of a patient-specific electrocardiogram (EKG) using a novel, robust, efficient, and modular finite element-based simulation tool for cardiac electrophysiology. We apply a two-variable approach in terms of a fast action potential and a slow recovery variable, whereby the latter phenomenologically summarizes the concentration of ionic currents. The underlying algorithm is based on a staggered solution scheme in which the action potential is introduced globally as nodal degree of freedom, while the recovery variable is treated locally as internal variable on the integration point level. We introduce an unconditionally stable implicit backward Euler scheme to integrate the evolution equations for both variables in time, and an incremental iterative Newton–Raphson scheme to solve the resulting nonlinear system of equations. In a straightforward post-processing step, we calculate the flux of the action potential and integrate it over the entire domain to obtain the heart vector. The projection of the heart vector onto six pre-defined directions in space defines a six-lead EKG. We illustrate its generation in terms of a magnetic resonance-based patient-specific heart geometry and discuss the clinical implications of the computational electrocardiography. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A radio-controlled constant current biphasic stimulator system for primate studies.

Abstract Circuits and methods are described for converting an inexpensive, commercially available model airplane radio control transmitter-receiver system to a lightweight telestimulation system for primates. Conversion of the transmitter produces 60 cps pulses in trains of any desired leghth. Two methods of converting receiver outputs to biphasic constant current square wave pulses are discussed. The completed receiver-stimulator weighs 63 g and is small enough to be mounted on the skull of a juvenile rhesus monkey.
Mutual cross-talk between reactive oxygen species and nuclear factor-kappa B: molecular basis and biological significance

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are emerging as key effectors in signal transduction. This role of ROS is especially evident in the pathways leading to programmed cell death (PCD) elicited in response to certain stress stimuli and cytokines. In these pathways, cytotoxic ROS signaling appears to be mediated in part by activation of the c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade. Another pathway that is under ROS-mediated control in some systems is that leading to activation of transcription factor nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), which is a central regulator of immunity, inflammation and cell survival. Remarkably, new evidence has unveiled the existence of a reciprocal, negative control that NF-κB exerts on ROS and JNK activities. This NF-κB-imposed restraint on ROS and JNK signaling is crucial for antagonism of PCD elicited by the proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α and likely other triggers. Effectors of this antagonistic cross-talk between NF-κB and ROS/JNK pathways have recently been identified. Because of the key roles that the prosurvival function of NF-κB plays in organismal physiology and disease, gaining a further mechanistic understanding of this cross-talk and NF-κB-dependent survival may be key to developing new therapies for the treatment of widespread human illnesses, such as cancer and chronic inflammatory conditions.
Starr's Invariant

In a recent communication to this Journal, STARR 1950) pointed out that for two-dimen- sional d o w of an inviscid incompressible fluid between parallel rigid walls (which coincide, say, with latitude circles) o n a sphere, the integral is invariant, and from this, commented on the stability of such flows, in particular on results abtained earher by FJORTOFT (1950). DOI: 10.1111/j.2153-3490.1952.tb01023.x
Meiosis and fertility of interspecific hybrids between Phaseolus vulgaris L. and P. acutifolius A. Gray

Meiosis and fertility of interspecific hybrids obtained from reciprocal crosses betweenPhaseolus vulgaris andP. acutifolius were examined. Bivalents as well as univalents were found at Metaphase I. The majority of the microsporocytes had four or more univalents and the average was 6.3 univalents per cell. The average number of lagging chromosomes at Anaphase I was 2.3 per cell and the most frequent chromosome distribution at late Anaphase I was 10–12. The lower than expected number of lagging chromosomes as compared with the number of univalents at Metaphase I suggests the possible occurrence of precocious separation of bivalents. The male fertility as measured by pollen stainability was 17%, however, the frequency of pollen germination in selfing was 3.5%. Upon selfing of the interspecific hybrids, no dividing embryos were found even though 7 and 26% of the ovules were fertilized at 12 hours and four days after pollination. In backcrosses toP. vulgaris (male), 6 and 20% of the ovules were fertilized and 0 and 4% of the ovules contained dividing embryos at the same sampling times. WhenP. acutifolius was the male parent, respective values were 8 and 31% for fertilization and 0 and 13% for ovules with dividing embryos. The frequencies of backcross embryos recovered at 14–26 days were in agreement with the frequencies of dividing embryos at four days. The ability to obtain backcross plantlets demonstrates the feasibility to further utilize interspecific hybrids for the improvement ofP. vulgaris
Wavelength Dependent Oxygen Mediated Electron- Transfer Reactions within M+Y Zeolites: Photo Oxidation and Reduction of 1,1-Diarylethylenes

