cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
12 – Lower Gastrointestinal Tract

The large intestine begins at the cecum and includes the appendix (humans only), colon, rectum, and anus. The primary function of the large intestine in all three species is to dehydrate and store fecal material. Extensive reabsorption of water and salt occurs in the right/proximal colon and continues throughout. Movement of the increasingly solid colonic contents from proximal to distal is supported by abundant mucus-secreting goblet cells that serve to lubricate and protect the colonic mucosa from trauma. All three species have abundant bacterial flora within the colon, which carry out a rumen-like function that is more prominent in rodents. Commensal protozoa are frequently present in rodent intestines.
Maiasaura (Dinosauria: Hadrosauridae) Tibia Osteohistology Reveals Non-annual Cortical Vascular Rings in Young of the Year

Annually, tetrapod vertebrate bone apposition is briefly interrupted, which typically coincides with the yearly environmental nadir. The temporary appositional hiatus is histologically recorded in bone cortex as a hypermineralized ring termed a line of arrested growth (LAG). One paleohistology study used this known LAG periodicity to quantify ontogenetic ages and growth rates in a dataset of fifty tibiae from the hadrosaurid dinosaur Maiasaura. In addition to LAGs, unusual cortical rings resulting from localized changes in vascular diameter were also noted in the tibiae, but not investigated further. The fifty Maiasaura tibiae from that study were histologically reexamined here to explore and document the composition, frequency, and cortical extent of localized vascular changes (LVCs) to assist with the recognition of similar structures in the cortices of other extinct taxa. This assessment reveals that the Maiasaura LVC is comprised of one or more laminae of primary osteons forming a ring of vascular canal diameters either uniformly larger or smaller than those of primary osteons adjacent to the vascular ring. With one exception, LVCs are only found prior to the first LAG in Maiasaura. However, LVC frequency is variable, ranging from specimens with no LVCs to as many as five prior to the first LAG. Because of their inconsistent frequency and restricted location within the cortex, LVCs likely do not have an annual periodicity in Maiasaura. Instead, LVCs may signal times of temporary but repeated stress. As both growth rates and mortality rates were highest during the first year in Maiasaura, illness or starvation seemed to have the greatest impact on growth during that time. A subadult tibia presenting with a pathologic directional cortical outgrowth is the only instance within the sample in which LVCs were found beyond the first LAG. Unfortunately, LVCs are under-explored in extant taxa, so the underlying cause(s) for Maiasaura LVCs cannot be established. As LVCs may provide yet another histological method for interpreting extinct vertebrate biology, foundational investigations of LVCs in extant vertebrates should be pursued.
Commissioning simulations for the Argonne Advanced Photon Source upgrade lattice

A hybrid seven-bend-achromat lattice that features very strong focusing elements and a relatively small vacuum chamber has been proposed for the Advanced Photon Source (APS) upgrade. The design lattice parameters during commissioning will need to be quickly achieved in order to minimize the interruption of user operation. This paper describes start-to-end simulation of the machine commissioning beginning from first-turn trajectory correction, progressing to orbit correction, and culminating in lattice correction and coupling adjustment. The automated commissioning procedure shows that the rapid commissioning of the ultralow emittance lattice is possible. It also enables a more rigorous statistical evaluation of expected performance of proposed lattices.
Exploring Two Generations of Women Activists in Azerbaijan: Between Feminism and a Post-Soviet Locality

The meaning of feminism is a widely debated topic, not only in the South Caucasus but in a broader comparative context. This chapter considers this question in the context of Azerbaijan. This chapter explores two different ‘waves’ of engagement with gender equality and women’s rights issues in post-Soviet Azerbaijan. The first wave relates to the scholarly engagement with Western gender studies and feminism that ensued following the collapse of the USSR, in the period 1990–2010. The second wave relates to the ‘new’ feminist activism visible in twenty-first-century Azerbaijan. Although the 1990s saw the promotion of gender equality and women’s emancipation by the academic community in Azerbaijan, many avoided identifying themselves with the global feminist movement. In contrast to these ‘hesitant’ feminists, a group of young activists in twenty-first-century Azerbaijan is more open about self-identifying and can be seen as belonging to the second wave of women’s empowerment within the country. Born for the most part in the 1980s and early 1990s, these women belong to a generation which has grown up in independent Azerbaijan. They symbolize a new class of empowered women (and men) who have developed strong personal ambitions and greater confidence.
PHENOTYPE-GUIDED GENETIC TESTING OF PEDIATRIC INHERITED RETINAL DISEASE IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES.

