cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Taylor's approach in an ankylosing spondylitis patient posted for percutaneous nephrolithotomy: A challenge for anesthesiologists

We describe a patient with long-standing ankylosing spondylitis who underwent percutaneous nephrolithotomy under spinal anesthesia. At preoperative assessment, it was considered that intubation of the trachea was likely to be difficult. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy was attempted, but without success. As the standard technique for spinal anesthesia failed, a variation of the paramedian approach in the lumbosacral approach, also known as Taylor's approach was successfully attempted. This resulted in adequate sensory and motor blockade for the surgical procedure. The patient did not require airway interventions, but equipment and aids to secure airway were available.
Improving Single-Molecule Experiments With Feedback Control of Optical Traps

This article explores various types of feedback control—position feedback, which was shown to be equivalent to force feedback, rate feedback, and integral feedback—for the purpose of improving instrument performance for single-molecule experiments. The ability of each of each types of feedback to lower the measurement signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is evaluated and compared to the open-loop case. While position feedback does not result in any improvement in the SNR, the cases of rate feedback and integral feedback both resulted in improvements in the measurement's SNR. Rate feedback is shown to effectively “cool” the beads held in the optical trap, thereby limiting the effect that Brownian disturbances have on the beads’ motion. Integral feedback is shown to improve the SNR of the measured signal of interest and is robust and easy to implement. It is also shown that integral feedback acts as an exogenous force estimator. Ultimately, feedback does not provide better resolution as measured by SNR than an open-loop filtering approach can but does provide other advantages, including the ability to control other variables and to make a more robust instrument that can be easily adapted to changes in experimental conditions or the environment.
Parametric analysis of cocaine self-administration under a progressive-ratio schedule in rhesus monkeys.

The present study was designed to investigate parameters and quantitative analysis of cocaine self-administration under a progressive-ratio (PR) schedule of reinforcement, with the goal of enhancing the resolution of PR schedules for measuring reinforcing efficacy. Six rhesus monkeys were prepared with chronic intravenous catheters and trained to self-administer cocaine under a PR schedule. The schedule consisted of five components, each made up of four trials (i.e., 20 trials total). Each trial within a component had the same response requirement. Three initial response requirements were tested: fixed-ratio (FR) 60, FR 120 and FR 240. The response requirements doubled in successive components to a maximum of FR 960, FR 1920 or FR 3840, respectively, in the fifth component. A trial ended with an injection or the expiration of a 12- or 24-min limited hold (LH). The inter-trial interval (ITI) was 15 or 30 min. Four dependent measures were assessed: break point (last FR completed), injections/session, responses/session and response rate (responses/s). For the three initial FRs, the break point, number of injections/session, responses/session and rate increased with dose of cocaine (0.013–0.1 mg/kg per injection) at both ITI/LH values. At the ITI15/LH12, responding decreased at higher doses, i.e., the dose-response functions were biphasic. In contrast, at the ITI30/LH24, responding reached an asymptote at higher doses. In general, cocaine maintained significantly higher break points, injections/session, responses/session and rate at ITI30/LH24 than at ITI15/LH12. However, at both ITI/LHs, as initial FR was increased, injections/session at the higher doses decreased while break point, total responses/session and rate did not change. A ceiling on performance, as assessed by break point, total responses/session and response rate, may have limited the number of cocaine injections an animal could take in a session. The results of this study indicate that optimal conditions for measuring the reinforcing efficacy of cocaine were obtained at the longer ITI/LH and at initial FRs above 60.
Response of Lactating Cows Fed Urea-Treated Corn Silage Harvested at Varying Stages of Maturity,

Abstract Corn harvested for silage at 30, 36, and 44% dry matter was treated with 0 or 0.5% urea at ensiling time. Yields of dry matter for the respective maturities were 10.4, 12.2, and 10.2 ton/ha. Losses of dry matter in the silo were highest for the high-dry matter silage (15.1%) compared to the medium (6.4%) and low-dry matter silages (7.0%). Urea-treated silage lost more dry matter than control silages (12.8 vs. 6.1%). Silages were fed to nine groups of lactating cows (six per group) as the only forage during an 80-day treatment period. Six groups were fed untreated silages; three received a 13.8% crude protein concentrate and three an 18.7% crude protein mix. The groups fed urea-treated silages received a 13.8% concentrate. Silages were fed ad libitum and concentrates at 1 kg/2.5 kg of milk for all milk over 11.4 kg/day. Milk yields were not affected by urea-treatment of silage, but were decreased (P
Dissecting Variability in Responses to Cancer Chemotherapy Through Systems Pharmacology

Variability in patient responses to even the most potent and targeted therapeutics is now the primary challenge facing drug discovery and patient care, particularly in oncology and immune therapy. Variability with respect to mechanisms of induced resistance is observed both in drug-naive patients and among those who are initially responsive. Genomics has developed powerful tools for systematic interrogation of disease genotype and transcriptional states (particularly in cancer) and for correlation of these measures with parameters of disease such as histological diagnosis and outcome. In contrast, mechanistic preclinical studies remain relatively narrowly focused, leading to many apparent contradictions and poor understanding of the determinants of response. We describe the emergence of a systems pharmacology approach that is mechanistic, quantitative, probabilistic, and postgenomic and promises to do for mechanistic pharmacology what genomics is doing for correlative studies. We focus on studies in cell lines (which currently dominate mechanism-oriented analysis), but our arguments are equally valid for real tumors studied in short-term culture as xenografts and, perhaps some time in the future, in humans.
Shifting brachytherapy monotherapy case mix toward intermediate-risk prostate cancer

