cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Direct Imaging of the Diacetylene Solid-State Monomer-Polymer Phase Transformation

The solid-state phase transformation from 1,6-di(N-carbazolyl)-2-4-hexadiyne (DCHD) diacetylene monomer to polymer has been studied dynamically by low-dose selected area electron diffraction and high-resolution electron microscopy. The total exposure required to induce polymerization is five orders of magnitude smaller than the critical dose for electron beam damage. The phase transformation is quasi-homogeneous, with the lattice parameters changing continuously as a function of beam dose. Characteristic streaking that develops in the selected area electron diffraction patterns in the [200] reciprocal directions during the intermediate stages of the transformation provides information about the defect-mediated mechanisms of this reaction.
Lipase-catalyzed optical resolution of trifluoro(aryl)ethanols

Abstract Optical resolutions of racemic 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(aryl)ethanols — (1-naphthyl), (2-naphthyl), (4-methylnaphthyl), (phenyl), (1-pyrenyl) — were achieved by lipase-catalyzed enantioselective acetylations with vinyl acetate as an acetyl donor in octane, and (S)-acetates and (R)-alcohols were obtained. Among the lipases tested, lipase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa (lipase LIP, Toyobo) showed good enantioselectivity for above ethanols. However, no acetylation occurred with sterically hindered alcohols — (9-phenanthryl), (9-anthryl), (2-methylnaphthyl), (2, 4, 6-trimethylphenyl) — by various lipases. The resolutions of the three alcohols were carried out by the enantioselective alcoholysis or hydrolysis of their chloroacetates by lipase LIP.
MODIFICATION AND CESSATION OF CHRONIC TRANSFUSION THERAPY (CTX) IN SELECTED PATIENTS WITH SICKLE CELL DISEASE AND CEREBROVASCULAR ACCIDENT (CVA). 941

We previously reported that in pts with CVA aggressively transfused for 4 yrs, reduction of intensity of CTX prevents recurrent CVA and results in a 31% reduction in transfusion requirements. While we still have not seen confirmed recurrent CVA in any of our original 14 pts, 1 pt died with status epilepticus and 6 others have died (ages 19-24 yrs after 9-16 yrs of CTX) of other causes(liver/heart failure, infection, acute chest syndrome); all had hemochromatosis. In an attempt to stop CTX in some pts, conventional (CA) and/or magnetic resonance (MRA) angiography were done in 16 pts after 1-188 mos (median 115 mos) of CTX. Six (38%) had normal studies (2 CA, 3 MRA, 1 both) and discontinued CTX after 2-13.8 yrs. The pt who discontinued CTX after only 2 yrs of CTX had recurrent CVA and markedly abnormal MRA 8 mos after stopping CTX. One pt died CVA-free with liver failure and suspected sepsis 17 mos after stopping, and the remainder (67%) are CVA-free 9+, 22+, 27+, and 57+ mos off CTX. In conclusion, CTX modification alone is not sufficient to prevent mortality due largely to hemochromatosis; a significant subgroup of CVA pts may have normal vessels and be at low risk for CVA recurrence; and some pts may have progressive vascular disease if not transfused.
Indications for and Early Complications Associated With Use of Temporary Invasive Distraction for Osteochondral Graft Transfer Procedures for Treatment of Lateral Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus

Background:A recent cadaveric study demonstrated that a novel technique termed temporary invasive distraction (TID), which uses intraoperative external fixation, can improve lateral talar dome expo...
Thinking Outside the Stroke: Treating Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA)

In this article, we explore the symptoms, cause, treatment potential, and supportive services for individuals diagnosed with Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA). Although it is possible to regain certain cognitive abilities with stroke or brain injury, in PPA, language abilities worsen and other symptoms emerge with time, shortening the lifespan. The goal of speech therapy for PPA is not to regain lost language, but rather to maximize communication for as long as possible. In this article, we offer information and tools for speech-language pathologists to help people living with PPA achieve these goals and improve overall quality of life.
Twisting light with hyperbolic metamaterials

We propose a novel, miniaturized astigmatic optical element based on a single biaxial hyperbolic metamaterial that enables the conversion of Hermite-Gaussian beams into vortex beams carrying an orbital angular momentum and vice versa. As an example, we design a biaxial anisotropic metamaterial that introduces a π/2 phase shift between two orthogonal components of a Hermite-Gaussian beam due to the optical path difference and at the same time astigmatically focuses these orthogonal components such that they recombine in a symmetric Laguerre-Gaussian beam. We design the proposed device using an array of silver nanowires in an MgF(2) matrix. The advantages of the proposed approach over the existing bulk optics based techniques include compactness and therefore, compatibility with ultra-compact opto-electronic circuits, potential re-configurability and an increased tolerance to misalignment.
Quantification of the passive mechanical properties of the resting platelet

