cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Supercritical CO2 treatment reduces the antigenicity of buttermilk β-lactoglobulin and its inflammatory response in Caco-2 cells

Abstract β-Lactoglobulin (β-LG) is believed to be a common allergen in bovine milk. Buttermilk (BM) powder has abundant contents of milk fat globule membrane and phospholipid, both of which have been demonstrated to have positive effects on brain and cognitive development during early infancy. This study focused on modifying β-LG in BM via supercritical CO2 (ScCO2) treatment to modify its reactivity to antibodies and thus reduce its antigenicity. Buttermilk powder was treated in a supercritical fluid extraction system with food-grade CO2 at 100, 150, 200, 250, 350, and 400 bar at 2 temperatures, 50 and 75°C. All analyses were completed in a 10% BM suspension (wt/vol). The BM proteins were examined using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-PAGE, Western blot, ELISA, and periodic acid staining methods. Semi-purified β-LG was used to evaluate the cytotoxicity, viability, and inflammatory response in the Caco-2 cell line by means of the lactate dehydrogenase assay, MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium] assay, and IL-8 production, respectively. The SDS-PAGE showed that the signal intensity of β-LG bands was reduced by up to 50% after being processed at 250 bar and 75°C for 30 min. Lighter and more diffuse signals were found by Western blot, indicating modification of the protein structure. The ELISA demonstrated that ScCO2 treatment could significantly change β-LG antigenicity in BM. Sugar moieties in bands corresponding to β-LG were revealed by periodic acid staining, indicating glycosylation only in samples treated with ScCO2. Caco-2 cells treated with whey proteins had high viability, 24.9% lower inflammation, and no evidence of cytotoxicity compared with untreated cultures. These results showed that reduced antigenicity of β-LG was caused by lactosylation, which has been reported as a possible pathway to reduce the allergenicity in foods. The denaturation of β-LG by supercritical fluid processing is a promising way to address milk allergy, which remains a problem requiring more attention and further research.
The Influence of Hard Hat Design Features on Head Acceleration Attenuation

This study evaluated the performance of 6 commercially available hard hat designs-differentiated by shell design, number of suspension points, and suspension tightening system-in regard to their ability to attenuate accelerations during vertical impacts to the head. Tests were conducted with impactor materials of steel, wood, and lead shot (resembling commonly seen materials in a construction site), weighing 1.8 and 3.6 kg and dropped from 1.83 m onto a Hybrid III head/neck assembly. All hard hats appreciably reduced head acceleration to the unprotected condition. However, neither the addition of extra suspension points nor variations in suspension tightening mechanism appreciably influenced performance. Therefore, these results indicate that additional features available in current hard hat designs do not improve protective capacity as related to head acceleration metrics.
La libertad en el Mundo Moderno

Si fuera permitido interpretar "libertad" como la exencion de las cadenas distintas de las que impone el hombre mismo, ?no considerariamos entonces el hecho de que el hombre de nuestros dias se ha librado del poder de las enfermedades contagiosas como una notable ampliacion de la libertad? ?Que decir del poder que hemos conseguido en el ultimo tercio de siglo, que nos permite recorrer las carreteras con una velocidad que pasa ocho veces la del caballo? ?O cruzar el aire al doble de aquella velocidad?
Very Early-Onset Inflammatory Bowel Disease (VEO-IBD) Presenting with Recurrent Leukocytoclastic Vasculitis Preceded by Streptococcal Pharyngitis.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that presents in children <6 years of age is known as very early-onset IBD (VEO-IBD). Extraintestinal manifestations in IBD, such as erythema nodosum (EN), pyoderma gangrenosum (PG), and, less likely, leukocytoclastic vasculitis (LV), are more commonly present in Crohn’s disease. Association between LV and ulcerative colitis (UC) is not commonly seen. We report a case of a 6-year-old female with a VEO-IBD UC phenotype presenting with multiple episodes of leukocytoclastic vasculitis, each preceded by streptococcal pharyngitis. Prior to the diagnosis of VEO-IBD, a skin biopsy was obtained and had shown leukocytoclastic vasculitis with a negative IgA stain. Initial laboratory results were remarkable for leukocytosis and increased anti-strep O and anti-DNase B titers. Gastrointestinal panel PCR demonstrated Clostridium difficile toxin A/B. Treatment for LV consisted of methylprednisolone IV 20 mg for four days with a weaning schedule of prednisolone for two weeks and naproxen 250 mg BID for three days. Clostridium difficile was treated with metronidazole 250 mg TID for ten days. She remained stable for three years until she presented with continuous bloody stools, newly onset chest pain, and shortness of breath. Computed tomography angiogram (CTA) was normal. Stool calprotectin was elevated at 658 mcg/gm. Abdominal magnetic resonance enterography (MRE), esophagogastroduodenoscopy, and colonoscopy confirmed a VEO-IBD ulcerative colitis phenotype. She was started on infliximab 10 mg/kg every four weeks after infliximab titers, and antibodies were obtained. Currently, the patient remains on clinical and biochemical remission, with no recent LV episodes or recurrence of streptococcal pharyngitis. Our patient is unique as no case report has been published with multiple episodes of leukocytoclastic vasculitis in association with a VEO-IBD UC phenotype.
Estimation of the dose of electronic cigarette chemicals deposited in human airways through passive vaping.

