cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Functional retinal outcomes in patients with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.

Purpose Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is a leading cause of visual impairment. Its precursor, prediabetes (preDM), is growing in numbers every year. While it is well known that T2DM causes changes in retinal function early in the disease process, it is likely that some of these changes emerge during the preDM stage. This study evaluates retinal function measures in patients with preDM to determine if there are differences in colour vision, contrast sensitivity (CS), and multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG) measures present before T2DM is diagnosed. Methods The L'Anthony desaturated D-15 test, Mars Chart CS test, and mfERG were administered on the right eye of 43 participants; 15 controls (HbA1c ≤ 5.6%), 17 with preDM (HbA1c 5.7%-6.4%), and 11 with T2DM (either physician diagnosed or with untreated HbA1c ≥ 6.5%). HbA1c values were measured at the time of the other tests. Colour vision confusion scores (CVCS) were calculated from the D-15 using the method developed by Torok. Multivariate regression (which controlled for age differences) was used to evaluate the relationship of HbA1c and functional measures. Kruskal-Wallis tests were also used to evaluate differences between groups with post-hoc analysis. Results CVCSs were significantly different between the three groups (p = 0.009). There was an association between higher CVCS and higher HbA1c values across all groups as well as specifically within the preDM group when controlling for age (R2 = 0.29, p = 0.01 and R2 = 0.39, p = 0.02 respectively). Multivariate regression of all of the functional tests together and HbA1c found only colour vision remained significant, indicating that the functional examination metrics may provide redundant data, with similar changes in prediabetes where colour vision may be the strongest indicator early in the process. Conclusions Patients with prediabetes have functional changes that can be measured in the retina before the diagnosis of diabetes, with the L'Anthony D-15 colour vision test providing the strongest association with glucose dysregulation in this population. This has important implications for follow up and screening for diabetes within optometric practices. Further studies are needed to follow these patients over time to see how and when these metrics change.
Improving Holistic Care Skills for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses: Integration of a Complementary and Alternative Medicine Course into a Doctor of Nursing Practice Curriculum.

BACKGROUND Complementary alternative medicine (CAM) is an expanding domain of healing practices harmonized with Western medicine to provide comprehensive treatment of individuals as holistic beings. Patients and healthcare providers worldwide are increasingly inviting and employing CAM practices into healthcare delivery routines. Implementation of courses to introduce CAM into Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) programs exposes future practitioners to current best practices for integrative treatment strategies and encourages consideration when developing a holistic patient-centered care plan. OBJECTIVE/METHODS A case presentation of an interprofessional CAM course delivered to military graduate nursing students with a pretest posttest course survey to evaluate student's confidence and knowledge of CAM theory and practices. The format included online modules, evidence-based literature critique, knowledge checks, and an immersive hands-on immersion experience. RESULTS A total of 240 pre-/postcourse surveys were completed by military graduate nursing students (N = 140) participating in a CAM course. Statistically significant increases in CAM knowledge, communication, and skills confidence levels were found. Following participation in the course, nearly all students (97%) agreed CAM is important and benefits future advanced practice. CONCLUSION/NURSING IMPLICATIONS CAM is a compendium of holistic healing modalities increasingly being utilized by patients worldwide with similar requests for alternative care techniques from healthcare providers. Military APRN students participating in a CAM course increased knowledge and confidence, and garnered appreciation for an expanded skill set to augment future practice. Case presentation is compelling for standard inclusion of CAM and similar graduate interprofessional courses into all APRN programs.
Keep your distance! Measuring staff physical distancing during the Sars-Cov-2 pandemic using a real-time locating system.

Abstract Introduction Staff-to-staff transmission of SARS-CoV-2 poses a significant risk to the Emergency Department (ED) workforce. We measured close ( 10 min) staff interactions in a busy pediatric Emergency Department in common work areas over time as the pandemic unfolded, measuring the effectiveness of interventions meant to discourage such close contact. Methods We used a Real-Time Locating System to measure staff groupings in crowded common work areas lasting ten or more minutes. We compared the number of these interactions pre-pandemic with those occurring early and then later in the pandemic, as distancing interventions were suggested and then formalized. Nearly all healthcare workers in the ED were included, and the duration of interactions over time were evaluated as well. Results and conclusions This study included a total of 12,386 pairs of staff-to-staff encounters over three time periods including just prior to the pandemic, early in the pandemic response, and later in the steady-state pandemic response. Pairs of staff averaged 0.89 high-risk interactions hourly prior to the pandemic, and this continued early in the pandemic with informal recommendations (0.80 high-risk pairs hourly). High-risk staff encounters fell significantly to 0.47 interactions per hour in the steady-state pandemic with formal distancing guidelines in place and decreased patient and staffing volumes. The duration of these encounters remained stable, near 16 min. Close contact between healthcare staff workers did significantly decrease with formal distancing guidelines, though some high-risk interactions remained, warranting additive protective measures such as universal masking.
Fragmentation and Mobility Separation of Peptide and Protein Ions in a Trapped-Ion Mobility Device