Sudden coronary artery occlusion is one of the leading causes of death. Several in vitro models have been used to study the relationship between hemodynamic forces and platelet function. However, very few in vivo studies exist that fully explore this relationship due to the lack of rheologic data for the platelet. For this purpose, micropipette aspiration techniques were used in the present study to determine the mechanical properties of platelets. The data were analyzed by two mathematical models: (1) an erythrocyte-type membrane model which yielded a platelet shear modulus of 0.03 ± 0.01 dyn cm-1 (mean±SD) and a viscous modulus of 0.12 ± 0.04 dyn s cm-1. (2) An endothelial-type cell model which approximated the platelet Young’s modulus to be 1.7 ± 0.6 × 103 dyn cm-2 with a viscous modulus of 1.0 ± 0.5 × 104 dyn s cm-2. The endothelial-type cell model more accurately describes the mechanics occurring at the micropipette tip and permits more appropriate assumptions to be made in quantifying the rheologic properties of a platelet. Results from this study can be integrated into numerical models of blood flow in stenosed coronary arteries to elucidate the impact of local hemodynamics on platelets and thrombus formation in coronary artery disease. © 1998 Biomedical Engineering Society.
Diagnosis and Management of Urinary Tract Infection and Pyelonephritis

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common bacterial infections treated in the outpatient setting and range in severity from minimally symptomatic cystitis to severe septic shock in a wide array of patients. Diagnosis of uncomplicated cystitis can be inferred from history and physical, and confirmed by urinalysis. Appropriate antimicrobial therapy should rapidly improve symptoms in all UTIs. Treatment can be further tailored according to severity of illness, analysis of individualized risk factors, and antimicrobial resistance patterns. This article discusses treatment options in light of bacterial resistance in the twenty-first century.
Adaptation to various environments and resistance to disease of the Improved Boer goat

Abstract The Improved Boer Goat is a remarkable small-stock ruminant that possesses distinctive qualities enabling it to excel as an efficient red meat producer. It is early maturing, reaching a mean maximum weight of ≈62 kg at 3.5 years of age on natural pasture under extensive grazing conditions. It boasts high fecundity, with ≈2.09 kids born per doe kidded. A relatively large proportion of does (≈33%) have triplets, whilst the occurrence of kids born as quadruplets and quintuplets have also been documented. The Boer goat is predominantly a browser, enabling it to convert shrub and bush into red meat, thereby playing a supplementary role to other farm stock in increasing meat production per unit area, rather than being in competition with them. As a browser, the goat is also extremely useful and effective in combatting undesirable bush encroachment. In addition, it appears to be fairly resistant towards certain diseases which are normally contracted by other small stock, such as sheep. Lastly, Boer goats produce red meat of high quality which is hardly distinguishable from that of mutton or lamb as far as flavour is concerned, provided animals are slaughtered at a relatively young age.
Some observations on the dielectric properties of cardiovascular implant materials.

Bioelectric charge transfer between blood and the vascular wall appears to play a significant role in maintaining vascular homeostasis. Since the surface charge characteristics of the vessel wall are a function of the dielectric properties of the material, a study was made of the dielectric characteristics of various ion permeable materials and their relationship to electrokinetic phenomena and thrombogenicity. The dielectric properties of the ion permeable materials and of animal tissue were determined and found to be strikingly similar. Several models of electrodiffusion phenomena are reviewed with respect to dielectric properties. The electro-osmotic characteristics of animal tissue and ion permeable materials were investigated, and it was found that animal tissue exhibited electro-osmotic characteristics to a greater degree than did any other man-made materials. The propensity of a material to electro-osmose could not be predicted from the dielectric properties. In addition, no correlation could be found between thrombogenicity and dielectric properties. Dielectric relaxation phenomena is reviewed, and its possible contribution to nonthrombogenicity through the generation of a uniform, constant wall surface charge is presented. It is concluded that to mimic the ion content and mobility characteristics of animal tissue, as determined by dielectric properties, is insufficient to preclude thrombus formation.
Disease resistance: a benefit of sociality in the dampwood termite Zootermopsis angusticollis (Isoptera: Termopsidae)

The benefit of sociality in relation to disease susceptibility was studied in the dampwood termite Zootermopsis angusticollis. Although contact with high concentrations of fungal conidia is lethal, the survivorship of nymphs exposed to spore suspensions ranging from 6 × 106 to 2 × 108 spores/ml of the fungus Metarhizium anisopliae increased with group size. The survivorship (measured as LT50) of isolated individuals ranged from 3.0 to 4.8 days, but infected nymphs living in groups of 10 and 25 individuals survived significantly longer (5.6–8.3 and 5.6–9.1 days, respectively). In most cases, there were no significant differences in the survival distributions of the 10- and 25-termite groups. When nymphs were infected with concentrations of 7 × 101–7 × 104 spores/ml and allowed to interact with healthy nestmates, fungal infections were not contracted by the unexposed termites. Moreover, infected termites benefitted from social contact with unexposed nestmates: their survival rates were significantly higher than those of infected termites living with similarly infected nestmates. Allogrooming, which increased in frequency during and after exposure to conidia, appeared to remove potentially infectious spores from the cuticle, thus increasing termite survivorship. These results suggest that allogrooming plays a crucial role in the control of disease and its death hazard in termites. The infection-reducing advantage of group living may have been significant in the evolution of social behavior in the Isoptera.
Population Issues and Commons Dilemmas

