cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hemocompatibility-Related Adverse Events: Is the Burden Different among Available Centrifugal Flow Pumps?

Purpose Landmark work has demonstrated that hemocompatibility-related adverse event (HRAE) burden is significant lower with the newest centrifugal flow pump compared to the established axial flow pump. No study has compared HRAE among the approved centrifugal and axial flow pumps. The objective of this study was to evaluate the burden of HRAE between HeartMate II (HMII) and HeartWare HVAD (HW). Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of hemocompatibility related adverse events (nonsurgical bleeding, thromboembolic event, pump thrombosis , or neurological event) in patients following implantation of HMII or HW through 6 months follow-up. HRAE were categorized by type and severity of adverse event and assigned a hemocompatibility score (HCS) of 0-4 for no HRAE through life ending or disabling HRAE, respectively. Statistical analysis included assessment of survival free from HRAE from implantation to 6-month follow-up using Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional-hazard models and comparison of net hemocompatibility score using proportional odds regression. Results The study cohort included 331 patients with 268 patients (81%) in the HMII group and 63 patients (19%) in HW group. Overall median age was 62.2 years; HMII patients were older (median 63.5 versus 58.1years, p Conclusion Freedom from and burden of HRAE were not significantly different between the HeartMate II and HeartWare HVAD which is distinct from findings in the MOMENTUM trial. This indicates that hemocompatibility may differ significantly among available centrifugal flow technology and direct comparison of centrifugal flow pumps is required.
Selection for weaning weight and postweaning gain in Hereford cattle. I. Population structure and selection applied.

Single trait selection was practiced in three lines of Hereford cattle derived from a common base population. Selection was practiced on males only within sire families for increased weaning weight (WW) in the WW line (WWL), for postweaning gain (PG) in the PG line (PGL) and at random in the control line (CTL). Females were culled on the basis of age or reproductive failure. Progeny of selected bulls were produced in two herds from 1970 through 1981. The data consisted of records on 2,467 progeny of 125 sires and 922 dams. Generations of selection to produce the 1981 calf crop were 1.96, 1.85 and 1.80 for WWL, PGL and CTL, respectively. For calves born in 1981, mean cumulative selection differentials (CSD) were 54.5 kg in WWL and 37.8 kg in PGL. Corresponding values in standard deviation units (SDU) were 2.31 and 1.68, respectively. Secondary selection differentials were 25 to 40% as large as selection differentials for the primary traits. Unintentional selection in the CTL in 1981 was 16.2 kg or .68 SDU for WW and .2 kg or .01 SDU for PG, respectively. Regressions of CSD on year were 4.1 kg or .17 SDU in WWL and 3.2 kg or .14 SDU in PGL. Realized selection differentials were approximately 88% of the potential selection differentials in both lines. Inbreeding coefficients of dam and calves in 1981 were 2.0 and 3.5% in WWL, 2.1 and 3.5% in PGL and 2.9 and 5.8% in CTL.
Design of Low Power Full Adder Circuits Using CMOS Technique

1-bit different full adder circuits are designed using CMOS technique for low power consumption and less delay. These are implemented using Cadence Virtuoso at 180nm technology for 1.8V supply voltage. The parametric constraints such as power consumption, delay, area are compared with designed different full adder circuits and commented on which design gives best performance parameter. Power Delay Product defines the efficiency of the circuit. As low power design is the main research in VLSI, hence design the circuits which require low power, less area, less delay. The performance of complete design appertains to the performance of full adder circuit design.
Chlamydial MreB Directs Cell Division and Peptidoglycan Synthesis in Escherichia coli in the Absence of FtsZ Activity.

ABSTRACT Cell division is the ultimate process for the propagation of bacteria, and FtsZ is an essential protein used by nearly all bacteria for this function. Chlamydiae belong to a small group of bacteria that lack the universal cell division protein FtsZ but still divide by binary fission. Chlamydial MreB is a member of the shape-determining MreB/Mbl family of proteins responsible for rod shape morphology in Escherichia coli. Chlamydia also encodes a homolog of RodZ, an MreB assembly cytoskeletal protein that links MreB to cell wall synthesis proteins. We hypothesized that MreB directs cell division in Chlamydia and that chlamydial MreB could replace FtsZ function for cell division in E. coli. Overexpression of chlamydial mreB-rodZ in E. coli induced prominent morphological changes with production of large swollen or oval bacteria, eventually resulting in bacterial lysis. Low-level expression of chlamydial mreB-rodZ restored viability of a lethal ΔmreB mutation in E. coli, although the bacteria lost their typical rod shape and grew as rounded cells. When FtsZ activity was inhibited by overexpression of SulA in the ΔmreB mutant of E. coli complemented with chlamydial mreB-rodZ, spherical E. coli grew and divided. Localization studies using a fluorescent fusion chlamydial MreB protein indicated that chlamydial RodZ directs chlamydial MreB to the E. coli division septum. These results demonstrate that chlamydial MreB, in partnership with chlamydial RodZ, acts as a cell division protein. Our findings suggest that an mreB-rodZ-based mechanism allows Chlamydia to divide without the universal division protein FtsZ. IMPORTANCE The study of Chlamydia growth and cell division is complicated by its obligate intracellular nature and biphasic lifestyle. Chlamydia also lacks the universal division protein FtsZ. We employed the cell division system of Escherichia coli as a surrogate to identify chlamydial cell division proteins. We demonstrate that chlamydial MreB, together with chlamydial RodZ, forms a cell division and growth complex that can replace FtsZ activity and support cell division in E. coli. Chlamydial RodZ plays a major role in directing chlamydial MreB localization to the cell division site. It is likely that the evolution of chlamydial MreB and RodZ to form a functional cell division complex allowed Chlamydia to dispense with its FtsZ-based cell division machinery during genome reduction. Thus, MreB-RodZ represents a possible mechanism for cell division in other bacteria lacking FtsZ.
Massive Chylous Ascites and Chylothorax Secondary to Chronic Pancreatitis: A Novel Surgical Option

