cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Parent smoking and asthmatic children's exposure patterns: A behavioral epidemiology study

Exposure of nonsmokers to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) has become an important public health issue; it is generally agreed that increased exposure is related to morbidity and mortality. Precise prevalence estimates of exposure are not yet available, and measurement methodology for ETS exposure rates is still in its formative stage. Recent interventions have attempted to reduce ETS exposure, particularly in children of smoking parents. Studies have relied primarily upon reduction of parents' smoking rates to indirectly reduce children's ETS exposure. In order to effectively design interventions to achieve reductions in ETS exposure, more attention must be given to smoking behaviors which lead to passive exposure. Ninety-one families with at least one smoking parent and an asthmatic child were recruited from four allergy clinics, and interviewed regarding their smoking history, current residential smoking patterns, and the children's exposure patterns. Descriptive data are presented. It is striking that the most smoking and most exposure did not occur in the same locations, times, or during the same activities. It is recommended that interventions focus closely on these patterns rather than on reduction of smoking rates alone, in order to effect reduction in ETS exposure.
Characteristics of 3H-substance P binding sites in rat brain membranes

Binding characteristics of 3H-Substance P (SP) were studied with rat brain membranes using a method applied to peripheral tissues by Lee and Snyder [15]. This method was well applicable to central nervous system (CNS) tissues. The results in the present study indicate that specific 3H-SP binding reaches a plateau only after 20 minutes of incubation, and the binding sites are saturable at a relatively low concentration of 3H-SP. Scatchard analysis of specific binding data reveals a single class of binding sites with a high affinity (Kd=0.30 nM) and a low density (Bmax=27.7 fmol/mg protein) in rat brain membranes. A Hill plot of the displacement curve of 3H-SP with unlabelled SP showed no indication for cooperativity (nH=0.83). The relative potencies of binding of various SP fragments at 3H-SP binding sites were fairly parallel to the length of the C-terminal fragments. Neurotransmitters not structurally related to SP produced no effect on 3H-SP binding even when used at micromolar concentrations.
Spectral dimorphism of crayfish visual pigment in solution.

Abstract Crayfish (Procambarus) photoreceptor membranes were prepared by a new technique. Digitonin extracts made at 0° contain two rhodopsin-like pigments, P562 and P512, in a ratio of about 5:4. On exposure to light at 10°C, P562 is converted to a metarhodopsin-like photoproduct with λmax at 515 nm (M515), and P512 is converted to a metarhodopsin-like photoproduct with λ max at 475 nm (M475). When warmed to 22°C, both photoproducts bleach in minutes to retinal and opsin. Neither P562 nor P512 is attacked by hydroxylamine, but both are destroyed by the detergent Ammonyx LO and by reduction of disulfide bridges with 2-mercaptoethanol. Neither is altered by changing the concentration of Cl−. P562 is more susceptible than P512 to thermal denaturation and attack by OH−, and its spectrum is distinctly narrower than predicted by an Ebrey-Honig nomogram. P562 and P512 do not interconvert, either in the dark or in the presence of light. P512 is distinct from M515; it is substantially more stable at 22°C and has a 23% smaller molar extinction coefficient. On the other hand, M515 is spectrally very similar to the single metarhodopsin that is formed by irradiation of rhabdoms from dark-adapted crayfish. As neither P562 nor P512 is found in crayfish rhabdoms, we conclude that both pigments are created in digitonin micelles from a spectrally and kinetically homogeneous population of rhodopsin molecules withλmax near 530 nm in the rhabdom.
Graphical solution and continuum approximation for the single destination dynamic user equilibrium problem

This paper studies the user optimum dynamic traffic assignment in a network consisting of a congested freeway section connected to a surface street grid via capacitated off-ramps. It is shown that although the network is simple, it is in general complicated to obtain the optimum solution analytically because (i) it has two different alternating diversion patterns and (ii) it can only be obtained sequentially in time. A simplified graphical solution method is proposed to cope with (i) but the method remains sequential. Finally, a continuum approximation is proposed that enables finding closed-form solutions without the above limitations.
Are biological structures smart

There is widespread agreement among engineering scientists that the next major step in the design, development and manufacture of structural components will most likely be a focus on building smart structures. Therefore the question posed above will be examined in the context of design of engineering structures and structural components. We begin by defining the key words here: smart and structures. By structure we mean an assembly or its components which serves an engineering function. Therefore, in addition to familiar examples such as airplanes, helicopters, bridges, buildings, roads, railways, ships, etc., a wide variety of objects such as microchips, semiconductors, accelerometers, strain gages, tennis rackets, musical instruments, cooking utensils, etc. quaIif' to be described as structures or structural components. These components may be subjected to wind, ice, heat, loads, noise, radiation, etc. Extending the context a little further, we are mainly concerned with these structures or structural components maintaining their structural integrity in performing their design function throughout the period of their estimated life. The dictionary dennition of the word '1smatt" is not very complimentary. However, the engineering community has adapted the word and in its usage over nearly a decade now, the word has come to define a certain extraordinary ability of a structural component in performing its function. Thus a structure or structural component may be defined as "smart" if it can sense a variable such as strain, pressure, temperature, etc. and process the same to initiate any action needed, in order to continue to perform the functions for which it was designed. Some prefer the word intelligence to describe the above characteristics but that word implies features fr and above those intended here, such as, for example, cognitive abilities. For the present we interpret smartness, in realistic terms, to mean the inherent ability of structural members to sense, diagnose and actuate in order to retain their integrity. Within the scope ofthese definitions, we study some specific examples and examine the extent oftheir smartness and relevance to engineering design
Nitrogen/argon ratios by difference thermal conductivity