An approach to public policy analysis is demonstrated in which identification of types of collective decision situations is based on game theory. The initial step in this approach is to identify the winners and losers under both existing institutional arrangements and possible alternative arrangements. It is demonstrated that many population-related policy issues have been depicted as intractable because they have been incorrectly classified as commons dilemmas rather than as Pareto-efficient situations in which some policy alternatives benefit at least some people without necessarily increasing costs to others. This point is illustrated by means of a reexamination of Garrett Hardins famous article "The Tragedy of the Commons." The argument is extended to include mortality and mobility issues. A hypothetical example concerning fertility rate and unwanted pregnancies is used to illustrate how the recognition of spillovers from 1 group to another may justify the allocation of resources from the general fund to specific groups. The incidence of purely cooperation games involving ineffective decisions can be reduced not only by allocating resources to improve individual decisions but also through the manipulation of the environment. In fact it may be significantly less costly to society to change the environment. An example of such a change was the requirement of safety caps on poisons and medications to prevent their accidental use by children. As with the fertility example the expected benefits to any 1 individual would not be equal to the cost of designing and preparing safety caps for all substances that would need them. Further illustrations of population-related dilemmas that are actually purely cooperative situations could be cited. In an extended version of this essay discussion will be extended beyond purely cooperative situations and examine the implications of a game theoretic approach to population issues where conflict is unavoidable.
Effects of specific antigen and specific antibody on the kinetics of in vitro antibody production.

Abstract An in vitro model system was used to probe the regulation of an ongoing antibody response. This system employed lymphocyte cell cultures prepared from the draining lymph nodes of rabbits immunized with glutaraldehyde-polymerized or heat-aggregated human serum albumin. The kinetics of specific antibody production in response to soluble antigen given at culture initiation varied among cultures obtained from different animals, often resulting in two distinct peaks of antibody production. Dose-response studies involving antigen added at culture initiation revealed that the overall kinetic pattern was unaffected by antigen dose. However, doses of antigen which suppressed the amount of antibody produced early in culture (96–144 hr) did not suppress, and usually enhanced the amount produced late in culture (192–240 hr). The addition of a second dose of antigen 96 hr after culture initiation was sometimes capable of increasing late antibody production over untreated controls. Dose-response studies for antigen added at 96 hr revealed an apparent 100-fold or greater increase in antigen sensitivity of putative precursors of late antibody-forming cells over that of precursors of early antibody-forming cells. The addition of specific antibody at culture initiation was found to inhibit the late antibody response less than the early response. When antibody was added shortly after antigen had been removed, the early response retained susceptibility to its suppressive effects, while the late response was no longer inhibited. The late response of cultures suppressed by specific antibody given at culture initiation showed the same dose response to antigen given at 96 hr, relative to nonrestimulated controls, as nonsuppressed cultures. Specific antibody given at 96 hr failed to suppress and sometimes enhanced the late response. The combined effects of specific antigen and antibody added at 96 hr in culture were additive, thereby indicating that the two effects were independent of each other. These results were interpreted to suggest that two distinct precursors of antibody-forming cells were present in this in vitro cell culture system.
Urethral Replacement Using Cell Seeded Tubularized Collagen Matrices

ABSTRACTPurpose: Acellular collagen matrices derived from bladder submucosa have been used successfully as an off-the-shelf biomaterial for urethral replacement, experimentally and clinically in an onlay fashion. We investigated whether collagen matrices, either alone or with autologous cells, could be used for tubularized urethral replacement.Materials and Methods: Acellular collagen matrices were processed and tubularized. Ten rabbits underwent an open bladder biopsy with subsequent cell expansion. Autologous bladder cells were grown and seeded onto the pre-configured tubular matrices. A 1 cm. long urethral segment was excised in 24 male rabbits. Urethroplasty was performed with the tubularized collagen matrices seeded with cells in 12 animals and without cells in 12. Serial urethrography was performed preoperatively and at 1, 2, 3 and 6 months postoperatively. Retrieved urethras were analyzed grossly, histologically, immunocytochemically and with Western blots. Contractility and the presence of neurotr...
Embryonic Mortality in Dairy Cows Estimated by Nonreturns to Service, Estrus, and Cyclic Milk Progesterone Patterns

Cyclic patterns of progesterone in milk were studied in 262 Holstein cows. Milk progesterone data were obtained from 153 cows for at least 75 days after conception as indicated by continuous high progesterone concentrations in milk for 28 days or more following artificial insemination. Cycling was reinitiated in 11 of these cows between 28 and 75 days after breeding, for an estimated 7.2% rate of embryo-fetal mortality. This was considerably less than a corresponding rate of 22.7% estimated for this herd by the delayed returns to estrus (28 to 75 days). In 350,180 cows inseminated with semen from Holstein bulls the estimated embryo-fetal mortality by the same delayed return to service method was 12.5%. Biases in this latter method of estimation are discussed.
Differential supply of autochthonous organic carbon and nitrogen to the microbial loop in the delaware estuary

