cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electrically conductive nanocomposite hydrogels embedded with functionalized carbon nanotubes for spinal cord injury

More than a million people are suffering from spinal cord injury (SCI) worldwide. However, currently there are no therapies that could ameliorate the neurological impairments, and the long-term SCI survival rate is far from satisfactory. Electrical stimulation and electrically conductive conduits are emerging as promising strategies with positive results showing increased neurite and axon growth in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chains and further introduced crosslinkablility with double bonds. The final carbon-nanotube-poly(ethylene glycol)-acrylate (CNTpega) material was embedded within oligo(poly(ethylene glycol) fumarate) (OPF) at varying concentrations to form conductive hydrogels with modulable conductivities. The morphological properties, mechanical strengths, conductivities, and CNT distributions within the hydrogels were characterized. In vitro neural cell adhesion and proliferation as well as neurite development after nerve growth factor (NGF) induction showed significant enhancement in the conductive hydrogels. Various types of nerve conduits were then successfully fabricated using an injection molding technique. With many desired properties, these conductive nerve conduits have promising potential for promoting axon guidance and enhancing nerve recovery in spinal cord injury patients.
Pediatric sternal fractures from a Level 1 trauma center

Abstract Background/purpose Sternal fractures are rare in children. The purpose of this series is to document traumatic findings in pediatric patients with sternal fractures at a Level 1 trauma center. Study design We reviewed the charts of patients with radiologically confirmed sternal fractures from a trauma database at a pediatric Level 1 trauma center between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2015. We report mechanisms of injury, associated injuries, complications, and outcomes associated with sternal fractures. Results Over the 16-year period, 19/25,781 (0.07%) admitted patients had radiologically confirmed sternal fractures. 15/19 (78.9%) patients were male. The median age was 14 years, with interquartile range 10–16 years. 7/19, (36.8%) were sustained owing to motor vehicle accidents. Associated injuries included substernal hematoma (n = 6), pulmonary contusion (n = 4), vertebral injury (n = 2), rib fracture (n = 4), intraabdominal injury (n = 3), pneumothorax (n = 3), long bone injury (n = 3) traumatic brain injury (n = 2), hemothorax (n = 2), pneumomediastinum (n = 2) and cardiac contusion (n = 1). Conclusions In this series, pediatric sternal fractures were caused by high velocity mechanisms and had significant comorbidity. While patients with isolated sternal fractures may be candidates for emergency department discharge, a thorough evaluation should be performed in children with sternal fractures to identify concurrent injuries. Level of evidence Level IV.
Community exercise programing and its potential influence on quality of life and functional reach for individuals with spinal cord injury

Context/Objective: After an individual with a Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) participates in the initial rehabilitation process, they often experience limited access to physical therapy services and othe...
Explore preference heterogeneity for treatment among people with Type 2 diabetes: A comparison of random-parameters and latent-class estimation techniques

Abstract There has been an increasing interest in studying patient preference heterogeneity to support regulatory decision-making. While the traditional mixed logit (MXL) and the latent class logit (LCL) models have been commonly used to analyze preference heterogeneity in discrete choice data, they have limitations. This study empirically compares a random effects latent class logit (RELCL) model to the traditional approaches using preference data from a discrete-choice experiment among patients with Type 2 diabetes. Each survey contained 18 pairs of hypothetical diabetes medications that differed in six attributes. Sensitivity analysis is also performed to explore under what circumstances RELCL outperforms LCL. Significant preference heterogeneity was found in all models. The 2-class RELCL has the lowest BIC (8350.64) and prediction error (11.6%) compared to MXL (BIC = 9345.40; pred. err. = 13.0%) and the 5-class LCL (BIC = 8440.30; pred. err. = 16.4%), indicating improved model fit. Allowing random effects also reduces the number of classes from five in LCL to two, both having significant policy and clinical implications. RELCL provides the flexibility of LCL and the parsimony of MXL. Both our empirical results and sensitivity analysis shows that when there is significant preference heterogeneity among patients that cannot be captured by a small number of clusters, RELCL may be used to generate more accurate predictions and more parsimonious results that are policy-relevant.
Latino City: Urban Planning, Politics, and the Grassroots

American cities are increasingly turning to revitalization strategies that embrace the ideas of new urbanism and the so-called creative class in an attempt to boost economic growth and prosperity to downtown areas. These efforts stir controversy over residential and commercial gentrification of working class, ethnic areas. Spanning forty years, Latino City provides an in-depth case study of the new urbanism, creative class, and transit-oriented models of planning and their implementation in Santa Ana, California, one of the United States’ most Mexican communities. It provides an intimate analysis of how revitalization plans re-imagine and alienate a place, and how community-based participation approaches address the needs and aspirations of lower-income Latino urban areas undergoing revitalization. The book provides a critical introduction to the main theoretical debates and key thinkers related to the new urbanism, transit-oriented, and creative class models of urban revitalization. It is the first book to examine contemporary models of choice for revitalization of US cities from the point of view of a Latina/o-majority central city, and thus initiates new lines of analysis and critique of models for Latino inner city neighborhood and downtown revitalization in the current period of socio-economic and cultural change. Latino City will appeal to students and scholars in urban planning, urban studies, urban history, urban policy, neighborhood and community development, central city development, urban politics, urban sociology, geography, and ethnic/Latino Studies, as well as practitioners, community organizations, and grassroots leaders immersed in these fields.
Varieties of profinite graphs

