cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lead intoxication impairs the generation of a delayed type hypersensitivity response.

Abstract The effect of oral administration of lead, as Pb-acetate, via the drinking water on the murine delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) response was investigated. The DTH response of BALB/c mice sensitized intraveneously with sheep red blood cells (SRBC) was found to be suppressed markedly in lead-intoxicated mice. Suppression of the DTH correlated with increasing blood Pb concentration. Suppression of the DTH response by Pb intoxication depended on the route of administration of the sensitizing antigen, as Pb intoxication did not impair the DTH reaction when mice were sensitized to SRBC via intraperitoneal injection. Since DTH reactions are regulated in large part by Th1 cells, these data establish an in vivo model system based on a rational route of Pb exposure in which to study further the modulation of Th1-mediated immune effector function by Pb.
Wnt Signaling as a Potential Therapeutic Target for Frontotemporal Dementia

Progranulin mutations result in frontotemporal dementia, but the underlying pathophysiology has remained largely unexplained. New data by Geschwind and colleagues in this issue of Neuron uncovered that the Wnt/FZD2 signaling pathway is an early and critical contributor to disease pathology.
Repeatability and Sample Size Assessment Associated with Computed Tomography-Based Lung Density Metrics.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES Density-based metrics assess severity of lung disease but vary with lung inflation and method of scanning. The aim of this study was to evaluate the repeatability of single center, CT-based density metrics of the lung in a normal population and assess study sample sizes needed to detect meaningful changes in lung density metrics when scan parameters and volumes are tightly controlled. MATERIALS AND METHODS Thirty-seven subjects (normal smokers and non-smokers) gave consent to have randomly assigned repeated, breath-held scans at either inspiration (90% vital capacity: TLC) or expiration (20% vital capacity: FRC). Repeated scans were analyzed for: mean lung density (MLD), 15th percentile point of the density histogram (P15), low attenuation areas (LAA) and alpha (fractal measure of hole size distribution). Using inter-subject differences and previously reported bias, sample size was estimated from month or yearly change in density metrics obtained from published literature (i.e. meaningful change). RESULTS Inter-scan difference measurements were small for density metrics (ICC > 0.80) and average ICCs for whole lung alpha-910 and alpha-950 were 0.57 and 0.64, respectively. Power analyses demonstrated that, under the control conditions with minimal extrinsic variation, population sizes needed to detect meaningful changes in density measures for TLC or FRC repeated scans ranged from a few (20-40) to a few hundred subjects, respectively. CONCLUSION A meaningful sample size was predicted from this study using volume-controlled normal subjects in a controlled imaging environment. Under proper breath-hold conditions, high repeatability was obtained in cohorts of normal smokers and non-smokers.
Broadening of the Rb resonance lines by the noble gases

Normalized emission spectra of the optically excited Rb resonance lines (7800 \AA{}, 7948 \AA{}) have been measured in the presence of He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe for about 50 \AA{} on either side of the lines. The perturber gas pressures were in the range 100-1100 Torr and the temperature was 318 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. The spectra, normalized to the total emission, are shown to be due to binary collisions. Shifts and widths of the Lorentzian cores of the lines were obtained, at pressures sufficiently low for impact theory to apply. The widths are corrected for the Rb hfs and the instrument function. Various power-law fits to the near-wing intensities are presented and compared to theoretical expectations. The red satellites reported by other authors are found to be, in the low-pressure limit, mere shoulders on the line wing for Ar and Kr, while Xe barely produces an actual peak. The measured linewidths and shifts are compared to previous measurements.
Spatial patterning of Manta birostris in United States east coast offshore habitat

Abstract This study aims to identify patterns in spatial distribution of Manta birostris along American East Coast by analyzing presence data using a suite of geostatistical techniques. Analysis of data from 1979 to 2008 revealed that the spatial patterns exhibited by the M. birostris include a strong clustering zone off the North Carolina from (however, not all years are represented in that range), Virginia and Maryland coast. Their presence is high near the coastal shelf edge and along the edge of the Gulf Stream. The mix of warm water and high chlorophyll concentration throughout the year in the region seem to create an ideal environment for this clustering pattern. However, in seasons with warmer water temperature, manta rays spread further north and inshore, possibly to avoid competition for prey. The results of geographic weighted regression indicate the role of sea surface temperatures on Manta presence or absence off the main current of the Gulf Stream near North Carolina and Virginia. Knowledge of the spatial distribution of M. birostris can assist in further protecting the species especially from dangers of by-catch and habitat degradation.
Acute Anaphylactoid Reactions in Hemodialysis

Our recent experience with membrane reactions in three hemodialysis patients is reported. We believe that two distinct populations manifest this reaction. First, well-known chronic hemodialysis patients may be exposed to inadequately rinsed new membranes. The etiology may be related to ethylene oxide either as a direct toxin or as a hapten attached to serum proteins. Adequate attention to dialysis membrane priming should eliminate this particular reaction. In the second group, the patients are new to the unit (transients) and frequently arrive with little information on prior care. Two of our patients and at least one other in the literature demonstrate markedly elevated IgE levels. This suggests an IgE-mediated mechanism; whether this is related to the membrane type, ethylene oxide, or a currently undetermined allergen remains uncertain.
Effects of total pathogen burden on coronary artery disease risk and C-reactive protein levels

