cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Image-guided surgery in resection of benign cervicothoracic spinal tumors: a report of two cases

Abstract Background context Osseous spinal tumors are an uncommon cause of persistent axial pain and muscle spasm, but even benign lesions may grow to cause deformity or neurological signs. Traditional treatment approaches to resection can be debilitating even when the tumor is benign. Purpose Emerging technologies allow surgeons to diagnose and treat osseous neoplasms while minimizing the collateral damage caused by surgical exposure and tumor excision. Study design Technical considerations are presented through two cases of benign osseous neoplasm occurring in the cervicothoracic spine of competitive athletes, demonstrating the methods used to provide effective treatment while maintaining maximal functional capacity. Methods Stereotactic imaging and intraoperative guidance was used as an adjunct to tumor care in these patients. Used in combination with minimally invasive, microsurgical techniques, stereotactic guidance localized and verified excision margins of benign vertebral lesions, minimizing soft tissue trauma and collateral damage. Results Computer-assisted stereotactic localization allowed us to successfully ablate these lesions from their anatomically challenging locations, without disrupting the shoulder girdle or neck musculature, and without extensive bony resection. Conclusions Image guidance can accurately localize and guide excision of benign vertebral lesions while minimizing soft tissue trauma and collateral damage, allowing patients a rapid and complete return to high-demand function.
Nonylphenol-mediated CYP induction is PXR-dependent: The use of humanized mice and human hepatocytes suggests that hPXR is less sensitive than mouse PXR to nonylphenol treatment.

Nonylphenol (NP), a by-product of alkylphenol ethoxylates, is a pervasive surfactant that activates the xenosensing nuclear receptor, the pregnane X-receptor (PXR) in transactivation assays in vitro. We are interested in determining if NP activates PXR in vivo, determining if hPXR and mPXR act similarly, and investigating the role of PXR in protecting individuals from NP. Wild-type (WT), PXR-null, and humanized PXR (hPXR) mice were treated with NP at 0, 50 or 75 mg/kg/day for one week, and cytochrome P450 (CYP) induction, liver histopathology, and serum NP concentrations were examined. WT mice treated with NP showed induction of Cyp2b, and male-specific induction of Cyp2c and Cyp3a. CYPs were not induced in PXR-null mice, demonstrating that PXR is necessary for NP-mediated CYP induction. CAR-mediated CYP induction was not observed in the PXR-null mice despite previous data demonstrating NP is also a CAR activator. hPXR mice only showed moderate Cyp induction, suggesting that hPXR is not as sensitive to NP as mPXR in vivo. NP-mediated Cyp3a induction from three human hepatocyte donors was not significant, confirming that hPXR is not very sensitive to NP-mediated CYP induction. Lastly, mice with PXR (mPXR and hPXR) showed lower NP serum concentrations than PXR-null mice treated with NP suggesting that PXR plays a role in decreasing liver toxicity by basally regulating Phase I-III detoxification enzymes that promote the metabolism and elimination of NP. In summary, PXR is required for NP-mediated CYP-induction, and mPXR mediates greater CYP induction than hPXR in vivo, and the presence of PXR, especially mPXR, is associated with altered histopathology and increased clearance of NP.
Deformations in wide, center-notched, thin panels, part I: three-dimensional shape and deformation measurements by computer vision

The response of wide, thin, center-notched, 2024-T3 aluminum panels undergoing far-field tensile load is investigated. Three panels with a notch length to panel width of 0.33 and widths of 305, 610, and 1016 mm were subjected to far-field tensile loading. As part of the experimental program, two pairs of cameras were configured into separate stereovision systems and used to simultaneously capture both the global response of the sheet and the local response near a notch tip. Global areas, ranging in size from 250x 250 mm to 550x 550 mm, were imaged for each panel. A second stereovison system recorded images of a small area, 10×20 mm, ahead of one notch tip. Postprocessing of the stereovision measurement data from global and local systems using three-dimensional digital image correlation was used to obtain the complete displacement field at each point in the region of interest. In general, results demonstrate that the combination of stereovision and three-dimensional digital image correlation is capable of accurately measuring true, three-dimensional structural deformations in regions undergoing both large out-of-plane displacements and large displacement gradients. Furthermore, 3-D measurements on the panel specimen near the grip location are shown to provide an independent assessment of the true boundary conditions, with specimen slippage clearly noted in the 1016-mm specimen. Results from the extensive notched, wide panel experimental program demonstrate that (a) each panel has an initial shape that deviates up to 3 mm from planarity, with the greatest deviations occurring at the center of the notch, (b) the global load-displacement response is essentially linear for load levels that are well beyond the onset of large, out-of-plane displacements in the notch region, and (c) increasing the size of the notched, thin panel specimen results in distinctly different surface deformations and deformed shapes, with three separate maxima/minima in the out-of-plane component of the largest panel. The region where tensile opening strains are above 2% extends several millimeters ahead of the hole, while compressive strains parallel to the notch direction are contained within a few millimeters of the hole. The in-plane shear strains are concentrated along circular lobes at +/-45 deg from the horizontal direction, a trend which is generally consistent with plane stress conditions.
The adhesion promotion mechanism of organofunctional silanes