We consider pro-C graphs for certain categories of finite graphs which we call pseudovarieties. After exploring some of the general theory, we specialize to a particular pseudovariety, denoted by E...
Electrosurgery and Implantable Electronic Devices: A Survey of Current Practices among Cutaneous Surgeons

Background: The use of electrosurgery within dermatology is widespread and the number of patients with an implantable electronic device (IED) is ever-increasing. Adverse effects of performing electrosurgery on patients with IEDs could pose a significant patient safety risk. There is a paucity of literature existing detailing guidelines for cutaneous surgeons regarding electrosurgery in IED patients. Objective: To assess current practices and complications of cutaneous surgeons performing electrosurgery in IED patients.Methods: An electronic survey was distributed to members of the American College of Mohs Micrographic Surgery using REDCap. Data was collected between March 2019 and May 2019.Results: The survey was sent to approximately 1700 ACMS members with 178 responses received. The most commonly reported routine precautions included utilization of only short bursts of current, avoidance of electrosurgery around the device, and use of minimal power/lowest effective settings. In total there were nine complications with an estimated 31 patients experiencing electromagnetic interference (EMI) out of over 250,000 procedures. Complications were more commonly seen in patients with a cardioverter-defibrillator than any other device (RR:4.74, CI:1.29-17.4). The use of true heat cautery and bipolar (two-tip electrode) were associated with the lowest rate of EMI. Whereas, electrocoagulation, electrosection, and monopolar (single-tip electrode) were more likely to cause EMI (RR:3.62, 95% CI:1.82-7.19).Conclusions: Significant EMI to IEDs during routine cutaneous electrosurgery procedures is rare, however, there is a clear lack of recommendations. The use of bipolar forceps and electrocautery may be safer when electrosurgery is required. Further investigation is required to develop guidelines for electrosurgery in IED patients.
Pathological pain processing in mouse models of multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injury: contribution of plasma membrane calcium ATPase 2 (PMCA2)

Neuropathic pain is often observed in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) and spinal cord injury (SCI) and is not adequately alleviated by current pharmacotherapies. A better understanding of underlying mechanisms could facilitate the discovery of novel targets for therapeutic interventions. We previously reported that decreased plasma membrane calcium ATPase 2 (PMCA2) expression in the dorsal horn (DH) of healthy PMCA2+/− mice is paralleled by increased sensitivity to evoked nociceptive pain. These studies suggested that PMCA2, a calcium extrusion pump expressed in spinal cord neurons, plays a role in pain mechanisms. However, the contribution of PMCA2 to neuropathic pain processing remains undefined. The present studies investigated the role of PMCA2 in neuropathic pain processing in the DH of wild-type mice affected by experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of MS, and following SCI. EAE was induced in female and male C57Bl/6N mice via inoculation with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein fragment 35–55 (MOG35–55) emulsified in Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA). CFA-inoculated mice were used as controls. A severe SC contusion injury was induced at thoracic (T8) level in female C57Bl/6N mice. Pain was evaluated by the Hargreaves and von Frey filament tests. PMCA2 levels in the lumbar DH were analyzed by Western blotting. The effectors that decrease PMCA2 expression were identified in SC neuronal cultures. Increased pain in EAE and SCI was paralleled by a significant decrease in PMCA2 levels in the DH. In contrast, PMCA2 levels remained unaltered in the DH of mice with EAE that manifested motor deficits but not increased pain. Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), and IL-6 expression were robustly increased in the DH of mice with EAE manifesting pain, whereas these cytokines showed a modest increase or no change in mice with EAE in the absence of pain. Only IL-1β decreased PMCA2 levels in pure SC neuronal cultures through direct actions. PMCA2 is a contributor to neuropathic pain mechanisms in the DH. A decrease in PMCA2 in DH neurons is paralleled by increased pain sensitivity, most likely through perturbations in calcium signaling. Interleukin-1β is one of the effectors that downregulates PMCA2 by acting directly on neurons.
Pictures of Longing: Photography and the Norwegian-American Migration

Review of: Pictures of Longing: Photography and the Norwegian-American Migration, by Sigrid Lien, translated by Barbara Sjohom
The role of diet in hyperuricemia and gout.