PURPOSE Inherited retinal disease is relatively common in the Arabian Gulf, but details regarding pediatric inherited retinal disease in the region are lacking. The purpose of this study is to report the experience of a regional Ocular Genetics Service with childhood-onset inherited retinal disease in the United Arab Emirates. METHODS Retrospective series of consecutive Emirati patients referred to the Ocular Genetics Service of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi over a 3-year period (2016-2018) who were diagnosed with childhood-onset inherited retinal disease (onset before 16 years old) and underwent diagnostic genetic testing guided by clinical phenotype (single gene, next-generation panel, or exome sequencing). RESULTS Seventy-one probands were identified (38 male and 33 females), the majority of whom were symptomatic with visual problems within the first 5 years of life. All patients had disease causing mutations in 1 of 26 retinal disease genes. Recessive disease was frequently due to homozygous mutations. The most frequently mutated genes (and number of probands) were ABCA4 (14), KCNV2 (8), CRB1 (6), and CNGA3 (5). Recurrent specific gene mutations included ABCA4 p.Gly1961Glu/p.Leu857Pro, KCNV2 p.Glu143*, MERTK p.Cys738Trpfs*32, and RS1 c.52+3A>G. Some probands had mutations in syndromic genes and were confirmed to have extraocular findings. CONCLUSION Phenotype-guided genetic testing had a remarkable yield for this patient population. Recessive disease is often from homozygous mutations. Cone-dominated phenotypes are common. There are apparent founder mutations for several genes that could be used in a targeted genetic testing strategy. Molecular diagnosis is particularly important in affected children when inherited retinal dystrophy could be a sign of syndromic disease as proper earlier diagnosis minimizes potential extraocular morbidity.
Programming robots with state diagrams

This paper discusses the advantages of using state diagrams to model the behavior of robots and how to translate those models into code. Our main focus was to use robot programming with state diagrams as a context to teach introductory programming languages in an undergraduate curriculum.
Cultural Influence on Deceptive Communication

The literature on indicators of deception is extensive, yet few rigorous investigations have documented the deceptive communication behavior associated with culture. Notwithstanding, culture can play a profound role in affecting the emotional and cognitive factors that are theorized to differentiate behavioral patterns between deceivers and truth-tellers. To close the considerable gap in our knowledge about deception in cross-cultural contexts, in this chapter, we measured several culturally relevant concepts and tested the relationship among cultural factors, deception, and deception detection. The beginning of the chapter reviews a number of cultural factors and instantiates culture into two prongs: the group-level and the individual-level. Then, we conducted an experiment with the rapid credibility assessment method involving 220 participants across more than ten ethnicity groups to explore how culture affects deception and its detection. Physiological and behavioral indicators have been studied to suggest how culture relates to deceivers’ motivation, cognitive difficulty, and nervousness, as well as their kinesic, vocalic, and linguistic behaviors. The study also examined influences of culture in deceivers’ success and tested behavior measures that could help to predict deception. This investigation establishes the foundation for the SCAN project and paves the way for the future research of culture influence on deceptive communication.
Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice Special Issue – Health and Wellbeing

Higher education leaders have great potential to impact the health and wellbeing of the collegiate community while integrating the best programmatic strategies and research on their campuses. Advan...
Urgency of Esophageal Foreign Body Removal: Differentiation Between Coins and Button Cell Batteries.

ObjectiveCoin-shaped button battery foreign bodies have a similar initial presentation to coin ingestion, but delayed retrieval of a battery from the esophagus can have devastating consequences. Va...
Metabolic response of Chlorella vulgaris to a transient thermal environment for supporting simultaneous air revitalization and thermal control in a crewed habitat

Abstract Implementing multifunctional bioregenerative technologies may provide mission carbon loop closure while simultaneously addressing multiple environmental control and life support system requirements. This paper proposes using water-based algal medium for thermal control of the spacecraft cabin, while taking advantage of the algae's photosynthetic activity for air revitalization. Consequently, this could expose the algal culture to transient thermal environments fluctuating between +4 °C and +30 °C, in the span of minutes, reflecting the operation of the International Space Station (ISS) internal thermal control and cabin system. This paper presents an initial investigation of the metabolic response of Chlorella vulgaris to transient environmental temperatures, reflecting temperature ranges and cycling frequency of the ISS cooling loop (+9 °C to +27 °C, 30 min). The constant 19 °C control represented the time-averaged temperature of the cycled condition. Growth and acclimation were observed in both tested conditions through pH, dissolved oxygen, optical density, and photosynthetic quantum yield measurements. However, there was significant reduction in the oxygen production rate, measured pH, and optical density for the cycled temperature condition when compared to the control (cycled temperature = 0.95 gO2 L−1 d−1, pH = 6.75, OD = 0.05; control = 1.17 gO2 L−1 d−1, pH = 8.20, OD = 0.08). No significant reduction in growth rate or photosynthetic quantum yield were recorded between the two tested conditions. Growth rate of the cycled temperature condition reflected those of psychrotolerant algae, suggesting some amount of culture acclimation to the rapidly dynamic environment. Results suggest that while C. vulgaris was viable within the tested temperature environment reflecting the ISS thermal control loop and cabin, there was a measurable reduction in the oxygen production rate.
Paleo-vegetation and environmental history of Natural Trap Cave based on pollen and carbon isotope analyses