Abstract Purpose The relative use of brachytherapy (BT) for prostate cancer has declined in recent years. In this setting, we sought to determine whether the case mix of BT monotherapy–treated men has changed over time in terms of risk group composition. Methods and Materials The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database was used to identify 30,939 patients diagnosed with prostate adenocarcinoma between 2004 and 2011 who received BT monotherapy. The case mix of BT monotherapy patients was calculated by patient risk group and year of diagnosis. Results Between 2004 and 2011, the use of BT monotherapy declined overall. The relative percentage of men undergoing BT with low-risk disease declined by 4.5%, whereas the relative percentage of patients with intermediate-risk disease increased by 4.7%. Non-white patients and those from poorer counties did not show shifts in the risk group makeup of BT monotherapy patients, whereas white patients and those from wealthier counties did. Conclusions Although fewer patients with prostate cancer are undergoing BT monotherapy, men with intermediate-risk disease comprised a significantly larger portion of the BT case mix in 2011 compared with 2004. Future research efforts by brachytherapists should be directed toward improving BT technique, optimizing radiation doses, and obtaining long-term followup data for patients with intermediate-risk prostate cancer.
Sensitivity analysis for large-deflection and postbuckling responses on distributed-memory computers

A computational strategy is presented for calculating sensitivity coefficients for the nonlinear large-deflection and postbuckling responses of laminated composite structures on distributed-memory parallel computers. The strategy is applicable to any message-passing distributed computational environment. The key elements of the proposed strategy are: (1) a multiple-parameter reduced basis technique; (2) a parallel sparse equation solver based on a nested dissection (or multilevel substructuring) node ordering scheme; and (3) a multilevel parallel procedure for evaluating hierarchical sensitivity coefficients. The hierarchical sensitivity coefficients measure the sensitivity of the composite structure response to variations in three sets of interrelated parameters; namely, laminate, layer and micromechanical (fiber, matrix, and interface/interphase) parameters. The effectiveness of the strategy is assessed by performing hierarchical sensitivity analysis for the large-deflection and postbuckling responses of stiffened composite panels with cutouts on three distributed-memory computers. The panels are subjected to combined mechanical and thermal loads. The numerical studies presented demonstrate the advantages of the reduced basis technique for hierarchical sensitivity analysis on distributed-memory machines.
A Program to Perform Analyses of Variance for Data from Round-Robin Experiments

A round-robin experiment involves observation of all possible pairs of subjects within each experimental condition. A program is described which performs analyses of variance for data arising from such experiments. Output of the program includes an ANOVA summary table, exact or quasi- F statistics for tests of various hypotheses, and least squares estimates of all relevant parameters.
Performance Of The Rca C81020E Intensified CCD Device

The C81020E is an electrostatically-focused image tube with a fiber-optic window which uses a thinned SID504 CCD operated in electronombarded mode to detect accelerated photo-electrons. To evaluate this device, a system was assembled using a commercially available camera electronic chain, a frame grabber, and a microcomputer data acquisition system. Preliminary data on geometric and electronic linearity, dynamic range, and lifetime under electron bombardment indicate that the device could be useful in astronomical applications. It can be used at low light levels in lieu of conventional CCD's, and probably will be satisfactory as a photon counter in the event centroiding mode. The charge cloud produced by the primary appears to spread out over more than one pixel, precluding use of the device as a simple digicon.
A Taxonomic Revision of Fresh-Water Crabs (Brachyura, Potamoidea, Gecarcinucidae) From the Upper Guinea Forest of West Africa

The taxonomy of five species of fresh-water crabs from West Africa belonging to the Gecarcinucidae is revised. Globonautes monodosus Bott, 1959, and G. leonensis Cumberlidge, 1987, are removed from Globonautes Bott, 1959, and included in Afrithelphusa Bott, 1969. The two genera are revised and distinguished by characters of gonopods 1 and 2, and of the carapace. Two other species, Afrithelphusa gerhildae Bott, 1969, and A. afzelii (Colosi, 1924), are also redescribed. Keys to the genera and species of the West African gecarcinucids are provided.
Heterogeneous Uptake of Gaseous Nitric Acid on Dolomite (CaMg(CO3)2) and Calcite (CaCO3) Particles: A Knudsen Cell Study Using Multiple, Single, and Fractional Particle Layers

In this study, the heterogeneous uptake of gaseous nitric acid on dolomite, CaMg(CO3)2, and calcite, CaCO3, particles under dry conditions at 296 K was investigated. A Knudsen cell reactor was used to measure heterogeneous uptake coefficients for these reactions. Several different experiments were performed including those on many, single, and fractional layers of particles. For experiments using multiple particle layers, the Knudsen cell data were modeled to take into account gas diffusion into the underlying layers of the sample. From this analysis, initial heterogeneous uptake coefficients, γo,t, were determined to be (5 ± 2) × 10-4 and (2 ± 1) × 10-3, for dolomite and calcite, respectively, at a nitric acid concentration of 6.5 × 1010 molecules cm-3. For experiments that employed single or fractional particle layers, the initial heterogeneous uptake coefficient was analyzed using a recent method described in the literature. Values of the initial heterogeneous uptake coefficient using this analysis wer...
Determination of bismuth by forced-flow liquid chromatography

