cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Role of Dendritic Cells in Inflammation and Loss of Tolerance in the Elderly.

Dendritic cells (DCs) play an important role in advancing age-associated progressive decline in adaptive immune responses, loss of tolerance, and development of chronic inflammation. In aged humans, DCs secrete increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and decreased levels of anti-inflammatory and immune-regulatory cytokines. This may contribute to both chronic inflammation and loss of tolerance in aging. Aged DCs also display increased immune response against self-antigens contributing further to both inflammation and loss of tolerance. The secretion of innate protective cytokines such as Type I and III interferons is decreased, and the function of DCs in airway remodeling and inflammation in aged is also compromised. Furthermore, the capacity of DCs to prime T cell responses also seems to be affected. Collectively, these changes in DC functions contribute to the immune dysfunction and inflammation in the elderly. This review only focuses on age-associated changes in DC function in humans.
The great divide: Separation between in vitro and in vivo effects of PSNCBAM-based CB1 receptor allosteric modulators.

While allosteric modulators of the cannabinoid type-1 receptor (CB1) continue to be developed and characterized, the gap between the in vitro and in vivo data is widening, raising questions regarding translatability of their effects and biological relevance. Among the CB1 allosteric modulators, PSNCBAM-1 has received little attention regarding its effects in vivo. Recently, pregnenolone was reported to act as an allosteric modulator of CB1, blocking THC's effects in vitro and in vivo, highlighting the potential of CB1 allosteric modulators for treatment of cannabis intoxication. We investigated the pharmacological effects of PSNCBAM-1 and two structural analogs, RTICBM-15 and -28, as well as pregnenolone, in both signaling and behavioral assays including [35S]GTPγS binding, the cannabinoid tetrad and drug discrimination. While the CB1 allosteric modulator PSNCBAM-1 attenuated THC-induced anti-nociception and its structural analog RTICBM-28 reduced THC's potency in drug discrimination, most cannabinoid effects in mice were unaffected. In contrast to the mouse studies, PSNCBAM-1 and analogs insurmountably antagonized CP55,940- and THC-stimulated [35S]GTPγS binding and exhibited negative binding cooperativity with [3H]SR141716 with similar apparent affinities. Notably, RTICBM-28, which contains a cyano substitution at the 4-chlorophenyl position of PSNCBAM-1, exhibited enhanced binding cooperativity with CP55,940. In contrast to previous findings, pregnenolone did not block THC's effects in drug discrimination or [35S]GTPγS. These data further highlight the difficulty in translating pharmacological effects of CB1 allosteric modulators in vivo but confirm the established pharmacology of PSNCBAM-1 and analogs in molecular assays of CB1 receptor function.
Combined Intravitreal and Systemic Antibiotic Therapy in a Patient with Syphilitic Uveitis.

PURPOSE To report the novel use of combined intravitreal and systemic antibiotic therapy in a patient with syphilitic panuveitis and discuss the management of ocular syphilis. METHODS Case report Results: A 45-year old heterosexual male with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) presented with 1 month of blurry vision in both eyes. Clinical examination revealed a bilateral panuveitis. The patient denied history of genital lesions or rash, but did complain of difficulty hearing bilaterally. Treponemal EIA was positive, the RPR titer greater than 1:512 dilution, and CSF VDRL 1:4. A diagnosis of neurosyphilis and ocular syphilis was made based on the clinical and laboratory findings. The patient was admitted for systemic intravenous antibiotic therapy, but was noted to have a penicillin allergy. Intravitreal ceftazidime was promptly administered bilaterally to achieve treponemacidal levels of antibiotic therapy. After penicillin desensitization protocol, the patient received 14 days of intravenous penicillin with clinical resolution. CONCLUSIONS There are increasing reports of ocular syphilis in the United States and delay in diagnosis and management can lead to severe visual impairment and blindness. We report the first case of adjunct intravitreal antibiotic therapy in a penicillin allergic patient. As ocular syphilis is a form of bacterial endophthalmitis, combination intravitreal and systemic antibiotics may be considered.
Comparison of lipopolysaccharides composition of two different strains of Helicobacter pylori.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a Gram-negative, microaerophilic bacterium that is recognized as a major cause of chronic gastritis, peptic ulcers, and gastric cancer. Comparable to other Gram-negative bacteria, lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are an important cellular component of the outer membrane of H. pylori. The LPS of this organism plays a key role in its colonization and persistence in the stomach. In addition, H. pylori LPS modulates pathogen-induced host inflammatory responses resulting in chronic inflammation within the gastrointestinal tract. Very little is known about the comparative LPS compositions of different strains of H. pylori with varied degree of virulence in human. Therefore, LPS was analyzed from two strains of H. pylori with differing potency in inducing inflammatory responses (SS1 and G27). LPS were extracted from aqueous and phenol layer of hot-phenol water extraction method and subjected for composition analysis by gas chromatography – mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to sugar and fatty acid compositions. The major difference between the two strains of H. pylori is the presence of Rhamnose, Fucose and GalNAc in the SS1 strain, which was either not found or with low abundance in the G27 strain. On the other hand, high amount of Mannose was present in G27 in comparison to SS1. Fatty acid composition of lipid-A portion also showed considerable amount of differences between the two strains, phenol layer of SS1 had enhanced amount of 3 hydroxy decanoic acid (3-OH-C10:0) and 3-hydroxy dodecanoic acid (3-OH-C12:0) which were not present in G27, whereas myristic acid (C14:0) was present in G27 in relatively high amount. The composition analysis of H. pylori LPS, revealed differences in sugars and fatty acids composition between a mouse adapted strain SS1 and G27. This knowledge provides a novel way to dissect out their importance in host-pathogen interaction in further studies.
Wideband resonant metasurfaces: Role of local modes

