cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Beta-adrenergic receptor coupled adenylate cyclase in rat kidney: Differential coupling in glomeruli and tubules

[125I]Iodocyanopindolol ([125I]ICYP) was used to identify and characterize the β-adrenoceptors in isolated rat kidney glomeruli and cortical tubules. In both the tissues, specific binding of [125I]ICYP was saturable with time and ligand concentration and showed appropriate stereospecificity and agonist rank order potency characteristic of binding to β-adrenoceptors. Scatchard analysis revealed that the β-adrenoceptor concentration in the glomeruli (111.1 ± 8.9 fmol/mg protein) was about three times that in the tubules (40.1 ±1.8 nmol/mg protein). The dissociation constants (KD) were similar in the two tissues. Both β1- and β2-adrenoceptor subtypes were present in the glomeruli and tubules, but the β subtype was predominant, constituting greater than 80% of the total β-adrenoceptors in the two tissues. Isoproterenol was twice as potent in competing for [125I]ICYP binding in the tubules as in the glomeruli (P < 0.05). The slope factor (pseudo-Hill coefficient) for the isoproterenol competition curve was 0.74 ± 0.04 in the glomeruli and 0.54 ± 0.02 in the tubules (P < 0.05). The nonmetabolized guanyl nucleotide analogue Gpp(NH)p caused a steepening and a 3-fold shift of the isoproterenol competition curve in both tissues. Isoproterenol-stimulated cAMP accumulation in the glomeruli was only 31% of the value in the tubules. The concentration of isoproterenol producing half-maximal stimulation (EC50) was 114 ± 13 nM in the glomeruli and 19 ± 3 nM in the tubules (P < 0.05). Gpp(NH)p and forskolin caused a similar increase in cAMP accumulation over basal value in the glomeruli as in the tubules. Overall, our results indicate a decreased efficiency in the interaction between the β-adrenergic agonist hormone, the receptor and the guanine nucleotide regulatory protein in the glomeruli as compared to the tubules.
Disorders of Lipid and Lipoprotein Metabolism

It is the aim of this chapter to review the major advances that occurred during 1975 with regard to our knowledge about the metabolism of the major plasma lipids and lipoproteins, and about clinical abnormalities in lipid transport, with particular emphasis on the hyperlipidemias. In addition, some recent major developments that occurred before 1975 will be reviewed briefly in order to provide important background information. The well-established association between the presence of hyperlipidemia and an increased risk of the development of coronary heart disease (Kannel et al., 1961, 1971; Carlson and Bottiger, 1972) has served to stimulate both biochemists and clinicians to focus considerable research efforts on this area.
Life Event, Mood, and Cognitive Predictors of Perceived Stress Before and After Treatment for Major Depression

Using regression models, we examined the influence of negative life events, depression severity, dysfunctional attitudes, and problem-solving ability on the perceived stress of depressed outpatients before and after antidepressant treatment. The report of negative life events predicted the level of perceived stress in untreated patients, but was not a significant predictor after treatment. Depression severity, dysfunctional attitudes, and problem-solving ability were associated with each other, improved with treatment, and associated with perceived stress before and after treatment. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that less adaptive coping strategies are applied under conditions of mood disturbance, and that these strategies are in turn linked with increased stress.
Data Mining in Social Media

The rise of online social media is providing a wealth of social network data. Data mining techniques provide researchers and practitioners the tools needed to analyze large, complex, and frequently changing social media data. This chapter introduces the basics of data mining, reviews social media, discusses how to mine social media data, and highlights some illustrative examples with an emphasis on social networking sites and blogs.
Spectral matching accuracy in processing hyperspectral data

We investigated the accuracy of several spectral metrics when used for matching in hyperspectral imagery. Spectral matching refers to measuring the similarity among spectra. Two spectra are similar when the spectra distance between them is small and dissimilar otherwise. Spectral matching is used in many areas such as target detection and spectra classification. At the heart of spectral matching lay the distance measure used and the threshold value differentiating between similar and dissimilar. Frequent choices for such measures are spectral angle (SA) and spectral information divergence (SID) since they provide a limited range for threshold values. In addition, two new measures spectral correlation angle (SGA) and spectral gradient angle (SGA) are developed. Next, we suggest an alternative measure developed by using a normalized Euclidean distance (NED). To test the accuracy of the measures we used target information extracted from HYDICE data, and assessment tools such as the relative spectral discriminatory probability and the relative spectral discriminatory entropy. Experimental results suggest that NED outperforms SA, SCA and SGA and is relatively equivalent to SID. Given the reduction in computation time, NED constitutes an attractive measure to be used in spectra matching.
Penicillin Acyltransferase in Penicillium chrysogenum