Purpose of review Although gout's cardinal feature is inflammatory arthritis, it is closely associated with insulin resistance and considered a manifestation of the metabolic syndrome. As such, both gout and hyperuricemia are often associated with major cardiometabolic and renal comorbidities that drive the persistently elevated premature mortality rates among gout patients. To that end, conventional low-purine (i.e., low-protein) dietary advice given to many patients with gout warrant reconsideration. Recent findings Recent research suggests that several healthy diets, such as the Mediterranean or Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diets, in combination with weight loss for those who are overweight or obese, can drastically improve cardiometabolic risk factors and outcomes. By treating gout as a part of the metabolic syndrome and shifting our dietary recommendations to these healthy dietary patterns, the beneficial effects on gout endpoints should naturally follow for the majority of typical gout cases, mediated through changes in insulin resistance. Summary Dietary recommendations for the management of hyperuricemia and gout should be approached holistically, taking into consideration its associated cardiometabolic comorbidities. Several healthy dietary patterns, many with similar themes, can be tailored to suit comorbidity profiles and personal preferences.
Internal Medicine Trainee Understanding and Reaction to Out of Pocket Costs.

Background:Out-of-pocket costs are a serious barrier to care and drive suboptimal medical therapy. Understanding of these costs can lead to care oriented around the limits they generate. Despite th...
Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms in Pediatric Health Care Workers Caring for Adult COVID-19 Patients in NYC

Background: The spring COVID-19 pandemic surge overwhelmed New York City (NYC) hospitals, requiring pediatric providers to care for adults with COVID-19. Health care workers (HCW) experienced high levels of stress and trauma, raising concern for mental health impacts. This study aimed to determine the rate at which HCW reported post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and if social determinants of health (SDoH), COVID-19-associated stressors at home, and engagement in self-care behaviors were associated with PTSS. Methods: A cross-sectional anonymous survey study was conducted at a large tertiary care pediatric hospital in NYC five months after the initial COVID-19 surge to detect prevalence of PTSS. Secondary outcomes were adverse SDoH, COVID-related stressors, and self-care behaviors. Bivariate analyses and logistic regression were performed to examine whether secondary outcomes and confounders were associated with PTSS. Outcomes: 193 HCW completed the study. The overall prevalence of PTSS was 20·2 %. Rates were higher in non-independent providers (30·6%) than independent providers (physicians, PAs, NPs; 2·7%). PTSS rates were also higher in non-white HCW and in those with dependents, > 2 adverse SDoH, high COVID-19 stressors, and low self-care in bivariate analyses. Odds of PTSS were significantly higher in non-independent providers (aOR=15·4), those who screened positive for > 2 adverse SDoH (aOR=4·0), and those with higher COVID-19 stressors (aOR=12·3). Interpretation: One in five pediatric HCW experienced PTSS five months after the COVID-19 spring surge in NYC. Interventions to connect HCW with mental health and wellness resources are critical as surges continue nationwide. Funding: N/A Declaration of Interests: None to declare. Ethics Approval Statement: The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board.
Holographic Gauge-Gravity Duality

In the QCD-related setting, the first example of the duality is that between the weak-coupling description in UV, in which the fields are quarks and gluons, and the chiral effective Lagrangians describing IR properties in terms of light mesons.
Pandemic pedagogy and facilitating connection

The shift to online teaching during the global pandemic has been extremely challenging for educators and students alike. In this article, the author shares some of her own experiences with designing an asynchronous Musics of Asia course for undergraduates at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. Although she has taught Musics of Asia many times before in person, teaching the same course asynchronously is an entirely new course preparation. One of the challenges of an asynchronous format is the facilitation of student connection. Some of the pedagogical strategies with trying to create meaningful interactions with students are discussed. Rather than assigning a traditional final term paper, the author chose to design a Final Oral History Project. Students were paired into groups and had to set up and conduct an oral history interview with one of the guest lecturers for the course. The guest lecturers—all highly esteemed musicians with long professional careers in music performance—were born in the following countries: China, India, Mongolia, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam. The results of the final project, and some of the strategies for cultivating connections in online, asynchronous teaching, are discussed.
Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of an Advance Care Planning Video Decision Tool for Patients With Advanced Liver Disease.