The adhesion promotion mechanism of organofunctional silanes has historically been attributed to the formation of an “interpenetrating polymer network” between a polymerized silane film and the polymer. This notion was investigated by formulating and testing two hypotheses. First, if the adhesion promotion is due to the formation of an interpenetrating polymer network, variation in the time-temperature profile of the bonding conditions should alter the extent of interdiffusion and thus interfacial strength. Second, if the adhesion promotion is due to compatibility and penetration of the silane organofunctional group, not the bulk silane film, variation in the structure of that group should change interfacial strength. Direct interfacial strength measurements using single-particle composites show that variation in the time-temperature profile of bond formation does not significantly affect interfacial strength. However, use of a series of aminofunctional silanes (with constant C : N ratio and identical surface energetics) revealed a relationship between length of the aminofunctional group and interfacial strength. These results suggest that the adhesion promotion for the system studied is controlled by compatibility and penetration of the silane organofunctional group. Whereas all of the interfaces studied here featured poly(vinyl butyral), the conclusions should apply to all amorphous polymeric materials. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 67:1025–1033, 1998
Mackinder and His Critics Reconsidered

I ADAu SMITH DESERVES to be described as the patron saint of the dismal sciences, so far as the English-speaking world is concerned, it might be equally appropriate, for the English-speaking world, to call Sir Halford Mackinder the patron saint of geopolitics, were it not for the fact that the term has been pre-empted for a German pseudoscience and pseudo-philosophy of expansionism which might, like Walter Bagehot's Physics and Politics, more accurately be described as "Bio-Politics," and which has only incidental relationship with the subject in which Mackinder was interested. I shall accordingly resort to the use of an older term, and call Mackinder the patron saint, for the English-speaking world, of anthropogeography. This year marks a centennial which is receiving so much attention that it has perhaps, except for a very limited few, been overlooked that it marks the centennial of the birth of Mackinder, who was born on the 15th of February, 1861, the son of a physician, Draper Mackinder, in Gainsborough, Scotland. He died on the 6th of March, 1947, and the Annual Register for that year has an obituary notice as follows:
Capsule: an energy-optimized object storage system for memory-constrained sensor devices

Recent gains in energy-efficiency of new-generation NAND flash storage have strengthened the case for in-network storage by data-centric sensor network applications. This paper argues that a simple file system abstraction is inadequate for realizing the full benefits of high-capacity lowpower NAND flash storage in data-centric applications. Instead we advocate a rich object storage abstraction to support flexible use of the storage system for a variety of application needs and one that is specifically optimized for memory and energy-constrained sensor platforms. We propose Capsule, an energy-optimized log-structured object storage system for flash memories that enables sensor applications to exploit storage resources in a multitude of ways. Capsule employs a hardware abstraction layer that hides the vagaries of flash memories for the application and supports energy-optimized implementations of commonly used storage objects such as streams, files, arrays, queues and lists. Further, Capsule supports checkpointing and rollback of object states to tolerate software faults in sensor applications running on inexpensive, unreliable hardware. Our experiments demonstrate that Capsule provides platform-independence, greater functionality, more tunability, and greater energy-efficiency than existing sensor storage solutions, while operating even within the memory constraints of the Mica2 Mote. Our experiments not only demonstrate the energy and memory-efficiency of I/O operations in Capsule but also shows that Capsule consumes less than 15% of the total energy cost in a typical sensor application.
Evaluating Clinical Decision Rules

Clinical decision rules (CDRs) are decision support tools that synthesize evidence into bedside tools for practice. Before adopting CDRs into practice, nurses must be assured that there is sufficient evidence in the literature that the rule performs as expected, can do so in a variety of settings (especially in settings similar to one’s own), and that using it will likely result in improved patient outcomes at no additional cost (or conversely, that it will lower costs with no adverse effect on clinical outcomes). This article provides a framework for clinical nurses to evaluate CDRs. The framework focuses on the processes used to establish the external validity of the rule, and the evidence that using the rule results in improved patient or systems outcomes, including cost-effectiveness. The Braden Scale is used as an example and is evaluated using the framework described.
Tattoo-associated dermatoses: a case report and review of the literature.

background. Tattoos are increasingly popular in today's society, especially with the advent of laser tattoo removal. As a result, observed reactions within tattoos are likely to become more abundant. Three main classes of tattoo-associated dermopathies can be distinguished in the English literature: allergic/granulomatous/lichenoid, inoculation/infection, and coincidental lesions. Injury to the dermis, such as during placement of a tattoo, can also flare a Koebner response in patients with active susceptible disease. objective. This case report and review of the English literature provides a quick reference to tattoo reactions, techniques available for removal of tattoos, and disorders other than tattoos known to exhibit the Koebner response. methods. The English literature was reviewed via MEDLINE citations from 1966 to December 2001 to delineate articles involving tattoo reactions and Koebner reactions significant to dermatology. conclusion. Numerous conditions have been documented in association with tattoos and the process of tattoo application. Awareness and identification of dermatoses associated with tattoos, tattoo removal options, and conditions associated with the Koebner response are important to both the dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon.
THE HUMAN RIGHT TO INFORMATION, THE ENVIRONMENT AND INFORMATION ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT: FROM THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION TO THE AARHUS CONVENTION