Isotopic exchange of 35S between penicillins and 6-amino-penicillanic acid (6-APA) was observed in cell-free extracts of Penicillium chrysogenum. Sulfhydryl-containing compounds were required for activity. Dithiothreitol, dithioerythritol, mercaptoethanol, and glutathione served as activators. The acyltransferase was purified threefold by adsorption on calcium phosphate gel at pH 6 and elution at pH 8. The partially purified enzyme showed maximal activity at pH 8. The enzyme was stable at 25 C for at least 30 min at pH 8. Dissociable inhibitors or activators, other than the sulfhydryl-containing compounds, could not be demonstrated in the enzyme preparation. An apparent Michaelis constant of 1.5 ± 0.5 mm was determined for penicillin G at a 6-APA concentration of 5 mm. The enzyme did not appear to possess penicillin amidase activity. The exchange mechanism probably involves an acyl-enzyme intermediate. Penicillins V, G, K, X, and dihydro F showed isotopic exchange with 35S-6-APA. Penicillin N, methylpenicillin, and phenyl-penicillin did not show exchange. The level of acyltransferase in P. chrysogenum 51-20F3 was measured at times during the fermentation. The level of activity increased threefold between 40 and 55 hr, remaining high until about 90 hr.
Studies on Larval Development in Culicoides furens (Poey) (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). I. Establishment of a Standard Rearing Technique

Food consisting of free-living nematodes, Anguillula silusiae, was used in establishment of a standardized diet and rearing technique for Culicoides furens (Poey) (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). Larvae were reared in 3 sizes of container and on 5 quantitatively controlled diets providing a range from a condition of food abundance to one of scarcity. The experimental animals (adults) were analyzed with respect to period of development, size (wing length), and autogeny. Quantitative differences in diet had relatively little effect on the size of adults obtained, and virtually no effect on levels of autogenous egg production. However, quantitative differences affected considerably the time taken to complete development, and adult emergence was less synchronous with the more meager diets. In terms of the development of larvae under field conditions, these results indicate that considerable flexibility is possible in the duration of larval development as affected by food quantity. The discussion includes a consideration of autogeny in Culicoides and related genera.
Interventional cardiac catheterization procedures in pediatric cardiac transplant patients: transplant surgery is not the end of the road.

Objectives: The objectives of this study are to report the spectrum of cardiac lesions in pediatric patients post-orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT), the characteristics of patients who develop these lesions, and the feasibility of transcatheter intervention in treating these lesions. Background: Indications for OHT in the pediatric population range from cardiomyopathy to complex congenital heart defects with and without prior palliation. These patients may have residual vascular access and great vessel abnormalities. Methods: Data was collected through retrospective review of all OHT patients at our institution from 1988 to 2005. Results: During the study period, 276 heart transplants were performed. Forty-seven patients, age 1.6 [0.1–26] years with a weight of 9.5 [3.5–96.0] kilograms, underwent 69 procedures. Patients with original diagnoses of hypoplastic left heart syndrome and failed palliations required intervention most frequently. Sixteen patients, all with a history of left sided disease, developed aortic arch obstruction. Fifteen were successfully treated with balloon angioplasty while one has recurrent supravalve aortic obstruction. Fourteen patients had superior vena cava obstruction treated with balloon angioplasty and/or stent placement. Twelve patients required no further intervention and two required further stent placement. Ilio-femoral vein occlusion was treated with balloon angioplasty alone in 4 patients and stent placement in 10 patients to achieve vessel patency. Other procedures included treatment of branch pulmonary artery and pulmonary vein stenosis. Conclusion: Anastomotic aortic arch and venous obstructive lesions should be sought following pediatric OHT as they occur in almost 20% of patients and can be successfully addressed using interventional techniques. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
High-Occupancy Toll Lane Innovations: I-394 MnPASS

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) has implemented the state’s first optional toll lane project, called the I-394 MnPASS, in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. This project, which opened in May 2005, converts the high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes on I-394 into high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes, allowing solo drivers the opportunity to pay an electronic fee to bypass congestion. The lanes remain open to HOV use at no charge, including transit riders, car pools, and motorcyclists. I-394 MnPASS is the first tolling project that prices a facility directly adjacent to general-purpose lanes, separated only by a double-white-stripe buffer. Several HOT-lane innovations have been introduced to reduce project development time and costs, to improve operations, and to enhance enforcement.
Improved design method for kaiser differentiators and comparison with equiripple method

The paper describes several improvements in a method reported recently by Antoniou for the design of digital differentiators satisfying prescribed specifications. The improvements include the use of a more efficient optimisation algorithm, and a simple and accurate technique for the prediction of the required differentiator order. The improved design method is illustrated by several examples, and is compared with the equiripple design method.
Thermally-driven linear vortex

We investigate steady axially symmetric small Rossby number flows in which the driving consists of prescribed axial heat sources. By letting the velocity be proportional to the shear at the bottom surface we study the effects of that boundary condition on the resulting flows. A multi-boundary-layer structure is found in the core, surrounding the heat sources. That structure depends on the relative magnitudes of the aspect ratio, stratification parameter and Ekman number.
Development of an optoelectronic holographic platform for otolaryngology applications