Using stable isotope tracer techniques in 4-h bottle incubations, the importance of organic matter transfer from phytoplankton to heterotrophic bacteria (bacteria) has been re-evaluated in the Delaware Estuary, considering carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycles separately. The hypothesis is that the transfer of C and N from phytoplankton to bacteria varies both temporally and spatially along estuarine gradients in response to variation in factors such as terrestrial organic C supply, inorganic N speciation and concentrations, and extracellular release of dissolved organic matter by phytoplankton. The percentage of autochthonous dissolved organic C being assimilated by bacteria varied between 3% and 10% of primary production and was not related to the rate of primary production. The transfer of N was considerably more variable when compared to C transfer, averaging ca. 20% of phytoplankton N assimilation; individual experiments yielded rates as high as 50%. Unlike C, autochthonous dissolved organic N transfer appears to vary with the magnitude of primary production, and its assimilation by bacteria accounted for 0-56% of the total measured bacterial N uptake. The results highlight the importance of separate consideration of C and N elemental cycles in evaluating sources of organic matter to the estuarine microbial loop.
Some Observations about Ergonomic Issues Surrounding Musculoskeletal Pain Cases

A study was conducted using patients with musculoskeletal disorders, to aid with the development of a model system for providing work place ergonomic accommodations for elderly and disabled workers. An ergonomic assessment module was added to the multi-disciplinary quantified functional assessment of patients with musculoskeletal disorders. Thirty-eight patients (22 female, 16 male) were interviewed by an ergonomist. All of these patients had chronic back pain and other musculoskeletal problems such as leg, head, neck, shoulder or hand pain. The ergonomics module was a 30-minute interview in which information on the current or previous work tasks, equipment, frequency, forceful exertions, and work positions was collected. Observations based on interactions with the medical team providing service demonstrated that data gathered during the ergonomics module resulted in substantially more information about a person's interactions within the work environment than the standard clinical team's assessment.
On the derivation and analysis of the “machine equation” in finite deformations

The machine equation plays an important role in the analysis of experimental data on mechanical testing and in modeling work. Its careful derivation has been provided both for the case of infinitesimally small deformations (brief recapitulation of the results known before) and finite defor- mations and supplemented by the detailed analysis of several practically important cases (rigid and soft machines and in- termediate situations). It has been demonstrated that in cer- tain situations the value of generalized stiffness of the "sam- pleC machine" system can even change the qualitative nature of plastic instabilities, and the importance of a careful as- sessment of experimental setup as related to the results of mechanical testing, has also been discussed (8). The authors hope that their work, which is aimed mostly at experimenters, could serve as a useful "reference tool" for the mechanical metallurgy and mechanical engineering communities.
Enhanced gamma-aminobutyric acid-mediated responses in nucleus tractus solitarius of hypertensive rats.

Previous studies demonstrated that stimulation of type B gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABAB) receptors but not type A (GABAA) receptors in the nucleus tractus solitarius of spontaneously hypertensive rats elicited a larger increase in arterial pressure compared with control rats of the Wistar-Kyoto strain. The present studies extended that observation by examining the cardiovascular response to injection into the nucleus tractus solitarius of a selective GABAB receptor antagonist, CGP 35348, in these strains as well as examining the cardiovascular responses to stimulation or blockade of GABAB receptors in the nucleus tractus solitarius in another model of hypertension, the rat treated with deoxycorticosterone acetate and salt. In both groups of hypertensive rats the pressor response to injection into the nucleus tractus solitarius of the GABA uptake blocking drug nipecotic acid was significantly greater compared with control rats (P < .01 in each model). Similarly, in both models of hypertension, the depressor response elicited by blockade of GABAB receptors in the nucleus tractus solitarius by injection of CGP 35348 was approximately 75% greater compared with control rats (P < .05 in each model). These results suggest that alterations in GABAB-mediated neural transmission in the nucleus tractus solitarius may contribute to the elevated arterial pressure observed in these models of hypertension.
Fine structure of neurons within the pars intercerebralis of the cockroach, Blaberus craniifer☆

Abstract This study is an effort to discover what submicroscopic changes occur in seemingly homologous neurosecretory cells in the anterior pars intercerebralis of a species of cockroach during the final molt. The ergastoplasm is most well organized in closely packed perinuclear rings in mature nymphs 21 days after molt and in an adult female 3 days after molt. The cytomembranes and cytoplasmic matrix were most disrupted in nymphs about to molt and in an adult female 12 hours after molt. Reconstitution of the endoplasmic reticulum seems to be very rapid following molt. The Golgi apparatus shows few changes under any conditions studied. However, dense intracisternal material, presumably a direct precursor of the neurosecretory granules commonly found associated with the Golgi zones, is found only in the 3-day adult female. This observation indicates that the young adult cockroach may be a useful source of information on neurosecretory phenomena. The neurosecretory cells share with other neurons another class of inclusion (“lamellar bodies”) which is not neurosecretion in the strict sense, but does show some change in size, number, and internal complexity during the molting period. Comparison with organelles and with similar inclusions in neurons of other animals suggests a relationship with degenerating mitochondria and with the lipofuscin bodies of vertebrates. It is concluded that molt is a time of complex organelle degeneration and rapid reconstitution of structure and function in some neurosecretory cells of cockroaches.
Liquid-Continuous Distillation