Citizen access to government-held information and the amelioration of environmental problems are considered statutory matters in the United States, but at the international level these are seen as fundamental human rights. In recent years two categories of human rights demanded by activists, the right to government information and the right to environmental protection, have converged into a new human right—the right to government information about the environment. The 1998 Aarhus Convention, binding in more than forty nations in Europe and Central Asia, is the first multilateral treaty to specifically denote a human right to government information about the environment. While the Aarhus Convention has some untested procedural difficulties and laborious bureaucratic requirements, the treaty can serve as a model for the world's nations at large, because citizen oversight of government actions toward the natural world is a powerful tool for those concerned about both the environment and government transparency.
Robotic knot tying in minimally invasive surgeries

There have been many innovations introduced in securing tissues, but suturing with secure knots remains the most popular and cost effective method. However, knot tying demands higher level of skill on the surgeon, especially in the minimally invasive context. This paper presents the analytical and experimental results of automatic knot tying using an inhouse surgical robot with emphasis on the placement of the knot and tension regulation. The problem is decomposed to two parts: knot placement and knot tension control. The knot sliding condition is first obtained based on a simplified model of half knotted suture, and motion trajectories for the robots are proposed to minimize tearing trauma of the tissue while properly place the knot. The second half the paper considers the automatic tension regulation in the knot, which is usually difficult for the surgeon to achieve accurately. By using a cost effective means for tension measurement and applying the explicit force control algorithm with active damping, we are able to achieve stable and robust tension regulation. Experimental results are presented to demonstrate efficacy of the proposed algorithm.
Dendritic Cells: Immune Regulators in Health and Disease

Dendritic cells (DCs) are bone marrow-derived cells of both lymphoid and myeloid stem cell origin that populate all lymphoid organs including the thymus, spleen, and lymph nodes, as well as nearly all nonlymphoid tissues and organs. Although DCs are a moderately diverse set of cells, they all have potent antigen-presenting capacity for stimulating naive, memory, and effector T cells. DCs are members of the innate immune system in that they can respond to dangers in the host environment by immediately generating protective cytokines. Most important, immature DCs respond to danger signals in the microenvironment by maturing, i.e., differentiating, and acquiring the capacity to direct the development of primary immune responses appropriate to the type of danger perceived. The powerful adjuvant activity that DCs possess in stimulating specific CD4 and CD8 T cell responses has made them targets in vaccine development strategies for the prevention and treatment of infections, allograft reactions, allergic and autoimmune diseases, and cancer. This review addresses the origins and migration of DCs to their sites of activity, their basic biology as antigen-presenting cells, their roles in important human diseases and, finally, selected strategies being pursued to harness their potent antigen-stimulating activity.
Discursive Legitimation of a Controversial Technology: Ultra-Orthodox Jewish Women in Israel and the Internet

The introduction of the internet to ultra-Orthodox Jewish society has presented an acute dilemma. While seen as a potential carrier of secular values and officially banned, the internet also presents significant socio-economic opportunities for a community in which women are often the sole providers. This research focuses on the discursive strategies ultra-Orthodox women internet users employ to legitimate their use of this controversial technology. A glaring disparity was observed between these women's actual, subversive technology-related practices and the rhetorical construction of the same practices, which attempted to portray them as congruent with community values. We suggest that when investigating the domestication of new technologies, examining technology-related discourse may be no less important than the more common to date focus on practice.
Susceptibility of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) fed with dietary sodium chloride to nitrite toxicity

Juvenile channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) were fed with nutritionally complete, basal diets supplemented with NaCl at 0, 10, 20 or 40 g kg−1 diet (0, 1, 2, or 4%) to apparent satiation twice daily for 10 weeks. Catfish were exposed to nitrite after six (7.70 mg L−1 nitrite-N) and ten (7.18 mg L−1 nitrite-N) weeks of feeding to determine the effect of dietary NaCl supplementation on resistance to nitrite toxicity. Fish were sampled before (baseline, pre-exposure) and after 24-h nitrite exposure to determine the effects of dietary NaCl on haematology (haematocrit, haemoglobin and methaemoglobin) and plasma electrolyte dynamics (nitrite, chloride, sodium and potassium). Mortality from nitrite toxicity was also determined. Mortality from nitrite exposure tended to decrease with increasing NaCl in the diet at 6 weeks and was significantly lower in the 40 g kg−1 NaCl group (12.5%) compared to the control group (57.5%). A similar trend in mortality occurred at 10 weeks as well; however, the differences among dietary treatments were not significant. The improvements in blood MetHb (non-significant), chloride and nitrite levels in catfish may at least in part be responsible for the improved survival after nitrite exposure, which trended in support of the prevailing hypotheses for the positive effects of NaCl on nitrite toxicity.
Drugs to Enhance Motor Recovery After Stroke