Ion mobility separations (IMS) have increasingly been coupled with mass spectrometry to increase peak capacity and deconvolute complex mass spectra in proteomics workflows. IMS separations can be integrated prior to or following the collisional activation step. Post-activation IMS separations have demonstrated many advantages, yet few instrument platforms are capable of this feat. Here, we present the fragmentation of peptide ions within a commercially available trapped-ion mobility spectrometry device. Fragmentation is initiated prior to mobility analysis enabling the separation of generated product ions. The added separation step deconvolutes product ion spectra and permits improved annotation of product ions. Furthermore, we demonstrate the isolation and fragmentation of mobility separated product ions with the downstream quadrupole and collisional cell. When applied to melittin and ubiquitin, this ion mobility assisted pseudo-MS3 fragmentation approach generates sequence coverage ∼50% greater than that of typical MS2 analyses. We envision this ion-mobility-assisted fragmentation technique as the foundation of a powerful new pseudo-MS3 workflow for application toward middle- or top-down proteomics.
Reconstructing a Genotype-Phenotype Map In Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Abstract CLL exhibits great variability in genetic alterations and clinical outcome across patients. Gene expression can serve as an intermediate measurement to provide insight into the cellular circuitry linking genotype to phenotype. To explore this approach, we developed methods to statistically assess the associations between somatic mutations, transcriptional programs, and clinical outcome. First, in a cohort of 229 CLL patients, we associated IGHV-mutation status as well as 7 recurrent (>5% of CLLs) somatic alterations with 44 modules of co-expressed genes that were derived by clustering 3719 variably expressed genes measured by Affymetrix arrays. The somatic mutation genotypes were identified by whole exome sequencing (N=130) and/or SNP6 arrays (N=229). By permutation testing, we determined that 21 modules were associated with IGHV mutation status (P Second, having identified transcriptional modules associated with distinct genotypes, we sought to understand the functions of these modules and to infer the regulators of these programs. To associate modules with potential functional phenotypes, we performed gene enrichment analysis, and found multiple modules associated with inflammatory signatures, DNA repair and MYC targets. We then populated the intermediary layer between genotype and module with candidate transcription factors (TFs) by integrating curated TF datasets with TF expression, motif analysis and module expression. For example, CREB and ATF were candidate TF regulators in modules associated with SF3B1 and ATM mutations, respectively; while MYC- and NFkB-related TFs were candidate regulators of modules associated with both trisomy 12 or MYD88 mutations. We also identified several candidates of cellular convergence, where multiple genotypes lead to activation of the same transcriptional program. For example, the transcription factor EBF1, an important B cell regulator, was nominated as a candidate regulator in 8 of 44 modules which were associated with differing genotypes, suggesting the importance of EBF1 in mediating the genotype-phenotype relationship. Third, to complete the map from genotype to phenotype, we linked module expression with a clinical outcome. Using elastic-net Cox regression, we identified 2 modules associated with longer and 6 with shorter time from sample acquisition to treatment or death. Many of these modules were associated with well-established prognostic indicators (6 with IGHV status, 1 with P53/del17p, and 1 with SF3B1 status P In summary, this analysis serves as a proof of principle for a ‘genotype-phenotype map' for CLL linking somatic alterations, gene expression programs, and clinical outcome. Our inferred CLL networks generate testable hypotheses that explain how genotypes affect the cellular circuitry of CLL cells that are currently being tested through functional gain/loss of function experiments. Disclosures: Brown: Pharmacyclics, Genentech, Celgene, Emergent, Onyx, Sanofi Aventis, Vertex, Avila, Novartis: Consultancy; Genzyme, Celgene: Research Funding.
Introducing robotics at the undergraduate level

At the undergraduate level there is a need to expose students to the complexities of programming robots to accomplish real life tasks. This paper outlines how a course in robotics can be taught at the undergraduate level with specific experiments that allow for incremental learning in programming a mobile robot. The experiments can be conducted using either a commercially available robot or by simulating the actions of a robot. In addition, the minimum functional capabilities required of the robot to conduct the experiments and implementation of two experiments are described.
Development of Metal-impregnated Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes for Toxic Gas Contaminant Control in Advanced Life Support Systems

The success of physico-chemical waste processing and resource recovery technologies for life support application depends partly on the ability of gas clean-up systems to efficiently remove trace contaminants generated during the process with minimal use of expendables. Highly purified metal-impregnated carbon nanotubes promise superior performance over conventional approaches to gas clean-up due to their ability to direct the selective uptake gaseous species based both on the nanotube s controlled pore size, high surface area, and ordered chemical structure that allows functionalization and on the nanotube s effectiveness as a catalyst support material for toxic contaminants removal. We present results on the purification of single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) and efforts at metal impregnation of the SWCNT's.
Focal photolysis of caged glutamate produces long-term depression of hippocampal glutamate receptors