Background Chylous ascites is a debilitating condition characterized by milky, triglyceride-rich fluid accumulating in the peritoneum due to disruption of the intraabdominal lymphatic system. Medical management includes low-fat diets, somatostatin analogues, and therapeutic paracentesis, but is unsuccessful in one-third of patients. Methods We present a 59-year-old man with massive chylous ascites and chylothorax secondary to chronic pancreatitis, who failed medical therapies for nearly two years, before being successfully treated with a novel surgical technique. Demographic and clinical data were obtained from the electronic medical record at Massachusetts General Hospital from 2015 to 2019. Patient information was kept anonymous and informed consent was obtained for publication of this report. Results Based on a previously published small case series, we created a vascularized lymphatic cable flap based on the superior epigastric vessels, which we anastomosed to mesenteric vessels, permitting chylous drainage superiorly through the thoracic duct. With two years of follow-up, our patient has no evidence of recurrent ascites or chylothorax, and robust nutritional and functional status. Conclusion We present this novel surgical technique as a promising intervention for patients with chylous ascites and/or chylothorax who have failed medical management.
Analytic insights on the information content of new observables

Uncertainty quantification has emerged as a rapidly growing field in nuclear science. Theoretical predictions of physical observables often involve extrapolations to regions that are poorly constrained by laboratory experiments and astrophysical observations. Without properly quantified theoretical errors, such model predictions are of limited value. Also, one often deals with theoretical constructs that involve fundamental quantities that are not accessible to experiment or observation. Particularly relevant in this context is the pressure of pure neutron matter. In this Rapid Communication, we develop an analytic framework to answer the question of ``How can new data reduce uncertainties of current theoretical models?'' [Reinhard and Nazarewicz, Phys. Rev. C 81, 051303(R) (2010)]. Simple and insightful expressions are obtained to quantify the impact of one or two new observables on theoretical uncertainties in two critical quantities: The slope of the symmetry energy at saturation density and the pressure of pure neutron matter at twice nuclear matter saturation density.
Homoepitaxial growth of 9,10-diphenylanthracene

Abstract Organic single crystals are often shown to have significantly improved optoelectronic properties over polycrystalline thin films such as exciton diffusivity and carrier mobility. There is growing interest in incorporating such crystals in organic electronics despite a number of challenges. In this work, the homoepitaxial vapor phase growth modes for 9,10-diphenylanthracene (DPA) homoepitaxy are mapped as a function of growth rate and temperature using in situ ultra-low current reflection high energy electron diffraction (RHEED), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Vapor phase deposition was performed on free-standing single crystal DPA substrates, which show clear Kikuchi patterns. At room temperature, a transition from Frank-Van der Merwe layer-by-layer growth to step-flow growth is observed as the deposition rate is decreased, while at lower temperatures a Stranski-Krastanov layer-plus-island growth is observed. This is the first demonstration of true step-flow growth from room temperature vapor phase deposition for organic semiconductors and is reminiscent of traditional semiconductor growth regimes. Accordingly, these results could lead to improved control over growth and doping of organic single crystals, and lead to enhanced single crystal organic optoelectronic applications.
Factors affecting the rates of adherence to surveillance recommendations for incidental pancreatic cystic lesions in a large urban safety net hospital.

Background Pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) are a heterogenous group of lesions with varying degrees of malignant potential. PCLs are often incidentally detected on imaging. Management for patients without an immediate indication for resection or tissue sampling entails radiographic surveillance to assess for features concerning for malignant transformation. This study aims to determine the rates of adherence to surveillance recommendations for incidental PCLs, and identify factors associated with adherence or loss of follow-up. Methods We conducted a single-centre retrospective study of patients at a tertiary safety net hospital with incidentally discovered asymptomatic PCLs. Follow-up was defined as having undergone repeat imaging as recommended in the radiology report. Data were analysed using logistic regression. Results Within our cohort (n=172), 123 (71.5%) subjects completed follow-up imaging. Attending a gastroenterology appointment was most strongly associated with completing follow-up for PCLs and remained significant (p=0.001) in a multivariate logistic regression model. Subjects without a documented primary care provider were less likely to have follow-up (p=0.028). Larger cyst size was associated with completion of follow-up in univariate only (p=0.067). Conclusion We found that follow-up of an incidentally discovered PCLs was completed in the majority of our subjects. Incomplete follow-up for PCLs occurred in up to one in three to four patients in our cohort. Access to primary care and utilisation of subspecialty gastroenterology care are associated with completion of follow-up for PCLs. If validated, our findings can guide potential interventions to improve follow-up rates for PCLs.
The impact of service-learning on apparel design students’ self-efficacy of apparel construction, management, and communication skills