Background Existing studies on the health effects of e-cigarettes focused on e-cigarette users themselves. To study the corresponding effects on passive vapers, it is crucial to quantify e-cigarette chemicals deposited in their airways. Objective This study proposed an innovative approach to estimate the deposited dose of e-cigarette chemicals in the passive vapers' airways. The effect of the distance between active and passive vapers on the deposited dose was also examined. Methods The chemical constituent analysis was conducted to detect Nicotine and flavoring agents in e-cigarette aerosol. The Mobile Aerosol Lung Deposition Apparatus (MALDA) was employed to conduct aerosol respiratory deposition experiments in real-life settings to generate real-time data. Results For e-cigarette aerosol in the ultrafine particle regime, the deposited doses in the alveolar region were on average 3.2 times higher than those in the head-to-TB airways, and the deposited dose in the passive vaper's airways increased when being closer to the active vaper. Significance With prolonged exposure and close proximity to active vapers, passive vapers may be at risk for potential health effects of harmful e-cigarette chemicals. The methodology developed in this study has laid the groundwork for future research on exposure assessment and health risk analysis for passive vaping.
Alcoholic Ketoacidosis: Etiologies, Evaluation, and Management.

Abstract Background Alcoholic ketoacidosis (AKA) is defined by metabolic acidosis and ketosis in a patient with alcohol use. This is a common presentation in the emergency department (ED) and requires targeted therapies. Objective This narrative review evaluates the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management of AKA for emergency clinicians. Discussion AKA is frequently evaluated and managed in the ED. The underlying pathophysiology is related to poor glycogen stores and elevated nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and hydrogen. This results in metabolic acidosis with elevated beta-hydroxybutyrate levels. Patients with AKA most commonly present with a history of alcohol use (acute or chronic), poor oral intake, gastrointestinal symptoms, and ketoacidosis on laboratory assessment. Patients are generally dehydrated, and serum glucose can be low, normal, or mildly elevated. An anion gap metabolic acidosis with ketosis and electrolyte abnormalities are usually present on laboratory evaluation. Management includes fluid resuscitation, glucose and vitamin supplementation, electrolyte repletion, and evaluation for other conditions. Conclusions Emergency clinician knowledge of the evaluation and management of AKA is essential in caring for these patients.
Survey Compliance and the Distribution of Income

While it is improbable that households with different incomes are equally likely to participate in sample surveys, the lack of data for nonrespondents has hindered efforts to correct for the bias in measures of poverty and inequality. The authors demonstrate how the latent income effect on survey compliance can be estimated using readily available data on response rates across geographic areas. An application using the Current Population Survey for the United States indicates that compliance falls as income rises. Correcting for selective compliance appreciably increases mean income and inequality, but has only a small impact on poverty incidence up to commonly used poverty lines in the United States.
Abstract 18679: A Novel Volumetric Index of Left Ventricular Sphericity Independently Predicts Appropriate ICD Therapy

Introduction: Adverse left ventricular (LV) remodeling plays an important role in arrhythmogenesis of patients with abnormal systolic function, but it is unknown if noninvasive parameters associated with adverse remodeling predict arrhythmias in the real-world population. In this retrospective study, we sought to determine if a novel echocardiographic index of LV remodeling would predict appropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy in patients who received primary prevention ICDs with and without cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT-D). Methods: We determined the sphericity index (SI), the ratio of biplane LV end-diastolic volume to apical 4-chamber LV end-diastolic length, and examined its association with appropriate ICD therapy for ventricular arrhythmias in primary prevention patients receiving ICDs between 2006 and 2010. Results: We studied 278 subjects (203 - conventional ICD, 75 - CRT-D). Median follow-up (f/u) was 2.0 and 2.1 years, respectively. Appropriate ICD therapy occurred in 28 (18.7%) of the patients with ICDs and 15 (20.0%) of the patients with CRT-Ds. Median time to first appropriate ICD therapy was significantly shorter in patients with SI in the upper vs. lower 50% of values (1.43 vs. 2.40 years, p=0.01 for the ICD cohort; 1.54 vs. 2.63 years, p=0.04 for the CRT-D cohort). In multivariable Cox regression analysis, an SI in the upper 50% (>2.61 ml/mm for the ICD cohort; >2.65 ml/mm for the CRT-D cohort) was a strong independent predictor of appropriate ICD therapy after adjustment for gender, age, New York Heart Association functional class, LV ejection fraction, BUN, and atrial fibrillation (adjusted Hazard Ratio [HR] 2.0, p=0.03 for the ICD cohort; adjusted HR 5.4, p=0.015 for the CRT-D cohort). An SI in the upper 50% was not associated with total mortality in either cohort. Conclusions: Echocardiographic SI predicts appropriate ICD therapy, but not total mortality, in patients with primary prevention ICDs. Prospective study of SI is warranted to confirm its clinical value for risk stratifying patients.
Characterization of Impact Fracture of Brittle Solid Waste Forms