Among the therapeutic strategies under study to improve long-term outcome after stroke are drugs targeting events that underlie recovery. Drugs that enhance recovery are separate from those that promote neuroprotection or reperfusion in patients with stroke. Recovery-based drugs have distinct therapeutic targets that are related to plasticity and growth following stroke, and in general, improvements in behavioral outcome are not accompanied by a reduction in infarct volume. Interventions targeting recovery have a time window measured in days or sometimes weeks-months, suggesting potential utility for a large percentage of patients with stroke. Currently, among drugs that enhance motor recovery after stroke in humans, the strongest evidence exists for serotonergic and dopaminergic agents. Restorative therapies generally target the brain directly, in contrast to approved stroke therapeutics that target arteries, clots, platelets, glucose, or cholesterol. Targeting the brain has wide-ranging implications, for example, in relation to drug delivery. In addition, because restorative drugs aim to change brain structure and function, their effects are influenced by concomitant behavioral experience, a finding that informs selection of entry criteria, outcome measures, and biomarkers in a clinical trial setting. These points underscore the importance of a neural systems approach in studying stroke recovery.
LEKKING BEHAVIOR OF THE ROUND-TAILED MANAKIN

Abstract Along the Rio Manu in southeastern Peru, Round-tailed Manakins (Pipra chloromeros) breed mainly from August to November. Male P. chloromeros have a dispersed lek breeding system, with each lek composed of two to five territorial males. Sites used by males for display had significantly higher densities of shrubs, vines, and small trees than did non-display sites. Interlek distances ranged from 220 to 1000 m. Within leks, most males occupied territories within auditory range, but not visual range. Distance to the closest neighbor's display perch varied from 8 to 87 m. Males vigorously defended territories that ranged from 20 to 50 m in diameter. Males progress in social status within the lek (from immature to non-territorial adult to territorial adult). Territorial adult males were always dominant to males of the other two categories. Territorial males engaged in daily ritualized encounters at the borders of their territories. Encounters involved slow, coordinated displays reminiscent of those perf...
RETHINKING FEMINIST ORGANIZATIONS

This article analyzes feminist organizations as a species of social movement organization. It identifies 10 dimensions for comparing feminist and nonfeminist organizations or for deriving types of feminist organizations and analyzing them. The dimensions are feminist ideology, feminist values, feminist goals, feminist outcomes (for members and society), founding circumstances, structure, practice, members and membership, scope and scale, and external relations (legal-corporate status, autonomy, funding, and network linkages). I argue that many scholars judge feminist organizations against an ideal type that is largely unattainable and that excessive attention has been paid to the issue of bureaucracy versus collectivism to the neglect of other organizational qualities. The varieties of ideology, form, and strategy that feminist organizations embody should be analyzed in relation to outcomes for women, the women's movement, and society. As has recently begun to occur, feminist scholars are encouraged to cl...
Surface transformation of bioactive glass in bioreactors simulating microgravity conditions. Part II: numerical simulations.

The effects of simulated microgravity on the surface modification of bioactive glass (BG) in solution were studied using a numerical method. Models were developed for estimating the mass transfers of different chemical species from the surface of bioactive glass particles (microcarriers) suspended in the rotating liquid medium of a NASA-designed high aspect ratio vessel (HARV) bioreactor and on the bottom surface of a static vial. The concentration profiles resulting from chemical reactions and ionic transports were ascertained. Numerical results for the transport under simulated microgravity in the HARV and at normal gravity in the static vial were compared. These results were also compared with those of experiments to verify the enhancement of the reaction kinetics under simulated microgravity conditions. The experimental and numerical studies confirm that simulated microgravity conditions lead to the quick achievement of bioactive glass surface modification. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 75: 379–385, 2001.
Timing and patterns of astrocyte migration from xenogeneic transplants of the cortex and corpus callosum

The timing, pattern, and pathway of astrocyte migration were investigated in vivo by transplantation of CD-1 mouse cerebral cortex (E13-14) or corpus callosum (P2-3) into neonatal rat cortex. A monoclonal antibody specific for a mouse astrocyte surface antigen (M2) was used to identify the location of the grafts and the migrated donor astrocytes. Within the host cortex, astrocytes from cortical grafts began migration at post-transplantation day (PTD) 7. Over the next 4 days, the most distant displaced donor cells were found progressively further away from the grafts, migrating at a rate of about 220 microns/day. After PTD 11, the migration rate for the farthest displaced donor cells slowed to 25 microns/day, and the cells appeared to stop at about PTD 16 at a distance of 1,100 microns from the edge of the graft. Astrocytes had a faster migration speed in the white matter and covered a longer distance (5 mm) than those in the gray matter, extending on occasion into the contralateral hemisphere. The patterns of astrocyte migration differed depending on local cues around the transplant. Donor astrocytes that had been implanted into the host cortex migrated toward the host cortical surface, sometimes in several radial lines. Astrocytes from grafts, especially callosal grafts, placed in the subcortical white matter migrated along the host fiber tracts. Many astrocytes transplanted into the hippocampus formed laminar patterns close to the hippocampal neuronal layers. These results suggest that the direction, pattern, and speed of astrocyte migration are influenced by local substrates in the host brain.
Evaluation of HIV postexposure prophylaxis for occupational and nonoccupational exposures at a deployed U.S. military trauma hospital.