We treat subwavelength resonant metasurfaces inscribed with 1D and 2D periodic patterning. We show that local Fabry-Perot modes or Mie modes are not fundamentally needed to achieve wideband response. In fact, device embodiments with such modes being absent yield wider bands.
Photochemical model evaluation of 2013 California wild fire air quality impacts using surface, aircraft, and satellite data.

Abstract The Rim Fire was one of the largest wildfires in California history, burning over 250,000 acres during August and September 2013 affecting air quality locally and regionally in the western U.S. Routine surface monitors, remotely sensed data, and aircraft based measurements were used to assess how well the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) photochemical grid model applied at 4 and 12 km resolution represented regional plume transport and chemical evolution during this extreme wildland fire episode. Impacts were generally similar at both grid resolutions although notable differences were seen in some secondary pollutants (e.g., formaldehyde and peroxyacyl nitrate) near the Rim fire. The modeling system does well at capturing near-fire to regional scale smoke plume transport compared to remotely sensed aerosol optical depth (AOD) and aircraft transect measurements. Plume rise for the Rim fire was well characterized as the modeled plume top was consistent with remotely sensed data and the altitude of aircraft measurements, which were typically made at the top edge of the plume. Aircraft-based lidar suggests O3 downwind in the Rim fire plume was vertically stratified and tended to be higher at the plume top, while CMAQ estimated a more uniformly mixed column of O3. Predicted wildfire ozone (O3) was overestimated both at the plume top and at nearby rural and urban surface monitors. Photolysis rates were well characterized by the model compared with aircraft measurements meaning aerosol attenuation was reasonably estimated and unlikely contributing to O3 overestimates at the top of the plume. Organic carbon was underestimated close to the Rim fire compared to aircraft data, but was consistent with nearby surface measurements. Periods of elevated surface PM2.5 at rural monitors near the Rim fire were not usually coincident with elevated O3.
Black Religion and Aesthetics: Religious Thought and Life in Africa and the African Diaspora

Introduction PART I: NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA A Beautiful Be-ing: Religious Humanism and the Aesthetics of a New Salvation A.B.Pinn The Foolish Woman Grows Angry Because They Teach Her: Influences of Sexism in Black Church Worship N.L.Westfield Spiritual Matters: The Aesthetics of Ritual Substances in Umbanda L.Hale From Hattie to Halle: Black Female Bodies and Spectatorship as Ritual in Hollywood Cinema C.B.Duncan PART II: THE CARIBBEAN Giving Form to Les Invisibles: Spirits and Rituals in Haitian Painting L.Paravisini-Gebert Dancing with Ochun: Imagining How a Black Goddess Became White M.De La Torre PART THREE: EUROPE Black Suit Matters: Identity, Spirituality and Representation in the British Religious Documentary R.Beckford A Dialectical Spirituality of Improvisation: The Ambiguity of Black Engagements with Sacred Texts A.Reddie PART FOUR: AFRICA The Aesthetic Dimensions of Religion in South Africa: Africa Initiated Churches Considered L.E.Thomas Aesthetics in Africa Art: Implications for African Theology E.K.Bongmba
Management of the Neck in Cancer of the Salivary Glands

Discussion of risk factors for metastasis from cancer of the salivary glands Algorithm for management of the clinically negative (N0) neck in cancer of the salivary glands based upon clinical assessment, fine-needle aspiration biopsy, and frozen section pathology Management of the clinically positive (N+) neck, including neck dissection and postoperative radiation therapy Future directions in understanding salivary gland tumorigenesis and cervical metastasis, such as using molecular markers for prognosis and developing targeted therapy
Verzögerte Heilung und Pseudarthrose

Bei richtig angewandten intramedullaren Pins kann im allgemeinen mit einer ausgezeichneten Knochenheilung gerechnet werden. Der innerhalb der Knochensubstanz gelegene Pin selbst scheint die Knochenheilung weder anzuregen noch zu verzogern. Aber die Ausnutzung der potentiellen dynamischen Krafte kann die fordernden Faktoren zur Geltung bringen und die Knochenheilung sicherstellen und beschleunigen.
TIME DECAY OF PHOTOLUMINESCENCE FROM AMORPHOUS SiO2

Photoluminescence (PL) time decay for annealed and neutron-irradiated amorphous (a-) SiO 2 is reported. PL bands at 4.3., 2.7 and 1.9 eV, excited by 7.8 eV radiation from a pulsed F 2 laser, are observed for both annealed and neutron-irradiated Suprasil W. The time decay of the 4.3 eV band is <10ns, but the 2.7 and 1.9 eV PL decay slower. In spite of the complexity of several PL bands, the time decays of the two low energy PL bands are simply composed of a couple of decay rates.
Predisposition Syndromes to Central Nervous System Cancers