The fracture of solid waste forms resulting from mechanical impacts that could occur during in-plant handling and storage and during off-site transportation needs to be known to evaluate the increased risks of potential dispersion of radioactive wastes. Two physical properties of the waste form which may be useful to characterize the increased dispersion risks from fracture are the increase in surface area and the (mass) fraction of particles less than the respirable size (i.e., <10 μm) for the waste form. An analysis and evaluation of the effects of impacts have been initiated for metal-encapsulated reference glass and ceramic waste forms. Descriptive and calculational models were developed for relating impact energy to deformation effects, both for brittle and ductile materials and for characterizing the surface area resulting from impact fracture of brittle materials (1).
Compartmentalization of vascular endothelial growth factor to the epithelial surface of the human lung.

BACKGROUND: Based on assessment of mRNA expression, the lung is a major site of expression of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene, largely from type II alveolar epithelial cells. With the knowledge that VEGF can function to induce vascular leak, we hypothesized that to protect the lung from pulmonary edema, the VEGF produced in the lung must be compartmentalized from the pulmonary endothelium, and thus must be compartmentalized to the surface of the respiratory epithelium. MATERIAL AND METHODS: To assess this hypothesis, we quantified the levels of VEGF in human respiratory epithelial lining fluid recovered by bronchoalveolar lavage from normal individuals. RESULTS: Strikingly, human respiratory epithelial lining fluid contains 11 +/- 5 ng/mL as quantified by ELISA, a 500-fold greater concentration than plasma (22 +/- 10 pg/mL, p < 0.0005). Western analysis of BAL fluid proteins showed the major VEGF isoform in respiratory epithelial lining fluid is VEGF165. CONCLUSIONS: With the knowledge that proteins of molecular mass like VEGF (34 to 46 kDa) slowly diffuse across the alveolar epithelium, it is likely that this high level "reservoir" of VEGF protein on the respiratory epithelial surface plays a role in normal lung endothelial biology. However, this compartmentalized VEGF reservoir may also be a "Damocles sword" poised to induce lung endothelial permeability in conditions of acute lung injury when the integrity of the alveolar epithelial barrier is breached.
Now you see it and now you don't [RFID technology]

This paper reports on radiofrequency identification technology and several possible approaches to protect consumer privacy in the context of RFID.
Unifying distributed synchrony and optimality in DC microgrids

A distributed control method is proposed to optimize the power sharing among sources in a dc microgrid, while handling the voltage regulation of the overall system. During the optimization process, an economic dispatch problem is solved to set the output power for all the sources. To this end, the voltage set points of individual sources are adjusted using a voltage regulator and an optimizer, which regulates the average voltage of the sources to establish the equality constraint and matches the incremental costs, respectively. The optimizer is then modified to satisfy the inequality constraints, i.e., generation limits of the sources. This co-regulation and -optimization paradigm is developed in a fully distributed fashion. Simulations results verify the performance of the proposed method and validate its resiliency against cyber and physical faults.
Vitamin D regulates CD8 T cell expansion and immune memory to infections (IRM4P.502)

Epidemiological studies implicate a potential role of vitamin D in modulating immune responses to infections and vaccines. In this study we analyzed the contribution of vitamin D signals to the development and maintenance of antigen-specific memory CD8 T cell responses during a viral infection. Using the vitamin D receptor (VDR)-deficient murine model, we found that lack of vitamin D signals resulted in a dysregulated CD8 T cell expansion program, which was largely attributable to cell-extrinsic effects. Investigation of events proximal to TCR activation demonstrated a delayed yet sustained priming of antigen-specific CD8 T cells in the absence of vitamin D signals. In spite of a larger ensuing effector CD8 T cell pool generated in the absence of vitamin D signals, the final memory pool was smaller. Interestingly, within both effector and memory CD8 T cell pools, we observed a bias towards CD8 T cells specific for immunodominant determinants, resulting in a restricted repertoire of antigen-specific CD8 T cells in the absence of vitamin D signals. Collectively, these studies delineate a critical role of vitamin D in regulating the quantity and quality of adaptive T cell immunity. Importantly, our studies have direct impact on the efficacy of vaccines, owing to disparate nutritional states of vitamin D that are currently seen cross-sectionally around the world.
Multivariate tests of financial models

Abstract A variety of financial models are cast as nonlinear parameter restrictions on multivariate regression models, and the framework seems well suited for empirical purposes. Aside from eliminating the errors-in-the-variables problem which has plagued a number of past studies, the suggested methodology increases the precision of estimated risk premiums by as much as 76%. In addition, the approach leads naturally to a likelihood ratio test of the parameter restrictions as a test for a financial model. This testing framework has considerable power over past test statistics. With no additional variable beyond β, the substantive content of the CAPM is rejected for the period 1926–1975 with a significance level less than 0.001.
Females with von Willebrand disease: 72 years as the silent majority