A stitch shop was created as a service-learning component of an advanced apparel construction class. Students provided mending and alteration services for the campus community. Pre and post-tests m...
Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex response to negative tweets relates to executive functioning.

Cognitive performance can become impaired when a stimulus evokes an emotional response. Social media often elicits emotional reactions, but, despite social media's ubiquity, cognitive and neural consequences of exposure to negative online content are relatively unknown. Fifty-seven human adults (18-29 years; 38 female) who identified with at least one historically-marginalized group performed a novel 'Tweet Task'. While undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging, participants completed a spatial reasoning task before and after reading a set of actual tweets. Participants were randomly assigned to read negative, discriminatory tweets from President Trump (Negative Condition) or neutral tweets (Neutral Condition). Participants in the Negative Condition reported worsening affect and demonstrated performance interference post-tweet compared to those in the Neutral Condition. Affect post-tweet was associated with parametric reductions in left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, which predicted variance in performance beyond elicited negative affect. Performance effects were demonstrated on an unrelated spatial reasoning task suggesting that engaging with negative, emotionally-arousing content on social media can have deleterious effects on executive functioning in non-social domains.
East and West: Two Decades of Scholarship on the Medieval Francophone Periphery

This article is essentially a survey of scholarship on French literature in Italy and Franco-Italian literature between ca. 2000 and 2020, with an introduction which attempts to situate recent contributions within the history of the discipline as a whole. Brief reference is made to scholarship on modern Francophone literature and a more extensive comparison with that on Anglo-Norman or “Insular French”. Franco-Italian literature can best be seen as an integral but distinctive part of medieval literature in the langue d’oil.
Why Irrigate for the Same Contamination Rate: Wound Contamination in Pediatric Spinal Surgery Using Betadine Versus Saline.

Background The risk of surgical site infection in pediatric posterior spine fusion (PSF) is up to 4.3% in idiopathic populations and 24% in patients with neuromuscular disease. Twenty-three percent of pediatric PSF tissue cultures are positive before closure, with a higher rate in neuromuscular patients. Our primary aim was to evaluate the feasibility of a complete randomized controlled trial to study the efficacy of surgical site irrigation with povidone-iodine (PVP-I) compared with sterile saline (SS) to reduce the bacterial contamination rate before closure in children undergoing PSF. Methods One hundred seventy-five subjects undergoing PSF were enrolled in a multicenter, single-blind, pilot randomized controlled trial. We recruited patients at low-risk (LR) and high-risk (HR) for infection 3:1, respectively. Before closure, a wound culture was collected. Nonviable tissues were debrided and the wound was soaked with 0.35% PVP-I or SS for 3 minutes. The wound was then irrigated with 2 L of saline and a second sample was collected. Results One hundred fifty-three subjects completed the protocol. Seventy-seven subjects were allocated to PVP-I (18 HR, 59 LR) and 76 to SS (19 HR, 57 LR). Cultures were positive in 18% (14/77) of PVP-I samples (2 HR, 12 LR) and in 17% (13/76) of SS samples (3 HR, 10 LR) preirrigation and in 16% (12/77) of PVP-I samples (5 HR, 7 LR) and in 18% (14/76) of SS samples (4 HR, 10 LR) postirrigation. Eight percent (3/37) HR subjects (1 PVP-I, 2 SS) experienced infection at 30 days postoperative. No LR subjects experienced infection. Conclusions Positive cultures were similar across treatment and risk groups. The bacterial contamination of wounds before closure remains high regardless of irrigation type. A complete randomized controlled trial would be challenging to adequately power given the similarity of tissue positivity across groups. Level of evidence Level II-pilot randomized controlled trial.
Searching for boundary extension.