Abstract Bismuth(III) is retained on a cation-exchange column from dilute acid and is then separated from most other metal ions by elution with 0·5 M hydrobromic acid. The elution curve can be measured spectrophotometrically and automatically recorded. This separation method is rapid and is selective for bismuth.
Fractional Solidification Phenomena

Abstract Zone melting of organic compounds was observed under the microscope. A host of phenomena were noted that can greatly affect the separation attained in a fractional-solidification operation. Liquid and gaseous inclusions moved toward the melt in some systems and farther into the solid in other situations. Sometimes impure melt was sucked into the frozen solid through cracks. Insoluble foreign particles were both bounced and incorporated by freezing interfaces of camphor and anthracene. Oscillations in interface position were caused by irregular free connection both inside and outside the sample cells. Bubbles in the melt sometimes caused agitation of the melt and other times selective growth of a volatile component. Bulk drainage and falling crystals from horizontal melting interfaces were observed. During melting of camphor-anthracene mixtures some anthracene platelets grew larger.
Individual pulmonary vein size and survival in infants with totally anomalous pulmonary venous connection

Abstract Objectives. We investigated whether mortality in totally anomalous pulmonary venous connection could be predicted from preoperative individual pulmonary vein size. Background. Some infants with this anomaly die with or without surgical repair because of stenosis of individual pulmonary veins. Methods. Individual pulmonary vein, vertical vein and pulmonary venous confluence diameters were retrospectively measured from preoperative echocardiograms in 32 infants with totally anomalous pulmonary venous connection presenting to Children9s Hospital, Boston over a 1/2-year period. Data on body surface area, other cardiac anomalies, presence of initial pulmonary venous obstruction and early surgery and outcome were also recorded. Results. Of 32 patients, 6 (18.8%) died before hospital discharge, and 8 (25.0%) died subsequently. Six (75.0%) of the eight patients who died late had individual pulmonary vein stenosis at sites remote from the surgical anastomosis to the left atrium. The remaining 18 patients (56.3%) are alive at a mean follow-up period of 9.7 months. A Cox proportional hazard model revealed that small sum of individual pulmonary vein diameters (p = 0.0004), small confluence size (p = 0.02) and presence of heterotaxy syndrome (p = 0.008) were each significant univariate predictors of survival. Multivariate analysis showed that small pulmonary vein sum was a strong predictor of survival (p = 0.008), independent of the presence of heterotaxy syndrome. An analysis stratified by the presence of heterotaxy syndrome showed that the predictive effect of small pulmonary vein sum on survival was strongest in patients without heterotaxy syndrome. Conclusions. These data show that individual pulmonary vein size at diagnosis is a strong, independent predictor of survival in patients with totally anomalous pulmonary venous connection. In patients with this anomaly and small individual pulmonary veins, the anomaly may not be correctable by surgical creation of an anastomosis between the pulmonary venous confluence and the left atrium.
Sleep problems in Parkinson’s disease patients

SUMMARY Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients demonstrate a variety of sleep/wake complaints. Some of these are associated with dopaminergic dysfunction, some presumed to arise from nondopaminergic PD pathology, some from PD treatments and, in some, the etiologies are multifactorial or unknown. Optimal management of sleep/wake problems requires a good understanding of sleep/wake principals in the PD population, as there are few controlled trials to dictate therapy. In this article, we review the main causes of sleep/wake disorders in PD patients, namely sleep fragmentation, excessive daytime sleepiness, restless legs syndrome, periodic limb movement of sleep, rapid eye movement sleep behavioral disorder and sleep apnea. Available therapies and management recommendations for each disorder are given particular emphasis.
PA1 Protein, a New Competitive Decelerator Acting at More than One Step to Impede Glucocorticoid Receptor-mediated Transactivation

Numerous cofactors modulate the gene regulatory activity of glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) by affecting one or more of the following three major transcriptional properties: the maximal activity of agonists (Amax), the potency of agonists (EC50), and the partial agonist activity of antisteroids (PAA). Here, we report that the recently described nuclear protein, Pax2 transactivation domain interaction protein (PTIP)-associated protein 1 (PA1), is a new inhibitor of GR transactivation. PA1 suppresses Amax, increases the EC50, and reduces the PAA of an exogenous reporter gene in a manner that is independent of associated PTIP. PA1 is fully active with, and strongly binds to, the C-terminal half of GR. PA1 reverses the effects of the coactivator TIF2 on GR-mediated gene induction but is unable to augment the actions of the corepressor SMRT. Analysis of competition assays between PA1 and TIF2 with an exogenous reporter indicates that the kinetic definition of PA1 action is a competitive decelerator at two sites upstream from where TIF2 acts. With the endogenous genes IGFBP1 and IP6K3, PA1 also represses GR induction, increases the EC50, and decreases the PAA. ChIP and re-ChIP experiments indicate that PA1 accomplishes this inhibition of the two genes via different mechanisms as follows: PA1 appears to increase GR dissociation from and reduce GR transactivation at the IGFBP1 promoter regions but blocks GR binding to the IP6K3 promoter. We conclude that PA1 is a new competitive decelerator of GR transactivation and can act at more than one molecularly defined step in a manner that depends upon the specific gene.
Chemotherapy resistant transitional cell carcinoma as a target for chemoprevention