Separating contributions of pre- and postsynaptic factors to the maintenance of long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD) has been confounded by their experimental interdependence. To isolate the postsynaptic contribution, glutamate-receptor-mediated currents were elicited by localized photolysis of caged glutamate in small spots along the dendrites of CA1 hippocampal pyramidal cells. With synaptic transmission blocked, pairing depolarization of pyramidal cells with repeated photolysis of caged glutamate at one site markedly and persistently depressed subsequent responses to glutamate; responses at a second, unpaired site were unchanged. Like synaptically induced LTD at the CA3-CA1 synapse, this depression was site specific, NMDA-receptor dependent and blocked by protein-phosphatase inhibitors. Thus, robust, persistent alterations of postsynaptic glutamate receptor efficacy can occur without presynaptic neurotransmitter release.
Laboratory Maintenance of Fusobacteria

This unit describes routine laboratory handling of fusobacteria. Different media that can be used to grow or enrich Fusobacterium nucleatum and other species of this genus are described. The growth and stock conditions as well as the susceptibility of F. nucleatum to oxygen in a pure culture are also discussed.
The Geologic History of the Carbon Cycle

Geologists, like other scientists, tend to view the global carbon cycle through the lens of their particular training and experience. This chapter describes the behavior of the carbon cycle prior to human influence. It describes events and processes that extend back through geologic time and include the exchange of carbon between the Earth's surface and the long-term reservoirs in the lithosphere. This chapter begins with an overview of the carbon exchanges and processes that control the variations observed in the geologic record of the carbon cycle. Then examples of past carboncycle change are described, beginning with the most recent variations seen in cores drilled from glaciers and the sea floor, and concluding with the distant transformations inferred from the rock record of the Precambrian.
RISK FACTORS IN CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE (COPD)

In a genetic-epidemiologic study of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) observations adjusted for age, sex, race, and smoking indicate certain factors to be associated with increased pulmonary function aberrancy, and suggest that they are risk factors for COPD. These presumptive "risk factors" include not only cigarette smoking, but also alpha1-antitrypsin (Pi system) variation, one or more other familial components, low socioeconomic status (SES), and, in whites, ABO blood type (either absence of "B" or presence of "A").
Is global warming injecting randomness into the climate system

Data analyses and model simulations have recently indicated that as the planet is warming, the chance for extreme events increases. Karl et al.. [1995] examined precipitation records over the 20th century and showed that the high-frequency (up to interannual) variability has increased. Subsequently Tsonis [1996] showed that the low-frequency variability has also increased. These variability trends indicate that the frequency of extremes (more drought events and more heavy precipitation events) has increased whereas the mean has remained approximately the same. Such a tendency is observed with other variables and is consistent with model projections of a warmer planet.
Sirolimus for the prevention of in-stent restenosis in a coronary artery.

Sirolimus (rapamycin), an inhibitor of in-stent restenosis in the coronary arteries, is having a substantial effect on the care of patients with coronary artery disease, was discovered in a soil sample from Easter Island (known locally as Rapa Nui). A naturally occurring product that is isolated from Streptomyces hygroscopicus, sirolimus is an extremely lipophilic (hydrophobic) macrolide that was initially developed as an antifungal agent on the basis of its ability to inhibit the growth of yeast. However, sirolimus was quickly observed to have potent immunosuppressive activity in mammals, which put a halt to its development as an antibiotic. In 1988, . . .
High-speed packet filtering utilizing stream processors

Parallel firewalls offer a scalable architecture for the next generation of high-speed networks. While these parallel systems can be implemented using multiple firewalls, the latest generation of stream processors can provide similar benefits with a significantly reduced latency due to locality. This paper describes how the Cell Broadband Engine (CBE), a popular stream processor, can be used as a high-speed packet filter. Results show the CBE can potentially process packets arriving at a rate of 1 Gbps with a latency less than 82 μ-seconds. Performance depends on how well the packet filtering process is translated to the unique stream processor architecture. For example the method used for transmitting data and control messages among the pseudo-independent processor cores has a significant impact on performance. Experimental results will also show the current limitations of a CBE operating system when used to process packets. Possible solutions to these issues will be discussed.
Interaction of Audition and Vision in the Recognition of Oral Speech Stimuli

Audio-visual observation of spoken spondaic words was found to be superior to recognition via audition-only under a wide range of S/N conditions. Data from five subjects supported the notion that o...
Simulated Distillation of Oils With a Wide Carbon Number Distribution

Simulated distillation using gas chromatography is an expedient technique for the determination of boiling range and carbon number distributions of crude oils. A procedure to calculate the uneluted fraction of the oil (from the chromatographic column) exists in the literature. Mathematical equivalence between this procedure and a more intuitive inverse lever-arm principle is established in this paper. Capillary gas chromatography permits the analyses of samples containing higher boiling compounds at temperatures similar to those employed in packed-column chromatography. By using a short (5 m) capillary column, samples containing compounds with carbon numbers up to C 90 can be characterized. However, for accurate measurement of compositions from C 5 -C 44 , a longer capillary column is required. A two-column procedure is developed in this paper to obtain a wide C 5 -C 90 distribution for crude oils. A longer (30 m) column is employed for compositional measurements in the range of C 5 -C 44 . A short (5 m) column is used to obtain carbon number distributions of compounds from C 20 -C 90 . For the two oils analyzed as part of this study, excellent agreement is observed in the overlapping region of the two analyses. The procedure developed in this paper allows for a high-resolution characterization of the C 5 -C 90 fraction of the oil while limiting the uncharacterized portion of the oil to compounds with carbon numbers higher than C 90
Inhibition of MK801 binding in adult rat brain sections by conantokin-G and conantokin-T.