Abstract Pollen and carbon isotope data from Natural Trap Cave provides insights into the environmental conditions of the Bighorn Basin, in north-central Wyoming, USA during the time intervals 151.1 to 132.2 cal ka BP, 51.8 to 17.4 cal ka BP, and 10.4 cal ka BP to present. Similarities between the buildup of the penultimate and last glacial maxima include abundant Artemisia, Amaranthaceae, Asteraceae, and Poaceae pollen, which, when combined with high δ13C values (>−25.0‰) and low plant discrimination values (18.0–19.0‰) from sedimentary organic matter, indicate steppe-like, cold-dry conditions. Between 151 and 142.5 cal ka BP, abundant Poaceae associated with much lower δ13C values (−28.0‰ to −26.0‰) and higher plant discrimination values (19.0‰–21.0‰) could be indicative of relatively wet summers. Similarly, after 25 cal ka BP increases in Poaceae may indicate wet conditions during the growing season. Holocene conditions differ from the earlier sections of the record, with greater arboreal pollen abundance (i.e., Pinus), consistent with woodland expansion in the region. Carbon isotope data from sedimentary organic matter show the Holocene was more humid than the glacial conditions of the late Pleistocene. This is especially clear at the start of the Holocene when a large negative carbon isotope excursion (CIE,
Reverse Recovery Testing of Small-Signal Schottky Diodes

Schottky diodes have little to no reverse recovery charge due to the lack of a PN junction or associated minority carriers. However, commercial Schottky diodes incorporate a PN junction guard ring under the electrode edge. At high currents, conduction through the guard ring structure can occur, injecting minority carriers and increasing reverse recovery charge. This behavior can lead to adverse circuit effects and increased loss, especially in high frequency dc-dc converters. Moreover, this effect is little-discussed in technical literature, not captured in datasheet provided values, and not typically incorporated into manufacture provided simulation models. This paper provides an open source and low-cost diode recovery test circuit and uses it to evaluate a selection of small-signal Schottky diodes and rectifiers. In several of the diodes, we find a significant increase in the recovery charge at high currents, characteristic of the PN junction guard ring’s conduction.
Chapter III.1 – Tissue Engineered Adipose Tissue

Publisher Summary Tissue engineering is an interdisciplinary field that applies the principles of engineering and life sciences to the development of biological substitutes that restore, maintain, or improve tissue function. To date, tissue engineering has not been applied to developing clinically translatable adipose tissue equivalents. The scope of research includes the disciplines of cell biology, engineering, and material science to address the critical problem of supplying autologous adipose tissue for reconstructive surgery applications. Although tissue engineered adipose tissue could be used for soft tissue augmentation, such as in facial augmentation to correct congenital problems, it would have immediate and widespread use in breast reconstruction following tumor resection. The emotional distress that accompanies a lump found in the breast is compounded by the apparent problems noted with reconstructive procedures. Without a trusted reconstruction procedure, the specter of a disfiguring operation adds to the fear of the cancer. This fear can lead to a patient's denial and, inevitably, avoidance of breast cancer screenings and delayed treatment. Tissue engineered adipose tissue can provide patients with breast tissue composed of the patient's own cells, negating donor site morbidity and complications associated with flap surgery. New breast reconstruction methods that are reliable, safe, and improve cosmesis can have a positive impact on women, leading to appropriate cancer screening and prompt treatment. Moreover, they can provide a positive psychological benefit for women, giving them a renewed sense of wholeness and a return to the normal state. The use of an autologous tissue source, which does not require a significant donor site and avoids the use of a conventional implant, would revolutionize reconstructive cancer surgery.
Collision Prediction Among Rigid and Articulated Obstacles with Unknown Motion

Collision prediction is a fundamental operation for planning motion in dynamic environment. Existing methods usually exploit complex behavior models or use dynamic constraints in collision prediction. However, these methods all assume simple geometry, such as disc, which significantly limit their applicability. This paper proposes a new approach that advances collision prediction beyond disc robots and handles arbitrary polygons and articulated objects. Our new tool predicts collision by assuming that obstacles are adversarial. Comparing to an online motion planner that replans periodically at fixed time interval and planner that approximates obstacle with discs, our experimental results provide strong evidences that the new method significantly reduces the number of replans while maintaining higher success rate of finding a valid path. Our geometric-based collision prediction method provides a tool to handle highly complex shapes and provides a complimentary approach to those methods that consider behavior and dynamic constraints of objects with simple shapes.
Millimeter Wave Techniques

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the various aspects of the millimeter wave techniques. At wavelengths below a few millimeters, the use of conventional rectangular or other waveguides for the transmission of energy and for measurements becomes impracticable. This is due to the very small dimensions involved and to the increased attenuation. The difficulties in making microwave components in the small waveguide involved also become very severe, and the performance of such components deteriorates with decreasing wavelength. Free-space or optical transmission methods give considerable flexibility in millimeter wave measuring systems. The properties of metals, such as reflectivity, at millimeter wavelengths differ from optical values so that differences in instrument design arise. This has extremely important repercussions in instruments such as the millimeter wave Fabry–Perot interferometer where the increased metallic reflection is such that the fringe sharpness increases by orders of magnitude over optical values. The millimeter wave spectrometer and measurements on dielectric sheets are also elaborated.
Made in Mexico: Zapotec Weavers and the Global Ethnic Art Market