α-Interferon combined with 5-fluorouracil results in significant antitumoral activity im metastatic bladder carcinoma refractory to standard MVAC chemotherapy. As a single agent, α-interferon is ineffective for invasive ormetastatic diseasem, but appears to contribute to the increased response rate of patients with invasive chemotherapy-refractory disease. Although most patinets with superficial bladder carcinoma will not develop invasive disease, patients in complete remission from invasive disease are at high risk for relapse. In vitro assays indicate that fenretinide (4-HPR) line, α-interferon, and 5-fluorouracil posses significant antitumoral activity in human transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) lines. Some features of postchemotherapy-refractory TCC are similar to those of initial superficial disease (senhsitivity to biological therapy). The biological study of patients with residual postchemotherapy disease may permit the development of strategies which will prevent the recurrence of malignancy within the bladder following an initial complete remission, in addition to developin strategies forthe selection and treatment of patients with high risk superficial disease. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
HEPATOBILIARY EXCRETION OF CYSTEINYL LEUKOTRIENES IN THREE EXPERIMENTAL MODELS OF ACUTE HEPATIC INJURY

The acute phase response to chemically-induced organ damage involves inflammation and the production of leukotrienes. The liver ordinarily takes up, metabolizes and excretes into bile cysteinyl leukotrienes, but the effect of hepatic injury on these processes is unknown. The hepatic uptake and biliary excretion of LTC4 was studied in male Sprague-Dawley rats after exposure to either streptozotocin (45 mg/kg iv 30 days before experimentation), estradiol-17 β-valerate (1mg/kg sc once a week for 3 weeks) or lipopolysaccharide/d-galactosamine (33 μg/kg ip; 300 mg/kg ip at 6 h and 3 h, respectively, before experimentation). Acute liver injury is produced by these treatment paradigms. Glucose concentrations and activities of several marker enzymes in plasma were measured to demonstrate hepatic injury. Biliary excretion of3H-LTC4 was similar to normal control rats in the three types of acute liver injury. Bile flow rates after3H-LTC4 injection were reduced in lipopolysaccharide-pretreated rats and increased in estradiol-treated animals. Total biliary excretion of leukotrienes was not altered in any disease group. Thus, these models of acute hepatic injury do not appear to influence the hepatobiliary clearance of leukotrienes.
Effect of size and surface properties of biodegradable PLGA-PMA: PLA:PEG nanoparticles on lymphatic uptake and retention in rats

Abstract summary The lymphatic system has been shown to be involved in cancer metastasis and HIV. Our work is aimed at understanding the properties of a carrier system that can be successfully targeted to the lymph. We have formed biodegradable PLGA nanoparticles of different sizes and surface properties, that will allow for sustained regional lymphatic delivery. Our results indicate that 50 nm, low hydrophobicity particles with neutral to high anionic surface charge density traffic through the lymphatic system best.
Acute and sub-acute toxicity studies of thallium compounds.

(1960). Acute and Sub-acute Toxicity Studies of Thallium Compounds. American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal: Vol. 21, No. 5, pp. 399-406.
The structure of trimethylphenylammonium nonachlorodirhodate(III) and a survey of metal-metal interactions in confacial bioctahedra

Abstract The structure of the Rh2Cl93− ion has been determined by X-ray crystallographic study of [(CH3)3C6H5N]3 Rh2Cl9. The crystals are orthorhombic with dimensions a = 32.487(14), b = 9.274(5), and c = 36.451 (14), and the observed density (1.70 g/ml) requires Z = 12 (which gives ϱ = 1.69 g/ml). Systematic absences were consistent with the space groups Pmma, Pma2 and Pmc21; the latter (in the form P21ma) was selected on the basis of the Patterson function. Difficulties were caused by disorder of the cation orientations. In the end, the structure was refined in the space group Pnma, with a c axis 1 3 the length of the c axis in P21ma. The reflections with l ≠ 3n in P21ma were thus all omitted; these were almost entirely very weak ones, and omitting them was virtually a necessity in order to reduce the computing to tractable proportions. For the final refinement in Pnma, the asymmetric unit consisted of one Rh2Cl93− ion, one ordered cation, all atoms of which were refined at full weight, one partially disordered cation, all atoms of which were refined in a single orientation at 2 3 weight and a third disordered cation of which the nitrogen and methyl carbon atoms were refined at full weight while each of two ring orientations were refined at 2 3 and 1 6 weight. The Rh2Cl93− ion has virtual D3h symmetry and shows symmetry-preserving distortions from the ideal bioctahedron structure which are indicative of RhRh repulsion. The RhRh distance is 3.121(5) A and the RhClRh angles have an average value of 81.3 (3)°. When the Rh2Cl93− structure as well as those of 13 other M2X9 bioctahedra are analyzed in terms of various structure parameters which reflect the magnitude and sense (i.e., attractive or repulsive) of the MM interactions, systematic correlations with electronic structures and position in the periodic table are found.
Kinetic properties of human pancreatic carboxylesterase.