Summary. The monthly challenge of menstruation as well as the haemostatic challenge of childbirth post partum renders more females than males symptomatic with von Willebrand disease. Among vWD patients, the obstetrical and gynaecological morbidity is certainly more pronounced in Type 2,3 patients compared to Type 1 patients, but even in the latter group there is a high proportion of menorrhagia with associated anaemia, loss of time from work/school and the use of hysterectomy for ultimate control of bleeding. Despite the well known adage of the “gestational palliation” of vWD, there is a high proportion of postpartum haemorrhage in Type 1 patients also especially after the first 24 h after delivery. This may occur despite normalization of the factor VIIIc level in the third trimester, particularly in Type 2,3 patients. With the increasing availability of intranasal/subcutaneous DDAVP that could be readily administered at home for menorrhagia, there recently has been ongoing efforts internationally to determine the prevalence of vWD in females presenting with menorrhagia with a prevalence of 17% combined from two studies of 180 patients total. Issues remain regarding the optimal dose/schedule of intranasal/subcutaneous DDAVP for menorrhagia and the relative efficacy of antifibrinolytic agents. The proper role of oral contraceptives and danazol also deserves further study in vWd patients with menorrhagia. In sum, a comprehensive care approach in females with vWD is warranted analogous to the successful model of care of male haemophiliacs with the intent to (a) reduce unnecessary surgical interventions for menorrhagia, (b) improve the quality of life during menses and (c) optimize peri-partum management.
The medical approach for calcaneal fractures.

A practical classification of calcaneus fractures based on standard heel roentgenograms and Broden's views is presented. Diagnosis is made from these roentgenograms, even though many believe that more sophisticated studies are needed. In fact, only the Broden's and lateral views are needed for diagnosis. What one needs to know is the type of fracture present, whether it is a tongue or joint depression-type fracture, and the width of the fragment. The necessary information is easily determined from these roentgenograms. Once these facts are known, a plan of approach can be made. The medial approach is an indirect method of reduction as one might use for the tibia or femur fracture. Experience has shown that the longitudinal threaded pin is an excellent method of stabilization. It is quick and effective. It has eliminated the need for exposure of the neurovascular bundle. Minimal metal is implanted, and a smaller incision is used. Most common calcaneal fractures can be reduced well from the medial side. A few may need lateral reduction also, but this is simplified if the nonarticular components of the fracture are reduced first by the medial approach technique. The results of the medial approach technique have been much better in the last 12 years. This is attributed to the classification, the knowledgeable interpretation of the roentgenograms, and use of the threaded longitudinal pin for fixation.
Studies in kernicterus. II. The determinationof the saturation of serum albumin with bilirubin

A method is described for estimating the relative concentration of free bilirubin in serum by measurement of the saturation of the carrier, albumin, for bilirubin. The technique only requires the determination of the change in optical density at 460 mμ (Δ O.D. 460 mμ) of the diluted serum after addition of a standardized amount of salicylate. The ΔO.D. 460 mμ was calibrated to the per cent decrease in protein-bound bilirubin by separating and chemically determining the free and the remaining protein-bound bilirubin. The technique was applied to hyperbilirubinemic sera from infants in the neonatal period. Infants without hemolytic disease showed a direct correlation between the saturation of their albumin with bilirubin and the bilirubin-protein concentration ratio of the serum. Infants with hemolytic disease did not show such a correlation until after they had had an exchange transfusion. The determination of the free bilirubin offers a more precise means of selecting infants at risk to bilirubin encephalopathy.
Speech perception and lexical effects in specific language impairment.

Using an identification task, we examined lexical effects on the perception of vowel duration as a cue to final consonant voicing in 12 children with specific language impairment (SLI) and 13 age-matched (6;6–9;6) peers with typical language development (TLD). Naturally recorded CV/t/sets [word–word (WW), nonword–nonword (NN), word–nonword (WN) and nonword–word (NW)] were edited to create four 12-step continua. Both groups used duration as an identification cue but it was a weaker cue for children with SLI. For NN, WN and NW continua, children with SLI demonstrated certainty at shorter vowel durations than their TLD peers. Except for the WN continuum, children with SLI demonstrated category boundaries at shorter vowel durations. Both groups exhibited lexical effects, but they were stronger in the SLI group. Performance on the WW continuum indicated adequate perception of fine-grained duration differences. Strong lexical effects indicated reliance on familiar words in speech perception.
Opportunistic turbo execution in NTC: exploiting the paradigm shift in performance bottlenecks

In this paper, we investigate an intriguing shifting trend in performance bottlenecks for Near-Threshold Computing (NTC) processors. Our study demonstrates that the traditional memory latency bottleneck is largely superseded by the bottlenecks of Long Latency Datapaths (LLDs) within a processor core. To exploit this paradigm shift, we propose Opportunistic Turbo Execution (OTE). OTE dynamically boosts the performance of LLDs, by several factors, improving both performance and energy efficiency in an NTC core. Using a comprehensive circuit-architectural analysis, we demonstrate a 42.2% improvement in energy efficiency over a recently proposed technique, across a range of benchmarks.
Role of seminal plasma in heat stress infertility of broiler breeder males