Introduction: Locating Mexico and Zapotec WeaversPart 1. Constructing and Consuming the Zapotec1. -iva Oaxaca, No Hay Otro! 2. Touring Zapotec Weavers, or the Bug in the Rug 3. Selling Zapotec Textiles in the "Land of Enchantment"Discussion: The Zapotec IndustryPart 2. Crafting Weavings and Weavers4. The Zapotec Textile Production Complex 5. "We Learn to Weave by Weaving" 6. To Learn Weaving, MADE IN MEXICODiscussion: Crafting Zapotec Weaving Practices
Polyoma viruses with mutations at endonuclease HindII site 1: alterations at the COOH terminus of VP1.

Four mutants of polyoma virus lacking endonuclease HindII site 1 were isolated and characterized with respect to the VP1 coding sequence. Three of these mutants had deletions that removed 0.2 to 0.3% of the genome. All three deletion mutants encoded VP1 proteins that were smaller than wild type and that lacked one or more tryptic peptides normally found in the wild-type VP1 protein. Our results suggest the HindII site 1 is at, or very near, the carboxy terminal end of the coding sequence for VP1. A model for the peptide organization in that region is presented. Images
The 21-cm forest

We examine the prospects for studying the pre-reionization intergalactic medium (IGM) through the so-called 21-cm forest in spectra of bright high-redshift radio sources. We first compute the evolution of the mean optical depth r for models that include X-ray heating of the IGM gas, Wouthuysen-Field coupling, and reionization. Under most circumstances, the spin temperature Ts grows large well before reionization begins in earnest; this occurs so long as the X-ray luminosity of high-redshift starbursts (per unit star formation rate) is comparable to that in nearby galaxies. As a result, τ? 10 -3 throughout most of reionization, and background sources must sit well beyond the reionization surface in order to experience absorption that is measurable by square-kilometre class telescopes. H II regions produce relatively large 'transmission gaps' and may therefore still be observable during the early stages of reionization. Absorption from sheets and filaments in the cosmic web fades once Ts becomes large and should be rare during reionization. Minihaloes can produce strong (albeit narrow) absorption features. Measuring their abundance would yield useful limits on the strength of feedback processes in the IGM as well as their effect on reionization.
Effects of script training on the peer-to-peer communication of children with autism spectrum disorder

A multiple baseline design across participants was used to demonstrate the effects of a script-training procedure on the peer-to-peer communication of 3 children with autism spectrum disorder during group play with peers. Both scripted and unscripted initiations as well as responses to peers increased for all 3 participants. Stimulus generalization across novel toys, settings, and peers was observed. Novel unscripted initiations, responses, and appropriate changes in topics during peer-to-peer exchanges were analyzed by considering the cumulative frequency of these behaviors across phases of the study. Treatment gains were maintained during 4-week follow-up sessions. Results are discussed in terms of recommendations for practitioners, response variability, and potential future avenues of research.
Maximum yield approximation and size distribution patterns of stocker size largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides reared in a semi‐closed indoor system

The main objectives of this study were to approximate the maximum yield and evaluate size dispersion of stocker size largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides reared in a semi-closed recirculating system for 60 days. Fingerlings with an average body weight of 36.7 g were utilized for the study. An experimental system consisting of 18 square plastic tanks (165 L) equipped with a radial flow settler, a sump, a moving bed filter, a centrifugal pump, a rapid sand filter, a down-flow oxygen saturator and a UV sterilizer was utilized for the trial. The system was operated semi-closed, accounting for a daily exchange rate of 30–50% of total system water volume. Experimental stocking densities were 4.5, 9.1, 18.8, 36.5, 54.6 and 73 kg m−3 with three replicates per treatment. At the end of the experimental trial, largemouth bass showed acceptable feed conversion (1.00–1.48), specific growth rate (1.16–1.45% day−1) and survival rate (81.8–96.6%) in all treatments, displaying the highest performance at an initial stocking density range of 18–36 kg m−3. Based on a piecewise regression model with breakpoint analysis, maximum yield of largemouth bass fingerlings should not exceed 70 kg m−3. As stocking density increased, relatively more underweight fingerlings were produced with a higher uniformity of fatness.
The Pan-American Trademark Convention of 1929: a bold vision of extraterritorial meets current realities

This paper argues that the 1929 General Inter-American Convention for Trade Mark and Commercial Protection ("Pan-American Convention") should be remembered, and will explain why it has instead been forgotten. This paper recounts the history of the Convention and shows how that history fits into the development of a practice in the U.S. of requiring implementing legislation in order for treaty provisions to become directly operative. I will rely on foreign caselaw to show how the Convention has not been forgotten in member states (Colombia, Cuba, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay and Peru) and therefore has played a very different role abroad. And finally, I will demonstrate how the Convention makes at least two important contributions to international trademark law. First, it provides a novel approach to the protection of well-known marks by limiting their availability in cases where the mark was known to have been previously used in the region. Second, the Convention goes well beyond the Paris to provide a detailed set of protections against unfair competition. Given these substantive provisions, the fact that the Convention is still in force in the U.S., and that is self-executing, it is a wonder that there are so few U.S. cases that invoke this Convention.
Phosphofructokinase activity in fibroblasts aneuploid for chromosome 21.