Bainbridge and Baker [1] argue that boundary extension (BE), false memory beyond a view, is an artifact of stimulus selection. They dismiss theoretical explanations that include scene construction [2,3], and suggest removal of BE from textbooks. Their empirical work is an admirable study of scene errors, but the bridge between their data and their sweeping conclusions about BE is not well-grounded. They claim that BE is considered 'universal' and, thus, their observation of contraction (loss of peripheral content) in addition to extension violates a fundamental premise. They claim that reliance on narrow 'recycled' stimulus sets: object(s) centered on 'generic', non-scenic backgrounds created the artifact. Neither claim is correct.
Identification of DNA bases using nanopores created in finite-size nanoribbons from graphene, phosphorene, and silicene

Graphene’s success for nanopore deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequencing has shown that it is possible to explore other potential single-atom and few-atom thick layers of elemental 2D materials beyond graphene (e.g., phosphorene and silicene) and also that these materials can exhibit fascinating and technologically useful properties for DNA base detection that are superior to those of graphene. Using density functional theory (DFT), we study the interaction of DNA bases with nanopores created in finite-size nanoribbons from graphene, phosphorene, and silicene. Due to the small size of DNA bases, the bases interact with only a small section of the nanoribbon; hence, using a finite-size model is appropriate for capturing the interaction of bases and 2D membrane materials. Furthermore, by using a finite-size model, our system is approximated as a molecular system, which does not require a periodic DFT calculation. We observe that binding energies of DNA bases using nanopores from phosphorene and silicene are similar and generally smaller compared to those from graphene. This shows that minimal sticking of DNA bases to the pore is expected for phosphorene and silicene devices. Furthermore, nanopores from phosphorene and silicene show a characteristic change in the density of states for each base. The bandgaps of phosphorene and silicene are significantly altered due to interaction with DNA bases compared to those of graphene. Our findings show that phosphorene and silicene are promising alternatives to graphene for DNA base detection using advanced detection principles such as transverse tunneling current measurement.
Dynamic inversion-based hysteresis compensation using extended high-gain observer

Abstract We consider the tracking problem for an uncertain nonlinear single-input-single-output system satisfying the minimum-phase assumption, preceded by an unknown hysteresis operator. This is a widely used model for smart material-actuated systems, such as piezo-based nanopositioning systems. Existing hysteresis compensation methods typically require explicit hysteresis models, which tend to be high-dimensional operators and entail significant complexity in model identification and inversion. We propose an output feedback-based hysteresis compensation approach for this class of systems using dynamic inversion and extended high-gain observers. With mild assumptions on the hysteresis nonlinearity properties, the system can be represented as an uncertain, nonaffine, nonlinear system containing a hysteretic perturbation. Dynamic inversion is used to deal with the nonaffine input, uncertainties, and the hysteretic perturbation, where the latter two are estimated using an extended high-gain observer. Analysis of the closed-loop system under output feedback shows that the tracking error converges to a small neighborhood near the origin, which can be made arbitrarily small via a proper choice of time-scale parameters of dynamic inversion and the observer, respectively. Simulation results are presented to show the interplay between these two parameters. Finally, experiments conducted on a commercial nanopositioner confirm the theoretical analysis and demonstrate that the proposed method delivers performance comparable to several competing methods, all of which require an explicit hysteresis inversion operator.
Perturbations of Operators, Connections with Singular Integrals, Hyperbolicity and Entropy

We have studied in a series of papers ([10], [11], [12]) perturbations of Hilbert space operators using a certain invariant k J (τ), where J is a normed ideal of operators and τ is an n-tuple of operators. This number can be viewed as a “size J”- dimensional measure of τ. Frequently, evaluation of k J (τ) is related to the asymptotic of eigenvalues of certain singular integrals. In the case of translation operators in the regular representation of a discrete group G the number k J is related to the analogue of Yamasaki’s hyperbolicity condition on the Cayley graph of G with respect to the norm defining J. Quite recently, we have shown that in case J is the Macaev ideal \(C_\infty ^ - \), the invariant k J is related to the entropy of dynamical systems ([13]). Also in the case of the Macaev ideal, the existence of a random walk with positive entropy on a discrete group implies a hyperbolicity condition [14].
Numerical Solution of the Fokker–Planck Equation by Finite Difference and Finite Element Methods—A Comparative Study

Finite element and finite difference methods have been widely used, among other methods, to numerically solve the Fokker–Planck equation for investigating the time history of the probability density function of linear and nonlinear 2d and 3d problems; also the application to 4d problems has been addressed. However, due to the enormous increase in computational costs, different strategies are required for efficient application to problems of dimension ≥3. Recently, a stabilized multi-scale finite element method has been effectively applied to the Fokker–Planck equation. Also, the alternating directions implicit method shows good performance in terms of efficiency and accuracy. In this paper various finite difference and finite element methods are discussed, and the results are compared using various numerical examples.
Candida Albicans Infections

Candida albicans are common opportunistic fungal organism that can cause skin infections, mucosal infections, or systemic infections, especially in immunocompromised or neutropenic patients. Candida albicans is dimorphic and is usually diagnosed empirically or microscopically. The treatment of these infections includes a choice between: a polyene (e.g., nystatin), an azole (e.g., fluconazole) or an echinocandin (e.g., caspofungin), depending on severity and resistance.
Tapping into the biofilm: insights into assembly and disassembly of a novel amyloid fibre in Bacillus subtilis