Radical cations of 1,1-diarylethylenes have been generated by direct excitation of the parent olefins within zeolites. The radical cation generated by short wavelength irradiation of the olefin reacts with the solvent hexane while the one generated by long wavelength excitation of the diarylethylene/oxygen complex reacts with the counteranion radical (superoxide anion). While in solution the preferred reaction of the 1,1-diarylethylene radical cation is in addition to another ground-state olefin, no products derived from such a reaction were detected within zeolites. Within zeolites, the 1,1-diarylethylene radical cations undergo abstraction of a hydrogen atom and reaction with superoxide anion, the least-favored reactions in solution. The results show that reactive organic radical cations can be generated within zeolites by lamp irradiation in the absence of a sensitizer.
The discriminative stimulus properties of LSD: Mechanisms of action

Abstract The CNS correlates of d -lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) actions were investigated by means of a sensitive and specific behavioural assay procedure. Rats were trained to discriminate D-LSD from saline in two lever operant chambers. After intraperitoneal injections of 0.08 mg/kg of LSD, reinforcement could be obtained only by responding on one particular lever (left or right); responding on the opposite lever was reinforced only after saline injections. Once the LSD and saline exerted reliable stimulus control over lever choice (85% correct), rats were tested with various agents which alter the functional activity of the transmitter-containing neuronal systems. l -Tryptophan, chlorimipramine and fluoxetine, all of which increase the synaptic availability of serotonin, neither blocked nor, by themselves, mimicked (transferred to) LSD. However, quipazine, a putative serotonin agonist, produced an almost complete (78%) transfer to LSD. The presumed serotonin antagonists: methiothepin, 2-bromo-D-lysergic acid diethylamide, methysergide, cyproheptadine and cinanserin, blocked the LSD cue in a dose-related manner. The potent dopamine antagonists: haloperidol, fluphenazine, trifluoperazine, α-flupenthixol, and (+)-butaclamol, were without effect on the discriminability of LSD as were α- and β-adrenergic, cholinergic and histaminergic antagonists. Apomorphine, a dopamine agonist, produced a partial transfer to LSD. These data indicate that the discriminative stimulus properties of LSD may be mediated by post-synaptic serotonin or LSD receptors. Dopamine receptors did not seem to be involved in the LSD stimulus cue.
Cardiopulmonary-cerebral resuscitation with 100% oxygen exacerbates neurological dysfunction following nine minutes of normothermic cardiac arrest in dogs

This study investigated the effects of normoxic (F,o, = 0.21), hyperoxic (Fro, = 1 .O), and hyperoxic (Fro, = 1 .O) plus antioxidant pretreatment (tirilizad mesylate) resuscitation on neurologic outcome following 9 min of normothermic (39 * l.O’C) cardiac arrest. Physiologic variables including arterial blood gases and neurologic outcome, which was assessed using a standardized scoring system, were followed over a 24-h period following resuscitation from cardiac arrest. Hyperoxically resuscitated dogs sustained significantly worse neurological deficit at 12 and 24 h (mean scores: 39 f 3 and 49 f 8, respectively) than did antioxidant pretreated hypcroxically resuscitated dogs (mean scores: 22 f 1, P = 0.0007 and 22 f 1, P = 0.004, respectively) and normoxically resuscitated dogs (mean scores: 28 f 4, P = 0.025 and 33 i 8, P = 0.041 respectively). These data suggest that oxidant injury has a major role in central nervous system dysfunction following successful resuscitation from 9 min of cardiac arrest. Also, resuscitation from cardiac arrest with hyperoxic F,o,‘s may contribute to and further exacerbate neurologic dysfunction.
Individuals of Crepidula adunca (Mollusca, Gastropoda) avoid shared doom through host specificity