Although the gene for the liver type (L) subunit of phosphofructokinase (PDK) is located on human chromosome 21 and PFKL subunits predominate in fibroblasts, an increase in PFK activity has not been reported in trisomy 21 fibroblasts. However, using well-matched pairs of trisomy 21 and diploid fibroblast strains, we observed an almost 1.5-fold increase in mean PFK activity of trisomic cells. In monosomy 21 fibroblasts we found an almost 0.5-fold decrease in mean PFK activity. Thus there appears to be a gene-dosage effect for the PFKL gene, as for other loci on chromosome 21. PFK activity in a cell strain deleted for the distal part of band 21q22.3 was not decreased, suggesting with other data that PFKL is located in the midportion of band 21q22.3.
An assessment of oceanic variability for 1960–2010 from the GFDL ensemble coupled data assimilation

The Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory has developed an ensemble coupled data assimilation (ECDA) system based on the fully coupled climate model, CM2.1, in order to provide reanalyzed coupled initial conditions that are balanced with the climate prediction model. Here, we conduct a comprehensive assessment for the oceanic variability from the latest version of the ECDA analyzed for 51 years, 1960–2010. Meridional oceanic heat transport, net ocean surface heat flux, wind stress, sea surface height, top 300 m heat content, tropical temperature, salinity and currents are compared with various in situ observations and reanalyses by employing similar configurations with the assessment of the NCEP’s climate forecast system reanalysis (Xue et al. in Clim Dyn 37(11):2511–2539, 2011). Results show that the ECDA agrees well with observations in both climatology and variability for 51 years. For the simulation of the Tropical Atlantic Ocean and global salinity variability, the ECDA shows a good performance compared to existing reanalyses. The ECDA also shows no significant drift in the deep ocean temperature and salinity. While systematic model biases are mostly corrected with the coupled data assimilation, some biases (e.g., strong trade winds, weak westerly winds and warm SST in the southern oceans, subsurface temperature and salinity biases along the equatorial western Pacific boundary, overestimating the mixed layer depth around the subpolar Atlantic and high-latitude southern oceans in the winter seasons) are not completely eliminated. Mean biases such as strong South Equatorial Current, weak Equatorial Under Current, and weak Atlantic overturning transport are generated during the assimilation procedure, but their variabilities are well simulated. In terms of climate variability, the ECDA provides good simulations of the dominant oceanic signals associated with El Nino and Southern Oscillation, Indian Ocean Dipole, Pacific Decadal Oscillation, and Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation during the whole analyzed period, 1960–2010.
An Integer Programming Model for Optimizing Shoulder Rehabilitation

Strength restoration is one goal of shoulder rehabilitation following rotator cuff repair surgery. However, the time spent in a physical rehabilitation setting is limited. The objective of this study was to develop a novel mathematical formulation for determining the optimal shoulder rehabilitation exercise protocol to restore normal shoulder strength given a time-constrained rehabilitation session. Strength gain was modeled using a linear dose-response function and biomechanical parameters of the shoulder musculature. Two different objective functions were tested: (1) one based on a least squares support vector machine using healthy and pathologic shoulder strengths (normative objective function), and (2) one which seeks to match the strength of the contralateral shoulder (contralateral objective function). The normative objective function was subject-independent and the optimal protocol consisted of four sets each of adduction and external rotation. The contralateral objective function was subject-specific and the typical optimal protocol consisted of various set combinations of abduction and internal and external rotation. These results are only partially consistent with current practice. Improvement of the current model is dependent on a better understanding of strength training adaptation and shoulder rehabilitation.
Applications of Stress Echocardiography: Beyond Coronary Disease

Stress echocardiography (SE) has become widely accepted as an important diagnostic and prognostic tool in the assessment of patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease. Despite its apparent versatility, physicians have only recently begun to expand its application to more diverse clinical situations. Depending on the pathophysiologic situation under assessment, either exercise or pharmacologic stress techniques have been employed, Increases in myocardial work and cardiac output have been effected by either immediate post-treadmill or bicycle ergometric exercise studies. Pharmacologic stress testing is a more recent iteration and has thus far involved the administration of graded infusions of dobutamine during imaging. This review will outline recent developments in SE and help to define the future roles for this promising clinical tool.
Measuring the Home Environments of Children in Early Adolescence

This article describes the development of the Early Adolescent version of the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (EA-HOME) Inventory and presents information regarding its usefulness in 5 sociocultural groups (African Americans, Chinese Americans, European Americans, Mexican Americans, and Dominican Americans). EA-HOME is designed to measure the quantity and quality of stimulation, support, and structure available to children ages 10 through 15 in their home environments. Results indicate high interobserver agreement for those using the measure. EA-HOME scores were significantly related to scores on measures of family context and child development for each sociocultural group, but patterns of association varied somewhat across groups.
Focused coherent radiation /laser/ induced degradation of solid methylene blue.