In this paper, we present advances on our development of an optoelectronic holographic computing platform with the ability to quantitatively measure full-field-of-view nanometer-scale movements of the tympanic membrane (TM). These measurements can facilitate otologists' ability to study and diagnose hearing disorders in humans. The holographic platform consists of a laser delivery system and an otoscope. The control software, called LaserView, is written in Visual C++ and handles communication and synchronization between hardware components. It provides a user-friendly interface to allow viewing of holographic images with several tools to automate holography-related tasks and facilitate hardware communication. The software uses a series of concurrent threads to acquire images, control the hardware, and display quantitative holographic data at video rates and in two modes of operation: optoelectronic holography and lensless digital holography. The holographic platform has been used to perform experiments on several live and post-mortem specimens, and is to be deployed in a medical research environment with future developments leading to its eventual clinical use.
Pure alcohol injection of a congenital splenic cyst: a valid alternative?

Congenital splenic cysts are a rare entity. They are more frequent in children and young adults. They are true cysts, lined by epithelium with a typical trabeculation. Aspiration and injection with antibiotics (minocycline-tetracycline) or pure alcohol has been reported sparsely with variable results. The purpose of this case study is to report our experience with ultrasound (US)-guided aspiration and injection of a congenital splenic cyst, which, in our case, did not prove a viable alternative to surgical defenestration.
Green Light Synergistally Enhances Male Sweetpotato Weevil Response to Sex Pheromone

Sweetpotato, commercially grown in over 100 countries, is one of the ten most important staple crops in the world. Sweetpotato weevil is a major pest of sweetpotato in most areas of cultivation, the feeding of which induces production in the sweetpotato root of extremely bitter tasting and toxic sesquiterpenes which can render the sweetpotato unfit for consumption. A significant step towards improved management of this weevil species was the identification of a female-produced sex pheromone [(Z)-3-dodecenyl (E)-2-butenoate] to which males are highly attracted. Reported here are results of research that documents a nearly 5-fold increase in male sweetpotato weevil catch in traps baited with this pheromone and a green light provided by a solar-powered, light-emitting diode (LED). The combination of olfactory and night-visible visual cues significantly enhanced trap effectiveness for this nighttime-active insect species. These results provide promise for improved sweetpotato weevil detection and suppression in mass trapping programs.
Monopole backgrounds on the world sheet

Abstract We consider a generalization of a coset construction involving monopole gauge field configurations. Among other results this generalization leads to a new tree level spectrum and has interesting modular properties at one loop.
Another perspective on the visual motion aftereffect.

Abstract Prolonged adaptation to motion in a given direction produces distinctly different visual motion aftereffects (MAEs) when viewing static vs. dynamic test displays. The dynamic MAE can be exactly simulated by real motion, whereas the static MAE cannot. In addition, the magnitude of the dynamic MAE depends on the bandwidth of motion directions experienced during adaptation, whereas the static MAE does not. Evidently a stationary pattern does not directly activate the neural mechanisms affected during motion adaptation, whereas a dynamic visual display does. These results imply that the traditional explanation of the MAE needs modification.
SU‐GG‐I‐38: A Direct Skin Dose Calculation Method in CT Scans without Table Motion: Influence of Patient Size and Beam Collimation

Purpose: To calculate skin dose from console dose (CTDIvol) in CT scan modes without table motion, such as interventional and perfusion CT applications, and to investigate the influence of phantom size and beam collimation.Materials and Methods:Skin doses were measured using a solid state detector placed on the anterior surface of six oblong water phantoms with measured lateral widths from 25 to 50 cm. Surface doses were measured using a sequential scan mode without table increment, 12×0.6mm collimation, 120kV, 80mAs and 0.5s rotation time on a 64‐slice CT system. Console CTDIvol was recorded and the ratio between surface dose and console CTDIvol calculated for each phantom size. To investigate the dependence of this ratio on beam width, surface doses were measured at collimations of 1×5, 12×0.6, 1×10, 12×1.2, 30×0.6 and 24×1.2 mm using the 40cm phantom. Results: The console CTDIvol for the 12×0.6mm collimation was 7.12 mGy, while measuredsurface doses were 4.23, 4.65, 4.24, 3.86, 3.55, and 3.47 mGy, respectively, for phantom size of 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50 cm. The surface dose as a percentage of CTDIvol varied from 49% to 65%, increasing with decreasing phantom size except for the 25cm phantom. The measuredsurface doses (and percentage of CTDIvol) for the 40 cm phantom at different collimations were: 3.32 (68%), 3.77 (53%), 3.76 (78%), 4.23 (74%), 4.4 (74%), 4.79 (89%) mGy for collimations from 1×5 mm to 24×1.2 mm. Conclusions: For the same technical parameters (and CTDIvol), surface dose in CT scans without table increment varied with phantom size and beam collimation. For a given collimation and CTDIvol, surface dose in general increased with decreasing phantom size. For a given phantom size, surface dose and CTDIvol both depended on beam collimation, with surface dose as a percentage of CTDIvol generally increasing with beam width.
Solution structure of Co(III)-bleomycin-OOH bound to a phosphoglycolate lesion containing oligonucleotide: implications for bleomycin-induced double-strand DNA cleavage.