ABSTRACTObjective: Postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) is an important strategy to prevent human immunodeficiency virus acquisition after occupational and nonoccupational exposures. Since exposures to blood and other body fluids commonly occur in a combat setting, it is important to evaluate PEP utilization in the deployed environment. Methods: This is a retrospective review of Public Health, pharmacy, and medical records for PEP cases at a U.S. military trauma hospital in Afghanistan from February 1, 2007 through June 30, 2012. The decision to initiate PEP and the antiretroviral regimens selected were also evaluated for concordance with published Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines. Results: At total of 31 cases were prescribed PEP over the 65-month study period, including 27 occupational and 4 nonoccupational exposures. Of the 23 cases with sufficient data for evaluation, 18 (78.2%) initiated PEP in concordance with CDC guidelines and the discordant cases were prescribed PEP secondary to patient req...
Book Review: Jumpstarting Communication Skills in Children with Autism: A Parents’ Guide to Applied Verbal Behavior

Authors: Mary Jane Weiss, Ph.D., BCBA-D & Valbona Demiri, Ph.D., BCBA-D Reviewer: Landry Fukunaga, M.A. Publisher: Bethesda, MD, Woodbine House, Inc., 2011 Cost: Softcover; $21.95; ISBN: ­­­­978-890627-70-6, 207 pages
Nuclear resonance fluorescence in /sup 91/Zr

Using electron bremsstrahlung with up to 5-MeV end point energy, the resonant scattering of $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays by an enriched sample of $^{91}\mathrm{Zr}$ has been studied. Substantial resonant scattering was observed from 14 levels. An additional 17 known levels were found to give rise to marginal peaks or to no observable scattering. In a few instances, the transition strengths corresponding to the resonance fluorescence yields could be compared with the results of other lifetime measurements and with the strengths expected under different assumptions concerning the nature of the levels involved.NUCLEAR REACTIONS $^{91}\mathrm{Zr}(\ensuremath{\gamma},\ensuremath{\gamma})$, bremsstrahlung $1.85\ensuremath{\le}{E}_{e}\ensuremath{\le}5.0$ MeV; measured $\ensuremath{\sigma}(96\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{})$ and $\ensuremath{\sigma}(126\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{})$, deduced $\frac{g\ensuremath{\Gamma}_{0}^{}{}_{}{}^{2}}{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}$. Enriched target.
Where's the charge? Protonation sites in gaseous ions change with hydration.

The role of water in stabilizing sites of protonation in small gaseous ions is investigated using electrospray ionization (ESI) coupled with infrared photodissociation spectroscopy and computational chemistry. Protonation of p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) and p-aminobenzoic acid methyl ester (PABAOMe) occurs at the carbonyl oxygen atom both in isolation and when one water molecule is attached. However, protonation occurs at the amine nitrogen atom, which is the most favorable site in aqueous solution, for PABAOMeH+·(H2O)3 and for a significant fraction of PABAH+·(H2O)6. Fewer water molecules are necessary to stabilize the solution-phase isomer of PABAOMeH+ (3) than for PABAH+ (≥6), indicating that the favorable hydrogen bonding in PABAH+ is a more important factor than the higher gas-phase basicity of PABAOMeH+ in stabilizing protonation at the carbonyl oxygen atom. Relative Gibbs free energies (133 K) calculated using B3LYP and MP2 with the 6-311++G** basis set were significantly different from each other, a...
Reynolds number effects on lipid vesicles

Vesicles exposed to the human circulatory system experience a wide range of flows and Reynolds numbers. Previous investigations of vesicles in fluid flow have focused on the Stokes flow regime. In this work the influence of inertia on the dynamics of a vesicle in a shearing flow is investigated using a novel level-set computational method in two dimensions. A detailed analysis of the behaviour of a single vesicle at finite Reynolds number is presented. At low Reynolds numbers the results recover vesicle behaviour previously observed for Stokes flow. At moderate Reynolds numbers the classical tumbling behaviour of highly viscous vesicles is no longer observed. Instead, the vesicle is observed to tank-tread, with an equilibrium angle dependent on the Reynolds number and the reduced area of the vesicle. It is shown that a vesicle with an inner/outer fluid viscosity ratio as high as 200 will not tumble if the Reynolds number is as low as 10. A new damped tank-treading behaviour, where the vesicle will briefly oscillate about the equilibrium inclination angle, is also observed. This behaviour is explained by an investigation on the torque acting on a vesicle in shear flow. Scaling laws for vesicles in inertial flows have also been determined. It is observed that quantities such as vesicle tumbling period follow square-root scaling with respect to the Reynolds number. Finally, the maximum tension as a function of the Reynolds number is also determined. It is observed that, as the Reynolds number increases, the maximum tension on the vesicle membrane also increases. This could play a role in the creation of stable pores in vesicle membranes or for the premature destruction of vesicles exposed to the human circulatory system.
Studies on Oxidation Products Derived from Methyl Linoleate and Their Toxicities for Mice and Chick Embryos