Infection and inflammation have been suggested to play roles in coronary artery disease (CAD). We hypothesized that: (1) CAD risk is associated with the aggregate number of pathogens (pathogen burden), and (2) increased pathogen burden is associated with elevated levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation. We evaluated 233 patients for CAD. Blood samples from each patient were tested for immunoglobulin-G (IgG) antibodies to cytomegalovirus (CMV), Chlamydia pneumoniae, hepatitis A virus (HAV), herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and HSV type 2 (HSV-2), and for the CRP levels. Of the 233 study subjects, 68% had evidence of CAD by coronary angiography. Although the prevalence of seropositivity for each pathogen tended to be higher in the patients with CAD than those without, only the association between CAD and seropositivity to HAV was significant in multivariate analysis. Over 75% of study subjects had been exposed to > or =3 of the 5 pathogens tested, and analysis determined that increasing pathogen burden was significantly associated with increasing CAD risk, even after adjustment for traditional CAD risk factors. The prevalence of CAD was 48%, 69%, and 85% in individuals with antibodies to < or =2 pathogens, to 3 or 4 pathogens, and to 5 pathogens, respectively. A similar association between increasing pathogen burden and CRP levels was also found. The pathogen burden remained a significant predictor of CRP levels after multivariate analysis. Our data suggest that infection does play a role in the genesis of atherosclerosis. However, the risk posed by infection is related to the pathogen burden that may contribute to CAD through inflammatory responses.
Maximum likelihood estimation using probability density functions of order statistics

A variation of maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) of parameters that uses probability density functions of order statistic is presented. Results of this method are compared with traditional maximum likelihood estimation for complete and right-censored samples in a life test. Further, while the concept can be applied to most types of censored data sets, results are presented in the case of order statistic interval censoring, in which even a few order statistics estimate well, compared to estimates from complete and right-censored samples. Distributions investigated include the exponential, Rayleigh, and normal distributions. Computation methods using A Probability Programming Language running in Maple are more straightforward than existing methods using various numerical method algorithms.
Enzyme activities in vitamin B6-deficient, normal and tumor-bearing animals: effect of hydrocortisone.

It is well-known that vitamin B,, i.e., pyridoxine, pyridoxal, pyridoxamine, and their phosphorylated derivatives, is required for the normal growth of young rats and that pyridoxal phosphate is the coenzyme of transaminase and decarboxylase enzymes. It has been reported that the absence of this growth factor from the diet affects the activity of several enzymes in animal tissues (1-6) as well as steroid induction of enzyme activity (2, 5, 6). Whether lack of vitamin B, also affects the development of enzymatic activity and steroid enzyme induction in tumor-bearing animals has not been investigated. This study reports the effect of vitamin B, deficiency on the activity of tyrosine transaminase and serine dehydratase (two vitamin B,-requiring enzymes) of normal, host liver, and hepatoma #7794A and the induction of these enzymes by hydrocortisone. Materials and Methods. Animals. Buffalo
Bipolarity of Information Transfer from the Salmonella typhimurium Chromosome

Apparently the leucine and tryptophan gene clusters are polarized in opposite directions on the Salmonella chromosome. Either the direction of polarity is independently determined for each operon or the bacterial chromosome may consist of more than one multi-operon unit of DNA, each such unit determining the direction of polarity of its constituent genes. Each hypothesis results in a different prediction concerning the distribution of operon polarity directions on the chromosome and the functional status of chromosomal inversions.
Details of the 1998 Watt Balance Experiment Determining the Planck Constant

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) watt balance experiment completed a determination of Planck constant in 1998 with a relative standard uncertainty of 87 × 10(-9) (k = 1), concurrently with an upper limit on the drift rate of the SI kilogram mass standard. A number of other fundamental physical constants with uncertainties dominated by this result are also calculated. This paper focuses on the details of the balance apparatus, the measurement and control procedures, and the reference calibrations. The alignment procedures are also described, as is a novel mutual inductance measurement procedure. The analysis summary discusses the data noise sources and estimates for the Type B uncertainty contributions to the uncertainty budget. Much of this detail, some historical progression, and a few recent findings have not been included in previous papers reporting the results of this experiment.
Altered expression of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase isozymes during culture of aortic endothelial cells.

Abstract Primary cultures of bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC) express cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (CN PDE) isozymes of the PDE 2, PDE 4 and PDE5 gene families. We report here that the isozyme profiles of CN PDE and the amounts of each vary with the passage number of BAEC cultures. Characterization by anion-exchange chromatography and pharmacological criteria were used to study CN PDE in early (4–6), intermediate (6–10), and late (>17) passages of purified BAEC. PDE2 and a minor fraction of PDE5 accounted for cyclic GMP hydrolysis in early passages, but both isozymes were lost with cell passage. Cyclic AMP was hydrolyzed by both PDE2 and PDE4 isozymes in early passage endothelial cells, but PDE4 was increased dramatically in higher passage cells. Also appearing in the higher passage cells were prominent PDE1 and minor PDE3 activities. The ratios of cytosolic to particulate activities were similar at all passages. BAEC PDE isoforms in intact cells assessed by [ 3 H]-adenine prelabeling showed that atriopeptin II decreased isoproterenol-induced cyclic AMP accumulation in early but not later passage cells, consistent with the loss of PDE2 expression. Enhancement of isoproterenol-induced cyclic AMP accumulation by rolipram, a PDE4 inhibitor, was also greatly diminished during culture passages. Changes in CN PDE isoform expression and consequent cyclic AMP turnover validate the importance of considering cell passage number when cultures of BAEC are used to study the regulation of endothelial cell cyclic nucleotide metabolism and processes mediated by cyclic nucleotides in this model system.
Growth and Development of the Child's Hip