Bleomycin (BLM) is an antitumor antibiotic that is used clinically. Its major cause of cytotoxicity is thought to be related to BLM's ability to cause double-strand (ds) DNA cleavage. A single molecule of BLM appears to cleave both strands of DNA in the presence of its required cofactors Fe2+ and oxygen without dissociating from the helix. A mechanism for this process has been proposed based on a model structure of the hydroperoxide of Co(III)-BLM (CoBLM) bound sequence-specifically to an intact duplex containing a GTAC site, a hot spot for ds cleavage [Vanderwall, D. E., Lui, S. M., Wu, W., Turner, C. J., Kozarich, J. W., and Stubbe, J. (1997) Chem. Biol. 4, 373−387]. In this paper, we present a structural model for the second cleavage event. Two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy and molecular modeling were carried out to study CoBLM bound to d(CCAAAGXACTGGG)·d(CCCAGTACTTTGG), where X represents a 3‘-phosphoglycolate lesion next to a 5‘-phosphate. Assignments of 729 NOEs, including 51 between the drug and the...
Stimulation by fatty acids of amino acid accumulation in pantothenic acid depleted lactobacillusplantarum

Summary Defective amino acid uptake and accumulation induced by a pantothenic acid deficiency in Lactobacillus plantarum are permanently restored to normal by incubating cells with long chain fatty acids in the absence of the vitamin. Both saturated and unsaturated (C12 to C20) fatty acids increased the accumulation level. The highest activities were observed with monounsaturated acids including oleic, cis-vaccenic and elaidic acids. Various fatty acid esters were moderately active, but diglycerides and sterols had little stimulatory activity. These findings indicate that subnormal amino acid accumulation by pantothenate-deficient cells is caused by a curtailment in lipid biosynthesis which prevents the formation of a membrane having normal retentive properties, and that the membrane lipid content can be increased subsequently in non-growing cells with the restoration of normal permeability properties.
Role of triethylamine in living carbocationic polymerization of isobutylene with 1,4‐dicumyl alcohol/BCI3 initiating system

It is shown that triethylamine, like N,N-dimethylacetamide, in conjunction with 1,4-dicumyl alcohol/BCl 3 is efficient in modulating the controlled initiation, yielding living telechelic polyisobutylenes. It is also demonstrated that undesirable side reactions such as intramolecular alkylation and protic initiation can be totally eliminated with the proper choice of a selected electron pair donor such as triethylamine
Nitrogen Fixation at 92°C by a Hydrothermal Vent Archaeon

A methanogenic archaeon isolated from deep-sea hydrothermal vent fluid was found to reduce N(2) to NH(3) at up to 92 degrees C, which is 28 degrees C higher than the current upper temperature limit of biological nitrogen fixation. The 16S ribosomal RNA gene of the hyperthermophilic nitrogen fixer, designated FS406-22, was 99% similar to that of non-nitrogen fixing Methanocaldococcus jannaschii DSM 2661. At its optimal growth temperature of 90 degrees C, FS406-22 incorporated (15)N(2) and expressed nifH messenger RNA. This increase in the temperature limit of nitrogen fixation could reveal a broader range of conditions for life in the subseafloor biosphere and other nitrogen-limited ecosystems than previously estimated.
Cystatin C and Creatinine in an HIV Cohort: The Nutrition for Healthy Living Study

Background Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons have an increased risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Serum creatinine level may underestimate the prevalence of CKD in subjects with decreased lean body mass or liver disease. Level of serum cystatin C, an alternative kidney function marker, is independent of lean body mass. Study Design Cross-sectional. Setting & Participants 250 HIV-infected subjects on highly active antiretroviral therapy in the Nutrition for Healthy Living (NFHL) cohort; 2,628 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001-2002 subjects. Predictors & Outcomes Comparison of serum creatinine levels in NFHL to those in NHANES subjects; comparison of CKD in NFHL subjects ascertained using serum creatinine versus cystatin C levels. Measurements Standardized serum creatinine, serum cystatin C, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) estimated from serum creatinine and cystatin C levels. Results Creatinine levels were lower in NFHL than NHANES subjects despite greater rates of hepatitis, diabetes, and drug use (mean difference, −0.18 mg/dL; P 2 , but 15.2% had a cystatin-based estimated GFR less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m 2 . Limitations GFR was estimated rather than measured. Other factors in addition to GFR may affect creatinine and cystatin C levels. Measurements of proteinuria were not available. Conclusions Serum creatinine levels may overestimate GFRs in HIV-infected subjects. Kidney disease prevalence may be greater than previously appreciated.
The vectorcardiogram in normal young adults. Frank lead system.