The Bacillus subtilis biofilm matrix harbours a functionally important amyloid fibre network composed of the protein TasA. Previous studies showed that the protein TapA (formerly YqxM) plays roles in TasA fibre formation and disassembly. In this issue, Romero et al., 2011 show that TapA is a component of the fibre and links it to the peptidoglycan. Therefore, TapA directs TasA fibre formation, links it to the cell wall and, most likely, participates in fibre dispersal. These results provide important insights into the control of biofilm formation in B. subtilis and, potentially, the regulation of amyloid fibre formation in diverse species.
Dual-Phase Liver MDCT

The advent of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) scanners has provided an impetus for various changes in applications of computed tomography (CT) principles and their implementation in the design of CT protocols. The advanced MDCT scanners can produce isotropic voxel resolution, which can improve detection of subtle lesions in the organ. It thus remains the major imaging modality for detection of hepatic pathologies [1, 2, 3, 4].
Services Requested and Received by Consumers with Chemical Sensitivities at the Centers for Independent Living

Normal 0 false false false /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} This paper presents results from surveys of 41 persons with environmental sensitivities (ES) who requested help from Centers for Independent Living (CIL), primarily in the U.S. The most common requests were for help with safe housing, employment services, and application for SSDI. Consumers with ES encountered multiple problems not only with receiving services, but also simply with "getting in the door," as many centers were not equipped to understand or serve persons with chemical or electromagnetic sensitivities. We present suggestions from respondents for improved access and service for this population and for training of CIL advocates.
Use and Features of Basalt Formations for Geologic Sequestration

Publisher Summary Extrusive lava flows of basalt are a potential host medium for geologic sequestration of anthropogenic CO2. Capture of CO2 from flue gases and subsequent geologic sequestration offers promise for controlling anthropogenic CO2 emissions, reducing the cost of managing climate change, and Platy preserving the viability of fossil fuels. Site assessments for geologic sequestration of CO2 have been conducted for the zone mid-West to mid-Atlantic region of the United States and at a few other locations around the world. Flood basalts and other large igneous provinces occur worldwide near population and power-producing centers and could securely sequester a significant fraction of global CO2 emissions. The chapter describes the location, extent, and general physical and chemical characteristics of large igneous provinces that satisfy requirements as a good host medium for CO2 sequestration. Most lava flows have vesicular flow tops and bottoms as well as interflow zones that are porous and permeable and serve as regional aquifers. Additionally, basalt is iron-rich, and, under the proper conditions of groundwater pH, temperature, and pressure, injected CO2 will react with iron released from dissolution of primary minerals in the basalt to form stable ferrous carbonate minerals. Conversion of CO2 into a solid form was confirmed in laboratory experiments with supercritical CO2 in contact with basalt samples from Washington State.
Time-Dependent Deformation Behavior of Clays

A constitutive model for the time-dependent behavior of cohesive soil has been developed by unifying existing phenomenological models for the behavior of cohesive soils under specific boundary conditions. It is composed of separate, but not independent, volumetric and deviatoric components. Each model component is assumed to consist of time-independent and time-dependent contributions. The model has been shown to work well for the prediction of deformation and time-independent pore pressures in laboratory tests using remolded San Francisco bay mud. Although prediction of time-dependent pore pressure development was poor, the otherwise good results warrant further study and application of the approach.
Vesicular stomatitis virus expressing interferon-β is oncolytic and promotes antitumor immune responses in a syngeneic murine model of non-small cell lung cancer

Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) is a potent oncolytic virus for many tumors. VSV that produces interferon-β (VSV-IFNβ) is now in early clinical testing for solid tumors. Here, the preclinical activity of VSV and VSV-IFNβ against non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is reported. NSCLC cell lines were treated in vitro with VSV expressing green fluorescence protein (VSV-GFP) and VSV-IFNβ. VSV-GFP and VSV-IFNβ were active against NSCLC cells. JAK/STAT inhibition with ruxolitinib re-sensitized resistant H838 cells to VSV-IFNβ mediated oncolysis. Intratumoral injections of VSV-GFP and VSV-IFNβ reduced tumor growth and weight in H2009 nude mouse xenografts (p < 0.01). A similar trend was observed in A549 xenografts. Syngeneic LM2 lung tumors grown in flanks of A/J mice were injected with VSV-IFNβ intratumorally. Treatment of LM2 tumors with VSV-IFNβ resulted in tumor regression, prolonged survival (p < 0.0001), and cure of 30% of mice. Intratumoral injection of VSV-IFNβ resulted in decreased tumor-infiltrating regulatory T cells (Treg) and increased CD8+ T cells. Tumor cell expression of PDL-1 was increased after VSV-IFNβ treatment. VSV-IFNβ has potent antitumor effects and promotes systemic antitumor immunity. These data support further clinical investigation of VSV-IFNβ for NSCLC.
Effects of exogenous insulin on excursions and diurnal rhythm of plasma glucose in pregnant diabetic patients with and without residual β-cell function