The child's hip begins in intrauterine development as a condensation of mesoderm in the lower limb bud that rapidly differentiates to resemble the adult hip by eight weeks of life. The developmental instructions are transmitted through complicated cell signaling pathways. From eight weeks of development to adolescence, further growth of the hip is focused on differentiation and the establishment of the adult arterial supply. The postnatal growth of the child's hip is a product of concurrent acetabular and proximal femoral growth from their corresponding growth plates. Absence of appropriate contact between acetabulum and proximal femur yields an incongruent joint. Multiple disease processes may be understood in light of this growth process, including Legg-Calve-Perthes disease and developmental dysplasia of the hip.
Identifying Google Talk packets

Instant messages and online chatting are the earliest forms of online social networking, and they remain as popular communication channels that people use to exchange information and socialize with each other through the Internet, even with the existence of the current diversified and various modern social networks such as mySpace and Facebook. This is especially the case for younger generations, who talk to each other by using text messages much more often than using phone calls and emails. The light-weight communication style of simple type-and-send-in-real-time is the main reason for online chatting (or instant messages) being favorable. However, similar with other sophisticated social networks, online chatting potentially faces the problem of being utilized by perpetrators or even pedophiles to conduct initial approach to innocent online users, who are in many situations children, which may lead to a dangerous crime. Therefore, in some cases, the investigation of victim's online chatting history may play an important role in identifying potential suspects. In this paper we study the aforementioned problem from the technical perspective and seek to conduct systematic approaches to retrieve user online chatting records from general Internet traces. Specifically, we conduct a preliminary study on identifying different types of Google Talk, one of the most popular online chatting software, by using Wireshark (or Ethereal). We describe in details the pattern of each type of online chat messages, and present the corresponding process of identifying the messages. Our experiments show that unencrypted Google Talk chat messages can be easily identified. This study is an initiation on conducting research to provide simple tools for facilitating online message investigations in the future.
Improved criteria for the recognition of atherosclerotic plaque using fluorescence spectroscopy

To determine the fluorescence pattern for distinguishing normal (N) from calcified and fibrous plaque (P), fluorescence spectra of cadaveric aorta were measured with a spectrofluorometer. Emission (Em) and excitation (Ex) spectra corrected for instrumental response were obtained from 200 to 1000 nm. Specimens from 50 patients were measured less than 24 h after autopsy and then examined histologically. Spectra from 25 specimens demonstrated that the ratio of fluorescence intensity 460 nm/385 nm with Ex=337 nm provided separation of N from P (1.53±29 vs 0.82±0.25,p<0.01) and that a ratio of 1.25 correctly identified all N and P. A prospective test of this ratio on an additional 25 specimens yielded a significant difference between N and P (1.70±0.37 vs 0.87±0.23,p<0.0001) with a value of 1.25 correctly identifying all (10/10) N and 93% (14/15) P. Prospective analysis of previously proposed fluorescence ratios (600 nm/580 nm at Ex=480 nm; 530 nm/550 nm at Ex=459 nm; 448 nm/514 nm and 538 nm/514 nm at Ex=337 nm) all resulted in poor separation of N from P. The ratio of 460 nm/385 nm with Ex=337 nm is superior to previously reported criteria for distinguishing N from P and may be useful for guiding laser angioplasty systems.
Depth Profile Analysis of Flame-Treated Poly(Vinyl Fluoride)

Chemical and physical changes produced by flame treatment of PVF film have been studied by FT-IR/ATR. By selection of appropriate reflection conditions, the ATR spectra of surface layers corresponding to different depths of penetration of the infrared beam have been recorded. ATR spectra show evidence that the concentration of fluorine and hydrogen species in the amorphous phase of the polymer and of unsaturated functional groups decreases with flame treatment. On the basis of this evidence, it is believed that elimination of a weak surface boundary layer is largely responsible for the improved adhesive properties found for flame-treated samples. ESCA and contact angle measurements have also been performed, and the results of both methods of surface characterization support these conclusions.
Reduction in asthma-related emergency department visits after implementation of a smoke-free law.