ABSTRACT: Background & Aims Transplant-ineligible patients with advanced liver disease rarely receive timely advance care planning (ACP). Tools are needed to educate these patients about medical interventions available at the end of life to promote ACP. Methods This single-site pilot randomized controlled trial assessed the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of an ACP video decision support tool for improving transplant-ineligible advanced liver disease patients’ knowledge about and preferences for end-of-life care. Intervention participants watched a 5-minute video depicting 3 levels of goals-of-care: life-prolonging care (cardiopulmonary resuscitation [CPR] and intubation), life-limiting care (hospitalization, no CPR/intubation), and comfort care. Control subjects received only a verbal narrative of these 3 levels of goals-of-care. The primary outcome was feasibility (≥60% enrollment rate). Secondary outcomes included acceptability of the video, patients’ knowledge of end-of-life care options (6-item test; range 0-6), and post-intervention goals-of-care and CPR/intubation preferences. Results We enrolled 85% (50/59) of eligible patients randomized to the video (n=26) or verbal (n=24) arm. In the video arm, 81% of patients reported being very comfortable watching the video. Patients in the video arm had higher mean knowledge scores (5.7 vs. 4.8; p Conclusions An ACP video decision support tool to improve knowledge about and preferences for end-of-life care is both feasible and highly acceptable to transplant-ineligible patients with advanced liver disease with a high enrollment rate and promising preliminary efficacy. Future studies should examine the efficacy of the ACP video for enhancing the quality of their end-of-life care.
AI MSK clinical applications: cartilage and osteoarthritis

The advancements of artificial intelligence (AI) for osteoarthritis (OA) applications have been rapid in recent years, particularly innovations of deep learning for image classification, lesion detection, cartilage segmentation, and prediction modeling of future knee OA development. This review article focuses on AI applications in OA research, first describing machine learning (ML) techniques and workflow, followed by how these algorithms are used for OA classification tasks through imaging and non-imaging-based ML models. Deep learning applications for OA research, including analysis of both radiographs for automatic detection of OA severity, and MR images for detection of cartilage/meniscus lesions and cartilage segmentation for automatic T2 quantification will be described. In addition, information on ML models that identify individuals at high risk of OA development will be provided. The future vision of machine learning applications in imaging of OA and cartilage hinges on implementation of AI for optimizing imaging protocols, quantitative assessment of cartilage, and automated analysis of disease burden yielding a faster and more efficient workflow for a radiologist with a higher level of reproducibility and precision. It may also provide risk assessment tools for individual patients, which is an integral part of precision medicine.
Balance in control: The case of an urban design studio at the University of Arizona

For the first time, in history, the majority of human beings live in urban regions. Although cities are among the most complex human-made systems, they are unfortunately environmentally, economically and socially unsustainable. How can we change this? This paper discusses an undergraduate architectural design studio, Future Cities, which pushed for an environmentally holistic design process, moving past the idea of single, object-like buildings. The studio taught various digital and research methodologies to aid in the complex issue of urban form. Emphasis was placed on balancing the huge amounts of data and information that is available in our technological age, with the need to retain the human perspective and experience.
Chapter 2 Programming Basics

Our subroutines so far have been of type function; these subroutines have a result, always an integer type or a real type (but there are limited other possible results). Type procedure subroutines can do all kinds of action, including computing one or more results. The following short program introduces the syntax of procedure, and also introduces array types.
Update of the expressed sequence tag (EST) and radiation hybrid panel projects.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the expressed sequence tag (EST) and radiation hybrid panel projects. Expressed sequence tags (ESTs) are sequence information obtained by sequencing individual cDNA clones. This single-pass sequence information of transcripts serves as an efficient means to discover gene information in an organism. Because ESTs are primarily sequences of expressed gene transcripts, they are very useful in identifying zebrafish orthologs of genes initially described in other species, such as mice and humans, and as markers on genomic maps. Their genomic locations provide useful information in studying gene orthology, function, and evolution. ESTs with map locations also serve as markers and potential candidates for cloning genetic mutants. RH mapping panels are constructed by fusing lethally irradiated cells containing the genome (e.g., zebrafish) of interest to rodent hybridoma cells. During fusion, a given host cell incorporates a random subset of zebrafish genomic DNA fragments from its irradiated zebrafish cell partner. Therefore, each host cell contains but a fraction of the genome of interest. Because fusion is random, the zebrafish genomic DNA fragments in one cell hybrid might be unique or might overlap with the DNA fragments present in other hybrid cells.
Experimental Demonstration of Constrained Process-Model-Based Control of a Non-Ideal Distillation Column

This paper develops and presents experimental results of a manipulated variable constraint handling strategy for a nonlinear model-based controller applied to a lab-scale, non-ideal, multivariable methanol-water distillation column.
Kimberlite Magmas from the System Peridotite‐CO2‐H2O