Abstract Fractionation of pancreatic juice by heparin-Sepharose and cholate-Sepharose affinity chromatography indicated that pancreatic carboxylesterase can be separated from pancreatic lipase with the former retained and the latter unretained by both columns. The chromatographic behavior of pancreatic carboxylesterase was found to be similar to that of human milk bile salt-activated lipase. The partially purified pancreatic carboxylesterase had a specific activity of 30 μmol/min per mg protein when assayed with p -nitrophenyl acetate. The reaction mechanism of human pancreatic carboxylesterase was studied using p -nitrophenyl acetate as substrate and taurocholate as activator. The reaction of the enzyme was found to follow a rapid-equilibrium random mechanism. Because of the presence of basal activity, the role of taurocholate can be considered as a non-essential activator and the dissociation constant for the enzyme-taurocholate binary complex was determined to be 0.20 mM. The activation effect of taurocholate consists in increasing the affinity of the enzyme to the substrate (5.6-fold) and in increasing the V max (2.3-fold). Based on the kinetic property of human pancreatic carboxylesterase and human milk bile salt-activated lipase with p -nitrophenyl acetate, cholesterol oleate and triolein as substrate, we conclude that they share common substrate specificity but show minor differences in kinetic parameters. Fluorescence studies indicated that both enzymes showed a decreased intrinsic tryptophanyl fluorescence upon incubation with taurocholate. This indicates that bile salt caused a conformational change of the enzymes, with a resultant decreased hydrophobicity in the microenvironment of tryptophan residues.
Broad-spectrum chiral optical response in achiral structures patterned from silver nanoparticles by plasmon-assisted two-photon direct laser lithography

We present an approach to produce plasmonic lithographic patterns with an extended circular dichroism response from the ultraviolet to the near infrared. We analyzed the optical chirality changes of the functionalized Ag nanospheres at every stage: from the chiral ligands to the patterned structures. The molecular chirality from the ligands is wavelength shifted and extended from the ultraviolet to visible after functionalization of the synthesized Ag nanoparticles in solution. New red shifted plasmon peaks appear in assembled metallic nanoparticles. Here we show that predefined optical properties of individual particles are also extended. Therefore, once the patterns are fabricated the optical activity is preserved and extended to the near infrared via induced collective plasmon modes.
Response strategies in manual control tasks

Man's ability to handle two or more channels of information which overlap in time has been a subject of considerable recent interest. This paper reviews a series of experiments involving performance on two overlapping tasks. The primary task, in most instances, was the pursuit tracking of step-function inputs. Secondary tasks which were varied to determine those conditions which would interfere with tracking performance, typically involved verbal response to a second signal source. Among the more significant results is evidence that a principal source of interference is the response selection (as distinguished from the response execution) requirements of the second task. It appears that the limitation on two channel processing may be a limit in decision-making capabilities, and that the relevant decisions are those involved in selecting among alternative responses. The findings appear to hold for rather different tasks and are not limited to manual control (tracking) operations.
Pressure dependence of the reaction C2H5+O2

Abstract The rate constant of the reaction C 2 H 5 +O 2 →products, k 1 , has been measured as a function of pressure (3–1500 Torr) relative to that of C 2 H 5 +Cl 2 →C 2 H 5 Cl+Cl, k 2 at 298 K in three diluents (N 2 , He, or SF 6 ). Ethyl radicals were generated by UV irradiation of Cl 2 , C 2 H 6 , O 2 , N 2 (He, SF 6 ) mixtures. Using the literature value k 1 =2.9×10 −12 cm 3 /molecule s at 5 Torr to calibrate the relative rate study, the rate constants at the high and low pressure (He diluent) limits for C 2 H 5 +O 2 +M=C 2 H 5 O 2 +M, k 1a , are ( k 1a ) ∞ =9.2(±0.9)×10 −12 cm 3 /molecule s and ( k 1a ) 0 =6.5(±2.0)×10 −29 cm 6 /molecule 2 s.
Surface Functionalization of Living Cells with Multilayer Patches

We demonstrate that functional polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM) patches can be attached to a fraction of the surface area of living, individual lymphocytes. Surface-modified cells remain viable at least 48 h following attachment of the functional patch, and patches carrying magnetic nanoparticles allow the cells to be spatially manipulated using a magnetic field. The patch does not completely occlude the cellular surface from the surrounding environment; this approach allows a functional payload to be attached to a cell that is still free to perform its native functions, as suggested by preliminary studies on patch-modified T-cell migration. This approach has potential for broad applications in bioimaging, cellular functionalization, immune system and tissue engineering, and cell-based therapeutics where cell-environment interactions are critical.
Stabilized porous liposomes with encapsulated Gd-labeled dextran as a highly efficient MRI contrast agent

A highly efficient contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging was developed by encapsulating gadolinium within a stabilized porous liposome. The highly porous membrane leads to a high relaxivity of the encapsulated Gd. The stability of the liposome was improved by forming a polymer network within the bilayer membrane.
Thresholds for segregating a narrow-band from a broadband noise based on interaural phase and level differences.