1) A number of methyl linoleate derivatives, all highly purified, were examined on their toxicities for the mice and the chick embryos. Each substance was administered to the mice with a gastric tube or to the yolk sacs of the chick embryos through the egg shells with an injector. The results obtained from both animals were quite similar.2) The compounds used in this experiment were as follows; methyl hydroperoxyoctadecadienoate (HPO), methyl hydroxyoctadecadienoate (HO), methyl ketooctadecadienoate (K), methyl hydroperoxyepoxyoctadecenoate (HE), methyl trihydroxyoctadecenoate (T), methyl octadecadienoate (trans, trans-conjugated) (t-C), methyl epoxyoctadecenoate (α-unsaturated) (E α), methyl epoxyoctadecenoate (β-unsaturated) (E β), methyl linoleate (ML), and methyl ricinolate (MR). Five compounds from the top of the aboves, especially HE, proved to have strong toxicities as compared with methyl linoleate. When the relation between the radicals in these compounds and their toxicities was investigated, the toxic strength came in the order of -OOH>-CO>-OH.3) The characteristic disorders were found in all the mice administered with toxic substances, in more or less degree. Those were atrophy of the spleen, marked dilatation of the intestine, several histological changes in the lymphatic system, and decrease in the leucocyte count in the blood.4) It was shown that the toxic lesions in the mice induced by these compounds were quite the same as those by the rancid edible oils seen previously. These results indicate that the toxicity of rancid edible oils is the sum of the toxicities of numerous oxidation products.
Electrostatic assembly of gold nanorods on a glass substrate for sustainable photocatalytic reduction via sodium borohydride

Herein we adhere gold nanorods (Au NRs) to glass coverslips through electrostatic interactions by treating the glass coverslips with (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane (APTMS) and polystyrene sulfonate (PSS). These Au NR-functionalized coverslips were used to demonstrate the sustainable, catalytic reduction of 4-nitroaniline by sodium borohydride. Au NRs in solution were compared to the Au NR coverslips and were found to have pseudo-first-order observed rate constants of 1.35 × 10−2 min−1 (2.79 × 106 min−1 per Au) and 4.12 × 10−2 min−1 (4.26 × 105 min−1 per Au), respectively. The same catalytic reaction was executed under photolysis (1000 W Xe lamp); free NRs and Au NR-functionalized coverslips demonstrate pseudo-first-order observed rate constants of 2.15 × 10−2 min−1 (4.44 × 106 min−1 per Au) and 6.28 × 10−2 min−1 (6.48 × 105 min−1 per Au), respectively, which are two orders of magnitude faster than the only other affixed catalyst, Au NP in polymer. In addition to being scalable in Au-NR layers, a representative Au NR-functionalized coverslip was re-used for three consecutive catalysis reactions before decrease in rate, and had a rate ∼65% of the original reaction after the fifth cycle. Thus, we have demonstrated an efficient and reusable, thermal and photochemical gold nanorod catalyst assembly that does not require a complex synthetic protocol or the use of specialized equipment.
On‐Demand Dissolution of a Dendritic Hydrogel‐based Dressing for Second‐Degree Burn Wounds through Thiol–Thioester Exchange Reaction

An adhesive yet easily removable burn wound dressing represents a breakthrough in second-degree burn wound care. Current second-degree burn wound dressings absorb wound exudate, reduce bacterial infections, and maintain a moist environment for healing, but are surgically or mechanically debrided from the wound, causing additional trauma to the newly formed tissues. We have developed an on-demand dissolvable dendritic thioester hydrogel burn dressing for second-degree burn care. The hydrogel is composed of a lysine-based dendron and a PEG-based crosslinker, which are synthesized in high yields. The hydrogel burn dressing covers the wound and acts as a barrier to bacterial infection in an in vivo second-degree burn wound model. A unique feature of the hydrogel is its capability to be dissolved on-demand, via a thiol-thioester exchange reaction, allowing for a facile burn dressing removal.
High repetition-rate x-ray pulse selection at synchrotron sources

Hard x-ray research taking advantage of both the coherence and timing properties of next generation low-emittance storage rings will thrive in exploring the spatial and temporal correlations at the nanometer and nanosecond scales. Current gating technology with fast detectors and mechanical choppers will not be able to handle the high repetition-rates of these sources and requires the development of a fast gating device that can fill the needs of the timing community. Here, we introduce a MEMS device that has the potential to meet the future requirements of x-ray timing science. We demonstrate a device that is frequency matched to the operating sub-frequency of a high rep-rate bunch mode at the APS (Advanced Photon Source) to select single pulses from the pulse train with separations of ∼153 ns.
The Failure of Masculinity: The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth (1920), Sir Gawain (1925), and The Lord of the Rings, Books 3–6 (1943–1948)