Phlogopite-dolomite-peridotite is the most promising source rock for kimberlites and related magmas. At pressures above about 30 kb, very little CO_2 (low CO_2/H_2O in vapor) is required to produce dolomite in mantle peridotite. If oxygen fugacity is too low, however, CO_2 and carbonate are reduced to carbon, and dolomite is unable to exert its distinctive influence on magma compositions. The oxygen fugacity at various depths in the mantle is a critical factor. Rare diamonds and even rarer carbonates occur in peridotite nodules from kimberlite, and CO_2 is brought to the surface in mantle-derived minerals and lavas. Phase relationships in peridotite-CO_2-H_2O provide a first step for evaluation of the behavior of components C-H-O at depth. Experimental and theoretical data from various sources have been combined for analysis of the near-solidus phase relationships in peridotite-CO_2-H_2O. The divariant solidus surface is traversed by a series of univariant lines where the vapor phase is buffered by amphibole, dolomite (magnesite at higher press ures), phlogopite, or combinations of these. The lines limit the range of vapor-phase compositions that can coexist with peridotite at various pressures. The buffering capacity of dolomite is far greater than that of the hydrous minerals. The buffered curves for partly carbonated peridotite, with and without phlogopite, extend to lower temperatures and higher pressures from an invariant point near 26 kb and 1200°C. Near this line there is a temperature maximum (a ridge) on the solidus surface, separating the low-pressure surface, where CO_2/H_2O in vapor is higher than in liquid, from the high-pressure surface, where CO_2/H_2O in vapor is lower than in liquid. Enrichment of the high-pressure liquids in CO_2 is associated with the generation of dolomite and low- SiO_2 liquids. Because of this maximum on the solidus, near-solidus magmas rising along an adiabat would evolve volatile components in the depth interval 100-80 km, which could contribute to the explosive eruption of kimberlites. The subcontinental upper mantle is probably heterogeneous with respect to incompatible elements, because local melting due to sparsely distributed CO_2 and H_2O (dolomite and phlogopite) is followed by magmatic flushes, as the melt migrates upwards.
Integration of Performance Measurement and Modeling for Open Distributed Processing

Successful deployment of open distributed processing requires integrated performance management facilities. This paper describes measurement and modeling technologies that provide quality of service (QoS) measures and projections for distributed applications. The vital role of performance instrumentation and modeling is applied to the Reference Model for Open Distributed Processing. We discuss an architecture and prototype for an efficient measurement infrastructure for heterogeneous distributed environments. We present an application model useful for application design, deployment and capacity planning. We demonstrate that integrated measurement and modeling yields the QoS measures that guide application deployment and increase management capability.
Effect of Dietary Lipids on Saliva Composition

The effects of feeding two different dietary fats on saliva composition were studied in monkeys. Two groups of adult monkeys (M. fascicularis) were fed diets containing 10% corn oil (CO) or 10% hydrogenated coconut oil (HCO). Pilocarpine-stimulated parotid and submandibular saliva samples were obtained at 0, 17, 26 and 29 weeks. These, along with blood plasma, were extracted for lipids, and the fatty acid composition of total lipids was determined by gas chromatography. The levels of linoleic acid in saliva were significantly lower in monkeys fed a diet containing HCO as compared to the other group. Total protein and alpha-amylase activity of saliva showed no difference between the two groups. The results show that nature of the dietary fats can affect the fatty acid composition of parotid and submandibular saliva.
Biochemical sensing application of photonic crystal based devices in the far-infrared regime

We carried out electromagnetic simulations of two-dimensional photonic-crystal waveguide (PCW) and coupled-resonator optical waveguide (CROW) structures created by changing the radii of air holes in a given row to investigate the effects in the terahertz region of the electromagnetic spectrum of introducing small quantities of molecules, such as DNA, in the air holes. The terahertz interaction with the analyte is modeled as a Lorentz medium. The finite-difference time-domain method with recursive convolution is used for numerical analyses
Introduction to Republican Legal Theory

Republican legal theory seeks to justify (or modify) law to serve the "res publica," or common good of the people. This is not a novel doctrine. Already in the age of Plato and Aristotle, reflective persons understood the common good of the people to be the only legitimate basis of justice, government and law. Few rulers since have dared to deny this fundamental truth, and even the most tyrannical governments have attempted, not so much to refute republican doctrine, as to evade it. Rulers often claim to be just, and assert an obligation to obey the laws that they promulgate, without constructing persuasive arguments why anyone should do so. Republican legal theory sets out to clarify which laws and rulers deserve obedience, by considering what would constitute a just rule of law in a legitimate commonwealth or state. Republican legal theory considers which legal rules and procedures will recognize and implement the common good of the people most completely.
How do Mineral-States Learn? Bounded Policy Entrepreneurs and the Rise of the Copper Funds in Chile

What makes that some resource-abundant countries manage to escape their “destiny”? Using an historical institutional approach, I show why and how Chile established its copper funds, providing financial resources and policy credibility to manage the 2008-2009 crisis. Seeking to draw from the “lessons of history” on inflation and instability generated by mineral-dependence, facing the everyday contingencies of economic policy management, state actors crafted new fiscal rules heading to the 2006 copper savings funds. Mineral states are more likely to learn from past successes and failures when the political arena favours the reproduction of long-term minded state agents. Bounded and enhanced by their institutional legacy, policy entrepreneurs recreate path-dependency.
What Constitutes an “Adequate” Trial in Migraine Prevention?