Individuals of the epibiotic gastropod Crepidula adunca predominantly utilize the gastropod Calliostoma ligatum as their hosts in the San Juan Islands, Washington, rather than exploiting other potential host species. Snails of Margarites pupillus would appear to be particularly good alternate hosts, given their similarities in microhabitat choice, shell shape, and taxonomic closeness with Calliostoma ligatum. However, M. pupillus are almost never utilized as a host by Crepidula adunca. We examined the reasons for host fidelity by Crepidula adunca in the San Juan Islands. The small but voracious sea star Leptasterias hexactis was common across all our intertidal survey sites and consumed significantly more M. pupillus than Calliostoma ligatum in laboratory experiments. Individuals of Calliostoma ligatum stimulated by tube feet from Leptasterias hexactis moved significantly more quickly than non-stimulated individuals, but snails of this species stimulated by Pycnopodia helianthoides did not move at a significantly different rate than non-stimulated snails. There was a significant positive correlation between gastropod size and the rate of movement for Calliostoma ligatum stimulated by Leptasterias hexactis, but this correlation was not significant for non-stimulated individuals. Neither stimulation by asteroids nor gastropod size (whether for stimulated or non-stimulated snails) had a significant effect on the rate of movement for M. pupillus. Thus Calliostoma ligatum, and especially large individuals of this species, react more than M. pupillus to the presence of a common predator (Leptasterias hexactis) in such a way that likely elevates the snails' chance of escape. Finally, we found that Calliostoma ligatum used both chemical and physical defenses to effectively repel attacks by Leptasterias hexactis, while defenses by M. pupillus were less successful. We suggest that epibiotic Crepidula adunca specialize on Calliostoma ligatum in the San Juan Islands because this particular host species is more likely to protect the epibiont from shared doom due to its effective defenses against potential predators.
Simulation of optical coupling from surface emitting LEDs.

A general computer simulation analysis of the coupling efficiency between surface emitting LEDs and optical fibers has been carried out using ray tracing techniques. Coupling efficiencies were evaluated as a function of both the fiber numerical aperture (N.A.) and the ratio of the fiber core diameter dF to the LED emission diameter dE for a spherical lens positioned between the LED and fiber. Coupling efficiencies near the theoretical maximum values were obtained for dF/dE ≤ 5 for 0.20-N.A. fibers and for dF/dE ≤ 2.5 for 0.40-N.A. fibers by optimizing the lens’s index of refraction and the LED-to-lens spacing.
Optical Processor For The Very Large Array (VLA) Radiotelescope: System Concept

Optical Fourier transform processing of radiotelescope visibility function data is reviewed. Emphasis is placed on the aspects of the processor design that arise from the unusual characteristics of the data. The complex visibility function is available only over a partially filled aperture consisting of a set of elliptical paths. It is recorded at the input to the optical processor on a carrier frequency as a real nonnegative transmittance. Since a bipolar sky brightness function output is to be computed, the output of the optical Fourier transform channel is mixed with a reference beam and the difference is taken of two successive measurements differing in reference phase by 180°. Experimental results demonstrating processor concepts are shown and a processor system design approach is described.© (1980) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A juxtarenal myelolipoma in a cottontop marmoset (Saguinus oedipus): A case report

A myelolipoma was surgically removed from the abdomen of a 15-year-old female cottontop marmoset (Saguinus oedipus). Because of its close adherence to the right kidney, a unilateral nephrectomy was performed. The post-surgical recovery was uneventful. A myelolipoma is a circumscribed mass of bone marrow elements embedded in mature adipose tissue. These masses have been reported in the adrenal glands, paravertebral tissue, intrathoracic tissues, and mesentery of man. A similar condition has been observed in the liver and spleen of both captive and wild felidae. This report documents the first observation of this tumor-like condition in nonhuman primates with the possible exception of a subcutaneous myeloliposarcoma in a potto.
Prediction of Outcomes in Trauma: Anatomic or Physiologic Parameters?