The present research was undertaken to determine the role of seminal plasma in heat stress (HS) infertility. Males were exposed to HS at 32 C or maintained at 21 C as controls. Centrifugation and reconstitution of semen samples created four final treatments: control sperm + control plasma (CsCp), control sperm + HS plasma (CsHp), HS sperm + HS plasma (HsHp), and HS sperm + control plasma (HsCp). Semen samples with HS males' seminal plasma had lower sperm quality index values than those containing plasma from control males. Seminal plasma from HS males diminished fertility of control sperm, and control seminal plasma did not improve fertility of HS sperm. Therefore, regardless of seminal plasma source, HS sperm had a lower fertilization rate than control sperm. Also, seminal plasma from semen samples with HS sperm (HsHp and HsCp) contained lower Ca, Na+ and Cl- concentrations than seminal plasma from semen samples with control sperm (CSCp and CsHp). When HS seminal plasma was mixed with control sperm, plasma ion concentrations increased, indicating an efflux of ions from the control sperm to the HS seminal plasma. On the other hand, when control seminal plasma was mixed with HS sperm, plasma ion concentrations decreased, indicating an influx of ions from the control seminal plasma to the HS sperm. Therefore, control sperm appear to have higher intracellular ion concentrations than the sperm from HS males. In conclusion, high temperatures might decrease male fertility by decreasing seminal plasma and intracellular ion concentrations.
The effects of altered strain environments on bone tissue kinetics

This study defines the alteration in bone tissue kinetics responsible for the "adaptive remodeling" response to altered strain environments. Adult beagle dogs were separated into three experimental groups: ulnar osteotomy, ulnar osteotomy with fracture fixation plate spanning the gap and sham surgery. Four sets of double fluorochrome labels were administered. Prior to sacrifice at 1, 3, and 6 months, strains were measured through rosette strain gages on the cranial and caudal surfaces of the intact radius. Histomorphometric analysis indicated that the increased bone mass in response to elevated strain results from increased activation frequency of modeling with more sites undergoing formation processes than resorption processes on periosteal and endocortical surfaces. Increased remodeling activation did not lead to increased bone mass. There was no evidence that elevated strain changes the individual vigor of osteoclasts or osteoblasts, or that the sigma period was altered by elevated strain.
Allosteric Effects of Pit-1 DNA Sites on Long-Term Repression in Cell Type Specification

Reciprocal gene activation and restriction during cell type differentiation from a common lineage is a hallmark of mammalian organogenesis. A key question, then, is whether a critical transcriptional activator of cell type-specific gene targets can also restrict expression of the same genes in other cell types. Here, we show that whereas the pituitary-specific POU domain factor Pit-1 activates growth hormone gene expression in one cell type, the somatotrope, it restricts its expression from a second cell type, the lactotrope. This distinction depends on a two-base pair spacing in accommodation of the bipartite POU domains on a conserved growth hormone promoter site. The allosteric effect on Pit-1, in combination with other DNA binding factors, results in the recruitment of a corepressor complex, including nuclear receptor corepressor N-CoR, which, unexpectedly, is required for active long-term repression of the growth hormone gene in lactotropes.
Real-time optimization of a double-skin facade based on lumped modeling and occupant preference

Real-time optimization of a double-skin facade system is developed for the so-called smart facade systems. It optimizes the performance of the system by rotating a motorized louver slat in the cavity and ventilation dampers at the top and bottom of exterior and interior glazing. One prominent feature of the system is the capability of dynamically reacting to the environmental input data through real-time optimization in terms of energy, visual comfort and thermal comfort. Users interaction with the system is Web enabled. Current state variables, weather data and energy flows are posted on a web page and an occupant with given privileges can choose the preferred operation mode or override the devices (louvers, ventilation inlet/outlet).
Designing a spatially-explicit nature reserve network based on ecological functions: An integer programming approach

An effective nature reserve network design should reflect the ecological requirements of target species, while simultaneously considering costs. In this study, we propose a design method that considers the ecological role of the spatial arrangement of reserve sites in relation to the long-term persistence of metapopulations of the target species. We apply our design method to an amphibian metapopulation, which illustrates how varying the emphasis on the importance of design factors can affect estimated metapopulation persistence. Comparisons among reserve design methods show that considering the ecological function, rather than generic spatial rules, of the spatial location of reserve sites may be more likely to support species survival. A piecemeal treatment or mechanistic application of spatial rules in reserve design may be subject to the risk of not producing the most effective reserve network, and in some cases may even compromise the conservation objective which could be achieved otherwise.
Vacuolar acidification and bafilomycin-sensitive proton translocating ATPase in human epidermal Langerhans cells