A method has been developed for the precise determination of dissolved nitrogen/argon ratios in sea water for the purpose of evaluating small changes in the dissolved nitrogen content. Nitrogen and argon are extracted from sea water (in vacuo) and separated from water vapor, carbon dioxide and oxygen. The residual nitrogen-argon mixture is swept over a thermal conductivity detector with a carrier gas of the same composition, except for having a slightly different argon mole fraction. Calibration is carried out by equilibrating sea water at various temperatures with air. The technique has been used successfully in the analysis of N2Ar ratios from the intermediate depths of the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean and the Cariaco Trench. Precision is estimated at ± 0·2% at the 95% confidence level; the accuracy depends on the solubility tables used and the method of equilibration.
Multivariate analysis in biological anthropology: Some considerations

Abstract The relation between modern multivariate statistical analysis and common objectives in biological anthropology is discussed. Many formal statistical assumptions should be satisfied to fully justify multi-variate analysis, but rarely are. Their failure does not have as adverse an effect upon scientific research as some procedural errors in research design. These include the treatment of single specimens as if they are samples, and the failure to separate considerations of size and shape. The superiority of elaborate multivariate distances over simpler quantitative techniques, inferred from the former's consideration of trait intercorrelations, is unwarranted from both theoretical and practical aspects. Based on these points and several comparative examples of analyses, it is argued that simpler, non-statistical approaches such as those of the school of numerical taxonomy have much to offer primato-logical studies. Classic multivariate statistics, while useful for studying closely similar living populations, are considerably more limited in usefulness and significance for paleoanthropological studies.
Neuronal involvement in the intestinal effects of Clostridium difficile toxin A and Vibrio cholerae enterotoxin in rat ileum

Abstract Background/Aims: Activation of intestinal mast cells and neurons is involved in intestinal inflammation and diarrhea. This study compared the effects of neuronal inhibitors and inhibition of intestinal sensory afferent nerves on the intestinal actions of Clostridium difficile toxin A, an inflammatory enterotoxin, and cholera toxin, a noninflammatory enterotoxin. Methods: The effects of lidocaine, hexamethonium, atropine, and long-term pretreatment of capsaicin on fluid secretion, mannitol permeability, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and release of rat mast cell protease II (RMCPII) were measured in toxin A- and cholera toxin-exposed loops in vivo. Results: Lidocaine, hexamethonium, and capsaicin, but not atropine, inhibited toxin A-mediated secretion and MPO activity, but only capsaicin reduced mannitol permeability. Lidocaine, but not capsaicin, reduced secretion and permeability caused by cholera toxin. Toxin A caused release of RMCPII from rat ileum in vivo and in vitro; this was inhibited by lidocaine or capsaicin, whereas cholera toxin had no effect on release of RMCPII. Conclusions: Neuronal mechanisms are important in the in vivo effects of these two enterotoxins. Capsaicin-sensitive sensory afferent neurons and mast cells are involved in the intestinal mechanism of toxin A, but not cholera toxin.
Low energy sputtering of cobalt by cesium ions

An experimental facility to investigate low-energy (< 500 eV) sputtering of metal surfaces with ions produced by an ion gun is described. Results are reported on the sputtering yields of cobalt by cesium ions in the 100–500 eV energy range at a pressure of 1 × 10−6 Torr. The target was electroplated on a copper substrate. The sputtered atoms were collected on a cobalt foil surrounding the target. 57Co was used as a tracer to determine the sputtering yield.
Raman scattering of the mixed chalcogenide glass system As2SxSe3-x

Abstract Polarized room temperature Raman spectra of glassy As2SxSe3-x for 0≦×≦3 have been measured. Spectra for crystalline As2S1Se2 are reported. The polarization and intensity dependence upon composition are consistent with mixed pyramids of composition As2SnSe3-n and preclude phase separation in the glassy system.
Characterization of Strains of Staphylococcus Aureus Isolated from Livers of Commercially Slaughtered Poultry

Abstract INTRODUCTION STAPHYLOCOCCAL food poisoning is presently considered to be the most common type of food-borne disease in this country (Dauer, 1961; Lewis, 1964). The latest summary of food and water-borne disease outbreaks, compiled by the U.S.P.H. Service (1963) for the year 1961, lists staphylococcal food poisoning first, with 46 outbreaks and 1,503 cases, followed by salmonellosis, with 20 outbreaks and 750 cases. Dack (1962) reported that for the years 1956-1961, poultry meat was the third-most-frequent food (after meat and bakery products) implicated in food-poisoning outbreaks. There is no report available showing to what degree poultry carcasses harbor potentially pathogenic staphylococci immediately after slaughter and before any contamination from the environment. Gunderson et al. (1954) studied the bacteriology of commercial poultry processing by taking surface samples during the different steps of processing, but did not report the types and numbers of microorganisms found in tissues or inside the carcass before evisceration… .
An intra-location area location update scheme for PCS networks