Abstract The functional interactions of conantokins with anatomical sites in rat brain have been assessed through displacement of the non-competitive N -methyl- d -aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonist, dizocilpine (MK801). The binding of (+)-3-[ 125 I]-iodo-MK801 (1 nM) to coronal sections from adult rat brain was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by conantokin-T (con-T) and conantokin-G (con-G). Quantitative densitometry was used to determine IC 50 values for conantokin inhibition of [ 125 I]-MK801 binding in the cortex, thalamus and hippocampus. Con-T completely inhibited [ 125 I]-MK801 specific binding in all brain regions at a saturating concentration of 100 μM. Con-G was able to completely displace [ 125 I]-MK801 in the cortex and thalamus, but only inhibited this same binding up to ∼90% in the hippocampus. Both peptides maintained their inhibitory properties in the presence of 1 mM EDTA, suggesting that divalent cations are not required for their action in this regard. The added presence of spermine (150 μM) resulted in a two-fold increase in [ 125 I]-MK801 binding and a two-fold decrease in the IC 50 values for both peptides. The data obtained in this investigation further demonstrate that [ 125 I]-MK801 is a useful probe for the indirect determination of functional NMDAR ligand binding sites in rat brain sections.
Analysis of DNA and protein adducts of benzo[a]pyrene in human tissues using structure-specific methods

We review studies which investigate the presence, using structure-specific analytical methods, of DNA or protein adducts of the carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) in human tissues. The analytical methods include high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Although, for DNA detection these methods are somewhat less sensitive than non-specific techniques such as 32P-postlabeling and immunoassay, they have the distinct advantage of providing reliable structural information. In order to achieve adequate sensitivity, these methods often require the use of fairly large amounts of DNA (>100 microg) or protein (50-100mg). Most studies reviewed here measured tetraols released from DNA or protein by hydrolysis of adducts derived from (7R,8S)-dihydroxy-(9S,10R)-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene (BPDE), a major ultimate carcinogen of BaP. BPDE-DNA adducts were detected in 39% of 705 samples analyzed. BPDE-protein adducts were found in 59% of 772 samples. There was no single exposure situation that led to an overwhelming presence of detectable adducts. For example, BPDE-DNA adducts were detected in 45% of smokers, 33% of former smokers, 52% of non-smokers, 39% of occupationally exposed individuals, and 34% of environmentally exposed people. Adduct levels were influenced by polymorphisms in carcinogen metabolizing genes such as GSTM1, the presence of which was frequently protective. The relatively high occurrence of non-detectable adducts may result from low levels of BaP exposure and host factors such as genetic polymorphisms. Our analysis demonstrates that the presence of BaP adducts in human tissues cannot be assumed, even in situations where exposure to BaP is relatively high.
Coverage-Dependent Charge Reduction of Cationic Gold Clusters on Surfaces Prepared Using Soft Landing of Mass-Selected Ions

The ionic charge state of monodisperse multiply charged cationic gold clusters on surfaces may be controlled by selecting the coverage of mass-selected ions soft landed onto a substrate. Polydisperse diphosphine-capped gold clusters were synthesized in solution and introduced into the gas phase by electrospray ionization. Mass selection was employed to isolate a multiply charged cationic cluster species (Au11L53+, m/z = 1409, L = 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane) which was delivered to the surfaces of four different self-assembled monolayers on gold (SAMs) at controlled coverages of 1011 and 1012 clusters. Employing the spatial profiling capabilities of in situ time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS), it is shown that, in addition to the chemical functionality of the monolayer (as demonstrated previously: ACS Nano 2012, 6, 573), the coverage of cationic gold clusters on the surface may be used to control the relative abundance of different charge states of the soft landed multiply charg...
The correlation of photometric signals derived from in vivo red blood cell flow in microvessels.