Focused laser coherent radiation-induced degradation of solid methylene and gas chromatographic analysis of reaction products
Electron emission characterization of diamond thin films grown from a solid carbon source

Diamond films of various morphologies and compositions have been deposited on silicon substrates by a plasma-enhanced chemical transport (PECT) process from a solid carbon source. Electron emission efficiency of these diamond films is related to their morphology and composition. The electric field required to excite emission in a boron-doped polycrystalline diamond film ranged between 20 to 50 MV m−1. In an undoped conducting nanocrystalline diamond composite film, the field was as low as 5–11 MV m−1. The cold field electron emission of these films is confirmed from the Fowler-Nordhelm plots of the data. Enhancement of electron emission by band-bending and by the nanocrystalline microstructure are discussed. New diamond emitters made of nanocrystalline boron-doped diamond composite are proposed.
Mechanisms of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) hyperalgesia

Abstract Activation of immune cells by pathogens induces the release of a variety of proinflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β and TNF-α. Previous studies using IL-1β have demonstrated that this cytokine can alter brain function, resulting in a variety of ‘illness responses’ including increased sleep, decreased food intake, fever, etc. We have recently demonstrated that i.p. IL-1β also produces hyperalgesia and that this hyperalgesia (as well as most illness responses) is mediated via activation of subdiaphragmatic vagal afferents. The present series of studies were designed to provide an initial examination of the generality of proinflammatory cytokine-induced hyperalgesia by examining the effects of i.p. TNF-α on pain responsivity. These studies demonstrate that: (a) i.p. TNF-α produces dose-dependent hyperalgesia as measured by the tailflick test, (b) this hyperalgesia is mediated via the induced release of IL-1β, (c) hyperalgesia is mediated via activation of subdiaphragmatic vagal afferents, and (d) the effects of subdiaphragmatic vagotomy cannot be explained by a generalized depression of neural excitability.
On-site pharmacists in the ED improve medical errors.

Abstract Objective The objective of the study was to compare errors in the emergency department (ED) with pharmacists present (PPs) for resuscitations and traumas vs with pharmacists absent (PAs). Our hypothesis was that errors would be significantly fewer during PP than PA times. We also hypothesized that times with PP would affect patients greater when disposition was to more critical areas (intensive care unit, or ICUs). Methods The study was conducted during a 3-month period in 2009 in a level 1 trauma center with an emergency medicine residency. This was a cross-sectional cohort study comparing a prospective analysis of patients during the time (10 hour/day) with PP and a retrospective review of the time on the same days (14 hours/day) with PA. Demographics of age, race, and sex were recorded. Patient disposition was either ICU, operating room, non-ICU wards, observation unit, or discharge. Main outcome was errors recorded including medications given but not ordered, medication ordered but not given, and time delays for medications. For demographics and prevalence, descriptive statistics and percentages were used. Percent differences and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and χ 2 were derived. Logistic regression used predictor variables of age, race, sex, disposition, and presence or absence of pharmacists. An a priori power analysis was performed. The study was powered at 80% with 186 subjects per group (PP vs PA), to find a difference of 20% between the 2 groups in percent of medical errors. Results There were 694 patients included in the 3-month period. A total of 242 presented during PP times and 452 during PA times. There were 383 (55%) male, 301 (43%) female, and 10 (2%) unknown sex. Mean age was 45 ± 18 years in PP group and 48 ± 20 years in PA group ( P , nonsignificant). There was no difference in ethnicity between groups. There were 6 (3%) patients with errors recorded during PP times and 137 (30%) with errors recorded during PA times (difference, 27%; 95% CI, 23-32). Controlling for age, race, sex, and disposition, medical errors were 13.5 times more likely during PA than during PP times (adjusted odds ratio, 13.5; 95% CI, 5.7-31.9). Conclusion With pharmacists absent, over 13 times more errors are recorded in our ED than with pharmacists present. An on-site pharmacist in the ED may be helpful in reducing medical errors.
Protein kinase C modulates phospholipase C and increases arachidonic acid release in bradykinin stimulated MDCK cells.