Location management and paging management are two key issues in mobile cellular networks. In this paper, an intra location area location update scheme is proposed to increase paging accuracy for mobile cellular networks. In the proposed scheme, each mobile terminal has a valid/invalid anchor-cell, which may be dynamically changed. Whenever the mobile terminal enters a cell, a timer is set. The mobile terminal realizes that the entered cell is its current anchor-cell if the timer expires before leaving the cell. An analytical model is proposed, and results show that the proposed scheme outperforms some existing schemes.
High-dose methotrexate for elderly patients with primary CNS lymphoma.

The introduction of methotrexate (MTX)-based chemotherapy has improved median survival for patients with primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL). Older age is a negative prognostic marker in patients with PCNSL and may increase the likelihood of MTX toxicity. We studied the response and adverse effects of intravenous high-dose MTX in patients who were 70 or more years of age at the time of diagnosis. We identified 31 patients at our institution diagnosed with PCNSL at age ≥ 70 years (median, 74 years) who were treated with high-dose MTX (3.5–8 g/m2) as initial therapy from 1992 through 2006. The best response to MTX was determined by contrast-enhanced MRI. Toxicity was analyzed by chart review. These 31 patients received a total of 303 cycles of MTX (median, eight cycles per patient). Overall, 87.9% of the cycles required dose reduction because of impaired creatinine clearance. In 30 evaluable patients, the overall radiographic response rate was 96.7%, with 18 complete responses (60%) and 11 partial responses (36.7%). Progression-free survival and overall survival were 7.1 months and 37 months, respectively. Grade I–IV toxicities were observed in 27 of 31 patients and included gastrointestinal disturbances in 58% (3.2% grade III), hematological complications in 80.6% (6.5% grade III), and renal toxicity in 29% (0% grade III/IV). High-dose MTX is associated with a high proportion of radiographic responses and a low proportion of grade III/IV toxicity in patients 70 or more years of age. High-dose MTX should be considered as a feasible treatment option in elderly patients with PCNSL.
Is the establishing of tolerance to self obligatorily MHC restricted

Abstract The prevailing paradigm used to interpret how T cells recognize antigen treats antigen processing as obligatory because the T cell antigen receptor complex can only detect antigen located in a “groove” found on MHC-encoded restricting elements. The vast majority of experimental systems used to analyze how T cells recognize antigen depend on induced T cells executing their effector functions, and it is agreed without exception that this event is MHC restricted. However, to date, the extrapolation of the obligatory MHC restriction of effector function to the level of the antigen-responsive T cell that makes the tolerance induction decision, depends not on experiment, but on theoretical constructs. The few experiments designed to test whether tolerance is MHC restricted are open to several interpretations, only one of which is consistent with the view that all antigen recognition events must be MHC restricted. If it can be shown that tolerance is not obligatorily MHC restricted, then the pillar of the prevailing paradigm will have fallen. The experiments described here throw into serious doubt the evidence that has been used to conclude that tolerance is obligatorily MHC restricted.
Impact of Lifestyle Disruption on Parent and Child Coping, Knowledge, and Parental Discipline in Children With Sickle Cell Anemia

We compared the knowledge of sickle cell disease, child and parent coping strategies, and parent discipline methods/knowledge in three groups of children and their parents. The groups were composed of: (a) children with sickle cell anemia who experienced disease-related significant lifestyle disruption, (b) children with sickle cell anemia who experienced disease-related minimal lifestyle disruption, and (c) non-ill Black children. The groups were matched for age, sex, and ethnicity. No differences were found among the groups on measures of child coping. Children with sickle cell anemia, regardless of level of disruption, reported more knowledge about sickle cell disease than did healthy peers. Parents of children in the significant lifestyle disruption groups scored lower on the Engagement, Emotional Engagement, and Problem-Focused Disengagement, and higher on the Medical Coping scales of the Coping Strategies Inventory than parents of healthy children and children in the minimal lifestyle disruption gro...
Post-Consumer Plastic Sortation With the Use of Electromagnetic Separation Methods for Recycling

In 2010, the United States generated over 31 million tons of plastic waste, and from that total, only 8% was recycled. With demand for lower cost plastics and public attention to environmental concerns increasing, the expanding recycling industry has provided an opportunity to lower raw material costs and create sustainable jobs. Traditionally, manual or optical methods that used infrared technologies were utilized to sort plastic wastes for recycling. Once these plastic wastes were sorted, they were cleaned, shredded, and melted into raw materials. These methods are costly and can experience high nonconformance rates during the sortation processes. This paper discussed an emerging technique that utilizes a novel process that sorts shredded plastic particles by using electromagnetic (EM) waves and Ferro fluids. The process involves placing various types of shredded plastic particles of into a tank filled with Ferro fluid. The plastic particles and Ferro fluid are then subjected to an EM wave by the use of an EM coil. The EM wave alters the viscosity of the Ferro fluid and causes the shredded plastic particles to rise and sink at different vertical levels within the Ferro fluid tank, based on their respective densities. This method allows for an efficient, accurate, and low cost method to sort plastic particles as compared to conventional technologies. Overviews of the model development, experimental design, and test results are provided that demonstrates proof-of-concept. The results of the study indicated that the EM separation method may offer significant cost, efficiency, and accuracy improvements over conventional methods.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Assessment of Proper Medication Inhaler Technique in Adult Patients