Either an interaural phase shift or level difference was introduced to a narrow section of broadband noise in order to measure the acuity of the binaural system to segregate a narrow‐band from a broadband stimulus. Listeners were asked to indicate whether this dichotic noise or a totally diotic noise was presented in a single‐interval procedure. Thresholds for interaural phase and level differences were estimated from four point psychometric functions. These thresholds were determined for three bandwidths of interaurally altered noise (2, 10, and 100 Hz) centered at four center frequencies (200, 500, 1000, and 1600 Hz). Thresholds were lowest when the interaurally altered band of noise was centered at 500 Hz, and thresholds increased as the bandwidth of the interaurally altered noise decreased. Performance did not exceed 75% correct when either an interaural phase shift (180°) or interaural level difference (50 dB) was introduced to a 100 Hz band of noise centered at frequencies higher than 1600 Hz. In a ...
High frequency of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysfunction after local corticosteroid injection in HIV-infected patients on protease inhibitor therapy.

BACKGROUND The frequency of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysfunction among HIV-infected patients receiving steroid injections has not been reported, and the risk factors for this adverse event are poorly characterized. METHODS We conducted a retrospective analysis of data from HIV-infected patients in the Partners HealthCare system (Boston, MA) who received corticosteroid injection(s) between 2002 and 2011. Chart review focused on HIV status, antiretroviral therapy [eg, protease inhibitors (PI)], steroid injection(s), and adrenal axis dysfunction (eg, adrenal insufficiency and/or Cushing syndrome). Because all cases occurred among patients on PIs, we performed additional detailed data extraction and conducted univariate and multivariate analyses to identify risk factors in this group. RESULTS One hundred seventy-one HIV-infected patients received ≥1 corticosteroid injection(s) in the study period. Nine cases (event frequency: 5.3%; 95% confidence interval: 2.4% to 9.8%) of secondary adrenal insufficiency were diagnosed; 5 (55%) of these 9 patients also had clinical evidence of Cushing syndrome. All cases occurred among the 81 patients on PIs (event frequency among those on PIs: 11.1%; 95% confidence interval: 5.2% to 20.0%). Among patients on PIs, the major risk factor for hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysfunction was having ≥2 injections within 6 months. CONCLUSIONS In this retrospective cohort study, 11% of HIV-infected patients on PIs at the time of steroid injection were later diagnosed with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysfunction. Corticosteroid injections in HIV-infected patients on PIs should only be used with great caution and close monitoring.
A poplar tree proteinase inhibitor-like gene promoter is responsive to wounding in transgenic tobacco.

Wounding of poplar trees leads to the accumulation of several mRNA species that encode proteins with putative defensive function. One class of wound-induced poplar RNA (win3) has amino acid sequence similarity to Kunitz-type trypsin inhibitors. Northern blots and cDNA sequencing show that several win3 mRNAs accumulate in the uninjured leaves of wounded trees. We report further characterization of the win3 family including sequence comparisons, gene family organization, and the identification of one win3 member that is transcriptionally activated in response to mechanical wounding. We also show that 1.5 kb of 5′-flanking sequence of one win3 member (win3.12) is sufficient to confer wound-regulated expression of a β-D-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene in transgenic tobacco. Annual herbaceous plants such as tobacco can thus be used to study the expression of genes from a perennial woody angiosperm.
Fecundity, Longevity, and Sex Ratio ofGoniozus nigrifemur(Hymenoptera: Bethylidae)

Abstract Longevity, fecundity, and sex ratio of progeny at emergence of Goniozus nigrifemur Ashmead, a gregarious ectoparasitic bethylid, were investigated. Males lived 17.5 ± 5.8 (95% CI) days. Females provided with pink bollworm hosts lived 90.2 ± 17.4 days, while females deprived of hosts lived only 41.5 ± 7.1 days. Females provided with hosts oviposited an average 184.42 ± 33.94 eggs during their lifetime. While the number of eggs in a clutch was positively associated with the number of males in a clutch, the proportion of males in a clutch was negatively correlated with the number of eggs in a clutch. Females always oviposit the haploid, male egg last in a sequence of eggs comprising a clutch. The significance of females ovipositing haploid and diploid eggs in a predictable sequence is addressed and related to sex ratio in the Hymenoptera.
HERPES GESTATIONIS ULTRASTRUCTURE AND ULTRASTRUCTURAL LOCALIZATION OF IN VIVO-BOUND COMPLEMENT

Ultrastructural localization of C3 deposition in the skin of two patients with herpes gestationis was determined by using a peroxidase-antiperoxidase multistep technique. The tissue preparations can be stored for long periods of time and identical sections may be used for light and electron microscopic examination. The reaction products were seen throughout the entire lamina lucida and the basal cell plasma membrane appeared to be accentuated. The most remarkable ultrastructural changes in normal-appearing skin were the destruction of the basal cell membranes on the dermal side, localized cytoplasmic dissolution, and intracellular edema unaccompanied by inflammatory cells. Early, nonvesicular lesions showed basal cell degeneration and dermal inflammatory cells. Necrosis and loss of basal cells occurred in the next stage which resulted in microvesieles in which collagen or a well-preserved basal lamina formed the vesicle base. In the later blister stage, the basal lamina was usually lost. It is suggested that damage of basal cell membranes on their dermal side leads to the destruction of basal cells with the subsequent protrusion of epidermal and junctional substances into the dermis. This may result in inflammatory cell infiltration and blister formation.
Graded reversible opening of the rat blood-brain barrier by intracarotid infusion of sodium caprate.