Bubble columns, in which a gas is passed up through a head of liquid, have been limited to very low superficial gas velocities. Higher rates, such as those used in conventional distillation columns, have not previously been explored. In fact, higher gas rates have been thought to lead to dangerous operating conditions. In this paper, new data for high gas rates, under distillation conditions and at a semiworks scale, are presented for liquid-continuous operations. Both sieve trays and structured packing have been used as internals. Mass transfer and hydraulic data are included.
scAAV-Mediated Gene Transfer of Interleukin 1-Receptor Antagonist to Synovium and Articular Cartilage in Large Mammalian Joints

With the long-term goal of developing a gene-based treatment for osteoarthritis (OA), we performed studies to evaluate the equine joint as a model for adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated gene transfer to large, weight-bearing human joints. A self-complementary AAV2 vector containing the coding regions for human interleukin-1-receptor antagonist (hIL-1Ra) or green fluorescent protein was packaged in AAV capsid serotypes 1, 2, 5, 8 and 9. Following infection of human and equine synovial fibroblasts in culture, we found that both were only receptive to transduction with AAV1, 2 and 5. For these serotypes, however, transgene expression from the equine cells was consistently at least 10-fold higher. Analyses of AAV surface receptor molecules and intracellular trafficking of vector genomes implicate enhanced viral uptake by the equine cells. Following delivery of 1 × 10(11) vector genomes of serotypes 2, 5 and 8 into the forelimb joints of the horse, all three enabled hIL-1Ra expression at biologically relevant levels and effectively transduced the same cell types, primarily synovial fibroblasts and, to a lesser degree, chondrocytes in articular cartilage. These results provide optimism that AAV vectors can be effectively adapted for gene delivery to large human joints affected by OA.
Free-space transmission

The renaissance of serious interest26–28 in the transfer of power by radio waves is doubtless the result of technological gains in microwave radar and communication systems over the past 25 years, and also the more recent demonstration that microwave energy should be generated at power levels appropriate to some applications of wireless power transfer. In turn, the availability of microwave power focused attention upon the problems of developing an efficient RF-to-dc converter and upon antenna systems suitable for efficient power transfer. When the problems were solved, modest laboratory experiments were set up for the first time in the efficient transfer of meaningful amounts of power by means of a microwave beam and associated conversion components.
A membrane-bound Fas decoy receptor expressed by human thymocytes.

Human thymocytes at several stages of maturation express Fas, yet resist apoptosis induction through its ligation. A proximal step in apoptotic signaling through Fas is implicated in this resistance, as these cells undergo normal levels of apoptosis induction after exposure to tumor necrosis factor-α. We studied the Fas receptors expressed in human thymocytes to search for mechanisms of receptor-mediated inhibition of Fas signaling in these cells. We describe here a unique, membrane-bound form of Fas receptor that contained a complete extracellular domain of Fas but that lacked a death domain due to alternative splicing of exon 7. This Fas decoy receptor (FDR) was shown to have nearly wild-type ability to bind native human Fas ligand and was expressed predominantly at the plasma membrane. Unlike soluble forms of Fas receptor, FDR dominantly inhibited apoptosis induction by Fas ligand in transfected human embryonic kidney cells. Titration of FDR in Fas-expressing cells suggests that FDR may operate through the formation of mixed receptor complexes. FDR also dominantly inhibited Fas-induced apoptosis in Jurkat T cells. In mixing experiments with wild-type Fas, FDR was capable of inhibiting death signaling at molar ratios less than 0.5, and this relative level of FDR:wild type message was observed in at least some thymocytes tested. The data suggest that Fas signal pathways in primary human cells may be regulated by expression of a membrane-bound decoy receptor, analogous to the regulation of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL)-induced apoptosis by decoy receptors.
Robotic thoracoscopic resection of intralobar sequestration

In this manuscript we report a case of fully robotic thoracoscopic resection of intralobar pulmonary sequestration. The Da Vinci robot provides surgeons with great three-dimensional visualization and enhanced dexterity. This enables a safer, more precise dissection of sequestered pulmonary tissue. Robotic technology may result in fewer complications and less conversions to open surgery in cases of pulmonary sequestration.
Radioimmunoassay of myelin basic protein in sodium sulfate.