Background: Many medications used to manage pulmonary disease are delivered via unique inhalation devices. Proper technique in using these devices is required for effective medication delivery. Obj...
Multiple Receptor Interactions Trigger Release of Membrane and Intracellular Calcium Stores Critical for Herpes Simplex Virus Entry

Herpes simplex viruses (HSV) harness cellular calcium signaling pathways to facilitate viral entry. Confocal microscopy and small interfering RNA (siRNA) were used to identify the source of the calcium and to dissect the requisite viral–cell interactions. Binding of HSV to human epithelial cells induced no calcium response, but shifting the cells to temperatures permissive for penetration triggered increases in plasma membrane calcium followed by a global release of intracellular calcium. Transfection with siRNA targeting the proteoglycan syndecan-2 blocked viral binding and abrogated any calcium response. Transfection with siRNA targeting nectin-1, a glycoprotein D receptor, also prevented both membrane and intracellular calcium responses. In contrast, the membrane response was preserved after transfection with siRNA targeting integrinαv, a novel glycoprotein H receptor. The membrane response, however, was not sufficient for viral entry, which required interactions with integrinαv and release of inositol-triphosphate receptor-dependent intracellular calcium stores. Thus, calcium plays a critical, complex role in HSV entry.
COMPUTABLE STRUCTURES OF RANK $\omega_{1}^{{\rm CK}}$

For countable structure, "Scott rank" provides a measure of internal, model-theoretic complexity. For a computable structure, the Scott rank is at most . There are familiar examples of computable structures of various computable ranks, and there is an old example of rank . In the present paper, we show that there is a computable structure of Scott rank . We give two different constructions. The first starts with an arithmetical example due to Makkai, and codes it into a computable structure. The second re-works Makkai's construction, incorporating an idea of Sacks.
Growth of PCB-degrading bacteria on compounds from photosynthetic plants

Abstract Compounds produced by photosynthetic plants were shown to support the growth of PCB-degrading bacteria, and the organisms retained their ability to metabolize PCBs. These results indicate that the rhizosphere zone surrounding the roots of some plant species may selectively foster the growth of PCB-degrading microbes. Thus, introduction of a carefully selected plant species at PCB-contaminated sites has promise as a new means of enhancing and maintaining microbial degradation of PCBs.
Intrahost Dynamics of Influenza Virus Reassortment

ABSTRACT The segmented nature of the influenza virus genome allows reassortment between coinfecting viruses. This process of genetic exchange vastly increases the diversity of circulating influenza viruses. The importance of reassortment to public health is clear from its role in the emergence of a number of epidemiologically important viruses, including novel pandemic and epidemic strains. To gauge its impact on within-host genomic variation, we tracked reassortment in coinfected guinea pigs over time and given matched or discordant doses of coinfecting viruses. To ensure unbiased detection of reassortants, we used parental viruses of equivalent fitness that differ only by noncoding nucleotide changes. These viruses were based on the isolate A/Panama/2007/1999 (H3N2). At a dose of 2 × 10 2 PFU, one parental virus was absent from each guinea pig throughout the time course, indicating the presence of a bottleneck. With an intermediate dose of 2 × 10 3 PFU, genomic diversity present in nasal lavage samples increased from 1 to 3 days postinfection (dpi) and then declined by 6 dpi. With a high dose of 2 × 10 6 PFU, however, reassortment levels were high (avg. 59%) at 1 dpi and remained stable. Even late in the course of infection, parental viruses were not eclipsed by reassortants, suggesting that a uniformly high multiplicity of infection was not achieved in vivo . Inoculation with ∼10-fold discordant doses did not reduce reassortment relative to equivalent inputs but markedly changed the spectrum of genotypes produced. Our data reveal the potential for reassortment to contribute to intrahost diversity in mixed influenza virus infection. IMPORTANCE Influenza virus reassortment is prevalent in nature and is a major contributor to the diversity of influenza viruses circulating in avian, swine, human and other host species. This diversity, in turn, increases the potential for influenza viruses to evade selective pressures or adapt to new host environments. As examples, reassortment was key to the emergence of the 1957, 1968, and 2009 pandemics; the unusually severe influenza epidemics of 2003, 1951, and 1947; and the rise in adamantane resistance among currently circulating human H3N2 viruses. We reveal here the diversity of viral genotypes generated over time in a host coinfected with two influenza viruses. We found that intrahost diversity driven by reassortment is dynamic and dependent on the amount of each virus initiating infection. Our results demonstrate the readiness with which reassortant influenza viruses arise, offering new insight into this important mechanism of influenza virus evolution.
Determination of dibenzothiophene in oils by liquid chromatography—tandem mass spectrometry