Currently, only a minority of pediatric central nervous system (CNS) tumors are attributable to an underlying genetic predisposition syndrome. Despite their rarity, genetic predisposition syndromes play a disproportionately important role in the management of children with CNS cancers due to their influence on therapeutic strategies, treatment-related toxicities, and long-term prognosis, and on the need for genetic counseling of families and screening of affected individuals. Likewise, the unveiling of pathogenic mechanisms involved in rare CNS cancer predisposition syndromes has greatly increased our understanding of the somatic molecular abnormalities that occur in sporadic tumors.
Abstract 523: The Effects of Spontaneous Exercise on Murine Model of Deep Vein Thrombosis

Introduction: Recent studies suggest physical activity may have beneficial effects on deep vein thrombosis (VT). Long-term moderate exercise has been shown to reduce inflammatory cytokines and atte...
Redefining Direct and Indirect Abortions through “The Perspective of the Acting Person”: A Misreading of Veritatis Splendor:

Despite sincere attempts to interpret Evangelium vitae and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Ethical and Religious Directives (ERDs) of Catholic Health Care on direct versus...
Blame and Protest

In recent years, philosophers have developed a novel conception of blame as a kind of moral protest. This Protest View of Blame faces doubts about its intelligibility: can we make sense of inner ‘protest’ in cases of unexpressed blame? It also faces doubts about its descriptive adequacy: does ‘protest’ capture what is distinctive in reactions of blame? I argue that the Protest View can successfully answer the first kind of doubt, but not the second. Cases of contemptful blame and unexpressed blame offer initial counterexamples to the view. The Protest View can accommodate these examples by appealing to a broader notion of protest, but, I argue, at the cost of retreating to a broader category that no longer captures what is distinctive about blame. Moreover, nonviolent resistance, in the tradition of Gandhi and Dr. King, characteristically protests without blame, presenting another powerful challenge to the Protest View. These challenges, I argue, undermine the view, while helping to illuminate and defend the appeal of nonviolent resistance. They also offer an alternative conception of the relation between protest and blame, characteristic of nonviolent resistance and obscured by the Protest View. On that alternative, the relation is not descriptive but practical; rather than understanding blame as a kind of protest, we should aim, in many cases, to replace blame with protest.
Current Controversies in Sepsis Management

The overarching goals of early sepsis management include early recognition, appropriate antibiotic therapy and source control, maintenance of hemodynamic stability, and supportive care of organ dysfunction. Despite increasing awareness of the global burden of sepsis, and general agreement on the goals of management, there is ongoing controversy regarding the implementation of specific treatment strategies to optimize patient outcomes. This article will address five current points of controversy in the management of sepsis and septic shock. These include optimal timing of antibiotics in patients with potential sepsis, the role of glucocorticoids in septic shock, vitamin C as a novel therapy for sepsis, the ideal intravenous fluid for resuscitation, and the optimal balance of fluid resuscitation and vasopressor administration in septic shock. For each of these topics, we review relevant literature, discuss areas of controversy, and present our current approach to management.
GLIA, NERVE GROWTH FACTOR AND GANGLIONIC METABOLISM

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the glia, nerve growth factor (NGF), and ganglionic metabolism. The view that the sole role of NGF may be to solicit, through a single modality, the expression of whatever programs are operative is strongly supported by several considerations. NGF is required for survival and not just for a shift in cell activities. A triggering role of NGF is denied by the need for a continuous presence of the agent. The cellular responses to NGF are graded in regard to the NGF levels, indicating quantitative rather than qualitative regulatory influences. NGF appears to play its role over an extended span of the target cell history, from neuroblastic to postmitotic to even adult stages. Moreover, encouraging this general view is the report that exogenous NGF could not replace somite tissue for the in vitro induction of neural crest into sympathetic elements, but could substitute for the presence of neural tube tissue required for their post-induction survival, growth, and development. The operation of an axonal route appears well established as a means to bring NGF from peripheral depots to the intrasomal space of the target neurons.
Simulations of short-term exposure to NO 2 and PM 2.5 to inform capture efficiency standards