Abstract Langerhans cells (LC) are the principal antigen-presenting cells (APC) of squamous epithelia. We have previously shown that freshly isolated LC (fLC) are able to deliver endocytosed membrane MHC class II molecules into acidic environments, and that this capacity is lost when LC are placed in culture (cLC). Inasmuch as processing of antigens requires their passage through acidic compartments, we undertook the present study to examine the ability of fLC and cLC to take up acridine orange, and to identify proton-translocating ATPases in these cells. Using flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy, acridine orange was observed to accumulate in acidic compartments in both fLC and cLC. Using a radioactive ATPase assay, crude membrane preparations from both fLC and cLC were shown to possess three types of ion-translocating ATPase, based on sensitivity to the following inhibitors: ouabain (Na + , K + ATPase), oligomycin (mitochondrial F 1 F 0 ATPase), and bafilomycin (vacuolar-type proton pump ATPase); the last type is responsible for acidification in vacuolar compartments. cLC displayed markedly less (
Measurements of the contact angle of nanofluids and development of a new correlation

Abstract Contact angle measurements were performed on deionized water, propylene glycol and mixture of 60% propylene glycol and 40% water by mass (60:40 PG/W), over a temperature range of 25 °C to 40 °C. All measurements were performed on the surface of a glass slide at the solid–fluid–air-interface. After confirming the contact angle value of water with the data of other researchers, the same procedure was applied to four nanofluids (nanoscale particles dispersed in a base fluid) containing aluminum oxide (Al2O3), zinc oxide (ZnO), titanium dioxide (TiO2) and silicon dioxide (SiO2) nanoparticles dispersed in 60:40 PG/W. For the nanofluids, the particle volumetric concentrations were varied from 0 to 6% and the average particle sizes ranged from 15 to 50 nm. From the experimental data, it was observed that the contact angles of three single phase liquids and four nanofluids were less than 90°, indicating that all these fluids were wetting to the glass surface. The contact angles of all tested fluids exhibited a continuous decrement with an increase in temperature, and a linear equation for contact angle with temperature matched the data well. For the nanofluids, an increase in the particle volumetric concentration caused a decrease in the contact angle at a constant temperature. The variation of the contact angle followed a second order polynomial relation with the volumetric concentration. For nanofluids at the same volumetric concentration and the same temperature, the contact angles were observed to be lower for larger particle sizes, except for the ZnO nanofluid. A statistical analysis performed on the experimental data yielded a correlation suitable to represent all the nanofluids tested. This contact angle correlation is a function of temperature, volumetric concentration and the size of the nanoparticles, which predicts results successfully with an average deviation of 6.3% from the measured values.
Modelling and simulating higher dimensional chaotic data

Abstract We consider time series data whose estimated Lyapunov exponents are positive. This data is represented by a probability density function on a suitably fine partition of the phase space. An algorithm is presented for constructing a transformation τ which has a unique absolutely continuous invariant measure whose density function is ƒ and which has the same Lyapunov exponents as the original time series. An example is given.
A method to synchronize signals from multiple patient monitoring devices through a single input channel for inclusion in list-mode acquisitions.

Purpose: This technical note documents a method that the authors developed for combining a signal to synchronize a patient-monitoring device with a second physiological signal for inclusion into list-mode acquisition. Our specific application requires synchronizing an external patient motion-tracking system with a medical imaging system by multiplexing the tracking input with the ECG input. The authors believe that their methodology can be adapted for use in a variety of medical imaging modalities including single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET). Methods: The authors insert a unique pulse sequence into a single physiological input channel. This sequence is then recorded in the list-mode acquisition along with the R-wave pulse used for ECG gating. The specific form of our pulse sequence allows for recognition of the time point being synchronized even when portions of the pulse sequence are lost due to collisions with R-wave pulses. This was achieved by altering our software used in binning the list-mode data to recognize even a portion of our pulse sequence. Limitations on heart rates at which our pulse sequence could be reliably detected were investigated by simulating the mixing of the two signals as a function of heart rate and time point during the cardiac cycle at which our pulse sequence is mixed with the cardiac signal. Results: The authors have successfully achieved accurate temporal synchronization of our motion-tracking system with acquisition of SPECT projections used in 17 recent clinical research cases. In our simulation analysis the authors determined that synchronization to enable compensation for body and respiratory motion could be achieved for heart rates up to 125 beats-per-minute (bpm). Conclusions: Synchronization of list-mode acquisition with external patient monitoring devices such as those employed in motion-tracking can reliably be achieved using a simple method that can be implemented using minimal external hardware and software modification through a single input channel, while still recording cardiac gating signals.
Advanced Difference Frequency Generation Laser Spectrometer: Design and Airborne Field Performance

We report on the design and performance of a new Difference Frequency Generation spectrometer operated aboard a Gulfstream-V jet during the Deep Convective Cloud and Chemistry research study (DC3) during the spring of 2012.
A Molecular Theory for Doubly Resonant IR-UV-vis Sum-Frequency Generation †