Abstract Photometric signals generated by projecting the in vivo image of microvessels of cat omentum onto two photodetectors aligned in the direction of blood flow were cross-correlated as a function of time delay and progressively greater detector spacing. It was found that the degree of correlation decreases as a function of increasing detector separation, in an approximate exponential fashion, until correlation is no longer discernible. The persistence of downstream correlation is inversely proportional to blood velocity and vessel diameters when these are greater than 30 μm and is directly proportional to velocity and diameter in smaller vessels. These results were related to a “correlation length” analogous to the mixed length theory for turbulent flows. It is proposed that a similarly defined parameter be established for blood flow in the microvascular system, and utilized to compare flowing blood in normal and abnormal conditions.
A two-step chemical and circular dichroic method for assigning the absolute configurations of sphingosines

Abstract Breakdown products of sphingolipids are involved in cell regulaion and exhibit a wide variety of activities related to signal transduction. The backbone of sphingolipids are the sphingosines which have two stereogenic centers. A general, rapid, chemical/chiroptical micromethod based on the bichromophoric CD exciton chirality principle was developed to distinguish all four possible stereoisomers nonambiguously at a level of ca. 1 microgram.
Nonlinear dynamics of a convection loop II. Chaos in laminar and turbulent flows

Abstract The chaotic dynamical flow regimes-transient, subcritical and globally chaotic-observed in our previous experiments on a convection loop, are similar to the dynamical regimes of the Lorenz model for typical values of its parameters. In the experiments reported here, at larger values of the driving parameter than previously attained, dynamical regimes were observed that are not found in the Lorenz model. We demonstrate that the flow in a convection loop has two subcritical Hopf bifurcations, separated in parameter space, one for laminar flow and one for turbulent flow. We describe the complicated dynamical behavior that results, and we also show that a modified version of our four-mode model can describe the qualitative features of the observed dynamical regimes.
Binary-encounter-dipole model for electron-impact ionization

A theoretical model, which is free of adjustable or fitted parameters, for calculating electron-impact ionization cross sections for atoms and molecules is presented. This model combines the binary-encounter theory with the dipole interaction of the Bethe theory for fast incident electrons. The ratios of the contributions from distant and close collisions and interference between the direct and exchange terms are determined by using the asymptotic behaviors predicted by the Bethe theory for ionization and for stopping cross sections. Our model prescribes procedures to calculate the singly differential cross section (energy distribution) for each subshell using the binding energy, average kinetic energy, and the differential dipole oscillator strengths for that subshell. Then the singly differential cross section is integrated over the ejected electron energy to obtain the total ionization cross section. The resulting total ionization cross section near the threshold is proportional to the excess energy of the projectile electron. We found that this model yields total ionization cross sections for a variety of atoms and molecules from threshold to several keV which are in good agreement (\ensuremath{\sim}10% or better on average) with known experimental results. The energy distributions also exhibit the expected shapes and magnitudes. We offer a simpler version of the model that can be used when differential oscillator strengths are not known. For the ionization of ions with an open-shell configuration, we found that a minor modification of our theory greatly improves agreement with experiment.
Descriptive Eyewitness Testimony: The Influence of Emotionality, Racial Identification, Question Style, and Selective Perception

A number of studies on cross-racial identifications have been undertaken using standard facial recognition paradigms, but modest attention has been paid to the effect of cross-racial identifications in juxtaposition with other influencing factors. The present article examines the impact of race in conjunction with emotionality and question-related variables on descriptive eyewitness recall accuracy. Findings from a controlled experiment (staged crime) with a total of 106 participants from a Midwestem university suggest that descriptive eyewitness recall was influenced by the examined variables-emotionality, race, and type of question asked. Moreover, it was found that eyewitnesses tended to pay more attention to weapons and vehicles during a mock scenario than to perpetrator behavior, perpetrator description, and other information surrounding the event. The results add further evidence to the bulk of literature suggesting that the current usage of eyewitness testimony by the legal system is far from ideal...
Coxsackievirus B3 persistence and myocarditis in NFR nu/nu and +/nu mice

NFR nude (nu/nu) and euthymic (+/nu) littermates were infected with coxsackievirus B3 (CBV-3) and assayed for virus persistence in the heart, pancreas and spleen, for development of myocarditis and for antibody production. The virus grew to higher titer and persisted longer in hearts of nu/nu mice. In both types of mice there was comparable myocarditis with a mononuclear cell inflammatory response, and there was some evidence of chronic lesions for up to 21 days in +/nu and 28 days in nu/nu mice. Antibody of the IgM class was present at 7 days in both strains of mice. Thereafter, +/nu mice produced high titers of virus-specific IgG antibody, while nu/nu mice produced little or no viral IgG antibody. The persistence of virus for up to 28 days in NFR nude mice is longer than has been reported previously, and offers an opportunity for further study of the role of T-cells in virus persistence and myocarditis.
Fast poisson solvers on general two dimensional regions for the Dirichlet problem

It is shown that by using the simplest construction of discrete dipoles, the operation count for solving the Dirichlet problem of Poisson's equation by the capacitance matrix method does not exceed constant timesn 2 logn. n=1/h. Certain first and second order schemes of interpolating boundary conditions are considered.
Affinity chromatography of reticulocyte lysates on haptoglobin improves two-dimensional mapping of translation products