Abstract The fatty acid salt, sodium caprate (C10) is a well recognized drug absorption enhancer in intestine because of its ability to widen tight junctions in the epithelial cell lining. Caprate's potential usefulness to similarly alter the blood–brain barrier (BBB) tight junctions of brain vasculature and enhance CNS drug delivery has undergone little investigation. Adult SD rats were anesthetized and C10 was infused into the left internal carotid artery (dosing parameters: 10–30 mM, 1 or 2 ml min −1 , for 0.5–1.5 min). Beginning 5 or 60 min after infusion an i.v. bolus of [ 3 H]mannitol was allowed to circulate for 30 min and degree of BBB leakiness measured as magnitude of the transfer constant (Ki, nl g −1 s −1 ) for blood to brain mannitol permeation determined from brain and plasma samples. In initial experiments identical C10 infusions caused dramatic BBB opening in some rats, e.g., 10-fold increase in Ki, but not in others. Higher dosing produced consistent opening measured 5–35 or 60–90 min post-infusion but was also toxic as shown by severe brain edema and cardio-respiratory failure. The variable effect of moderate doses was attributed to the fact that arterial blood pressure markedly increased during C10 infusion and may have altered the flow dynamics of cerebrovascular caprate distribution from rat to rat. We modified the procedure by temporarily withdrawing blood to produce hypovolemia and systemic arterial hypotension during C10 infusion. Caprate infusions of 15–25 mM, 2 ml min −1 for 1 min, produced reliable dose-related openings that lasted as much as an hour, were reversible, and accompanied by little or moderate edema, depending on dose. These findings confirm an earlier report showing that intracarotid caprate infusion opens the BBB but also show that control of the temporary hypertensive response produced by intracarotid caprate infusion is key to tailoring the dosage to consistently achieve graded, reversible BBB opening.
Skew Estimation and Compensation in Tape Drives With Flangeless Rollers

Magnetic tape remains the medium of choice for long-term data storage at the lowest possible cost. Moreover, tape-cartridge capacities are expected to maintain a compound annual growth rate of about 40%, resulting in a 128 TByte tape-cartridge capacity by 2022, as forecast by the Information Storage Industry Consortium (INSIC) roadmap [1]. To achieve these capacities in future tape products, the data track width has to be aggressively reduced through ultra-precise tape head positioning.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Academic Innovation and Autonomy: An Exploration of Entrepreneurship Education Within American Community Colleges and the Academic Capitalist Context

Employing interviews with individuals from 16 community colleges across the country, as well as an independent consultant engaged in activities of the National Association for Community College Ent...
Responses of Na+-K+ ATPase activities from dog olfactory tissue to selected odorants.

Abstract Na + -K + ATPase activity from nerve ending particle (NEP) fractions of dog olfactory tissue homogenates showed different patterns of response to odorants. Similar turbinal groupings were removed from the right and left sides of the septum in the nasal cavity and NEP preparations were tested with eight different odor compounds, including 2-keto alkane homologs and the optical isomers d- and l-carvone. Odorant stimulation of Na + -K + ATPase activity from paired turbinal groupings did not show bilateral symmetry. Different patterns of stimulation were observed for each turbinal grouping and for each odorant. A stimulation of over 200% was observed in one preparation in response to 2-nonanone. A study of the response of Na + -K + ATPase activity from individual turbinals showed that the enzyme in each turbinal had a different response pattern to six different odorants. Inhibitory and stimulatory responses were observed for the individual turbinal NEP preparations. These results support the proposal that odor sensing initiation may occur through odorant perturbation of the Na + -K + ATPase activity.
Firearm Advertising: Product Depiction in Consumer Gun Magazines

In contrast to tobacco, alcohol, and other consumer products associated with health risks, we know very little about how firearm manufacturers advertise their products. The authors examined advertisements for firearms in all 27 ad-accepting magazines listed in Bacon’s Magazine Directory “guns and shooting” category. Sixty-three manufacturers spent an estimated $1,195,680 on firearm advertising during the month studied. Annual advertising costs ranged widely; manufacturers spent an estimated $28.16 in advertising per firearm produced. Firearms generally were presented as a part of a lifestyle. Self-protection was noted infrequently in the advertisements. By contrast, attributes of the gun, typically technological characteristics, were noted in almost every advertisement.
Nanosecond pulsed plasmas for biomedical disinfection