Abstract Coincident with rapid advances in the therapy of heart disease a need for more accurate diagnosis has been recognized. The application of vectorial principles in electrocardiography, and later of vectorcardiography itself, has been a diagnostic aid of as yet undetermined extent. Since the most recent advances in cardiology have occurred in the fields of congenital and rheumatic heart disease, need for information about normal ranges in a comparable age group is apparent. It is the purpose of this paper to supply vectorcardiographic data in normal young adults, a group in which the existence of severe arteriosclerotic changes can be fairly well excluded, and yet in which the normal evolutionary changes in electrical axis from childhood to adulthood will already have occurred.
Correlations of Structure and Rates of Energy Transfer for Through-Bond Energy-Transfer Cassettes

Fluorescent DNA-labeling cassettes are designed to have a common absorbing chromophore matched to a single exciting laser wavelength, but up to four different emitters. Experiments reported here have examined the energy-transfer rates and fluorescence polarization characteristics for two different types of cassette, involving three distinct relative orientations of the donor and acceptor transition moments and the axis of the rigid linker. Energy-transfer times range from <200 fs to ∼20 ps, the fastest transfer times occurring when the transition moments of the donor and acceptor species are aligned parallel to the linker axis. Experimental evidence is presented that supports a through-bond energy-transfer mechanism, in contrast with a commercial DNA-labeling agent, which exhibits much slower transfer times controlled by FRET. These rigid cassettes also exhibit polarized fluorescence from the acceptor species, so that this particular type of DNA-labeling probe has some of the advantages of single-molecule...
CD46 on glial cells can function as a receptor for viral glycoprotein‐mediated cell–cell fusion

Membrane cofactor protein (CD46) is a regulator of complement activation that also serves as the entry receptor for human herpes virus 6 (HHV-6) and measles virus (MV) into human cells. While it is clear that oligodendrocytes and astrocytes are cell types commonly infected by these viruses, it is unclear whether oligodendrocytes express CD46, or which are the cellular mechanisms underlying the infection. We show that adult oligodendrocytes, as well as astrocytes and microglial cells, express CD46 on the cellular surface. Moreover, we employed a quantitative fusion assay to demonstrate that HHV-6A infection of T lymphocytes enables cell-cell fusion of these cells to astrocytes or to oligodendroglial cells. This fusion is mediated by the interaction between viral glycoproteins expressed on the membrane of the infected cells and CD46 on the glial targets, and is also observed using cells expressing recombinant MV glycoproteins. These data suggest a mechanism that involves cell-cell fusion by which certain viruses could spread the infection from the periphery to the cells in the nervous system.
Fractional Quantum Hall Effect in an Array of Quantum Wires

We demonstrate the emergence of the quantum Hall (QH) hierarchy in a 2D model of coupled quantum wires in a perpendicular magnetic field. At commensurate values of the magnetic field, the system can develop instabilities to appropriate interwire electron hopping processes that drive the system into a variety of QH states. Some of the QH states are not included in the Haldane-Halperin hierarchy. In addition, we find operators allowed at any field that lead to novel crystals of Laughlin quasiparticles. We demonstrate that any QH state is the ground state of a Hamiltonian that we explicitly construct.
Passive swap gate designs for contiguous disk bubble devices

The designs of two novel passive swap gates for contiguous disk devices are described. The data swap is activated by temporary reversal of the drive field rotation direction. Two buffer loops with four merge gates are Combined to form a synchronous swap (true swap) gate. This approach resolves the data overlapping problem and allows flexibility for the matching of the data paths. The structure is sufficiently simple so that it can be used for block swap operation. However, to swap the complete data on the major loop section this arrangement requires two sets of reverse-forward field rotations. For an asychronous block swap operation, a single buffer loop with three merge gates (per swap gate) can be used. Only one set of reverse-forward rotations is required to achieve a complete swap. In this case, the block of data that transfers out is shifted by a fixed bit length.
Solvent effects on fluorine nuclear spin relaxation in substituted 1, 1, 1-trifluoroethanes

Abstract The effect of solvent on nuclear spin relaxation has been investigated. The fluorine spin-lattice relaxation times of CF3CH2Cl, CF3CH2Br, CF3CH2I, and CF3CCl3 have been measured as a function of concentration in various solvents, both polar and nonpolar. The results have been analyzed in terms of various models for the correlation time characteristic of the orientation fluctuations in the liquid. It is shown that the Hill model for molecular reorientation [ N. E. Hill, Proc. Phys. Soc. London Sect. B67, 149 (1954) ] provides the most satisfactory interpretation of all the results, and that, in general, the efficacy of the Hill model is dependent upon the mutual viscosity.
A Compact Transregional Model for Digital CMOS Circuits Operating Near Threshold

Power dissipation is currently one of the most important design constraints in digital systems. In order to reduce power and energy demands in the foremost technology, namely CMOS, it is necessary to reduce the supply voltage to near the device threshold voltage. Existing analytical models for MOS devices are either too complex, thus obscuring the basic physical relations between voltages and currents, or they are inaccurate and discontinuous around the region of interest, i.e., near threshold. This paper presents a simple transregional compact model for analyzing digital circuits around the threshold voltage. The model is continuous, physically derived (by way of a simplified inversion-charge approximation), and accurate over a wide operational range: from a few times the thermal voltage to approximately twice the threshold voltage in modern technologies.
Pediatric Hip Fusion