The tumor promoter phorbol ester (PMA) has been shown to stimulate protein kinase C (PKC) in MDCK cells. At the concentrations that produce stimulation of PKC, PMA (100 μ M) inhibits BK-induced I1,4,5P 3 (IP 3 ) formation and calcium transients in these cells. 1-5-isoquinolinyl-2-methyl-piperazine (H7) a known inhibitor of PKC in MDCK cells reverses the effect of PMA on BK-stimulated IP 3 formation and Ca +2 transients in these cells. PMA also stimulates arachidonate release which can be inhibited by preincubation with H7. A dual mechanism of regulation by PKC at the level of phospholipase C (down regulation) and phospholipase A 2 (stimulation) is suggested in these cells.
A Video Camera System Designed For Astronomical Applications

The video camera system was designed specifically to meet the demanding needs of two dimensional astronomical observations. Primary consideration was given to stability, reliability, data handling, human interface, and modular flexibility. The video camera system was designed in modular fashion to satisfy several technical and scientific problems and to minimize the overall instrumentation cost for the national observatory. The system can be configured in both a direct mode using an RCA 4849 ISIT as the detector and in a spectroscopic mode using a 3-stage, magnetically focused RCA C70021 image intensifier lens coupled to an RCA 4804 SIT. In either mode, the analog data from the detector is digitized, one frame at a time and accumulated in a 20 bit digital memory at a rate of up to 30 frames/sec. The 16 bit quotient of accumulated data divided by its frame count is sampled at a rate of .625 frames/sec. by a display memory which outputs data to a display monitor at a rate of 60 frames/sec. The data passing from the display memory to the display monitor encounters both a 16 bit to 8 bit linear transform and a linear or non-linear transform via a look-up-table. Control of the display transforms is accomplished by the observer using the operator control panel. A bi-directional data link exists from the accumulation and display memories to the main computer.
MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING OF RENAL VEIN AND INFERIOR VENA CAVA THROMBOSIS IN A PATIENT WITH GLOMERULONEPHRITIS: A CASE REPORT

We report a case of bilateral renal vein and inferior vena cava thrombosis in a patient with membranous glomerulonephritis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case demonstrated by magnetic resonance imaging.
Nigral D1 and striatal D2 receptors mediate the behavioral effects of dopamine agonists.

The mediation of behavior by nigral and striatal dopamine (DA) D1 and D2 receptors was investigated in rats that had sustained extensive unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine-induced injury to ascending DA neurons. Selective D1 and D2 agonists and antagonists were injected directly into the DA-denervated substantia nigra pars reticula or the caudate-putamen via a chronically indwelling cannula. Contralateral rotation resulting from unilateral stimulation of supersensitive DA receptors was quantified over 46 min. Intrastriatal apomorphine (5 micrograms) or the selective D2 agonist quinpirole (5 micrograms), but not the selective D1 agonist (+/-)-SKF 38393 (15 micrograms), induced vigorous rotation. The rotation induced by intrastriatal quinpirole was greatly diminished by systemic administration of the selective D2 antagonist eticlopride (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.) and could not be enhanced by additional injection of intrastriatal (+/-)-SKF 38393. Intranigral administration of apomorphine or (+/-)-SKF 38393, but not quinpirole (same doses as above), elicited vigorous rotation. However, the rotation induced by intranigral (+/-)-SKF 38393 could not be blocked by systemic administration of the selective D1 antagonist SCH 23390 (0.5 mg/kg, s.c.), and was mimicked by intranigral (-)-SKF 38393 (15 micrograms), which exhibits 100-fold less activity than the dextrorotatory enantiomer at the D1 receptor. In order to circumvent the problem of this drug's apparent non-D1-mediated action when injected intranigrally, rotation was induced by systemic (+/-)-SKF 38393 (2.0 mg/kg, i.p.) 10 min after intranigral administration of selective antagonists. Intranigral SCH 23390 (10 micrograms), but not eticlopride (10 micrograms), powerfully antagonized the rotation induced by systemic (+/-)-SKF 38393. Conversely, rotation induced by systemic quinpirole (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.) was potently blocked by intrastriatal eticlopride but not SCH 23390. Rotation induced by systemic apomorphine (0.25 mg/kg, i.p.) was not attenuated by either antagonist alone, regardless of intracerebral injection site. The results indicate that both nigral D1 and striatal D2 receptors mediate the behavioral effects of DA agonists. These data may be useful in elucidating the mechanism(s) underlying the D1/D2 synergism observed in neurologically intact animals, as well as in understanding the action of drugs used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.
Therapeutic RNA manipulation in liver disease

Posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression is increasingly recognized as a model for inherited and acquired disease. Recent work has expanded understanding of the range of mechanisms that regulate several of these distinct steps, including messenger RNA (mRNA) splicing, trafficking, and/or stability. Each of these pathways is implicated in disease pathogenesis, and each represents important avenues for therapeutic intervention. This review summarizes important mechanisms controlling mRNA processing and the regulation of mRNA degradation, including the role of microRNAs and RNA binding proteins. These pathways provide important opportunities for therapeutic targeting directed at splicing and degradation in order to attenuate genetic defects in RNA metabolism. We will highlight developments in vector development and validation for therapeutic manipulation of mRNA expression with a focus on potential applications in metabolic and immunomediated liver disease.
Lymphokine regulation of inflammatory processes: Interleukin-4 stimulates fibroblast proliferation