Comprehensively assessing the quality of prior preventive treatment attempts often reveals modifiable variables that may account for treatment failure. Similarly, a comprehensive and systematic approach when planning a preventive medication trial is critical for optimizing the chances of treatment success. In this review, we summarize the key elements to be included when assessing the adequacy of a preventive treatment trial. We have developed and included checklists that can be used by providers to improve their assessments of prior preventive treatment trials and to assist with planning a high-quality treatment trial with a new migraine preventive medication.
Biofeedback therapy in poststroke rehabilitation: A meta-analysis of the randomized controlled trials

Abstract Objective: To assess the efficacy of biofeedback therapy in poststroke rehabilitation. Design: A meta-analysis of the reported randomized control trials of biofeedback therapy in poststroke rehabilitation was performed. Data were analyzed using the effect size method and pooled using the Der Simonian-Laird Random Effects Model. Study quality was assessed according to the method of Chalmers. Setting: All included studies were conducted in academically based rehabilitation settings. Patients: Patients were in the rehabilitative phase of their illness. The timing of the intervention from the acute event did vary greatly between and within studies. Intervention: Biofeedback therapy was applied to a paretic limb of patients in the study group. Both treatment and control groups received standard physical therapy. Main Outcome Measure: Change in range of motion of a joint of a paretic limb as a result of treatment was examined. This measure was chosen after the eligible studies were evaluated for combinable end points. Results: A total of eight studies were included in the analysis. The mean effect size for change in lower extremity range of motion as a result of biofeedback therapy was 1.50 (95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.59, 3.59). For the upper extremity the effect size was 2.30 (95% CI: −1.06, 5.66). Both results were not significant at the p Conclusion: Results of pooling available randomized control trials do not support the efficacy of biofeedback in restoring the range of motion of hemiparetic joints. Nevertheless, because the calculated mean effect sizes were large, with associated wide confidence intervals, the possibility of a type II error masking an important clinical benefit needs to be considered in evaluating this result.
Demethylchlortetracycline and griseofulvin as examples of specific treatment for mycosis fungoides.

SUMMARY Long-term control of mycosis fungoides in the tumour stage was achieved in one patient by daily demethylchlortetracycline therapy. On two occasions widespread nodules and tumours completely involuted within I month of initiating this therapy. A second patient showed complete resolution of his plaque stage mycosis fungoides after the institution of oral griseofulvin therapy for a chronic fungus infection. The disease reappeared upon stopping the griseofulvin and involuted upon its resumption. The observations are interpreted as evidence that reduction or eradication of a persistent bacterial or fungal antigen may have a remarkable ameliorative effect in selected mycosis fungoides patients.
NASA's Cryogenic Fluid Management Technology Project

The Cryogenic Fluid Management (CFM) Project's primary objective is to develop storage, transfer, and handling technologies for cryogens that will support the enabling of high performance cryogenic propulsion systems, lunar surface systems and economical ground operations. Such technologies can significantly reduce propellant launch mass and required on-orbit margins, reduce or even eliminate propellant tank fluid boil-off losses for long term missions, and simplify vehicle operations. This paper will present the status of the specific technologies that the CFM Project is developing. The two main areas of concentration are analysis models development and CFM hardware development. The project develops analysis tools and models based on thermodynamics, hydrodynamics, and existing flight/test data. These tools assist in the development of pressure/thermal control devices (such as the Thermodynamic Vent System (TVS), and Multi-layer insulation); with the ultimate goal being to develop a mature set of tools and models that can characterize the performance of the pressure/thermal control devices incorporated in the design of an entire CFM system with minimal cryogen loss. The project does hardware development and testing to verify our understanding of the physical principles involved, and to validate the performance of CFM components, subsystems and systems. This database provides information to anchor our analytical models. This paper describes some of the current activities of the NASA's Cryogenic Fluid Management Project.
Stratospheric Observatory For Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) System Concept

The system concept for the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), as developed by NASA Ames Research Center is described. The SOFIA facility is a 3-meter class optical/infrared/submillimeter telescope mounted in an open cavity in the forebody of a Boeing 747 aircraft, to be operational in 1992. It represents the next generation of Ames' existing airborne IR facilities, and is about ten times more sensitive than the Kuiper Airborne Observatory (KAO) with 3 times better angular resolution, and able to detect all the far-infrared point sources discovered by IRAS (Infrared Astronomical Satellite) survey in 1983. Major requirements and design attributes of the SOFIA telescope are presented, along with a brief description of the Ground Support/Operations System.
Current peak multiplicity related to the Ni/Ni(OH)2 electrode

Abstract The potentiodynamic behaviour of Ni in 1 M KOH solution is investigated at different temperatures in the potential region of the Ni/Ni(OH) 2 redox couple. The profiles show an anodic current peak multiplicity which is dependent on the temperature and the initial potential as well as the stirring conditions. These results are interpreted through a reaction pattern which involves the active dissolution of the metal and also includes the multiplicity of phases related to the corresponding reactants and products. The water present in the hydration layer of the phases plays an important role in the overall electrooxidation process.
The metamagnetic properties of hemoglobin