A simple method is described for enhancing the resolution and detectability of translation products in two-dimensional mapping of reticulocyte lysate translation systems. Assays are fractionated by affinity chromatography on human haptoglobin-Affi-Gel 15 to remove hemoglobin and translation products are eluted with sodium dodecyl sulfate, buffered at pH 9.2. Translation products purified in this, way have less than 10 % of the hemoglobin present in the original assay. The recovery of translation products is about 95 % after haptoglobin chromatography and about 75 % after concentration for mapping. Hemoglobin removal not only enhances the resolution and detectability of low and moderate abundance translation products but also reduces horizontal and vertical streaking in two-dimensional mapping without significantly altering the distribution of translation products.
Impact of Contact Materials and Operating Conditions on Stability of Micromechanical Switches

Nano and micromechanical switches are of great interest in applications that require high speed, low-power consumption and high electrical isolation. There is strong evidence that airborne hydrocarbon accumulation on the contact surfaces of the switch is a key cause for device failure. Relatively unexplored contact materials such as RuO2 are of interest because they are believed to be less prone to hydrocarbon deposit accumulation than more commonly used materials such as Pt and Au. Here, we measure the reliability of RuO2 and Pt-coated microswitches in hydrocarbon-rich environments with N2 and N2:O2 background gases. The RuO2 material performs very poorly in contaminated N2, but very well in contaminated N2:O2. Furthermore, RuO2 performs much better than Pt in the contaminated N2:O2. It is demonstrated that the deposit, initially being an insulator, can be electrically broken-down, thereby substantially lowering switch resistance. It is further shown that the passage of electrical current through the contacts augments deposit accumulation.
Funeral Roles: Ritualized Expectations

One hundred funerals in a southern state serve as the data base for the observation and description of the different funeral roles enacted by ministers, family members, and friends. Variations by church size, the overlap of role styles, and the process by which socialization into the various roles occurs are discussed. The complementary interaction between roles is examined along with its implications for the stability and change of role sets.
Anticoagulant proteins in childhood venous and arterial thrombosis: a review.

Thrombotic disease is less frequent in children than in adults, but may result in severe morbidity and mortality. The coagulation system is balanced to provide rapid activation to stop bleeding and appropriate inhibition to prevent unwanted clot extension. It is regulated by fibrinolysis and by three major anticoagulant pathways: the protein C, antithrombin, and tissue factor pathway inhibitor systems. Acquired or inherited abnormalities of coagulation proteins or hemostatic regulatory mechanisms, particularly when combined with dehydration or the presence of indwelling catheters, may pose a high risk for thrombosis. Thrombosis in a child warrants investigation of potential underlying prothrombotic conditions. These include acquired antiphospholipid antibodies or the lupus anticoagulant as well as abnormalities of the inherited anticoagulant factors including protein C, protein S, antithrombin, and Factor V Leiden. Other abnormalities may result in heightened levels of otherwise normal coagulation proteins such as hyperprothrombinemia due to the prothrombin 20210 mutation. A large survey of children with thrombosis indicated that Factor V Leiden, protein C deficiency, and increased lipoprotein(a) were found most commonly. The most severe predisposition occurs with homozygous protein S or protein C deficiency with resultant purpura fulminans in the newborn. The risk of thrombosis in children with heterozygous deficiencies of anticoagulant proteins is not well defined, although it is clear that combined heterozygotes or a combination of an inherited and an acquired defect heightens the risk for thrombosis. Treatment of thrombosis primarily involves a rapidly acting anticoagulant such as heparin or low-molecular-weight heparin to prevent extension, and long-term anticoagulation with warfarin may be instituted to prevent recurrence. Fibrinolytic therapy is infrequently used because of the risk of serious bleeding complications and is reserved for selected cases of arterial thrombosis to initiate rapid reperfusion of ischemic tissue or used in those patients with a large venous thrombosis and pulmonary emboli causing hemodynamic compromise.
Factors Affecting Heat Coagulation of Egg White

Abstract THE ability of egg white to heat-coagulate is the basis for its use in many food products. This study is an attempt to determine some of the various factors which affect the heat coagulation of egg white and how and why these factors affect this coagulation. In this study the criteria of optical density and gelation are used as the measures of coagulation. Slosberg et al. (1948) observed that the pH of the egg white at the time of heat treatment was important and that egg white was more stable to heat at pH 6.5 than at pH 8.5. These observations appear contrary to those of Barmore (1936), who reported that lowering the pH reduced the coagulation temperature. On the other hand, Cotterill and Winter (1954a) reported a greater optical density in egg white from thermostabilized seven-day old eggs than from thermostabilized fresh eggs. They attributed this increase in optical…
Introduction to the Issue on Optical Interconnects for Data Centers

The authors are pleased to introduce the IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics (JSTQE) Issue on "Optical Interconnects for Data Centers." This issue signifies the first JSTQE issue dedicated to the emerging important roles photonics are playing in data centers. The issue showcases the significant research progress being made toward integrating optical interconnect technology (monolithically or multichip module) with CMOS computing logic to meet the challenges in achieving the high performance and energy efficiency needed for both high-performance computing and data centers. This issue contains 20 papers, including seven invited and 13 contributed papers, authored by some of the leading photonics research groups in the world. The papers in this issue cover the broad scope of research representative of this growing field.
Symmetry breaking for a class of semilinear elliptic problems

Abstract : This document considers a nonlinear elliptic problem. Suppose this problem has a family of positive radial solutions parameterized by R, i.e., UR (X). This paper studies the possibility of the existence of nonradial solutions of bifurcating from the radial solutions family. Answering a question posed by Smoller and Wasserman, it is shown this happens if f satisfies suitable assumptions. Therefore, the global structure of the nonradial solution set is investigated.
An IMS/ATP Assay for the Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Urine.