Background Secondhand tobacco smoke increases the risk for the development and increasing severity of asthma among adults and children. Reducing exposure to secondhand smoke decreases symptomatic exacerbations among patients with asthma. Emergency department (ED) visits for asthma were assessed before and after the implementation of smoke-free legislation in Lexington-Fayette County, Ky. Objective To evaluate the effects of a smoke-free law on the rate of ED visits for asthma. Methods The study included ED visits for asthma from 4 hospitals in Lexington-Fayette County, Ky. Age-adjusted rates of asthma ED visits were determined. Poisson regression analysis of ED visits from January 1, 2001, to December 31, 2006 compared the ED visit rates between prelaw and postlaw, adjusting for seasonality, secular trends over time, and differences among demographic subgroups. The actual rates were graphed with the Poisson curve showing the rates predicted by the model. A second prediction curve was generated to show the projected rates in the postlaw period if the law had not been implemented. Results Adjusting for seasonality, secular trends, and demographic characteristics, ED visits for asthma declined 22% from prelaw to postlaw (P Conclusion Although this study did not establish causation, the smoke-free law was associated with fewer asthma ED visits among both children and adults, with a more significant decline among adults.
Primary perineal hernia.

Primary perineal hernia is rare and may be mistaken for other diseases of the perineum and adjacent organs. It most often presents as a mass at the inferior margin of the gluteus maximus muscle. Reduction into the pelvis identifies the defect in the levator ani or coccygeus muscles. Discomfort with sitting is a common complaint. Most authors have preferred to repair primary perineal hernias through an abdominal incision.
Reductive Dechlorination of the Vinyl Chloride Surrogate Chlorofluoroethene in TCE-Contaminated Groundwater

At many trichloroethene (TCE)-contaminated field sites, microbial transformation of TCE results in the accumulation of vinyl chloride (VC), a known carcinogen and neurotoxin. Quantitative tools are needed to determine the in situ rates of VC transformation to ethene in contaminated groundwater. For this study, E-/Z-chlorofluoroethene (E-/Z-CFE) was evaluated as a surrogate for VC in laboratory microcosm and field push−pull tests. Single-well push−pull tests were conducted at a TCE-contaminated field site by injecting E-/Z-CFE and monitoring for the formation of fluoroethene (FE) over a period of up to 80 days. The rates for VC transformation to ethene and E-CFE transformation to FE were within a factor of 2.7 for laboratory microcosm systems and all preferentially transformed E-CFE over Z-CFE. In the field, the in situ rates of FE production from injected E-CFE ranged from 0.0018 to 1.15 μM/day, while the in situ rates of E-CFE disappearance ranged from 0.17 to 0.99 μM/day. No significant Z-CFE transforma...
A perspective on tropical sprue

A diagnosis of tropical sprue, an infrequent affliction of inhabitants and travelers in tropical regions, should be considered in patients with a compatible history, malabsorption, and chronic diarrhea. It can occur in either endemic or epidemic form and can be preceded by acute gastroenteritis. The cause of tropical sprue is still unknown, although most data support an infectious etiology. Therapeutic experience is greatest with folic acid and tetracycline. Most patients can be expected to recover with proper nutritional support, although relapses and slow responses occur.
Naloxone reduces the amplitude of IPSPs evoked in lumbar motoneurons by reticular stimulation during carbachol-induced motor inhibition.

During active sleep or carbachol-induced motor inhibition, electrical stimulation of the medullary nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis (NRGc) evoked large amplitude, glycinergic inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs) in cat motoneurons. The present study was directed to determine whether these IPSPs, that are specific to the state of active sleep, are modulated by opioid peptides. Accordingly, intracellular recordings were obtained from lumbar motoneurons of acute decerebrate cats during carbachol-induced motor inhibition while an opiate receptor antagonist, naloxone, was microiontophoretically released next to the recorded cells. Naloxone reversibly reduced by 26% the mean amplitude of NRGc-evoked IPSPs (1.9±0.2 mV (S.E.M.) vs. 1.4±0.2 mV; n=11, control and naloxone, respectively, p<0.05), but had no effect on the other waveform parameters of these IPSPs (e.g., latency-to-onset, latency-to-peak, duration, etc.). The mean resting membrane potential, input resistance and membrane time constant of motoneurons following naloxone ejection were not statistically different from those of the control. These data indicate that opioid peptides have a modulatory effect on NRGc-evoked IPSPs during carbachol-induced motor inhibition. We therefore suggest that endogenous opioid peptides may act as neuromodulators to regulate inhibitory glycinergic synaptic transmission at motoneurons during active sleep.
The structures of caspases-1, -3, -7 and -8 reveal the basis for substrate and inhibitor selectivity

Abstract Background: Peptide inhibitors of caspases have helped define the role of these cysteine proteases in biology. Structural and biochemical characterization of the caspase enzymes may contribute to the development of new drugs for the treatment of caspase-mediated inflammation and apoptosis. Results: The crystal structure of the previously unpublished caspase-7 (Csp7; 2.35 A) bound to the reversible tetrapeptide aldehyde inhibitor acetyl-Asp–Glu–Val–Asp-CHO is compared with crystal structures of caspases-1 (2.3 A), -3 (2.2 A), and -8 (2.65 A) bound to the same inhibitor. Csp7 is a close homolog of caspase-3 (Csp3), and these two caspases possess some quarternary structural characteristics that support their unique role among the caspase family. However, although Csp3 and Csp7 are quite similar overall, they were found to have a significantly different substitution pattern of amino acids in and around the S4-binding site. Conclusions: These structures span all three caspase subgroups, and provide a basis for inferring substrate and inhibitor binding, as well as selectivity for the entire caspase family. This information will influence the design of selective caspase inhibitors to further elucidate the role of caspases in biology and hopefully lead to the design of therapeutic agents to treat caspase-mediated diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, certain neurogenerative diseases and stroke.
Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in a patient with common variable immunodeficiency and abnormal CD8+ T-cell subset distribution