Abstract The relative effects and consequences of split doses of exogenous insulin therapy (two thirds before breakfast and one third before the evening meal) on excursions and diurnal rhythm of circulating glucose during the 24-hour “metabolic clock” were examined. A longitudinal study in pregnant women with maturity-onset diabetes (N = 7) with substantial endogenous insulin secretion and juvenile onset diabetes (N = 6) with no measurable endogenous insulin secretion (judged by C-peptide measurement) was compared with identical studies performed in nondiabetic pregnant control subjects (N = 6). Plasma glucose levels determined at hourly intervals throughout the 24-hour meal-activity-sleep cycles revealed marked excursions of plasma glucose values with exaggerated hyperglycemia during the day hours and relative hypoglycemia at night in both types of diabetic pregnancies as compared to normal control pregnancies. The magnitude of glucose excursion was surprisingly large relative to the degree of increase in the mean 24-hour glucose levels and mean fasting blood glucose values. A striking disparity in the amount of exogenous insulin required to maintain glucose levels and diurnal rhythm toward the normal range in pregnant diabetic patients from second to the third trimester was observed. The degree of exogenous insulin increment imposed by pregnancy (from the second to third trimester) in juvenile-onset diabetes was relatively small (38%) and comparable to the increase in endogenous insulin (32%) found in nondiabetic pregnancies. In marked contrast, among patients with maturity-onset diabetes, in whom substantial endogenous insulin secretion was present, the corresponding increment in exogenous insulin was surprisingly large (98%) without a proportional reduction in 24-hour integrated glucose values. These findings indicate that the effects and consequences of exogenous insulin therapy between maturity-onset diabetes and juvenile-onset diabetes during pregnancy are clearly different. Our data further suggest that peripheral insulin resistance constitutes the major factor accounting for the persistence of hyperglycemia in maturity-onset diabetes. Although the mechanism by which the exaggeration of insulin resistance in maturity-onset diabetes with superimposed pregnancy remains unclear, there are at least three additive contributing events to consider: the inherent defect of insulin resistance in this type of diabetes, the pregnancy-induced insulin resistance, and the reduction in number or affinity of insulin receptors in target tissues occasioned by excessive exogenous insulin treatment.
The “Quick Start Guide” for Conducting and Publishing Longitudinal Research

Consideration of temporal issues adds precision and insight to our theories, yet most organizational and applied psychological research is based on cross-sectional designs. Calls for longitudinal research have become common in leading journals, but the existing literature provides little prescriptive guidance to overcome the many challenges of this type of research. This article provides a concise summary of challenges to address when theorizing, designing, conducting, and publishing longitudinal research. We structure the article around 12 judgment calls that typically confront researchers when conducting longitudinal studies. We respond to these judgment calls using theory and findings from the relevant literatures, as well as our own experience in designing and conducting longitudinal research across many scholarly domains. Included in these judgment calls is an emphasis on presenting and framing one’s study for publication. We challenge readers to develop theory that addresses the when, why, and duration of change, and to test the theory with the appropriate longitudinal methods. This “quick start guide” is intended to serve as a useful reference for authors and reviewers at any level of methodological expertise.
Induced Expression of Death Domain Genes NALP1 and NALP5 Following Neuronal Injury

Proteins in apoptotic pathways represent potential points of intervention in neurodegenerative disease. We identified several genes of interest that contain death domain such as CARD or Pyrin. We found that ASC and NALP10 were constitutively expressed in cerebellar neurons. More interestingly, expression levels of NALP1 and NALP5 were increased in two neuronal injury models. In addition, transient expression of recombinant NALP1 or NALP5 in neurons induced caspase-3 activation and apoptosis. These data suggest that NALP1 and NALP5 may regulate caspase activation and apoptosis in injured neurons, and thus represent novel molecular targets for therapeutic intervention in neurodegenerative disorders.
Clearance of complement by human vascular endothelial cells : effects of hypoxia/reoxygenation and IL-1β activation

Antibody-mediated rejection is characterized by deposits of complement (C) C4 and C3 split products on endothelial cells (ECs). C3 split products are critical mechanistically and diagnostically because they are deposited in amplified quantities, bind covalently to ECs and act as ligands for leukocytes. This study was designed to determine whether cultured vascular human ECs could clear covalently bound C3 split products from their surface. An immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibody against beta(2)-microglobulin of major histocompatibility complex class I antigens was used to activate C in human serum. Some cells were exposed to hypoxia/reoxygenation and/or interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta) prior to incubation with antibody. C3b/iC3b and C3d deposition on the cell surface was measured by flow cytometry. Incubation with antibody followed by human serum caused a dose-dependent deposition of C3b/iC3b and C3d. Over half of deposited C3b/iC3b and one-third of C3d were cleared from the cell surface during a 3-7-h incubation period with human serum. Neither hypoxia/reoxygenation nor IL-1beta further increased the deposition of C3b/iC3b and C3d, and only slightly modulated their rates of clearance. In summary, human ECs rapidly clear iC3b and C3d from their surface. This finding may have important diagnostic and mechanistic implications to transplantation because C3d is used as a marker of antibody-mediated rejection.
Species difference in metabolism of parathion. apparent inability of hepatopancreas fractions to produce paraoxon.