Abstract The management of young patients with severe hip arthritis is very difficult, as treatment options, such as total hip arthroplasty, which is excellent for relieving pain while preserving function, are often avoided because of a high requirement for subsequent revision surgeries. Hip arthrodesis, although perceived as having inferior functional outcomes in these young individuals, offers a treatment option that relieves pain, maintains function, and allows for conversion to a total hip arthroplasty in future, if desired. This article reviews the indications and technique of hip fusion.
A comprehensive review of the adverse effects of systemic corticosteroids

Corticosteroids are widely used in otolaryngology to treat many disorders; however, the nature and extent of possible complications may not be completely understood. A comprehensive review of the physiology of systemic corticosteroids and literature discussing the known side effects associated with their use is presented. The pathophysiology and the clinical impact of these side effects are reviewed. There are various potential side effects from the use of corticosteroids. Practitioners using corticosteroids should be familiar with these and obtain the patient's informed consent when appropriate.
Isocrates and Aristotle on Rhetoric

Accordingly when Aristotle observed that Isocrates succeeded in obtaining a distinguished set of pupils by abandoning legal and political subjects and devoting his discourses to empty elegance of style, he himself suddenly altered almost the whole of his own system of training, and quoted a line from Philoctetes with a slight modification: the hero in the tragedy said that it was a disgrace for him to keep silent and suffer barbarians to speak, but Aristotle put in "suffer Isocrates to speak"; and consequently he put the whole of his system in a polished and brilliant form, and linked the scientific study of facts with practice in style (Cicero, 1942, III.139; see also Philodemus, 1920, p. 329; or Quintilian 1920, III.i.14).
Glutathione plus cytosol- and microsome-mediated binding of 1,2-dichloroethane to polynucleotides

Abstract 1,2-[1,2- 14 C]Dichloroethane was metabolized by rat hepatic microsomes to products that irreversibly bound polynucleotides. The polynucleotides were then enzymatically hydrolyzed and the products separated by a high-performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC) equipped with an ODS or a SCX column. The products of microsome-mediated binding were identified in the HPLC eluate as 1, N 6 -ethenoadenosine to polyadenylic acid, 3, N 4 -ethenocytidine to polycytidylic acid, and two cyclic derivatives to polyguanylic acid. 1,2-[1,2- 14 C]Dichloroethane was also metabolized in the presence of a glutathione (GSH)-cytosolic fraction and a polynucleotide. After enzymatic hydrolysis of the polynucleotide, the major peak of radioactivity was eluted from a Sephadex G-25 column in the salt volume which would exclude the presence of a product containing both GSH and a nucleoside. Chromatography by ODS-HPLC of the major peak from Sephadex G-25 indicated the presence of a GSH metabolite of 1,2-dichloroethane that did not contain a nucleoside. A similar hydrophilic peak was obtained for the hydrolysis products of polynucleotides from a glutathione plus cytosol incubation in which the polynucleotide instead of being added prior to the incubation was added after the incubation. The products of the glutathione plus cytosol metabolism of 1,2-[1,2- 14 C]dichloroethane appear to be glutathione metabolites that coisolated with the polynucleotides rather than covalently bound adducts. In conclusion, covalently bound adducts were identified for microsomemediated binding of 1,2-dichloroethane to polynucleotides, while no evidence was obtained for glutathione plus cytosol-mediated covalent binding to polynucleotides.
Hospital methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus active surveillance practices in Los Angeles County: Implications of legislation-based infection control, 2008

Pending California legislation prompted an on-line survey of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) active surveillance practices administered to infection preventionists of all 102 acute care licensed hospitals in Los Angeles County. We describe reported surveillance methods. Ninety-six hospitals responded with 41% performing MRSA active surveillance. Comments indicated resistance to implementation of active surveillance because its benefits remain controversial.
Increased resistance to endotoxin in germ-free guinea pigs.

SummarySalmonella typhosa endotoxin produced hypothermia, leukopenia, and death in both germ-free and conventional guinea pigs. The lethal dose was identical in both, but hypothermia and leukopenia were produced in conventional guinea pigs by only one-third of the amount required in germ-free animals.
Effect of prostaglandins on Cl and K transport in rat submandibular salivary acini