Author(s): Chan, Wanyu; Kumar, Sangeetha; Johnson, Alexandra; Singer, Brett | Abstract: The California building code requires all new or renovated residential dwelling units to have kitchen exhaust ventilation to manage air pollutants and moisture generated during cooking. Current performance requirements are specified as a minimum airflow and maximum sound level. This report presents an analysis to support consideration of adding a capture efficiency requirement to the code. The analysis uses a physics-based simulation model to calculate air pollutant concentrations in homes that result from cooking and the inflow of outdoor air, mediated by loss and removal process including deposition, dwelling unit ventilation, and the use of a range hood with varying levels of capture efficiency. Calculated pollutant concentrations are compared to relevant, health-based guidelines. The analysis considers the highest 1-hour concentration of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), which is a product of natural gas combustion and the highest 24-hour concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) which is emitted in substantial quantities from frying, broiling and grilling among other cooking activities. For NO2, the analysis considers cooking of a dinner for 3-4 persons consisting of pasta, meat sauce, a par-boiled vegetable, and baked garlic bread. For PM2.5, the analysis considers a day in which breakfast emitted particles at the 80th percentile and lunch and dinner entailed particle emissions at the 50th percentile of cooking emission events reported in the literature. Model simulations were performed to determine the level of range hood capture efficiency that will allow these cooking scenarios to occur in the vast majority (g99%) of new homes being built in California while maintaining pollutant concentrations below the health-based guidelines, if the range hood is used throughout cooking. All homes were assumed to have dwelling unit ventilation at the rate required in the building code. Simulation model input parameters were specified using a Monte Carlo approach to represent a range of housing characteristics, outdoor conditions, and indoor pollutant dynamics. Simulation results suggest that requiring a minimum capture efficiency of at least 70% is needed to avoid unacceptably high NO2 (1-h average concentration of 100 ppb or higher) and at least 60% to avoid unacceptably high PM2.5 (24-h average of 25 ug/m3 or higher). These results were driven by multi-family homes, which have a smaller volume of air to dilute any pollutants not captured and removed at the cooking area, resulting in higher concentrations.
Withdrawal of medications leads to worsening of OGTT parameters in youth with impaired glucose tolerance or recently-diagnosed type 2 diabetes.

Background The RISE Pediatric Medication Study compared strategies for preserving β-cell function, including a 9-month follow-up after treatment withdrawal to test treatment effect durability. Objective Evaluate OGTT measures of glucose and β-cell response through 12 months of intervention and 9 months of medication washout. Participants Youth (n = 91) aged 10 to 19 years with BMI ≥85th percentile and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or recently diagnosed type 2 diabetes (T2D). Methods A multicenter randomized clinical trial comparing insulin glargine for 3 months followed by metformin for 9 months (G→Met) or metformin alone (Met) for 12 months. We report within-group changes from baseline to end of medication intervention (M12), baseline to 9 months post-medication withdrawal (M21), and end of medication (M12) to M21. OGTT C-peptide index [CPI] paired with 1/fasting insulin evaluated β-cell response. Results At M12, both treatments were associated with stable fasting glucose (G→Met baseline 6.0 ± 0.1 vs M12 5.9 ± 0.2 mmol/L, P = .62; Met baseline 6.1 ± 0.2 vs M12 6.0 ± 0.2 mmol/L, P = .73) and 2-hour glucose (G→Met baseline 10.2 ± 0.4 vs M12 9.3 ± 0.5 mmol/L, P = .03; Met baseline 10.2 ± 0.4 vs M12 10.6 ± 0.6 mmol/L, P = .88). Following medication withdrawal, fasting glucose worsened (G→Met M21 8.6 ± 1.8, P = .004; Met M21 7.8 ± 0.7 mmol/L, P = .003), as did 2-hour glucose (G→Met M21 13.2 ± 1.4, P = .002; Met M21 13.1 ± 1.2 mmol/L, P = .006), associated with declines in β-cell response. Conclusions G→Met and Met were associated with stable glucose measures during 12 months of treatment in youth with IGT or recently diagnosed T2D. Glucose and β-cell response worsened post-medication withdrawal, suggesting treatment must be long-term or alternative treatments pursued.
Educational e-Learning Tool to Improve Fascia Iliac Block Uptake for Neck of Femur Fracture Patients: A Multi-Disciplinary Approach.

Background There are 75,000 neck of femur (NOF) fractures that occur each year in England and Wales. Prompt, adequate analgesia is a major priority in hip fracture management to reduce the risk of delirium and facilitate earlier return to mobility and independence. NICE guidelines recommend the use of fascia iliaca block (FIB) for NOF fracture patients. Current literature suggests that FIB significantly improves pre-operative pain scores; however despite this, the uptake of FIB still varies between centers. Objective The study aimed to review pre-operative analgesia management of NOF patients in our center. The primary endpoint was to improve uptake of regional fascia iliaca block (FIB) in NOF patients by means of an educational e-learning tool. Study Design and Methods We performed a prospective review of all patients with NOF fractures admitted via the emergency department from September to October 2018 in a single district general hospital in the UK. We recorded patient demographics, time of admission, grade of physician performing block and pain scores and total FIB uptake. A multidisciplinary-led, short interventional training program of FIB administration was then developed and delivered to all relevant staff. Pain management and pain scores were recorded in a second prospective cycle along with uptake of FIB. Results There was a 53.2% reduction in pain score in the group that received FIB compared to 26.7% in patients who received oral analgesia only, consistent with current literature (p value = 0.0046). There was a significant increase (2.66x) in FIB administration by orthopedic doctors (27.3% in cycle 1 to 100% in cycle 2) after the educational session intervention. Conclusion This study shows that with the use of an educational training tool, all members of the multidisciplinary team can successfully administer FIB without any complications. Our educational tool has enabled a significant increase in delivery of FIB.
Personal Philosophy of Leadership

This precis tables a preliminary statement of a personal philosophy of leadership. The statement is informed by theoretical perspectives on leadership—themselves based on new-wave leadership literature; key leadership influences; cultural identity; trends in the development of post-bureaucratic organizations; and sundry work experiences.
The Association between Sex Hormones, Pubertal Milestones and Benzophenone-3 Exposure, Measured by Urinary Biomarker or Questionnaire.