While recent evidence from several laboratories has shown that interleukin-4 (IL-4) can act on a number of cells in addition to B lymphocytes, these have thus far been limited to cells of the hematopoietic lineage. Here we report that murine IL-4 promotes DNA synthesis in both primary and immortalized fibroblasts. Marked stimulation of [3H]thymidine incorporation was observed for primary skin fibroblasts of Balb/c3T3 cells stimulated with HPLC- or immunoaffinity-purified as well as recombinant IL-4. Responses to immunoaffinity and recombinant IL-4 were completely blocked with anti-IL-4 antibody. Similar dose/response relationships were observed for recombinant IL-4 on skin fibroblasts and an IL-4 responsive murine T cell tumor, suggesting that the receptors for this lymphokine on these cells is simular. Together, these results show that IL-4 can cause DNA synthesis by murine fibroblasts presumably through ligand-receptor interactions at the cell surface. Implications of these findings to inflammation during an immune response is discussed.
Nonvolatile memory devices with AlOx embedded Zr-doped HfO2 high-k gate dielectric stack

MOS capacitors with the ZrHfO-AlOx-ZrHfO gate dielectric structure have been fabricated and studied for memory functions. Without the embedded AlOx film, the capacitor traps negligible amount of charges. With the embedded AlOx layer, the sample traps a large amount of holes or negligible amount of electrons depending on the polarity of the applied gate voltage. The charge retention and frequency dispersion measurements show that some of the holes are loosely retained at the tunnel ZrHfO/AlOx interface and some are deeply retained to the AlOx related sites. The leakage current–voltage curve further confirms the charge trapping capability of the AlOx embedded sample. Nearly half of the originally trapped holes can be retained in the memory device for more than 10 years. The AlOx embedded ZrHfO high-k stack is a good gate dielectric for the nonvolatile memory device.
Glutathione measurement by high-performance liquid chromatography separation and fluorometric detection of the glutathione-orthophthalaldehyde adduct☆

Glutathione reacts with orthophthalaldehyde to form a stable, highly fluorescent tricyclic derivative which is easily separated and quantitated by high-performance liquid chromatography. Separation of the glutathione adduct is achieved by isocratic elution over a reverse-phase column with 7.5% methanol/92.5% 0.15 M sodium acetate, pH 7.00. The adduct is detected fluorometrically and quantitated by integration of peak area. Detection of 0.1 to 200 pmol glutathione produces a linear response and the recovery of reduced and oxidized glutathione from rat liver homogenate, bile, and plasma is quantitative. The chemical identity of the adduct was confirmed by mass spectrometry.
Changes in plasma α1-acid glycoprotein and albumin concentrations during late pregnancy in rhesus monkeys

Abstract Plasma protein concentrations are an important determinant of maternal-fetal drug transfer in the perinatal period. Plasma concentrations of α 1 -acid glycoprotein (AAGP) and albumin were measured in pregnant rhesus monkeys using radial immunodiffusion assays at weekly intervals during the third trimester ( n = 12), at 3-day intervals in the 2 weeks prior to full term ( n = 10), and at 0, 1, 12, and 60 h after birth ( n = 4). AAGP concentrations increased significantly, and albumin concentrations decreased significantly, from weeks 13 to 21 gestation as well as from day 150 gestation to birth. No changes were seen in the postpartum period. AAGP and albumin concentrations were highly negatively correlated from day 150 gestation to birth. The data suggest that AAGP and albumin concentrations are jointly but inversely regulated by physiological or hormonal conditions that precede delivery.
It Takes a Community: Older Lesbians Meeting Social and Care Needs

Although specialized formal services are becoming more prevalent in addressing the needs of the older LGBT community, little is known about informal groups that have organized to meet the needs of this population. This article presents two case examples that depict the efforts of older lesbians to meet the social and care needs of members of their communities. The concept of psychological contracting is used to analyze these experiences, and combined with a review of the literature, practice implications for care and support for this special population are discussed.
Symposium: Antibiotics in Animal Feeds: Are There Viable Alternatives?

Abstract Antibiotic resistance in microorganisms has become a significant problem worldwide. Although use of antimicrobial growth promoters (AGP) remains controversial, the data for implicating a direct link to human health hazards from feeding AGP remain uncertain. Nonetheless, the public sector is building pressure to outlaw the practice. Thus, it seems inevitable that the use of AGP will decline in the future. In view of this situation, this symposium was organized to briefly review the history of the issue, assess the current status, and examine possible AGP alternatives. Dibner and Richards provide readers with a review of AGP use in the commercial animal industry over the years as an overview of the history of legislation in the United States and Europe. In addition, they examine the biological basis for antibiotic effects on animal growth efficiency. Finally, they discuss possible replacement compounds for AGP and conclude that it is “… unlikely that a single replacement will be found that will prove to be economically viable.” By water reviews evidence that antimicrobial use in animal production has resulted in harm to human health and concludes that such evidence remains elusive. The author suggests that well-designed surveillance programs are essential in assessing the qualitative and quantitative risks associated with individual AGP agents. Anderson et al. consider the use of experimental chlorate preparations as a preharvest intervention technology to prevent the colonization of food producing animals with pathogens. Huff and co-authors examine the bacteriophage administration for controlling foodborne pathogens and Escherichia coli infections. Berghman et al. discuss...