Abstract Quantitative trace analysis for organic compounds in complex matrices such as oils often requires time-consuming sample pretreatment. Two examples are shown of the use of a highly selective tandem mass spectrometer as a liquid chromatographic detector for the quantification of dibenzothiophene in a crude petroleum oil and in an alternate fuel oil. No sample preparation except an appropriate dilution was required. A preconcentrating liquid chromatography—mass spectrometry interface was used, allowing detection limits of ca . 20 ng to be attained.
Electron Paramagnetic Resonance of the Neutral (S=1) One- Vacancy-Oxygen Center in Irradiated Silicon

A new EPR spectrum, labeled $\mathrm{S}\mathrm{i}\ensuremath{-}S1$, has been observed in electron- or neutron-irradiated, $n$- or $p$-type, crucible-grown silicon under illumination with approximately band-gap light. The $\mathrm{S}\mathrm{i}\ensuremath{-}S1$ spectrum consists primarily of a fine-structure spectrum and a $^{29}\mathrm{Si}$ hyperfine spectrum. By incorporating $^{17}\mathrm{O}$ atoms into vacuum-float-zone silicon by ion implantation, the $\mathrm{S}\mathrm{i}\ensuremath{-}S1$ $^{17}\mathrm{O}$ hyperfine spectrum was also observed. An analysis of the coupling tensors in the spin Hamiltonian which characterize the fine structure and $^{29}\mathrm{Si}$ hyperfine spectrum is presented and suggests that the $\mathrm{S}\mathrm{i}\ensuremath{-}S1$ center is the neutral charge state of the one-vacancy-oxygen center in an excited spin-triplet state. This model for the $\mathrm{S}\mathrm{i}\ensuremath{-}S1$ center is in agreement with stress measurements, which are also presented. These measurements indicate that the time-temperature dependence in the reorientation of the $\mathrm{S}\mathrm{i}\ensuremath{-}S1$ center is the same as that of the neutral one-vacancy-oxygen center as monitored by the $\mathrm{S}\mathrm{i}\ensuremath{-}B1$ spectrum.
Functional corpora lutea maintained for months by autografts of rat hypophyses.

THE rat hypophysis, when isolated from the diencephalon by transplantation to the kidney, can nevertheless liberate luteotrophin during the following week in sufficient amount to maintain luteal function (Desclin, 1950). Desclin's rats having been implanted in advance with pellets of stilbestrol, the liberation of luteotrophin was interpreted to be a direct effect of estrogen. Subsequently, however, Everett (1954) reported that functional corpora lutea are readily and consistently obtained in rats bearing hypophyseal autografts, without any stimulus other than may be inherent in transplantation itself.
Predicting Institutional Aggression by Defensive Prison Inmates: An Examination of the Personality Assessment Inventory Treatment Consideration Scales

Although the Antisocial Features scale of the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI; Morey, 2007) is a robust predictor of institutional aggression, recent research (Edens & Ruiz, 2005, 2006) suggests its efficacy is limited among offenders who engage in positive impression management. In this follow-up study, we explored other PAI variables that might predict aggression among 134 prison inmates who Edens and Ruiz (2005, 2006) identified as producing defensive PAI profiles. Somewhat counterintuitively, the Nonsupport scale was negatively associated with aggressive-defiant and physically aggressive infractions in this subgroup of inmates. Results are discussed in the context of the “threatened egotism” literature and implications for institutional risk assessment are reviewed.
The Use of Influence Tactics in Persuasion

Abstract American undergraduates (N = 154) were presented with vignettes in which a downward influence situation was described, together with conditions of (a) the types of jobs of the agent and target of the influence situation, (b) the role identities of the actors, and (c) the goal of the actor attempting to influence the target. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to test the hypothesis that the preference order for influence tactics would be invariant across situations (cf. Rule, Bisanz, & Kohn, 1985). The likelihood and relative degree to which the influence tactics were predicted to be used were similar across situations, providing support for the schema-based notion of a “persuade package.”
The Limits of Organizational Theory and Incentives (Or, Why Corporate Success Is Not Just About Money)

Most economists begin their study of organizational behavior by taking for granted that incentive compensation influences behavior. Managers and employees are assumed to have “utility functions” that reflect a very basic set of “preferences”—preferences for things like money and leisure and job security. And, as clearly simplistic as it is, this “model” of human behavior has been shown to have considerable predictive power. But it is equally clear that financial incentives and rewards are not all that matters in motivating people within large organizations. What economists have failed to recognize is the important subjective consequences for employees of acting in accord with well-designed incentives that have been “internalized”—viewed not just as leading to financial rewards and corporate success, but as “the right thing to do.” In the language of economists, a well-designed incentive program can end up influencing not only people's behavior, but their underlying “preferences,” or what non-economists like to call “values.” And it is these preferences and values that are at the core of an organization's “culture.”
Corneal stromal stem cells versus corneal fibroblasts in generating structurally appropriate corneal stromal tissue