Abstract A radioimmunoassay of myelin basic protein (BP) of the rat and guinea pig, based upon precipitation of the 125 I-BP antibody complex in 1·27M Na 2 SO 4 , was developed. Salting-out constants for rat and rabbit immunoglobulins, using 125 I-BP as indicator, ranged from 1·97 to 2·63; the steepness of the slopes and the high correlation coefficients of the salting-out curves indicated that the antibodies involved were not widely spread among the various isotypes nor did they have a wide range of solubilities. The binding-activity of BP for a number of IgG preparations and whole antiserums in the region of far antigen excess was linear with correlation coefficients appraoching 1·00. Quantitative adsorption analysis with rat cerebral myelin removed 94 per cent of the BP-binding activity of one antiserum. Activities in rabbit serums ranging from 4·97 to 48·92 μg BP bound/ml serum were obtained. Normal rabbit serums displayed a range of activities from 0·00 to 4·93. Labeled and unlabeled BP were equally competitive for antibody in regions of antigen excess.
Do Public Support Payments Encourage Substance Abuse

This study of homeless veterans contradicts some of the anecdotal evidence driving public policy on support payments to persons with substance abuse problems.
What’s New: Newly Approved Drugs for Children

1. Myles B. Abbott, MD* 2. Robert H. Levin, PharmD† 1. 2. *Private pediatric practice in Berkeley and Orinda, CA, and Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA. Dr. Abbott is a consultant for Express Scripts. 3. 4. †Professor of Clinical Pharmacy, University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA. Dr. Levin has funding for two pharmacy specialty residents from Bristol-Meyers-Squibb. In 2000, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved 160 medications and medical devices, many that have pediatric indications. We discuss eight of these medications that have clinical importance to the general pediatrician. Two of the medications are new drugs (Table 1⇓ ), three represent new delivery systems for existing drugs (Table 2), and three are new combinations of drugs (Table 3)⇓ . View this table: Table 1. Newly Approved Drugs View this table: Table 2. New Delivery Systems View this table: Table 3. New Drug Combinations ### Lantus™ Lantus (insulin glargine, Aventis, Parsippany, NJ) is a long-acting recombinant human insulin analog indicated for the management of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. It has a relatively constant glucose-lowering profile without peaks and valleys over 24 hours, allowing it to be administered once every 24 hours. It may be best suited as a substitute for patients receiving twice-daily intermediate-acting insulin, for those experiencing the“ dawn phenomenon” with an intermediate-acting insulin, or for those who experience hypoglycemia from intermediate- or long-acting insulins. It is approved for use in children 6 years of age and older and is administered subcutaneously, usually at bedtime. Children currently using once-daily intermediate- or long-acting insulins can be changed to the same dose of insulin administered as Lantus. When initiating therapy for children currently receiving twice-daily intermediate-acting insulin, the dose should be 80% of the total daily dose of the intermediate-acting insulin to prevent hypoglycemia. Close glucose monitoring is vital during the change in therapy. Lantus cannot be mixed with any other type of insulin, including …
Molluscum Contagiosum Virus Interleukin-18 (IL-18) Binding Protein Is Secreted as a Full-Length Form That Binds Cell Surface Glycosaminoglycans through the C-Terminal Tail and a Furin-Cleaved Form with Only the IL-18 Binding Domain

Molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV) and variola virus are the sole members of the poxvirus family that use humans as exclusive natural hosts (8). Variola virus belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus and until recently caused smallpox, an acute infection with a high mortality rate (9). MCV, the only member of the Molluscipoxvirus genus, causes small, benign skin lesions in children and young adults and more extensive disease only when there is a concurrent immunodeficiency such as AIDS (10). Even in immunocompetent individuals, however, the virus-filled skin lesions frequently persist for many months with few signs of inflammation, suggesting local immune suppression. Several potential immune evasion proteins were discovered after the complete MCV genome sequence was determined (17). One of these is an interleukin-18 (IL-18) binding protein (IL-18BP) that inhibits the gamma interferon-inducing activity of IL-18 (25). IL-18 is a proinflammatory cytokine that enhances innate and acquired immunity and protects against microbial infections and tumors in murine models (6). Excessive IL-18 activity, however, is associated with some autoimmune and inflammatory diseases (13). Regulation of IL-18 activity is mediated by soluble IL-18BPs (14, 24). MC54L, an MCV homolog of mammalian IL-18BP, binds IL-18 with a nanomolar Kd and inhibits the gamma interferon-inducing activity of IL-18 in a dose-dependent manner (22, 25). Functional homologs of IL-18BP are also present in orthopoxviruses, including vaccinia virus, cowpox virus, and ectromelia virus (1, 3, 19), and as yet uncharacterized homologs are encoded by variola virus and members of other poxvirus genera. Deletion of the IL-18BP gene from ectromelia virus decreased virus replication and elevated natural killer cell activity in infected mice, indicating that these proteins contribute to defense against the host immune system (1). The IL-18 binding sites of human IL-18BP and MC54L were determined through site-directed mutagenesis and quantitative binding studies (22, 23). Despite the relatively low overall sequence identity between MC54L and human IL-18BP, their IL-18 binding sites are almost identical. MC54L, however, is unique among poxvirus and mammalian IL-18BPs in having a C-terminal tail that is almost 100 amino acids long and is entirely dispensable for IL-18 binding (22). Our present studies show that the protein is secreted in two forms: a full-length form that binds cell surface glycosaminoglycans with high affinity through the C-terminal tail and a furin-cleaved form consisting solely of the IL-18 binding domain (IL-18BD). The long and short forms of MC54L may inhibit IL-18 near the site of infection and at more distal locations, respectively.
Formation of aminosuccinyl derivative from β-phenacyl aspartyl peptides catalyzed by sodium thiophenoxide