Experimental studies have suggested benzophenone-3 (BP-3), a sunscreen ingredient, may have endocrine-disrupting properties. A cohort of girls were recruited at ages 6–7 years and returned semi-ann...
Theory progress at Strange Quark Matter 2021

I review recent theory progress reported at the 19th International Conference on Strangeness in Quark Matter (SQM), and discuss open questions to be addressed by the coming editions of SQM.
The Effect of Policy Uncertainty on VC Investments Around the World

This study documents a significant negative relationship between policy uncertainty and venture capital (VC) investment in startups across emerging venture capital markets (i.e., outside the United States). The adverse effect of policy uncertainty is exacerbated for younger and early-stage startups. By contrast, the effect is attenuated for startups that have headquarters in cities with a high concentration of global VC investment, in countries with more developed stock markets, or if the VC is led by a bank or a corporate entity. Using close national elections and term limits to alleviate endogeneity concerns, we find that the baseline results continue to hold. Furthermore, we also find that policy uncertainty reduces the amount of cross-border VC investment. Finally, this study provides evidence that uncertainty increases the number of financing rounds, decreases the fraction of investment amount during the first round, and reduces the likelihood of successful exit through acquisition.
Justice and Law

This article proposes that the commonsense conception of legal justice is simply treating people as the law provides. Law, however, can be flawed from the standpoint of extralegal justice. In that case, the term ‘legal justice’ sounds like a misnomer – a wrongful appropriation of the terminology of justice viewed as a moral virtue. The article examines two avenues of response to this problem: first, theories that narrow the gap between legal and extralegal justice, and second, theories according to which the central virtue of legal systems is something other than justice. Among the former, the article discusses natural law theories, moralized theories of interpretation, equity, and certain forms of alternative dispute resolution. Among the latter, it discusses economic, pragmatic, and feminist alternatives to a justice-centered account of law's virtues.
Constituents of Rosaceous Plants. I. Structures of New Triterpenoids from Cowania mexicana

In our search for possible anti-tumor-promoters, we carried out an investigation of the leaves and branches of Cowania mexicana D. DON (Rosaceae). Two new cucurbitane type triterpenes, 15-oxo-cucurbitacin F (3) and 15-oxo-23, 24-dihydrocucurbitacin F (4), were isolated together with cucurbitacin F (1) and 23, 24-dihydrocucurbitacin F (2). These triterpenes were inhibitors of Epstein-Barr virus early antigen activation induced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, a well-known tumor-promoter. The structures of 3 and 4 were determined from 2D-NMR spectral data and difference NOE experiments.
Sheet Beam Klystron Simulations Using AJDISK

AJDISK is a useful design tool for sheet beams. The code is capable of simulating sheet beam klystrons on modern computers in under a minute. The code can accurately and quickly predict saturated gain, reduced plasma wavelength, cavity voltages, and beam loading. Two of the output plots from the code are shown in figure 3. The gain predicted from AJDISK is in good agreement with measured results and is shown in figure 4
Studies of L-1210 leukemia. IV. Ultrastructural findings after in vitro treatment with cyclophosphamide and vitamin A.

Abstract The influence of normal liver and Vitamin A on the activity of cyclophosphamide on the L-1210 leukemia was investigated in short-term organ cultures. The experimental data presented here support the hypothesis that some principle in the liver is instrumental in the biologic activation of cyclophosphamide. It is also suggested that Vitamin A may alter the permeability of lipoprotein membranes and favor the release and diffusion of lysosomal or microsomal enzymes, or both, and that such enzymes may play a role in the activation process and in tumor-cell damage. Vitamin A also appeared to induce changes in the leukemic cells, reflected in a pseudoepithelization of the lymphoid elements. Increased phagocytosis of red cells by leukemic cells and macrophages, and characteristic changes in the phagocytized corpuscles is also attributed to the action of Vitamin A.
Selective priming of rate and duration of the respiratory burst of neutrophils by 1,2-diacyl and 1-O-alkyl-2-acyl diglycerides. Possible relation to effects on protein kinase C.