Background Patients with primary hypogammaglobulinemia have been reported to have encephalopathy, but progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) due to JC virus reactivation is a rare cause. Objective To provide the clinical details and case discussion of a patient diagnosed as having common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) who has progressive neurodegenerative symptoms and was found to have PML and an abnormal CD8 + T-cell subset distribution. Methods A detailed case report providing the patient's immunodeficiency history, diagnostic evaluation, and medical management and a review of related literature. Results Before his neurodegenerative illness, the patient was found to have hypogammaglobulinemia, poor specific antibody responses, low circulating B-cell levels, and abnormal delayed-type hypersensitivity responses; there was no Bruton tyrosine kinase ( BTK ) mutation. The PML was diagnosed using brain biopsy and was confirmed using a DNA probe specific for JC virus. Peripheral blood flow cytometry at the time of PML diagnosis revealed an accumulation of naive CD8 + T cells (CD3 + CD8 + CD45RA + ) and a deficiency of memory CD8 + T-cell subsets (CD3 + CD8 + CD45RA − or CD3 + CD8 + CD45RO + ). Despite aggressive treatment with interleukin 2, interferon-γ, and intravenous cidofovir, the patient died. Conclusions JC virus infection should be considered in the differential diagnosis of the patient with CVID and signs and symptoms of encephalopathy. The role of this patient's abnormal CD8 + T-cell subset distribution in the development or control of this rare infection is worthy of consideration and has encouraged us to enumerate naive and memory CD4 + and CD8 + T-cell subsets in patients diagnosed as having CVID, even in the absence of neurodegenerative symptoms.
Complete mechanical characterization of nanocrystalline Al–Mg alloy using nanoindentation

Abstract In an effort to explore alternate means of mechanical characterization of small material volumes, a nanocrystalline Al–Mg alloy synthesized via cryomilling and consolidated by cold isostatic pressing with subsequent extrusion was subjected to nanoindentation testing. The data collected from these tests was subjected to two different data analysis techniques (one proposed by Dao et al. (2001) and one proposed by Ogasawara et al. (2006) ) in an effort to investigate the capabilities of such techniques in full, accurate elastoplastic characterization. A commercially available, coarse-grained sample of this same Al–Mg alloy was also tested to investigate these models’ capabilities of distinguishing between the two types of material. Nanoindentation, as expected, proved to accurately predict the elastic modulus of a tested material. Also, these methods provided evidence that through determination of strain-hardening exponent and yield stress, they could reasonably estimate the plastic properties of a tested material. Both models seemed to slightly overestimate the strength of the nanocrystalline material (according to previously reported values for similar material). In terms of the coarse-grained material, Ogasawara’s model appeared to overestimate the strength while Dao’s model provided estimations closer to values reported in literature. Finite element analysis was used as a verification mechanism for the property values extracted from the nanocrystalline material, and initial results show signs of good accuracy of characterization.
Simulation-based optimal Bayesian experimental design for nonlinear systems

The optimal selection of experimental conditions is essential to maximizing the value of data for inference and prediction, particularly in situations where experiments are time-consuming and expensive to conduct. We propose a general mathematical framework and an algorithmic approach for optimal experimental design with nonlinear simulation-based models; in particular, we focus on finding sets of experiments that provide the most information about targeted sets of parameters. Our framework employs a Bayesian statistical setting, which provides a foundation for inference from noisy, indirect, and incomplete data, and a natural mechanism for incorporating heterogeneous sources of information. An objective function is constructed from information theoretic measures, reflecting expected information gain from proposed combinations of experiments. Polynomial chaos approximations and a two-stage Monte Carlo sampling method are used to evaluate the expected information gain. Stochastic approximation algorithms are then used to make optimization feasible in computationally intensive and high-dimensional settings. These algorithms are demonstrated on model problems and on nonlinear parameter inference problems arising in detailed combustion kinetics.
Oral ketamine and midazolam for pediatric burn patients: A prospective, randomized, double-blind study

Abstract Purpose The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of oral midazolam and ketamine with oral midazolam, acetaminophen, and codeine in providing sedation and analgesia for wound care procedures in children with burns. Methods This is a prospective, randomized, double-blind study that includes patients 1 to 5 years old hospitalized between 2010 and 2011, with burns covering up to 10% of total body surface area that required bedside wound care. Group 1 received oral midazolam (0.5 mg/kg) and ketamine (5 mg/ kg). Group 2 received oral midazolam (0.5 mg/kg), acetaminophen (10 mg/kg), and codeine (1 mg/kg). Sedation was assessed using the University of Michigan Sedation Scale and pain using the CHEOPS scale. Results Sixty patients were enrolled and evenly distributed into the two groups. There were a higher percentage of well-sedated patients in Group 1, but this was not statistically significant. Patients in Group 2 reported lower levels of pain (p = 0.0245). Adverse reactions were reported in both groups. The only parameter that had a statistical difference was nystagmus (p = 0.001). Conclusion The combination of oral midazolam and ketamine provides better analgesia than the combination of midazolam, acetaminophen, and codeine for painful procedures in burned children.
Abstract 72: Metformin enhances tumor regression and reduces tumor burden in a preclinical paradigm modeling obesity's impact on postmenopausal breast cancer