Abstract Dispersed acini were used to investigate the effects of prostaglandins (PG) on transmembrane Cl and K transport with the aid of radioactive tracers. Neither PGE 1 , PG 2 , PGF 2α i, arachidonic acid or phosphatidic acid (all in 1 μM final concentrations) modified the time-dependent uptake of 36 Cl Steady-state isotope content reached 6–7 nmol/mg protein with or without these substances. PG did not alter the inhibitory effect of 1 mM furosemide on 36 Cl uptake, and failed to induce a net efflux of 36 Cl from tracer-preloaded cells or to modify the efflux of tracer induced by 1 μM acetylcholine. PG had no significant effect on K uptake, as measured with 86 Rb, and did not modify the effect of 1 mM ouabain, which inhibited K uptake or accumulation by 60 per cent. PG did not induce K ( 86 Rb) efflux from acini preloaded with tracer, and did not prevent or enhance the K efflux induced by acetylcholine. Thus PG do not influence the major ion-transport systems that may be involved in saliva secretion by acinar cells. Any inhibitory effects of PGE 1 on salivary-fluid secretion in vivo are therefore likely to be the result of extra-acinar PG actions, and not of a direct effect on ion-transport mechanisms.
A PRACTICAL ALGORITHM FOR NUMERICAL DETERMINATION OF PERIODICAL REGIMES IN NONLINEAR OSCILLATORS

An effective practical algorithm based on array oriented computations, suitable for use with vector computational architectures, is described. The algorithm allows for deteremination of self‐oscillations with unknown (in advance) periods, yet also includes the situation when the period is predetermined, particularly in the case of forced oscillations.
WE-C-332-02: Analytical Derivation of the Noise Power Spectrum for a Fan Beam System

Purpose: To examine some unique properties of the noise power spectrum (NPS) of a fan beam CT that are quite different from the more well known NPS of a parallel beam CT, and to examine non‐stationary behavior. Method and Materials: An analytical expression for the noise in a fan beam CT was derived. To validate it, 100 128 × 128 noiseimages were simulated for several settings: uniform and non‐uniform noise and fan angles of 29°, 8.5°, and 2.5°. For each image, 200 projections were used, and each projection had 128 elements which were filtered by an unweighted ramp filter. A central 90 by 90 array of each noiseimage was extracted. By squaring the magnitude of the 2D FFT of extracted images, 2D NPS images were generated. The 1D radial NPS was calculated by circumferencial averaging and by averaging over the 100 realizations. The non‐stationary behavior was examined by similar processing of local regions. Results: The measured 1D NPS from a entire FOV and from local regions shows good agreement with the analytically derived 1D NPS formula. The analysis shows that whereas the NPS in a parallel beam CT is proportional to frequency, a fan beam NPS has a reduced amplitude, “kink”, at high frequency. It is due to the variable magnification across the FOV and thereby is more pronounced as the fan angle increases. The 2D NPS of a entire FOV with non‐uniform statistics shows the directional dependence and the 2D NPS of local regions shows a shading effect.Conclusion: The NPS provides a useful metric to analyze the image quality. Local measurements can be used when the imagenoise is not stationary. Interesting differences compared to a parallel beam CT are shown, as are instances of non‐stationary noise.
btFICA MAC Protocol for High Data Rate WLANs

In this paper we develop a new MAC protocol for improving network throughput and hence, channel utilization in wireless LANs that can support very high PHY layer data rates (> 1Gbps). We call our new MAC protocol Busy Tone Assisted Fine-Grained Channel Access (btFICA). btFICA is based upon the framework of a prominent state-of-the-art PHY/MAC scheme for high data rate WLANs, called Fine-Grained Channel Access (FICA). While the rationale behind the FICA scheme appears effective for enhancing channel utilization in high data rate WLANs, a recent study shows that problems, such as deafness, muteness and a form of hidden terminal problem, can easily arise with the FICA MAC protocol. These problems can degrade the network performance, if left unaddressed. This motivates us to develop our btFICA MAC protocol that uses an additional busy tone antenna. btFICA comprehensively solves all of the three problems faced by the FICA MAC protocol, while maintaining the beneficial aspects of the original FICA scheme. Finally, we show via extensive simulations, that btFICA significantly outperforms the original FICA scheme and 802.11 DCF, in different network topologies and traffic scenarios, in terms of channel utilization, per-user-throughput and fairness.
Involvement of p65 in the Regulation of NF-κB in Rat Hepatic Stellate Cells during Cirrhosis

Abstract We have examined the NF-κB binding and functional activities in two stellate cell lines derived from normal (NFSC) and cirrhotic (CFSC) rat liver. Gel mobility shift assays revealed two bands in NFSC nuclear extracts that correspond to p65/p50 heterodimers and p50/p50 homodimers. In contrast, a single and more intense band that migrates faster was detected in CFSC nuclear extracts. This band supershifts with either p65 or p50 antibody. The differential NF-κB binding observed in these two cell lines appears to depend on the phosphorylation of the p65 subunit rather than the expression levels of either p65 or p50. The nonphosphorylated NF-κB form, present in CFSC cells, possesses significantly lower transcriptional activity compared to phosphorylated NF-κB, found in NFSC cells. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the NF-κB regulation at the p65 protein in hepatic stellate cells. It is likely that this regulation affects IL-6 expression and may represent a mechanism regulating hepatocyte death during fibrogenesis.
Divine concessions in the Tanhuma Midrashim