Abstract The molecule hemoglobin is treated here as a metamagnet using renormalization group theory and the 8-vertex model of Baxter. The synchronization ( 2+ ion and the conformational switching of the protein chains on oxygenation is demonstrated to be a consequence of the model.
Experimental Study of a Hybrid Renal Replacement System

Kidney failure is a major issue in the United States. The numbers of kidney failure patients are rapidly increasing with the simultaneous rise in diabetes, obesity and hypertension1. Kidney transplantation has shown excellent results, but insufficiency of donors has been a limiting factor. Most end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients depend on hemodialysis (HD) for survival which is highly expensive. On an average ESRD patients receive 3 dialysis treatment a week and 4 hours per treatment, i.e., approximately 12 hours a week. Technology has not yet reached to a state where all the kidney functions can be mimicked. The only major kidney function being performed in HD is toxin removal. Even the toxins are not being continuously removed from the patients. To compensate the toxin and fluid removal of a whole week within 12 hours, high volumes of fluid are removed in HD treatments. Patients suffer due to the high fluid removal in a short period of time. Also the patients are restricted from taking fluids between the HD treatments. More frequent HD can improve both survival rate and life quality of patients with chronic kidney disease since normal people has his kidneys functioning continuously. It is a well known fact that daily dialysis offers many benefits over regular intermittent HD1. But providing daily dialysis is not affordable currently. Therefore, new modes of delivering continuous renal support are required.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Biocatalytic Preparation of N-Glycolylneuraminic Acid, Deaminoneuraminic Acid (KDN) and 9-Azido-9-deoxysialic Acid Oligosaccharides

A facile approach for preparative synthesis of sialyloligosaccharides containing N-glycolylneuraminic acid, deaminoneuraminic acid, and two 9-azido derivatives is described. Synthesis is accomplished by use of 6-carbon mannose/mannosamine precursors employing an aldolase, CMP-sialic acid synthetase, and sialyltransferase. Using a combination of five different sialyltransferases and various acceptor substrates, 16 sialosides representing sequences found in glycoproteins and glycolipids were synthesized with typical yields of 60–80%.
Characterization of a Targeting Motif for a Flagellar Membrane Protein in Leishmania enriettii

Abstract The surface membranes of eukaryotic flagella and cilia are contiguous with the plasma membrane. Despite the absence of obvious physical structures that could form a barrier between the two membrane domains, the lipid and protein compositions of flagella and cilia are distinct from the rest of the cell surface membrane. We have exploited a flagellar glucose transporter from the parasitic protozoanLeishmania enriettii as a model system to characterize the first targeting motif for a flagellar membrane protein in any eukaryotic organism. In this study, we demonstrate that the flagellar membrane-targeting motif is recognized by several species ofLeishmania. Previously, we demonstrated that the 130 amino acid NH2-terminal cytoplasmic domain of isoform 1 glucose transporter was sufficient to target a nonflagellar integral membrane protein into the flagellar membrane. We have now determined that an essential flagellar targeting signal is located between amino acids 20 and 35 of the NH2-terminal domain. We have further analyzed the role of specific amino acids in this region by alanine replacement mutagenesis and determined that single amino acid substitutions did not abrogate targeting to the flagellar membrane. However, individual mutations located within a cluster of five contiguous amino acids, RTGTT, conferred differences in the degree of targeting to the flagellar membrane and the flagellar pocket, implying a role for these residues in the mechanism of flagellar trafficking.
Are We Making Progress in Preventing Barrett's-Related Esophageal Cancer?

Despite the increased awareness and recognition of Barrett's esophagus, the incidence of EAC continues to rise sharply in the Western world. Attempts to improve outcomes for this deadly disease rely on the detection of BE; unfortunately, the majority of EAC patients never receive a prior diagnosis of BE. Additionally, endoscopic surveillance has limitations. Studies have demonstrated suboptimal biopsy sampling among practicing gastroenterologists, and the determination of dysplasia, the basis of risk stratification in BE, is associated with relatively low interobserver agreement. Candidate biomarkers are under investigation for the identification of patients at highest risk for neoplastic progression, although these have not yet been prospectively validated. Endoscopic therapies are effective for the treatment of high-grade dysplasia and intra-mucosal carcinoma. However, the use of these techniques for BE patients without dysplasia cannot currently be recommended for the prevention of EAC. There are no current chemo-preventive agents that can be advocated for use in all BE patients. Hopefully, the AsPECT study will shed light on the roles of both PPIs and aspirin for the prevention of EAC. It is hoped that current and future research will ultimately provide enough answers to help slow the epidemic rise in incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma.
Determination of total iodine and iodate in sea water and in various evaporites