Abstract Both 1,2-diacyl- and 1-O-alkyl-2-acyl-sn-glycerols are released during stimulation of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL). 1,2-Diacylglycerols have received intense interest as intracellular "second messengers" due to their ability to activate protein kinase C (Ca2+ phospholipid-dependent enzyme). However, little is known about bioactivities of the alkylacylglycerols. This study compared the ability of 1,2-diacyl- and 1-O-alkyl-2-acylglycerols to modulate the respiratory burst of stimulated PMNL, a response which depends on the activation of an NADPH oxidase to generate bactericidal species of reduced oxygen. Direct stimulation by N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe caused an abrupt release of H2O2 which ceased within 2.5 min. Preincubation with diacylglycerols (1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol,5-30 microM, and 1,2-dioctanoylglycerol,2-5 microM) caused a decrease in lag time, 3-fold increase in initial rate of H2O2 release, and marked prolongation of the response to N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (features characteristic of a priming effect). Preincubation with alkylacylglycerols (1-O-delta 9-octadecenyl-2-acetylglycerol, 5-30 microM, and 1-O-octyl-2-octanoylglycerol, 20-50 microM) primed initiation (shortened lag time and increased velocity) but, in contrast to diacylglycerols, did not alter duration of H2O2 release. While low concentrations of diacylglycerols (5-30 microM) primed PMNL, higher concentrations (greater than or equal to 70 microM) stimulated the cells directly. In contrast, higher (70-100 microM) concentrations of alkylacylglycerols did not prime the responses but, in fact, inhibited priming (especially of duration) induced by diacylglycerol. The high concentrations of alkylacylglycerol also inhibited direct stimulation induced by high concentrations of diacylglycerol. Direct stimulation by high concentrations of diacylglycerol probably involves activation of protein kinase C, whereas alkylacylglycerol was found to inhibit activation of protein kinase C by diacylglycerol in vitro. Thus, diacylglycerols are complete priming agonists, altering both rate and duration of the response. In contrast, alkylacylglycerols may have biphasic, concentration-related effects in modulation of functions of PMNL. At low concentrations, they may facilitate initiation of functional events; however, as their concentration increases, they may serve to terminate responses. The distinct priming effects of these diglycerides also reveal that priming can involve at least two distinct events: 1) initiation and 2) prolongation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Vitamin E supplementation for prevention of morbidity and mortality in preterm infants

Background Treating very low birth weight (VLBW) infants with pharmacologic doses of vitamin E as an antioxidant agent has been proposed for preventing or limiting retinopathy of prematurity, intracranial hemorrhage, hemolytic anemia, and chronic lung disease. However, excessive doses of vitamin E may result in concerning side effects. Objectives To assess the effects of vitamin E supplementation on morbidity and mortality in preterm infants. Search methods MEDLINE (October 2002), EMBASE (March 2002), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL, The Cochrane Library, Issue 1, 2003), and personal files for clinical trials assessing vitamin E in preterm infants were searched. The MEDLINE and CCTR searches were updated in March 2007. Selection criteria Trials analyzing primary outcomes (mortality or combined long-term morbidity) or secondary outcomes (other morbidity) in infants with gestational age less than 37 weeks or birth weight less than 2500 grams were selected. The intervention was allocation to routine supplementation with vitamin E in the treatment group versus placebo, no treatment or another type, dose or route of administration of vitamin E. Data collection and analysis The standard methods of the Cochrane Collaboration and of the Cochrane Neonatal Review Group were used. Main results Twenty-six randomized clinical trials fulfilled entry criteria. No study assessed combined long-term morbidity. Routine vitamin E supplementation significantly increased hemoglobin concentration by a small amount. Vitamin E significantly reduced the risk of germinal matrix/intraventricular hemorrhage and increased the risk of sepsis; however, heterogeneity limits the strength of these latter two inferences. Vitamin E did not significantly affect other morbidity or mortality. In VLBW infants, vitamin E supplementation significantly increased the risk of sepsis, and reduced the risk of severe retinopathy and blindness among those examined. Subgroup analyses demonstrated (1) an association between intravenous, high-dose vitamin E supplementation and increased risk of sepsis and of parenchymal cerebral hemorrhage; (2) an association between vitamin E supplementation by other than the intravenous route and reduced risk of germinal matrix-intraventricular hemorrhage and of severe intraventricular hemorrhage; and (3) an association between serum tocopherol levels greater than 3.5 mg/dl and increased risk of sepsis and reduced risk for severe retinopathy among those examined. Authors' conclusions Vitamin E supplementation in preterm infants reduced the risk of intracranial hemorrhage but increased the risk of sepsis. In very low birth weight infants, vitamin E increased the risk of sepsis, and reduced the risk of severe retinopathy and blindness among those examined. Evidence does not support the routine use of vitamin E supplementation by intravenous route at high doses or aiming at serum tocopherol levels greater than 3.5 mg/dl.
Angiogenesis in association with the migration of gonadotropic hormone-releasing hormone (GnRH) systems in embryonic mice, early human embryos and in a fetus with Kallmann's syndrome.

Publisher Summary This chapter examines the theoretical notion that the development of the vasculature in the head, and in particular in the nasal mesenchyme, may play a role in the migration and, ultimately, in the function of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) or luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) systems in mammals. The GnRH immunoreactive neurons in mice are first detected by immunocyotchemical procedures and antibodies to GnRH at about 11 to 11.5 days of embryogenesis (more than 45 pairs of somites are present at this age). The GnRH immunoreactive neurons are found in the epithelium of the medial part of the olfactory pit, either side of midline. GnRH neurons are widely separated from each other throughout the placodal epithelium, and as they emerge into the nasal mesenchyme they form cords along, or surrounded by, N-CAM-immunoreactive axons of the terminalis and vomeronasal nerves and perforating branches of the nasal arteries and veins. The GnRH cells are never found independent of these axons in the nasal mesenchyme. The chapter further describes the formation of the meninges in mice and development of the vasculature and observations of the development of the GnRH systems and meninges in human embryos.
Flight test of a vision device