Background. Although sputum smears are the gold standard for diagnosis of tuberculosis, sensitivity in HIV/TB coinfection cases is low, indicating a need for alternative methods. Urine is being increasingly evaluated. Materials and Methods. A novel method for detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) in synthetic urine using a combined IMS/ATP assay was evaluated. Preliminary work established standard ATP conditions and the sensitivity and specificity of the MTB antibody. Eighty-four blinded samples in four replicate assays were evaluated for the presence of MTB using labeled immunomagnetic beads for capture. Beads were separated, washed, and resuspended in broth and added to a microtiter plate. Bioluminescent output was measured and signal-to-noise ratios were calculated. All samples were plated on Middlebrook 7H10 agar or trypticase soy agar to determine limit of detection and recoveries. Results and Conclusions. MTB was distinguished from common bacteriuria isolates and other nontarget bacteria by its ATP results. IMS/ATP successfully detected 19 of 28 samples of MTB in synthetic urine with a limit of detection of 104 CFU/ml. Sensitivity and specificity were 67.9% and 82.1%, respectively. This assay offers a possible rapid screening method for HIV-positive patients with suspected coinfection to improve MTB diagnosis.
Cardiac size and performance during pregnancy estimated with echocardiography

Echocardiography was performed In 55 women In the following groups: Group I, 15 normal nonpregnant control subjects; Group II, 13 normal women In the 13th to 23rd weeks of gestation; Group III, 15 normal women In the 24th to 32nd weeks of gestation; and Group IV, 12 women at term pregnancy. The heart rate was 20 percent greater In pregnant women than In normal control subjects, and left ventricular dimensions and volumes were significantly larger during gestation. The right ventricular dimension was significantly increased in women in Group III (P < 0.001). Stroke volume increased by 32 percent in the 13th to 23rd weeks (Group II, P < 0.005) and remained Increased later (Group III). There was a parallel rise in ejection fraction. Cardiac output, 3.93 ± 0.53 (mean ± 1 standard deviation) liters/min in normal nonpregnant women, increased to 6.05 ± 1.58 in the second trimester (P < 0.001) and to 6.15 ± 1.5 liters/min later in gestation (P < 0.001). When women at term pregnancy were studied in the left lateral position they had a higher cardiac output (5.88 ± 1.69 liters/min) (P < 3.001) than normal control subjects (Group I), but when they were studied supine their cardiac output was almost as low as that in Group I although they had a higher heart rate. The velocity of circumferential shortening and posterior wall slope both increased to a significant extent in all pregnant women. In Group III, the velocity of circumferential shortening increased to 1.35 ± 0.19 circumferences/sec compared with 1.13 ± 0.12 circumferences/sec in control subjects (P < 0.005), and the slope of posterior wall motion increased to 61.1 ± 8.7 mm/sec compared with 50.5 ± 4.9 in control subjects. Cardiac output increased early in pregnancy because of an increase in both stroke volume and heart rate. Enhanced myocardial contractility may have contributed to the observed increase.
A new species of Falcaustra (Nematoda, Kathlaniidae) from Cnemaspis aff. tro pidogaster (Squamata, Gekkonidae) from Sri Lanka

Falcaustra desilvai sp. nov. (Ascaridida, Kathlaniidae) from the large intestine of Cnemaspis aff. tropidogaster (Squamata, Gekkonidae) is described and illustrated. Falcaustra desilvai represents the 4th nematode species from Sri Lanka to be assigned to the genus and is distinguished from other Sri Lankan species by the distribution pattern of caudal papillae (12 precloacal, 2 adcloacal, 10 postcloacal, and 1 median), length of spicules (956–1046 μm) and absence of a pseudosucker.
Unexpected Recovery of Function After Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: The Limits of Early Neuroimaging-Based Outcome Prediction

Background Prognostication in the early stage of traumatic coma is a common challenge in the neuro-intensive care unit. We report the unexpected recovery of functional milestones (i.e., consciousness, communication, and community reintegration) in a 19-year-old man who sustained a severe traumatic brain injury. The early magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, at the time, suggested a poor prognosis.
Modeling supramolecular assemblages.