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC BACKGROUND: Obesity and type II diabetes have been linked to a higher risk of breast cancer in post-menopausal women. Patients treated with the anti-diabetic drug metformin (1,1-dimethylbiguanide hydrochloride) for type II diabetes or metabolic syndrome have shown a reduced risk of breast cancer, a greater pathologic complete response for neoadjuvant therapy and an improved breast cancer survival. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of metformin on tumor promotion in a rodent model of obesity and postmenopausal breast cancer. METHODS: Rats were injected with N-methylnitrosourea (MNU, 50 mg/kg) at 8 weeks of age to induce mammary tumors, and fed a high fat diet (from 5 weeks of age) to promote obesity. Obesity-resistant and obesity-prone rats were selected, based upon weight gain (between 10 and 14 weeks of age) and were matured under these conditions to produce adult, tumor-bearing lean and obese rats (24±1 vs 29±1 % body fat). Tumors were monitored by manual palpation at weekly intervals from the time of MNU administration. Obese animals were randomly assigned to either metformin treatment (2mg/mL in their drinking water, n=8) or control group (water only, n=6), after at least 1 tumor reached a volume >1cm3. Rats were maintained on their respective treatments for the duration of the study. One week following the initiation of treatment, animals were ovariectomized (OVX) to mimic the post-menopausal state, and tumor palpations were continued for an additional 9 weeks. RESULTS: Prior to OVX, control and metformin treated obese rats were similar in weight (413±21 vs 397±20 g) and tumor burden (3.3±1.2 vs 3.7±2.3 g). In response to OVX, tumor burden decreased in all animals, as predicted, based on the hormone responsiveness of MNU-induced tumors. Compared to untreated obese rats, the percent of pre-OVX tumor burden was lower in metformin-treated rats (weeks 1-3 post-OVX; 67±10 vs 26± 8%, p<0.05). A tendency for metformin to attenuate the subsequent rebound in tumor burden was observed at week 7 (126±67 vs 41±35%, p=0.06), week 8 (170±112 vs 35±29%, p=0.06), and week 9 (249±165 vs 41±30%, p=0.09). CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary observations indicate that metformin enhances OVX-induced tumor regression in obese rats and may reduce long term tumor growth and survival in these animals after the surgery. These findings suggest that metformin may have therapeutic benefits in obese, peri- or post-menopausal patients who are at risk for breast cancer. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 72.
Nest site preference and intrasexual competition in female sockeye salmon, Oncorhynchus nerka

Many ecological circumstances present individuals with a conflict between the inherent benefits of a particular habitat and the costs incurred in acquiring or retaining use of the habitat in the face of competition. For example, the reproductive biology of female Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) led us to hypothesize that female nest site choice should reflect a compromise between the benefits of obtaining a high quality nest site and the cost of competing for and defending it. To test this hypothesis we studied female sockeye salmon (O. nerka) spawning on beaches in Iliamna Lake, Alaska using a combination of snorkel surveys, tagging, behavior observations, and models. Females showed spatial preferences in nest site selection (for shallower water, where water circulation was higher), aggressive competition in preferred areas was higher, and there was evidence for costs associated with this increased competition. Over the course of the season, spawning activity shifted from shallower to deeper water, consistent with a tradeoff between benefits for embryo survival associated with shallow sites and the costs of competing for them. However, it was also consistent with date-specific optimal sites related to the probability of embryo mortality for eggs spawned in shallow water late in the season, due to annual cycles in lake level and temperature.
A phase II trial of murine monoclonal antibody 17-1A and interferon-γ: Clinical and immunological data

A group of 15 patients with metastatic colorectal adenocarcinoma received a combination of interferon gamma (0.1 mg/m2, days 1-15) and the murine monoclonal antibody 17-1A (400 mg, days 5, 7, 9 and 12). The treatment was tolerated with minimal toxicity. Of the 14 evaluable patients, 13 developed human antibody to murine 17-1A, with 11 patients demonstrating antibody to the variable region of 17-1A (anti-idiotype). Antibody to the variable region was inhibited by 17-1A but not by mouse immunoglobulin. Sera from patients with substantial anti-idiotype reactivity were capable of inhibiting the binding of murine 17-1A to antigen expressing LS174-T cells thus indicating the presence of antibody directed against the 17-1A combining site (mirror-image anti-idiotype). The median survival of the whole group was 56 weeks and there was no correlation between clinical response/survival and the development of anti-idiotype antibody.
Role of ion channels and intraterminal calcium homeostasis in the action of deltamethrin at presynaptic nerve terminals