This paper describes flight test of a research external viewing device (REVD). The REVD was designed and down as a substitute for forward vision through a wind screen, constructed of optical lenses and mirrors, and evaluated during approaches and landings. A NASA F-104 aircraft hosted the experiment to enable 25/spl deg/ glide slope approaches. Additionally, conventional 3/spl deg/ glide slope approaches were down to evaluate the REVD for a hypothetical high-speed civil transport. The REVD was satisfactory for all approaches. >
Using Patents Data to Map Technical Change in Health-Related Areas

This document reports findings regarding the use of patents data for understanding various dimensions of technical change in health-related areas. Reported counts are based on “Triadic Patent Families”, that is sets of patents covering a single invention, filed altogether in Europe, Japan and the US. There were nearly 40 000 health-related patent families filed in the 1988-1995 period, which is 16% of the total number of patent families, with a majority (58%) of Medical Preparations (mainly drugs), followed by Surgery (13%), Media Devices (10%) and Prostheses (9%). The share of health patent inventors residing in the US is 56% (it is 35% in all families), EU is 27% (32% in all families), and Japan is 11% (28% in all families). The share of the US has been increasing between 1988 and 1995, whereas the share of Japan was shrinking. Internationalisation of research (measured by the share of patents with inventors residing in two or more different countries) has been growing steadily ...
Urbanhermes : fashion signaling and the social mobility of images

INTRODUCTION Fashion is a signal of status and affiliation in a world of fluidly mutable social hierarchies. Social membership defines access to information, including information about new styles, new ways of dressing, thinking and being. When information flows slowly and social structures are relatively stable, fashion too changes slowly, over the course of years. Today, information flows at the global speed of the Internet, social structures are highly mobile, and fashions change at an unprecedented rate. On the net, hit songs and news stories are the fashions of the online persona, the accessories of the blog and the homepage. On the street, styles of shoes, handbags, coats and pants change more rapidly than ever, but still far slower than their electronic counterparts, weighed down by their material incarnation.
A Note on Objects Built From Bricks without Corners

We report a small advance on a question raised by Robertson, Schweitzer, and Wagon in [RSW02]. They constructed a genus-13 polyhedron built from bricks without corners, and asked whether every genus-0 such polyhedron must have a corner. A brick is a parallelopiped, and a corner is a brick of degree three or less in the brick graph. We describe a genus-3 polyhedron built from bricks with no corner, narrowing the genus gap.
Between the Post-ethnic and the Unique: Exclusion of American Muslim Women and Policy- Making

Muslim women are treated in a similar manner by the media and the globalization political process. Because of this fusion between sensational media reporting and policy-making, combined with compartmentalized scholarship (area studies, Islamic studies, women's studies) and activism (Muslim vs. Western), a Muslim woman is often not viewed as an autonomous entity that could and should be involved in policy-making. This pattern of ignoring Muslim women's political participation is repeated even in the United States. With the exception of a few, the majority of American Muslim women of varying backgrounds and educational levels are neither involved in the domestic nor in the international affairs of the US. Hence, the issue is: how is it possible for the estimated three million American Muslim women to become a political reality to further the US democratic policy, the US Muslim political and legal rights, or Muslim women's human rights all over the world.
Determining fault insertion rates for evolving software systems

In developing a software system, we would like to be able to estimate the way in which the fault content changes during its development, as well as determining the locations having the highest concentration of faults. In the phases prior to test, however, there may be very little direct information regarding the number and location of faults. This lack of direct information requires the development of a fault surrogate from which the number of faults and their location can be estimated. We develop a fault surrogate based on changes in relative complexity, a synthetic measure which has been successfully used as a fault surrogate in previous work. We show that changes in the relative complexity can be used to estimate the rates at which faults are inserted into a system between successive revisions. These rates can be used to continuously monitor the total number of faults inserted into a system, the residual fault content, and identify those portions of a system requiring the application of additional fault detection and removal resources.
Unconditionally stable shock filters for image and geometry processing

This work revisits the Shock Filters of Osher and Rudin [OR90] and shows how the proposed filtering process can be interpreted as the advection of image values along flow-lines. Using this interpretation, we obtain an efficient implementation that only requires tracing flow-lines and re-sampling the image. We show that the approach is stable, allowing the use of arbitrarily large time steps without requiring a linear solve. Furthermore, we demonstrate the robustness of the approach by extending it to the processing of signals on meshes in 3D.
On Minimal Defining Sets of Full Designs and Self-Complementary Designs, and a New Algorithm for Finding Defining Sets of t -Designs