The experiment for measuring doubly resonant infrared-visible (IR-vis) sum-frequency generation (SFG) has recently been developed by Shen and his co-worker and applied to Rhodamine 6G on silica surfaces. In this paper, based on the Born-Oppenheimer adiabatic approximation, a molecular theory for doubly resonant IR-vis SFG generation as a two-dimensional surface spectroscopy is presented. We shall show that this new nonlinear spectroscopy is closely related to IR and resonance Raman spectroscopy. In this preliminary theoretical derivation, the displaced harmonic potential energy surfaces model for the electronic ground and electronically excited states of the system are used to obtain the band shape functions for doubly resonant IR-vis SFG at a finite temperature. One of the unique and powerful abilities of this spectroscopy is that interference effects among IR-active modes can be observed. The calculated excitation profiles and IR spectra of the doubly resonant IR-UV SFG from Rhodamine 6G on fused silica are demonstrated. We shall show that this new nonlinear spectroscopy can provide experimentalists with access to microscopic properties of molecules on surfaces or at interfaces.
The adsorption of water on TiO2(001)

Exposure of the (001) low temperature facetted surface of titanium dioxide to up to 10 4 L water vapor produces only dissociative adsorption. This adsorption behavior differs from published reports of molecularly adsorbed H 2 O on the (100) and (110) TiO 2 surfaces. The UPS band near 11 eV BE observed by others on (100) and (110) TiO 2 and usually associated with the molecular adsorption of water was not observed in UPS data for the (001) surface reported here. UPS, ELS, and Auger spectroscopy all indicate that only dissociative adsorption of H 2 O occurs on the (001) TiO 2 surface.
Oxygen-NO2 energy transfer

The rate of production of NO2* by energy transfer from singlet molecular oxygen is shown to be proportional to [O2(1Σg+)] even under conditions where [O2(1Σg+)] is not proportional to [O2(1Δg)]2. This helps establish I = k[O2(1Σg+)][O2(1Δg)][NO2] as the rate law for the O2* + NO2 energy transfer process. Evidence for energy transfer from NO2* to O2 is reported.
Lyme Disease Misdiagnosed as a Brown Recluse Spider Bite

Excerpt To the editor: Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness caused by the spirocheteBorrelia burgdorferi(1). The condition is usually heralded by the appearance of the characteristic skin lesion, e...
Effect of ractopamine level, gender, and duration of ractopamine on belly and bacon quality traits

The objective was to determine belly and bacon quality traits in pigs fed ractopamine (RAC) for various durations during finishing. A 2×3×2 factorial arrangement was used with barrows and gilts, fed RAC levels of 0.0, 5.0, or 7.4ppm, for 21 or 28d prior to harvest. Bellies were fabricated and measured for length, thickness, firmness, and processing yields. Once processed, 1.27cm slices were removed at 25%, 50%, and 75% the distance from the blade end, packaged and digitally imaged using a Chem1 Genius(2) Bio Imaging System. Total slice area (TA), total slice length (TL), secondary lean length (SL), secondary lean area (SA), and percent lean area (TA - all lean components=LA) were determined by tracing images in Adobe Photoshop Elements. A composite sample from the three slices was used for proximate analysis to determine moisture and fat composition for each belly. Feeding RAC increased belly yield, TA, TL, SA, and LA (P 0.05). Gilts had decreased firmness and higher pump uptakes compared to barrows (P 0.05), furthermore, no interactions were found to be significant (P>0.05). RAC administration during finishing resulted in improved belly and bacon yields with no negative effects on the quality traits evaluated.
Variations in Maximum Amplitude of Facial Expressions between and within Normal Subjects

Definitive proof of efficacy of preventions and therapeutic interventions, and of risk factors in lower motor neuron facial paralyses continue to be confounded by the lack of repeatable quantitative measures of outcome. Clinical and research experience with human facial expression repeatedly demonstrates wide variations between subjects. To our knowledge, little information is available to isolate and describe the differences in dynamic facial expression between and within normal subjects. The purpose of this study is to use a statistical model to analyze the components of the observed variations of maximum amplitude measurement of image change during normal human subject facial expressions. Seventeen consecutive normal adult human subjects with no current or past evidence of facial nerve or ear disease were studied. Videotapes of command facial expressions were taken using specific and standardized conditions. The tapes were analyzed using a new computer-assisted image-change analysis program capable of generating dimensional data for the maximum amplitude of expression. These data were statistically analyzed using a General Linear Model with Nested variables to isolate and define component variations and errors. The General Linear Model predicted 88% of the observed total variation (p < 0.05).* A model performance this high suggests that most of the important independent variables were being studied. The major component of the variations was the difference among (between) subjects. Seventy-seven percent of the predicted variation was due to this difference (p < 0.05). Little of the variation (1%) seemed to be within-subjects. Test-retest agreement was acceptable.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The disposal of nuclear waste in space