Abstract Iodine in sea water and evaporites is determined spectrophotometrically as the starch-iodine complex without prior separation or concentration of the iodine. In slightly alkaline solution, iodide is first oxidized to iodate with permanganate. Oxidized states of manganese are destroyed with iron(II) in phosphate medium without affecting the iodate. After acidification, iodide is added to react with the iodate in the presence of starch. The iodate content is determined by the same procedure, but without the addition of permanganate. As little as 0.1μg of iodine is determinable in the presence of 500 mg of chloride and 5 mg of bromide. The total iodine concentration in seven samples of sea water was found to vary from 50 ±3 to 84 ±6 μg l -1 with 50–100% present as the iodate.
Diverse mechanisms of Wnt activation and effects of pathway inhibition on proliferation of human gastric carcinoma cells

Human gastric carcinomas are among the most treatment-refractory epithelial malignancies. Increased understanding of the underlying molecular aberrations in such tumors could provide insights leading to improved therapeutic approaches. In this study, we characterized diverse genetic aberrations leading to constitutive Wnt signaling activation in a series of human gastric carcinoma cell lines. Downregulation of TCF signaling by stable transduction of dominant negative TCF4 (DNTCF4) resulted in inhibition of proliferation in Wnt-activated AGS tumor cells. c-Myc downregulation and the associated upregulation of its repression target, p21 observed in these tumor cells, as well as the profound growth inhibition induced by c-Myc small hairpin RNA (shRNA) implied their c-Myc addiction. In striking contrast, Wnt-activated MKN-28 and MKN-74 tumor cells appeared refractory to DNTCF4 inhibition of proliferation despite comparably decreased c-Myc expression levels. The resistance of these same tumor cells to growth inhibition by c-Myc shRNA established that their refractoriness to DNTCF was because of their independence from c-Myc for proliferation. There was no correlation between this resistance phenotype and the presence or absence of constitutive mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and/or AKT pathway activation, commonly observed in gastrointestinal tumors. However, in both DNTCF-sensitive and -resistant tumor cells with MAPK and/or AKT pathway activation, the ability of small molecule antagonists directed against either pathway to inhibit tumor cell growth was enhanced by Wnt pathway inhibition. These findings support the concept that although certain Wnt-activated tumors may escape c-Myc dependence for proliferation, disruption of other oncogenic pathways can unmask cooperative antiproliferative effects for Wnt pathway downregulation.
Induction of specific cytochrome P-450 isozymes by methylenedioxyphenyl compounds and antagonism by 3-methylcholanthrene.

Abstract Two methylenedioxyphenyl compounds, isosafrole (5-propenyl-1,3-benzodioxole) and an analog, 5-t-butyl-1,3-benzodioxole (BD), differ markedly as inducers of cytochrome P-450 isozymes in rat liver microsomes. Isosafrole is a mixed-type inducer, inducing P-450b, P-450c, and P-450d. In contrast, BD is a phenobarbital-type inducer, increasing P-450b, but producing little or no increase in P-450c or P-450d. Similarly, isosafrole increases the amount of translatable mRNA for P-450b, c and d, while BD induces only the mRNA for P-450b. Dimethylation of the methylene bridge carbon of BD to give 2,2-dimethyl-5-t-butyl-1,3-benzodioxole DBD)blocks the formation of NADPH-reduced Type III metabolite-P-450 complexes in vitro, and diminishes but does not abolish the ability of the compound to induce P-450b. Western blots of microsomes from isosafrole and BD-treated rat livers confirm that in contrast to isosafrole, BD does not induce P-450d or P-450c. However, the antibody to P-450d recognizes two new polypeptides (approximately 50K Mr) from sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels of liver microsomes from BD-treated rats. These polypeptides are not observed in control, isosafrole, 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC), or DBD-treated rats. They are intensified by coadministration of 3-MC with BD and may represent either modified isozyme-metabolite adducts or degradation products of P-450d. However, the polypeptides could not be generated in vitro by addition of BD to 3-MC-induced microsomes with NADPH under conditions which produced spectral metabolite complexes, or in a reconstituted system with P-450d. The two methylenedioxyphenyl compounds do not form stable metabolite complexes with the same P-450 isozymes. BD formed distinct spectral metabolite complexes in vitro with both P-450b and P-450c but not with P-450d in a reconstituted system. In contrast, isosafrole forms metabolite complexes with all three isozymes. Coadministration of 3-MC with BD blocked induction of P-450b by 80% and produced a similar repression of its translatable mRNA. This finding indicates that 3-MC type inducers not only induce certain cytochrome P-450 isozymes, but also repress synthesis of other isozymes.
Actinic keratosis: Facts and controversies

Actinic keratoses are common lesions that are generally clinically diagnosed. Although currently most actinic keratoses are treated, whether this is truly necessary is debated. Treatment of all actinic keratoses is advocated because preliminary evidence indicates that actinic keratoses may progress to squamous cell carcinomas. Some also consider actinic keratoses equivalent to squamous cell carcinoma.