This chapter argues that two-thirds of The Lord of the Rings, written during World War II and several years thereafter, explores a world dominated by violence in which an arrogant masculinity has failed, leaving it stripped of the female. The failure of masculine heroism logically connects with the similar failure of leadership acknowledged in Tolkien’s famous Beowulf article such as with the fourteenth-century alliterative romance Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, in which Gawain queers his own chivalric oaths and vows as homosocial. Tolkien not only coedited this last important work, he translated and lectured on it. Just as the later books of The Lord of the Rings mimic these homosocial bonds by means of the Hobbits own relationships with other Hobbits and Men they serve, chivalry is mocked and upended by the sadistic Orcs whom Frodo and Bilbo literally mimic temporarily for survival by means of disguise.
Identification of the cis-acting sequences and trans-acting factors involved in nonsense-mediated mRNA decay

Introduction. In both prokaryotes and eukaryotes nonsense mutations in a gene can enhance the decay rate or reduce the abundance of the mRNA transcribed from that gene (see Peltz and Jacobson, 1992, for a review). We use the term nonsense-mediated mRNA decay to describe this phenomenon. To understand the mechanism of nonsense-mediated mRNA decay, we have inserted amber mutations at six different positions in the coding region of PGK1, a yeast gene which encodes a transcript that is normally stable and abundant. We find that: a) a subset of the nonsense mutations have a significant destabilizing effect on PGK1 mRNA, b) in addition to a nonsense codon, downstream sequences are required for mRNA destabilzation, c) a nonsense codon and a downstream sequence are not sufficient for nonsense-mediated mRNA decay because the pathway is regulated by an independent, stabilizing, sequence,element, d) the product of the UPF1 gene (Upf 1 p) is essential for full activity of the nonsense-mediated mRNA decay pathway and e) Upf1p is localized to polysomes. The experiments that lead us to these conclusions are discussed below.
Innate Immune Cell Recovery Is Positively Regulated by NLRP12 during Emergency Hematopoiesis

With enhanced concerns of terrorist attacks, dual exposure to radiation and thermal combined injury (RCI) has become a real threat with devastating immunosuppression. NLRP12, a member of the NOD-like receptor family, is expressed in myeloid and bone marrow cells and was implicated as a checkpoint regulator of inflammatory cytokines, as well as an inflammasome activator. We show that NLRP12 has a profound impact on hematopoietic recovery during RCI by serving as a checkpoint of TNF signaling and preventing hematopoietic apoptosis. Using a mouse model of RCI, increased NLRP12 expression was detected in target tissues. Nlrp12-/- mice exhibited significantly greater mortality, an inability to fight bacterial infection, heightened levels of proinflammatory cytokines, overt granulocyte/monocyte progenitor cell apoptosis, and failure to reconstitute peripheral myeloid populations. Anti-TNF Ab administration improved peripheral immune recovery. These data suggest that NLRP12 is essential for survival after RCI by regulating myelopoiesis and immune reconstitution.
Description and early outcomes of the hybrid graft for dialysis.

IntroductionLong-term dialysis access has become more challenging as patient survival has improved in end-stage renal disease. The GORE® Hybrid Vascular Graft (GHVG) has been designed to improve di...
Long-term efficacy of a tongue tie service in improving breast feeding rates: A prospective study

Abstract Background Breast feeding rates in England at 3months of age are approximately 17% for exclusive breast-feeding and 55% for breast-feeds supplemented with formula. Tongue-tie (TT) in infants is cited as a significant cause of difficulty with maintaining breast-feeding. Early treatment and support can improve breast-feeding and allow infants to benefit from the many long-term benefits of breast-feeding. Our aim was to determine BF rates in infants 3months after attending our tongue-tie clinic (TTC). Methods Institutional ethical approval and study approval were obtained. Patients attending the TTC from May to July 2016 were included. Telephone contact was made 3months postprocedure to establish current behaviour. Symptom resolution was recorded as complete resolution (CR), moderate resolution (MoR), or minimal resolution (MiR). Feeding pattern was either exclusively BF or combined breast and formula feeds or exclusively formula fed. Results 100 infants were included with complete follow-up data on 87 (87% response rate). Median age at release of TT was 17 (2–88) days without any recurrence. Status at 3months was CR (n=70, 80%); MoR (n=13, 15%), and MiR (n=4, 5%). 43 (49%) were exclusively BF, 36 (41%) were supplementing BF with some formula (2/3 by choice and 1/3 owing to insufficient milk production), and 8 (10%) were using only formula milk (7 by choice and 2 owing to ongoing feeding difficulties). Of the 17 mothers still experiencing symptoms, 5 were exclusively breast-feeding, and 8 were persisting with combined feeds. Conclusion Infants attending our tongue-tie clinic achieved both higher exclusive breastfeeding and combined breast and bottle-feeding when compared to national breast-feeding data at 3months of age. This can facilitate the achievement of long-term breastfeeding, exposing infants and mothers to many of the associated benefits. Level of evidence 4
Assessing the Accuracy of Survey Research