The important problem of disposal of nuclear waste in space is addressed. A prior study proposed carrying only actinide wastes to space, but the present study assumes that all actinides and all fission products are to be carried to space. It is shown that nuclear waste in the calcine (oxide) form can be packaged in a container designed to provide thermal control, radiation shielding, mechanical containment, and an abort reentry thermal protection system. This package can be transported to orbit via the Space Shuttle. A second Space Shuttle delivers an oxygen-hydrogen orbit transfer vehicle to a rendezvous compatible orbit and the mated OTV and waste package are sent to the preferred destination. Preferred locations are either a lunar crater or a solar orbit. Shuttle traffic densities (which vary in time) are given and the safety of space disposal of wastes discussed.
The Indo‐Europeans: Archeological Problems

appeared in Paris in 1961 a book by P. Bosch-Gimpera entitled Les IndoEuropeens, problames archeologiques, which was a French translation by R. Lantier from the Spanish, published in Mexico several years earlier. The book has 283 pages and ten maps. It covers not merely the origin problem, but pursues the Indo-European story up to the Roman times. It is a survey of much that had been said by linguists and archeologists in the course of about 60 years on the Indo-European "mother tongue," language relationships, homelands, development and migrations of separate Indo-European groupsa survey of remarkable fluency. The book is not a precise account of archeological developments, but rather a summing up of many hypotheses. It certainly will stir archeologists and linguists and will give a new stimulus to reexamine the aging Indo-European homeland problem. In this lies its value. Bosch-Gimpera's general conclusions on the birth, homelands and early development of the Indo-European cultures are as follows: (1) The embryo of the Indo-Europeans lies in Mesolithic Europe; languages in the Mesolithic period must have formed a general substratum giving birth to the Indo-European, the Finno-Ugrian, the Rhaetian and Basque linguistic families. (2) The formation of several Indo-European groups occurred in the early Neolithic, reaching back to the 5th millennium. These are manifested by the birth of the linear Danubian culture and by another culture located between Poland and the Black Sea. (The author probably has in mind the North Pontic neolithic culture and assumes its westward spread over Poland, which is not established in archeology.) (3) In the third millennium the process of crystallization of the Danubian culture reached a stage of maturity. The author sees "Danubian infiltration" in the Balkans and in the Apennine Peninsula. With the Danubian or other movements are to be connected the appearance of early Greeks in Greece, and of Luvians and Hittites in Anatolia. (4) The Funnel-necked Beaker culture of the third millennium in northern Europe between Denmark and Poland must also have been Indo-European. (5) The Ponto-Caucasian group of the third and second millennia formed an early Indo-Iranian bloc, part of which spread to the Near East. Its northern branch, the people of the Pontic steppes, spread westward,
Silver nanoparticles assemblies mediated by functionalized biomimetic oligomers

The interaction between biopolymers and metal nanoparticles (AgNPs) is a key element in the development of biomimetic nanomaterials with applications in catalysis, delivery, and recognition. Here we report a facile method for the functionalization of AgNPs by N-substituted glycine oligomers, “peptoids.” Based on the established affinity between phenanthroline ligand and Ag(0), we synthesized a peptoid bearing 1,10-phenanthroline at the N-terminus (PHP). Treatment of AgNPs that were pre-stabilized by citrate ions, with PHP, leads to the formation of aggregates as suggested by UV–vis spectroscopy. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that the replacement of citrate ions by PHP yields spherical assemblies of AgNPs. These peptoids/AgNPs hybrids, as well as the ability of functional biomimetic oligomers to mediate the assembly of metal nanoparticles, hold potential for applications in sensor materials, biology, and catalysis. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers (Pept Sci) 96: 679–687, 2011.
When, why, and how to use weighted least squares

This article features examples that illustrate how straightforward it is to use weighted least squares.
The role of fMRI in Cognitive Neuroscience: where do we stand?

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has quickly become the most prominent tool in cognitive neuroscience. In this article, I outline some of the limits on the kinds of inferences that can be supported by fMRI, focusing particularly on reverse inference, in which the engagement of specific mental processes is inferred from patterns of brain activation. Although this form of inference is weak, newly developed methods from the field of machine learning offer the potential to formalize and strengthen reverse inferences. I conclude by discussing the increasing presence of fMRI results in the popular media and the ethical implications of the increasing predictive power of fMRI.
Building a successful fertility preservation program at a major cancer center

Over 150,000 reproductive age individuals face fertility-threatening cancer treatments each year. Improved detection and treatment of cancer in reproductive-age patients have greatly increased the long-term survival and made it possible for these individuals to consider their long-term quality-of-life after cancer including having biologic offspring. Various methods of fertility preservation (FP) are now available for both males and females. In order to maximize FP options available to patients facing imminent gonadotoxic therapies, it is crucial that women have quick access to FP care and that providers expedite FP strategies. The overarching goal of a clinical FP program is to help patients and their physicians consider the impact of treatment on future fertility and facilitate FP efforts in what is often a limited time period before cancer treatment begins.
Giant convection cells found on the Sun.

Heat is transported through the outermost 30% of the Sun’s interior by overturning convective motions. These motions are evident at the Sun’s surface in the form of two characteristic cellular structures: granules and supergranules (~1000 and ~30,000 kilometers across, respectively). The existence of much larger cells has been suggested by both theory and observation for more than 45 years. We found evidence for giant cellular flows that persist for months by tracking the motions of supergranules. As expected from the effects of the Sun’s rotation, the flows in these cells are clockwise around high pressure in the north and counterclockwise in the south and transport angular momentum toward the equator, maintaining the Sun’s rapid equatorial rotation.