A defining set of a t-(v, k, λ) design is a partial design which is contained in a unique t-design with the given parameters. A minimal defining set is a defining set, none of whose proper partial designs is a defining set. This paper proposes a new and more efficient algorithm that finds all non-isomorphic minimal defining sets of a given t-design. The complete list of minimal defining sets of 2-(6, 3, 6) designs, 2-(7, 3, 4) designs, the full 2-(7, 3, 5) design, a 2-(10, 4, 4) design, 2-(10, 5, 4) designs, 2-(13, 3, 1) designs, 2-(15, 3, 1) designs, the 2-(25, 5, 1) design, 3-(8, 4, 2) designs, the 3-(12, 6, 2) design, and 3-(16, 8, 3) designs are given to illustrate the efficiency of the algorithm. Also, corrections to the literature are made for the minimal defining sets of four 2-(7, 3, 3) designs, two 2-(6, 3, 4) designs and the 2-(21, 5, 1) design. Moreover, an infinite class of minimal defining sets for 2-$${v\choose3}$$designs, where v ≥ 5, has been constructed which helped to show that the difference between the sizes of the largest and the smallest minimal defining sets of 2-$${v\choose3}$$designs gets arbitrarily large as v → ∞. Some results in the literature for the smallest defining sets of t-designs have been generalized to all minimal defining sets of these designs. We have also shown that all minimal defining sets of t-(2n, n, λ) designs can be constructed from the minimal defining sets of their restrictions when t is odd and all t-(2n, n, λ) designs are self-complementary. This theorem can be applied to 3-(8, 4, 3) designs, 3-(8, 4, 4) designs and the full $$3-{8 \choose 4}$$design using the previous results on minimal defining sets of their restrictions. Furthermore we proved that when n is even all (n − 1)-(2n, n, λ) designs are self-complementary.
Innominate artery atheroma: A lesion seen with gadolinium-enhanced MR angiography and often missed by transesophageal echocardiography

Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is the procedure of choice for identifying aortic atheromas, which may result in stroke, transient ischemic attack and peripheral embolization. However, because of anatomic constraints, the innominate artery may not be visualized. We investigated gadolinium-enhanced MR angiography (MRA) as an alternative technique for evaluation of suspected atheromas of the innominate artery. From a retrospective review of 520 examinations, we identified five patients who had innominate artery atheromas diagnosed prospectively with gadolinium-enhanced MRA who also underwent TEE within 1 month. A total of 10 innominate artery atheromas were demonstrated on MRA; none of these were visualized on TEE. One patient had three atheromas, two patients had two atheromas and three patients had one atheroma. They ranged in size from 3 mm to 1.5 cm (mean 6.5 mm). One atheroma was flat, two were filiform, and seven were protruding. Gadolinium-enhanced MRA is superior to TEE for the diagnosis of atheromas of the innominate artery. In the setting of right cerebral or right arm embolization, when no source is seen in the arch on TEE, gadolinium-enhanced MRA should be considered.
A blackboard approach for diagnosis in Pilot's Associate

A description is given of Pilot's Associate (PA), a control-advisory system expected to fly in late-1990s tactical fighter aircraft. PA will improve pilot effectiveness by improving pilot awareness of not only external situations but also the internal status of aircraft systems and options for accommodating faulty equipment. A blackboard architecture was used in developing the internal-awareness function, called system status. To get a clearer view of system status functionality, several examples are given to show how it aids pilots and supports other PA functions. System status architecture is described. Performance testing and evaluation results for PA are presented. Positive characteristics and drawbacks of the current architecture are summarized. >
Membrane Separation in Deadend Hollow Fiber Filters at Constant Transmembrane Pressure

A mathematical model of cake formation in deadend outside-in hollow fiber filters accounting for nonuniform cake deposition throughout the filter is developed. The model is used to study two possible mechanisms of cake growth: conventional (convective) and adsorption-peptization. The system of equations describing the cake formation is numerically solved with the generalized Crank-Nicholson finite-difference scheme. Comparison of the numerical solutions with experimental data shows that the cake formation in deadend out-side-in hollow fiber filters is governed by the adsorption-peptization mechanism.
Cannabinoids blocks tactile allodynia in diabetic mice without attenuation of its antinociceptive effect

Diabetic neuropathic pain is one of the most commonly encountered neuropathic pain syndromes. However, the treatment of diabetic neuropathic pain is challenging because of partial effectiveness of currently available pain relievers. It is well known that diabetic animals are less sensitive to the analgesic effect of morphine, and opioids are found to be ineffective in the treatment of diabetic neuropathic pain. Cannabinoids are promising drugs and they share a similar pharmacological properties with opioids. It has been reported that cannabinoid analgesia remained intact and to be effective in some models of nerve injury. Thus, we investigated antinociceptive efficacy and the effects of cannabinoids on behavioral sign of diabetic neuropathic pain in diabetic mice by using WIN 55, 212-2, a cannabinoid receptor agonist. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (STZ) (200mg/kg) and animals were tested between 45 and 60 days after onset of diabetes. Antinociception was assessed using the radiant tail-flick test. Mechanical and thermal sensitivities were measured by Von Frey filaments and hot-plate test, respectively. Tactile allodynia, but not thermal hyperalgesia developed in diabetic mice. Systemic WIN 55, 212-2 (1, 5 and 10mg/kg) produced a dose-dependent antinociception both in diabetic and control mice. WIN 55, 212-2-induced antinociception were found to be similar in diabetic mice when compared to controls suggesting efficacy of cannabinoid antinociception was not diminished in diabetic mice. WIN 55, 212-2 also produced a dose-dependent antiallodynic effect in diabetic mice. This study suggests that cannabinoids have a potential beneficial effect on experimental diabetic neuropathic pain.