Assessing survey accuracy is important to the development of valid and reliable methodologies for the practice of survey research. However, despite this importance, surprisingly little research has been done gauging survey measurement accuracy, largely due to the difficulty with identifying and collecting objective measures to use as accuracy benchmarks for surveys. Furthermore, the work that has examined this issue has not ever been comprehensively integrated. This chapter highlights the high-level findings of the first ever meta-analysis of survey accuracy. The results indicate that there is solid empirical evidence for optimism about the accuracy of survey data.
Shear-Induced Brittle Failure along Grain Boundaries in Boron Carbide

The role that grain boundaries (GBs) can play on mechanical properties has been studied extensively for metals and alloys. However, for covalent solids such as boron carbide (B_4C), the role of GB on the inelastic response to applied stresses is not well established. We consider here the unusual ceramic, boron carbide (B_4C), which is very hard and lightweight but exhibits brittle impact behavior. We used quantum mechanics (QM) simulations to examine the mechanical response in atomistic structures that model GBs in B_4C under pure shear and also with biaxial shear deformation that mimics indentation stress conditions. We carried out these studies for two simple GB models including also the effect of adding Fe atoms (possible sintering aid and/or impurity) to the GB. We found that the critical shear stresses of these GB models are much lower than that for crystalline and twinned B4C. The two GB models lead to different interfacial energies. The higher interfacial energy at the GB only slightly decreases the critical shear stress but dramatically increases the critical failure strain. Doping the GB with Fe decreases the critical shear stress of at the boundary by 14% under pure shear deformation. In all GBs studied here, failure arises from deconstructing the icosahedra within the GB region under shear deformation. We find that Fe dopant interacts with icosahedra at the GB to facilitate this deconstruction of icosahedra. These results provide significant insight into designing polycrystalline B4C with improved strength and ductility.
CYP2C19 STATUS AND OUTCOMES IN THE EUCLID TRIAL

Cytochrome P450 2C19 (CYP2C19) is a hepatic enzyme involved in metabolism of clopidogrel to its active metabolite. Polymorphisms with 2 loss-of-function (LOF) alleles lead to poor metabolism of clopidogrel, but little is known about the effects of both heterozygous state for LOF and gain-of-function
Shifting value perceptions among young urban Indian consumers: The role of need for distinctiveness and western acculturation

Abstract Very limited research addresses cultural change and consumer decisions in key emerging markets experiencing proliferation of Western brands and retail formats. This study fills the gap in the literature by investigating the role of need for distinctiveness and Western acculturation in shifting value perceptions of Western brands and Western retail formats among young urban Indian consumers, an emerging market with growing spending power. Mall/market-intercept surveys in four Indian cities revealed that young urban Indian consumers’ need for distinctiveness accelerated Western acculturation, thereby enhancing perceived values of Western brands and Western retail formats. Such value perceptions significantly increased intention to buy Western brands at Western retail formats. Theoretical and managerial implications are discussed for retailers seeking to enter or expand in India, especially those targeting young urban consumers.
Climate and the Composition of Surface Ocean Waters

The climate of the earth may govern the surface ocean water concentrations of its highly reactive components (i.e. those chemicals with short residence times). Geological and biological processes that result in the mobilization of materials from the continents to the oceans are dependent upon such characteristics of climate as crustal temperature, rainfall and the extent and types of vegetation. The atmospheric fluxes of some metals to an oceanic area may be of the same order of magnitude as their fluxes from the mixed layer to the deep ocean.
Neurological Sequelae from Jaundice

Numerous neurological sequelae result from exposure of the newborn infant to hyperbilirubinemia. These range from severe kernicterus and cerebral palsy to mild behavioral and/or intelligence quotient loss. Frequently, the findings in newborns exposed to high serum bilirubin levels depend in some measure on the sophistication of those examining the infants, or later, children who have recovered. Many manuscripts have been published describing studies aimed at elucidating the possible effects of bilirubin on neurodevelopment, with conflicting results.
Kermit: A File Transfer Protocol

This introduction, manual and reference shows readers - at all levels of technical expertise - how to use Kermit to transfer diverse data between different computer systems and data communications environments. Using tutorials, case studies and examples of actual Kermit codes, it provides instructions for basic use and a detailed description of the Kermit protocols: file management through protocols; command referencing and extended features; and telecommunications protocols.
Douglas Curvature and Weyl Curvature

There are two important projective invariants of sprays and Finsler metrics. One is a non-Riemannian projective invariant constructed from the Berwald curvature. The other is a Riemannian projective invariant constructed from the Riemann curvature. In this chapter, we will discuss these two projective invariants.