There has been some progress (but not much) in simulating supramolecular assemblages in the past year. The two main technical advances have been, firstly, the establishment of a protocol for extracting equilibrium thermodynamic data from forced (i.e. nonequilibrium) simulations and experiments, and, secondly, the development of a method for accurately calculating the electrostatics of enormous systems. Some recent applications have demonstrated the increasing feasibility of performing meaningful simulations of very large systems.
Alternatively Spliced Soluble Coxsackie-adenovirus Receptors Inhibit Coxsackievirus Infection

The coxsackie-adenovirus receptor (CAR) is a transmembrane receptor of the immunoglobulin superfamily whose expression is altered in myocardial and malignant diseases. Soluble isoforms of other adhesion molecules and cytokine receptors have been proven to have significant agonist and antagonist effects on their full-length receptors; however, little is known about soluble CAR receptors. Using reverse transcription-PCR, we identified three CAR isoforms that lack the transmembrane domain and are the result of alternative RNA splicing events between exons IV and VII (CAR4/7), exons III and VII (CAR3/7), and exons II and VII (CAR2/7). The three CAR isoforms contain different regions of the extracellular domain of CAR and have C termini that are distinct from the full-length receptors. These alternatively spliced CAR proteins are released from transfected HeLa cells confirming that they are soluble proteins. In addition, the soluble CAR proteins are able to interact with the bacterially expressed extracellular domain of CAR. In addition, CAR4/7 but not CAR2/7 was found to bind to coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3). Each of the three soluble CAR isoforms is able to inhibit CVB3 infection of transfected HeLa cells. Given that soluble CAR isoforms can bind to the extracellular domain of CAR and the CVB3 capsid, they may have significant inhibitory or stimulatory effects on CAR signaling and may have an important role in the host defense against viral infection.
High-power laser vaporization of the canine prostate using a 110 W Thulium fiber laser at 1.91 microm.

Introduction The Thulium fiber laser may have several advantages over current urology lasers, including smaller size, more efficient operation, improved spatial beam quality, more precise tissue incision, and operation in pulsed or continuous-wave modes. Previous laser-tissue interaction studies utilizing the Thulium fiber laser have been limited to laser powers of less than 5 W, restricting potential medical applications. This study describes the preliminary testing of a high-power Thulium fiber laser for vaporization of the canine prostate, ex vivo. Study Design/Materials and Methods A continuous-wave, 110-W Thulium fiber laser operating at a wavelength of 1.91 μm, delivered 88.5±2.3 W of power through a 600-μm-core silica fiber for non-contact vaporization of canine prostates (n = 6). Results The Thulium fiber laser vaporized prostate tissue at a rate of 0.83±0.11 g/minute. The thermal coagulation zone measured 500–2,000 μm, demonstrating the potential for hemostasis. Conclusions The high-power Thulium fiber laser is capable of rapid vaporization and coagulation of the prostate. In vivo animal studies are currently being planned for evaluation of the Thulium fiber laser for potential treatment of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). Lasers Surg. Med. 36:52–56, 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Smoothing of polyhedral models

This paper is divided in two parts of which the first describes a method to obtain solid models with free-form geometry from polyhedral models. This is achieved by replacing the edges of the original model with curved faces, i.e. sharp edges are replaced by rounds or fillets. The “radii” of these rounds and fillets are controlled by weight values assigned to the original edges. The value of each weight can vary in the interval from 0 to 1, which gives increased possibilities for the user to control the radius of a round or fillet without changing the topology or shape of the polyhedral model.Several of the curved faces will be non-rectangular and in the second part of the paper a method to determine surfaces to these faces is described. To do this we can either split these faces into rectangular subfaces and fit rectangular surfaces to the subfaces or use non-rectangular surfaces. I have tried the second alternative and used a scheme that is inspired by the methods presented by Gregory & Charrot, (1980), (1983) and (1984). However, my method differs from theirs in some respects:Their methods are based on a convex combination of Boolean sum surfaces which interpolate position and slope along to adjacent boundaries. The Boolean sum surfaces are based on linear Taylor interpolants. Instead of Boolean sum surfaces I use convex combinations of Taylor interpolants.I have also found that linear Taylor interpolants may not always give a satisfactory shape of the interior of the surface. A considerable improvement can be obtained by using higher degree interpolants.
Survival of Salmonella typhimurium and Staphylococcus aureus in Eggs Cooked by Different Methods

Abstract Shell eggs inoculated with Salmonella typhimurium and Staphylococcus aureus were cooked by recommended procedures for boiling, poaching, and frying. Except for poaching, the recommended procedures were inadequate in destroying the inoculum placed in the yolk. Boiling for 7 min was necessary for complete destruction of S. typhimurium and it took 12 min of boiling to destroy Staph, aureus. Cooking time-temperature relationship for complete kill depended on the cooking method with fried eggs. Four minutes and 70 C were needed for covered eggs, 3 min on each side at 64 C for turned over eggs, while cooking for 7.5 min at 6 4 C for sunnyside eggs was not sufficient for destruction of both of the test organisms. None of the test organisms could be recovered from omelets baked by the recommended procedure (86 C for 25 min). Scrambling for 1 min at 74 C was required for the complete destruction of S. typhimurium and 2 min at 78 C for Staph, aureus.