Abstract Recapitulation of human corneal stromal tissue is believed to be among the most challenging steps in engineering human corneal tissue because of the difficulty in reproducing its highly-ordered hierarchical ultrastructure, which imparts its robust biomechanical properties and optical transparency. In this study, we compared the feasibility of utilizing human corneal stromal stem cells (hCSSCs) and human corneal fibroblasts (hCFs) in the generation of human corneal stromal tissue on a highly-aligned fibrous substrate made from poly(ester urethane) urea. In the serum-free keratocyte differentiation medium supplemented with FGF-2 (10 ng/mL) and TGF-β3 (0.1 ng/mL), hCSSCs successfully differentiated into keratocytes and secreted multilayered lamellae with orthogonally-oriented collagen fibrils, in a pattern mimicking human corneal stromal tissue. The constructs were 60–70 μm thick and abundant in cornea-specific extracellular matrix (ECM) components, including keratan sulfate, lumican, and keratocan. Under the identical conditions, hCFs tended to differentiate into myofibroblasts and deposited a less-organized collagen-fibrillar construct in a pattern with similarities to corneal scar tissue due to a lack of cornea-specific ECM components. These observations demonstrated that hCSSCs showed a much greater potential, under proper substrate and growth factor guidance, to facilitate the generation of a biological human cornea equivalent. Unlike hCSSCs, hCFs were less responsive to these environmental cues and under identical culture conditions generated an ECM that poorly mimicked the native, functional tissue structure and composition.
Reoperation after insertion of aortic homograft as a right ventricular outflow tract.

Abstract Three patients who developed pseudoaneurysm or stenosis of the right ventricular outflow tract after insertion of an aortic homograft between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery presented the technical problems at reoperation of intimate adherence of the homograft to the sternum. Successful replacement of the defective aortic homograft was accomplished by sequentially employing peripheral venous and arterial cannulation, heart-lung bypass, hypothermia, circulatory arrest, sternotomy, right atrial cannulation, and resumption of bypass.
NEW RECORDS OF HEMIPTERA (STERNORRHYNCHA, CICADOMORPHA, HETEROPTERA) FOR NEWFOUNDLAND, CANADA

Abstract The first Newfoundland records are given for 12 Palearctic species: the aphids Acyrthosiphon caraganae (Cholodkovsky), A. pisum (Harris), Hyperomyzus lactucae (L.), Macrosiphoniella artemisiae (Boyer de Fonscolombe), Pleotrichophorus glandulosus (Kaltenbach), Tuberculatus annulatus (Hartig), and Uroleucon cirsii (L.); leafhoppers Athysanus argentarius Metcalf and Grypotes puncticollis (Herrich-Schaeffer); anthocorids Acompocoris pygmaeus (Fallen) and Anthocoris confusus Reuter; and microphysid Loricula pselaphiformis Curtis. All 12 Old World species are considered immigrant (rather than intentionally introduced) in Newfoundland. Two mirid species native to North America—Deraeocoris piceicola Knight and D. pinicola Knight—also are reported as new to the island. All 14 hemipteran species were collected in the eastern Avalon Peninsula (13 were found at the major port city of St. John's) and were found mainly on Old World plants. The record of the mirid D. piceicola is the first for eastern Canada, a...
Thyroid function and the risk of Alzheimer disease: the Framingham Study.

Background Clinical hypo- and hyperthyroidism are recognized causes of reversible dementia but prior studies relating thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels to cognitive performance in clinically euthyroid persons have yielded inconsistent results.
Dynamical Effects of the Parker Instability in the Interstellar Medium

We follow numerically the nonlinear evolution of the Parker instability in the interstellar medium in two spatial dimensions. The response of an initially unstable equilibrium state to small, random velocity perturbations is investigated. The horizontal wavelength with maximum growth rate in the linear theory grows preferentially and dominates the nonlinear evolution of the system during timescales of interest in the interstellar medium. The nonlinear evolution of the system also favors modes whose symmetry allows motions that cross the galactic plane. In a separate calculation, we investigate the dominant mode in more detail and discuss the effect of the nonlinear evolution on the structure of the interstellar medium.
Evidence for distinct signaling properties and biological responses induced by the PDGF receptor alpha and beta subtypes

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) acts as a potent mitogen, chemoattractant and survival factor for mesenchymal cells. In addition to its importance in mammalian development, PDGF plays a critical role in physiological repair mechanisms and in the pathogenesis of various proliferative diseases. The biological effects of PDGF are initiated via two related receptor tyrosine kinases, termed alpha and betaPDGF receptors. Recent observations provide increasing evidence for distinct roles of the two PDGF receptor subtypes in both embryogenesis and disease formation. Moreover, characterization of the signal relay mechanisms indicates, that the alpha and betaPDGF receptors are not identical in their ability to bind intracellular effector molecules. Furthermore, the two PDGF receptors initiate overlapping, yet distinct signal transduction pathways. These differences may account for some of the variabilities in biological responses resulting from activation of these two receptors.
A rule-based part orientation system for fixtureless assembly