Using a continuous perfusion system, synaptosomes prepared from rat brain released [3H]norepinephrine in a Ca2+-dependent manner when pulse depolarized by briefly elevating external potassium concentrations. Tetrodotoxin (10(-7) M), a sodium channel blocker, inhibited 48% of this pulsed release, and D595 (10(-5) M), a phenethylamine-type calcium channel blocker, inhibited 21%. In combination, these two specific ion channel antagonists appear to function independently of each other in an additive fashion. Addition of deltamethrin to this preparation resulted in an enhanced release of [3H]norepinephrine which occurred in a biphasic fashion. At 10(-7) M, deltamethrin produced a 42% enhancement in the first or initial peak of [3H]norepinephrine release and a 100% enhancement in the second or tailing peak. Addition of deltamethrin to tetrodotoxin-pretreated synaptosomes resulted in a net 37% enhancement of the initial peak release and a net increase of 277% in the tailing peak. Addition of deltamethrin to D595-pretreated synaptosomes produced no significant effect on enhanced [3H]norepinephrine release from either peak. Since tetrodotoxin is a specific sodium channel blocker, deltamethrin may be enhancing [3H]norepinephrine release by increasing the uptake of Ca2 via other voltage-gated channels (e.g. calcium) or exchange mechanisms in addition to its action at voltage-gated sodium channels. To determine whether deltamethrin may also have an effect on intraterminal Ca2+ homeostasis, external Ca2+ was replaced with Ba2+ and synaptosomes were depolarized with pentylenetetrazole (PTZ). At 10(-5) M, deltamethrin produced a 66% increase in neurotransmitter release over that produced by PTZ alone. An estimated EC50 value of deltamethrin for PTZ-induced release was calculated to be 2.4 x 10(-10) M.
A Boundary Element Analysis of Metal Extrusion Processes

Demonstration de l'efficacite et de la precision de la methode des elements frontieres pour l'analyse des processus d'extrusion dans les cas compliques incluant des problemes de non-linearite a la fois du materiau et geometrique. Presentation de quelques resultats numeriques obtenus pour l'extrusion plane de barres d'aluminium. Comparaison des resultats avec ceux obtenus par la methode des elements finis
Halide systematics of submarine hydrothermal vents

CHLORIDE is the dominant anion in submarine hydrothermal fluids and plays a fundamental part in controlling their chemistry1. The endmember Cl concentrations in virtually all submarine hot springs deviate from ambient sea water (∼541 mmol kg–1) and range from 188 mmol kg–1 at the ASHES vents on Axial Volcano2 to 1,090 mmol kg–1 at the Southern Juan de Fuca Ridge3. A variety of mechanisms have been proposed to explain these Cl enrichments and depletions including: rock hydration and dehydration4, phase separation2–3,5–7, and the formation and dissolution of a retrograde soluble phase8. Support for the latter hypothesis came from hydrothermal fluid/basalt experiments which showed large changes in dissolved Cl at specific reaction conditions9 and also from the presence of Cl-rich minerals phases in ultramafic rocks10. We have carried out the first systematic study of Br and I in mid-ocean ridge hydrothermal vent fluids to constrain the models of halide diversity better by ascertaining their behaviour relative to Cl. The cohesiveness of the Br and Cl data and the similarity of Br/Cl to the seawater ratio suggests a single, non-fractionating process controls the salinity of sediment-starved mid-ocean ridge hydrothermal systems. The thermal decomposition of organic matter provides an additional source of Br and I in sediment-hosted systems.
High-latitude ozone loss outside the Antarctic ozone hole

Data taken during the 1987 Antarctic Airborne Ozone Experiment based in Punta Arenas, Chile, are used to show that from mid-August until the end of the mission in late September there was a high-latitude ozone loss outside the Antarctic ozone hole. Therefore, not only is the geographic extent of the ozone loss larger than that generally identified as chemically perturbed, but ozone is lost earlier in the year than previously reported. These results, when compared with long-term temporal trends of column ozone, indicate a possible anthropogenic component for this loss.
Eolianites and Eustasy: Early concepts on Darwin’s voyage of HMS Beagle

“Eolianite” and “Eustasy” are both 20th century terms and even in their most rudimentary beginnings were not alluded to in most early 19th century treatises of geology. Darwin saw bechrock for the first time in 1832 when HMSBeagle stopped at Recife (Pernambuco) in Brazil, then saw raised shore terraces in Patagnia and Chile, followed by coral atolls in mid-Pacific, and examined eolianites on Ascension, S.W. Australia, South Africa and on St. Helena, during theBeagle’s extended voyage (1831–1836).
Wetting behavior on hybrid surfaces with hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties

Abstract Hybrid surfaces consisting of a micropillar array of hydrophobic and hydrophilic sites were designed and fabricated to understand the effects of their unique surface morphology and chemistry on droplet condensation. Droplet impingement experiments have revealed that hybrid surfaces exhibit high contact angles, which is characteristic of purely hydrophobic surfaces. However, little is known about the wetting behavior of droplets that nucleate and grow on hybrid surfaces during condensation. In fact, condensed droplets display a distinct wetting behavior during the droplet growth phase which cannot be reproduced by simply impinging droplets on hybrid surfaces. In this study, hybrid surfaces with three different spacing ratios were subjected to condensation tests using an environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) and a condensation cell under ambient conditions. For hybrid surfaces with spacing ratio below 2, droplets were observed to form on top and sides of the micropillars, where they grew, coalesced with adjacent droplets, and shed after reaching a given size. After shedding, the top surface remained partially dry, which allowed for immediate droplet growth. For hybrid surfaces with spacing ratio equal to 2, a different wetting behavior was observed, where droplets basically coalesced and formed a thin liquid film which was ultimately driven into the valleys of the microstructure. The liquid shedding process led to the renucleation of droplets primarily on top of the dry hydrophilic sites. To better understand the nature of droplet wetting on hybrid surfaces, a surface energy-based model was developed to predict the transition between the two observed wetting behaviors at different spacing ratios. The experimental and analytical results indicate that micropillar spacing ratio is the key factor for promoting different wetting behavior of condensed droplets on hybrid surfaces.
Optimal control of entry to an M/Ek/1 queue serving several classes of customers

The individual and social optimum control policies for entry to an M/M//1 queue serving several classes of customers have been shown to be control-limit policies. The technique of policy iteration provides the social optimum policy for such a queue in a straightforward manner. In this article, the problem of finding the optimal control policy for the M/Ek/1 system is solved, thereby expanding the potential applicability of the solutions developed. The Markovian nature of the queueing system is preserved by considering the service as having k sequential phases, each with independent, identically distributed, exponential service times, through which a customer must pass to be serviced. The optimal policy derived by policy iteration for such a system is likely to be difficult to use because it requires knowledge of the number of phases rather than customers in the system when an arrival occurs. To circumvent this difficulty, a heuristic is used to find a good usable (implementable) solution. In addition, a mixed-integer program is developed which yields the optimal implementable solution when solved.
Spinel-pyroxene-garnet relationships and their dependence on Cr/Al ratio

The partitioning of Cr and Al between coexisting spinel and clinopyroxene and the dependence of spinel-cpxgarnet equilibria on Cr/Al ratio have been investigated by a combination of phase equilibrium experiments, high temperature solution calorimetry and thermodynamic calculations. The exchange equilibrium: $$\begin{gathered} {\raise0.7ex\hbox{$1$} \!\mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {1 {2 }}}\right.\kern-\nulldelimiterspace}\!\lower0.7ex\hbox{${2 }$}}MgAl_2 O_4 + NaCrSi_2 O_6 = {\raise0.7ex\hbox{$1$} \!\mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {1 {2 }}}\right.\kern-\nulldelimiterspace}\!\lower0.7ex\hbox{${2 }$}}MgCr_2 O_4 + NaAlSi_2 O_6 \hfill \\ spinel clinopyroxene spinel clinopyroxene \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ has a measured enthalpy change for pure phases of −2,100±500 cal at 970 K and 1 atm. Experimental reversals of Cr-Al partitioning between the spinel and clinopyroxene phases yield the following partitioning relationship: $$X$$ where X i j refers to atomic fraction of i in the octahedral sites of phase j. The compositional dependence of partitioning implies that Al-Cr mixing in spinel is nonideal with, on the symmetrical model, a W Cr-Al Sp of 2,700±500 cal/gm. atom. In contrast, aluminum-chromium mixing in clinopyroxene is close to ideal. The measured stability field of knorringite (Mg3Cr2Si2O12) and mixing properties of garnet have been used in conjunction with our experimental data to calculate the influence of Cr/Al ratio on the important reaction: orthopyroxene+clinopyroxene+spinel=olivine+garnet The stability field of spinel lherzolite increases by about 2.8 Kb for every increase of 0.1 in Cr/(Cr+Al) ratio up to Cr/(Cr+Al) of 0.7. The calculated stabilization is in very good agreement with the experimental results of O'Neill (1981). The partitioning relationships are such that, at the low ratios of Cr/Al (∼0.07) of primitive lherzolite, clinopyroxene buffers spinel composition and sharpens the spinelgarnet reaction interval from 10 Kb (little or no clinopyroxene) down to about 2 Kb in pyroxene-rich “pyrolite.”
The effect of remanence in digital recording

A subject of great theoretical and experimental interest in digital recording in recent years has been the correlation between recording behavior and the magnetic properties of the recording media. Several isolated ranges of variation of media parameters have been explored with somewhat diverse results. The intent of this communication is to provide a comprehensive view over the entire range of the technologically interesting values of the media parameters, through a theoretical simulation of the recording process based on harmonic analysis. The remanent induction was the primary variable in this study, ranging from 500-18 000 gauss, while the coercivity and thickness were varied as parameters in the range 50-800 Oe and 5-1250 \times 10^{-8} m, respectively. The results were fitted to a hyperplane of the form PW_{50} = CH_{c}\alpha_{1}B_{r}\alpha_{2}t\alpha_{3} . For small thickness ( t \leq 50 \times 10^{-8} m) we found \alpha_{1} = -0.287 , \alpha = 0.272, \alpha_{3} = 0.290 . For large thickness ( t > 100 \times 10^{-8} m) we found \alpha_{1} = -0.277, \alpha_{2} = 0.260,\alpha_{3} = 0.470 with the change in α 3 attributed to an effective spacing loss.