Abstract 1. 1. Good quality mitochondrial and microsomal fractions of lobster hepatopancreas were prepared in lobster isotonic sucrose (0·84M) at 8700g and 105,000g by a differential centrifugation. 2. 2. The microsomal fraction did not exhibit a detectable mixed function oxidase activity with respect to parathion as the substrate. 3. 3. No conversion to paraoxon or p-nitrophenol, was detected in incubations of hepatopancreas subcellular fractions or homogenates, fortified with NADPH, NADH, FAD or FMN, singly or in combination. 4. 4. By contrast, mouse liver microsomal incubations metabolized parathion to paraoxon and p-nitrophenol, moreover these biotransformations were enhanced 1·5–2·0-fold when microsomal preparation from phenobarbital pretreated mice were used.
EFFECT OF VARIOUS GLYCOLYTIC AND TCA INTERMEDIATES ON AFLATOXIN PRODUCTION

The effects of pyruvate, succinate, citrate, alpha-keto glutarate, fumarate, malate, lactate, and glycerol supplementation (0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 g/100 ml) on aflatoxin production by A. parasiticus NRRL 2999 were examined in synthetic and semi-synthetic media. Glycerol, lactate, and the 0.5 g/100 ml level of pyruvate stimulated production in the synthetic medium. At the 2.0 g/100 ml level, pyruvate, citrate, alpha-keto glutarate, fumarate, and malate inhibited aflatoxin accumulation in both media. With the exception of glycerol, all supplements stimulated sporulation and elevated the pH of the cultures.
Scrotal elephantiasis associated with hidradenitis suppurativa

Massive scrotal lymphedema, or elephantiasis, has been described in patients with chronic inflammation of the inguinoscrotal region, filariasis, and following inguinal irradiation and/or lymphadenectomy. Hidradenitis suppurativa, first described by Verneuil in 1854, is a chronic recurrent inflammation of the apocrine sweat glands in the axilla, groin, and perineum. Surgical resection of all involved tissue is the definitive therapy. Acute suppuration associated with hidradenitis suppurativa is treated with antibiotics and surgical drainage. Prophylactic antibiotics and antistaphylococcal vaccines have been used but are not uniformly effective. The association of elephantiasis and hidradenitis suppurativa is not well recognized. We report a case of hidradenitis suppurativa of the perineum and scrotum associated with scrotal elephantiasis, treated with wide local resection and reconstruction.
Functional redundancy of GSK-3α and GSK-3β in wnt/β-catenin signaling shown by using an allelic series of embryonic stem cell lines

In mammalian cells, glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) exists as two homologs, GSK-3alpha and GSK-3beta, encoded by independent genes, which share similar kinase domains but differ substantially in their termini. Here, we describe the generation of an allelic series of mouse embryonic stem cell (ESC) lines with 0-4 functional GSK-3 alleles and examine GSK-3-isoform function in Wnt/beta-catenin signaling. No compensatory upregulation in GSK-3 protein levels or activity was detected in cells lacking either GSK-3alpha or GSK-3beta, and Wnt/beta-catenin signaling was normal. Only in cells lacking three or all four of the alleles was a gene-dosage effect on beta-catenin/TCF-mediated transcription observed. Indeed, GSK-3alpha/beta double-knockout ESCs displayed hyperactivated Wnt/beta-catenin signaling and were severely compromised in their ability to differentiate, but could be rescued to normality by re-expression of functional GSK-3. The rheostatic regulation of GSK-3 highlights the importance of considering the contributions of both homologs when studying GSK-3 functions in mammalian systems.
Nanocomposites: remote-controlled actuators.

The finding that carbon nanotube–elastomer nanocomposites can either contract or expand reversibly on exposure to light is surprising and hard to explain. But this may create a new avenue for the development of light-controlled actuators.
The Effect of Two-Dimensional Surface Roughness on the Load-Carrying Capacity of a Thin Compressible Gas Film

The influence of two-dimensional surface roughness on a very low clearance gas bearing slider is analyzed for conditions typical of current and near term hard disk data storage products. A model lubrication equation including finite width effects, compressibility and molecular slip is first developed and expressed in terms of the product variable, Z=PH. The analytical solution is then obtained by a combined variation of parameters and perturbation expansion method. Results obtained show that the product variable, which is proportional to longitudinal mass flow per unit depth, is not influenced by the details of surface roughness but is instead influenced by the statistics of the roughness distribution
Microsystems for automotive application - semiconductor aspects

Automotive electronics is a very dynamic field that is taking full advantage of the progress made in semiconductor technology. This progress will be analyzed in this paper. It will be shown that lower cost per function, higher monolithic integration and novel functionality open up immense expectations for automotive electronics of the future. It will also be shown that several paradigm shifts and new solutions are changing the system partitioning that has traditionally been designed in the past.
State Decay: A Conceptual Frame of Failing and Failed States in West Africa