Abstract A simple method to determine the orientation of an object is described. The algorithm makes use of a system generated scalene triangle and defines the orientation as the angle through which the shortest side of the triangle must be rotated to make it (the side) parallel to the Y-axis of the vision coordinate system. The scalene triangle is formed from the vertices of a 2-D image of an object or from the controids of the internal features of the object.
IKKα Is Required to Maintain Skin Homeostasis and Prevent Skin Cancer

It has long been known that excessive mitotic activity due to H-Ras can block keratinocyte differentiation and cause skin cancer. It is not clear whether there are any innate surveillants that are able to ensure that keratinocytes undergo terminal differentiation, preventing the disease. IKKalpha induces keratinocyte terminal differentiation, and its downregulation promotes skin tumor development. However, its intrinsic function in skin cancer is unknown. Here, we found that mice with IKKalpha deletion in keratinocytes develop a thickened epidermis and spontaneous squamous cell-like carcinomas. Inactivation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) or reintroduction of IKKalpha inhibits excessive mitosis, induces terminal differentiation, and prevents skin cancer through repressing an EGFR-driven autocrine loop. Thus, IKKalpha serves as an innate surveillant.
A multi-scale LES technique for coupling near-field and far-field domains for a jet flow

Abstract When using Large Eddy Simulations (LES) for a jet flow in a domain which is more than a hundred jet diameters long, the computational requirements are dictated by the near-field region immediately downstream of the jet exit. This is because high spatial and temporal resolution is required to accurately transition the flow to a fully-developed state. In particular, the high flow velocities combined with small grid-scales required for the thin shear layers in this region necessitate a time-step which can be an order of magnitude smaller than that required for the downstream region. To eliminate this near-field time-step restriction, a Recorded Interface Boundary Condition (RIBC) technique is developed herein to represent the unsteady three-dimensional flow emanating from the near-field region. The RIBC technique prescribes an upstream boundary condition for the far-field domain to allow a much larger time-step, reducing CPU resources by an order of magnitude. Two variants of the multi-scale RIBC are considered: one is a recording that plays only forwards and repeats over several cycles, while the other is a similar recording but plays both forward and then backwards (so as to eliminate temporal discontinuities). To evaluate the performance of this method, these variants were compared to a full-field simulation (which encompasses all time and length scales of the near-field and the far-field regions). Despite its simplicity, the RIBC technique reasonably reproduces the mean and turbulent velocities in the far-field jet without requiring the small time steps and high resolution domain associated with the near-field. This allows the far-field domain to be simulated with larger time steps than the full-field simulation reducing computational time for a converged solution. Of the two variants considered, the forward-and-backward technique tends to be more stable but more work is needed to determine the robustness for other flows (e.g. wakes and shear layers), and to investigate the potential non-physical influence of the recording cycle period on the flowfield turbulent spectrum.
Biology and therapeutic potential of GLP-1 in the treatment of diabetes

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is a hormone secreted from enteroendocrine L-cells of the intestine in response to food. It has many properties deemed beneficial in type 2 diabetes but it is subject to rapid enzymatic degradation, and thus, it is not suitable as a long-term treatment. Synthetic enzyme-resistant GLP-1 analogs that reproduce the biological effects of GLP-1 are under intense investigation. This review aims at providing a summary of the properties of GLP-1 and the development of its analogs for treatment of type 2 diabetes.
Real-time FRP

Functional reactive programming (FRP) is a declarative programming paradigm where the basic notions are continuous, time-varying behaviors and discrete, event-based reactivity. FRP has been used successfully in many reactive programming domains such as animation, robotics, and graphical user interfaces. The success of FRP in these domains encourages us to consider its use in real-time applications, where it is crucial that the cost of running a program be bounded and known before run-time. But previous work on the semantics and implementation of FRP was not explicitly concerned about the issues of cost. In fact, the resource consumption of FRP programs in the current implementation is often hard to predict. As a first step towards addressing these concerns, this paper presents real-time FRP (RT-FRP), a statically-typed language where the time and space cost of each execution step for a given program is statically bounded. To take advantage of existing work on languages with bounded resources, we split RT-FRP into two parts: a reactive part that captures the essential ingredients of FRP programs, and a base language part that can be instantiated to any generic programming language that has been shown to be terminating and resource-bounded. This allows us to focus on the issues specific to RT-FRP, namely, two forms of recursion. After presenting the operational explanation of what can go wrong due to the presence of recursion, we show how the typed version of the language is terminating and resource-bounded. Most of our FRP programs are expressible directly in RT. The rest are expressible via a simple mechanism that integrates RT-FRP with the base language.
The value of pre-decision side bets for utility maximizers

If an alternative is attractive only at certain wealth levels of a decision maker, typically above some critical level, then there will be occasions when it is better to enter into an independent side bet prior to making a decision, than to accept or reject the alternative outright.
The Infrared Absorption Spectra of Certain Alkaloids