Summary form only given. Non-equilibrium atmospheric-pressure plasma has emerged as a novel technology for biomedical and environmental applications. We present here the generation of 100 ns-pulsed, atmospheric-pressure, 2-3 cm long, pencil or needle-like plasma plumes, and their applications in root canal and wound disinfections. Well-established bacterial biofilms derived from saliva and inoculated into root canals were disinfected after 5-minute treatment with a 2-3 mm diameter plasma plume. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) shows complete destruction of endodontic biofilms for a depth of 1 mm inside the root canal. A recently-developed plasma dental needle (~1 mm in diameter) is able to extend into the entire root canal of an instrumented human tooth, indicating the promising clinical potential in application of the room temperature plasmas for endodontic disinfection. In addition, effective inactivation of typical wound bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus epidermidis on nutrient agar plates was observed after treatment with the plasma needle for 5 minutes and incubation for 24 hours. The bacteria-free (>99%) voids on agar plate created by plasma exposure are larger than 3 cm in diameter for an initial bacterial concentration of >105 CFUs/cm2, which implies that the nanosecond pulsed plasma needle can also be an efficient, effective, and safe wound disinfection tool. Possible plasma bactericidal mechanisms including oxidation with reactive chemical species (O, 03, OH, etc.), surface detachment, electrostatic disruption, and UV radiation are discussed.
SDS-stable complex formation between native apolipoprotein E3 and beta-amyloid peptides.

Extracellular senile plaques composed predominantly of fibrillar amyloid-β (Aβ) are a major neuropathological feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Genetic evidence and in vivo studies suggest that apolipoprotein E (apoE) may contribute to amyloid clearance and/or deposition. In vitro studies demonstrate that native apoE2 and E3 form an SDS-stable complex with Aβ(1−40), while apoE4 forms little such complex. Our current work extends these observations by presenting evidence that apoE3 also binds to Aβ(1−42) and with less avidity to modified species of the peptide found in senile plaque cores. These modified peptides include a form that originates at residue 3-Glu as pyroglutamyl and another with isomerization at the 1-Asp and 7-Asp positions. In addition, we used binding reactions between apoE3 and various Aβ fragments, as well as binding reactions with apoE3 and Aβ(1−40) plus Aβ fragments as competitors, to identify the domain(s) of Aβ involved in the formation of an SDS-stable complex with apoE3. Residue...
Educating Whole People: A Response to Jonathan Cohen

Jonathan Cohen reminds us that a genuine education — an education for whole persons — must address social, emotional, and ethical issues, as well as academic. In doing so, he provides readers with a useful review of research and policy in the relevant areas. Most readers will agree that development of the whole person is important for both individuals and their society, but we may disagree on how and where this should be accomplished. I agree with Cohen that schools should be engaged in this form of education, but I want to raise a few questions about how to proceed. Cohen seems to favor what some character educators call a whole-school approach over courses designed specifically to address social, emotional, and ethical competencies. I agree that all teachers, in all subjects, should be involved in this work. We should say a bit more, however, about why the wholeschool approach is to be preferred. Schools have long practiced the “add-acourse” approach to meeting newly identified needs, and sometimes — as in driver training — that approach is exactly right. But any competency, skill, problem, or attitude that is fundamental to a fully human life should appear somehow in everything we teach. We have to show how it is possible to include social, emotional, and ethical learning in all curricular and extracurricular activities. Cohen discusses the possibilities in existing language arts, social studies, history, and arts courses, but these issues should also appear in mathematics and science classes. There are biographical and historical examples, such as the dispute between Leibniz and Newton over the invention of calculus, that can be used effectively in discussing ethical issues. Many examples can also be found in current events — for example, the recent fraudulent activity of a stem cell researcher. However, it isn’t just a matter of constructing lessons from a collection of cases. Perhaps even more important is the willingness of teachers to discuss social and ethical issues that arise in the everyday work of teaching and learning. Mathematics and science classes are especially significant places for this
Mechanism of Cgmp-Gated Channel Block by Intracellular Polyamines

Polyamines block the retinal cyclic nucleotide-gated channel from both the intracellular and extracellular sides. The voltage-dependent mechanism by which intracellular polyamines inhibit the channel current is complex: as membrane voltage is increased in the presence of polyamines, current inhibition is not monotonic, but exhibits a pronounced damped undulation. To understand the blocking mechanism of intracellular polyamines, we systematically studied the endogenous polyamines as well as a series of derivatives. The complex channel-blocking behavior of polyamines can be accounted for by a minimal model whereby a given polyamine species (e.g., spermine) causes multiple blocked channel states. Each blocked state represents a channel occupied by a polyamine molecule with characteristic affinity and probability of traversing the pore, and exhibits a characteristic dependence on membrane voltage and cGMP concentration.
12/15-Lipoxygenase Activity Mediates Inflammatory Monocyte/Endothelial Interactions and Atherosclerosis in Vivo

We have shown that the 12/15-lipoxygenase (12/15-LO) product 12S-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid increases monocyte adhesion to human endothelial cells (EC) in vitro. Recent studies have implicated 12/15-LO in mediating atherosclerosis in mice. We generated transgenic mice on a C57BL/6J (B6) background that modestly overexpressed the murine 12/15-LO gene (designated LOTG). LOTG mice had 2.5-fold elevations in levels of 12S-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid and a 2-fold increase in expression of 12/15-LO protein in vivo. These mice developed spontaneous aortic fatty streak lesions on a chow diet. Thus, we examined effects of 12/15-LO expression on early events leading to atherosclerosis in these mice. We found that, under basal unstimulated conditions, LOTG EC bound more monocytes than B6 control EC (18 ± 2 versus 7 ± 1 monocytes/field, respectively; p