Background Prediction of outcomes after injury has traditionally incorporated measures of injury severity, but recent studies suggest that including physiologic and shock measures can improve accuracy of anatomic-based models. A recent single-institution study described a mortality predictive equation [f(x) = 3.48 − .22 (GCS) − .08 (BE) + .08 (Tx) + .05 (ISS) + .04 (Age)], where GSC is Glasgow Coma Score, BE is base excess, Tx is transfusion requirement, and ISS is Injury Severity Score, which had 63% sensitivity, 94% specificity, (receiver operating characteristic [ROC] 0.96), but did not provide comparative data for other models. We have previously documented that the Physiologic Trauma Score, including only physiologic variables (systemic inflammatory response syndrome, Glasgow Coma Score, age) also accurately predicts mortality in trauma. The objective of this study was to compare the predictive abilities of these statistical models in trauma outcomes. Methods Area under the ROC curve of sensitivity versus 1-specificity was used to assess predictive ability and measured discrimination of the models. Results The study cohort consisted of 15,534 trauma patients (80% blunt mechanism) admitted to a Level I trauma center over a 3-year period (mean age 37 ± 18 years; mean Injury Severity Score 10 ± 10; mortality 4%). Sensitivity of the new predictive model was 45%, specificity was 96%, ROC was 0.91, validating this new trauma outcomes model in our institution. This was comparable with area under the ROC for Revised Trauma Score (ROC 0.88), Trauma and Injury Severity Score (ROC 0.97), and Physiologic Trauma Score (ROC 0.95), but superior compared with admission Glasgow Coma Score (ROC 0.79), Injury Severity Score (ROC 0.79), and age (ROC 0.60). Conclusions The predictive ability of this new model is superior to anatomic-based models such as Injury Severity Score, but comparable with other physiologic-based models such as Revised Trauma Score, Physiologic Trauma Score and Trauma, and Injury Severity Score.
Impact of aeration and alkalinity on the water quality and product quality of transported tilapia—A simulation study

Abstract The effects of aeration and alkalinity on water quality and product quality of Nile tilapia ( Oreochrmis niloticus ) were determined for simulated commercial hauling conditions. Three types of aeration were tested: pure oxygen aeration with a fine bubble diffuser (Oxygen), air aeration with medium bubble diffusers (Air), and a combination of both pure oxygen aeration with a fine bubble diffuser and air aeration with a medium bubble diffuser (Mixed). Simulated transport hauls were conducted at two initial alkalinities: 1.74 ± 0.11 meq/L (Low) and 8.84 ± 0.55 meq/L (High). The Air treatments resulted in the lowest carbon dioxide concentration, and the highest pH and un-ionized ammonia concentrations. At high alkalinities, the Air treatments were unable to maintain adequate dissolved oxygen levels. The Mixed treatment resulted in reduced carbon dioxide and dissolved oxygen concentrations. The Oxygen treatment resulted the highest dissolved oxygen, highest carbon dioxide, and lowest pH and un-ionized ammonia. Un-ionized ammonia concentrations were higher with the High Alkalinity treatments because of higher pH. Significant mortality was observed in the Air treatments in both the Low- and High-Alkalinity treatments. Mortality in the Oxygen and Mixed treatments for both low and high alkalinities were comparable to that observed in commercial tilapia transport using fine bubble diffusers and pure oxygen. These results indicate that mortality due directly to hauling water quality will not be increased at high alkalinity, if pure oxygen aeration is used. The potential effects of water quality during hauling on survival and product quality may be less than the impact from (a) physical damage from loading and un-loading and (b) physiological problems resulting from pH and temperature shock during the transfer from the hauling tanks to retail holding systems, especially for fish of reduced fitness.
XERODERMA PIGMENTOSUM: Abnormal Monochromatic Action Spectrum and Autoradiographic Studies

Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is characterized by sensitivity to sunlight and absent or reduced repair replication of DNA. In this study, the action spectrum to determine the minimal erythema dose (MED) was compared in one subject with XP and 10 controls, using a prism-grating monochromator in the wavelength range of 250–350 nm. The action spectrum in XP differed in several ways from the standard erythema curve of 19 controls. In XP erythema was delayed and peak intensity for all wavelengths occurred at 72 hours, with the most effective wavelengths at 293 nm (MED 1.1 mW sec/cm 2 ). In XP the MED's for all wavelengths at 72 hours had not been visible at 24 hours, at which time the most effective wavelength for the controls was 250 nm. In XP erythema could be produced with longer wavelengths up to 340 nm whereas in the controls no reaction occurred over 320 nm. The MED for most wavelengths in the patient with XP was lower than normal although at 250 mn this was within the standard deviation of controls. A comparison of the effect of 250 and 300 nm radiation on DNA synthesis was made by autoradiography using in vitro exposure to tritiated thymidine. The percentage of heavy labeled epidermal nuclei in unirradiated sites in XP was 1.5% and in 4 controls, 1.8%–2.8%. At 24 hours after irradiation with 250 and 300 nm (with 3 MED), there was no change in XP (1.6%), in contrast to controls (2.1–5.9%) which showed individual increases of heavy labeling (DNA replication phase of cell cycle). A significantly increased number of sparsely labeled nuclei in the epidermis of controls was observed either immediately or 1¼ hours after in vivo and in vitro UV radiation of skin (mean 48.8 and 69.3% respectively). Sparse labeling thought to represent unscheduled DNA synthesis was not observed to the same degree in the patient with XP after in vitro radiation (9.1%). In XP the persistent and delayed UV erythema may be related to the reduced unscheduled DNA synthesis and also a reduction in the DNA replication phase of the cell cycle.
Direct synchronization of cells from solid tumors by centrifugal elutriation

Abstract Cells from 9L/Ro, KHT, and EMT6/Ro solid tumors were separated into relatively homogeneous sized populations by centrifugal elutriation using a modified long collection procedure. This modification substantially improved the volume distributions of cells isolated from these solid tumors. More than 90% of the host cells were removed before the tumor cells were separated according to their sedimentation velocities into subpopulations at different stages of the cell cycle. Analysis of the DNA content of these subpopulations by flow cytometry indicated that the degree of synchrony after elutriation could be as high as ⩾92% for G1 cells, 70–75% for S cells, and ⩾70% for G2 cells for some of these tumors. Similar results were obtained by autoradiography. Nevertheless, the recovery in these fractions was often low, varying from 0.3 to 10% of the total number of cells elutriated. The colony-forming efficiency of cells from different phases of the cell cycle remained constant and was always higher than that of unseparated tumor cells, because there were few host cells in the separated populations.
2008 Remington Lecture. Honor bound to lead: don't be satisfied with the status quo when there are so many possibilities ahead.