In the solid-phase synthesis of cholecystokinin 30-33, Trp-Met-Asp-Phe- amide, the beta-phenacyl ester was used to protect the beta-carboxyl of aspartyl residue. The ester was cleaved, on the solid support, with a 1 M solution of sodium thiophenoxide in DMF, prior to ammonolysis. The product, after purification by countercurrent distribution, was identified as a mixture of isoasparaginyl and aspartyl peptides. A study of the deprotection step, with sodium thiophenoxide, on a model peptide (t-butyloxycarbonyl-beta-phenacyl-aspartyl-phenylalanineamide) showed the rapid formation of the aminosuccinyl derivative, catalyzed by this reagent.
Periodic Leg Movement, Nasal CPAP, and Expiratory Muscles

Background Periodic leg movements (PLMs) may appear during nasal CPAP titration, persisting despite the elimination of hypopneas. Methods Systematic recordings of expiratory abdominal muscles on the right and left sides with surface electromyographic (EMG) electrodes lateral to navel, and close from the lateral side of abdomen, were added during nasal CPAP titration for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Positive airway pressure was titrated during nocturnal polysomnography, based on analysis of the flow curve derived from the CPAP equipment and EEG analysis, including persistence of phases A2 and A3 of the cyclic alternating pattern (CAP). The requirement was to eliminate American Association of Sleep Medicine (AASM)-defined hypopnea and also flow limitation and abnormal EEG patterns. When CPAP reached valid results, it was lowered at the time of awakening by 2 or 3 cm H 2 O, and titration was performed again. Data collected during a 7-month period on adults with a prior diagnosis of OSA who had received treatment with nasal CPAP regardless of age and sex were rendered anonymous and were retrospectively rescored by a blinded investigator. Results Eighty-one successively seen patients with PLMs during CPAP titration were investigated. Elimination of AASM-defined hypopnea was not sufficient to eliminate the PLMs observed during the titration; higher CPAP eliminated flow limitation and CAP phases A2 and A3 and persisting PLMs. PLMs were associated with simultaneous EMG bursts in expiratory abdominal muscles. Conclusions The presence of PLMs during CPAP titration indicates the persistence of sleep-disordered breathing. PLMs during CPAP titration are related to the presence of abdominal expiratory muscle activity.
Examination of Dielectrophoretic Behavior of DNA as a Function of Frequency from 30 Hz to 1 MHz Using a Flexible Microfluidic Test Apparatus

A microfluidic test apparatus for examining dielectrophoretic (DEP) trapping as a method for purification and concentration of DNA from PCR and sequencing reaction products is presented. The device is comprised of a set of 4 independently addressable interdigitated gold microelectrode traps — microfluidic delivery of sample is performed using micromolded poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) channels. The trapping behavior of fluorescently labeled DNA was observed under applied electric fields at frequencies of 30 Hz, 100 Hz, 1 kHz, 10 kHz, 100 kHz, and 1 MHz and at applied voltages between 0.5 Vp-p and 20 Vp-p. Trapping behavior was observed to exhibit a strong frequency dependence suggesting that different modes of trapping are present in different excitation regions.
Changes in brain glycogen after sleep deprivation vary with genotype.

Sleep has been functionally implicated in brain energy homeostasis in that it could serve to replenish brain energy stores that become depleted while awake. Sleep deprivation (SD) should therefore ...
Closing the gap: global potential for increasing biofuel production through agricultural intensification

Since the end of World War II, global agriculture has undergone a period of rapid intensification achieved through a combination of increased applications of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, the implementation of best management practice techniques, mechanization, irrigation, and more recently, through the use of optimized seed varieties and genetic engineering. However, not all crops and not all regions of the world have realized the same improvements in agricultural intensity. In this study we examine both the magnitude and spatial variation of new agricultural production potential from closing of 'yield gaps' for 20 ethanol and biodiesel feedstock crops. With biofuels coming under increasing pressure to slow or eliminate indirect land-use conversion, the use of targeted intensification via established agricultural practices might offer an alternative for continued growth. We find that by closing the 50th percentile production gap—essentially improving global yields to median levels—the 20 crops in this study could provide approximately 112.5 billion liters of new ethanol and 8.5 billion liters of new biodiesel production. This study is intended to be an important new resource for scientists and policymakers alike—helping to more accurately understand spatial variation of yield and agricultural intensification potential, as well as employing these data to better utilize existing infrastructure and optimize the distribution of development and aid capital.
An agent-based flexible routing manufacturing control simulation system