The absorption of twelve alkaloids was investigated between 1.00μ and 12.00μ with constant deviation spectrometers employing rocksalt and fluorite prisms. The compounds investigated were α-β-dipyridyl, anabasine, neo-nicotine, methyl anabasine, nicotine, spartine, spartine sulphate, pelletierine, arecoline, arecoline hydrobromide, pilocarpine, and pilocarpine hydrochloride. Anabasine and neo-nicotine are presumably the same alkaloid, anabasine being a plant extract and neo-nicotine a synthetic product. They show, however, different absorption characteristics. As is to be expected the absorption bands corresponding to the C–N, C–H, C–H2 and benzene ring frequencies are present.
Integration of flow and QOS control in multicast routing

Current works on QOS-routing allow flow and QOS control to be exercised on multicast paths after an underlying routing protocol (e.g., DVMRP and CBT) sets up these paths. The 'QOS-control-after-routing' paradigm limits the ability of routers to provide cost-efficient routing (in a network-wide sense) because they can explore only those paths already set up even if more cost-efficient alternate paths exist. This motivates the need to integrate routing with flow and QOS control, wherein alternate paths can be considered to enable cost-efficient path setups. The paper proposes scalable IntServ-style mechanisms at the flow management and routing protocol levels.
The anionic oxy-Cope rearrangement: using chemical reactivity to reveal the facile isomerization of the parent substrates in the gas phase.

The rearrangements of 1,5-hexadiene-3-oxide and 3-methyl-1,5-hexadiene-3-oxide have been studied in the gas phase, using both Fourier transform mass spectrometry (FTMS) and the flowing afterglow (FA) technique. Gas-phase studies of ionic rearrangements can be limited by analysis techniques such as collision-induced dissociation, which have the potential of driving the rearrangement prior to fragmentation. In the studies reported here, we have utilized methanol-O-d, methyl nitrite, and dimethyl disulfide as chemical reactivity probes to discern whether rearrangement of either of the alkoxides to their corresponding enolates occurs. Of the three structural probe reagents, dimethyl disulfide has been found to be most ideal, since it reacts efficiently with both alkoxides and enolates to produce a unique product from each. On the basis of the reactions observed between dimethyl disulfide and anions generated from 1,5-hexadien-3-ol and 3-methyl-1,5-hexadien-3-ol, we have found that the gas-phase Cope rearrange...
Safety and Efficacy of Non-Cemented Femoral Fixation in Patients 75 Years of Age and Older

The aim of this study was to assess peri-operative complications, safety and efficacy of non-cemented femoral fixation in total hip arthroplasty (THA) as compared to cemented femoral fixation in the elderly population. Fifty-two matched pair analysis of patients with 75 years of age and older (104 patients), who underwent primary THA from June 1997 to December 2004, was performed based on age, sex, BMI, and Charnley classification. Mean age was 81 years (75-101) and the average follow up was 3.1 ± 2.9 years (1.2-6.4). There was no difference in peri-operative cardiopulmonary complications, pulmonary failures, deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolus, length of stay, or discharge deposition between the two groups. Non-cemented fixation is safe and effective in patients older than 75 years of age.
Selective Anodic Dissolution of Cu‐Au Alloys: TEM and Current Transient Study

Transmission electron microscopy, selected area diffraction, and current‐time behavior were used to evaluate the mechanism of selective copper dissolution and formation of the Au‐rich protective alloy layer in the low current, , potential region during anodic polarization of Cu‐Au alloys. A planar surface is generally stable below . This stability abruptly disappears at and above . The initially observed parabolic current‐time behavior at with its origin on the alloy side of the metal/solution interface is consistent with a mass‐transfer process normal to the interface but the actual value of the diffusivity (10−12 cm2 s−1) is more indicative of diffusion in the plane of the surface. Alternatively, the diffusion region is grossly defective. At longer times (⪞1 min) in the passive region, the observed departure from the parabolic rate law to an approximately linear rate law coincides with the onset of low density, random pitting over the surface. This local breakdown of the protective Au layer may involve a surface diffusion transport process based on available activation‐energy values.
Omega-3 supplementation lowers inflammation in healthy middle-aged and older adults: A randomized controlled trial

Observational studies have linked lower levels of omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) with inflammation and depression. This study was designed to determine whether n-3 supplementation would decrease serum cytokine production and depressive symptoms in 138 healthy middle-aged and older adults (average age=51.04, SD=7.76) who were sedentary and overweight (average BMI=30.59, SD=4.50). This three-arm randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind 4-month trial compared responses to (1) 2.5 g/d n-3 PUFAs, or (2) 1.25 g/d n-3 PUFAs, or (3) placebo capsules that mirrored the proportions of fatty acids in the typical American diet. Serum interleukin-6 decreased by 10% and 12% in our low and high dose n-3 groups, respectively, compared to a 36% increase in the placebo group. Similarly, low and high dose n-3 groups showed modest 0.2% and -2.3% changes in serum tumor necrosis factor alpha, compared to a 12% increase in the control group. Depressive symptoms were quite low at baseline and did not change significantly in response to supplementation. Our data suggest that n-3 PUFAs can reduce inflammation in overweight, sedentary middle-aged and older adults, and thus could have broad health benefits. These data provide a window into the ways in which the n-3 PUFAs may impact disease initiation, progression, and resolution. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00385723.