Ever since Leopold Zunz inaugurated the critical study of rabbinic literature in 1818, scholars of the school of midrash known as Tanhuma-Yelammedenu (TY) have given priority to analyzing questions of textual history, dating, aesthetics, form-critical issues, and the literary qualities of these texts. This scholarship has focused on questions of form rather than content; for the most part, the distinctive ideas of these texts, their values and theologies, have yet to be explored. In an article devoted to form-literary issues in aggadah, Yonah Fraenkel argues that “indeed there were also changes in the [Tanhuma's] ideas, like their ethical and social values and their overall world view . . . these types of issues need further research.” Unfortunately, very few scholars have responded to Fraenkel's call. In fact, two excellent scholarly works on rabbinic thought have ignored the content of the TY altogether: neither David Kraemer's Responses to Suffering in Classical Rabbinic Literature nor Ishay Rosen-Zvi's recent work, Demonic Desires, engage TY texts. While Kraemer and Rosen-Zvi extensively discuss sixth- and seventh-century Babylonian texts, such as the Babylonian Talmud, they do not do the same with sixth- and seventh-century Palestinian texts, such as many TY texts. These two important studies exemplify how, in a more general sense, late Palestinian midrashim have been conspicuously neglected by scholars of rabbinic literature working on content-based projects.
The Use of Motivation Enhancement Therapy to Increase Utilization of a Preventative Intervention for Anxiety Sensitivity

Anxiety sensitivity (AS), the fear of anxiety and its potential consequences, places individuals at an increased risk for the development of anxiety disorders. While elevated AS is correctable, often through very brief interventions, individuals high in AS may be unaware of the risks associated with this risk factor and, therefore, may be unaware or unmotivated to address this potential risk. The purpose of the present investigation was to examine the use of motivation enhancement therapy (MET) to enhance motivation to utilize a preventive intervention in a non-intervention seeking population with elevated levels of AS. We examined this issue in a randomized controlled pilot study. Participants (N = 23) were randomized to one of two groups: (1) a MET group (n = 12) group or (2) a control group focused on healthy behaviors (n = 11). Those in the MET group received MET focused on enhancing motivation to reduce AS, whereas those in the control group received psychoeducation about health and general well being. At the end of the study, all of the participants were given the option to receive a computerized intervention previously found to be effective at reducing AS. Results revealed that the MET group had significant changes in motivation to change anxiety and motivation to attend the AS preventative intervention. Moreover, 50 % of individuals in the MET group completed the preventative intervention in comparison to 0 % in the control group. Implications of the findings are discussed.
Electrochemical detection of a breast cancer susceptible gene using cDNA immobilized chitosan-co-polyaniline electrode.

Abstract An electrochemical breast cancer biosensor based on a chitosan- co -polyaniline (CHIT- co -PANI) copolymer coated onto indium–tin-oxide (ITO) was fabricated by immobilizing the complementary DNA (cDNA) probe (42 bases long) associated with the breast cancer susceptible gene BRCA1. Both the CHIT- co -PANI/ITO and the cDNA/CHIT- co -PANI/ITO electrodes were characterized with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). For the cDNA/CHIT- co -PANI/ITO electrode, the amperometric current decreased linearly with an increasing logarithm of molar concentration of the single-stranded target DNA (ssDNA) within the range of 0.05–25 fmol. The bioelectrode exhibited a sensitivity of 2.104 μA/fmol with a response time of 16 s. The cDNA/CHIT- co -PANI/ITO electrode had a shelf life of about six months, even when stored at room temperature.
New data on the status and distribution of the bush dog (Speothos venaticus): Evaluating its quality of protection and directing research efforts

Abstract The bush dog ( Speothos venaticus ), listed as CITES Appendix 1 – vulnerable, is a small (5–6 kg), rarely seen canid from Central and South America. The World Conservation Union Canid Specialist Group (IUCN CSG) recommended that research with this species focus on their basic ecology so that a data-driven conservation strategy can be formulated. Information on the bush dog, however, has been lacking since standard field techniques have had little or no success with this species. The S. venaticus Status and Distribution Survey was developed in an attempt to use indirect methodologies to determine the bush dog’s conservation status in the wild, its current distribution, and identify ecological needs by correlating habitat types to bush dog sightings. Survey responses and literature generated a database with 399 historic bush dog locations recorded between 1834 and 2004. These locational records were used to update the species’ range extent map, an important conservation planning tool. With year and precision of data accounted for, we analyzed land use coverage at known locations where bush dogs have historically been reported to evaluate the likelihood that the species persists in the area today. In addition, these locations provided training data for generation of potential distribution maps (i.e., areas of occupancy) using ecological niche modeling (i.e., Maximum Entropy) and bioclimatic data. These analyses revealed that 20% of the historic bush dog locations are associated with fragmented or altered habitat. These results allowed the status of bush dog habitat to be re-evaluated and areas that require more intensive research and protection to be identified.