We present a manufacturing simulation system based on autonomous agents and a dynamic price mechanism that explores routing flexibility and provides a programming language for modeling manufacturing environments, based on autonomous agents and a dynamic price mechanism. The simulation system contains a control simulation module and a manufacturing environment simulation module. The control simulation module consists of a collection of autonomous agents who negotiate with each other to reach job processing decisions based on negotiation protocols and built-in price adjustment algorithms. The manufacturing environment simulation module is an event-based simulation system that couples with an input simulation language called Flexible Routing Adaptive Control Simulation Language. The language can be used to model complicated manufacturing environments and to specify flexibility in part process plans. By integrating the control framework with the FRACS simulation system, a sophisticated test bed is created for research of different control and negotiation strategies. The simulation system allows quick turn around time for software prototyping, and the modeling language enables easy model adjustment and performance tuning. Many experiments in the control and scheduling of manufacturing systems have been conducted using this simulation system. Several of these experiments are discussed in the paper.
Perceptual Reasoning for Perceptual Computing

In 1996, Zadeh proposed the paradigm of computing with words (CWW). A specific architecture for making subjective judgments using CWW was proposed by Mendel in 2001. It is called a Perceptual Computer (Per-C), and because words can mean different things to different people, it uses interval type-2 fuzzy set (IT2 FS) models for all words. The Per-C has three elements: the encoder, which transforms linguistic perceptions into IT2 FSs that activate a CWW engine; the decoder, which maps the output of a CWW engine back into a word; and the CWW engine. Although di-fferent kinds of CWW engines are possible, this paper only focuses on CWW engines that are rule-based and the computations that map its input IT2 FSs into its output IT2 FS. Five assumptions are made for a rule-based CWW engine, the most important of which is: The result of combining fired rules must lead to a footprint of uncertainty (FOU) that resembles the three kinds of FOU that have previously been shown to model words (interior, left-shoulder, and right-shoulder FOUs). Requiring this means that the output FOU from a rule-based CWW engine will look similar in shape to an FOU in a codebook (i.e., a vocabulary of words and their respective FOUs) for an application, so that the decoder can therefore sensibly establish the word most similar to the CWW engine output FOU. Because existing approximate reasoning methods do not satisfy this assumption, a new kind of rule-based CWW engine is proposed, one that is called Perceptual Reasoning, and is proved to always satisfy this assumption. Additionally, because all IT2 FSs in the rules as well as those that excite the rules are either an interior, left-shoulder, or right-shoulder FOU, it is possible to carry out the sup-min calculations that are required by the inference engine, and those calculations are also in this paper. The results in this paper let us implement a rule-based CWW engine for the Per-C.
Do Charter Schools Threaten Public Education? Emerging Evidence from Fifteen Years of a Quasi-Market for Schooling

Supporters of public education have long feared that charter schools will threaten the public system, both by 1) creaming off the most advantaged students and 2) undermining political support for the public system. These fears have not been borne out. Blacks are disproportionately in charters, whites are disproportionately in traditional public schools, and Hispanics are fairly evenly distributed between the two. Looking at class measures, poor students are distributed fairly equally between the two types of schools. And turning to other measures of privilege, the evidence does not point strongly in either direction. My conclusions are not without qualification. The article identifies some domains in which cream-skimming might develop and others where more research is needed. Moreover, the evidence does not support the claims of some charter school advocates that charter schools serve an especially disadvantaged population of students. Regarding the question of public funding, privatization in the education context may have the effect of creating an additional constituency for increased overall education funding. Charter school advocates have moved away from claims that charters will cut costs and instead now focus on securing additional public funding. I argue that the structure of education funding means that charter school efforts to obtain greater public support will likely depend on increasing per pupil spending in all public schools.
A Web 2.0 Model for Patient-Centered Health Informatics Applications

Web 2.0 standards define a distributed embeddable application model that can be used to implement medical best practices in the form of a medical protocol.
TARP: trust-aware routing protocol

Security is a critical issue in a mobile ad hoc network (MANET). In most of the previous protocols security is an added layer above the routing protocol. We propose a Trust-Aware Routing Protocol (TARP) for secure-trusted routing in mobile ad hoc networks. In TARP, security is inherently built into the routing protocol where each node evaluates the trust level of its neighbors based on a set of attributes and determines the route based on these attributes. This paper evaluates the proposed TARP protocols on two important attributes, the battery power and the software configuration. A secure route between a source and destination is established based on a confidence level prescribed by a user or application in terms of these attributes. Our performance evaluation shows that TARP is a robust and adaptive trust routing algorithm that reacts quickly and effectively to the dynamics of the network while still finding the shortest path to the destination. TARP is able to improve security and at the same time reduce the total routing traffic sent and received in the network by directing the traffic based on the requested sender attributes.