Civil wars in Africa have brought many states to near collapse while many others have been plagued by political and economic failures. Studies of Africa have frequently noted the prevalence of weak and failed states. However, the notion of state failure rests more on the outcome of the political, economic, and social crises that have undermined African states, rather than the process of state failure. While the notion of state failure is a useful concept for studying the realities of war-torn African states, it is an inadequate concept to explain the conditions that lead African states into civil war. This study develops the notion of state decay and contends that it is a much more useful concept for examining the conditions that lead to civil wars and state failure in Africa.
Venirepersons's attitudes toward the insanity defense: developing, refining, and validating a scale

Given the prevalence and predictive strength of negative attitudes toward the insanity defense, we conducted three studies with 426 venirepersons to develop an understanding and a measure of public attitudes toward the insanity defense. In these studies, we developed, iteratively refined, and cross-validated the insanity defense attitude-revised (IDA-R) scale. The results suggest that IDAs are underpinned by one's degree of (a) orientation toward strict liability, and (b) concern about perceived injustice and danger associated with the defense. The IDA-R assesses these two-dimensions with good internal consistency, convergent and divergent validity, and predictive utility. The IDA-R's predictive utility generalizes across jurisdictions and manipulation of case facts. Theoretical and practical implications for research and for identifying impartial jurors at voir dire are discussed.
Picture encoding speed and mental retardation

Abstract Using a modified Posner “encoding function” methodology, we assessed group differences in semantic encoding speed under conditions in which subjects encoded pictures of common objects to determine physical identity (PI) matches, name identity (NI) matches, and superordinate identity (SI) matches. Mildly retarded adults; Chronological Age (CA)-matched, nonretarded adults; and Mental Age (MA)-matched, nonretarded children were presented pairs of stimuli in which the two stimuli within the pairs were separated by a variable stimulus onset asyncrony (SOA). Subjects were required to determine as rapidly as possible whether or not the two stimuli matched. A subject's encoding time corresponded to the shortest SOA at which optimal response time performance on the matching task was achieved. The results of primary interest revealed group differences in basic encoding speed and indicated that the magnitude of the group differences increased with increases in the degree to which accessing semantic knowledge was necessary to encode the stimuli. In addition, our data suggested that differences in basic encoding speed are IQ rather than MA related, whereas the degree to which accessing semantic knowledge increases encoding times is related to MA.
Sulfated glycosaminoglycan deposition and processing at the basal epithelial surface in branching and beta-D-xyloside-inhibited embryonic salivary glands.

Abstract We investigated whether the inhibition of proteoglycan synthesis and salivary branching morphogenesis by β- d -xyloside was related to the deposition and processing of newly synthesized glycosaminoglycans at the basal epithelial surface that correlates with normal branching activity. Forty eight-hour cultures of control and 0.5 mM β-xyloside-treated submandibular rudiments were labeled for 2 hr with [35S]sulfate and fixed and processed for autoradiography, immediately or after 2, 4, 6, or 8 hr of postlabeling chase in nonradioactive medium. The data demonstrated that deposition of chondroitin sulfate-rich material at the basal epithelial surface was strikingly reduced in β-xyloside-treated rudiments, while patterns of label loss during postlabeling chase were not altered.
Adaptations to fatigue of a single digit violate the principle of superposition in a multi-finger static prehension task

We investigated the effects of exercise-induced fatigue of a digit on the biomechanics of a static prehension task. The participants were divided into two groups. One group performed the fatiguing exercise using the thumb (group-thumb) and the second group performed the exercise using the index finger (group-index). We analyzed the prehensile action as being based on a two-level hierarchy. Our first hypothesis was that fatigue of the thumb would have stronger effects at the upper level (action shared between the thumb and all four fingers combined—virtual finger) and fatigue of the index finger would have stronger effects at the lower level of the hierarchy (action of the virtual finger shared among actual fingers). We also hypothesized that fatigue would cause a decrease in the normal force applied by the exercised digit and correspondingly lead to a decrease in the normal force applied by the opposing digit(s). Our third hypothesis was that fatigue would leave the tangential forces unaffected. Fatigue led to a significant drop in the normal force of both exercised and non-exercised (opposing) digits. The tangential forces of the exercised digits increased after fatigue. This led to a drop in the safety margin in the group-thumb, but not group-index. As such, the results supported the first two hypotheses but not the third hypothesis. Overall, the results suggested that fatigue triggered a chain reaction that involved both forces and moments of force produced by individual digits leading to a violation of the principle of superposition. The findings are interpreted within the framework of the referent configuration hypothesis.
Phospholipase C production and Clostridium perfringens growth in soy meal/ground beef mixtures.

Clostridium perfringens ATCC 13124 grew well in ground beef:soybean meal mixtures. Phospholipase C activity in the medium did not parallel the bacterial load. The concentrations of phospholipase C in 24 h cultures were lower than the control if the beef to soy ratio was 1:1 or 1:3; phospholipase C concentration was higher than the control when the beef to soy ratio was 9:1. The low phospholipase C levels may be due to the presence of carbohydrates in the soy meal because soy extracts with low carbohydrate content did not affect the phospholipase C concentrations as greatly as those with higher carbohydrate composition.