Abstract Ladies and gentlemen, honored guests. It is wonderful to be here. Looking out and seeing so many cherished family members, dear friends, and long-time colleagues, some of whom have traveled far distances—even across the international dateline or the equator— just to share this moment, fills my heart to bursting. I will hold the memories of this evening in my heart forever.
Single-well push–pull test for assessing potential impacts of CO2 leakage on groundwater quality in a shallow Gulf Coast aquifer in Cranfield, Mississippi

Abstract Understanding potential impacts of CO2 leakage on groundwater quality in shallow aquifers is a critical concern for geologic sequestration. This study presents a single-well push–pull test conducted in the Cranfield shallow aquifer, the SECARB Phase III early test site, for assessing potential impacts of CO2 leakage on groundwater quality. Groundwater pH, alkalinity, and electric conductivity were measured on site, and water samples were collected for chemical concentrations (major ions, trace elements, and dissolved inorganic carbon—DIC) and DIC stable carbon isotope analyses. Bromine (Br) tracer was used as an indicator of mixing of background water with the injected solution. The data gained from these measurements was then used to develop a mixing model to provide a quantitative analysis of the mobilization of major ions and trace metals from the aquifer sediments to groundwater as a result of the injection of CO2-enriched groundwater. Major ions, especially calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), and silicon (Si), show obvious enrichment, indicating mobilization of these ions from aquifer sediments to groundwater that may be dominated by dissolution of silicates and possibly carbonate minerals. Stable carbon isotope (δ13C) of DIC of the recovered samples also suggests potential dissolution of carbonates. Whereas concentrations of trace elements were elevated after injection of CO2-enriched groundwater, their maximum concentrations remained below the EPA's maximum contamination levels (MCLs). Mobilization of trace elements could be due to dissolution of silicates and carbonates and desorption from a clay surface. Mass-balance calculations suggest that ion mobilization is limited, and, therefore, potential risks of CO2 are low, especially for arsenic and lead, which appeared in the recovered samples at concentrations of approximately 3% of the EPA MCL. Overall reaction rates estimated from the push–pull test were generally smaller than overall reaction rates in a batch experiment. Results of the push–pull test suggest that groundwater pH, DIC, and δ13C of DIC may be helpful in detecting CO2 leakage signals. Our study indicated that single-well push–pull tests can be a valuable approach for assessing potential impacts of CO2 leakage on drinking water resources at geological CO2 sequestration sites.
Gene content phylogeny of herpesviruses

Clusters of orthologous groups [COGs; Tatusov, R. L., Koonin, E. V. & Lipman, D. J. (1997) Science 278, 631–637] were identified for a set of 13 completely sequenced herpesviruses. Each COG represented a family of gene products conserved across several herpes genomes. These families were defined without using an arbitrary threshold criterion based on sequence similarity. The COG technique was modified so that variable stringency in COG construction was possible. High stringencies identify a core set of highly conserved genes. Varying COG stringency reveals differences in the degree of conservation between functional classes of genes. The COG data were used to construct whole-genome phylogenetic trees based on gene content. These trees agree well with trees based on other methods and are robust when tested by bootstrap analysis. The COG data also were used to construct a reciprocal tree that clustered genes with similar phylogenetic profiles. This clustering may give clues to genes with related functions or with related histories of acquisition and loss during herpesvirus evolution.
A Simple Spectrophotometric Assay for the Measurement of Soluble Silica in Water

The National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS, 1) recommends that Type I water used in clinical laboratories must be virtually silica (SiO2) free (< 0.05 rag/L). The recommendation has been adopted by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) with the inclusion of a question regarding soluble silicate in water in CAP Laboratory Accreditation Program checklists (2). These requirements are based upon silica's direct interference with spectrophotometric measurements at specific wavelengths of the light spectrum. Therefore, its presence in water not only interferes with trace metal and electrolyte analyses but also could adversely affect many enzymatic determinations such as those procedures using alcohol dehydrogenase and various phosphatases (1). A commercial silica testing kit (catalog # 22550-00, Hach Silica Test Kit, Hach, Loveland, CO) was evaluated. Kit specifications indicated that it measured silica concentrations in the range of 0-1 mg/L. Measurement of the color intensity of the resulting silicate-molybdate complex required visual comparison of the developed color to a color disc directed toward an artificial or natural light source and depended on color comparison by the naked eye. Hach Silica Testing Kit reagents were used in the development of a modified procedure for the detection and more accurate quantitation of low concentrations (< 0.05 rag/L) of soluble silica in water.